A Hyperlocal Example
Following up on learning more about hyperlocal blogs, my daughter and son-in-law have just moved to West Seattle after having previously lived in Seattle neighborhoods including the University District, Capitol Hill (twice), Mount Baker and Seward Park.
West Seattle Blog is an excellent example of a local blog that includes news, citizen alerts, shopping and event tips and a general opportunity to build pride and camaraderie in one's neighborhood. It has multiple contributors, including spot news photos from phone cameras. I am using it to get familiar with their new neighborhood.
Plaintalker is a solo effort with limited topics, including redevelopment and municipal government. But there is plenty of room on the blogosphere for anyone who wants to set up a blog similar to that of West Seattle.
To detractors who say we did not include this or that, I say, dial up Blogger.com and do what you feel is needed. Given the limitations of the city web site, blogs are all the more valuable to promote Plainfield in all its many aspects. The Plainfield music scene, its theater world, restaurants, outdoor recreation, shopping and more could be highlighted. Crime reports might be harder to come by, due to Police Division policies, but some city neighborhood blogs already share alerts on burglaries and car break-ins.
It's all information, folks, and that's what is needed to enjoy any particular neighborhood.
My mission is mainly to help citizens understand what their elected officials are up to, but I also enjoy finding out new things about Plainfield.
To that end, I will now break with tradition and publish a news release in its entirety:
Five representatives of faith communities will offer blessings to animals at the 10th annual Celebration of Animals scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. at Leland Avenue Park in Plainfield.
The program is free and open to the public, and any animals who choose to attend as long as properly leashed or otherwise safely contained. In the past this has included dogs, cats, iguanas, gerbils, various birds, turtles and rabbits.
Animal-lovers who wish to honor a friend which would be uncomfortable in the park or who has died are encouraged to bring a photo or favorite toy instead.
Those offerings blessings are Rev. Leonard Bethel, retired from Bethel Presbyterian Church; Rev. Carolyn Eklund, rector of Grace Episcopal Church; James Handlin, a Buddhist; Sandra Miller, a shaman; and Rev. Frank Rose, poster of St. Bernard/St. Stanislaus R.C. Church. Always popular, Bethel will be accompanied by Gabriel, his black lab dog. Individual blessings are available afterwards.
The event is provided for the community by the Friends of Sleepy Hollow, a non-partisan, non-profit, all-volunteer organization devoted to the betterment of Plainfield. The FOSH Animal Initiatives Committee arranges the Celebration, and has paid for pet oxygen masks in three sizes for the Plainfield Fire Department, spaying and vaccinations for feral cats in the city, and other projects.
In the spirit of animal welfare, the cake for the celebration will be "vegan," meaning made with no animal ingredients. There will be coffee for adults, juice for youngsters and water bowls for animals. FOSH will have plastic bags on hand for easy clean-up.
Mary Ellen Chanda will serve as master of ceremonies and developed the program. Further information is on the FOSH website, www.foshnj.com.
There is no rain date.
--Bernice Paglia
West Seattle Blog is an excellent example of a local blog that includes news, citizen alerts, shopping and event tips and a general opportunity to build pride and camaraderie in one's neighborhood. It has multiple contributors, including spot news photos from phone cameras. I am using it to get familiar with their new neighborhood.
Plaintalker is a solo effort with limited topics, including redevelopment and municipal government. But there is plenty of room on the blogosphere for anyone who wants to set up a blog similar to that of West Seattle.
To detractors who say we did not include this or that, I say, dial up Blogger.com and do what you feel is needed. Given the limitations of the city web site, blogs are all the more valuable to promote Plainfield in all its many aspects. The Plainfield music scene, its theater world, restaurants, outdoor recreation, shopping and more could be highlighted. Crime reports might be harder to come by, due to Police Division policies, but some city neighborhood blogs already share alerts on burglaries and car break-ins.
It's all information, folks, and that's what is needed to enjoy any particular neighborhood.
My mission is mainly to help citizens understand what their elected officials are up to, but I also enjoy finding out new things about Plainfield.
To that end, I will now break with tradition and publish a news release in its entirety:
Five representatives of faith communities will offer blessings to animals at the 10th annual Celebration of Animals scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. at Leland Avenue Park in Plainfield.
The program is free and open to the public, and any animals who choose to attend as long as properly leashed or otherwise safely contained. In the past this has included dogs, cats, iguanas, gerbils, various birds, turtles and rabbits.
Animal-lovers who wish to honor a friend which would be uncomfortable in the park or who has died are encouraged to bring a photo or favorite toy instead.
Those offerings blessings are Rev. Leonard Bethel, retired from Bethel Presbyterian Church; Rev. Carolyn Eklund, rector of Grace Episcopal Church; James Handlin, a Buddhist; Sandra Miller, a shaman; and Rev. Frank Rose, poster of St. Bernard/St. Stanislaus R.C. Church. Always popular, Bethel will be accompanied by Gabriel, his black lab dog. Individual blessings are available afterwards.
The event is provided for the community by the Friends of Sleepy Hollow, a non-partisan, non-profit, all-volunteer organization devoted to the betterment of Plainfield. The FOSH Animal Initiatives Committee arranges the Celebration, and has paid for pet oxygen masks in three sizes for the Plainfield Fire Department, spaying and vaccinations for feral cats in the city, and other projects.
In the spirit of animal welfare, the cake for the celebration will be "vegan," meaning made with no animal ingredients. There will be coffee for adults, juice for youngsters and water bowls for animals. FOSH will have plastic bags on hand for easy clean-up.
Mary Ellen Chanda will serve as master of ceremonies and developed the program. Further information is on the FOSH website, www.foshnj.com.
There is no rain date.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 6:50 PM
2 Comments:
Bernice,
'Appreciated your blog post regarding the role of hyperlocal media. In fact, I added your blog to our Plainfield Blogroll. (We already had the West Seattle Blog listed.) Hope this helps!
Pat
http://www.wikicity.com/wiki/Plainfield,_New_Jersey
Perhaps more for CLIPS than Plaintalker, but anyway:
http://maplewood.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/be-the-journalist-send-us-sermons/
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