News Of Neighbors（英文）

By Rachel Boxdorfer

2020年11月至12月

此内容暂无简体中文译文，以下为英文原文。

Historical November–December 2020 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

The year 2020 has certainly changed so many aspects of our lives. And I find that it has even changed our News of Neighbors columns. People are not traveling as they normally do, activities are more limited and people tend to be home bodies.

But we are surviving and one of the things I love is that our neighborhood still bonds, even during this pandemic.

There have been socially distanced block parties on several blocks (some with live music), the Red and Black Brass Band has marched in our streets and had neighbors dancing, Irish musicians for a birthday in front of one house, drive by birthday parades, front yard happy hours and dinner picnics with neighbors spread across front yards. So even in the strangest and most challenging of times, our love of our neighbors and this wonderful community has been strong. Let’s keep that going and help each other through these times and beyond. And to continue celebrating with our neighbors, I am happy to share that Emily Dowgwillo has been awarded a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology by The Pennsylvania State University, State College. Upon completion of her one-year internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Emily and her husband Peter moved to Detroit where she will join the faculty of The University of Detroit Mercy. Emily is the elder daughter of Heidi and Bob Dowgwillo of the 6100 block of Pershing.

In searching for news for this column this year, I have asked people to include how and what they are doing in the pandemic. Jenny Matthews of the 5900 block of McPherson shared that this fall,both of her sons returned to school with the in-person learning option at St. Roch.

She said it has been an amazing experience so far with Toby in 2nd grade and Joss starting his first year of preschool. Jenny is so appreciative of the school leadership and staff for all of their extra work to create options for their community. Even though her children attend in-person, they have benefitted from virtual learning in 2nd grade by being able to jump in online if they have a doctor appointment or being cautious about a runny nose. Jenny shared that “A blessing from this pandemic has been embracing a different pace of our lives…it’s slower and more intentional.

I was fortunate enough to gain a new job in my industry within one month after being furloughed and then laid off.

I work from home most days & am able to take a break to walk to the school nearly every day for pick up and it’s my favorite time of the day!” Another way the Matthews family has continued to enjoy time together is in the McPherson Community Garden. At the start of the pandemic this spring, Jenny would listen on work conference calls taking her cell phone & headset to the garden- the only place she said her sons would be content and quiet while digging for worms! Summer heat & bugs lead them to find forest shaded hikes & creeks for cooling off, but they have continued to enjoy the garden and it’s offerings.

This year their family has harvested 24 pounds of cherry tomatoes, 11 pounds of lettuce & kale, nine pounds of large tomatoes, eight pounds of cucumbers, six pounds of broccoli &cabbage, four pounds of onions and enough strawberries to each eat one whenever they were ripe! Jenny said “I’ve learned not to underestimate how much food you can grow in a small plot & plant flowers wherever there is room.” Walking seems to be something more and more neighbors are doing too.

In our already very walkable neighborhood and in Forest Park, I see neighbors out and about walking all the time. And many, myself included, might just be listing to podcasts on their longer walks. Or maybe you enjoy them in your car, or at home. Either way, our neighbor, AbramVan Engen, of the 5800 block of Nina Place has a new podcast called Poetry For All. VanEngen (an English professor at Wash U), introduces a great poem each week to a wide range of readers.

In short episodes (15-20 minutes), Abram and hisco-host, Joanne Diaz, read the poem, discuss it, learn how it works, see what it has to teach us, then read it one more time.

The podcast opens with Seamus Heaney’s poem “Digging.” It’s a poem that meditates on the point, purpose, and possibilities of poetry itself. Further episodes include Emily Dickinson, Phillis Wheatley, William Shakespeare, Claude McKay, Jen Bervin, John Donne,Toi Derricotte, and more. Abram and Joanne were galvanized to do this podcast by their own experience learning and teaching poetry. “Whenever I teach,”Joanne says, “I always speak to the person I was when I was 18: a first-generation college student who nearly failed freshman composition and had no sense of how to analyze and discuss poems. Many of my students are hesitant about poetry, or dislike it altogether, but I want them to feel like poems are for them, no matter what their background or experience might be.”At Poetry For All, Joanne and Abram are trying to reach not just those who already love poetry, but those who feel hesitant about it, event hose who dislike it altogether. One by one, they discover and discuss great poems, believing that poetry is for all. Look for “Poetry For All”wherever you get your podcasts and visit the website for more information: https://poetryforall.fireside.fm/. So neighbors, be sure to check it out.

I know I will! Do you have news to share?

Please send your submissions via email with the subject line News of Neighbors to rachelb@sdtimes.org or drop off a note to the attention of Rachel Boxdorfer at the Skinker DeBaliviere office. Be sure to mark it “News of Neighbors”.

We love to hear about neighbors accomplishments, awards, travels, weddings, anniversaries, births, and more!