This week our letter to the neighbourhood is from an arts festival producer. And it’s quite a sobering read. For those households impacted by the shutdowns but NOT eligible from Jobkeeper this letter really brings home what a tough year it has been. Collect your letter from the butcher shop window and find out how your neighbour has managed … and read about the dilemmas and challenges her family faced.

How interesting is this project? Helping us all have a bit of a wider view and more empathy …

We had our community art bin out last weekend with bits of wood, sharpies and instructions, and asked people who stopped by to draw a little picture for the scrap wood community Christmas tree that we we are making.

Thanks to everyone that took the time to do a picture or a pattern. They were all pretty cute.

Note, there may still be more bits of painted timber that Lee will be putting out over the coming week … so keep your eyes peeled if you are walking past. We’d love you to contribute too!

Hi. Leanne here.

You know, neighbourhood houses are places in the community that try very hard to ensure that everyone feels welcome. Kindness is at the heart of what we do. And acceptance. We try to take people as they are and provide the opportunities to help everyone feel good about themselves … and connect with others. We focus on assisting people to find their tribe through their interests, and in doing so we also hope to build a stronger neighbourhood.

And what do we mean by a strong neighbourhood? A neighbourhood is a group of odd people (cos we’re all a bit odd right?) who rub along together not because they’re family or because they share the same background or the same goals … but just because they all live in the same general location. Neighbourhoods are strong when they recognise this interdependence and embrace and value both the connectedness and the diversity in their community.

In this context I thought I’d mention the Canadian TV series Schitts Creek, that won so many Emmy Awards this year and has become such a thing.

If you haven’t watched it already, I just thought I’d mention that

1. You really should!

2. You will come to love each character - even though you might think it’s all a bit cringy and hard to watch at first.

This show is made by Daniel Levy (who plays the son) and Eugene Levy who wrote wacky but ultimately endearing and very memorable movies such as ‘Best in Show’ (and plays the dad). Daniel’s sister plays Twyla, the cafe owner … so the cast is a family affair.

It runs for 6 seasons. And over this time the stories, characters and connections really unfold and develop. The storyline is quirky, modern, pointed, funny, kind, gentle and edgy … and I think pretty important viewing for those of us that hope that we are choosing acceptance and kindness in the 21st century.

I took ages to get into it. Then binge watched it. And now I can’t recommend it enough! And … the documentary at the end just caps it off.

You’ll find Schitts Creek on Netflix. I hope you enjoy it too!

As you know we have been very excited to present our fun street activation project, Blind Date with a Book, on Station Street. Now in its 5th week (I think it is), this project has been a collaboration between ourselves, Darebin Libraries and Fairfield Books … with Three Locals helping us out by storing the stand, stocking it and putting it out on the street a couple of days a week.

Many of the books that have been wrapped up so far have come from the weeded stock at Darebin Libraries, and we thank the lovely Jody who manages the Darebin Book Clubs for finding us some super stories. Other books have been donated to us by locals. Thanks friends!

And this week we went and picked up the new books we purchased as part of the project, from Fairfield Books. This project is not just about street activation and place making, but also about economic recovery … and what better way to help businesses recover after this super tough year, than to spend some money with them right?

So … keep an eye out for Blind Date with a Book out the front of Three Locals … you might just get the latest Margaret Atwood … or another new title in the coming week or two.

Once again we thank Darebin Council for funding this project through their Business Recovery Grants program.

As you know, we are busy planning our Christmas Makers Market on Saturday the 5th of December. And … what fun is an outdoor market without a sausage sizzle?

If you are handy with a pair of tongs, and rock an apron, we’d really appreciate your help for an hour. We’ll need help setting up and getting the snags on from 9.30am, and then help with cooking and serving at 10am, 11am and 12pm.

If you’d like to volunteer please email Kalimna here.

After cooking or selling a few sausages you can then of course explore the stalls and hopefully find some lovely things to give for Christmas gifts to the ones you love!