2026-09-25 - Bangor Livable Communities Committee

00:00Also, even with the failure, there's

00:02still going to be success to some

00:03extent,

00:04>> right?

00:04>> But, um,

00:05>> and we're reducing the risk by funding

00:08it from sources that aren't going to

00:10hurt a the wallet,

00:12>> right?

00:12>> You know, so, you know,

00:16hurt the wallet, right?

00:19The wallet's hurt in a lot of different

00:21ways. So, it's like saying, you know,

00:23like funding prisons, right? or or doing

00:27more to get people out of prison, right?

00:30Prisons are so expensive, the individual

00:32cost to keep somebody incarcerated, you

00:35know, like, but people don't necessarily

00:38equate that. They're like, well, that

00:40money is already spent,

00:42>> right? Could be spent some.

00:43>> That makes sense. And they often cite

00:45the homeless protocol as like a a policy

00:49failure when it's like we're saving

00:52$250,000 a year per kid that you're

00:55throwing in there for some stupid

00:57reason.

00:59>> Yeah,

00:59>> that's the second time my wife has

01:00called. So that's

01:07>> Hello.

01:13Marshals

01:19and I

01:39called twice. I answered [laughter]

01:43wasn't as it wasn't as important as a

01:45two call.

01:47[laughter]

01:49So

01:51>> well that's

01:55something you want to start off talking

01:57about.

01:57>> Do we have anyone on Zoom?

01:59>> No, we are it. So really I think what I

02:03wanted or I envisioned that we would do

02:06is continue our conversation into the

02:08domains and we kind of started right we

02:11actually kind of moved into like social

02:14inclusion, belonging, respect um and

02:17some of those ways that we feel

02:19connected to our community

02:22which I think intersects with a lot of

02:24our social

02:27problems

02:29where Um,

02:31so I think I might have talked about

02:33this last time, but

02:36the we at the health department um are

02:41part of a statewide launch of a new

02:44nutrition education program. It's called

02:47Nourish Me and it is um for

02:52um

02:55it's a food is medicine approach and

02:58what that really means is uh

03:02the former SNAP ed was focused on people

03:07who were eligible for SNAP um benefits.

03:12This is a more um

03:16it's a rural focused. there's uh

03:22and when I say that I will also admit

03:25that

03:27there doesn't seem to be um complete

03:31uniformity in how that definition is

03:34applied

03:35>> and that um so for example

03:39um there are like in Bangor that are um

03:46included Um, and then there was a site

03:51in that was excluded. So, we're trying

03:54to get more like clarity about

03:58um

04:00>> even defining rural too.

04:02>> It it's um not 100%. So, it's something

04:06um we're trying to everyone statewide is

04:09trying to nail this down a little bit

04:11more because the fact of the matter is

04:13that like 70% of people who live in

04:15Maine have um are managing

04:19um health conditions that could be

04:21improved by better nutrition. So, um,

04:26one of the very interesting things that,

04:29uh, we learned about when I was at this,

04:32um, kickoff this week is that

04:36several, um, several kind of food is

04:40medicine approaches have been used by

04:43some organizations throughout the state.

04:47One of the things that every one of them

04:50mentioned was how the social component

04:54of these programs was one of the things

04:58that stood out most to them. Um,

05:01bringing people together,

05:03um, providing connection, providing this

05:07community. Um, there were I don't know

05:11her name, but she was from the southern

05:14um, Maine area um, on agents agents

05:20>> or agent agent small. She was from small

05:23>> and um she

05:27we talked just a little bit about the

05:30connections between like the livable

05:33communities efforts throughout the state

05:36and then this nutrition education

05:38effort.

05:39>> And so all I wanted to do was throw that

05:43out as like this is something that's

05:45evolving and it fits in the connection,

05:49you know, part of this plan. and that as

05:53it becomes more concrete, I would like

05:56to explore ways that we can, you know,

06:02use that to increase feelings of

06:05connection.

06:06I love it. I grew up in an area where we

06:10had the dinner bell every Friday and it

06:13didn't matter

06:15if you were low income or anything.

06:18People just went. you went and it was

06:21your time to be social. We're very

06:22social animals and the meal, the meal is

06:25the social time for humans. Like we just

06:28naturally gravitate toward that.

06:31I don't know if we have something that

06:34is in the general like we're not all

06:37going to Mana for their meal. You know

06:39what I mean? Like if they're a general

06:42>> more regular

06:45you know. So, I know Eastern Euring

06:48does do a um weekly I think lunch

06:53um and it's free to anybody who wants to

06:55go. But again, because it's at the um

07:00center, a lot of people identify that as

07:03being for older adults. But I think that

07:06there's a lot of value in going

07:09somewhere where there's lots of people

07:11that are older than you. I love doing

07:14that. Um I would if I had the time.

07:19>> A lot of the um lifelong communities in

07:21Maine do do a monthly

07:25um I think in Danforth they call it

07:26breaking bread. Um and that's like a

07:30monthly lunchon. But again it tends to

07:33gravitate to people who uh would benefit

07:36from having a free lunch like almost

07:38like a free lunch program. And you know

07:41they post what the meal is going to be

07:42similar to what Eastern News does.

07:45>> Um but actually I think they might be

07:47doing it weekly now. They were they were

07:49originally doing I don't think I got

07:50enough do it weekly. But yeah the

07:52original SNAP benefits a lot of the

07:54aging uh lifeline communities would do

07:58>> um like uh meal prep,

08:01>> right? how to, you know, how to like so

08:04could come in and do a whole meal using

08:08what they could do from their SNAP

08:10benefits, what they could purchase and

08:12how to almost stretch it out.

08:14>> Stretch it out. Yeah. Yeah.

08:16>> Without

08:19Yes. Exactly. Exactly. And

08:23>> you know, the other thing I thought of

08:25is um the CDBG program this year. I was

08:30just talking about it this morning

08:31because we were trying to figure out how

08:32to make it eligible. It's this food is

08:35medicine concept, right? So, we funded

08:37PCHC Yeah. a grant to be able to do what

08:41they call gaps in care. And so, they're

08:43going to be able to help fund some of

08:45their clients that might need something

08:47that has a documented medical need. And

08:50so we had to figure out how to be able

08:53to let clients directly purchase their

08:56own food because who wants, you know,

08:58somebody to shop for you. So to be able

09:02to give the monies like a gift card or

09:04we were going to work with GA to do a

09:06voucher, but I'm really trying to just

09:08give out the gift card because if they

09:11have now they're on a low sodium diet,

09:13now they're on something or they need a

09:17bullet because they now on pureed or

09:19something like that and they don't have

09:21the money for it. Food is medicine like

09:23that should be allowed. So I don't know

09:27if are you saying that that um approach

09:31is sort of like becoming a philosophical

09:34adopting like that sort of approach as

09:39like a best

09:40>> well I think two things is like the food

09:43as medicine is

09:46rising as a a way like an important way

09:51to improve health outcomes Right.

09:55>> And then um just the

09:59most of these classes, the ones that

10:02we're starting with are um

10:06statewide.

10:08Hello.

10:10Who are you? Hi.

10:15um the classes we're starting with um in

10:19that the will be run throughout the

10:22state uh will be 12 weeks in length.

10:26>> Okay. So, um, the other organizations

10:31that we heard from who've been doing

10:34some of this, we're talking about

10:35nutrition education.

10:37Um,

10:39they ran anywhere from like 12 weeks to

10:44a year depending on what was happening.

10:48Um, so I think that

10:53I would say that if you asked any of

10:55those organizations who were running

10:57those nutrition education classes, what

11:00what is your outcome? They would say um

11:03participants will lower their

11:05cholesterol over time. You know what I

11:07mean? There would be these health

11:08outcome things. But I think every what

11:13they found was the unexpected outcome of

11:16people were connected, people were

11:18happier, there was less isolation. That

11:20was something I didn't expect to see.

11:22But we know that all those things impact

11:25health anyway.

11:26>> Sure. And it's not a Zoom meeting.

11:28>> Right.

11:29>> Right. people are getting now. Do those

11:32>> education classes are they like where

11:36people are sitting around a table

11:37learning something or is there like a

11:38hands-on component?

11:40>> I I think that it's a two both. So, um

11:44it seems like there will be maybe six

11:48weeks of um

11:51uh kind of more instruction and then six

11:56weeks of how to like active prep.

12:00>> So, do they have who is in our in

12:03Bangor? Do you said there was an

12:04approved site to go? Um there are the on

12:08our work plan there are approved

12:12settings and I don't know what those are

12:14in Bangor. Um but there are commercial

12:17kitchen there are and the other thing is

12:20that we can we can hold them at a site

12:22and recruit

12:25uh recruit through an approved setting.

12:27So could be like three things. So say we

12:29knew there was a kitchen we could fold

12:32it here. We could recruit primarily

12:34through an approved setting which could

12:36be like PCHC

12:39but like all

12:41then we can also they said you can open

12:44it up to the community so you could also

12:46recruit um wider. So it's still like

12:50they're still trying to nail some of

12:51this down. We're gonna um be

12:55>> you could invite a restaurant chef who

12:58wants to show people how to flip a crepe

13:01or something. You could I mean the the

13:04you could I think if you tried it out

13:08you could figure out I mean it

13:11ultimately may not even need to be

13:13connected to this you know anymore you

13:16know you could

13:18>> figure out what works what makes people

13:21happy. We could I mean there's all sorts

13:24of things I think we could do with it.

13:26>> So it's really interesting.

13:30>> I really like that. So, we're spending

13:33um the rest of the year just kind of

13:36planning, getting our bearings um and

13:39then plans for classes to start in

13:43January.

13:44>> Oh, yeah. So,

13:47>> and they're going to be 12week type

13:49classes.

13:49>> Yes.

13:50>> And do people have to commit to the 12

13:52weeks or

13:54>> really it's not like a drop in thing?

13:56>> It's not a drop in.

13:57>> Yeah. So it's there will be registration

14:00and and I don't know how many people per

14:02class. Um yeah,

14:07but it might be a good way to see what

14:09the interest is for something that that

14:12is that structured.

14:14>> Yes.

14:14>> To then see if an expansion on the idea

14:18for something that would be more casual

14:21like a more of a connections meeting

14:23might spring up organically like

14:26>> Yeah.

14:28through those those approved sites even.

14:32>> Yeah, we can I think there I think we

14:34could figure out, you know, what might

14:37work. It would be really cool if like

14:39eventually we could do some

14:41multi-generational stuff,

14:43>> right, too,

14:44>> right? I know there's been some

14:45conversations in the past about um for

14:48communities like Bangor about uh doing

14:51sort of a uh cooking 101 for young

14:54adults because we have so many colleges

14:56in the area and not all of them use the

14:59meal plan or whatever that they come and

15:01they're like we don't know how to manage

15:03your budget book, you know. So, and it

15:06and to your point about the

15:07connectedness, they they start to meet

15:10maybe other people that aren't on their

15:12campus.

15:13>> Yes. but uh live within the Bangor

15:16community. So I know that that you know

15:19I I don't know if those ever got off the

15:22ground but there was some particularly

15:24since isn't there a college that has a

15:26food nutrition? Um

15:28>> yeah [clears throat]

15:29does they have a nutrition program?

15:31>> Is there one in Bangor?

15:32>> Yeah. Doesn't the community college have

15:34sometimes

15:35>> they have a culinary oh culinary? Yeah.

15:39Yeah. There's several culinary like

15:41Jawore is a big culinary.

15:44>> Yeah. So then that's a center where you

15:46can bring people in and um think

15:49>> Yeah. They would love to be involved in

15:51something like that. And you know what's

15:53really funny? When you were talking just

15:55now, I thought about my grandmother.

15:58The thing that I inherited from her that

16:00is so precious to me is all of her

16:02recipe books and all the little scrap

16:05pieces of paper that was like from Die

16:08like these cookies. And they would go to

16:11these recipe swaps and they loved it and

16:15I benefit from it because I get all

16:17those recipes. But what would the a

16:19recipe swap look like with a

16:21multigenerational bent,

16:23>> right?

16:23>> Like what's your grandmother's recipe?

16:26>> Right? Or uh You're asking like if you

16:30have a connectedness to like a decent

16:32year agency and agent may say, "Hey,

16:34we're doing this thing. It's cooking

16:36101. Would any of you like to

16:38participate and and as like a guest chef

16:42or something come in and make your

16:45>> simple,

16:46>> right,

16:46>> recipe and come with cards or whatever.

16:48I mean, there's a lot of we have a lot

16:50of facilities

16:51>> and that's the way to That would be so

16:54awesome.

16:55>> To learn a method that might have been

16:58lost

17:00or a grandma, right?

17:04>> Doesn't that sound cool? It's like a

17:05share.

17:06>> Yeah.

17:06>> I I think to add to that too is um

17:10bringing your grandma's recipes to the

17:132026, you know, nutrition

17:17thought process. Like we don't cook with

17:19lard as much as we used to.

17:22We can bring it into the 21st century if

17:24they're right. Exactly. And there's a

17:27lot more food allergies than there were

17:29when my grandmother was there. And what

17:31does, you know, a recipe that will make

17:34your donuts but are good for gluten-free

17:37or dairy free or lactoseree. I mean,

17:41>> I think that's where the nutrition comes

17:43in because um I have I like you, I

17:47inherited my grandmother's recipes.

17:48They're like this. I mean, they're

17:50they're just held together with like

17:52paper. I mean, not not paper, like

17:54string, those string books back in the

17:55day. And I have like the doughnut

17:57cutouts that were like an old can that

17:59they made for the round of the hole. I

18:02had the whole bit. And I would never

18:03part with them,

18:04>> but they were just made with a lot of

18:07ingredients that I really wouldn't eat

18:08today.

18:09>> Yeah.

18:10>> And you need to customize them,

18:11>> right? But what would that look like?

18:13Because I mean, I would like to talk to

18:15a nutritionist or a chef or somebody

18:18that would take my grandmother's or help

18:20me take my grandmother's recipes and

18:22make them a little more

18:25>> That's really cool. I mean, isn't that a

18:27broad interest thing? Is that that gets

18:30You're not just food insecure now.

18:32You're not just learning how to cook

18:33now. That's anybody dead course.

18:37>> Well, absolutely. But also like um Matt

18:40Dexter's group

18:44>> Christine B Foundation.

18:45>> Okay.

18:46>> Yes.

18:46>> They do a lot for cancer patients,

18:50right? So that's another one that's very

18:52to your point Mike have very specific

18:55needs, right,

18:56>> around nutrition.

18:58>> But he's got a big a fairly big

19:00volunteer group.

19:01>> Oh yes.

19:02>> Yeah. He Yeah,

19:03>> they so CDBG has funded them the last

19:07couple years and they've sent us like

19:09their reports. Yeah.

19:10>> And it is absolutely amazing. They have

19:13a dietician that meets with them and

19:15like makes a meal plan specifically for

19:18the patient based on all the things that

19:21just sound like such a great

19:25approach.

19:25>> It is. Yeah. and and you add the food

19:29insecurities to that and um

19:33people have this notion and there is

19:35some truth to it but you know eating

19:37healthy doesn't have to break the bank

19:40>> because it's very expensive you know go

19:42get your grocery and rye versus shaws it

19:46just may be different right but I think

19:49that

19:50>> there may be something out there that

19:53can help

19:55you know bridge that gap So you can eat

19:57as healthy as you can afford to

20:00>> because I think that you know people

20:02just get lost in it and they don't want

20:04to do it because it it's so costly they

20:07they feel I'm not you know here to the

20:10side but

20:13>> how do we wrap

20:17vegetables cheap you know I mean organic

20:21um usually but

20:23>> and maybe teaching people how to like

20:25dried and success,

20:26>> right?

20:27>> Yeah.

20:28>> Or folding in the garden ideas. Right. I

20:31was I was going to ask you like what if

20:33what if if we looked at the city of

20:35Bangbore's nutrition as also where your

20:38food deserts are and where you're

20:40getting your fresh vegetables and what's

20:42accessible,

20:45you know, could be,

20:47you know, another another piece of it

20:49down the road. Maybe in the future you

20:51could kind of integrate the community

20:53gardens where people might volunteer

20:55some of their extra produce to form a

20:58meal just to say they're paid natural.

21:01Yeah, because

21:03well that's

21:05because unless you have the city like

21:07operating more then you need to have

21:09community groups and neighborhood groups

21:11come together and take the initiative to

21:13start maintain

21:14>> but there's that big one on Essex that

21:16even that alone if somehow there's a way

21:18of approaching them and saying giving

21:21them the thought the idea of this and

21:23like looking for volunteers to donate

21:25some of their extra produce or

21:28>> you say do you mean the people that

21:31regularly garden there.

21:32>> I think well I guess get the city's

21:35permission to ask and then be get the to

21:38yes the individual somehow

21:41>> there might be an email page or

21:43something that

21:44>> especially the way the community gardens

21:46function where I came from. I think it

21:48was like a certain percentage of all of

21:51their food went to the local food

21:52pantry. Um but there was actually like a

21:55person he was a volunteer. He managed

21:57the whole garden. He grew a lot of extra

21:59produce like um outside of what other

22:03volunteers a lot of volunteers

22:05themselves and um there was a larger

22:08section that donated a lot of food.

22:10>> Well, that's how our garden kind of

22:11started with David Patrick.

22:14>> He was the one who also started our

22:17advisory committee on racial

22:20>> he pushed for the committee but he had a

22:23goal you know.

22:25>> Yeah. And when he moved to Lewon and we

22:28lost a piece that probably could help

22:31connect the dots between this sort of

22:35adulth where's the food, how to get it

22:38kind of. So we I've seen programs where

22:41the community garden um or farms, you

22:44know, if it's more rural um provide

22:47excess extra food to food pantries and

22:50the volunteers who are working the food

22:52pantry will help to like

22:56I've seen ones where people will take

22:58say the zucchini make a recipe and then

23:02offer it the next week alongside all the

23:05zucchini. Yeah. Like here's a recipe for

23:07zucchini bread here. I've made couple

23:10zucchini breads, have a slice of

23:11zucchini bread, take some zucchini and

23:14weigh out and uh

23:16>> right people who really love to cook.

23:18>> But if you have a a central place like

23:21like here the food pantry is really the

23:25um one in Hampton, right?

23:29>> I mean there's no

23:30>> couple around town. There's one up on

23:33Center Street. There's one of them

23:34together, please.

23:37>> They work very direct.

23:39>> They do.

23:40>> But I know that um a while back, few

23:42years ago, I talked to Catherine Garland

23:44extension and it seemed like there was

23:46an effort um that was already happening

23:50where they would do gleaning from local

23:52farms, extra produce, and um they were

23:56distributing that to like different food

23:57pantries. I'm not sure if that all still

23:59happening.

24:00>> They have the same concept in Um because

24:04we have a cooperative extension in

24:05Borike and Mafka obviously is right

24:08there too and it's Common Ground Fair

24:10this weekend.

24:12>> Yeah.

24:13>> Um and they have this whole you know

24:16Waldo County Bounty comes and they get

24:18all of these extra

24:21um fruits and vegetables and then

24:22there's sort of like

24:25these boxes that appear and you can just

24:28you know that you can go and get your 18

24:30pound zucchini there. Um so that's kind

24:34of neat is not a lot of structure but it

24:36it was born out of co

24:39>> the challenge is um still like the food

24:42desert you mentioned like when we did

24:44our neighborhood meetings up near k yeah

24:47like a lot of people said that

24:50the challenge is like how do you make it

24:51happen like we can't I mean I guess

24:55theoretically the city could make a city

24:57grocery store but and we can change the

25:00zoning

25:02We just changed the ding which we're

25:04planning on doing to allow more like

25:06smallcale grocery stores and mixed use

25:09development but that just opens the door

25:11like you stop to have somebody come and

25:12make the grocery store. I wanted to do

25:15it. I really tried to convince them to

25:18either go into the Miller building, buy

25:21Miller Drug or go up to Cape Park when

25:24they were trying to expand. Really

25:26wanted them to and they ended up buying

25:28the Sears for it.

25:30I think even like the gleaning through

25:33cooperative extension. I know that Kate

25:36has one of the ongoing issues with that

25:40is um that like getting people to do the

25:44gleaming

25:46um and then there like often

25:50the opportunities are kind of like

25:55>> I don't want to say last minute but like

25:58it's not like it's it's not actually

26:01like something that you can plan for as

26:03much as

26:04>> spontaneous more.

26:05>> Yes. Yes. More spontaneous. And so it um

26:10makes it harder to get the volunteers to

26:12do the gleaning. And um that seems to be

26:16and I think capacity maybe at um within

26:21cooperative extension to continue to

26:22manage all of that. I think have been

26:27um

26:28just things that you have to manage in

26:31order to to do that. But is there a gap

26:34like so so I think it's great if all of

26:37these resources are available is there

26:40room to bring it all together or a gap

26:44to say like if if more volunteers were

26:48brought to that

26:49>> if if it was communicated and more

26:52volunteers were brought because I know

26:55for like for me when I try to convince

26:57other people to volunteer they want to

26:59know exactly what they're doing they

27:01want to show they're not as interested

27:03in creating but but if there's an

27:07opportunity that um I saw there's a

27:09volunteer there for you know hearts of I

27:13mean

27:13>> um something you know if there's a a gap

27:18like you know and we say the public

27:19health would like to help fill this gap

27:22and this is you know here's three

27:24programs that could potentially

27:29be a step in the right ction that

27:32>> that's actually one of the goals I think

27:34that we had tried to increase

27:38volunteerism

27:40>> that's definitely like the trend line

27:43over the last 20 years of volunteerism

27:46>> yes

27:48>> a lot of that is

27:48>> and there was volunteer fair and it was

27:51held at a be college

27:54um it was well attended and we got

27:58but you know the pandmic

28:01Yeah.

28:01>> So, I was happy to see that the United

28:04Way is

28:06stealing the volunteer.

28:09>> Yeah.

28:10>> Because I think you're right. I sometime

28:12I don't have the bandwidth to like plan

28:14and organize a place and a way to

28:16volunteer, but I'll show up.

28:19>> Right. Some some companies just do a

28:21volunteer board. Like I know Chimera

28:24tends to have stuff just thrown up on

28:25their board and people look at it. Um,

28:28you know, the library I think is a

28:31timehonored, you know, thing of stuff

28:34being put on their boards and you just

28:35can pull a little tag off it or

28:37something.

28:38>> Oh, that's fun. Where you're just like,

28:39what am I doing today? And it's a

28:41secret.

28:42>> It could be more um or or there's a lot

28:45of communities that will do a day of

28:47service. I mean, a lot of businesses, I

28:50believe.

28:50>> I want to do a good neighbor day.

28:52>> Well, yes. So you could tie it into

28:54that, you know, and you could say day,

28:57>> right? The good neighbor day be like

28:59pick your, you know, pick your adventure

29:02on the good neighbor day. You could do

29:03this, you could do this, you could do

29:05that.

29:06>> You remember those?

29:07>> Choose your own.

29:08>> That would be a really great way to

29:09start.

29:09>> Choose your own adventure. Remember

29:11those?

29:12>> Yes.

29:12>> They're kids books. Choose your own

29:14adventure. And depending on how you read

29:16it.

29:17>> Yeah. Okay. If you want to do this, turn

29:19to page 36.

29:22I like that because you have a framework

29:26that exists. You can kind of plug and

29:29play. There are lots of organizations

29:31that need a volunteer that could easily

29:33put together the thing that they want

29:36you I want to take three people and

29:38we're going to do this thing and then

29:41you have them like everybody meets at

29:43the library. Is that kind of like how it

29:45worked when you had Yeah. But like so I

29:47think the problem we ran into with

29:48Bangor is like sometimes we were

29:49stepping on people's toes, right? So

29:52like doesn't the well they're not the

29:54United Way I keep calling but there are

29:55parts of me, right? Don't they do a like

29:59they must know every organization that

30:02allows their employees to uh do a day of

30:05service and they try to fill that need.

30:08So is it better that if we see something

30:10that we go to them and say we would love

30:14to be included in your day of service

30:18and this is the project that we would

30:20love to have companies come to or do we

30:24say hey Robin do you know what Redmond

30:29does do they and then contact each

30:31individual company and the parts of

30:33Maine comes back and says hey

30:37>> yeah I think They're they um the service

30:41that they offer is to be the one-stop

30:44shop. Right. Right. So if we and they

30:48have I think um you know an electronic

30:52like a a standing website that hosts

30:56volunteer opportunities. Yep. So um if

30:59we were able to define what we wanted

31:03then we could make it

31:06>> and all of that came out of this group

31:08because they used to be very active in

31:10this group and then that's what we the

31:12effect

31:13>> is that the RSVP do they do was that

31:15part of her

31:16>> no the one-stop the one-stop shop thing

31:20was like where can volunteers go so that

31:22we're all not trying to hunt down

31:25volunteer at the same time But they

31:28agreed to house

31:30>> house it basically and and build it as

31:33an organization

31:35>> as the what's the University of Maine

31:37office that was like the older folks

31:41volunteering and giving rides. Do you

31:43remember that was called RSVP?

31:45>> Oh RSVP

31:46>> retired and senior volunteer program

31:49>> program. Yes. Yes.

31:52>> And then all of a sudden they apparently

31:54it dies. But there's

31:57Is there a on it?

31:59>> No, I don't. So, RSVP is like uh some

32:02also like foster grandparents. So, I

32:05believe there's a

32:08income minimum because I can't foster

32:11grandma,

32:11>> right?

32:12>> They wouldn't take me.

32:13>> I know. I think there's an income limit,

32:15but I think Pinquist has uh I know they

32:19do a foster grandparent program in their

32:22daycare, but I think they also will take

32:24>> regular volunteers as one thing.

32:26>> Yeah, they will. There's there's another

32:28track

32:28>> and they also have a transportation

32:30program because that was we are yeah

32:32those two things kind of separated

32:34because Pinquist was all in and saying

32:37we'll we you know bankro Liberal tried

32:40to get drivers

32:42>> for Pancress

32:44>> and they tried to expand their program.

32:46So I mean that's the nice thing and

32:49bankrupt you have a ton of people doing

32:51a ton of things.

32:52>> Yeah. and uh how do we support that the

32:57struggle?

32:58>> If you think about how volunteers can be

33:01a good response to the narrative that

33:04nobody has capacity, nobody has money,

33:09nobody can solve the problem from these

33:12social organizations potentially. Money

33:15is scarce, people are scarce. Where are

33:20our resources in people that would be

33:23very likely to to plug

33:27a gap there?

33:30>> And I would say and then is there an

33:33opportunity to reduce isolation and

33:35promote connection through volunteers?

33:38>> Yes.

33:38>> And and I think a lot of times that

33:40grows out of that service, right? So

33:43they come for one thing and then they

33:46see okay in order for this to continue

33:49>> I have to participate somehow.

33:52>> It grows on you right.

33:54>> Yeah. Yeah. It's like and I think the I

33:56think the I think the area agencies do a

33:59good job of that. I think the parts of

34:02Maine does a good job with that. I mean

34:04I think I think Christine G does a good

34:06job of that. They obviously keep their

34:08volunteers engaged.

34:10>> Yeah. should find out have them talk to

34:13us coming.

34:13>> Yeah.

34:14>> Because I'll say with volunteer you have

34:16to also as much as you're there to do a

34:18job but some way and I know it's

34:20difficult maybe in some volunteer

34:22situations you got to make it fun or

34:25make it social in a sense that you are

34:28building that connection. You're not

34:29just there to start, you know, moving or

34:31planting a tree or, you know, you're

34:33let's go out, you know, I mean, after

34:36this we're going to have ice cream, you

34:37know, I mean, simple

34:39>> something social afterwards because I

34:42find with even volunteering with groups

34:44I do, okay, we show up usually and then

34:47just disperse and there is a connection,

34:50you know, you you it's a friendship of

34:53some sort, but sometimes you just want

34:56to do something also fun. Yeah.

34:59>> So, and I think that draws might draw

35:02some people and other people will be

35:03fine with the other model, but I think

35:06there are others like myself that would

35:08prefer that there's also a social side

35:10of it as well.

35:12>> Who do you volunteer with?

35:13>> Well, just uh Bangor Beautiful at times

35:16and uh department downtown partnership.

35:19We had a meeting last night, but you

35:21know, stuff like that.

35:23But you would you would be interested

35:25potentially in maybe doing some of these

35:28other things where there is a social

35:30component also.

35:31>> And maybe it's not all the time. It's

35:32maybe it's not with every volunteer

35:34thing, but it's like, okay, we're just

35:36going to get together and

35:38>> Yeah. Have lunch together. Bring bring

35:40your lunch, right? And it doesn't have

35:42to cost money. Just

35:44>> picnic in the park.

35:45>> Yeah. I mean, just stuff like that.

35:48>> Yeah. in the

35:50>> what h what happened with that dinner

35:52that was just

35:53>> oh the big the big table

35:56>> the table of shared tables I think

35:59>> shared something happened

36:01>> apparently it was sold out and very

36:03successful

36:04>> but I I wasn't able to make it I I

36:06registered and then something happened

36:10>> and sound like a great idea haven't seen

36:12any good photos of it but I hear Betsy

36:16said that in downtown Bango partnership

36:18that they They're they're out there on

36:20on page. But

36:21>> yeah,

36:21>> I'll tell you something. Even with that,

36:23even though they kind of said it as an

36:25aside and were talking about grandma's

36:27recipes and all that stuff, there are

36:29those who just are not cooks

36:33and

36:35shy away from going to something where

36:38bring your because they were kind of

36:40stressing bring your

36:44>> potluck and then also bring

36:45>> bring something that it has meaning to

36:47you as far as a recipe or food and all

36:49that stuff. And a lot of people probably

36:51do have that, but

36:53>> it's a lot of pressure, too.

36:54>> It's a lot of pressure. And I

36:56>> I just want to go to Frank's bakery,

36:57let's be honest.

36:58>> Well, and that's it. And I think that's

36:59and I don't think she'll mind me saying

37:01because I think she said on our Facebook

37:02page, but Ann said, you know, first of

37:05all, too busy to make something and I'm

37:07not a cook, but I went to Frank's bakery

37:10and these are the cookies that I bought

37:11because I would bring them, you know,

37:12something like I'd bring them home to

37:14the family or whatever.

37:15>> Yeah.

37:16>> Or whatever good memory it was.

37:18>> Yeah. To share. But I mean, but

37:20sometimes there are barriers and of

37:22course transportation is always a

37:24barrier. Not for many people. We're

37:26talking minimal people,

37:29>> right?

37:29>> But when you're having something

37:32away,

37:33>> yeah,

37:34>> then it's difficult for people to

37:36>> connect with that. But that's that's a

37:39small thing and maybe that's something

37:40we don't even need to discuss anymore at

37:43this moment because they're more

37:44important,

37:46>> you know, things. Yeah. Yeah,

37:47>> but I think I think a picnic or a a city

37:50gathering on the waterfront

37:52would be wonderful of some sort or

37:55whatever it is.

37:57>> Just it's open to everyone.

37:58>> Yeah.

37:59>> And there'll be food there, but you

38:01could bring something or you could, you

38:03know,

38:04>> or you could give $10, you know, if they

38:06would have said or you could give $20 or

38:09donate, make a donation, then yeah,

38:12here's money. I would do that if I

38:14wasn't a cook, but I would feel like I

38:16was welcome.

38:17>> Yeah. Right. Because you have the same a

38:20contribution that makes your

38:22participation sort of

38:23>> right. I didn't want to take up a space

38:24saying if you're not bringing food and

38:26you're just going to eat someone else's

38:27food.

38:28>> Yeah. I I can see what where you might

38:31think that. That would be a little

38:32uncomfortable walking in empty-handed.

38:34Right.

38:35>> Yeah.

38:36>> But I but I think a gathering of some

38:38sort in the future would be if it's

38:40possible. Yeah. Even that pickling

38:42square

38:43>> neighbor day in the end of the day is a

38:44big

38:46>> barbecue. That's what uh Selvin does for

38:50they pick up trash one day a year.

38:53>> So is it like Sullivan days or like how

38:55you see something something?

38:56>> S days. D A Z E. Yes. [laughter]

39:00>> Yes. And they pick up the trash along

39:02Route One and then they have barbecue.

39:04Nice

39:04>> at the fire department I think or the

39:07public works something. I know that that

39:10share table event I I too signed up and

39:12then I I I bugged out but I bugged out

39:16kind of to the same thing that you guys

39:17were saying. I got the day before

39:21I didn't get my meal because it was the

39:24day before went to crap and I just

39:25didn't get my my you know homemade meal

39:27made. Um, and then the problem lied on

39:31the details of how I been, and I talked

39:34to Ann about it, like they bring in a a

39:37grill is, you know, could I bring

39:39something to grill? Could I bring, you

39:42know, I can put it in the refrigerator

39:43at work, but I mean after, you know what

39:45I mean? Like, it really didn't come with

39:47a lot of details. And if I'm going to

39:49bring this dish from home with me to s I

39:52have a refrigerator, but not everybody

39:54may may have one at work that they could

39:56put like a big salad in. Um, and then I

39:59was like, well, I get a little weirded

40:02out with if I don't know that you put

40:04your salad in the fridge all day, I

40:06don't know if I'm going to eat that

40:07salad later and I don't know how clean

40:10your I Yes.

40:12>> Yeah.

40:12>> And how many big pasta dishes do we

40:14really need?

40:15>> Right. But to your point too, I was

40:17like, I'll just order pizza because that

40:19way I know. But then it was like I had

40:21to get it ordered. I had to get it here.

40:23I had anyway to it. It got to be just

40:26like it was just too weird and I too

40:28much. And I was like, I want to go. It's

40:31sprayed by the transit center. I should

40:33go. I want to be in the community.

40:37>> It was overwhelming.

40:38>> It was overwhelming. And so I I just

40:40bugged out at the last minute and just

40:43didn't and I

40:44>> I didn't sign up for that reason because

40:46I was like this is too I you know like

40:49I'd rather say sign up like anything

40:51I've gone to will say sign up for a main

40:54course and then when we get x number of

40:56people who have signed up for this or

40:58sign up for a salad or sign up for a

41:00dessert. This just felt so random to me

41:04that I'm like are we all going to be

41:05sitting there eating salad? Everybody

41:07brings this fruit salad.

41:09>> Yeah, that or I was thinking because

41:12like the bring the recipe thing with

41:14like a menu. I thought we were all gonna

41:16bring cookies because I just think of my

41:18grandmother was always like the comfort

41:20food, the the sweets. Like we were a

41:23home that always had dessert first, you

41:25know, and it's just one of those things

41:26that

41:27>> Yeah.

41:28>> It it didn't have enough detail and I

41:30didn't know if there was going to be um

41:31>> could you bring a crockpot? Could was

41:34there going to be electricity? Was there

41:35going to be um uh you know silverware

41:39and plates?

41:41>> Yeah.

41:41>> Do I need to bring my It just got too

41:44much. I had too many questions and so I

41:47had to walk by it to get to my car at

41:49the transit center and I had to like

41:52walk the the walk of shame because I was

41:55not going

41:55>> well.

41:59Bring your own food to yourself or the

42:01city.

42:04>> Well, know where I live. Um, I have not

42:08been to this, but I can tell you it

42:10happens once a month on the last Sunday

42:13of the month and it is a potluck.

42:16>> So, those are the things I can tell you

42:19about it. I know that it happens at the

42:20Keith Anderson Community Center, right?

42:23So people who go to that like it's I

42:29know that if I don't have anything going

42:30on I can go there and I can like eat a

42:34meal with some people in Oro and so I

42:37think like there's something to be said

42:38for giving more details maybe like

42:41starting small and just doing it to your

42:44point maybe we just get together like

42:46you know at a certain time and we always

42:49set that time and we just show up and

42:52you know bring the Franks or bring your

42:54grilled cheese sandwich for yourself or

42:56whatever it is you want to do. But I

42:58think if people like can rely on it

43:00happening and if it's like low barrier

43:03then like what if it was just blankets

43:05on the park and you get assigned a

43:08blanket with someone you don't know.

43:10I don't know. I mean something that's

43:12look that if you're the coordinator of

43:15something that you haven't taken on this

43:18because if you if you're trying to

43:20attend an event that doesn't have the

43:22detail or the structure is that a

43:24capacity in the coordination

43:27problem and now is that this larger

43:30symptom of these volunteerism kind of

43:33gaps the coordination

43:36isn't quite there. Yeah, I do think like

43:39the city of Philadelphia does a summer

43:40series where they close down sections of

43:43u a number of streets. They they

43:45publicize it in advance, but then they

43:47put out things. They put up round rows

43:50and four round chairs and the chairs are

43:53four chairs that are in a circle facing

43:56each other. And then the next like half

43:58block might be a a cornhole uh game. And

44:02then the next half block there's another

44:04round row and four chairs facing each

44:06other. It's fascinating. And people sit

44:09down and I would think they would drag

44:11the chairs away. A lot a lot of times

44:14they don't. They just sit in the chairs.

44:17They come walking down with their

44:18coffee, whatever. They sit down. Um it's

44:21kind of like the benches that they put

44:22outside of schools, like conversation

44:24benches, right? And they might even have

44:26had a little they might do a little

44:28preemptive work. I don't know. I was

44:29only there one of the weekends and my

44:32son lives there so he was explaining to

44:33me but they might explain that the round

44:35circles are conversation circles and so

44:39that's what they're for. That might be

44:40why people don't just move them all

44:42away.

44:43>> But it was an interesting idea.

44:45>> Yeah, that's something we could do in

44:47some of our public spaces like square.

44:50What about or weren't we talking about

44:53um Tracy wanted to occasionally close

44:55Broad Street for some things and that

44:57was sort of like a ongoing and that ever

44:59happened sort.

45:01>> It's a uh

45:03>> people might have very strong feelings

45:05about that. There's going to be a pilot

45:08kind of they're going to do that for

45:10like two events I think this fall and

45:12winter see what kind of feedback we get

45:14and then we'll just get rid of that

45:17street and just make it not a treat.

45:20Well, I like lots of people have idea.

45:22So,

45:23>> going to Rockland past few days this

45:25this week, they closed up Oak Street.

45:28It's um right downtown. They actually

45:32part of it is a winner which is a

45:34>> a paved road I mean top yeah you know

45:36stone road that I mean what am I trying

45:39to say that bricks whatever pavers

45:42>> some of it's it's for everyone part of

45:44it part of it it's for driving but it's

45:46also walking and biking and all that but

45:48it's landscape a lot of native plants

45:50like ascented ferns it the big mural on

45:54the side I mean it's really really

45:55pretty they do I mean it's I took some

45:58pictures and um I was really impressed

46:01with it and yes that broad street should

46:04and it they do they have been talking

46:06about making it kind of like a wounder

46:09maybe that's not the right word to it

46:10should be more I don't think people will

46:13>> like that a foreign word for it so it

46:16just should be pedestrian type or not

46:18it's not pedestrian

46:20>> even at Broad Street from West Market

46:22Square to the Bangar Daily News building

46:26for lack of a better word that part of

46:28Broad Street just make get brick pavers

46:31and then you can come up. What is the

46:33street? Is that is that broad? What is

46:35>> the one from the what?

46:36>> Banganger.

46:37>> Banger alley. Come up there and then go

46:39out.

46:39>> Banger alley.

46:40>> But if you have to deliver when they

46:42have streets that are too narrow for

46:44cars and they have to deliver to the

46:46commerce, they get littleer little

46:48>> I think the alternative is what they do

46:50in Burlington is they open it up to

46:52deliveries and stuff during the day and

46:54then in the evening is when they close

46:56it off and I think they do this back

46:58city. So So I think if we have to do

47:01something like that, it need to be just

47:03during the evenings. And I think

47:05honestly I think that would work for

47:06most people and especially on the

47:08weekends. That's when you're a lot of

47:09people come downtown. It is more

47:11pedestrian active.

47:14>> But anyway, yes, we're talking about

47:15that. We're just haven't brought it

47:17forward yet. But

47:19>> in regards to your blanket idea, I

47:21didn't want that to go. It should be

47:22more speed meeting like

47:25>> not not that you're devoting x amount. I

47:28mean, you get to go aroundank

47:31like their mouth open. [laughter]

47:33>> No, no, seriously. I mean, it gives you

47:35the opportunity to meet more people and

47:37then want to connect afterwards.

47:40>> I did think that maybe the blanket idea

47:42wouldn't be great because if I get down

47:45and then have to get up 14 times,

47:47blankets, but the chair, the chair, not

47:50the rug, I was like, "Oh, there." in

47:52England. There was some article I read

47:54that they were doing in certain part of

47:56England swings where it there was a sign

47:58or something saying that it was geared

48:01towards strangers sitting together in

48:04conversation swings or whatever whatever

48:06it's called. Uh but

48:08>> they have it in Boston too. They have

48:10>> which I think is neat. I mean even the

48:12swing here in Pickering Square. I mean

48:13there was a time when I someone was

48:15waiting for the bus

48:17>> and I sat down with them. We had such a

48:19nice conversation and I've seen other

48:21people sitting in the swing and enjoying

48:23it and it's um

48:25>> I have seen a I walk that way every day

48:28coming and going and um the swing has

48:31been used every day that it's been there

48:34and I haven't

48:36>> I haven't even seen I've tried like I

48:38walked on a lot I've tried to get on

48:40that swing like three times and there's

48:41always

48:44a

48:46like six or so What?

48:48>> Yeah, you could probably fit five or six

48:51people on it.

48:51>> And one of the counselors who's running

48:53block thinks it's a waste of money.

48:55>> Yeah.

48:55>> So, I will also just say this.

48:57>> I will just say this really quick. If

48:59you do do something like that, another

49:01thing this committee should do is we

49:03should be the ones that immediately hop

49:05on Facebook, like it, make a positive

49:07comment about it. Because the anything

49:11that committee does, there should be a

49:13needle start with a positive comment

49:14that that sometimes gives people pause

49:17before they jump in on their negative,

49:19but for every negative comment, there

49:21should be two positive comments. And so

49:23and that's something that

49:25>> or even just moderating the comm

49:28>> you know

49:29>> if it was if this committee had a page

49:34because this isn't a chartered committee

49:36so it can have its own Facebook page

49:38probably right that it can moderate the

49:40comments that be like a public record.

49:44>> I don't think you have to moderate it. I

49:46think it's more like just jump on and

49:47make sure that you're supportive of it.

49:49Yeah,

49:49>> because like we all just had very

49:51positive things to say about the swing

49:53and literally there's a city council

49:55member who I just read with Bangers who

49:58thinks it's a total who's running

50:00they're not elected yet who thinks it

50:02was a total waste of money and I'm like

50:04it's

50:04>> like it's constantly used

50:07can't get your butt in it.

50:08>> So that just made me think of it because

50:10I was like

50:11>> it's economic development too. You're

50:13you're making a place pretty for people

50:15who are living there, but also

50:17>> people who might want to move or come

50:19and visit the downtown. So,

50:21>> I wish I

50:23get on it too.

50:24>> Yeah, we can talk to Jeff.

50:26>> But yeah, definitely making it a place

50:29better like quality of life that

50:31attracts businesses,

50:34>> right? and have so many spaces in which

50:38you as a pedestrian often are walking

50:42looking down at where your next step

50:43goes and sort of like that chin up view

50:46of like there's beautiful things to look

50:48at and you're interested in what's

50:51around the next corner. Now you're going

50:53into shops because you're noticing

50:55things. You're seeing people's eyes.

50:57There's a lot of studies that talk about

50:59connection in just the Oh, that's almost

51:04exactly what the one in Boston looks

51:06like. Wow. I'm play with that.

51:14>> Um, so

51:17I feel like we really centered our

51:20conversation. I mean, I love how they

51:22just organically happened. We talked

51:24about social inclusion, civic

51:27participation, social participation,

51:31and some community and health services.

51:33As we were thinking about food and

51:36medicine, one thing that I uh learned or

51:41heard about when I was at that training

51:43earlier this week, too, was that someone

51:45talked about the overwhelming number of

51:50people they

51:52serve. And I think maybe they like did

51:55one of these classes that I was talking

51:57about where people do not have a next of

52:02kin or a medical, you know, um so they

52:06like they basically have no one,

52:09>> right? And so as we were talking about

52:11all these great ideas, I kept thinking

52:13about they sound awesome and how could

52:16we go one step further and like make

52:20reach out to that population of people

52:24and bring them in to connect them with

52:28this too.

52:29>> I have the answer.

52:30>> Well, Ann is talking about having a

52:32conversation on solo aging

52:35>> and that's uh that's Yeah. and and

52:37having that be like a a I mean

52:40>> we had that person from UI that talked

52:43to us at one Liverable communities

52:45meeting November. I found that really

52:48really helpful to hear her

52:50>> her perspective on that and I thought we

52:52had talked about how some of the health

52:56centers could help identify

52:59folks as well.

53:00>> Oh that a really good idea.

53:02>> So

53:02>> doctor's offices. Yeah.

53:04>> Yeah. Let's keep that maybe like You you

53:07just keep that in mind as you plan for

53:10these.

53:12>> As far as doctor's office, are they I

53:15mean how what type of information and

53:16how

53:19>> does your doctor ever ask you about your

53:21living situation? Do you live alone? Who

53:23do you live with?

53:24>> Well, um

53:26>> I mean they collect that, right? Always.

53:28But but okay, let's just How many people

53:31are you okay when they ask you really

53:33personal questions about depression and

53:35stuff like that? Are you going to

53:37actually on a on a computer screen that

53:41you don't know who it's going to say,

53:42"Yes, I'm depressed."

53:45And then what does that

53:47>> go to? The only time that I've ever seen

53:49doctors officers involved is where a a

53:52committee like ours would um or a public

53:55health or whatever would put together a

53:58rack card

53:59>> that just says these are resources that

54:01are available in the community and if

54:03they thought that you might be at risk

54:06for anything for depression or just they

54:09would let you they would inform you of

54:10it. It none of that information would

54:12ever flow back. It's just an informing

54:16you. Are you aware that these are some

54:18of the resources or hey, I've had some

54:21of my patients um have great success

54:24with this particular or whatever it

54:27that's it. It's really just a not

54:30identifying you for us.

54:31>> It's just that I guess it's just so

54:33black and white because who isn't

54:35depressed right now at some point in

54:37their life? If you're not, then you have

54:39an issue.

54:42But but to answer your question very

54:44very specifically when I was at

54:46Dartmouth we did that

54:48>> we create we did a study all through New

54:51England

54:52>> y

54:52>> where you go to your primary care doctor

54:55and you are looking at a tablet and

54:57you're answering things that are

54:58difficult to say to someone's face but

55:01you could push a button and say oh maybe

55:03more than half the days and then that

55:06data ported into your chart. nobody saw

55:10it. Your doctor would open your chart

55:13and the screen would be green, yellow or

55:16red depending on how many questions, you

55:20know, lit up. So, we created this

55:22threshold. So, then your doctor was

55:24like, "Oh, there's an orange or a red.

55:26Maybe I'll bring up." So, it really was

55:29about the relationship you with your

55:30doctor than the doctor having a

55:33protocol. he knew you very well and had

55:35already talked to you about this and he

55:37sees the orange or red be like we have a

55:39good relationship and I know that

55:40they'll come to me

55:42>> but they generally also ask you what

55:45what your home situation is like who you

55:48live with all those things

55:49>> is there room for someone to say you

55:55know if they know those patients that

55:56they can hand them some material

56:00about solar aers

56:03It's interesting.

56:04>> Yeah. It's it's just time wise with pe

56:06with doctors these days and you really

56:09don't get to know them and they don't

56:10get to know you.

56:11>> Yeah.

56:12>> And in a lot of situ I'm not saying all

56:14faces but in a lot of situations and

56:16people don't even have doctors who

56:19walking around that I know in my

56:21neighborhood in pain because they don't

56:23have the money to pay for to go to a

56:25doctor.

56:26>> So

56:27>> So I we'll just leave it at that. Yeah,

56:31>> I do want to if I may I in regard to one

56:34of these transportation if I may ask you

56:37a question.

56:38>> Absolutely.

56:39>> Is there a map or something that shows

56:42where the specific stops are now? I mean

56:46I I saw something with like the smallest

56:48little blue almost bluish. It's like

56:53there's no way you could most people

56:55would be able to see. So like if I want

56:57to know where is the nearest stop that

57:01>> so the best way to look at it is to use

57:04the app that we have

57:06>> and it's Bangor Community Connector

57:08>> and if you look up the Bangor Community

57:11Connector app then you can see every

57:13single stop

57:14>> okay

57:14>> and it will tell you which side of the

57:15street it's on it will give you

57:17real-time information that all buses are

57:20lo have GPS's on them and um AVL on them

57:24automatic vehicle locators

57:26So real time information is now on the

57:29Bangor Community Connector app and you

57:32can, you know, use your phone to like

57:34really home in getting the exact side of

57:37the street. It will let you know what

57:39time it's coming and we have it so

57:42there's an estimated time for the

57:44schedule, but also you can literally see

57:46the little bus going round.

57:48>> And I'll say that the transportation

57:50center, I love where it is. I love how

57:52you've been maintaining it. It is so

57:54spotless when you walk around it and

57:56walk into it is it because people do

57:59have big negative comments about it and

58:02I thank you.

58:03>> I appreciate that. It's it's been a

58:06labor of love for me

58:09>> personally. [laughter]

58:11I'm very very very proud of the transit

58:13center. I feel like we've needed it for

58:15a very long time. I too love where it's

58:18at. I love when I leave the theater

58:21because I'm a very frequent flyer of

58:23theater and I love being able to walk by

58:26it and

58:28just everybody's in you even if they're

58:30sitting on the bench and it's a Sunday

58:32it's not working you know we're not

58:33operating it's just people have been you

58:36know very respectful of it and just

58:39>> just using it as a

58:42>> yes

58:44>> it's a pleasant place actually now with

58:47big green square being Right.

58:50>> And to your point, this way is being

58:52used. I see it used constantly,

58:54>> constantly,

58:55>> you know, and um yeah, I just wish they

58:58had a few more.

59:00>> Yeah.

59:01>> So, what do you think about next time we

59:03talk about housing outdoor spaces and

59:05buildings?

59:08>> That's some of the hard harder stuff

59:10that we haven't gotten into. And how

59:12does everybody like

59:14>> this type of where we're coming and

59:16having these types of discussions

59:19in a it seems like this is a lots of

59:21idea generation and planning which is a

59:24little different than how we've been

59:25doing the last couple meetings. So do we

59:28like keep to keep going like this just

59:31to kind of get your temperature?

59:33>> I mean I think it's I think it's great

59:35to go back and revisit the plan because

59:37it's it really needs to be updated and I

59:40think the city's probably doing tons in

59:43the housing in the the last of the

59:45domains. Yeah. You know, in terms of uh

59:48I mean it's always around affordability,

59:50it's around solo aging, it's around,

59:53>> you know, can you

59:55>> are people in big homes that don't

59:57>> Yeah. Yeah. And

1:00:00has a lot to to report out about some of

1:00:03those things that we've been doing with

1:00:05planning and zoning and stuff like that,

1:00:07too. So, we can bring our best.

1:00:09>> That'll be interesting. Yeah. Bring our

1:00:12best minds next time.

1:00:14>> Well, and we're also working on a few

1:00:15initiatives committee feedback on around

1:00:21complete streets and stuff like that,

1:00:22but be back maybe in the winter to talk

1:00:25about that.

1:00:26>> I love this stuff. So, yes,

1:00:29>> more

1:00:30>> definitely.

1:00:32>> All right. Thank you. This was awesome.

1:00:34Thank you.

1:00:35>> Thank you. See you in a couple weeks,

1:00:36right?

1:00:37>> Yes. So, yes.