Month: April 2021

Ward 2 Canal District Restaurant

I would start a restaurant in the canal enterprise district, Ward 2, based on a familiar business model I have been following in Essex Junction, Vermont. The business is called Mark BBQ, and the community comes together over food and helping one another. The idea is to serve great food to the public while coming up with ways to donate money to causes, gain community attention for other businesses, and set up days where the food is all about being where it’s needed. Members who need a meal or are struggling can come into the restaurant or call and have a premade meal given to them no questions asked. To get to this point in functioning, I would need to have support from the community. The neighbors who came in when they were struggling, will remember the restaurant, telling others to spread the word, or come back to support when they are able. Including everyone and giving back, when possible, will be a great accomplishment. Another way to help reach people all over the island, especially Ward 1, would be offering delivery. This could be an option depending on how things are planned but having a building as near to the district in need as well as one with the most attraction and business potential would be a good compromise. This business would be a contact zone because there is a social space where customers would come together. There would be clear differences in the members gathering and coexisting in the restaurant.

Ward 2 Zoo

I believe that a Zoo would help bring more life, and more revenue, to Ralston’s second ward. As the primary commercial ward, the zoo could help bring in people to the many businesses in Ralston, so that they may be more inclined to shop around. And as with many zoos people may wish to visit multiple times, bringing in more people to Ralston. Additionally, zoos provide a great source of education and entertainment for people of all ages. The zoo could also help Ralston’s second ward to have a better built environment. With the open land and all that comes with a zoo, the second ward would see more natural life in it.

Ward 2 Haunted House

I propose that ward two should have a haunted house in their neighborhood. This proposal is to get the peoples attention to their part of Ralston with a eye catching building. Plus, who does not love a haunted house? Haunted houses bring in lots and lots of people each and every time to the attraction. It’s a memory that people hold on to for years. This addition will bring in new ideas on how to make the hunted house even better and bring in many helpers. The haunted house proposal is perfect for people to come together to create something fun and memorable.

Ward 2 Campsite

This contribution is very different then my first but looking at the Map of Ralston it made m think putting a campsite in the west woods of Ward 2 would be really cool. Like one of those artificial campsites where everyone just stays for a month or two in an RV. I think it’s a nice getaway for Ralston residents or people from outside of Ralston could vacation too.

Nonprofit Reproductive Healthcare Clinic

I am proposing that a nonprofit reproductive healthcare clinic be added to Ralston. It’s extremely important that all individuals receive necessary reproductive healthcare, especially women. Services provided by this clinic would include free condoms, information and services relating to other forms of birth control, and information and services regarding fetal termination. I propose that this clinic be placed in Ward 1, as this is where the majority of Ralston’s economic disparity occurs. It would be most desirable for the clinic to be placed near the Canal Gardens affordable housing development, because it is home to city residents who earn less, on average, than residents in any other part of the city. These residents most likely have less access to traditional healthcare services, which is why it’s important to place the clinic nearby. Additionally, there would need to be some formal mechanisms put into place for anyone who might disagree with the clinic’s services.

Nature Center

My proposal before was a community nature center that could be put in one of the many parks that Ralston, VT has. This new building would fit perfectly under the Public Amenities Ward because it would be a nice place where people can convene and look at all the different living animals and plants that live around the city. A phenomenal reason as to why the city of Ralston needs a nature center is because it could bring in tourists to the town. This would help local businesses and it could boost the joy that is already spreading around Ralston. This would also fit perfectly with the Heart and Soul of Ralston because it can reconnect everyone back with the animals and nature around the city/town.

Gazebo in Parks

I believe that a nice gazebo structure akin to this could be built in the parks spread throughout town (and if the different wards of the town don’t all have parks, they likely should). This could add a lot to the town’s built environment, allowing the local community to further prosper through friendly outdoor socialization with one another in the summer season in particular. If it’s used enough by a wide portion of the community, it could even become a heart and soul aspect of it, similar to some other establishments that communities like mine have.

Ward 1 Skatepark

If I could contribute to the community life in Ralston, I would make a skatepark located in Ward 1. From the survey data on “A Structural Look at Ralston,” ward 1’s currently home to two opposite socio-economic classes. The wards vitality score is ranked at 2 which means as one resident said, “Not much happens.” A skatepark according to the glossary provided would be a Contact Zone. This is because a skatepark would be able to be accessed from anyone in Ralston but also could increase Ward 1’s vitality score. I think the skatepark could be accessible to anyone that wants to visit, all they really need are something that includes wheels within reason (skateboards, scooters, rollerblades). These are all relatively inexpensive items and can be purchased once creating opportunities for the person that bought it, having a skatepark enables people who own these things the ability to interact with one another. Using formal mechanisms, the skatepark will be able to function and abide by laws. Ultimately, I think a skateboard will raise the vitality score dramatically for the ward and provide new opportunities for Ralston.

Ralston Private Letter

My Dearest Rosalin,

I’ve discovered something, and it felt natural that I should write to you first. Not only because you’re one of the few people who will tolerate multi-page handwritten letters, but also because you’re not a resident of Ralston. For now, I feel it’s best that what I’ve found stay hidden to the public.

It’s exciting. I feel like I’m a little kid again, searching for buried treasure at the beach. I’m even writing this by candlelight for the full effect.

You’re probably rolling your eyes and asking me to get on with it already, so I’ll jump to it. In light of a couple members of the library staff leaving (Casey’s off to college and Fiona’s retiring), I’m back on dusting duty. And I found something ordinary that contained something rather extraordinary.

It was in the far back of the basement, amongst outdated atlases and academic essays. The dust on the books was so thick you probably could have spun it into wool and knitted one of your sweaters out of it.

The book itself was unremarkable. Just one of the atlases. But inside I found a single sheet of paper, which I’ll transcribe for you now.

***

CHILDREN OF THE WATER MANIFESTO
Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.

PURPOSE
A guiding hand is ever present in our life. It is the choice of each individual to accept that guidance, or to fall into despair and darkness. We are those who have accepted, those who trust, and those who believe. Still, we choose the ultimate path of our destiny, and we shall devote that destiny to finding the ultimate truth.

GUIDANCES
1. Accept the guidance of Fate. That which wishes to guide you will cause you no harm. Any suffering you may endure will be made up for tenfold when Fate blesses you.
2. Soothe the doubts of fellow members when they feel they have lost sight of Fate. Remind them that there is light in all darkness, hope in all despair.
3. Pass on the wisdom of Fate to unenlightened souls. Tell them there is guidance awaiting them, that there is light in all darkness, hope in all despair.
4. Remember your free will. Fate is a suggestion, like the waves we frequent. We are both the waves, pulled by gravity, and the wind that guides the waves.
5. Those who speak directly to Fate hold the highest wisdom. Trust their guidance when you are in dou[bt]

***

The rest is torn out.

The writing on the document is faded. The paper was quite delicate. I’m no historian, but the paper is certainly at least several decades old. The document being here makes it probable that several decades ago, a cult (I have no proof that it’s a cult, but, “Children of the Water?” Come on.) was meeting, or at least organizing meetings, in the Ralston Public Library.

Ralston has always been a quaint place. Too quaint, if you’d asked me when I was a kid. Now I wonder how much of that is because of what we have buried.

For many people, Ralston’s quaint nature is why they live here. It’s at the heart of the community. I don’t know what it would do to people if this information got out. For now, I’ll only entrust this knowledge in you.

I look forward to tea on Saturday.

All yours,

Genevive.

Game Studio (Definitely Not Nintendo)

I feel like I could contribute something that falls under business in some capacity, something like a game studio. Since I’m majoring in Game Programming and have been introduced to the process of game development this semester, I feel like something relating to that would be the best thing I could personally contribute. I feel like having something like this established in Ralston would be fitting considering that the community already seems to have a great interest in art, with game development being an art in my eyes. All aspects of game development could be considered art in its own respect, with programming being art in the sense that it’s like building something, just digitally, while the design and art aspects are like art in a more traditional sense. In terms of the frameworks we’ve discussed, my contribution could be best described as a built environment, providing people with an interest in creating games in some capacity a place to do so.