There was lots of bubbling on the boulevards of Maxwell Park this winter, as folks got involved, expressed themselves artistically, and supported our local sports team. We have such diversity of interests and talents, and it's great to share just a few of the happenings over the last month or so.
Consume This Movie—Indie Film
Maxwell Park's own Gene Brockhoff, filmmaker and floor-finishing contractor, released an interesting film titled Consume This Movie. He first got interested in independent film production in 1999, when he purchased a Hi-8 video camera and took it to Thailand, Nepal, and India. Self-taught, he started video editing by piecing travel footage together. Most recently he completed this film, a critical examination of consumer values in America and how consumer culture is antithetical to community and connection to each other. Brockhoff says his film'"deals with issues like peak oil, social injustice, species extinction, time, poverty, advertising, and social communication through the lens of consumption which includes energy consumption. It's a tough sell in this'worrisome'economy because people tend to want'escapism'at times like these, and this film is anything but an escape."'
He used some local talent in the film. Musicians Beth Vanderveneet and her husband Tim Carless both play in the film, and Rosin Coven's music was used in the film. Gene comments, "As Obama said during his acceptance speech, 'This campaign was born in the back yards of Des Moines and the front porches of Charleston,' I want to say, 'This film began in the cafes of MacArthur Blvd."'
Copies of the film are available at the Laurel Book Store on MacArthur Blvd. The Web site is http://www.consumethismovie.com/index.html.
Fremont's Lady Tigers attract Maxwell Park Boosters
Let's hear it for our local Maxwell Park sports fans who climbed those steep bleachers after a long day at work and rallied some old cheers. They attended several basketball games over the last months in support of our own home team, Fremont High School's Lady Tigers. Our boosters are optimistic, and we certainly have the spirit.
One booster, José Dorado, said, "It is clear coach Katinka Patridge knows the game of basketball, so I am certain the team will only get better."'
Another booster, Nancy Karigaca, noted, "As I walked up to the bleachers before the game, a number of the girls greeted me with high-fives. It was such a warm welcome and made me more determined to keep attending their games."
The team appreciated having the neighbors rooting for them and took time to take some photos after the last home game. Go Lady Tigers!
Friends of Maxwell Park hosted a cleanup in the actual park at Allendale and Fleming on Saturday, January 10. Led by Nancy Karigaca, neighbors and friends joined in a major clearing of the ivy along the south side of the park. This is one small step in a beautification effort planned over the next few years.'
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