MECCA: Low-Cost Art Supplies for All

MECCA, or the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, is a non-profit organization based in Eugene, Oregon. MECCA’s mission is to divert materials out of the waste stream and into the community’s creative endeavors. The organization’s core values are creativity, earth and community.

MECCA allows community members to donate, shop and create. Individuals can donate materials, funds or time. MECCA explains, “People ask us, what can I donate to MECCA? What does MECCA sell in the store? We usually laugh and reply, ‘everything!'” The organization accepts art supplies in usable condition and even unusual items such as scrap metal and power tools. Volunteers are always needed to support creative materials and arts education. 

The MECCA store provide the Eugene community with a studio open to the public. The Meyer Memorial Trust, a group that invests grants to non-profit organizations in Oregon and Clark County, Washington, awarded MECCA with a grant. The grant allowed MECCA to purchase a Conrad Etching Press and silkscreen equipment. The equipment lets visitors explore printmaking techniques like screen printing, woodcut and calligraphy.

The best part of MECCA is what the organization gives back to the Eugene community. MECCA offers low-cost and environmentally-friendly workshops and classes. For example, the Selco Saturday Kids Workshops are held every Saturday from 11-3 pm. The workshop offers all-ages crafts for kids and families. MECCA asks for only $3-5 sliding scale donation per child. MECCA also provides a warehouse full of surplus supplies available for teachers at no cost.

MECCA made big changes in 2014. It diverted 44,582 pounds of material from the waste stream, an increase of 25 percent from 2013. The organization donated 12,018 pounds of free supplies to educators, nearly five times the amount from 2013. This reached 24,178 students in Lane County, more than double from 2013 and supporting 550 organizations, up from 70 percent from 2013.

House of Cards: Netflix’s dump-and-binge model

Photo credit: Diego Cambiaso (Flickr)

What did you do this weekend? You could find me parked in front of the television like many other House of Cards enthusiasts. Last Friday, Netflix released the entire third season of House of Cards and the binging began. House of Cards first launched in February 2013 and made history as the first major series to release an entire season at once. It has received 22 Emmy nominations and won four awards. Netflix took an estimated 100 million investment risk on House of Cards and came out successful. The political drama is one of more than 20 original series or movies Netflix will show this year.

House of Cards is a tv drama about a ruthless congressman and his equally determined wife. Francis and Claire Underwood climb to power in Washington D.C and exact revenge on those who betray them. Season 3 begins with President Underwood and the First Lady settling in from a newly accomplished White House seat.

Netflix refuses to reveal viewership of any of its series. Although we don’t know how many Netflix subscribers watched the premier, fans emerging from a 13-hour marathon had an overall positive outlook on Twitter. IMDb rates the show a 9.1 out of 10. Eighty-eight percent of critics and 84 percent of viewers liked House of Cards on Rotten Tomatoes. Is Netflix’s dump-and-binge model successful?

The article, Is House of Cards Really a Hit? makes three interesting points on viewership.

1.) Popularity is weird.

Although the most essayed-about show might be Girls, the most tweeted-about show is, Pretty Little Liars, and the most talked-about show is House of Cards, the most popular show is NCIS .

2.) Netflix and HBO are lucky…

It doesn’t matter how many people watch Netflix and HBO shows because they’re selling subscriptions.

3.) … broadcast is not lucky.

Broadcast networks need massive audiences and rely on adjacent advertising.

The question remains, will the binge watching continue or is the House of Cards hype over? Only time will tell.

What it means to be a Wisconsin United Family

I have had the honor of becoming apart of a basketball family. My uncle, Mike DeBakker, has coached men and boy’s basketball for years. He recently took a leap of faith and started a basketball club called Wisconsin United. The program is dedicated to ensuring student-athletes success and progress in the classroom, on the basketball floor and as a person. Every aspect of the program functions on family values and bettering oneself in all life skills.

For the past few years my vacations were spent in the stands of basketball courts across the nation. I traveled with the team by van and plane to Kansas City, Missouri, Nashville, Tennessee and Orlando, Florida. The team traveled to Oregon for a tournament and toured the University of Oregon athletic facilities.

 

After spending only hours with these players, I could see the intense passion and devotion for basketball each individual holds.Throughout my travels, I was lucky enough to get to know a group of talented, hardworking and wholesome basketball players. The established coaches are dedicated and inspirational to a fault. Wisconsin United has an incredibly loyal fan base and I was quick to become one. 

My time with the team has been one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences I have ever had. I saw first hand a group of players grow and improve their skills. The tournaments and practices showed me how sports can be both gratifying and heartbreaking. Win or lose, I witnessed the power of teamwork and family. The program stands by its motto, “When you are a Wisconsin United Family, we mean you are ‘family’.”

Inside Mount Hood, Oregon

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to visit Mount Hood, Oregon’s tallest mountain at 11,249 feet. Most people imagine snow, ice, fluffy hats and snow sports. However, Oregon’s bipolar weather had different plans. Forty-six degrees and raining, we were forced indoors all weekend. Despite the rain, Mount Hood did not fail to surprise and delight.

We started our indoor adventure for lunch at the Timberline Lodge. Built in 1937, the breathtaking lodge sits on the south slope and has been featured in the popular horror film, The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson. We ate at the Ram’s Head Bar where we indulged in northwest artisan cheeses and New England style clam chowder, a five time winner of the Oregon Coast Chowder Challenge. The restaurant is surrounded by a massive three-story stone chimney. Even with cloudy skies, customers get a spectacular view of the mountain from the second floor circular balcony.

We spent happy hour at the Mt. Hood Brewing Company located in Government Camp tasting its hand-crafted ales like Highland Meadow Blonde Ale and Cloud Cap Amber Ale. The building was recently renovated and I appreciate the strip of ice along the bar that conveniently keeps your drink ice cold. One of the most memorable places to eat in the village of Government Camp is called Ratskeller, which arguably serves the best pizza on Mt. Hood. My family and I regularly stopped at Rathskeller for a hot pizza after a long day on the mountain. Ratskeller is a family-friendly restaurant with big tv’s and arcade games. Those interested in local coffee should stop at Mt. Hood Roasters off Highway 26. It is nearly impossible to pass this little shop in Rhododendron without stopping in for a unique cup of joe with a taste of the Northwest in mind.

My favorite spot to visit in the Mount Hood area is Skyway Bar and Grill in Zig Zag. Skyway is a unique restaurant that serves mouthwatering barbecue. My favorite menu items are the macaroni and cheese, truffle oil hand-cut fries and the pork ribs. The eclectic restaurant is covered wall-to-wall with one of a kind antiques and art. The most intriguing aspect of Skyway is the live music offered nightly. Saturday night the Bottleneck Blues Band played with a light show and dance floor.

Mount Hood offers as many indoor activities and events as it does outdoors. The local stores, bars and restaurants offer a unique experience tailored to the Northwest mountain life. If you’re in the Mount Hood area don’t overlook the indoor opportunities.