Lucia Wanzenried

Hola! Class, I volunteer for a community activity once a week for 1-2 hours online chat for the aging with disabilities: they present with signs of memory loss and some in early stage Dementia. Families set up the online skype, Facetime, via desktop, laptop etc.,and I'll engage with each individual about topics specific to their life history. Volunteers are provided with a brief Bio about our guest from the immediate family carer. Take note: HIPPA regulations and compliance are absolutely strictly adhered to at all times with chat sessions. It's fascinating to learn about timeline experiences of their past. I've engaged with a Professional ballet dancer, a Pro tennis player, a Criminal Court Judge who are in their Golden years today! It does require effort and creative motivation, yet the rewards are never ending. Smiles.

Hi all, during the summer season our Community organizes bar-b-ques every Thursday. I'll volunteer to set up the Kitchen in our building where an outside organization provides the food, condiments, and prepares the grilling. Once a month I'll print off the newsletter @ our Building Admin office and the night building attendant will help me distribute the fliers to 8 floors. As the volunteer I have the pleasure of greeting our residents who live in the Building! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with new residents, and also for elders who are less "visible" that may benefit with various outside services provided in the local Community . 

Impact category 7 : Buy/support local businesses. Out of habit I make the choice of seeking POC small local businesses for target purchases. Everything from printer ink, quality custom fortified bird seed for my African Grey, beet pulp for my horses, fresh vegan tamales, goat milk, herbs, lavender honey, plants and more. And when I allow myself a treat each quarter: Vegan Missionary Truffles @PSU Saturday farmers market . I enjoy meeting the proprietor of unique small businesses that purpose Fair Market sources, that share their heart and soul beliefs why their contribution to the Community is vitally important!  

Happy Saturday Capstone class - So, an Eco challenge evolved over the past 2 weeks: researching resources to buy sour cream, yogurt , goat milk to name a few that are not sold in these plastic containers. I do culture yogurt but this isn't enough to last a week. I quit using the large clear plastic containers for "Power Greens" when I was in a rush to grocery shop in 20 minutes. I resolved to take the time to pick out the fresh greens at Farmers markets. I wanted to share what I accumulate in a week, and this is a lot to me. I have made many positive changes and continue to make mindful choices!

 

Hello Capstone Community!
This week I decided to determine the time and effort to take 3 forms of transportation out to The Barn to care for my horses! First I walked 5 blocks with a borrowed bike - hopped the light rail to Beaverton transit center. There I transferred on a bus w bike rack to Hillsboro : dropped off @ Baseline highway 8 and 331 street. Rode the bike 1.5 miles to Barn destination. Whew! Thank goodness the weather wasn't as warm . I hoped to attempt this for 5 days, and I succeeded for 3 days instead.  I lease-drive an Eco car and typically takes 32 minutes to drive to The barn. I enjoyed figuring out how to navigate using our public transportation systems, and that it is doable to make the effort to change  my ecological footprint of travel . I do have to weigh in the time it does take to complete the round trip.
* It took :  1hr -45 minutes one way. Even 1 time a week is still a considerable effort!   

Good day Capstoner's, this was sitting in my draft box : EXPLORE A NEW TRAIL Challenge!

This evening was a bit warm for my power walk up to Pittock Mansion. I live downtown near the Providence Park Soccer Field and walked up toward Washington Park - access to Rose Gardens. I'm in shape except I have cut back to 3X a week etc., So my pace wouldn't be as brisk but I'm going UP!  Sadly, because of time I skipped through The Rose Garden, but took in my daily dose of rose therapy......love love love it.  The park was wonderfully busy with folks enjoying their picnic gathering, and swishing bright colorful frisbee's with their pups. Leaving the gardens, I took the steps to the tennis courts. Here I warmed up before taking the upward climb of steps around the back side of The Japanese Gardens. Whew! That's going to burn real good. Smiles. Nice scenery views of the lily ponds, manicured Azaleas, topiary boxwoods, Cherry blossom trees, willows, too many to name, and one of my faves: Magnolia Trees!  Their aromatic sweet lemon scent gives me the boost to pick up the pace. I approach what appears to me is a super nice reconstructed bridge which crosses over Burnside Road. The pathway winds a bit yet safe to jog and soon approaching sundown. Finally connect to a neighborhood street off the path, I switch back the way up following the guide markers to the mansion. At this point it's slow going on pavement, it's a peaceful - lovely neighborhood and admiring unique architectural homes. The sounds of the water fountains trickling, adorning statues, creative lighting and use of building material resources in retaining walls and landscaping to name a few. I digress (grins). 

Ok, I've reached the service road behind Pittock Mansion, making my way to the grassy field, not crowded at all. Somehow this particular evening The Pittock Mansion "building architecture" is casting eerie shadows that whisper welcome !  I finally arrive to capture one of the best evening scenic views of Portland City Lights. I took a quick photo but turned out too blurry to share. It was sundown and looked forward to the trek down. I decided to return home by taking a shorter route through the well lit neighborhood streets down to Burnside. All in all was a total of 2.5 hours round trip, and discovered a new trail to Council Crest for the next hike! FUN, Thanks for reading too.  

Hi Capstone Summer 21 team.......I just returned from Greenway Recycling to drop off roofing materials and chunks of concrete from a "sweat equity" barter exchange. I learned basic Waste Management Hierarchy.

1)  This term I pledge to REDUCE - less is more.
2) REUSE: For the above barter exchange I suggested to repurpose many of the flat concrete chunks for a stepping stone pathway to the garden/equipment shed. Use colorful dye stain left from interior Art Studio remodel project and wash over the grey concrete, easy peasey.
3) RECYCLE:  A Veteran base company shredded boxes of paper documents on-sight with a cost - I gladly supported a local small company!  But after several boxes of shredding today, I actually repacked items shipped off to family members. I shared my shreds - smiles. I still have 1 box of shreds that are taking up way  too much air space in my small dwelling. I researched how to make paper, While I was at the recycling center I soaked lots of shreds and this evening I'm blender processing, matting; thin layers of the pulp over a makeshift screen and why not mix (seeds) throughout.
4) Recovery
5) Disposal is least favorable. 

All in all on this short mission, I discovered after the separation/sort/clean process, external buyers bid for specific recovery "as is" materials and basically reproduce - manufacture alternative products. Thanks for reading!