Acadia Community Garden - Oct 17, 2012

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, October 17th, 7:00pm at the ARC.  We hope to see you there!

Acadia Garden Update from Sept 5th meeting

Hi Everyone, Sorry I am late in posting the update frome the September 5th meeting...here it is. Corinne

Hello Everyone,

Our last meeting went well, and our next meeting will be Wednesday, October 17th, 7:00pm at the ARC.

In the interim, we will continue to work on the elements required by the City of Calgary. Various members of the committee will be measuring the site and beginning work on a plan, we'll get a bank account going (for our grant, woohoo!), and some of us will be visiting other community gardens to see how they look when they're in full growth. We'll continue to work on getting the word out about the garden - if any of you has a contact that could help us get a blurb into local school or church newsletters, or any other media in Acadia, don't be shy, let us know about it!

Some other events and news you might like to know about:

Oct. 3 - Hillhurst Sunnyside Harvest Fair

Oct. 25 - The Calgary Horticultural Society's Community Gardens Resource Network will be organizing some regional meetings and presentations, to help us make contacts with other community gardeners, to exchange information and to learn something new.

The Community Gardens Resource Network has a newly designed website at http://www.calhort.org/community-gardens.aspx#. I invite you to go have a look at it.

Linda Berry

Acadia Community Garden Committee

Acadia Community Assoc AGM Sept 27 7 pm

Acadia community association annual general meeting! Sept 27 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

Acadia Community Garden Grant Winner

We are delighted to report that the Acadia Community Garden is a recipient of one of the August www.gigyyc.com grants for $1200.00. We were one of the Cultural Ambassador picks.

Thank you to everyone that voted for the garden! We could not have received our grant without you!

Congratulations to all the other public and cultural ambassador grant recipients.

If you have a great idea for a grassroots initiative for Calgary, there is still time to put in your grant application and get everyone voting for your project for the next round of grants!

Here is the link to our project http://www.gigyyc.com/event/2012/acadia-community-garden

The next meeting will be in October, the date will be announced soon.

Please share the wonderful news with everyone in the community of Acadia!

Please Vote for the Acadia Community Garden

Hi Everyone,  

Linda Berry is the lead for the Acadia Community Garden and I am also a volunteer working on it. Our grant application has been accepted for voting as a www.gigyyc.com grassroots project.  Please consider following the link and voting for the garden every day. Please ask your friends, family, co-workers to vote for the garden every day. It only takes a moment!   

The public and the Calgary 2012 Cultural Ambassadors vote and each month the projects with the most votes receive funding.  We had to change our original location sadly due to the main Atco gas line running through the site, but the City of Calgary found us a new home.   

We would use the funds to purchase materials for items like the raised garden beds, the compost bins and the shed for tools.   For more info about the grant and how you can to help - please see below....

http://www.gigyyc.com/event/2012/acadia-community-garden

Thank you for considering voting for this awesome project for Acadia!

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A Community Garden for Acadia

If you would like to have a Community Garden in Acadia, join us on the Acadia Community Garden Committee. A Community Garden gives people the opportunity to grow their own food or flowers in raised beds on public land. This enhances the health and wellness of everyone in the community.

We're planning to begin building a garden in Acadia in Spring 2013, and have secured a new site, but we still need to fulfill some City requirements, and do some serious fundraising, before we can build.

We need some dedicated volunteers to fill committee positions, as well as casual volunteers for everything from putting up posters, fundraising, building, and so on. If you have time and interest in this important community-building project, contact us at:

acadiagarden@yahoo.ca

Linda Berry at 403-270-8411

Corinne Sandhurst at 403-253-2577

Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 5, at 7:00 pm, at the Acadia Recreation Complex.

Acadia Garden Meeting Tonight - 7-9 at the Arc

Wed July 4th - 7 -9 pm.  Tonight -  Garden meeting and we have a home for our meetings right at the Acadia Rec Complex. Thank you to the Acadia Community Association for providing us with our home! 



We are looking at some new sites and would like as many in attendance as possible.  We hope you can make it!  

Build Day - June 16th Cancelled

Hi Everyone,

Our Build Day for the coming Saturday is cancelled, as I'm afraid I have some bad news. I contacted ATCO recently regarding getting their approvals to proceed with the garden within the pipeline right of way, and ATCO has denied us permission to put anything in within 35 meters of the pipeline, which is basically the entire space we had planned to put the garden in. Apparently this line is the main feed line for the entire city of Calgary, which means it's a little more important than just the regular street lines that feed our homes. At this point, our contact with the City of Calgary is looking into our options, including other potential sites within Acadia. Stay tuned for further developments.

Sincerely,

Linda Berry

Acadia Community Garden

Build First Box Sat June 16 10 am

Hello Acadia Community Garden Committee,

Yes, you read that correctly, we are having a build day! Well, sort of... we're building one 4X6 planter box, and a sign announcing the future site of the Acadia Community Garden.

We'd like you to be there. Come out to the dirt hump on Saturday, June 16th at 10am., and bring one plant of your choice to plant in the box.

We're putting this together out of leftover wood, so if you have any of the following, please bring them along too: scrap wood, leftover potting soil, leftover exterior paint, screws/nails.

I'll be bringing my tools along, and we'll try to have a few snacks and drinks available.

I look forward to seeing you there!  Sat, June 16 10 am

June 16 build a box and July 4th meeting

We are building our first planter box on Sat June 16th. Time to be announced.  It will be a landmark to show the community where the garden will be. All welcome to help build - watch fore more info.

Wed July 4th - 7 -9 pm.  Next Garden meeting and we have a home for our meetings right at the Acadia Rec Complex. Thank you to the Acadia Community Association for providing us with our home!

Please help get the word out!  Please talk to your neighbours and friends. If you know anyone in the apartments, please encourage them to come check it out!   It's a garden for our whole community!

Community Garden Agenda for June 6th

Acadia Community Garden

AGENDA

June 6^th, 2012

Welcome and Agenda Review 7:00pm

Review Minutes from May 3^rd meeting 7:10pm

Strong Neighborhood Initiative – Viviana and Tamara-City of Calgary 7:20pm

Sub-Committee Report 7:30pm

Design/Build Committee – Corinne, Geoff, Linda, Andy, Jeff, Janine

Guidelines/Expectations Committee – Sharon, Mindy, Patricia

Communications Committee – Corinne, Patricia

Financial Committee – Erin, Josh, Leah, Jeff

Community/Surveying Committee – Mindy, Sharon, Patricia, Erin

New Business 8:00pm

Announcements 8:10pm

Set next meeting date 8:15pm

Wrap up and evaluation of meeting 8:20pm

Confirmed Meeting Location June 6 7-9 pm C0-OP

Wed. June 6th 7 -9 pm at:

Acadia Calgary Co-op:

8818 Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2H 0M4

The Cafe is on the north west corner inside the store.  Please come prepared to support our community Co-Op with purchase of a coffee or....  Co-op confirmed its fine for us to use the cafe as long as we support the cafe while we are there.

http://www.letsfind.ca/ca/alberta/calgary/coop-macleod-centre/1655

Wednesday, June 6th 7 pm next meeting! Please Come

The Next Acadia Community Garden Committee Meeting is Wednesday, June 6th at 7 pm. Location is TBA. If you have a good idea of a place to meet in the community that is free - please let us know as Co-Op was booked. 


The following meeting will be Wednesday, July 4th 7 pm at CO-OP.  The will be the first Wed of the month from now on.


We have our proposed design and we are eager to fast track the Financing and start building the first garden boxes. If you are interested in supporting the garden by sponsoring a garden box or tree/shrub - please contact Corinne Sandhurst, Communications - at (403) 253-2577 or corinne.sandhurst@gmail.com

Rain Barrel System

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-3-drum-rain-collection-system-better/?&sort=ACTIVE&limit=40

Another cool find shared by Linda!

Interesting Link

http://permaculture.com.au/online/articles/why-gardening-makes-you-happy-and-cures-depression

Here is an interesting link from Linda!  Thank you Linda!

AGENDA

ACADIA COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT

THURSDAY, MAY 3^RD AT 7:00PM

ACADIA RECREATION COMPLEX

LARGE MEETING ROOM

Welcome and Agenda Review (5 minutes) 7:00pm

Review minutes from April 11^th meeting

Sub-Committee Report 7:10pm

Design/Build Committee – Corinne, Geoff, Linda, Andy, Jeff

Guidelines/Expectations Committee – Sharon, Mindy, Patricia

Communications Committee – Corinne, Patricia

Financial Committee – Erin, Josh, Ralph, Jeff

Community/Surveying Committee – Mindy, Erin

New Business 8:00pm

Future meeting locations – Mindy

Announcements 8:10pm

Acadia Spring Clean-up, May 12^th

ACA Memberships 

Set next meeting date 8:12pm

Wrap up and evaluation of meeting 8:15pm

Survey of best meeting times and Next Meeting May 3 7 pm

Hi Everyone,  We are just wondering the best meeting time. The next meeting is set for

Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 7 pm at the ARC.

Please let me know if the 1st Thursday of the month works for you.  If not, please suggest a different day. Please give more than one option if possible to allow scheduling!

Thanks and Happy Gardening!
Corinne

A message from Mayor Nenshi

Enticing Butterflies - Calgary Herald Neighbours - March 22, 2012

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Enticing+butterflies/6340761/story.html

Report from Andy re Atco

There is currently in effect, a contract between ATCO Pipelines and  the Acadia Recreation Complex which lays out do's and don'ts of any work that may take place on the hump, which is, in part, a utility right-of way. This contract expires June 8, 2012, and was put in place specifically to outline correct behaviour during the work being done that created the hump.

We will need to enter into a new, similar, contract with ATCO which will outline the rules under which we can create our garden.

Attached is a basic outline of clauses usually included in a contract ATCO draws up for anyone doing "landscaping" near their right-of-way.

ATCO will prepare the contract at no cost. They will require a drawing of our planned improvements.

See you all tomorrow.

C 27

LANDSCAPING ON GRANTOR'S FACILITY AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

1. If during the course of the Work it is necessary to temporarily reduce the depth of cover over Grantor's Facility to be less than 1.2 metres, heavy equipment shall not be allowed over Grantor's Facility until the minimum of 1.2 metres of cover is restored, unless otherwise approved by Grantor's field representative.
2. If soil is removed from Grantor's right-of-way, the minimum depth of cover over Grantor's Facility must not be less than 1.0 metre.  A minimum side slope of 3:1 (H:V) must be maintained throughout Grantor's right-of-way where material is removed.
3. If fill is added to Grantor's right-of-way the total cover over Grantor's Facility shall not exceed 2.0 metres.  A minimum side slope of 3:1 (H:V) must be maintained for any fill on Grantor's right-of-way.
4. Non-vibratory compaction equipment shall be used to achieve compaction within 5.0 metres of Grantor's Facility, or as directed by Grantor's field representative.
5. Shrubs must be hand planted and shall be no closer than 3.0 metres to either side of Grantor's Facility and have a mature height of no more than 2.0 metres.
6. All trees shall be planted no closer than 5.0 metres to Grantor's Facility.  Mature canopy/tree foliage shall be maintained to ensure a minimum distance of 3.0 metres on either side of Grantor's Facility.
7. Parking and lighting are not permitted on Grantor's right-of-way.
8. Sprinkler systems are not permitted on Grantor's right-of-way.
9. Commercial signage is not permitted on Grantor's right-of-way.
10. All Grantee's improvements shall be placed within the Crossing Area at Grantee's sole risk, cost and expense.  Grantor shall not, in any case, be responsible for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by Grantee associated with, or arising from, damage to any of Grantee's improvements, including where caused by Grantor's negligence or due to Grantor exercising its rights to use Grantor's right-of-way or otherwise using or maintaining Grantor's Facilities.
11. Grantee shall maintain in good condition all improvements on Grantor's right-of-way.

Andy

an email from info@backyardbees.ca

 a potluck and pay what you can event. 

Saturday March 17th, 2012
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Calgary Canoe Club, 6446 Crowchild Trail SW
Pay what you want
Please bring a potluck item and your own coffee/tea mug

The goal of the event is the same as before:

Kirk Andersons presentation begins with a rich storytelling of the birth and life of Backwards Beekeepers in Los Angeles, and more recently NYC, and all the projects it has inspired over the years. Kirks great sense of humor mixes in anecdotes, principles of practice as a community group, and examples of success in practice through-out the presentation. Backwards Beekeepers offering of educational opportunities, mentorship and collaboration with families and community groups has progressed in to becoming one of the largest urban beekeeping communities in North America. Kirk will share stories of these projects by sharing photos and videos highlighting projects taken on by different members of the LA beekeeping community. Eliese Watson of Apiaries and Bees for Communities will share her template, 6 Steps to Building the Hive Mentality. These steps will aid in guiding the goals of the conversation.  By now everyone’s imaginations are stimulated and projects for their own communities start forming. People are free to ask questions, and tangents are very likely realized by the end of the seminar. 

Like a magic switch is turned on, people’s inner ‘villagers’ come alive and the best thing to do here is to put them into small groups and stick crayons in their hands!

There are a number of simple exercises we can offer but at this point people generally know what they want to do and self-govern. We finish things off with some action planning and next steps.

The goal of this event is to have the community of beekeepers formulate a plan for swarm catching throughout the summer coordinated with the advice of Kirks experience. The more people who attend the better! Trust Me! from Info@backyardbees.ca

Jane's Walk

All current and former Acadia Residents/Employers/Employees/Organizations/Participants/etc

I am the walk leader for the ACADIA Community "Jane's Walk" on May 5th at 10:00 am (tentative time). If you or anyone you know would like to participate in the creating an amazing walk - showcasing Acadia's history, culture, heritage during the 2 hour walk, please let me know. I would like to wow Calgary with our wonderful over 10,000 strong community members. Did you know the Acadia was instrumental in the formation of Fish Creek Park? Do you know other Acadia Trivia? I would love to hear about it and make a wonderful interesting, spicy, walk! For example - Do you love drama - would you like to put on a little 2 minute play about something Acadian? Do you know an Acadia resident past or present that has made an important contribution to society? How about a heritage tree or house or building? Got a song to sing about Acadia? Are you an Acadia Singer/musician that could serenade us for 2 minutes at a rest stop along our walk? Looking for ideas!


I would love to have a stop be the future Community Garden.  Is anyone available to chat for a couple of minutes with the walkers? 

Rough Design from Janine Crowe - Thank you Janine!

i Everyone,

So here is a rough draft for the Community Garden, sorry it took until now. It's just to give some idea for what it can look like when we start building it. Everything can be tweaked, if I forgot anything we can add it or if something doesn't look right we can either adjust it or take it out. I know someone needed this to show it to people, but I don't know who. Can someone send it to the appropriate people for me, I would greatly appreciate that. I definitely hope its not to late for them to get it. If your having a hard time getting it or seeing it, just let me know. I know that some areas might look like they don't have color, but it's suppose to be orange. Around the fence line, around the pergola area and in the front around to the side. 

Thank you,

Janine

Wednesday, Mar.14th Next Meeting At the Arc

The Design Committee had a meeting at the future site of the Community Garden on a beautiful Sunday - snowy and warm!

Corinne is writing a letter for review by Patricia for Lord Beaverbrook and Juno Beach - please let me know if someone else was already taking this on.  I don't want to duplicate someone else's work ;)

Mindy sent out minutes from the last meeting for review.

Look forward to seeing you at the March 14th meeting at the ARC.

Garden Site Plan by Andy - Design Team

Hi Everyone, Here is a report from Andy. His email has a pdf of the drawing, but I can't figure out how to upload a pdf file yet.  I will have to sleep on it!
Thank you Andy for going out and measuring!
Here is a report from Andy:


"ATCO told me their only rule is that no structure is built over the gas line, and that any garden or raised bed that is placed over the line will be taken out, in the unlikely event that ATCO needs to repair or work on the line. We can choose to configure the gardens so that a path runs the length of the garden, over the line,or to take our chances. In any case we will call Alberta One-call before we start detailed design work, snd they will more accurately locate the pipe."

possible entrance way into garden and a great example of repurposing

 These old frames could make excellent entrance way - Linda found these and is saving them for the garden.

Here is a wonderful example of repurposing by Linda.  This was an old head and footboard.  Gorgeous! I want one too!  Thank you for sharing Linda.

Brainstorming at the South Calgary Artist Network

Ideas to share from a brainstorm at the South Calgary Artist Networking tonight:  Special thanks to Artists Linda and David !

UFA - United Farmers Assoc -  will possibly sell/donate a water cistern and may be at a good price if the project is weird enough or community related.  If it is large enough and elevated a few feet will provide sufficient water pressure- eco friendly- no electricity, no pump! Also links to science curriculum for students.  David B, artist is willing to help with including a regulator to measure amount of rain fall collected in cistern.

Windmill project to link schools science curriculum to the garden.

Just a suggestion for generating income-eg. selling or sponsoring name plates on benches, bricks, or collaborative sculpture or...

Change collection flower pots at key business locations and events for people to throw their change in.

South Calgary Artist Network posted that Acadia Community Garden is looking for interest from Acadia Artists for possible projects for the garden.

email from the City of Calgary Strong Neighbourhood Intiative

This email was sent out to people that came out to the information gathering sessions.  For anyone that has not yet participated, please contact Viviana and Tamara if you would like to get involved.  Please help get the word out to all your Acadia Friends and Neighbours ;)  

If you participated in the Oct/Nov sessions, but did not receive this email....please reply to Viviana and Tamara below;)

------------

Dear Acadia Resident:

 

We thank you for your participation at the resident gathering of October-November 2011.  By now, you would have received an update about the Strong Neighbourhood Initiative in Acadia;  and as mentioned in that email, we are planning the next steps. 

 

As an immediate action, we would like to meet with people like yourself who are familiar with the initiative and have already participated in a first gathering to express views about Acadia. At this time, we would like to take the conversation a bit deeper and go further than the physical aspects of the community. 

 

As one of the people who expressed an interest in moving forward, we would like to invite you to participate in a conversation café for February 29^th from 6 to 8 pm.  At this event, we are asking you to have a conversation based on the following question:

“In order to leave a legacy for future generations, we need,  we need to have more conversations about….”. 

This time around there will be plenty of opportunity for dialogue and by the end of the session we are hoping that people will identify an area they would like to move forward on.  This might be the first step towards some type of action oriented group.

 

In order to determine the best location for the size of the group, and prepare for food; we are requesting that you RSVP by February 16^th.  If you need to bring your children to the gathering please let us know and we might be able to offer some type of on-site care.

 

Thank you again for your interest in this initiative and your desire to make Acadia a better community for everybody.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tamara Baldwin

403-537-7582, Tamara.baldwin@calgary.ca

 

Viviana Reinberg

403-537-7596, viviana.reinberg@calgary.ca

 

 

Viviana Reinberg, MSW, RSW Community Social Worker Community & Neighbourhood Services, The City of Calgary South Area, 502 Heritage Drive SW Publish PostMailing address: P.O. Box 2100, Stn. M, # 100, T2P 2M5                   
403, 537-7596,  Fax: 403, 221-3568

Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we’ll change the world.  Jack Layton

memorial or community participation component

I still remember my sister and brother in law buying a brick at the olympic plaza. When ever we are there, we look for it.  Apparently there is a map available too.

What about some type of collaborative piece that the whole community can "buy" into, like bricks for the walkway and/or memorial trees, shrubs, perennials for loved ones, and to celebrate community lives and events?

There is also collaborative sculpture where the community participates in design and creation.  Maybe the entrance arch way is covered in hammered leaves.  Geoff has done this.  The other artists in Acadia might have some great collaborative ideas.  Maybe its collaborative stepping stones for the pathway?

Community Garden Pictures

Pictures from some community gardens. Thanks Linda!  Linda, if you can comment on them - I think the first two are our garden plot

Approximate Description


The gas line - It runs down the middle and is marked at both ends by stakes. You can talk to Craig the operations Manager at the ARC as he has access to the actual dimensions.  He figures we would need to leave about 15 feet down the middle that we would only want to put a pathway or something easily moveable, so Atco Gas would have access if needed.

The total area is approx. 2700 to 3000 sq metres.  So it approx 250 metres long by 11 metres.  It is the longer than the ARC itself.  There is a gas line down the middle, parallel to the ARC.  It is advisable that we do not put anything permement over top of this.  Path down centre of the dirt hill might a good idea.  

bee boxes in the garden?

http://www.backyardbees.ca/  Check out Backyard Bees.  I have a friend doing this at her house.

Calgary Community Garden Links

Here are links to the community gardens recommended to view. I just did a quick search. It might be great to search images too.  I didn't have time tonight.

Willowridge Garden Application for plot http://www.willowridgegarden.blogspot.com/

Parkland Community Garden – http://www.calhort.org/CommunityGardens/default.aspx?id=707

Douglasdale Community Garden – http://dddgcommunitygarden.blogspot.com/

Mid-Sun Community Garden –http://www.midsun.org/community_garden.php.

Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Garden – http://hillhurstsunnyside.org/communityservices/community-garden/hillhurst-sunnyside-community-garden/ 

Brentwood Community Garden http://www.brentwoodcommunity.com/communitygarden.html

Tuscany Community Garden http://tuscanygarden.wordpress.com/

Cederbrae Community Garden-http://cedarbraegarden.wordpress.com

Albert Park Community Garden –https://www.facebook.com/pages/Albert-Park-Radisson-Heights-Community-Garden/147309768671522

Some links to check out about Community Gardens

http://calhort.org/gardening/community.aspx

http://www.calhort.org/communitygardening/

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Programs/Community-gardens.aspx

http://www.communitycrop.org/about.us.html

http://www.meetup.com/calgarycommunitygardens/

http://www.calgarycompact.ca/content/community/community-gardens-provide-bounty-benefits-calgarians

http://www.healthyalberta.com/HealthyPlaces/554.htm

Creative Idea Stimulator :)

I saw this cool picture at 

https://www.facebook.com/Organic.Green.Roots

Lots of neat ideas on there.  Also a cute picture of teapot planters. 

 

free fruit/nut trees for community Gardens.

http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=Edible+Trees&lang=en

but it is about funding for free fruit/nut trees for community gardens. Might be a good link to keep handy for future planning. 

Thank you to Vivian for sharing this.

Design Team

Hi Design Team, I am sending you an email tonight to join us up.  Are you interested in meeting in a comfy corner of the Fish Creek Library? I picked up some books tonight and have a dvd on community gardening coming from another branch. There are lots of design resources right there.  What do you think?

Welcome to the Acadia Community Garden Blog

It was wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new ones.   If you need help understanding how a blog works, please let me know and I will be happy to show you the little I know. I have been on a steep learning curve.

Here is our blog.  It is by email invitation only.  Everyone attending meetings is welcome to become a reader.  If you are interested in also being an administrator, let me know and I can add you.  Readers can comment, and administrators can upload pictures, etc.  The Facebook is a public site and can lead people that are interested to our meetings.

If you are not comfortable with the blog technology, but have info you would like uploaded, just contact me or any other administrator to upload.

This is a respectful forum for us to share ideas, planning, and keep our enthusiasm going!

Geoff and I found one of the community gardens by the Holy Cross Hospital and we will stop by to take pics soon.

all the best,

Corinne

First Meeting of the Acadia Community Garden Group

Tonight was the first meeting for Acadia Community residents interested in creating a community garden behind the Acadia Recreation Centre. 

NEXT MEETING - Please Come join us!

Date: Wednesday, February 15th 2012
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Acadia Recreation Complex (240 - 90 Avenue SE)

If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Fair at 403-286-9759 or pdfair@telus.net .

Blog and Facebook
I am starting Acadia Community Garden's private blog and private Facebook page to make it easy for the group to communicate, share pictures of other community gardens, ideas, and planning. Come out to a meeting, sign up for the blog and Facebook page, and have lots of fun with us!

Calling all Acadia Artists!
If you are an Artist residing or working in Acadia and are interested in partnering with the community garden group to help beautify the space, please contact Geoff Sandhurst at cgsandhurst@shaw.ca or (403) 253-2577. Geoff is also developing a south Calgary Artist Network as a sub group of the CADA Artist Network. Please feel free to call about more info if you are interested.

Thank you,

Corinne Sandhurst