*Reconnect* *Friday, October 7th 7-9pm* *Saturday, October 8th 9am - 5pm* *Reconnect <https://wsccpgh.org/event/reconnect/>* is Wilkins School Community Center’s (WSCC) fall festival, and this year’s theme is *Reconnecting with Nature through Art*. The festival will open on Friday evening, October 7, at 7:00 pm, with a free showing of “Rivers and Tides,” which documents the work of Andy Goldsworthy, at WSCC. The film will be followed by a discussion and a ceremony to connect with Nature as inspiration for our artistic creations for the weekend. Saturday morning begins with activities for both adults and children. The schedule of events is still being finalized, but we’re anticipating a plant and bulb swap, an art supply swap, kid-friendly artistic/crafty upcycling activities, a gardening lecture, nature walk, the building of a bug hotel, a nature photography workshop and a rechargeable transportation petting zoo. In the afternoon, in the spirit of Goldsworthy, we’ll make an off-site trek to make our own ephemeral installation art using only found nature materials: leaves, rocks, twigs, etc.—an activity that is as much meditation as creation. The kids version will take place at WSCC—building a mandala or Green Man with natural materials. Late on Saturday afternoon, back at WSCC, the creations of the day will be available for the enjoyment of all via a slideshow presentation over hot drinks. The day offers an opportunity to enjoy your family, friends, community and outdoors while buying nothing. There will be no trinket giveaways and no admission fees. We will have lovely activities, free events and a chili lunch provided by WSCC members. This is a great chance to support WSCC with your donations. Start setting aside unused art supplies and plants for the swaps, a mug you no longer love for our Chill the Mug event (fill it with your chili, then Chill it—trade it or donate it to Goodwill), and of course any cash you can spare to support WSCC’s building fund. Most importantly, set aside time to join us. Please mark your calendars for Friday October 7 (7-9 pm) and Saturday October 8 (9 am – 5 pm). If you’d like to help out with the event, please contact wsccvolunteer@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/1639408893040020/ *Art Supply Swap!* *October 8, 2016 10 am- 2 pm* It’s time to get current with your art/craft stash. Declutter while your supplies still have some life in them. Get together any supplies you won’t use, have partially used, or that you just have too much of. Clear them out. Enjoy your space! Aaaah. Now bring your treasure to Wilkins School Community Center, where your supplies will meet someone thrilled to have them. And pick up a few new-to-you supplies so that you can try something new. Explore. Discover. Create. While you’re at WSCC, check out all the festivities of Reconnect. Any remaining art swap supplies will be donated to Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. *Bulb and Perennial Plant Swap! October 8, 10am to noon *Prepare to share those perennials that are ready to be dug up and divided, as well as bulbs, seeds and miscellaneous garden doo-dads. If you are bringing items to swap, drop-off will be on Milton Street (above the school) from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Once all contributions have arrived, swappers may select and take items from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Then from 11:45 to noon, any Festival participant may select an item from what remains. PLEASE, pot plants so they will survive the transition to their new homes, and label them so folks will know what they’re getting. DON’T bring invasive plants or mystery plants to share. Inspect all plants closely to be sure you’re not sharing bugs or diseases. Garden doo-dads? Tools, garden decorations, compost, worm castings, books, pots/planters … Contact: Pat Buddemeyer, patbuddemeyer@gmail.com, 412.441.6593 <buddem@att.net> How great is this: Nine Mile Run Watershed Association is having a stream sweep right before the Rivers and Tides event on Saturday October 8. We'll have a clean canvas for our event. If you're coming to Reconnect with a friend who would rather clean the stream than play with nature art, this will be a great event to tag team. Check it out on NMRWA website (ninemilerun.org). <buddem@att.net>