Interview with Waynet: Jane Holman, Director & Photographer (Republished from 3/6/14)

Image Source: Self Portrait, Jane Holman

Waynet is an on-line gem of  all things local for Wayne County residents and visitors. Jane Holman, the expert behind the site is both Director of Waynet, avid photographer and all around awesome local lady. Because Jane is the head of Waynet and because she has amassed an outstanding collection of images of not just Richmond, but all of Wayne County, I requested a brief interview. She was gracious enough to respond! Here we go:


Since 1997, Waynet has existed as an on-line community resource for both residents and visitors of Wayne County, Indiana, what are some of the successes you've witnessed as the Director?

"The most important success is that WayNet.org is still here and still serving the community.  Community networks were created in more than 30 counties across Indiana in the mid-90's and very few of them remain.  We found a niche and a loyal group of members who continue to support our mission. 

Our visitor base has grown from a monthly average of less than 3,500 in 1998 to over 50,000 a month currently. That doesn't include the additional people we reach with our Flickr, Twitter and Facebook accounts.  That's a lot of positive light we're able to shine on Wayne County!

Jane Holman Photo: Source (copyright)

As a photographer, how has your immediate surroundings inspired you? What are some of your favorite shots showcasing the beauty of Richmond?

I like to use photography to put a focus on the positive, beautiful and interesting things I see right here in our own community.  It's too easy to pass by people or places daily and become so used to them, you don't really "see" them.  The camera forces you to think about color, light and composition and in the process of doing that - you see familiar places in a new way.  









With nearly 10.000 photos total on my personal Flickr and the WayNet Flickr account, it's too difficult to pick favorites, but I gravitate to the ones that feature nature, people having fun at local events, and those that would cause me to go - "Hey...I'd like to visit there!" - if I didn't already know the location!  

Jane Holman Photo: Source 

I hope your readers will visit the Wayne County, Indiana Flickr group too.  We have a lot of very talented photographers here in Wayne County that have contributed to the group.  Scrolling through the photos is like looking at a "year in the life" of Wayne County, Indiana."
  
What do you love most about our city/county?

"So many things!  I like the landscape.  I've lived near oceans and mountains, but I find I'm more of a rivers and hills kind of gal.  I like the wide variety of cultural opportunities - museums, theater, symphony. The values the community holds make it a good place to raise a family.  And, it has to be said, it's so easy to visit nearby metropolitan areas for the big city benefits and still not have to deal with the big city headaches of traffic, pollution and noise on a daily basis."

Do you have a best Richmond memory?

"Times with family and friends, of course, but also watching the fireworks from Roosevelt Hill in Glen Miller Park, cheering our high school basketball team at the sectional in Civic Hall, watching parades, catching up with friends and neighbors at the Wayne County 4-H Fair, taking my boys to Morrisson-Reeves Library, bicycling along the Cardinal Greenway."

As a lifelong Richmond resident, have you noticed a shift in attitude or greater positivity in the community recently?

"I think it's something we as a community seem to be more aware of and I do see a shift towards a more positive attitude.  There are a lot of positive things happening in Richmond and Wayne County right now.  The positive change in the Depot District over the past few years has been huge.  I see great things happening with our local museums and important collaborations taking place.  With Richmond being named a Stellar Community we're going to continue to see additional exciting changes take place downtown.  We still have big issues to deal with, it's true, but so do most other communities.  

As we learn to toot our own horn regarding the many wonderful events, restaurants, recreational opportunities, etc. that are happening here, those outside our borders are starting to notice and spread the word.  That's going to keep the ball rolling and hopefully we'll gain even greater momentum towards a positive landslide!"

Waynet: Image Source

Thank you so much for your dedication to our community on-line and off, for sharing your beautiful photography and for your time spent on the Local-Lady! 

I would encourage my readers who want to brush up on local history, find a local business, or just browse and enjoy the beauty of our nick of the woods, to visit Waynet, Richmond and Wayne County's on-line community resource. When you do, be sure to send a note of thanks to the Director, Jane Holman for keeping the Waynet site of All Things Local running!


Related Posts:

Interview with Scott Zimmerman, City Planner 
Interview with Local Author, Connie Wooldridge


Pertinent Links:

Waynet
Wayne County, Indiana Flickr

Speaking to Strangers in Richmond, Indiana

The Local-Lady blog has been quiet now since Wednesday. I took some time off the computer to spend time with family and friends. It's good to step away from the screen sometimes. I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. We did. Our family is grateful for the veterans in our lives, the people in military service and thoughtful remembering those who didn't make it home...

<3

I've lived in Richmond well over twenty years now. I know which neighborhoods not to walk in alone. I know where to stand in the sun, in view safely. I know where to run if there's trouble, who to call. When I look outside I see and know my neighbors. We watch for each other. But if I were a stranger, how would I see this city?

Bicycle Rust Sculpture

We walk and bike primarily for transportation. Being on foot or two wheels keeps us on a street level car drivers cannot know. We are stopped by passersby. We watch for the irises to bloom because we know which corner they'll be growing.

Last summer, on his way to work, my husband was stopped by a man on the street. This man had nothing but a pack on his back and the shoes on his feet. He was a man from Detroit, Michigan traveling by foot. “There's nothing there. That city is dying, so I'm making my way south to look for something” Here was a man from Detroit, traveling by foot. He told my husband that Richmond scared him. “This place is ghetto!” “I'm afraid here!” My husband walked with him awhile. He showed him the police station. They parted ways. We couldn't tell you his name.

This isn't the first time a stranger has expressed their fears to us.

He was tall and had grey hair. At first sight I took him for another bum on a bench, but when I rushed out to kiss the children, he smiled. He was not dirty. I didn't feel that he was bad. I could feel he was listening while we talked about flowers and birds and playground excursions. Finally, he spoke “Are you from around here?” He asked the whole family. “Yes, we are from here,” we answered. “What can you do in this town if you have a few hours?”

Empty Bench in Richmond, Indiana

I pointed out the downtown center city area. I pointed the way to the Depot District. He interrupted:

“I'm afraid!” He went on, “I've been sitting here scared. I'm not from here. I am stranded. I don't know this town, and it frightens me.” He told us a bit about his bad luck and his hard life, “I've cried many tears and said many prayers.” I looked at this large man and wondered that a tall man was speaking to a small woman of his fears sitting alone on a city bench. But then I understood. I know where to go, who to call. I know which street is safe and which street on which I should not be alone. He was a stranger.

All we could do was listen. All we could do was say: “Here you are safe”, “This is where you can go for help, for information”, “If you are hungry you can go this way”.

He told us his name, and we told him ours. I couldn't tell you what his name was but I remember his face. He was from Texas. He was Navajo. I know he was Navajo because he said, “Yá'át'ééh” before he turned to go.

Graffiti can be beautiful. This isn't an example of that sort, however.

We need to do more to fight the decay in this city. It frightens the people who move through it. When we own our place and show that it is loved, people will know that we care.

So how do we change these fears? Say hello, plant more irises. Smile at a stranger and dispel each other's fears.

<3 Your Local Gal

What's Behind That Window?

A Charming Display

Two Sisters Books & More!

My family has come across a few rather intriguing, unfamiliar places about town. How many times do we pass by a window, wonder what could be inside and yet move on in a hurried fashion? In an effort to slow down and get to know Richmond, the Local-Lady blog will be posting an occasional "What's Behind That Window?" post.

Today's will be the first! We discovered one window in particular that seemed magnetized each time we passed by it: Two Sister's Books & More. Local-Lady is pleased to introduce you to one of the most darling spots to shop in town! I was delighted to chat with the owners! Kate answered all of my questions. Here we go:

How did you come to own a shop in Richmond and what keeps you living and loving this corner of the world?

Kate and Patty are the two sisters.

"My sister Patty and I grew up in Centerville.  It’s a great place in which to grow up, but there wasn’t a whole lot to keep people around who aren’t actively raising families, and when we were young we couldn’t wait to get out of Wayne County and start living.  The Depot District has some amazing buildings and a fascinating history, but when we were in high school and even college the only place to hang out was Charlie’s.  The District is starting to grow and develop now, and we wanted to be on the ground floor.  We believe that our bookstore provides the community with one of those features they’d find in a big city, thus helping attract and keep young talent in the area."

Why is the shop called Two Sisters? 

A Cozy Book Nook

"Well, the slightly sarcastic answer is that there are two of us, and we’re sisters.  More creatively, when designing the store we wanted it to feel like the sort of old bookstore you’d find if you happened to be backpacking through the English countryside.  We’ve done a lot inside the store to convey that, from the bookshelves our father custom-built to the period-accurate paint on the walls.  We thought The Two Sisters sort of sounded like the name of a pub you might frequent if you wore argyle and could pronounce Benedict Cumberbatch's name without snickering."

What's the story behind the book shop? Childhood dream? Spur of the moment decision?


"Like all good things, the bookstore was both a childhood dream and a spur of the moment decision.  I had always wanted to own a bookstore called Ragueneau’s, after the bibliophile baker in Cyrano de Bergerac.  It was one of those things that I’d talk about doing when I had a lot of money, which has never happened.  Last summer, I had quit my job teaching high school English and my sister had graduated from college.  Neither of us were finding work in a timely fashion, and 193 Fort Wayne Avenue happened to have a “For Rent” sign in the window.  It was our father who seriously suggested we open the business and did a lot of the legality and monetary research for us.   Whether we become a fixture in the community or a miserable failure, we can officially cross this one off the bucket list.

Your shop is located in the Historic Depot district. What drew you to this particular area?

Depot Street View in Spring

The Depot District has a great opportunity to quickly become the trendiest place in town.  On several occasions we’ve had customers remark to us that walking through the Depot District reminded them of this little neighborhood they loved in some much larger city.  In addition, the owners of Depot and downtown businesses really work together to develop and support the community.  We’ve felt very welcome here, and we cannot wait to watch the area grow."

You have book clubs! What kind of events are happening in your space?

"Our Solarium is a room in the back of the store that’s free for anyone who wants to reserve it for meetings and/or parties. We currently have two clubs that meet there regularly: Cognoscenti SteamPunk Society and The Not-So-Young-Adult Book Club.  More information about them can be found on our website.

We also frequently have local authors like Steve Martin and David Hughes in to do book signings.  On May 18th, Tom Everhart will be in to talk about his book 0-60 in Five Minutes: My Stroll Through Rock-n-Roll Music.  

In the future we’re looking to have story hours, classes, and many other events.  Sign up for our mailing list on our website or follow us on Facebook to keep in the loop!"

You have tea! Tell me about your special blends, please?

"As stated earlier, we wanted our store to have an English feel, and being tea drinkers with no local tea rooms we started making our own blends for the store with the idea of having each one be in honor of a specific author, character, book, or genre. For example, our Literary Heroes tea is in honor of characters such as Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester and is made of Earl Grey plus Vanilla and Cinnamon. This adds a touch of class to an already classy tea. We offer tins of loose-leaf teas for $10, individual cups of tea for $2, and tea accessories such as teapots, teacups, and infusers. We also have a special offer for groups in which they can learn about blending teas and then create their own unique blend."

Darlene Frame, Local Poet

Thank you Kate and Patty! We can't wait to watch your business grow, and we'll be back for books, book club, events, tea and more!

My family had an excellent time browsing the shop Saturday. I was lucky enough to catch a local author, Darlene Frame, doing a promo for her book of poetry I Always Do Laundry on Monday. The book is published through a local publisher, Kids at Heart Publishing, LLC. All proceeds of her book go to help a friend in need of a kidney. I can't wait to snag a copy of her heartwarming poems for myself along with an extra! What a sweet edition of poems (just in time for Mother's Day!).

If you haven't been already, it's about time you step inside their quaint shop chock full of books: old and new, something for everybody, each book is a portal waiting to take you to a new world.