News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 5th 2025
The Heroes of Phillips Clean Sweep
from the series Reflections of Phillips…
By SONJA ELISE CLIVE ORBAN
It’s nice of local politicians to show up and moonlight for their photo ops. It’s a compliment to the community that residents put something together that was amazing enough to get their attention.
Here’s the thing. The true creators of this wonderful tradition are too modest and too busy doing necessary things to make themselves known. So I’m going to.
The real heroes of this year’s event are it’s founder, Jana Metge.
Second in command was her protege Nathaniel Anderson. His suit and cape are made of spread sheets.
Closely followed by the spectacular efforts and investment of Banyan staff.
And a big thank you to Welna Ace Hardware. Serving our neighbors for 3 generations.
What’s the big deal?
Don’t people just show up and do their thing easy peasy?
Actually no.
Behind the scenes are weeks of planning. Discussing what went well and what didn’t from the previous year. Reaching out to donors. Following up with donors 3+ times. Scheduling the venues. Signing up volunteers. Keeping track of inviting community organizations to come to the resource fair. Coordinating with Waste Management and and the recycling center. Finding truck drivers.… Read the rest “The Heroes of Phillips Clean Sweep”
Monthly Update: Phillips Community Oral History Project
By PHILLIPS COMMUNITY ORAL HISTORY PROJECT PARTNERS
Welcome back to the Phillips Community Oral History Project monthly update. The update is an important part of the Project’s outreach to the Phillips Community intended to share key progress milestones and to remain accountable to the people of Phillips.
Project interviews continue, with over ten hours of video and audio recorded so far! According to Ella Kampelman of Phillips West, the initial list of interview subjects has been mostly completed, and the project is now expanding to “a slightly wider circle of interviewees.” This broader reach will be critical to a more complete story of Phillips. People who are interested in contributing to that story are encouraged to reach out to us at the email provided at the bottom of the update.
J Randolph, executive director of Phillips West Neighborhood Organization, has been heartened by the community connections people have expressed in their interviews. Randolph said, “We heard a lot about how Franklin Avenue has changed over the years. When asked to describe Phillips in one word, Gloria Hayes said ‘home’ … which is such a simple statement but one that echoed a lot of what other folks have said in their interviews.”… Read the rest “Monthly Update: Phillips Community Oral History Project”
Bugonia
from the series Movie Corner…
4/5 Stars
Thriller/Dark Comedy/Crime/Satire
Focus Features
By HOWARD MCQUITTER II
Conspiracy theories are “written” everywhere (or so it seems) in another one of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ films: Kinds of Kindness (2024), Poor Things (2023). Bugonia is where the uneasiness and bizarre meet somehow and somewhere.
Two men, Teddy and Don, are cousins and fanatical conspiracy theorists who believe Michelle, a CEO of a pharmaceutical company, is really an alien that has come to Earth to destroy an unassuming house. To be specific, Teddy believes Michelle is an Andromedan, an alien who starts killing the bees before going on to kill humanity. Both men interrogate her, trying to force her to admit that she’s an alien. All the while Michelle pleads to them to let her go. As the film progresses, Teddy becomes even more violent and insane. These men seem to be hopeless and vulnerable, striking out at what they believe to be a successful, powerful person who is out to do harm to the eight billion people on Earth.
As good as Emma Stone is in Bugonia, this is really Jesse Plemons’ movie. Bugonia is based on the South Korean film Save the Green Planet (2003), directed by Jang Joon-hwan who is also the screenwriter.… Read the rest “Bugonia”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
