A Day in Precinct 4 story and photos by Crystal Simmons
The idea of trying new activities is an appealing one. Most of us like to imagine ourselves learning a new hobby, traveling to new locations, or getting in shape. Then life gets in the way. Like many of my peers, I was always either too tired, too busy, or too preoccupied to try something new. I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I had a chance to take advantage of the opportunities around me. I spent a full day attending as many Precinct 4 classes as possible. The results were eye-opening. I experienced everything from woodworking and Zentangle to Zumba and kickboxing. I not only met experts with decades of experience but also participated in activities I would never have chosen on my own. Before getting started, I established a few guidelines. I randomly selected a day so I wouldn’t be tempted to choose familiar activities, and I omitted all festivals. I also only attended free programs open to all age groups. As a result, I spent most of my day at Mangum-Howell Center, but the programs differed so much I didn’t mind. To help you on your own journey, I’m sharing tips, tricks, and my overall impression of each program below.
WOODWORKING Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Instructors: Danny Brown and Perry Badger Mangum-Howell Center I’ll be honest. I wasn’t enthusiastic about woodworking. I’ve always enjoyed arts and crafts, but anything requiring careful precision has never appealed to me. I prefer eyeballing my projects and making adjustments as I progress. Nevertheless, this class turned out to be my favorite. I came prepared with cedar pickets, 2x4s, and 20
Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2019
instructions for a floating shelf pulled from the internet. By the time I arrived, my classmates were already gathered in the shop sipping coffee. I learned that my instructor, Perry Badger, rarely gives formal lessons. Students are expected to bring their own project and work at their own pace. Most of my classmates were experienced woodworkers, so I was lucky enough to have my instructor’s undivided attention for a couple of hours. I showed him my project, and we got started. I learned that wood selection is everything. Perry picked out my best piece and showed me the flaws in the other pickets. We ended up using a miter saw, table saw, jointer, and planer. I let Perry mark up the wood for cutting, but I ended up doing most of the cuts. The power tools are easy to operate, and I caught on quickly. My favorite tool turned out to be the planer. This tool smooths large planks of wood, giving them a shiny, finished look. My shelves came out looking great, and the tool probably saved me a few hours of sanding.
TIPS: Before visiting, have a project in mind. Plan on downloading instructions from the internet or consulting with the instructor before attending class. Make sure to bring all your materials, including nails, screws, and wood glue. Although you may be able to borrow some supplies, they may not work for your project. OVERALL IMPRESSION: After only one class, I know how to operate and identify several basic woodworking tools. Under my instructor’s guidance, I never felt anxious about making the wrong cuts. Best of all, I took home a professionallooking floating shelf for only a fraction of the price of a store-bought shelf.
