PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

We did quite well in Pennsylvania this year. Here is the rundown of races I highlighted:

Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith
Candidate for Pennsylvania House of Representatives, House District 156
Enrolled Member of the Sac & Fox Nation

Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith WON re-election


Here are some Progressive candidates running in Pennsylvania who deserve your support (all are endorsed by Progressive Majority):

Barbara McIlvaine Smith
Candidate for State Representative - District 156 (Incumbent)
West Chester, East and West Goshen and two southern precincts in East Bradford

Barbara McIlvaine WON!

Tom Quinn
Candidate for State Representative - District 165 (Challenger)
The Borough of Morton, almost all of Springfield and 14 of 21 precincts in Marple, 7 of 15 precincts in Radnor

Tom Quinn lost.

Tony Payton, Jr.
Candidate for State Representative - District 179 (Incumbent)
Philadelphia neighborhoods of Frankford, Hunting Park; Parts of Olney, Feltonville and Oxford Circle

Tony Payton WON with 90% of the vote.

Babette Josephs
Candidate for State Representative - District 182 (Incumbent)
Philadelphia neighborhoods of Center City, Logan Square; Parts of Bellavista and Grays Ferry

Babette Josephs WON with 81% of the vote.

Kevin Lee
Candidate for State Representative - District 163 (Challenger)

Kevin Lee lost.

Tom Houghton
Candidate for State Representative - District 13 (Open Seat)
Atglen, East and West Nottingham, Elk, Franklin

Tom Houghton WON!


BLOGGING PENNSYLVANIA:

The Pennsylvania Progressive, brining you Pennsylvania News and Politics from a...well, PROGRESSIVE view.

Progress Pittsburgh is building a broad coalition of progressives to transform the governance of our city. Decades of mismanagement by directionless leadership and regressive machine politics have put our city at the brink of collapse. We need a transformation: new vision, new blood, and a new democratic process. We are working to make this transformation happen.

Young Philly Politics: Progressive, Young, Philadelphia Politics, from Small to Big.

Keystone Politics: Politics around Pennsylvania


Some Stories of Interest:

More Bonusgate Charges Expected and more: Bonusgate's 12 defendants waive arraignments

Philadelphia Makes Deep Cuts in Staffing, Services

State House Summary and State Senate Summary

Debunking "Clean Coal"

The Poverty Disconnect

Green Jobs for the Steel City

Renewable Energy is the Only Way Out of this Mess

State Contract Database is Online


Alternative Energy and Sustainable Agriculture in Pennsylvania:

Alternative Energy Resources in Pennsylvania: a short summary of alternative energy resources for Pennsylvania. For more information on each technology, visit the State Energy Alternatives Technology Options page.

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic and social prosperity of Pennsylvania food and agriculture. We work with the farmers that grow our food, the consumers that eat the food, and those concerned with the ecological well-being of our environment and natural resources.


Here are some important progressive events in Pennsylvania:

Critical Mass
Monthly at 5:30 PM on the fourth Friday
Where: Dinosaur, Carnegie Library, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Description: Critical Mass is a celebration of bicycling as a pollution-free mode of transportation. Critical Mass is not an organization nor it is affiliated with any organization, it's an unorganized coincidence. It's a movement ... of bicycles, in the streets.

Pittsburgh Green Drinks
3rd Friday of every month
Check the website for locations & guest speakers:
http://www.biothinking.com/greendrinks/index.php?country=USA&city=Pittsburgh

Steel-City Stonewall Democrats Happy Hour
Monthly at 17:15 on the fourth Tuesday
Where: Images 965 Liberty Avenue downtown

Liberty City Stonewall Democrats

Peace Vigil Every Saturday, 10:30 AM
Intersection of Lincoln Hgwy & Oxford Valley Roads
Business Route 1 & Oxford Valley Road at the Closed Transmission Station
Langhorne, PA
Organized by Lower Bucks for Democracy


Here are a few Democracy for America groups in Pennsylvania:

Gettysburg Area DFA Meetup: will be held at the Lutheran Theological Seminary on Seminary Ridge in Gettysburg the first Wednesday of each month. We gather at 6:30 pm to chat and enjoy refreshments. Our meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Seminary's Valentine Hall, Room 206 -- across from the Seminary Library. There is parking both in front of Valentine Hall (off Springs Ave) and in the Seminary lot next to the Library. Contact Elaine Jones for more information: elainelynchjones_at_gmail.com

Western PA DFA Monthly Meeting: second Thursday of each month, 6:00 PM, Rudy & Son Restaurant, 1641 Mercer - Grove City Rd

Philly for Change Meeting: first Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Find out more about the group at www.phillyforchange.com


Next, here are some Drinking Liberally chapters in Pennsylvania: second Thursday of each month,

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
* Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The Orchards Restaurant, 1580 Orchard Dr
* Ask for the Drinking Liberally group and you'll find us.
* Hosted by Alice Elia, chambersburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
* Second Thursday of each month (next meeting December 13), 6:00 pm onward
* O'Rorke's Eatery & Spirits, 44 Steinwehr Avenue (second floor)
* New Location
* additional parking in National Park Service Visitor Center lot behind restaurant
* Hosted by Eileen H. Potemra, gettysburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
* Every Tuesday, 7:30 pm onward
* Lancaster Brewing Company, 302 N Plum St (corner of Walnut and Plum)
* Hosted by Jeff Fulmer, Monz Wenner and Cher Rineer, lancaster (at) drinkingliberally.org

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Center City
* Every Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 pm
* Tangier, 1801 Lombard St (at 18th St)
* Hosted by Brendan Skwire, philadelphia (at) drinkingliberally.org

Mount Airy
* Every Thursday, 6:30-9:00 pm
* Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown Ave
* Hosted by Adam Zion, mtairy (at) drinkingliberally.org

Reading, Pennsylvania
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6pm onward
* Canal Street Restaurant & Pub, 535 Canal St (a few blocks past RACC along the riverfront)
* NEW LOCATION!!! Great local beer from Legacy Brewing Co. & a large selection of wines by the glass.
* NO Thanksgiving meeting, obviously. Enjoy your holiday and all those awkward political conversations with ornery family members!
* Hosted by Kim Stahler and Dan Sauder, reading (at) drinkingliberally.org

State College, Pennsylvania
* First and third Tuesday of each month, 5:30 pm onward
* Hi-Way Pizza, 428 Westerly Pky
* Hosted by Nancy Crane, statecollege (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Chester, Pennsylvania
* First Thursday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Ryan's Pub, 124 W Gay St (On Gay St. between Church & Darlington)
* We are still on the once a month format and we have changed the venue to Ryan's. We'll be meeting up on the 2nd floor near the bar.
* Remember, no need to feed the meters in town after 5pm- save that cash for drinks!
* Hosted by Jonathan Long, Daniel Tyman and Jamie Manos, westchester (at) drinkingliberally.org

York, Pennsylvania
* Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The First Capital Dispensing Company, 57 N Pershing Ave (We usually secure a large table or two in the back room.)
* Hosted by Phyllis Wise, Roland Rode and Craig Thomas, york (at) drinkingliberally.org