Progressive Democrat Issue 221

This week I am focusing on coal. Coal is among the most polluting sources of energy and in a warming world makes little sense. Additionally, the mining of coal is also hugely destructive and polluting (remember the recent massive coal ash spill in Tennessee). America needs energy, but we need to focus on reducing energy use through energy efficiency (this saves money as well as energy) and replacing pollutiing energy sources with clean energy sources. That is why I emphasize biodiesel and other biofuels, wind and solar as well as energy efficiency. I also emphasize, as I do in this issue, fighting to stop new coal-burning plants and new coal mining projects.

Again, energy efficiency is the best thing you can do to save money and energy. This can include many things, like switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, reusing plastic bags, reducing the red meat and milk in your diet (chicken and eggs are better...fish generally is not) and cutting back on tobacco and alcohol use, taking public transportation, biking, walking and carpooling, turning off your TV or computer and reading a book... All of these saves you money in these tough times while also reducing your carbon footprint. And in some cases improves your health. These sound small but they really add up both in terms of energy savings AND in terms of saving you money. Switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and switching most of your protein consumption from beef and cheese to chicken and eggs alone would considerable reduce your carbon footprint. And changing your transportation habits is a huge deal. People in NYC have on average almost a third of the carbon footprint of the average American mainly because they depend largely on public transportation (though smaller living spaces is also a factor in our smaller carbon footprints).

I should also note that I have actually made money carefully investing in alternative energy companies. This is a new industry and that means a great deal of money can be made as it emerges, similar to the high tech boom when it first surged...although also keep in mind that during the high tech boom there were also many companies that never made it and represent lost money. But right now is a good time to invest in the most promising companies (like Sunpower and Western Wind Energy, to name two I have done well with).

Energy efficiency almost always saves lots of money in the long run. Other changes cost money, but sometimes not as much as you might think. And combining money saving energy efficiency changes with some changes that cost money can reduce your carbon footprint with little or no net increase in cost. We did this when we cut our energy bill by about a third when we switched to compact fluorescent bulbs, then spent a small fraction of that savings by switching to clean energy (mainly wind) to run our electricity in our home. Both changes were easy (you can switch to alternative energy as your source for electricity through your existing energy company in most states) and overall we still saved a great deal of money. These changes combined with the fact we live in NYC so can use public transportation and so don't own cars makes our carbon footprint quite low compared to the average American (less than a quarter of the average). And all of these changes together still save money and overall are convenient. I also do more, like carbon offset, but the small changes that I list that overall save us money, if more Americans implemented them, would go a long way to mitigating global warming when combined with legislation like Congress recently passed. Yes Congress passed a weak bill, but it was a big step foward anyway, and your own actions to save energy as well as money can, collectively, be a second big step foward.

And the actions I highlight in this issue to block particularly bad coal projects helps to prevent America from taking two steps backwards even as we take one or two steps forward.

From the Union of Concerned Scientists:

If the United States continues burning coal the way it does today, it will be impossible to achieve the reductions in heat-trapping emissions needed to prevent dangerous levels of global warming. Coal-fired power plants represent the nation’s largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2, the main heat-trapping gas causing climate change), and coal plant emissions must be cut substantially if we are to have a reasonable chance of avoiding the worst consequences of climate change.

Treading A Dangerous Path
Yet despite the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions, the United States is poised to increase its emissions greatly—by building many more coal plants. Virtually all of these new plants, like existing ones, would lack so-called carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology—equipment that would allow a plant to capture CO2 before it is released and then store it underground.

CCS is still an emerging technology. It has the potential to substantially reduce CO2 emissions from coal plants, but it also faces many challenges. In its current form the technology would greatly increase the cost of building and running coal plants while greatly reducing their power output. In addition, careful selection and monitoring of geologic storage (or “sequestration”) sites, and the development of regulatory standards and mechanisms to guide this process, will be needed to minimize the environmental risks associated with CO2 leakage (including groundwater contamination).

For CCS to play a major role in reducing CO2 emissions, an enormous new infrastructure must be constructed to capture, process, and transport large quantities of CO2. And although CCS has been the subject of considerable research and analysis, it has yet to be demonstrated in the form of commercial-scale, fully integrated projects at coal-fired power plants. Such demonstration projects are needed to determine the relative costeffectiveness of CCS compared with other carbon-reducing strategies, and to assess its environmental safety—particularly at the very large scale of deployment needed for CCS to contribute significantly to the fight against global warming.

Already, the United States gets about half of its electricity from coal plants that lack CCS. Building more coal plants without CCS would not only increase the risk of irreversible and dangerous climate change but also increase our nation’s dependence on a fuel whose mining and use cause other environmental damages, human health problems, and deadly accidents. Furthermore, an expansion of our coal fleet could inhibit the development of inherently cleaner, safer, and more sustainable technologies such as energy efficiency and renewable power (e.g., wind, solar).

The coal industry is even planning to develop new markets for coal in the form of liquid and gas fuels for transportation and other purposes. “Liquid coal” would increase net CO2 emissions even if the conversion process employed CCS technology, and would greatly increase CO2 emissions without it. Coal-to-gas technology could either increase CO2 emissions or decrease them depending on whether it displaces other uses of coal.

The article continues and outlines recommendations for America regarding energy and coal. Among those recommendations from the Union of Concerned Scientists are:

Stop building new coal-fired power plants without CCS. Each new coal plant built without CCS represents a major long-term source of CO2. It is not safe to assume that new coal plants built today without CCS could cost-effectively add it later, because the cost of CCS (considerable even when included in the plant’s original design) would be much higher if added as a retrofit. The federal government should therefore adopt a strong performance standard limiting CO2 emissions from new coal plants, which will prevent the construction of any plant not employing CCS from the outset. Until such a policy is put in place, state regulators should evaluate proposed plants using a projected range of prices those plants would likely have to pay for their CO2 emissions under a cap-and-trade program...

Significantly increase both deployment of and R&D for energy efficiency and renewable energy. States and the federal government should adopt policies such as renewable electricity standards, energy efficiency programs, and appliance efficiency standards that would accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The federal government should also greatly expand its R&D and demonstration funding for these technologies (including energy storage technologies). Federal research money has long focused disproportionately on coal and nuclear power, greatly underfunding inherently cleaner technologies despite their tremendous potential. Given the urgency of the threat posed by global warming, this underfunding must be corrected.

In combination, these deployment and R&D investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy will minimize the near-term cost of reducing carbon emissions, buy time until the cost-effectiveness of CCS can be demonstrated at commercial scale, ensure a diverse set of long-term low-carbon options, and avoid perpetuating the undue advantage coal has long had over cleaner energy technologies.

The recommendations in this issue are in the spirit of these two recommendations.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Stop Blackstone Coal

Stop the Peabody Mine Expansion on Black Mesa

Loretta Sanchez comes out for Public Option

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

Rochester, NY Focus

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS

Silicon Valley, CA Focus

Orange County, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Passaic County, NJ Focus

Sussex County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

Dallas County, TX Focus

Austin/Travis County, TX Events

Houston/Harris County, TX. Events

TEXAS FOCUS

Georgia Action for Health Care

Georgia Democrats Work

Coweta County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: Stop Blackstone Coal

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

COLORADO FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Nevada Focus: Stop Blackstone Coal

NEVADA FOCUS

Maricopa County, AZ Focus: Blood on Sheriff Arpaio's Hands

Arizona Focus: NAVAJO GREEN JOBS

ARIZONA FOCUS

WASHINGTON FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Jacksonville, FL Campaign Training

FLORIDA FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

MINNESOTA FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

Stop Blackstone Coal

The Blackstone Group and Sithe Global are ignoring the critical threat of global warming and rather than developing new, clean energy sources, are trying to develop three large, dirty coal-fired power plants in the United States. These include the Desert Rock Energy Project, the Toquop Energy Project, and the River Hills Energy Project. I want to highlight efforts to stop these three coal plants.

And for those who wonder if taking action is worth it, so far this kind of activism have stopped as many as 100 proposed coal-fired plants so far as of this month. So yes, it is worth it. This comes from No Blackstone Coal:

These three plants would produce over 2,500 megawatts of electricity for 50 years and, combined, would emit over 20 million tons of climate change-causing carbon dioxide every year, or over 1 billion tons of CO2 in the plants’ lifetimes. In addition, these plants would produce millions of tons of toxic pollutants in the form of airborne emissions and spent coal ash, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, selenium and a variety of heavy metals, while also displacing real opportunities for clean, renewable energy and the jobs that come with them...

The Blackstone Group is one of Wall Street’s largest private equity and investment firms with assets listed under management worth nearly $95 billion at the end of 2008. They currently own approximately 130 companies with interests ranging from health care to telecommunications to real estate to energy. They are heavily invested in fossil fuels development including coal, tar sands, and petroleum refineries.

Sithe Global is a major private energy developer that constructs, and operates large-scale power plants both domestically and internationally. Their portfolio of projects totals nearly 7,000 megawatts of power projects, with a total capital investment potential of over $15 billion. Most of Sithe’s projects are coal-fired, natural gas-fired or hydroelectric power plants, but also include waste coal, one wind farm, and a palm oil venture.

In 2005 Blackstone purchased an 80% ownership in Sithe Global from its previous owner, Reservoir Capital, which retained a 20% ownership.

It is clear that Blackstone and Sithe Global are out of touch with national energy markets. Worse, they’re out of touch with the communities which will be harmed by these coal plants. These communities want clean energy and a clean future with long-term jobs for their children and grandchildren. What they don’t want are dirty coal plants and coal-waste facilities, and investors don’t want bad investments surrounded by uncertainty.

Steven Schwarzman Blackstone’s CEO Steven Schwarzman is worth an estimated $2.5 billion and, in addition to his 35-room Park Avenue suite, owns houses in Saint-Tropez, Jamaica, East Hampton, and Palm Beach. His five properties plus renovations are estimated to have cost over $125 million. Schwarzman is said to have the biggest living room in New York City. He made headlines in 2007 when he celebrated his 60th birthday with a $3 million party on Park Avenue that included many celebrities and high-profile financial industry members.

All my readers can take action against these coal fired plants by clicking here and sending a message to Steve Sachwarzman. I will also include information for my Nevada and Pennsylvania readers regarding the plants in their states.

I would add that it is best to combine this kind of activism stopping coal-fired plants with support of clean energy with carbon offsets through Native Energy...and cutting back on your own energy usage with compact fluorescent bulbs, more energy efficient appliances, energy audits, etc. We do need energy and we do need jobs that new energy production would provide, but we don't need more polluting coal plants. So I prefer including BOTH opposition to the coal plants AND support for alternative energy production.

Stop the Peabody Mine Expansion on Black Mesa

This is from awhile back, but the issue continues and we need to keep working on it. Help out if you can.

In the 1980's I participated in actions to try and stop the forced relocation of Native Americans (Dineh/Navajo tribe) to make way for the corrupt Peabody coal company to pretty much destroy an entire mountain to mine coal. The issue continues today, as many of you may have noticed in past issues of this newsletter.

The issue has many componants. There is the environmental impact of mining coal, something that became painfully obvious recently in Tennessee, but really is something that poisons people every day in America. Then there is the impact on global warming of continuing to burn coal for energy, pretty much a 19th century idea whose time has long passed. There is the issue of native rights and the unfairness of the treaties that allow companies like Peabody Coal to pay pennies to Native Americans for the right to mine resources for millions of dollars in profits. Of course there is also the corruption behind companies like Peabody coal that buy off politicians so they can get away with violating environmental laws with abandon. And there is the injustice of forced relocations of people off land that their families have occupied for generations.

All of these problems come together at the place alternately called Black Mesa and Big Mountain (I knew it as Big Mountain when I visited it in the 1980's).

As an environmentalist, Peabody Coal disgusts me to begin with. From the Sierra Club Ozark chapter:

Peabody has a long history of opposing efforts to mitigate the negative environmental effects of coal production and combustion. It was an active opponent of efforts to enact a strong Clean Air Act: in 1970, of acid rain provisions in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, and throughout the current efforts to significantly strengthen mercury provisions. Peabody’s most blatant attempt to undermine environmental protections has been its efforts over the past decade to discredit the world’s scientific community research that ties emissions from the burning of fossil fuels - like coal - to global warming. Its efforts have included contributions of more than $1.5 million to federal candidates and parties during the past four years -- with more than 93 percent going to Republicans– and an average of $400,000 per year on lobbying between 1997 and 2000...

Through its sustaining contributions to groups with names like Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC), Peabody has tried to cast doubt on the problem of global warming. Even though more than 2,000 scientists associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) long ago concluded that global warming was a threat5, Peabody continues its attempts to discredit their findings.

Peabody has collaborated with the Republican Party to poison our air, water and soil, and to ignore the warnings of climate scientists until it may almost be too late to deal with global warming (according to the most pessimisstic of those scientists). When you hear about high levels of mercury in your tuna, Peabody coal is one of the culprits.

You can read more about the irresponsibility and lies of Peabody Coal in this report from the National Resources Defense Council (PDF).

Back to Big Mountain/Black Mesa. The greed of this most irresponsible of companies has led to many abuses against Native Americans whose homes stood in the way of Peabody getting to mine the coal they wanted. And the Dineh/Navajo have been resisting for more than 20 years.

Winter Rabbit on Daily Kos recently had a diary on Big Mountain. This led me to a piece written by Bahe Katenay on Censored News:

The last few elder resisters and their few supporters (native or non-natives) will continue to provide the much needed humanitarian aide to our surviving history: traditional Dineh living and maintaining on their ancestral and sacred homelands. However, we all need to act in the best means possible and stop the daily Gestapo tactics and the potential demolishment of a sacred hogan or earth lodge. We all need to prevent any harm that may be committed on our elders or their helpers and most of all, prevent this growing hostility from getting out-of-hand.

All legal recourses are no longer an option since this is a challenge against a U.S. Executive Order, and The Peoples are the only option to bring about attention, focus and restoration.

I have attached a petition with addresses of officials and I am making a plead to you all, my relatives, to sign it and either send it directly to the listed officials or send them to the Black Mesa Indigenous Support. This situation is very urgent. These elders are very old now and they truly deserve much honor. They have lived in a way that, we or our future generations may never see humans live in this country. These traditional elders must live their naturally-given, old life in peace and harmony, Hozhon goh. Yaa'at'eeh goh.

I apologize for the long list of officials, but it has become long because of so many years of ignorance and because certain, minor sectors of society believed that these Elders would have been defeated already.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely & In the Spirit of Chief Barboncito,
Bahe Y. Katenay (Naabaahii Keediniihii)
Dineh of Big Mountain

"A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky."
The words of Crazy Horse (As remembered by Ohiyesa, Charles A. Eastman).

Here is the letter proposed to send to the Obama administration. Please feel free to use as much of it as you like to write to call attention to this issue:

Dear Mr. President Barrack Obama,

Copies to:
Mrs. Katherine Smith & Mrs. Pauline Whitesinger, Big Mountain Sovereign Dineh,
Selected Kimongwis of the Independent Pueblo of Hotevilla,
Mr. William Means & Ms. Andrea Carmen, International Indian Treaty Council,
President Joe Shirley, Jr., The Navajo Nation,
Mr. Roman Bitsuie, The Navajo-Hopi Land Commission,
Office of the Hopi Tribe’s Office of Hopi Lands,
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Agency
Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining

REPEAL “THE NAVAJO-HOPI LAND SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1974” (P.L. 93-531): IT ENFORCES THE METHODS OF GENOCIDE BY POPULATION REMOVAL AND COAL MINING EXPANSIONS

The Sovereign Nation of the Big Mountain Dineh is located in northeastern Arizona on Black Mesa and is part of ancient indigenous shared-territories. Members of this nation were affected by the 1974 legislation to relocate from certain partitioned areas, but have rather chose to resist this policy and try to: maintain their ancestral and treaty lands, keep cultural practices, value universal-granted freedom, conduct their ancient rights to ritual ceremonies, and preserve their sacred sites. The proclamation of these Dineh in 1979 states that through divine creation they were, “provided with the Ni’tliz’ (sacred stones) as offerings and the Dzil leezh (sacred mountain soil Bundle) representing the universe. With prayers and songs we offer the Ni’tliz to the trees, to the hills, to the wind, and the thunder beings in the sacred rain. The Dzil Leezh is our power to live close to our mother the Earth and father Sky. These are our sacred ways to survive in this universe and to communicate with the unseen forces in the Natural life.”

As you may be aware that, the relocation of thousands of Dineh (Navajos) and Hopis has been in process since 1977 after 1.8 million acres was partitioned and that, the Dineh elder leaders at Big Mountain began their resistance to U.S. government court orders to vacant areas partitioned to the official and federally-recognized, Hopi tribe. These traditional Dineh communities still continue to resist the harsh relocation policies and coal mining encroachment to this day. Despite a few elders are now left, they continue to reaffirm their ancestral land rights which are contrary to all court decisions related to the fore mentioned communities from 1974 to 1998.

U.S. Judicial System has had a vital role in this land rights issue ever since energy companies of the southwestern United States became interested in exploring the coal reserves of Black Mesa in northeastern Arizona. In 1962, there was a well-orchestrated rush to establish an Indian Land Claims on the behalf of the Hopi tribe and which was guided by a Peabody Coal Company attorney, and this allowed Peabody to acquire mining leases. The U.S. courts and corporate attorneys eventually, thereafter, help created the relocation and land-partitioning policies which only made way for coal exploration. None of these court rulings were based on proving that an actual “land dispute” did exist between the Dineh and Hopis.

Big Mountain on Black Mesa is the only place in the United States where two Indian nations can still define cultural coexistence and shared territories, and now have become endangered aboriginal peoples. The U.S. courts have ordered continued pressure on the remaining traditional Dineh and keep the areas sealed and isolated. The United States is allowing this tragedy and genocide to be sustained under the guise that relocation are on voluntary basis and that Indian police are being used rather than state authorities to carry out enforcements. These traditional resisters hold great knowledge and wisdom of ancient information and natural existence that are irreplaceable, and it is the world society’s responsibility to stop the United States and its largest coal-producer, Peabody Energy, from executing this human and mega-environmental destruction.

Additional documentations (www.blackmesais.org) of human rights violation and religious intolerance are as follows:

*Limitation or complete denial of: crop cultivation and livestock husbandry, community and religious activities, access to or maintenance of water wells, and elder residents’ safety needs to attain wood fuels for heating and cooking,

*Forced relocation to foreign settings that does not support or replace loss culture and religions,

*Deliberate breaking up of family and clan structures,

*Controlled national media that portray the Big Mountain story as a result of legitimate and humane court decisions,

*Peabody mines create: daily detonation that causes micro-quakes, depletion of pristine aquifers that causes subsidence and fissure zones, and massive emissions of coal dust and engine exhaust.

We the undersigned hereof state our demand that the United States cease all forcible relocation enforcements on the Dineh, and reverse the decisions made for Peabody Coal Company’s Life of the Mine Permit on Black Mesa.

It will be furthered recommended that:

*Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights to their homelands be recognized and respected,

*Traditional tribal communities be allowed to reinstate and restore the inexorable ties to fundamental existence and spiritual practices,

*There must be serious reviews about the conclusion that Black Mesa coal is the primary source for energy, and that being reviewed in the context of global concerns for greenhouse gas emissions,

*Acknowledge that indigenous being has sustained all human cultures’ moral obligations throughout the ages, and it is much more crucial in this technological era that the demands and rights of indigenous peoples be received with greater human understanding.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

SIGNATURE
PRINT NAME
DATE
OCCUPATION
COUNTRY

OFFICIAL CONTACT INFO:

U.S. President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone Numbers:

Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 U

Bureau of Indian Affairs Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240 Office of Surface Mining Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240

PHOENIX AREA OFFICE: Bureau of Indian Affairs P.O. Box 10 Phoenix, AZ 85001 P: 602/379-6600 F: 602/379-4413 Hopi Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs P.O. Box 158 Keams Canyon, AZ 86034 P: 520/738-2228 F: 520/738-5522

Navajo Nation Office of the President Joe Shirley, Jr.
Communications Director George Hardeen: georgehardeen@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7917 Cell: (928) 309-8532

Staff Assistant Gloria Bowman gbowman@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7915 Fax: (928) 871-7005

Administrative Assistant Desiree Etsitty Phone: (928) 871-7916 Fax: (928) 871-7807

Hard Rock Chapter P.O. Box 20 Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039 Phone: (928) 725-3730/3732 Fax: (928) 725-3731 E-mail: hardrock@navajochapters.org

Forest Lake Chapter P.O. Box 441 Pinon, AZ 86510 Phone: (928) 677-3252/3347 Fax: (928) 677-3320 E-mail: forestlake@navajochapters.org

Black Mesa Chapter P.O. Box 189 Pinon, AZ 86510 Phone: (928) 309-7056 E-mail: blackmesa@navajochapters.org

(To traditional Dineh or Hopi Kimongwis, or other Communiqué to Sovereign Dineh.) ATTN: TRADITIONAL ELDERS
Black Mesa Indigenous Support P.O. Box 23501
Flagstaff, Arizona 86002 Email: blackmesais@riseup.net

Help if you can. This has been a long and difficult fight for some of America's most powerless and poorest people. And they are being destroyed for the benefit of a corrupt, pro-Republican, global warming denying coal company. For more info, go to Black Mesa Indigenous Support.

Loretta Sanchez comes out for Public Option

Loretta Sanchez comes out for Public Option: I know some consider her too conservative, but I have always liked Loretta Sanchez. Not only did she defeat (twice!) one of the most insane right wing nuts ever (Bob Dornan) but she has a sense of style all her own. Here's the video:



CA-48: An analysis


Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County: The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County are dedicated to the mission of electing LGBT and Pro-Equality Democrats in California and throughout the country.

The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County typically meet on the last Sunday of the month:

Local 50 Union Hall
527 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805

Click here to join.


Orange County Biodiesel Cooperative: Working together to increase availability of biodiesel in the Orange County region. Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. Go to their website to sign up for more info.


I found this amazing round up of events in Orange County, California, thanks to Orange County Democracy for America:

Jul 26 Sunday 11am-2pm, San Clemente: Military Families Beach Barbecue to honor the sacrifice of our military families from Camp Pendleton Help us reach out to Blue Star families. We want to give them a fun family day on the beach in San Clemente with a barbecue and games for the kids. San Clemente Beach Email: lori@hedrickforcongres.com

Jul 30 (Last Thursday) 7:30pm, Irvine: Amnesty International Group #178 Irvine July meeting canceled For more details, see our website. For further information about the meeting, please see our group meeting page. For additional questions, please get in touch with us via our contact page.

Aug 4 Tuesday 8am-9:30am, Newport Beach: Breakfast with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez! Balboa Bay Club 1221 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach
Special Guests: Members of Congress to be announced! Suggested contribution: Individual Tickets $100 Table of 8 $1000 Individual Sponsor $2400 PAC Sponsor $5000 Please RSVP to Kelly Martinez at 714-832-4431 or kmartinez@loretta.org

Aug 5 Wednesday: DFA-OC normally meets the first Wednesday of the month. However, we will NOT meet in August. Meetings will resume monthly on Sept. 2, 7 pm, Karl Strauss Brewery, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa. Contact: Susan Kopicki @ sckopicki@yahoo.com

Aug 6 Thursday 6:30pm, Anaheim: Hooray! Arianna Huffington is coming to the OC! It is our honor to invite you to join us for a very special evening with author, syndicated columnist and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington.
Individual Ticket Levels: $75 for General Admission $60 for Sustaining Members FREE for Members of the Progressive Council of Orange County
Sheraton Park Hotel, 1855 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802 Click here to RSVP and get your tickets today! If you prefer to pay by check or have any questions, please contact Melahat Rafiei at 714-835-5158 or Melahat@OCDemocrats.org.

Aug 15 Saturday noon-4pm, Irvine: OC LGBT Pride Festival: Picnic in the Park with Pride 2009 William R. Mason Regional Park, on University Drive in Irvine The Festival will be centered at Shelter 6 in Mason Park Sponsored by the Orange County Equality Coalition Bring a picnic lunch. Admission is free to all. Families are welcome. Dogs are permitted. (But no alcohol please.) Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited and OC Parks charge for parking.
The After Party Steelhead Brewery at 4175 Campus Drive in Irvine welcomes the OC LGBT Pride After-Party from 4-8 pm Contact us at oclgbtpride@gmail.com or visit sites.google.com/site/oclgbtpride

Aug 22 Saturday 11am-2pm, Irvine: Women For: Orange County, Twenty-Ninth Annual Suffrage Day Celebration! University Club at UCI, 801 E. Peltason Dr., 11:00am to 2:00pm. This year's honorees are: Elaine Booth, Women For and OC progressive activist; Pam Allison, Project Hope; Chay Peterson, OC environmental and humanitarian activist, and Debbie Cook, Post Carbon Institute and former Mayor, Huntington Beach. The Suffrage Day Luncheon is open to all. Reservations with payment of $45 are due August 8th. Please make check payable to Women For: Orange County, and mail to: "Suffrage Day", 19192 Sierra Isabelle, Irvine, CA 92603. (To request a vegan meal, please write "VEG" in the memo line on your check.) Registration begins at 11:00am. Lunch will be served at noon in the Dining Room. Information 949.276.7298, womenforoc.org

BROOKLYN, NY: Clubs, Candidates and Co-ops

New Jersey Corruption hits Brooklyn. Here is the BBC News story on the political scandal in New Jersey that seems to include quite a few Rabbis from Brooklyn. And here is a list of names of people who have been arrested in this scandal.

Brooklyn has some GREAT candidates running this year that really deserve your support. We also have several excellent political organizations that need your help fighting the deep-rooted corruption that we find in Brooklyn. And, for those who want high quality, excellent food at cheap prices, at the bottom of this page I list three local food co-ops: Park Slope, Flatbush and the new Bay Ridge Food Co-ops.

EUGENE MYRICK FOR BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT:

Eugene Myrick is running for Brooklyn Borough President against Angry Clown and homophobe supporter Marty Markowitz (see also here for the Angry Clown story). Here is Eugene Myrick's video:



Eugene Myrick opposes Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yard's megadevelopement, and places prime emphasis on education in Brooklyn. Initially I was interested in Myrick because I considered Markowitz a corrupt asshole. But I have grown to see Myrick as a good candidate in his own right, and he deserves our support.


CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES IN BROOKLYN:

Josh Skaller for City Council.

Josh Skaller is a good friend and a brilliant individual. His integrity and honesty are unmatched, and that is something Brooklyn politics desperately needs. He would be an excellent addition to the City Council.

"Josh has always fought for fiscal responsibility and the progressive solutions needed to reform city government"

--Jim Dean
Chair of Democracy For America (DFA)

Video of Howard Dean (Jim Dean's brother) endorsing Josh Skaller:



Josh has also been endorsed by Assemblyman Jim Brennan, State Senator Eric Adams, Civil Rights attorney (and Public Advocate candidate) Norman Siegel, Joint Council 16, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Locals 111, 202, 237, 295, 851 and 854, New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU, AFL-CIO, SEIU, Special Officers and Guards, Local 177SEIU, Special Officers and Guards, Local 177, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Democracy for New York City, Democracy for America, The New York Community Council, Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development, and Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus.

Josh has been a strong voice against Ratner's plan for Atlantic Yards, as well as other unchecked and unwise development projects, believing environmental sustainability is the key to our prosperity. He advocates a stronger community voice in development decisions and making affordable housing a priority in its own right rather than as simply a bone developers throw the city in exchange for massive subsidies and tax breaks.

Josh was the first of the candidates running in this district to take the position of cleaning up Brooklyn’s toxic Gowanus Canal before development progresses. Most other candidates followed his lead with varying degrees of reluctance. You can read a bit more about this issue here (complete with some disgusting pictures my wife took of the canal).

Here's Josh Skaller Speaking Up for Giving REAL Power to the Parents


33rd City Council District: Jo Anne Simon. You can read my detailed rundown of this race here. Jo Anne has been endorsed by Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, 504 Democrats, and Lambda Independent Democrats. Her main opponent is a lackey of party boss Vito Lopez and is anti-reform. Here is an interesting article on Jo Anne Simon and Judge Sotomayor

Jo Anne Simon has been endorsed by many people and organizations I respect, including Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, State Senators Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery, City Councilmember Letitia James, Assembly members Joan Millman and Jim Brennan, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, LAMBDA Independent Democrats, NYC Community Council and 504 Democrats.

35th City Council District: Letitia James wholeheartedly. An amazing woman! She has two mediocre challengers, but no one can stop this excellent woman!

36th City Council District: There are two candidates I have heard good things about. Saquan Jones and Mark Winston Griffith. I am not endorsing in this race, but I do recommend people check out both of these two gentleman and give the one you prefer some support.

40th City Council District: Rock Hackshaw. He is a fellow blogger and his knowledge of Brooklyn politics is amazing. I differ with this guy on some issues. But I know him and his honesty and integrity are exceptional and I think he would be an excellent City Councilman. Since he is running against a guy who lies about being a doctor and is as strange and squirrely as you can get, Rock would be a very welcome change. Rock Hackshaw is one of the best people running this year and I strongly urge people to support him. If you want honesty in government, THIS GUY is the number one person to deliver honesty.

45th City Council District: Two candidates I like. First Terry Hinds. I have three people giving very good recommendations for this guy. But I also think Rod Daley is good and represents a chance to get another educator on the city council.


PLASTIC RECYCLING IN BROOKLYN:

Recycling of plastics not accepted in the city recycling can be done at the Park Slope Food Co-op at 782 Union Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Bring clean, dry plastic to the Coop's sidewalk during monthly recycling hours. We close up promptly. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the collection end time to allow for inspection and sorting of your plastic:

2nd Sat., 10 AM-2 PM
3rd Thur., 7 PM-9 PM
Last Sun., 10 AM-2 PM.

As of 2/16/09 and until further notice, we collect....

* #1 and #6 transparent plastics (Labels OK. Mouth is wide or wider than the body, meaning NOT bottles.)
* #5 plastic tubs, cups & specifically marked lids and caps. Must be especially clean and dry. (Discard any with paper labels, or cut the labels off.)
* Plastic film and bubble wrap. 100% transparent only -- must be able to see through the plastic. No colored or opaque. No paper labels. Minimal writing OK.

All the above must be brought to the Coop CLEAN AND DRY.

Note: We are no longer accepting #2 or #4 type plastics.

These changes result from a significant decline in the worldwide market for recyclable materials that has affected recycling programs everywhere. Please be patient and cooperate with us as we adjust to these changes, as well as to any further changes that may be necessary.

We are currently updating our literature and will make new fliers available as soon as possible. Or, contact us at plasticrecycling@foodcoop.com.

And on a related note, you can help increase the demand for recycled plastic products by shopping through these companies that specialize in recycled plastic products (including lumber!!).


Friends & Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG)

We are a community based grass-roots organization advocating for environmentally sound community planning for the Gowanus Canal neighborhoods.

The Gowanus Canal is a very unique resource for our community and all of New York. It has long historal significant as a pre-industrial and industrial transportation waterway in addition to playing a significant roll in the Battle of Brooklyn. This natural tidal estuary connects our urban world to the waters that surround us and opens our city to the natural habitat it was built upon. Even today, it provides an open sky, early industrial/estuary landscape that can not be matched anywhere in our city.

With extensive urban Brownfields and an Aquatic Brownfield standing, we work to see this water way brought back to life with water quality standards that sincerely meet state standards for fishable and contact use; not only for the community but also for local wildlife.

For more information: FROGGcommunity@earthlink.net


BROOKLYN REFORM DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS:

Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats is a community-based Democratic club. CBID has fought for reform and progressive causes since 1968. As a Brooklyn-based Club, we have been instrumental in the election of many candidates for public office. Much of this success was a result of our question-and-answer forums with prospective candidates as well as our extensive on-the-street contact with our constituents.

Staunchly opposed to political corruption, we are proud of our independence and our commitment to progressive reform in city, state and national politics. We are a vehicle for citizen empowerment and making government more accountable to our neighborhoods.

We meet monthly, usually the fourth Thursday evening of the month in the basement of the Park Slope United Methodist Church, on the corner of 6th ave and 8th street, at 7:30pm. All are welcome.

New Kings Democrats (”NKD”) is a new, grassroots organization in Kings County (Brooklyn), New York whose primary mission is to recruit and prepare individuals to run for Kings County Democratic Committee. NKD hopes to achieve the goal of an inclusionary and participatory democracy by making it easy for individuals to run for local, elected office. NKD will serve as a training ground for individuals seeking higher office, and hopes to build and nurture a new group of Brooklyn Democratic leaders.

Democracy for NYC in Brooklyn:

Democracy for New York City (DFNYC) is a volunteer-driven non-profit politicalaction committee. We are part of a national coalition of local groups committed to the ideals espoused by Democracy for America, the organization founded by Howard Dean.

We work both locally and nationally to ensure that fiscally-responsible and socially-progressive candidates win elections at all levels of government. We develop innovative ways to advocate for the issues that matter to our members and promote legislation which has a positive effect in our communities. We engage people in the political process and give them the tools to organize, communicate, mobilize, and enact change on the local, state, and national level.

Currently there is only one Brooklyn chapter:

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn - Meets First Wednesday of every month. 7:00pm, Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead 1669 E. 22nd St. with host Annette Mont and Estelle Glasser.


DRINKING LIBERALLY IN BROOKLYN:

An informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits
while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher.
Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place
to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a
book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent
frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk
politics.

Park Slope
* Second Wednesday of each month, 7:30-10:00 pm
* Commonwealth, 497 5th Ave (at 12th Street)
* Hosted by Anthony Accurso, Emilie Harkin and Emily Farris, parkslope (at) drinkingliberally.org


FOOD CO-OPS IN BROOKLYN:

New Food Co-op Coming to Brooklyn: (info sent to me by a reader)

They are not active yet, but their website is: http://www.foodcoopbayridge.com

They are recruiting new members and looking to open summer/fall 2010.

For more info, and if you want to get in at the start, you can email ( fcbrmembership@gmail.com ), call ( 347-247-8172 ) or follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/thefoodcoop) or on Facebook.

Park Slope Food Co-op
782 Union Street
Brooklyn, New York 11215
Phone: (718) 622-0560
FAX: (718) 622-5685
linda_wheeler@psfc.coop
http://www.foodcoop.com/

This is the largest Food Co-op in America. Joy and I are members (as are City Council Candidates Ken Baer and Josh Skaller). Low prices and high quality even if it can be a bit inconvenient at times.

Flatbush Food Cooperative
1318 Cortelyou Road
Brooklyn, New York 11226
Phone: (718) 284-9717
FAX: (718) 284-9719
info@flatbushfoodcoop.com
http://www.flatbushfoodcoop.com/

Established in 1976, and located on Cortelyou Road in the heart of Victorian Flatbush since 1985, Flatbush Food Coop is a community-owned, full-service natural foods store specializing in organic products. We are committed to serving the diverse community in which we are situated, and beyond, by providing goods and services that promote personal and environmental well-being. Like the 300 food coops across the nation with which we are affiliated, we are open to all—it is not necessary to be a member to shop. By joining the Coop, however, you become a joint owner of our business and are able to take additional savings on your purchases. There are opportunities for varying degrees of involvement in the coop, and our member-owners are able to influence the direction of our organization. We are particularly proud that the dozens of ethnic groups in Brooklyn’s most diverse neighborhood are reflected in our staff, our close to 3,000 members, and countless shoppers.

QUEENS, NY: Democracy for America, Candidates and Drinking Liberally

Some reminders about Slasher Monserrate, one of the traitors who stopped reform in Albany:

Constituents of dissident Dems are angry, confused...really bad idea to piss off your constituents

The Facts on Hiram Monserrate

Marty Golden: Monserrate should resign

Hiram Monserrate: Queens City Douchebag

Hiram Monster Rat

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES IN QUEENS:

19th City Council District: Steve Behar. I have met Steve at several Democracy for NYC events. Great guy who has worked tirelessly for progressives in NYC and throughout the state.

Here's Steve discussing Small Business:



Steve Behar has been endorsed by the current City Councilman (and mayoral candidate) Tony Avella as well as by Democracy for NYC, Democracy for America, Queens County Progressive Democratic Club, The New York Community Council, Democrats for New Politics, and 3-decade Civil Rights champion (and Public Advocate candidate) Norman Siegel.

Meanwhile, Steve Behar's opponent, Paul Vallone, has been endorsed by...REPUBLICANS! This is a prime reason to elect Behar. We do NOT need a DINO elected to City Council in NYC.


Marquez Claxton for City Council: A former NYC Police Officer and co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, Marq Claxton is running for the City Council District 31 seat in Queens. He is currently the chair of the Public Safety Committee for Community Board 13. He has been endorsed by Eric Adams (who I know and respect) and is being considered by the Working Families Party as a candidate. While Claxton's opponent, James Saunders, has received a FAILING score from the NY League of Conservation Voters, Marq Claxton has picked up an amazing range of endorsements (see, for example, these recent endorsements from both establishment and reform groups).

Here is State Senator Eric Adam's endorsement statement:



MARQUEZ CLAXTON ON ROCKAWAY RADIO


Daniel Dromm for City Council: a public school teacher running for the City Council District 25 seat in Queens. He was a founder of the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and chapter leader of United Federation of Teachers, PS 199Q. He has been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Mark Green, and others. WFP seem to be considering him as well. Dromm received the "Community Service Impact Award" from the Times Ledger Newspapers (2006), the "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" PS 199Q Principal's Award (2006), and the "Citation of Honor" from the Queens Borough President (1995). Seems like exactly the experience we need on the City Council.

Here is a video of Daniel Dromm at Pride '09:




Mel Gagarin: 29th City Council District

This guys sounds pretty exciting given his experience. From his website:

Melquiades Gagarin was born in Elmhurst, Queens to a diverse family background. Mel was raised by his grandmother and mother, a nurse, who emphasized the value of hard work and service to others. Mel carries these values with him into his campaign to represent the 29th Council District.

Mel is a graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School, in Jamaica and received his degree in Political Science from the American University in Washington D.C. After graduation Mel worked for the National Foundation for Women Legislators, a non-profit organization that assists female state legislators develop leadership skills.

In the fall of 2005, Mel and his future wife Aleda returned to New York and moved to Kew Gardens where they would start their family. Mel served as the Communications Liaison to New York State Senator José Serrano before being hired by Congressman Anthony Weiner as his Community Representative. As the Congressman’s Community Representative Mel was dedicated to assisting constituents and working to solve their problems.

Mel now serves as the Media Manager for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he is responsible for spreading the organization’s message of equality and justice for all Americans. He lives in Kew Gardens with his wife Aleda, son Micah, and daughter Zoe Frances.

And a video from his website:



24th City Council District: Jim Gennaro. Excellent environmental advocate pushing for more biodiesel in NYC to reduce pollution, and a strong advocate for preserving the safety of our drinking water. No campaign website that I can find, but he is a good guy.


Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens

The Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens (LGDCQ) is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender independent Democratic club in the Borough of Queens.

The LGDCQ was founded eleven years ago to increase the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in the political arena of Queens, New York City, New York State and the nation.

To receive the monthly newsletter or to be put on the Club's mailing list contact;
Democratic District Leader Daniel Dromm at
Write "LGDCQ Newsletter" in subject title.


Democracy for NYC in Queens:

Democracy for New York City (DFNYC) is a volunteer-driven non-profit political action committee. We are part of a national coalition of local groups committed to the ideals espoused by Democracy for America, the organization founded by Howard Dean.

We work both locally and nationally to ensure that fiscally-responsible and socially-progressive candidates win elections at all levels of government. We develop innovative ways to advocate for the issues that matter to our members and promote legislation which has a positive effect in our communities. We engage people in the political process and give them the tools to organize, communicate, mobilize, and enact change on the local, state, and national level.

Currently there are three Brooklyn chapters: Each meets the First Wednesday of every month.

Astoria, Queens - 7:30pm, - Ommonia Cafe 32-20 Broadway, with host Jeremiah Frei-Pearson and Costa Constantinides.

Sunnyside, Queens - 7:30pm, Bliss Street Station restaurant, 47-02 Greenpoint Ave., with host Dan Jacoby.

Bayside, Queens - 7:00pm, The First Edition, 41-08 Bell Blvd, right near the LIRR stop, with host Steve Behar of Democrats for New Politics.


DRINKING LIBERALLY IN QUEENS:

An informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits
while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher.
Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place
to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a
book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent
frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk
politics.

Queens
* Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward
* Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102 (group of young liberals taking up one lane)
* Hosted by Donald Graff, queens (at) drinkingliberally.org

Silicon Valley Area, CA Events and Food Co-ops

I want to cover some events, Democratic Clubs (below the events) and Co-ops (below the clubs) in the greater Silicon Valley area.

First here are some events (from the Silicon Valley Democracy for America calendar and the Santa Clara County Democrats calendar):


"Dean club" get-together
Event Date: Aug 5, 2009
Event Time: 7:00 PM PDT (10:00 PM EDT)
City: Palo Alto or Los Altos, usually
State: CA
Phone: 650-380-4112

Regular first-Wednesday meeting of the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley. We usually meet in a private home in Palo Alto or Los Altos.

Sign up here for more info.

Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee
08/06/2009 7:00pm
County Building Cafeteria, 70 W. Hedding St., Central San Jose

Monthly meeting of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. The meeting agenda can be viewed at http://sccdp.org/sccdcc.php

Zoe Lofgren's Annual BBQ
08/09/2009 1:00pm
History Park, 1650 Senter Road, Central San Jose

Join Zoe Lofgren for her annual BBQ fundraiser, from 1-4 pm on the first Sunday in August. For more information: www.lofgrenforcongress.com/upcomingevents

PDC Potluck Picnic
08/22/2009 5:00pm
Shoup Park, 400 University Avenue, Los Altos, North County

The Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) Potluck Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. Expected guests include elected officials and candidates. The picnic features good food, brief speeches, and silent auctions. We will also have children's activities, so bring the children! The picnic is a POTLUCK with enough food to make a meal. We request a $5 contribution at the door (free for the children). Hot dogs, wine, beer and soft drinks will be available; you are asked to bring a potluck dish to share (appetizer, main dish, salad, or desert – your choice). No reservations or RSVP required.

DFA first-Wednesday get-together
Event Date: Sep 2, 2009
Event Time: 7:00 PM PDT (10:00 PM EDT)
City: Palo Alto or Los Altos, usually
State: CA
Phone: 650-380-4112

Sign up here for more info.


SILICON VALLEY DEMOCRATIC CLUBS: This list comes from the Santa Clara County Democratic Club website:

Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley. The Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley is an alliance in Silicon Valley, California dedicated to the issues brought forth by Gov. Howard Dean, M.D., his cause and his message of progressive, positive change. dfasv.org, www.dfalink.com/siliconvalley, Co-Chairs; Spandan Chakrabarti, Alice Smith. Contact deanclub_at_sccdp.org

Obama Democratic Club of Silicon Valley. A club of volunteers from the 2008 Barack Obama campaign and local arm of Organizing for America. Members of this club will continue to promote Obama's policies and priorities. Peter Allen, President, obama_at_sccdp.org. sites.google.com/site/obamadcsv/

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club. SVAPADC was founded in 1996 to foster member participation at all levels of the Democratic Party. Our goals are to unify and empower the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities; ensure fair representation of the APA's interests; and educate and promote political participation. Contact Buu Thai at apa_at_sccdp.org. The club's homepage is svapadc.org.

Silicon Valley Democratic Club. Formerly known as the Moorpark Democratic, the Silicon Valley Democratic club prides itself in developing a growing and diverse community with an organized and unifying voice in the political arena. The Club provides a forum for its members to focus, discuss, prioritize positions and promote important issues to our diverse community. Working together, our members help to elect Democratic candidates in local, state, and national elections. Clarence Madrilejos, moorpark_at_sccdp.org. www.moorparkdems.org

Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Forum. A venue for local Latinos to become active in the Democratic Party. Javier Gonzalez, svldf_at_sccdp.org.

Silicon Valley LGBT Democratic Club. Dedicated to providing a grassroots channel for the political participation of like-minded lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Democrats. President: David Parker, lgbt_at_sccdp.org. Visit the club on the web at http://www.lgbtdems.org.

Silicon Valley Young Democrats. SVYD serves Democrats under 36 years old from throughout the Silicon Valley. We provide networking, social, and personal growth opportunities for young people dedicated to progressive ideals. President: Julie Lind, svyd_at_sccdp.org. Visit the club's website at svyd.org.


SILICON VALLEY AREA FOOD CO-OPS: These are the only ones I could find near Silicon Valley, though they are all somewhat peripheral

Kresge Food Co-op
600 Kresge CT, Kresge College UCSC
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Phone: (831) 426-1506
coop@dv8.org
http://k9.dv8.org/~coop/

The Kresge Food Coop is a student-run cooperative health food store located at Kresge College on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. We currently consist of twelve Core Collective Members who own the coop and are responsible for its daily operations and for any number of working members. This page has been created in order to better serve our community. Through this page you can email the coop, learn about our Core Collective Members, sign up to be a working member, make suggestions, check sales, read and reread our newsletter, and browse our links to other coops and health food stores.

The Cooperative Grocery (The CoG)
1450 67th Street
Emeryville, California 95616
Phone: (510) 868-2883
FAX: (510) 868-2893
info@thecog.org
http://www.thecog.org/

The Cooperative Grocery—The CoG—is a non-profit, working members cooperative that offers high-quality groceries at an affordable price to individuals and families in our community.

Members of The CoG work 2 1/2 hours every 4 weeks, performing jobs like stocking shelves, building orders and providing member services. By providing much of the labor for the store, our members keep our operating costs to a minimum. We then pass the savings onto our members in the form of lower prices. Our model is based on the successful Park Slope Food Co-Op in Brooklyn, NY, which serves 13,000 members.

To further control costs and grow our co-op in a responsible manner, we launched the CoG as an online store that is served from a warehouse located in Emeryville, with easy access to communities in Berkeley and Oakland. Our long term plan is to build a retail business as finances allow.

Bolinas Peoples Store
P. O. Box 808
Bolinas, California 94924
Phone: (415) 868-1433
FAX: (415) 868-1219

Rainbow Grocery Co-op
1745 Folsom
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: (415) 863-0620
FAX: (415) 863-8955
comments@rainbowgrocery.coop
http://www.rainbow.coop/

We have been in San Francisco's Mission District since 1975. We strive to offer resources, education and a forum for informational exchange for many local communities and organizations.

Rainbow Grocery is open every day from 9AM to 9PM

We are located in San Francisco's Mission District at 1745 Folsom Street. Our cross street is 13th Street (also known as Duboce), which runs directly under the central freeway. Use the map below for directions by car. Click here for Public Transit directions. Click here for bicycling directions.

Other Avenues Community Food Store
3930 Judah Street
San Francisco, California 94122
Phone: (415) 661-7475
FAX: (415) 661-0835
info@otheravenues.org
http://www.otheravenues.org/

Orange County, CA Events

Loretta Sanchez comes out for Public Option: I know some consider her too conservative, but I have always liked Loretta Sanchez. Not only did she defeat (twice!) one of the most insane right wing nuts ever (Bob Dornan) but she has a sense of style all her own. Here's the video:



CA-48: An analysis


Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County: The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County are dedicated to the mission of electing LGBT and Pro-Equality Democrats in California and throughout the country.

The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County typically meet on the last Sunday of the month:

Local 50 Union Hall
527 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805

Click here to join.


Orange County Biodiesel Cooperative: Working together to increase availability of biodiesel in the Orange County region. Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. Go to their website to sign up for more info.

And here are some other biodiesel stations in/near Orange County, CA:

Extreme Biodiesel: 1560 N Maple St, Corona, CA 92880, 888-998-7223. Offers B99.9 (nearly 100% biodiesel, good for newer diesel engines, some old engines not ok). MEMBERSHIP REQD

Nickey Petroleum: 925 S Lakeview Ave, Placentia,, CA 92870, 714-547-4123. Offers B20 (good for any diesel engine), B99 (ok for newer diesel engines). CALL AHEAD

Socal Biofuel: 1006 E South St, Anaheim, CA 92805, 888-888-4121. Offers B99 (good for newer diesel enginns, some old engines not ok). Open 8-4:30 M-F


I found this amazing round up of events in Orange County, California, thanks to Orange County Democracy for America:

Jul 26 Sunday 11am-2pm, San Clemente: Military Families Beach Barbecue to honor the sacrifice of our military families from Camp Pendleton Help us reach out to Blue Star families. We want to give them a fun family day on the beach in San Clemente with a barbecue and games for the kids. San Clemente Beach Email: lori@hedrickforcongres.com

Jul 30 (Last Thursday) 7:30pm, Irvine: Amnesty International Group #178 Irvine July meeting canceled For more details, see our website. For further information about the meeting, please see our group meeting page. For additional questions, please get in touch with us via our contact page.

Aug 4 Tuesday 8am-9:30am, Newport Beach: Breakfast with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez! Balboa Bay Club 1221 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach
Special Guests: Members of Congress to be announced! Suggested contribution: Individual Tickets $100 Table of 8 $1000 Individual Sponsor $2400 PAC Sponsor $5000 Please RSVP to Kelly Martinez at 714-832-4431 or kmartinez@loretta.org

Aug 5 Wednesday: DFA-OC normally meets the first Wednesday of the month. However, we will NOT meet in August. Meetings will resume monthly on Sept. 2, 7 pm, Karl Strauss Brewery, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa. Contact: Susan Kopicki @ sckopicki@yahoo.com

Aug 6 Thursday 6:30pm, Anaheim: Hooray! Arianna Huffington is coming to the OC! It is our honor to invite you to join us for a very special evening with author, syndicated columnist and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington.
Individual Ticket Levels: $75 for General Admission $60 for Sustaining Members FREE for Members of the Progressive Council of Orange County
Sheraton Park Hotel, 1855 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802 Click here to RSVP and get your tickets today! If you prefer to pay by check or have any questions, please contact Melahat Rafiei at 714-835-5158 or Melahat@OCDemocrats.org.

Aug 15 Saturday noon-4pm, Irvine: OC LGBT Pride Festival: Picnic in the Park with Pride 2009 William R. Mason Regional Park, on University Drive in Irvine The Festival will be centered at Shelter 6 in Mason Park Sponsored by the Orange County Equality Coalition Bring a picnic lunch. Admission is free to all. Families are welcome. Dogs are permitted. (But no alcohol please.) Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited and OC Parks charge for parking.
The After Party Steelhead Brewery at 4175 Campus Drive in Irvine welcomes the OC LGBT Pride After-Party from 4-8 pm Contact us at oclgbtpride@gmail.com or visit sites.google.com/site/oclgbtpride

Aug 22 Saturday 11am-2pm, Irvine: Women For: Orange County, Twenty-Ninth Annual Suffrage Day Celebration! University Club at UCI, 801 E. Peltason Dr., 11:00am to 2:00pm. This year's honorees are: Elaine Booth, Women For and OC progressive activist; Pam Allison, Project Hope; Chay Peterson, OC environmental and humanitarian activist, and Debbie Cook, Post Carbon Institute and former Mayor, Huntington Beach. The Suffrage Day Luncheon is open to all. Reservations with payment of $45 are due August 8th. Please make check payable to Women For: Orange County, and mail to: "Suffrage Day", 19192 Sierra Isabelle, Irvine, CA 92603. (To request a vegan meal, please write "VEG" in the memo line on your check.) Registration begins at 11:00am. Lunch will be served at noon in the Dining Room. Information 949.276.7298, womenforoc.org

San Diego, CA Events and Co-ops

Biodiesel is one of the alternatives I have been pushing for some time. It can be used in any diesel engine, is less polluting and has a smaller carbon footprint than regular diesel.

Here are some gas stations that offer biodiesel in the San Diego area:

Carr's Car Center: 3940 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92054, 760-433-2166. Offers B5 (5% biodiesel, good for any diesel engine). Open M-SAT 6AM-6PM.

Soco Group: 145 Vernon Way, El Cajon, CA 92020, 858-627-0440. Offers B20 (20% biodiesel, good for any diesel engine). Open 7 AM - 5PM M-F.

Pearson Ford/RTC Fuels: 4067 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92105, 619-243-0456. Offers B99 (99% biodiesel, good for new engines, some old engines not ok). Open 7AM-10PM.


Here is a great calendar of events for San Deigo, California, thanks to the San Diego County Democrats:

Meet-and-greet cocktail reception/discussion with Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, Democratic Candidate for the 45th CD. Tuesday, July 21st, 5:30 - 7:30 pm. At the home of Kevin Tilden & Dr. Philip Diamond, 4215 Arden Way, Mission Hills. No contribuion requested! RSVP to Greg at 619.727.1191 or gevans415@yahoo.com

La Jolla Democratic Club monthly meeting. Sunday, July 26th, business meeting 1:00-2:00 pm, program from 2:00-4:00. The topic will be 'Unanswered Questions About 9/11.' At the La Jolla Public Library 7555 Draper St., La Jolla 92037. Info: Michael Mcquary at 858 752 9544, michael_mcquary@yahoo.com or http://www.lajollademocrats.org

Point Loma Democratic Club meeting. Sunday July 26th, 4:00 PM. Assembly Member Lori Saldana will be the guest speaker. At the Point Loma Assembly building, 3035 Talbot St., just west of Rosecrans. Info: Ruth Rollins at 619-222-9344.

Santee Democratic Club Meeting. Tuesday, July 28th, 7:30 pm. At the Carlton Hills Lutheran Church, 9735 Halberns Blvd, Santee. Info: Pat Hurley phurley@cox.net or 619 258 9190. www.santeedemocrats.org

Mesa Democratic Club Booth at Clairemont Family Fun Day. Saturday, August 1st from 8:00 am to 4 pm. Pancake breakfast, car show, live entertainment, free swimming at the pool and many booths including our Mesa Booth. Info: president@mesa.sddem.org or hhttp://www.mesa.sddem.org/

Meet & Greet w/Tracy Emblem, Candidate California’s 50th Congressional District. Friday, August 1st, 4:00-6:00 PM. Dust off your safari gear and join civic activists, pioneers, local leaders and the Rancho Bernardo Democratic Club for an Elephant Hunt/ Fundraiser to take out Brian Bilbray. At the Elephant Bar, 17051 W. Bernardo Dr. (RB) 92127. Minimum suggested contribution: $35. RSVP: 760-300-5837 or info@TracyEmblemForCongress.com

San Diego Democracy For America Meetup (SD DFA) meeting. Wednesday, August 5th, social at 6:00, meeting at 7:00 pm, social at 6:00, meeting at 7:00 pm. Giovanni's Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. 92123 (Corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Ruffin Rd. across from Registrar of Voters). Info: Carol (858) 459-7044. or cchangus@san.rr.com.

East County Caucus For The San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting. Saturday, August 8th, 9:30 to 11:00 am. At CWA Local 9400 Union Hall, 566 E. Main Street, El Cajon 92020. Info: Christopher Pearson chrispearson11@hotmail.com

Mesa Democratic Club's Annual Pot Luck. Saturday, August, 8th, noon to 4:00 pm. Members, friends, electeds and candidates welcome. Newt & Laura will share their lovely home at 3829 Sioux Ave in Clairemont. Bring your favorite dish. Info: president@mesa.sddem.org

The Escondido Democratic Club meeting. Thursday, August 13th, 7:00 pm. The topic will be wastewater disposal, with guest speakers from the City of Escondido and the Escondido Creek Conservancy. At the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. in Escondido. Light refreshments. Info: Rick Moore at communications@escondidodems.org or 760-740-8595.

Council of Clubs meeting. Saturday, August 15th, 10:00 am. Monthly meeting of Democratic Club leadership at SDCDP Headquarters, 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 108. Info: clubs@sddemocrats.org

Democratic Club of Carlsbad-Oceanside Summer Fundraiser. Sunday, August 16th, 1 - 5 PM. Catered buffet from Tuscany Restaurant-Carlsbad. Many excellent auction items. Featured speaker: Ferial Masry from Ventura County, a writer, educator, and mother of an Iraqi soldier. Ms. Masry is hoping to be the first Saudi-American woman elected to the California State Assembly, running for the 37th A.D. in next year's elections. At the Carlsbad Woman's Club, 3320 Monroe St., Carlsbad (4 blocks east of Freeway off Carlsbad Village Dr., in the Carlsbad High School area.). Info: Kathi Carbone, 760-521-2286, kcfc@cox.net.

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration. Wednesday, August 19th, from 10:10 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens on Join the other volunteers at Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza. RSVP to Greg Bolan at sdvoter@gmail.com. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails. To receive these emails click HERE, and then click on "Join This Group."

San Diego Democracy For America Meetup (SD DFA) meeting. Wednesday, September 2nd, 7:00 - 8:45 pm (social at 6:00 pm). Councilmember Donna Frye will discuss issues before the SD City Council. At Giovanni's Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, SD 92123 (Corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Ruffin Rd. across from Registrar of Voters). Info: Carol (858) 459-7044. or cchangus@san.rr.com.

San Diego County Democratic Central Committee meeting. Tuesday, September 15th, at 7:00 pm. In the Basement Conference Room of the State of California Building, 1350 Front St. (Corner of Ash and Front Streets). Note: Use Union Street entrance. MAP. Our meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to attend! Info.: 858.277.3367 or info@sddemocrats.org.

Council of Clubs meeting. Saturday, September 19th, 10:00 am. Monthly meeting of Democratic Club leadership at SDCDP Headquarters, 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 108. Info: clubs@sddemocrats.org

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration. Wednesday, September 23rd, from 10:10 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens on Join the other volunteers at Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza. RSVP to Greg Bolan at sdvoter@gmail.com. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails. To receive these emails click HERE, and then click on "Join This Group."

San Diego County Democratic Convention. Saturday, September 26th. In what promises to be San Diego's largest Democratic campaign event of the year, the daylong County Convention will feature workshops, policy forums, networking opportunities, and appearances by candidates for statewide and local office. For the first time, the San Diego County Democratic Party will be holding our convention jointly with the California Democratic Council, the statewide association of Democratic clubs and county committees. At the historic Naval Training Center Promenade in Point Loma. Online registration for the Convention will open in July. For more information contact the County Democratic Party at (858) 277-3367 or info@sddemocrats.org.


SAN DIEGO FOOD CO-OPS:

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Co-op
4765 Voltaire St.
San Diego, California 92107
Phone: (619) 224-1387
FAX: (619) 224-5089
editor@oceanbeachpeoples.com
http://www.obpeoplesfood.coop

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market is a member-owned vegetarian consumer co-op that has been serving the community since 1971. Originally a worker's collective, the cooperative has grown to include 6000 feet of retail space and more than 8000 member/owners. The Co-op offers an extensive selection of organic produce, grocery, dairy, and bulk foods and herbs, as well as vitamins and homeopathics, cruelty-free bodycare, and aromatherapy products. Enjoy a full service sit-down deli featuring a delicious selection of home-style vegetarian and vegan entrees, salads, sandwiches, freshly prepared baked goods, desserts, and more! At People's, San Diego's only community owned grocery store, we specialize in products that are organic, wholesome, minimally processed, cruelty-free, and environmentally safe.

They also have a good community events calendar.

The UCSD Food Coop
0323F Student Cooperative Center,
San Diego, California 92093
Phone: (619) 546-8339
foodcoop@burn.ucsd.edu

I used to shop at this one way, way back when I went to UCSD. It was great then!

Since its introduction to the campus in 1978, the Food Co-op has committed itself to providing the UCSD community with a natural food alternative, as well as a resource for environmentally conscious products and information.

The Food Co-op carries a variety of food and non-food products ranging from baked goods, juices, sandwiches, fresh organic produce, macro-biotic and ethnic foods to cruelty-free cosmetics and environmentally safe cleaning agents. Many foods are stocked in bulk to reduce the price to the customer and the waste of packaging (please bring bags when buying!). Special orders can be made at discount prices (good for items not necessarily carried in the store, as well!).

Come in to shop, get informed, and/or volunteer as a general member of our store. For more information, call (858) 546-8339.

I will also point out some other UCSD co-ops that I liked when I was a student there.

The Ché Café

The Ché Café Collective is dedicated to providing cheap, healthy vegetarian food, all-ages entertainment, and alternative education. We have All-We-Can-Eat dinners every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Entertainment at the Ché ranges from poetry readings and plays to forums, or shows of local bands.

The Ché Café is surrounded by a grove of old eucalyptus trees and is next to the beautiful garden of the Farm Co-op. Tables and chairs inside and outside of the Ché and its close proximity to the Farm Co-op make it an inviting place to eat, study, or just hang out.

The Ché Café is open to having people come by and help out. The Café provides a great opportunity for people to get involved in the process of cooking, running a restaurant and/or putting on events at any level they feel comfortable at. Stop by or call us at (858) 534-2311.

(The Ché Café is located on the Revelle campus behind the Undergraduate library and down the hill from Stonehenge. We're the building with all the murals on it.) Read more about the Che Cafe Collective at its very own website: http://checafe.ucsd.edu/.

General Store

The General Store Co-op is a student-run store which was founded in 1980 to offer students a less expensive alternative to the high Price Center. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is not quite right...the Price Center didn't even exist when the General Store was founded and greatly appreciated by students like myself.] As a student cooperative, we try to provide the University community with the best quality merchandise at the lowest prices. And we succeed! The General Store Co-op carries items such as selected essential school and office supplies, household and personal items, stationery and gift wrap, clothing (including UCSD logos), craft-center jewelry, and some food and snack items -- all of which range from 5-25% less than anywhere else on campus.

Students are generally most interested in the fact that we sell textbooks, which are guaranteed to cost less than at the UCSD bookstore. We also try to carry as many used texts as possible. Also, we buy back current editions year round. Stop by to check which classes' books we're carrying.

We encourage everyone to visit the General Store Co-op for our low prices and friendly service. Additionally, anyone is invited to come in and volunteer anytime as volunteers are the backbone of our organization. For further information or friendly help please feel free to call us at (858) 534-3932.

Sussex County, NJ Focus

First I list some events...then I highlight some Sussex County organizations and the Sussex County Food Co-op.

Here are some events from the Sussex County Democratic Party Calendar and the Sussex County website:

Olde Lafayette Village Farmers' Market
Olde Lafayette Village
Route 15 at Route 94
Lafayette, NJ

Sundays, 11 AM - 4 PM
June 27 through October 31, 2004

Hats off to the Sussex County Board of Agriculture, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County, Olde Lafayette Village, the Garden State Garlic Growers, and the local farmers of the Sussex County Farmers Marketing Association. Their efforts -- and fruit, vegetables, herbs, cheeses, goat milk products, honey, baked goods, flowers and cider -- made the market's inaugural season in 2002 a smashing success.
~~~
Driving Directions and Info:
http://www.lafayettevillageshops.com/


New Jersey State Fair
July 31 10:00 AM to August 9 5:00 PM
Sussex County Fairgrounds

The mission of the New Jersey State Fair® / Sussex County Farm and Horse Show is:
* to showcase New Jersey’s agriculture;
* provide safe, family-friendly entertainment;
* present educational activities;
* promote youth development;
* give financial support to charitable non-profit agencies

More info here.


The Vernon Township Democratic Municipal Committee Meeting
August 18, 7:30 p.m. at the Nordic House (formerly the Internat Cafe) 233 Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462.

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009, 5 -10pm FEED AND FILM
Co-sponsored with the Foodshed Alliance and The Nature Conservancy
Sustainable Potluck Dinner and OUTDOORS FILM NIGHT

Food 5 pm -7 pm Movie at 8:30 pm or when dark enough Film: OVER THE HEDGE (Rated G)

The Nature Conservancy and the HTHS team up again to offer an evening out under the stars in a pristine lakeside landscape. Bring a dish to pass, a blanket and chairs, and settle in for food and an outdoor movie projected on the side of the old barn. The site has plenty of level field for setting up for an evening in the park. If it rains, the event is canceled.

Dinner requires bringing a dish, made with local ingredients, to pass! Movie Portion is Free

Take Control of Your Health
September 11, 2009

A six session health education workshop for persons and/or their caregivers who are dealing with any ongoing or long term health conditions. Sponsored by Sussex County Division of Senior Services --
please call them to register at 973-579-0555. Each program lasts approx. 2 1/2 hours.
When: 1:00 PM
Where: Hampton Senior Center, One Rumsey Way, Newton, NJ

4th Annual Farm & Food Open House
to benefit the Foodshed Alliance, a project of Genesis Farm
Saturday, September 12, 2009 (raindate: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009)

Enjoy a day of getting to know where your local food comes from!
Join us for the 4th Annual Farm & Food Open House - a day of
FARM TOURS and an amazing local HARVEST DINNER prepared by
some of NJ's most talented, passionate chefs and served on the farm.

FARM TOURS: 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm

For more info, click here.

The Vernon Township Democratic Municipal Committee Meeting
September 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Nordic House (formerly the Internat Cafe) 233 Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462.

3rd Annual Healthy Living Festival for Seniors
September 26, 2009

9:00 a.m. Hardyston Middle School, Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg. Join us for coffee and, FREE Health screenings, massages, informational and life enrichment exhibits, entertainment and more. Contact Sussex County Division of Senior Services for additional information 973-579-0555 or seniorservices@sussex.nj.us.

9th Annual Salute to Military Veterans
November 01, 2009

9th Annual Salute to Military Veterans - Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2 pm. - Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta. FREE event includes parade, military and related exhibits, entertainment, complimentary refreshments. Contact Sussex County Division of Senior Services for additional information 973-579-0555 or seniorservices@sussex.nj.us.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009
General Election
Location: your voting district
cast your vote for our 2 Assembly candidates,2 Freeholder candidates, County Surrogate & municipal candidates

2009 Caregiver Expo
November 04, 2009

2009 Caregiver Expo - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Farmstead Golf & Country Club, 88 Lawrence Road, Lafayette. This FREE event is designed to assist caregivers of elderly with daily challenges and planning for future eventualities. Visit with a variety of providers goods and services that support seniors and their caregivers. Gather information and resources. Refreshments will be served.

PRE-REGISTRATION S REQUIRED. Contact Sussex County Division of Senior Services for additional information 973-579-0555 or seniorservices@sussex.nj.us


Northwest New Jersey for Democracy
If you are a progressive Democrat or Independent living in Northwest NJ, you know that like-minded neighbors might be hard to find. Maybe it seems that this red part of a blue state is an island of conservative thinking. But - you are not alone, there are plenty of us, and we aren't afraid to be heard.

Join the group.

Join the discussion at our Yahoo! Group.

Other local resources:
Warren County Democratic Committee
Morris County Democratic Committee
Sussex County Democratic Committee


The Vernon Township Democratic Municipal Committee

The Vernon Township Democratic Municipal Committee is the Vernon branch of the Sussex County Democratic Committee. Our mission is to promote the Democratic cause and develop the local Democratic organization to help elect Democrats at all levels of government. While we are naturally particularly interested in local Vernon government, we are also concerned with county, state, and national affairs.

Although voting membership is by election or appointment, meetings are open to all, and you don't have to be a voting member to be active in the Committee's work. There are committee openings in some districts, so if you are interested in serving as a committee member let us know.

The VTDMC meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Nordic House (formerly the Internat Cafe) 233 Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462. except as noted. In addition, events of interest coming up in the next few months are listed below.


Sussex County Food Co-op
30 Moran Street
Newton, New Jersey 07860
Phone: (973) 579-1882
scfc@beithe.com
http://www.sussexcountyfoods.org/

(email doesn't work?)

We at the Sussex County Food Co-op believe in the positive association between good food and good health. We are dedicated to providing our members and customers with high quality products -- with emphasis on organic, Biodynamic and locally-produced food suitable for a wide range of dietary needs. We welcome special orders for goods not usually found in conventional food stores. We strive for first-rate customer service, and truth in advertising. Another goal is to educate our members and the public. The Sussex County Food Co-op pledges to provide our patrons with good-for-you food at good-to-you prices!

Foodshed Alliance of the Ridge and Valley

Do you yearn to...
* find local sources of cheese, free-range eggs, grass-fed meat, and certified organic produce?
* know where your food comes from, and how it is raised?
* support family farms?
* keep gardens in the Garden State?
* preserve farmland and open space?
* protect our rivers and streams?
* encourage and support sustainable agricultural?
* taste an heirloom tomato?

Join like-minded groups and individuals
as a member of the
Foodshed Alliance of the Ridge and Valley
P.O. Box 713
16 Main Street
Blairstown, NJ 07825
Tel. (908) 362-7967
E-mail: info@FoodshedAlliance.org
http://www.FoodshedAlliance.org/


Farms and Markets in Sussex County, NJ:

Olde Lafayette Village Farmers' Market
Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm through November 24, 2003
Olde Lafayette Village http://www.lafayettevillageshops.com/
Route 15
Lafayette, NJ

List of Farms in Sussex, Warren and nearby counties
Courtesy of the Foodshed Alliance of the Ridge and Valley, Blairstown, NJ
http://www.FoodshedAlliance.org/localfoodsource.html

Jersey Grown Organics - CSA info from Catalpa Ridge Farm
http://members.aol.com/njgrownorganics/index_m.htm


Local Sustainability Resources

Ridge and Valley Conservancy
P.O. Box 146
16 Main Street
Blairstown, NJ 07825
Tel: 908-362-7967
E-mail: rvc@goes.com
http://www.rvclandtrust.org/
"A non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving the unique and wonderful natural and cultural heritage of the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region of New Jersey."

Genesis Farm
41A Silver Lake Road
Blairstown, NJ 07825
Tel: 908-362-6735
http://www.caldwellop.org/genesis.htm
http://www.njpcgreens.org/genesisfarm.html
http://www.ic.org/resources/cdir1995/GenesisFarm.html
Education programs & Community Supported Garden

The Foodshed Alliance of the Ridge and Valley
P.O. Box 713
16 Main Street
Blairstown, NJ 07825
Tel: 908-362-7967
E-mail: info@FoodshedAlliance.org
http://www.FoodshedAlliance.org/
"A grassroots effort to sustain the farmers, agricultural lands, and rural way of life in the ridge and valley area of Warren and Sussex counties in northwestern New Jersey."

The Mountain Preservation Society
http://www.saveourmountain.com/
Dedicated to protecting the natural integrity of Hamburg Mountain and the New Jersey Highlands