Though I don't presume that everyone celebrates Christmas, I know of few in Salem (or anywhere else in America for that matter) who are entirely unaffected by the madness of the Christmas machine; even total abstainers from religion suffer from living in an economy that is so desperately focused on encouraging --- nay, demanding --- overconsumption from a huge portion of the populace, an unbalanced economy that wastes both capital and energy and produces mountains of useless, unwanted, unneeded stuff.
There's a great book on the subject: Unplug the Christmas Machine.
Worth a look now, before another round through the mill.
Meanwhile, onto the best holiday of the year, the one that adamantly resists capture by Madison Ave. and Sprawl-Mart --- after all, it's just about impossible to turn a holiday about gratitude for all that we have into a mandatory spending spree.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Outstanding news! Year-round Styrofoam (R) recycling in Salem!
Yay! Someone's figured out a way to make use of trucks deadheading (running empty) between Salem and Portland to make year-round Styrofoam(R) recycling possible here in Salem.
Good job!
Just take your foam to Fresh Start Market on Center St. (past Park St. out towards Hawthorne, on the South side of the street). And if you don't have a covered compost bin for your fruit and vegetable scraps (and coffee grounds, and peelings, and molded bread, and . . . ), you can pick up a good one there as well, for a good price.
UPDATE: Here's a note from Carol Ault of Marion County explaining the program:
Good job!
Just take your foam to Fresh Start Market on Center St. (past Park St. out towards Hawthorne, on the South side of the street). And if you don't have a covered compost bin for your fruit and vegetable scraps (and coffee grounds, and peelings, and molded bread, and . . . ), you can pick up a good one there as well, for a good price.
UPDATE: Here's a note from Carol Ault of Marion County explaining the program:
Hi all,
At long last we have finally been able to establish an ongoing collection program for Styrofoam! See below for details. Thank you for making the effort to recycle Styrofoam!
Styrofoam Recycling
When: Mondays - Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Fresh Start Market, 3020 Center St. NE, Salem
Accepted: Only clean, dry block packaging foam, meat trays or egg
cartons.
NOT Accepted:Details: This is a free program for residents thanks to PLC Recycling, the Fresh Start Market, and Marion County Public Works - Environmental Services. Businesses will be charged a nominal fee and must pre-register by calling (503) 588-5324.
- Packing peanuts (Call 503-588-5169 for reuse options. Most shipping stores will accept them for free if clean.)
- Packing foam with tape on it
- Construction foam
- Foam that bends in half without snapping
Friday, November 14, 2008
A great loss noted
Though his inspiration can live on in us today, if we are wise enough to heed his counsel.
April 19, 1917 - November 8, 2008
Arthur Carl was born on April 19, 1917, in a tent on his parents'
property in Hubbard, Oregon, as they were clearing land for their farm. He died 100 feet away in the house they had built.
Throughout his life, Manton worked to preserve agricultural lands and natural resources. In 1939, Manton graduated from Oregon State in Agriculture. He returned to the family farm, where he and his mother had an innovative raw milk dairy, which peddled milk door to door, even into Portland.
Because he was in ROTC at Oregon State, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant when World War II began, and trained as a paratrooper. He married Irene Green on June 14, 1942, when he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington; at his 50th college reunion, he said marriage continued to be "the most interesting event" of his life.
When he was about to be shipped out to the Pacific, his mother died; he went home to keep the farm going. In 1945 he purchased the farm. Throughout the years, Manton worked politically and personally as a steward of the land. He worked with other farmers to support McCall's Senate Bill 100, Oregon's landmark land use bill. He believed that only by protecting farmland would younger generations be able to farm in the Willamette Valley.
Manton always believed that Oregonians needed to look 100 years into the future and strive to preserve resources. Manton served on the Marion County Planning Commission twice, from 1976 until 1984 and from 2000 until 2003. He served two separate times as president of Marion County Farm Bureau. Manton was a member of 1000 Friends of Oregon and in 2004, at the age of 87, he was nominated for a Citizen Activist Award for that organization.
The other great love of his life was his wife, Irene. Both worked incredibly hard on the farm, but loved taking time to swim in the river, seek out hot springs, or attend dances in Mulino. Manton built two ponds on the farm, provided nesting places for wild birds, and with Irene, added over 12,000 evergreen trees to the farm. Manton's dedication to the land and to his wife inspired not only his children but many people, both young and old, who came to visit the farm or lived near the farm. Manton and Irene raised five children, and are survived by all of them . . . .
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 22 at the Hubbard United Church of Christ, 2934 H Street, Hubbard. All are welcome. Memorial donations may be made to 1000 Friends of Oregon, 534 SW 3rd Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97204.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Free hi-wattage holiday lights into LED holiday lights recycling program
Guess what?! You can recycle your old "standard" (incandescent) holiday lights for a coupon to get safer, and much more energy-efficient LEDs!!
From here: http://www.holidayleds.com/holidayledscom_christmas_light_recycling_program
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
If you're looking for a way to celebrate (or mourn) the election
Whether you want to celebrate or mourn the recent election, now is a time to consider supporting those local organizations who have been starving while national and statewide campaigns vacuum up all the money. We very much need groups like Friends of Marion County, Radio Free Salem, the Salem Progressive Film Series, and others to watch over and work on things at the county and local level, so consider sending them something this way:
It is now possible to contribute to Friends of Marion County through the link to Salem Monthly's Holiday Give Guide. The transactions are processed through Selco Credit Union's Secure Website. Just click on the DONATE ONLINE link. Thanks for your support.
Roger Kaye
Friends of Marion CountyP.O. Box 3274
Salem, OR 97302
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On the level? Great news, if it is!
Does anyone know if UPS really intends to use bicycle-based deliveries for five different Salem-area zip-codes? Or is this just someone spoofing the President of the Salem Bicycle Club? Wonderful if it's not a spoof!
To: president@salembicycleclub.org
The following message was sent from the www.salembicycleclub.org web site on Wednesday November 05, 2008 at 04:36 PM:
Dear Mr. Maurice,
I am contacting you in regards to a UPS Job Posting. We are going to be hiring seasonal driver helpers, who will ride a bike to deliver packages to help cut done on emissions. If you are able to get this information to your members I will happily mail or email you a flyer. We will be looking for employees in Salem zip codes 97301, 97317, 97309, 97303,& 97385.
Thank you,
Maria Mason
UPS HR Recruiter
mariamason@ups.com
503-978-7409
Friday, November 7, 2008
Important film: Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood
The great folks running the Salem Progressive Film Series have landed another important film:
To: "Salem Progressive Film Series" <salemprogressivefilmseries@gmail.com>Subject: November Film: Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of ChildhoodPlease join us Thursday, November 13, 2008 at The Grand Theater in downtown Salem for The Salem Progressive Film Series' November film, Consuming Kids: The Commericalization of Childhood (For more information please view the attached press release).Drawing on the insights of health care professionals, children's advocates, and industry insiders, the film focuses on the explosive growth of child marketing in the wake of deregulation, showing how youth marketers have used the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world.Consuming Kids pushes back against the wholesale commercialization of childhood, raising urgent questions about the ethics of children's marketing and its impact on the health and well-being of kids.Please pass the word. Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
