A must-read as we head into School Board Election Season

One of the most important and little-mentioned facts in all of education: Most educational outcomes have nothing to do with the schools and are determined long before schooling starts.

For those who like Fantasy & Sciency-Sounding Fiction

Greater Salem-Keizer
Local Government Forum

March 15, 2011, 6:30 - 8:30pm
North Salem High School Auditorium
765 14th St NE • No RSVP necessary

The forum will allow local government entities to share their economic forecast with each other and discuss what measures seem likely to be taken as a response.

Featured speakers include:

• City Manager Linda Norris, City of Salem;
  
• City Manager Chris Eppley, City of Keizer;
  
• Steve Dickey, Director of Transportation Development for Cherriots;
  
• Marion County Administrator John Lattimer;
  
• Chemeketa Community College President Cheryl Roberts; and
  
• Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Sandy Husk

Moderator: Bill Church, Executive Editor of the Statesman Journal will field written questions from the audience.

Event coordinated by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
Questions? Contact Jason Brandt 503-581-1466 ext. 304
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Ok, so this is interesting. Not at all obvious why local governments need to appear under the aegis of the Chamber of Commerce or, given their huge PR budgets, have an employee of the corporate press ready to "field" (filter) questions from the taxpayers when the subject is economic forecasts, but it's a good step that they're doing it, to a point.

One of the more interesting questions is why the local transportation poobahs are not included, since the biggest deal in town is the proposal to blow $400-$650 million on a totally unnecessary, monstrously large, third auto-bridge over the Willamette, despite a persistent DECLINE in driving across the Northwest and the upcoming second round of recession caused by our unwise (suicidal, actually) dependence on fossil fuels. The SKATS (Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study) folks are the only ones with forecasts that matter, since their resolutely autistic forecasting model is built from the start to justify continual expansion and never-ending sprawl. The price of oil (and, thus, gas) doesn't even appear in the SKATS travel demand model, so the fact that we're getting hammered by $100+ per barrel oil right now means nothing -- just like a severe autistic person, once the model decides it wants a new bridge, no amount of reasoning with it can change its view.

The other interesting omissions from the forecasting party: Marion-Polk Food Share, the people with the best and most-current picture of the real economic situation in the area. Another one: Someone from the real-estate industry specializing in foreclosures (25% of Oregon home sales last year, and scheduled to spike even higher).

And if you want to have some big fun, come and ask this: Before telling us any more new economic projections, please review all your agency's past economic projections from, oh, 2004 onward. Tell us the date you made the projection and what it included, so that we may evaluate your past performance in this area as we hear your new projections.

The reason we must undo "Citizens United" [sic] v. FEC

double-click to watch full -sized

And the Place to Be March 12: Macleay Grange Hall!

For "The Oregon Valley Boys"
Farewell and Good Riddance to the Great Recession Grange Tour

A series of concerts to benefit to support Willamette Valley Grange Halls. JUST $5 a head!
Dinner available.

Macleay Grange Hall is at 8312 Macleay Road, Salem, 97317.

The Place to Be on March 11: Confluence Chorus at First Cong. Church

March 11, 7:30 p.m.
1^st half music about food; second half PDQ Bach's "The Seasonings (S. ½ TSP.)"

Tickets just $15

CALENDAR: Salem Progressive Film Series, "The Nature of Cities"

The Nature of Cities
Thursday, March 10, 2011
7 p.m.

The Nature of Cities is about the projects and people in cities across the world who believe that, even if we become more urbanized, we must reclaim an essential piece of our humanness-our connection to the world around us. The goal of this documentary is to raise the consciousness about and understanding of this movement as we explore the need of moving not only to sustainability but to a regenerative way of living.

The Nature of Cities explores both the nature in our own backyards and the possibilities in cities of the future.

Speakers Chris Jones, Professor and Program Manager, Sustainable Cities Initiative, University of Oregon

James Santana, Director of Sustainable Living, Pringle Creek Community

Courtney Knox, Project Manager, Urban Development Department, City of Salem

Down the Memory Hole with Saint Ronnie

As the vicious reactionaries attempt to repeal the 20th Century in Wisconsin, it's well to remember the sainted Ronald (hat tip to Sam Smith, Progressive Review):

By outlawing Solidarity, a free trade organization to which an overwhelming majority of Polish workers and farmers belong, they have made it clear that they never had any intention of restoring one of the most elemental human rights - the right to belong to a free trade union. - Ronald Reagan, 1982

Green Valentine's Day: August 14, not February 14!

Remember: Put it on your calendar now, let's celebrate with our sweeties when it makes the most sense for us here in the lush and abundant Willamette Valley -- and that ain't February 14.

Inspired indeed!

Seedy Saturday! March 5, Silverton Grange

Image by Satrina0 via Flickr

Silverton Seedy Saturday
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free for Everyone to Attend!

"Seedy Saturday" is an event where people get together to swap garden seeds, especially heirloom varieties, or varieties that have been in the family for generations. But the event is so much more!

* Free Garden Seeds. Bring some to trade too (Not required)
* Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions
* Demonstrations on Using Worms for Composting
* The buzz from Marion County Beekeepers Association
* Grab a couple free seed catalogs to browse
* Nutritionist discussing fresh vegetable meals
* Learn about gardening with water conservation in mind
* And so much more...

The Silverton Grange Hall is located at 201 Division Street, Silverton.

From Main & Water downtown, head south 1.7 miles on Water Street towards Silver Falls State Park, and turn left on Division Street. There is a large State Highway sign for the Grange Hall on the corner.

More Information: seedysaturday2011@yahoo.com