Friday, April 11, 2025

 

At April 5 "Hands Off" rally in Perry Square, Erie. Scroll to bottom for Democracy & Freedom listings. Photo: Deb Spilko

EARTH

Earth-focused events, news, views and resources on a separate page

ARTS & READS

PSU Behrend Smith Creative Writers Reading Series begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. (preceded by receptions at 5:30 p.m.). April 10 – Avitus B. Carle, Fiction Metzgar Lobby April 17 – Julie Danho, Poetry Metzgar Lobby "All events are free and open to the public"

Gangstagrass in concert   April 26 7:30 PM Reg Lenna 116 East 3rd St. Jamestown, NY

April 26 & 27 - Youngstown May Day Festival 755 Mahoning Avenue , Youngstown, OH, "the fifth annual fun free celebration of labor, climate justice, human rights, social justice, and the honoring of Beltane. We’ll have music, maypole dancing, arts and crafts for young and old, workshops, demonstrations, speakers, and other merriments." Free, family friendly. youngstownmayday@gmail.com Event by Youngstown May Day Festival, Youngstown Solidarity Network and Youngstown Action Center

Mother Earth Day at Poetry Park, May 17 from 2-3 p.m. at 636 East 22nd St. in Erie. "celebrate poetry that cultivates our love of Mother Earth as home. Featuring local poets Niecey Nicole and Matt Borazon, plus open mic" Sponsored by Trinity Square Foundation and Poetry NWPA. Poetry Park was a vision of Erie Benedictine Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, she and Sister Mary Miller made it a reality.

Chris Hayes at CHQ June 27 MSNBC host, editor-at-large of The Nation and the author of The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource, Hayes will discuss Sirens' Call.

National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove  Fredonia Opera House Fredonia NY Oct 4

COMMUNITY

One-Hundred Black Men: National Impact to Erie's Chapter  April 11 at 12:00 PM Professor/Instructor/ Speakers: Parris Baker and Marcus Atkinson. "Join JES Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Parris Baker and Marcus Atkinson, President of the Erie Chapter of 100 Black Men, as they discuss the history of 100 Black, its relevance in light of recent attempts to eradicate significant historic gains of the Civil Rights movement, and the role of the local chapter in addressing community challenges in the African American communities. " Host: Jefferson Educational Society Location: 3207 State St, Erie, PA *Community Conversation (Free) Lunch optional, vegetarian available $5/person, register 48 hr ahead.

Benevolent Beers benefitting Journey: Healing Together   April 17 5:00PM  at Erie Ale Works, 416 W 12th Erie. Journey: Healing Together (J:HT) exists to foster connections and build equity among diverse affinity groups, uniting communities in collective healing. J:HT is a 501c3 non-profit offering healing spaces to New Majority communities and providing opportunities for diverse groups to gather, heal, restore, discover, and rebuild. Every sale rung in between 5:00 and 8:00pm will provide a donation to this great group.

CRITTERS

PA Legislation Affecting Animals 2025/26 (Humane PA PAC)

My Dog and Me "Purrista Cat Cafe" (via Armstrong Neighborhood Channel) Host Sue Anderson interviews Dena Rupp, owner of Purrista Cat Cafe in Erie, who explains the cafe and its collaboration with Because You Care, with lots of helpful wisdom about kitties included. 48 minutes.
 

ELECTIONS & GOVERNANCE

Erie City and County candidates in primary (Kevin Flowers/AJ Rao) /Erie Times-News)  Erie PA mayoral primary debate  April 16 at 1 p.m. at WQLN. Broadcast on WQLN, WICU and WSEE at a later date.  


Latest jackassery updates: Audit: Davis admin made changes to 2025 budget without council approval (AJ Rao/Erie Times-News) Erie Co. Council, in override vote, reaffirms that county resources be free of politics (AJ Rao/Erie Times-News) "Council introduced the ordinance after Davis used the county's official Facebook page to criticize council Democrats."

FOOD

4th Street Community Farm Work Day April 26, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4th Street Farm,  318 East 4th Street Erie, PA. "Join the Food Policy Council for a work day to prepare for spring planting... Food grown here will go back to the community at Emmaus Soup Kitchen and distributed to the Pay What You Can Network this summer. Bring a water bottle and a shovel and rake if you have one!"

Meadville Market House First Farmers Market  May 10  9am-1pm

Benevolent Beers: Meals on Wheels May 15 at Erie Ale Works 416 W. 12th "Every purchase between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. will count toward a donation to this great group!"

Gov. Shapiro  Appeals USDA’s Unlawful Decision to Cancel Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (PA Gov press release) Shapiro Tells Farmers We Have Your Backs  (Penn Capital-Star)  TEFAP is a win-win for farmers and hungry families | Letters (Gregory D Hall/Erie Times-News)

Edinboro food pantry seeking new location (Erie News Now)

Grow Chautauqua Food Distribution returns (WRFA) Program that brings boxes of locally grown and sourced foods to the Chautauqua Co. community returned in March. 

HOME

Erie landlord group explored waivers related to new tenant's rights bill (Erie Times-News)

Erie County United Housing Townhall April 26 12pm – 3pm at ECU office 1720 Holland St Erie, PA

Chautauqua Co. new housing security program (WRFA) Women's shelter opens in Jamestown (WRFA)

Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. "The sales from donated items help Habitat for Humanity partner with local families to build, rehabilitate and repair safe and affordable homes in your community and around the world" Erie location: 4922 Pittsburgh Ave. Erie, PA (814) 464-8946


IMMIGRANTS

Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace on April 18. This year’s theme is The Way of the Cross; The Way of the Migrant. The walk begins at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie (W. 10th & Sassafras). Host: Benedictines for Peace 
City Council Study Session Immigration - April 10, 2025  (City of Erie)    Presentation by Alexandria Iwanenko,

Refugee services
“Office of New Pennsylvanians” State Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El plans to reintroduce legislation creating an office to attract, retain and “embrace” immigrants statewide. (Lancaster Online) 

SCHOOLS & YOUTH

DEI Is Disappearing - Not by Force, But By Compliance (by Dr. Jay Breneman, President, Erie School Board/Erie Reader) 

Our Youth are in Crisis: How You Can Make a Difference April 25 12:00 PM Admission: Free. Lunch $5. (veg option available) Location Jefferson Educational Society 3207 State Erie PA 
Hidden Voices: The Unheard Struggles of Students May 15 | 7:00 PM JES Raimy Fellows Katie Phillips and Jacob Jones will delve into the escalating challenges confronting public school students in Erie County, grappling mental health issues.  Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St, Erie, PA

SPIRIT

Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace on April 18. This year’s theme is The Way of the Cross; The Way of the Migrant. The walk begins at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie (w. 10th & Sassafras). Host: Benedictines for Peace 

The Rev. Jim Wallis at Chautauqua Inst. June 22 "Jim Wallis is a writer, teacher, preacher and justice advocate who believes the gospel of Jesus must be emancipated from its cultural and political captivities."

Our Neighbor's Place ends first season at permanent location (YourErie) “Thanks to the commitment of the coordinating churches, volunteers, EUMA staff, Erie BlueCoats, and Erie County, we were able to provide shelter with a pathway to permanent housing for individuals facing homelessness,” said Kurt B. Crays, CEO of EUMA. “Together, we really are ending homelessness, just as Jesus would!”

[LISTEN] Sister Lou (NEXT with Marcus Atkinson) "special guest host Daryl Craig—better known as Brother D—leads a powerful conversation honoring the life and legacy of Sister Lou, one of Erie’s most influential and respected community figures. Joined by friends and family, Brother D explores the profound impact Sister Lou had on the streets of Erie, the lives she touched, and the community she built through unwavering determination and prayer."

[WATCH] Meadville 1825: "Harm Jan Huidekoper" Josh Sherretts from the Crawford Co. Historical Society on Harm Jan Huidekoper's life, legacy and involvement in the Unitarian faith, which helped lead to the opening of the Meadville Unitarian Universalist Church and the Meadville Theological School. Huidekoper was also an active abolitionist, though that is not the focus of this presentation.

WORKING PEOPLE
 
"Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has approved a bill designed to improve workplace safety standards for public employees honoring a former EMTA employee who died on the job.
"State Rep. Pat Harkins, who sponsored the bill, announced the House passing of H.B. 308, also known as the Jake Schwab Worker Safety Bill, which would extend OSHA protections to public sector workers."
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Click to enlarge. 

 DEMOCRACY & FREEDOM

April Recess 12 - 27  From Indivisible: "Our Members of Congress will be home April 12 through April 27, and we need to make sure they hear from their constituents. The stakes are high, and both the Senate AND the House will be back home in their districts. We must speak out against the Republican Tax Scam and their plan to slash Medicaid and take food off our tables to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire buddies. Sign up now and we'll send you opportunities for action during April recess!"

TAX DAY - Families Over Billionaires April 15  Noon-2pm Perry Square. Host: Democracy PA (check original link for updates and accuracy)

Next National Day of Action: April 19  IN ERIE: Perry Square 12pm-2pm. "Join us in the fight to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. 50501 is a peaceful movement. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated. 50501 is a peaceful movement." Host 50501 Erie PA and French Creek Indivisible  (check original link for updates and accuracy)

French Creek Indivisible is now on BlueSky    @frenchcreekind.bsky.social   50501 Erie PA now on Blue Sky  @50501eriepa.bsky.social 


PA Dems are angry. Fetterman’s old rival Conor Lamb is listening (The Independent) "Fetterman’s only planned public event in recent weeks was a joint event with his state’s Republican US senator, Dave McCormick. The joint appearance at a Pittsburgh winery was aimed at promoting a book on mentorship written by McCormick and his wife."

Just posted some of my photos of April 5 rally I didn't spend a lot of time on photos of Erie rally, but click on the link if you'd like to see what I have. Lots more from others, on French Creek Indivisible social media.

PRO-DEMOCRACY ALERTS
To stay informed of local events:
• 50501 Erie PA now on Blue Sky @50501eriepa.bsky.social
• French Creek Indivisible "To get on list, email: frenchcreekindivisible@gmail.com with your name, email, and contact information and we will add you to our email List-Serve." Find on Facebook and BlueSky. 
• Benedictines for Peace mailing list Go to benedictinesforpeace.com There's a blue box in the logo on the landing page, 'Join our mailing list.' There's a simple form, only asks for name and a captcha check.
• Vote Save America PAC Local actions across the country 

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Host: Democracy PA
Click to enlarge 

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Calendar and local info sharing for people who believe "a better world is possible." Focus is local/regional. All listed events are nonviolent. Not affiliated with any organization. Submissions, sub requests and inquiries send to brynn16501@proton.me or use form on blog.  Expect confirmation from me if you email.

PHOTOS: Deb Spilko

 

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