Film screening and discussion “Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes”

New Haven Free Public Library

pay2playThursday, April 30, 5:30-8 p.m., the NH Free Public Library, 133 Elm St., will show Pay2Play, a documentary film that explores America’s pay to play political system and some of the history that has brought us to where we are today. The film weaves together the stories of a dramatic election in Ohio; the secret history of the game Monopoly; and people taking action to fix the system.

Professor Steve Tomsczak, Social Work Department at SCSU, will lead a discussion following the film.

For more info about the film and to view the trailer go to: http://www.pay2play.tv/.

This program cosponsored with Common Cause CT.

Please join us for some great civic engagement!

Institute Library Reading Series May 13

by Bennett Lovett-Graff, Publisher, New Haven Review

institute_library-new_haven-201312The Young Men’s Institute Library is proud to host the Listen Here Short Story reading series. Join us for a night of classic short stories selected by the staff of the New Haven Review and read by cast members of the New Haven Theater Company. Reading starts at 7:00 p.m., with a talk back at 8:00 p.m. that explores the background, meaning, and dramatic interpretation of that night’s stories. Also, freshly baked cookies–a different batch at each reading–and tea are available. $5 suggested admission, but no obligations! Next reading’s theme: “A Little Out of Place.”

Our stories: “Fat” by Raymond Carver; “Araby” by James Joyce; and “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams. Join us Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 7:00 p.m. at Young Men’s Institute Library, 847 Chapel St. (Please note that the Institute Library is one flight up and, most unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible.) For more information, visit us at www.institutelibrary.org.

Don’t Let Legislators Toss Crumbs to Ratepayers

Frank Panzarella, Fight the Hike

There is a chance for Connecticut legislators in this session to approve large-scale shared solar projects with the passage of SB 928. However, instead of facilitating shared solar throughout the state, the Energy and Technology Committee, contrary to its own commissioned study, revised the bill to allow only two pilot projects (one being a two megawatt capacity and the other a four megawatt) for three years. When public testimony was accepted in March, hundreds of Connecticut residents wrote, telephoned and spoke to their legislators and members of the Energy and Technology Committee to encourage large-scale shared solar projects throughout the state.

pace-peoples-action-for-clean-energy-nuclear-solarNeedless to say, Fight the Hike members are disappointed that the Energy and Technology Committee wants to hold back on increasing the number of sustainable energy projects for CT residents. Large-scale solar investment has been successful in Massachusetts and other states. Pilot projects are not necessary to track its feasibility. It works!

Unfortunately, it looks like our governor, the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection and others are side-stepping the expansion of solar energy and developed a disastrous policy to broaden natural gas transmission. We rate-payers will pay huge extra costs for increased gas development and have no guarantee of cheaper energy.

In addition, the price of electricity is tagged to the price of natural gas.  Is it an accident that UI and its parent company, the Spanish giant Iberdrola, are also very much involved in the natural gas and renewable expansion industries? The fact is these companies want to stall solar power until they can create rules and laws that will allow them to monopolize and grab the lion’s share of profit from these new industries away from the wonderful competitive pool of small solar companies (many growing right here in Connecticut) while the utilities also benefit from gas expansion. At present they want to hide the true value of solar power so as to control it.

The Energy and Technology Committee’s own commissioned study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering called for a large-scale shared solar project. Why would they ignore their own scientific report? Has some kind of back-room pressure been applied to sabotage progress, a free market and to keep rate-payers tied to the over-priced energy of corporate monopolies?

Please contact your legislators and the co-chairs of the Energy and Technology committee to let them know you support expansion of shared solar in CT.

Co-chair Rep. Lonnie Reed, 1-800-842-8267 [email protected]
Co-chair Sen. Paul Doyle, 1-800-842-1420 [email protected]
Gov. Dannel Malloy, 1-800-406-1527

Don’t let your PAR subscription run out!

PAR Planning Committee

The Progressive Action Roundtable newsletter publishes from September through June. Subscriptions from many of our readers will expire with the June issue.

We hope you enjoy your subscription and see the PAR newsletter as a community resource. To see if your subscription is due for renewal, please look at your address label. If “201506” is printed on the label to the right of your name, your subscription ends next month. Please send in $13 for 10 issues (Sept. 2015-June 2016) so that you can continue to read about what local organizations are doing and you can submit articles about your own organization.

The Progressive Action Roundtable was started in January 1993.  After several months, this community Newsletter became the main activity of PAR, giving New Haven area organizations an opportunity for networking and for advertising their activities.
We hope to hear from you.

Milada Marsalka’s Memoirs Now Available in New Haven

PAR Planning Committee

pursuing-peaceMilada Marsalka, founding member of PAR (1993), long-time president of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, New Haven County Branch, and a fiery activist in countless struggles for peace, labor rights, equality and justice, had the foresight to write about her life. She died in 2000 at the age of 95, leaving a manuscript that could inform and inspire others.

Through the diligence of Milada’s nieces, Regina Stevenson and Catherine Nathan, Pursuing Peace: Memoirs of Milada Marsalka has been published.

Thanks to New Haven/León Sister City Project, a box of books was shipped to New Haven. You can purchase your copy of Pursuing Peace from PAR for $15. Please call Paula at (203) 562-2798 to arrange your pick-up. This book makes a great gift!

For a description of the book go to the publisher’s site: wordassociation.com/memoir%20book%20page/ pursuingpeace.html.

PAR Articles and Calendar Items Due Monday, April 20

Dear PAR Contributors-

Readers want to know: What is the purpose of your organization? How are you building your group? What campaigns are you organizing? What events are you planning?

The deadline for the May Progressive Action Roundtable Newsletter is Monday, April 20. Please send in to this e-mail address [email protected] – articles about your group’s recent and current activities and upcoming actions and events.

We are asking everyone to limit her/his article to 350 words. Be sure to indicate your name and organization as they should appear in your byline.

Please keep in mind that as layout space permits, we will include photos.

IMPORTANT: Don’t neglect to add your organization’s contact information such as phone number, e-mail address or website, so our readers can get more information about what your group is doing.

If you haven’t written recent articles for PAR, please include information about your group’s purpose. Do not use different fonts or sizes in your article.

About calendar items:
If you mention an event in an article, please also send a SEPARATE calendar announcement.
Please give street addresses for any events or meetings, even for “well-known” public buildings.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please indicate whether your event location is wheelchair accessible.
You can also send us SAVE THE DATE items about future events, even if you do not yet have all the details in place.

The Newsletter will come out approximately April 29. Please consider this when submitting calendar items.

Here are other suggestions about submitting copy to the PAR Newsletter:
1. If you ask or encourage new groups to submit articles or calendar items to PAR, please give them a copy of these tips.
2. Submit copy by e-mail, either as regular text or as an MS Word or attachment (.doc or .docx).
3. If you are a first-time author for the PAR Newsletter, thank you! We hope you will subscribe and encourage others in your organization to do so.
4. If you know of someone who wants to write an article but does not use e-mail, send an e-mail to us with that person’s name and phone number or call Paula at (203) 562-2798.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INSERTS:
We prefer to carry articles and calendar listings rather than inserts. But if you have an insert to include in the Newsletter, we ask you to send the information contained in the flyer to this e-mail address as well so that it can be easily added to the PAR calendar.

Your organization must make and pay for the inserts. We will be able to handle only those inserts that are a full sheet (8.5 x 11) or half-sheet (8.5 x 5.5) of paper. We cannot accept postcards or cardstock flyers. There is a fee of $7 for inserts.

Please call Mary at (203) 387-7858 if you want an insert in the next newsletter.

E-mail us if you’d to join our monthly planning meetings or help with the mailings. We always welcome more helpers and new ideas!

Many thanks! We’re looking forward to your articles!

Thank you for your help in creating this community newsletter

— PAR Planning Committee

To renew your own subscription or to buy a subscription for a friend, the rate is $13 for 10 issues. Please make the check out to PAR and mail it to PAR, P.O. Box 995, New Haven, CT 06504

Next Deadline for Newsletter Articles: Monday, April 20, 2015

Next Deadline for Newsletter Articles: Monday, April 20, 2015

Please submit copy to PAR’s e-mail address: [email protected]

No e-mail? Call Paula at (203) 562-2798 to find out how to submit your article. There is a 350 word limit.

Next Planning Meeting date is Mon., April 6 at 7:30 p.m….all welcome…call (203) 562-2798 for location

Subscription: $13 for 10 issues, check payable to PAR, P.O. Box 995, New Haven, CT 06504

Green Party of Connecticut 2015 Annual Meeting 11-5 April 25

by Barbara Barry, Green Party of CT

The Green Party of Connecticut’s annual meeting will take place Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Portland Waverly Center (former Portland Senior Center), 7 Waverly Ave. in Portland.

Our meeting is open to the public. Only members may vote for the candidates for internal elections or provide input regarding the future focus of the GPCT over the next twelve months.

Agenda:

  • 11a.m.: Statements from the candidates for the GPCT Executive Committee (three co-chairpersons, a treasurer and a secretary) and three representatives from the GPCT to the Green Party of U.S. (GPUS). Followed by Q & A.
  • 12 p.m.: Potluck lunch break; merchandise is available for GPCT fundraising. Goals of fundraising: money to help petition to acquire 7500 valid signatures to acquire a CT ballot line for the GPUS 2016 presidential candidate; GPCT ability to sponsor or co-sponsor events; administrative costs.
  • 12:30 p.m.: Linda Thompson, GPCT co-chairperson, to discuss her recent trip to Cuba with Code Pink.
  • 1 p.m.: Deadline for submission of ballots to the Elections Committee.
  • 1 p.m.: Tim McKee, as the GPCT liaison to GASP, the Green (Party) Alliances to Stop the (Algonquin) Pipeline, will discuss status.
  • 1:30 p.m.: Updates about our 2015 proposals to the CT Legislature.
  • 2 p.m.: Session A workshops (choose one): CT Public Banking with Ed Heflin, co-founder of CT Public Banking Institute; Conflict Resolution (facilitator tbd); Mental Health and Public Health Reform with Rolf Maurer and Sheila Matthews from AbleChild.org; Renewable Energy (facilitator tbd); Common Core Reform with Jonathan Pelto.
  • 2:45 p.m.: Session B workshops (choose one): Urban/suburban/rural Farming, i.e. farm to table marketing by Paul Gobell and Barbara Barry; Decriminalization of Cannabis and the Use of Hemp Economy with Rolf Maurer and a spokesperson from HempCT.info; Ballot Access and Voting with S. Michael DeRosa and Doug Lary. Demilitarization and Racism (facilitator tbd).
  • 3:30 p.m.: All attendees to give feedback regarding the focus of the GPCT for the next twelve months.
  • 4 p.m.: Results of the Internal Elections. Selection of date, place and time of the next State Central Committee (SCC) meeting.

The GPCT National Committee representatives will be selected at the next SCC meeting. Date/place and time of the SCC meeting after the 4-25-15 GPCT Annual Meeting, will be determined by the EC elected on 4-25-15. Please let us know if you would like to volunteer for any National Committee(s). For more information about GPUS National Committees, please see www.gp.org/members/committees.

April Events for the 64 Days of Nonviolence

by Melanie Lozada, Graduate Ass’t, Women’s Studies Program SCSU

The 64 Days officially begins each year on Jan. 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, and ends on April 4, the day we commemorate Dr. King. In our twelfth annual observation of the 64 Days at SCSU, we continue to celeb-rate the peace and justice heritage in many of our cultures and heritages, including our observation of Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Asian/Pacific Heritage Month. Please join the Women’s Studies Program at SCSU for the following events. All events are at SCSU, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, except that of April 24

April

    • 2: “Everyone Matters” Day (TBA)
    • 9: Courageous Conversation on White Privilege (5-7:30
      p.m. Engleman Hall A 120)
    • 15 and 16: A reading of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues, with Iota Iota Iota, the SCSU Chapter of the National Women’s Studies National Honor Society (7-9 p.m., Engleman Hall C 112; and 7-9 p.m., Engleman Hall A 120)
    • 16: “Very Young Girls” Film screening and discussion (6-8 p.m. Adanti Student Center Theater)
    • 17: Conference “Literature across Disciplines—Gabriel García Márquez: Translation and Criticism,” with Jean Franco and Edith Grossman (10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Adanti Student Center Theater)
    • 22: “Take Back the Night,” an annual event to stop violence against women and shatter the silence (7-9 p.m., Adanti Student Center Ballroom)
    • 24: Coalition of Women’s Studies in CT & RI (9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saint Joseph University)
    • 30: OWL (Opportunity for Women’s Leadership) Empowerment Symposium with Ebony Revived, the SCSU Women’s Studies 11th leadership conference, with James Hillhouse HS, Metropolitan Business Academy, Wilbur Cross HS, and West Haven HS young women (8 a.m.-3 p.m., Engleman Hall B 121 A&B).

All events can be viewed at http://www.southernct.edu/academics/schools/arts/departments/womensstudies/64daysofnonviolence/index.html. Women’s Studies Office: (203) 392-6133

New Haven Bike Month Coming in May 2015!

by Caroline Smith, New Haven Bike Month

New Haven Bike Month is a month-long celebration of bicycles and bike culture events hosted by Elm City Cycling, the New Haven Department of Transportation, the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop, and many other community members.

Our mission is, through bike education, maintenance clinics, advocacy, and celebration, to motivate more folks from all New Haven neighborhoods to feel comfortable, safe, and excited to integrate riding their bikes into their everyday lives.

We hope to achieve this mission in two ways: 1. by promoting and aggregating the tremendous amount of biking-oriented initiatives already happening in this city in May; and 2. by expanding on these current initiatives by including more New Haven communities in the conversation through neighborhood canvassing and outreach to community groups.

Throughout the month we hope to promote over 40 large group rides for varying levels of folks on bikes, five Open Streets events (where a portion of a street is closed off to programming, pedestrians, and cyclists), numerous bike maintenance clinics, and discounts for helmeted cyclists at local businesses.
We’re a small team, but we want to be sure that we’re talking to as many folks as possible who are interested in being involved. In what ways can New Haven Bike Month in May 2015 serve your community? Want to host an event or a ride? Want to volunteer at an event? Reach out to us, we’d be thrilled to have you involved!

To learn more and keep updated, head over to our website: www.newhavenbikemonth.com. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/newhavenbikemonth. Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bikemonthnhv. Email us: [email protected]. Call us: (859) 536-4791.
To contribute to our fundraising campaign, go to: http://www.gofundme.com/newhavenbikemonth.

1 … 125 126 127 128 129 … 135