In Scappoose, about fifteen of us CCCHDers gathered outside of the Scappoose Post Office with dozens of cookies, hot cider, and a toy rocking horse deemed the “Pony Express”!  By total coincidence, we collected exactly 99 signatures representing the 99% of Columbia County!

Check out the article in the Spotlight: http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=132450488325651500

You can help save rural post offices! Sign our petition to Congress before the end of January demanding that they FIX the USPS’ financial crisis that they created in 2006 and that they save rural post offices!  We’re adding to the 2,000 signatures turned in by the Rural Organizing Project from all over the state!

Late last month, 15 Columbia County community members got their hands dirty in the community garden outside the ROP Office. We packed the raised beds with everything from fennel to tomatoes to kale; we tore out grass; we built amazing tomato trellises; we ate a lot of great food. The event brought together a great mix of people – long time ROPers, young adults interested in growing food, and community members curious about what goes on inside this small office in Scappoose, Oregon. With music, good conversation, and a common goal we showed our values by digging deep, planting seeds, and organizing ourselves to make sure this garden continues to grow.

Over the past 9 months at ROP, I’ve learned how we are in it for the long haul; we are about changing the way people think and act. It’s not some short term campaign but a continual struggle. For me that means changing the way we eat and changing the way we think about food and using food as a way to inspire those faced with a depressed economy. Here are ways ROP is using food as an organizing tool: Let’s Get Planting

Food has the amazing ability to bring people together and sustain us just like community, families, friends and neighbors. The people working in the garden this weekend were people looking for community, looking for a place to make something happen, to do something that reflected what they value. What do I value? What simple action can I do to reflect those values? Reminding ourselves what our values are and then finding ways to share our values with others through simple actions like planting a garden is an important excercise to re-energize and refocus ourselves as we continue on making change.

To order copies of our Local Farm & Food Guide, which compiles our wealth of local Columbia County food resources, please contact Amanda at 503-543-8417 or amanda@rop.org

Katy Giombolini
–

When: Wednesday, May 11th, 6:00pm
Where: Scappoose Library meeting room
RSVP: tonancyward@hushmail.com

The main topic will be the Sheriff’s levy on the current ballot. CCCHD members will listen, then make a recommendation on the issue to our entire membership, and help get out the vote!

We are open to introducing other topics of interest at this gathering as well, but would like to plan in advance. Please submit topics or questions to Nancy at tonancyward@hushmail.com

Your timely RSVP is much appreciated – by Monday morning at the latest! Please let us know if you will be there so we have enough space for all.

Looking forward to a good turnout,

Nancy & Amanda

Out in the Silence captures the remarkable chain of events that unfold when the announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man ignites a firestorm of controversy in his small Pennsylvania hometown. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a gay teen being tormented at school, Wilson’s journey dramatically illustrates the universal challenges of being an outsider in a conservative environment and the transformation that is possible when those who have long been constrained by a traditional code of silence summon the courage to break it.

Everyone is encouraged to attend this important movie and discussion. Admission is free, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals.

Visit the film’s website at http://wpsu.org/outinthesilence/about_index

CCCHD is standing proud for progressive values this weekend.  We’ll be gathering on this Friday evening and Saturday morning for a “walk and drop” event to get important election time information into our neighbors’ hands.

Elections are a great time to remember that democracy is a year-round project – and that here in Columbia County is a group of people who stand up for fairness, dignity, and justice.

Come down to the office of the Rural Organizing Project at 5pm this Friday, or 10am this Saturday to pick up a bundle of voters’ guides with a CCCHD Flyer.  We’ll distribute guides and walk maps for everybody who is able to make it, then canvass several neighborhoods.  The purpose of this event is to distribute information and chat with our neighbors – we won’t have a “rap” to use to convince our neighbors to vote a certain way, but you’ll be welcome to get to know folks as you run into them!

When: This Friday the 15th from 5pm to 7pm, and Saturday the 16th from 10am to noon.
What: “Walk and Drop” to distribute voter & CCCHD information
Where: Meet at the ROP office at 33421 SW Maple in Scappoose

You must RSVP if you are coming! We need to know how many packets to prepare, and who to expect when!!  503-543-8417.  Ask for Amanda or Paul.

* If you’re not available or able to walk a route, come by ROP in the next week to pick up guides and local flyers for your friends and family.  Call 503-543-8417 to set up a pick-up time. *

Please check out this article by legendary investigative reporter Seymour Hersh on Bush Administration plans to attack Iran: The New Yorker

www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/08/071008fa_fact_hersh?printable=true

Take actions:

Attend Columbia County’s Peace Vigil this Sunday, October 7, 1 to 2 pm. at the Totem Pole in S. Scappoose.

Call your Senators and Congressman Wu. Tell them to vote NO on the additional $42 billion for the Iraq war now before Congress. That’s $42 billion on top of the $100 billion approved in May and the $75billion last October for 2007. Many people believe the new request is a ‘slush fund’ to launch attacks on Iran.
Senator Wyden – 503-326-7525
Senator Smith – 503-326-3326
Rep. Wu – 503-326-2901