Would you PLEASE read the article on Prisons/Incarceration in America by Paula Jackson, below in “Articles” section. It cuts to the heart of our shocking societal “cancer”. Please. Ellen (Put your scroll bar slider SLIGHTLY OVER half way down this email to go right to the article.)
Salon Weekly
~ In 4 Color-Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Events & Opportunities
- Articles, Letters (“opinions expressed are not necessarily mine”...ellen)
- Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
- Tri-State Treasures: compiled by Jim Kesner
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House: Circulation: 650. Growing out
of the Wednesday Night Salon . For info about the Salon, see the bottom of
this email. Join us at the Lloyd House every week of the year at 5:45 for pot
luck and discussion. 3901 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio. To Submit events
for the Weekly, send (not attachment) me email, subject line
"Weekly-Events:(description)", in Times New Roman font, Maroon color. FOR ARTICLES, send me, in Times New Roman, Navy color. to ELLENBIERHORST@LLOYDHOUSE.COM,. Saves me a
lot of work that way. Send submissions by Wednesday evening.
To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list (c. 600)... Now in our
seventh year),
(to unsubscribe see below, bottom of page).
................................................... Section One: Table Notes ............................................................................ (Note: these notes were taken at the table and have NOT been approved or corrected by the speakers. Reader beware of inevitable misunderstandings and misrepresentations. E.B.)
At the table Wednesday 11/26/08
Gwen, Miriam, Bill Derek, Carolyn, Judy Linda, Ellen, Rob
Linda Crane, Rob Nendahwaab, Derek Lester, Bill Limbacher, Carolyn Aufderhaar, Judy Cirillo, Gwen Marshall, Miriam Shaw, Ellen Bierhorst
Preamble read by Miriam.
Rob suggests we curtail discussion of economics and politics until the end of the year.
Linda: my late husband and I have worked to raise a lot of our own food... We had greens into the winter.
Miriam Michael Murphy and Birdie took half bales of straw and put on garden for composting over the winter.
Gwen: the city manager proposed to charge for taking garbage, but the mayor was against it. Health Care: if they address that at the fed. Level it would be good. Why bail out banks; we should get rid of the insurance companies. It would make our country competitive again.
Bill Want opinions on the proposed bail out of auto industry. (We discussed last week.) We should nationalize all three into one and have them build trains, busses, subways, and high mpg cars.
Rob capital punnishment and immigration. I have not made up my mind on them.
(talking stick around table.)
Rob: things that guide our spiritual development. Dwane Dyers, Change your thoughts, change your life. Suggests I am on the right path of my next adventure. ...
:
Bill: In NY Times today 2 articles. 1st settlement in US: French settlement in 1564 in Florida but were slaughtered by the Spanish. They were Hugenots. 2nd: Greenland decided to vote for more autonomy from Denmark. Now Greenlandik is now the official language.
Carolyn: if you visit colonia cities in Mexico you can see gorgeous Spanish architecture from the 16th century.
Judy:
Derek: I want to discuss a school project I’ve been working on, germane to the Lloyd House. The Lloyd Bros have collected 50000 dry plant specimens with medicinal properties from around the world. Curtis Gates Lloyd did most of the traveling. They are being destroyed because nobody is restoring them. Acid based paper, stored in a coal fired furnace basement so stained. I’ve been volunteering to remounting the specimens to acid free paper. Needed 3-5000 hours of work. The Lloyd Library won’t endow the restoration either... They gave it to the University. I feel it is an important thing I could do for society to work on this project, more important than working on a political campaign. If you are interested, contact Victor Soukup:
Soukupvg@email.us.edu
Bill Norway is attempting to collect seeds from every plant in the world; they might be interested in this project.
Rob: my native American group is working on collecting plants lore.
Gwen The Cinti Wildflower Preservation Society, second Fri Sept thru March, 7:30, Avon Woods. College level lecture, always excellent. Also field trips. Great hikes. I got to know Victor ... An international expert on trilliums. Nice, knowledgeable people. Only $12 / year.
I’d like to talk about the upside of this screwed up economy. I live in Northside. I have my bicycle with basket in front and back... At the annual yard sale I noticed a lot more bikes. When I go out now I see more bikes. More activity on the strees. Another nice thing is the community market on Wed, 4 – 7 at the greenhouse on Knowlton St. Between Dane and Mad Anthony.
One time I was wearing my Northside Farmers’ Market hat one time... I said I just do the shopping there.
Miriam: the cincinnati locovores group can locate numerous markets around town. (get one via Deborah Jordan: DEBORAH JORDAN <JORDANDH@EMAIL.UC.EDU>)
I got an email from my ex, David Rosenberg that he and Mark Stroud, who started veggie rrestaurants in the 80’s, are starting a CSA (community supported agriculture) and they will have a meeting soon to discuss how to make this 12.5 acre farm inside the city limits... A valuable asset to our community. It is just at the top of Spring Grove Cemetary. (See announcement below in “Events and Opportunities” section.)
Gwen: report of a big farm in CA that opened it up for gleaners after harvest and 40,000 people came.
Linda: I like Gwen’s idea of talking about the upside of the ecoomic changes. I’ve been of two minds. Felt guilty not to feel more for those in hardship. But I suspect that things will have to fall apart a lot and a part of me is not sorry about that. All kinds of opportunity for re-arranging things, especially relating to localization of economies, people cooperating in small ways, esp. in food production. But it is unlikely if they can patch it and limp along.
Rob James Hansen, one of the early modelers re. Global Warming. Has been doing ice cores. CO-2 in atmosphere has varied along a huge range, but we are now above any rate found in the past. He says if we don’t reduce the Co-2 we will have irretrievable loss of the polar ice caps. So we should be motivated to make changes.
Bill I am not sure we have the will to make needed changes.
Linda ... People see gas prices going down and want to forget the need to scale back rates of gas consumption.
Gwen ... Rom Emanuel ... Investment banker, in support of NAFTA, also strongly in favor of ending welfare as we knew it. So I feel Obama will not be a changer.
And he believes in “clearn coal”.
Rob no he doesn’t. Driehaus does though.
Bill Why aren’t they pushing geothermal. In Europe there are places where an entire neighborhoods ar e on a single geothermal well.
Ellen: I find the economic situation too complex to understand. If Rob doesn’t know which way to blow on the immigration issue (and I am with him too) I certainly don’t know what should be done re. the economy. It is a complex puzzle. I want to have confidence in an enlightened leadership, and continue to scrutinize. I do have faith in Obama...it’s a honeymoon. IN Europe they are in love with him... I have been so impressed by the wisdom, knowledge, creativity of the salon people; Cuba went off imported Russian oil in 6 months and were clever and creative; how much more will a talented, experienced group of leaders in Washington under enlightened and inspired leadership be able to save the day.
Linda This is an exciting time. I don’t look for radical change from Obama, but do feel he understands what you are all talking about, and it is such a relief that he can stand up and articulate good sentences! I do not think it is possible to prop up the existing structures.
~ End of Table Notes~
- Hugs to everyone,
Ellen
Section Two: Events & Opportunities
I am so pleased to announce that Gregory Thorp is coming to town and we will have another of his legendary slide shows. Do try to make it. Spiritually nourishing nature slides projected in sparkling color. Traditional Gregory themes: corn fields, corn plants, corn husks, corn kernels... Barges and bridges on the river... Union Terminal mosaics... Rail Road cars, couplings, tracks, crossings... Cinti vistas... Jake the pony... New England scenes...
Show will be Sat. Dec 6 at 7 pm in the zendo, third floor. Don’t ring, just come up. Bring wine and snacks if you like. I can’t wait.
Ellen
3901 Clifton Ave. 45220 (park on Lafayette Ave.)
You can google Gregory Thorp and get some wonderful stuff to give you a taste. Gregory Thorp (no e).
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center* will be having its . . .
6th annual St. Nick Day Holiday Fundraiser Sale
on Saturday December 6th
from 10 am - 2pm.
IJPC is located in Peaslee Neighborhood Center at 215 E. 14th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202.
We will be selling fair-trade items from all over the world. Your purchase helps benefit artisans from around the world as well as IJPC!
Items For Sale:
- Peace Calendars, Gifts, Children's Books from Syracuse Cultural Workers!
- Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, and Hot Chocolate
- Artwork from Death Row Inmates
- Products from International Artisans from Madagascar,Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Ghana
- Carol Rainey's Book
- Homemade candles and ornaments from Sr. Alice
- *Local Artisan Elaine Adams will also be there demonstrating the art of making pottery*
-
-------
* That’s the cool group of activists headed by Sr. Alice Gerdeman... Peace, death penalty abolishment, justice, ... Great folks! ellen
Tell the EPA now to regulate Carbon Emissions! Deadline Friday:
From: "Cathy Zoi, The We Campaign" <info@repoweramerica.org>
To: Jennifer Roig-Francoli <jenniferrf@fuse.net>
Subject: Tell the EPA: It's time
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:26:06 -0500
Friday is the last day to voice your opinion on whether the EPA -- the Environmental Protection Agency -- should regulate carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of the climate crisis. This is a big deal.
The EPA is taking public comment, before making a ruling.
Of course, special interests -- like the oil and coal lobbies -- are working overtime to defeat a positive ruling and have already gotten thousands of comments submitted in opposition.
Most people don't know about this opportunity for public comment, so your voice can make a real difference. And with a new president in the White House, it's likely that someone will actually be listening. Submit your public comment to the EPA here:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/EPA
In April 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide if it is harming our health and welfare. After more than a year of delay, the EPA is finally now requesting public comments on whether carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping pollutants are endangering our health and our climate.
Join us, and send a message about how crucial it is to reduce harmful carbon dioxide pollution. That you expect the EPA to use its powers to protect our health and welfare. That we can "Repower America" by using energy sources that don't emit carbon dioxide, and make the switch to 100% clean electricity. And that the solutions to the climate crisis are the same ones needed to address our economic and security challenges.
This is our chance to go on the public record -- all the comments will be posted on the EPA's website. To post your public comment, just go here:
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/EPA
For nearly eight years, the Bush administration has done nothing to address the growing threats we face from global warming. Hurricanes are getting stronger, the North polar icecap is melting, and we've suffered through intense droughts, floods and killer heat waves.
The deadline is FRIDAY November 28th. Let's help end the era of delay.
Thanks,
Cathy Zoi
CEO
http://www.RepowerAmerica.org
MORTGAGE/HOUSING CRISIS EXPLAINED (really!)
Check this out, “This American Life” show produced by Alex Blumberg (son of Richard and Joan) explaining “the giant pool of money” and...
Listen to 30 min. show for free: http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355
CCAC (Clifton Cultural Arts Center) presents
NEOPORKOPOLIS:
Interactive Nostalgia with an Organic Flair
The Binford Experience
(Keith Skogstrom & Andrew Coppersmith)
Gavin Price-Fuller
Lauren Winnen
November 15 - December 6
<http://e2ma.net/go/1443177887/1317757/48336772/goto:http://www.cliftonculturalarts.org/neoporkopolis.htm> Emerging Artists Enliven the Spirit of CCAC's Developing Community
Making use of CCAC's grand architectural spaces, NeoPorkopolis features four talented artists constructing large, interactive sculptural installations. The unique space on the first floor of the historic Clifton School sets the stage for the artists' use of diverse materials, design and expression. The artists utilize a sense of history in play with organic forms, architectural design, woodcraft and social commentary to create constructed works and transformative spaces. NeoPorkopolis features The Binford Experience (Keith Skogstrom & Andrew Coppersmith), Gavin Price-Fuller, and Lauren Winnen, exhibiting together for the first time in this, their Cincinnati debut. Please join us for - and spread the word <http://e2ma.net/map/view=Forward/ID=11326.1443177887/rid=57fa9deee65b22a4938324e807b11092/send_to_friend> about - this very exciting exhibition. For hours, directions and more information, please visit cliftonculturalarts.org <http://e2ma.net/go/1443177887/1317757/48336773/goto:http://www.cliftonculturalarts.org/neoporkopolis.htm>
P.O Box 20041 | Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
info@cliftonculturalarts.org
Proud to announce that...
Neil Schapera, premier Alexander Technique teacher is now available at the Lloyd House on Thursday afternoons. Call him: 513 608 3695
We are fortunate indeed to have a senior teacher of the Alexander Technique in our area, and now especially fortunate to have him available for lessons at the Lloyd House. Neil is a “full spectrum” teacher, addresses all sorts of issues, but is especially experienced in the area of geriatric wellbeing.
Neil and Vivien came here from South Africa in 1993 with their two sons, now university students at U.C. They are recognized internationally as leaders in the technique. ... And they are my mentors in the teacher training course that I expect to complete, after 3 years, this coming June, 2009.
For more information about Neil and the Alexander Technique: http://www.schapera.com/
“CHANGE IS COMING” OPEN POTLUCK ON WED. 12/17 Here
We will invite people from the Obama web engine to join us at the Salon ...
Here’s what it says on the web invitation...
Change Coming Potluck (Change is Coming)
We will gather at the Lloyd House, 3901 Clifton Ave. 45220 (please park on Lafayette Ave) at 5:45 for pot luck and discussion "What can I do for change?" until 8 pm.
This is an extension of our regular weekly Wednesday gathering. Join us! It's going to take ALL of us to pull our society/world out of the "fire". Local community is where it's at. Ellen Bierhorst
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxb98
IDEAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH:
(A weekly thought from Ellen)
Everyone needs a psychologist sometime in their life.
Ellen Bierhorst Ph.D. is a good one. In practice over 30 years. 513 221 1289
Areas of particular interest: 12 Step Program support; Family and Relationship issues; Young Adult Issues; Chronic Illness and Senior Adult Issues; Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Issues, Holistic Wellness (body/mind/spirit approach), Clinical Hypnosis, EMDR.
- Get a fresh perspective. Sort out tangles in interpersonal relationships. Clear away the messes of the past. Become empowered to launch your new life. Heal trauma, change, loss. Escape from the bondage of addictive behavior(alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, gambling, etc.)
- Central location (Clifton Ave. at Lafayette)
- Beautiful setting (The historic Lloyd House)
- Many health insurance plans will pay a percentage. (Standard fee $125/hour. Some pro bono work available.)
- Compassion and good humor.
- Rapid results.
Join Freedom singers
Rehearsals 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6:30, at Freedom Center (free parking bottom of Walnut St.)
Cathy Roma and Todd O’Neal directing.
Wonderful Spirituals music.
This is the mega chorus that sings every MLK day at Music Hall. Wonderful intercommunity brotherhood service.
Major Environmental Issue: Act Now, follow link below
on 11/19/08 4:23 PM, Rob Milton Nenbahwaab at earth4u@zoomtown.com wrote:
Don't let the fox guard the hen house!
The Environmental Protection Agency is ready to transfer authority for factory farm water pollution permits from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). This proposal effectively transfers control of factory farms to an administrative body that is biased in favor of the agricultural industry. Furthermore, it is an abdication of responsibility from OEPA, which is legally mandated to protect public health and the environment.
Send a message to the EPA by adding your name and comment to our (Ohio Sierra Club) petition. Contact:
https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1185&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=evki6wtkm1.app25a
In Ohio, factory farms generate over 10.5 million tons of animal waste per year.1 Rich in phosphorus and nitrogen, animal waste is a major source of water pollution in Ohio. These chemicals enter waterways, killing fish and other aquatic life and contaminating our drinking water.
Act today! Submit your comments to the EPA by December 16.
I received this message from Ohio Chapter of Sierra Club. If link to petition does not work, contact them at:
http://ohio.sierraclub.org/index.html
Rob Nendahwaab
YOGA at Lloyd House. Wednesdays 9:15 – 10:30 am. Open, free practice group led by Nina Tolley.
Tai Chi practice group Sundays 10:15 a.m. Led by Jackie Millay.
Articles
Victory Jubilation in Harlem: photo from Election Night- Smart guy (conservative) classmate writes: Obama not so cool
- Factory Farm Refuse Issue
- Proposed Wooden Shoe Garden Community Supported Agriculture
- Prisons and Incarceration: a report from Mother Paula Jackson (one of our much loved local heroes in Cincinnati ... like Alice Gerdeman and Cathy Roma)
Another View of Obama
(This guy is a smart academic, state dept. consultant, and jazz musician~what a combo~and conservative classmate from Walnut Hills H.S. 1958)
Dear Ellen,
Re. the election. The important symbolism of color aside, American elections (not primaries) are fought between the 45 yard lines. Either party has to govern from the center. It is no surprise that O. so far has selected mainly deep-dyed Washington insiders, even though this is precisely what he promised not to do. His rollidex is not a big one, and hence so far we are getting a third Clinton administration. I do not think it would have been dramatically different had Mc C won, either, given that 45-45 yardline issue.
Fred
HI Fred,
Hey thanks for this thoughtful comment. Yes, about the 45yard lines. Of
course. I read "At Team of Rivals" aboutLincoln's political acumen. So I
am at peace about Obama's centrism, even though I am one of the Lefties
yelling for more progressive stuff. Am planning to go to D.C. For the
Inauguration. Feels like a great day for America.
I hate to think what would have happened to the Supreme Court with McC. In
the white house... Or Palin!
Ellen
Factory Farm Refuse Issue
From Jeanette Raichyk: <dectiri@earthlink.net>
Ellen,
If your writing friends at the Salon and the LloydHouse listserv want another alternative way to draw more attention to this issue, they should make note in their writing that the farms in Ohio have a few pioneering members who are converting the animal refuse into ELECTRIC which they are selling to the rural electric co-ops and probably other electric companies. (Articles in the both of the last two issues of the rural electric's newsletter Country Living Magazine covered both chicken farming and a dairy in SE Ohio, along with an article on radically different 'contrary farmer' sort of farming including animal husbandry that was amazingly favorable and uplifting.)
If more of this idea were to spread, the quality of care given to animals might improve and it would help the quality of the farm products and maybe even make people be more thoughtful about their food choices. We do not like the factory farm treatment given to animals but economics is our most powerful lever to make them better. Exposés are useful and even protests of the right kind, but economics is the powerhouse that histrionics in the school curriculum ignore in favor of failed politics and war stories.
Furthermore we should inform our news media to cover this story for multiple reasons: 1) there is enough waste in the agricultural sector to power our economy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and to bolster our failing electric grid, 2) the attention to the conditions of the animals in these showcase stories would force the recognition of the inhuman conditions that animals endure for our benefit. And most of all, the enormous waste that goes on would be eliminated as a source of damage.
Nothing stirs people up like seeing a golden opportunity going down the sewer or worse.
Good luck to them.
MJ Raichyk
Announcing:
Wooden Shoe Gardens Living Food Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program
Are You Interested In...
- Easy access to Healthy Living Foods All Year Round
- Locally Grown Food?
- Organic Food certified by a citizen controlled, Ohio Organization?
- Prices below Retail?
- Community Involvement to enhance our food system?
- Taking responsibility for your own health and the planet's health?
Dear friends,
What a great opportunity to have healthy organic produce, particularly various sprouts and micro greens available all year round. These nutrient dense greens are rarely available anywhere else in Cincinnati. What a gem to have an organic farm right in the middle of the city where we can take responsibility, work together and create a stronger community.
With Gratitude,
Mark Stroud
P.S. - Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments: forrest999@earthlink.net; 295-3343
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is both a program and a process whereby interested consumers team up with a nearby farm to mutually enhance one another’s welfare. Typically a farmer is interested in the long term viability of their family’s operation, and feels that working directly with consumers in a proximate area would increase their likelihood of survival and prosperity. Members of the CSA (the eaters) are looking for a better way of getting their food (maximum freshness and quality standards, convenient service, wider food choices, reasonable prices, supporting local farmers, etc.) A CSA program is the vehicle that allows a producer/consumer partnership, and the CSA process is the ongoing dialogue between both entities to realize their interests. Consumer participation involves a wide range of options from merely being a regular customer to helping with farm labor and capitalization or being part of a board of directors of the CSA. The CSA movement is now several years old and global in scope. CSAs are creating sustainable agriculture in and around urban population centers everywhere.
About the farm (as described by the owner, David Rosenberg)
Wooden Shoe Gardens has been producing vegetables right here within the city limits of Cincinnati for more than a century. I have been using modern methods of organic food production for 32 years and became the first certified organic farm in Southwestern Ohio about 25 years ago. I have decades of experience producing living foods and vegetables to the highest commercial standards. Over the years Wooden Shoe Gardens has pioneered the production, retailing and distribution of organic foods in the Greater Cincinnati area. I think there has been an historical confluence of events that now make it inevitable that we will have a sustainable system of area farms feeding our community. The big question is how will it happen? I would like to work within our community creating a sustainable food delivery system that empowers farmers and consumers.
What are living foods?
Alfalfa, Adzuki, Mung, Garbanzo, Pea, Quinoa, Broccoli, Flax, Onion, Amaranth sprouts, Beet, Sunflower, Buckwheat, Daikon Radish greens, Wheatgrass, Fresh Potted and cut herbs and seasonal produce.
What other foods could be available?
Since CSA is a partnership, the program can do anything that the partners agree on. What would you like to see happen? The possibilities are limitless. It would be great if Cincinnatians could spend as much of their food dollar as possible supporting local producers, value added businesses and retailers. Wooden Shoe Gardens (WSG) has the experience and the facilities to do whatever the CSA membership wants to accomplish. WSG currently produces wheatgrass, potted herbs and microgreens. There are 5 acres of some of the finest soil in the Midwest able to produce field and greenhouse crops. There is also space to build warehousing, packing and processing facilities. This is a wonderful place for the citizens of this city to come together interact and create a stronger community.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone interested in supporting this CSA project, please respond to the questionnaire below and return to: woodenshoegarden@fuse.net <mailto:woodenshoegarden@fuse.net>
QUESTIONNAIRE
(check all that apply to you)
_____ I would like to stay informed about this project. Put me on your contact list.
_____ I would be willing to attend a meeting to discuss the feasibility of this CSA program.
(Rate the dates below in order of preference.)
( _____ 12/3 – 7pm _____ 12/6 – 2pm _____ 12/7 – 2pm)
_____ I can’t make any of the above meeting dates, but I’d be interested in attending future meetings.
_____ I will forward a copy of this email to interested friends.
PLEASE USE THE SPACE BELOW FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, ETC.
THE TRUTH ABOUT
PRISONS AND INCARCERATION IN AMERICA
Hi Ellen, I just finished (2 weeks over deadline!) a paper requested by Episcopal Network for Economic Justice, which I'm glad I had to research & write because it helped me connect the dots for so many patterns encountered in these 25 years of parish ministry, and gives me better focus for where to seek significant change.
With apologies for my rustiness in writing footnotes (they hadn't invented urls when I last wrote a research paper, so ENEJ will have to fix those citations for me!), I pass along this draft to you and perhaps some in the Salon who might be interested. Especially in the ALEC -- a vast and incredibly well funded corporate organization who is actually writing the legislation in our states for the past 30 years or more and gaining strength with every election.
Joy and peace to you and yours, keep hope alive!
--
Paula M. Jackson+
pjackson@fuse.net
Prisons and Incarceration
By Rev. Paula Jackson
My small-for-his-age 16 year old parishioner, after sitting in adult jail for three months, will be tried as an adult on felony charges. (He'd found a gun, which was stuffed in his waistband when he took a "friend's" empty wallet; when the police nabbed him at the Arby's store, he gave his brother's name at first.) No kid wants more to be good than Denzel, but -- with BiPolar, ADHD, IED, learning disabilities, borderline IQ, and the "school to prison pipeline" history of disadvantaged child whose mom couldn’t get the help she knew he needed from age 5 -- he'll go to prison most likely, for 2 to 8 years. This time.
He has the most engaged public defender I've encountered in a long time. She paid attention to Denzel's history, was able to get a continuance and order a second psychiatric evaluation before the bench trial is scheduled. But, she said, "There's no place the judge can send him for the treatment you're talking about. What you need to work on is prison reform!"
Even with the best outcome we could hope (not guilty by reason of insanity), Denzel would still be facing a world of few choices and many pitfalls, with his incomprehension of reality, inability to understand consequences, and lack of impulse control. Denzel could not cope with learning that he was going back to jail for a month; he was escorted out shouting, crying, and struggling, by 4 officers. His mother wept, "My greatest fear has been that he won't be able to control himself, and he'll end up dead or in prison."
There is little unique about Denzel's story; to many families, it is predictable at every turn. It takes grand patterns to become the nation with the most incarcerated persons, proportionate to our population, in the whole world. Not only that: the USA, with 5 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of the world’s inmates, has more people incarcerated than any other nation in the world. More than the "authoritarian regimes" and "terrorist states". More than China with all its people. According to the most recent counts, one in a hundred people in the US is an inmate. *
Break it out by demographics and the story is more disturbing. Incarceration is not an equal opportunity employer in this country. Currently, one out of 106 white men, one out of 36 Hispanic men, and one out of 15 African American men in the US is incarcerated. The imprisonment of Black males in South Africa under apartheid in 1993 was at the rate of 851 per 100,000. In the US in 2006 it was 4,789 per 100,000.
A striking majority of inmates had school problems indicating learning disabilities, and/or did not finish high school. According to US Bureau of Justice, 56 percent of US inmates have psychiatric disabilities needing treatment. Socio-economic level and stability in the family of origin is a reliable predictor of who will go to prison, on the broad scale.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, in the famous judgment scene of chapter 25, when the King says to the just, "I was in prison...," some translations go on, "... and you visited me." It is important to visit the prisoners, to remember their names, to pray for them and bring the message of redemption. But the Greek verb in the text is from the same root from which we get "episcope" -- and it means to see to, to be concerned for and to act in the interests of, to make the well-being, inclusion, and reconciliation of the prisoners our business. The just who inherit the Kingdom are those who become the pastors of the inmates; and as the rest of that scene makes clear, it is not in a disembodied spiritual sense that we are shepherds. In order to “visit” in the sense required by the Gospel, we will have to understand the unjust patterns and dismantle them.
What is the pattern of social and political decisions which makes Denzel's story so normal and familiar? There are several important actions going on in recent decades which impact the story, and these are the places where Episcopalians can join with other people of faith, using our rightful voice as citizens, to demand a more sane, reasonable, and healing approach.
1. The Children's Defense Fund has documented the "cradle to prison pipeline" and is not alone in recognizing the glaring need for this change: pre-judicial intervention through early childhood and family support programs that will help children to be ready for school when they start, and identify families who need assistance to deal with mental health and other challenges so that these do not become barriers to their children's participation. Every child who is kept out of juvenile court and detention through this process represents a major payback on the public investment in real dollars as well as social strength.
2. Lack of diversionary and alternative programs for at-risk and troubled youth. Add to this the trend of charging, trying, and sentencing children as adults. Children like Denzel are not going to be helped by two or eight years in prison. By the time they reach his level of emotional and behavioral disturbance (having lacked the needed early interventions), they need comprehensive long term treatment. This is expensive of course: it may approach what taxpayers pay to keep inmates incarcerated.
3. An overloaded and overworked public defender roster dealing with a constant surge of indigent defendants. The typical plan is to work out a plea bargain with the State even before consulting with the defendant; there is no time to investigate a plea of "not guilty" on its merits, to build a case, to examine evidence and subpoena witnesses. Poor defendants learn that they have no choice but to plead guilty to the least disastrous of a frightening range of possibilities, or they can surely expect the worst outcome.
4. Incarceration for offenders who have not injured others; prison rather than treatment for those whose illegal behavior is related to addiction or mental illness. In some cases this is due to mandatory sentencing laws, in others to the absence of alternatives to jail or prison within the judge's jurisdiction.
5. Mandatory sentencing laws which have persistently increased prison time per sentence, although this has been demonstrated to have no deterrent effect on crime or recidivism.
6. "Persistent offender" laws (such as "three strikes and you're out") in many states, which turn minor infractions and parole violations into decades or life in prison.
7. Criminalization and prison time for an ever growing list of former misdemeanors, with no evidence that these reclassifications deter the incidence of those actions or more serious crimes.
8. The "cost-saving" measures of removing educational, mental health, and human services from prisons, reflecting punitive attitudes in the political arena as "corrections" philosophy has shifted from reform to punishment. Not only is the health, retraining, and safety of inmates compromised. The chances of an ex-inmate who has served his time re-entering society successfully are further reduced.
9. The revolving door of recidivism due to lack of re-entry assistance, the stigma of a "record," and the extreme difficulty of finding employment with a felony in one's past.
10. Recent policy decisions to criminalize and incarcerate undocumented immigrants simply for being found working, or driving, or in their homes --in some cases housing them in prison camps with their families while awaiting deportation processing.
To handle the upsurge in the prison population, counties and states either reap benefits by leasing available inmate beds to neighboring jurisdictions, or contract out their inmates at a per diem rate if they can't afford to build more facilities.
In addition, the once-flagging private prison-for-profit industry, now consolidated mostly in two large corporations, has gained new contracts to build and operate prisons in many states, some of them being filled with inmates from other states. Though the evidence on the whole indicates they are no more efficient or effective than state-run prisons, they do make profits through non-union policies, understaffing, nonprovision of services, and contracting out prison labor to private employers.
In some places, for example, undocumented workers now held in prison are contracted out to work the same farms –seeing earnings as low as $.45 an hour-- from which they would have been arrested had they been working before at minimum wage. In some states, prisoners are the workforce who produce office furniture and other items which state agencies are required to buy in order to "support local industry". Contracting for prison labor is even touted in some corrections websites as the "local employment" alternative to outsourcing. It bypasses both union standards and prevailing wage laws, and not surprisingly has been likened by human rights groups to a new form of slave labor.
Like the cost of war in the national economy, the "war on crime" can be seen as a war on the poor at the state level. The resources most needed for the common good are diverted to the cost of the prison system; the services defunded by this transfer are those most needed by disadvantaged citizens; and these are the people most likely to end up in the prisons.
If US citizens were actually so much more violent and incorrigible than all the other people of the world, if minority people were actually worse people than those of western European descent, if the huge upsurge in incarceration were actually effective in preventing recidivism or making a safer society, these patterns might be understandable. But while a basis in reality is lacking for these political and social decisions, there is a clear link between the economic interests and the ideology guiding the policy decisions.
The two largest for-profit prison corporations, The GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut) and Corrections Corporation of America, are among an impressive list of major funder-participants (along with Exxon, Bell South, R.J. Reynolds, WalMart, for example) in the American Legislative Exchange Council, founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, also co-founder of the Heritage Foundation. ALEC works to recruit and "arm" state legislators; its corporate sponsors actually co-write legislation which is then introduced in every state to promote their agenda with the following among other hallmarks:
Rolling back civil rights legislation; preventing or undoing environmental protection measures; diverting funds away from social and human services; defunding public schools through diversion of their funds to vouchers, charter schools, and home schoolers; tort reform to limit the ability of plaintiffs against corporations; privatization for profit of public services wherever possible; "tough on crime" legislation that guarantees criminalization of more people and a growing stream of new and longer-term inmates.
In 2001 ALEC boasted more than a third of state legislators as members, and was responsible for hundreds of acts passed in state legislatures. Their influence has continued to grow. While ALEC is recognized and rewarded at the national level for its coordinated implementation of the grand plan (gaining commendations from President George W. Bush and members of his administration), its action at the state level gives Episcopalians in their dioceses the opportunity to respond as we are called, caring for those who are incarcerated. If we are to affect the future of our burgeoning inmate population, we must respond with grassroots organizing, helping our legislators to get "smart on crime," instead of letting corporations write the laws which make us the most imprisoned nation in the world.
ACTION STEPS FOR YOU
1. Donate to and volunteer with organizations that serve former offenders and advocate for criminal justice reform in your state. (LIKE IJPC. ellen)
2. Write to your state representative about the need for smart-on-crime, evidence-based criminal justice reform that reduces crime, lowers rates of incarceration, and saves tax dollars. For example, let them know that spending on education is more effective at preventing crime than building more prisons. Advocate for policies that strengthen public education and human services. ( Would someone give us a link where constituants can look up and contact their state representatives? ellen)
3. Encourage business leaders in your community to hire ex-offenders, helping them overcome barriers that inhibit their successful re-entry into the community.
4. Educate yourself and your community on pressing issues and opportunities for reform in criminal justice. Some resources are:
National Hire Network http://www.hirenetwork.org/
Public Welfare Foundation http://www.publicwelfare.org/Programs/Default.aspx?progid=1
Soros Foundations Network, Open Society Institute http://www.soros.org/initiatives/issues/law
Unlocking America: Why and How to Reduce America's Prison Population, 2007 JFA Associates
http://www.jfa-associates.com/publications/srs/UnlockingAmerica.pdf.............................
* Other countries in TEC, prison populations per 100,000, most recent figures available according to International Centre for Prison Studies: Colombia, 144; Ecuador 94; Honduras 161; Puerto Rico 356; Dominican Republic 147; Venezuela 79; Haiti 72; Micronesia 79; Taiwan 263, Virgin Islands 549; British Virgin Islands 488; Convocation: Austria 95; Germany 91; France 91; Belgium 93; Italy 83.
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Sources
America's Cradle to Prison Pipeline, A Children's Defense Fund Report
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=c2pp_report2007
Kings College London, International Centre for Prison Studies
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/law/research/icps
One in One Hundred: Behind Bars in America 2008 The Pew Center on the States
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/One%20in%20100.pdf
Sentencing Project http://www.sentencingproject.org/
Ohio Policy and Justice Center, http://www.ohiojpc.org/
Prison Policy Initiative, http://www.prisonpolicy.org/
Robert G. Lawson, "PFO Law Reform, A Crucial First Step toward Sentencing Sanity in Kentucky," Kentucky Law Journal 2008-9, Vol. 97 No. 1
Federal Prison Industries, Inc. http://www.unicor.gov/
This Alien Life: Privatized Prisons for Immigrants by Deepa Fernandes, Special to CorpWatch
February 5th, 2007 http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14333
Eric Schlosser, "The Prison Industrial Complex," The Atlantic December 1998 http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199812/prisons/3
Oxford Analytica Brief "US Prison Policy Needs Reform," Forbes Magazine May 6, 2008 http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/05/05/prison-drugs-crime-cx_0506oxford.html
"US Farms Using Prison Labor" Christian Science Monitor, August 22, 2007 http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0822/p14s02-wmgn.html Employers must pay $2 an hour in Arizona for the projects studied, of which most goes to the contracting prison and some goes to the court.
Meredith Kolodner, "US Immigration Enforcement Benefits Prison Firms," NYTimes, July 19, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/business/19detain.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2008/03/new_mexico_immi.html
California Prison Industry Authority http://www.pia.ca.gov/
"Mental Health Problems of Jail and Prison Inmates," Bureau of Justice Statistics July 2006, http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_September_2006&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=38175
SourceWatch, "American Legislative Exchange Council"
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council
Common Cause, "American Legislative Exchange Council"
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?b=1497709&c=dkLNK1MQIwG
American Legislative Exchange Council http://www.alec.org/am/template.cfm?section=home
The Rev. Paula M. Jackson, PhD., is Rector of The Church of Our Saviour/ La Iglesia de Nuestro Salvador, Cincinnati, and a member of the Church in Metro Areas Conference.
Books,Movies, Reviews
It’s up to you folks to send me blurbs. I know you are reading.What? Is it good? Ellen
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So I am reading Dreams from my father by Barack Obama and it is fabulous. As good as “The Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison. Can you imagine? It puts you there. He is a really marvelous writer. Whew! One of the things he says in the introduction to the new edition boils down the approach to incarceration/crime in a wonderful companion thought to Paula Jackson’s essay (see above in Articles section)... something like that our social policy has been stupid, just ignoring social unrest and injustice until it boils all over the stove, and then answering that with the stupidity of longer prison sentences and more aggressive use of force. I am about half way through the book... it’s a real page turner. I got it from the library but think I will purchase my own copy, which I rarely do. ellen
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives. These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings. Please consider supporting these treasures, and distributing the information for others to enjoy. And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net <mailto:jkesner@nuvox.net> . <mailto:jkesner@nuvox.net>
Tri-State Treasures is accumulating your ideas for unique Holiday Season gifts and events. As with all Tri-State Treasures, the goal is for this to mutually benefit the vendor and the customer. Events will be posted 2 weeks leading up to the event. Gift ideas will be posted once towards the top, then accumulated below under a new heading Holiday Gift Ideas.
Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit Tri-State Treasures is at the bottom of this email. Please help me by providing all basic information, and formatting your submissions as described below. Thank you.
Sincerely, Jim
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Living Words Pottery: Hand formed stoneware for the home & for gift-giving, with an eternal difference. Each piece has been carefully crafted & bears God's living words. Four colors. Safe for microwave, dishwasher & oven. 38 forms; one-third of them are priced under $20. More info, colors & directions @ 513.542.2442 & www.LivingWordsPottery.com <http://www.livingwordspottery.com/> .
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Fountain Square Skating Rink Opens Thanksgiving Day [Thursday 27 November @ 2-10 PM]: Make ice skating on Fountain Square part of your Cincinnati Thanksgiving Day tradition. For the 1st time, the U.S. Bank Ice Rink on Fountain Square will be open Thanksgiving Day. At 7,000 square feet, the ice rink is the same size as the one at Rockefeller Center in NY City, comfortably holding about 225 skaters. In addition to daily skating & the center for the holidays in Cincinnati, the ice rink hosts a Broomball League & several other events thru January & February. Parking in the Fountain Square Garage for $4. $2.50 admission; $2.50 skate rental or bring your own skates. Heated tent with vending machines for snacks & drinks. At Fountain Square, amidst 5th & 6th & Walnut & Vine Streets, Downtown Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.979.4738 & www.myfountainsquare.com <http://www.myfountainsquare.com> .
O'Bryonville Animal Rescue Holiday eBay Auction [Friday 28 November - Friday 5 December]: Leave the holiday shopping crowds at the mall. Do your shopping from the comfort of home & help the cats at O'Bryonville Animal Rescue. Your items will arrive in time for the holidays. All proceeds go to the cats. There are sure to be some great items for that unique someone on your list, so be sure to put in some bids. Free. At http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/theanimalrescue/ <http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/theanimalrescue/> . More info @ 513.871.PAWS, info@theanimalrescue.com <mailto:info@theanimalrescue.com> & www.TheAnimalRescue.com <http://www.theanimalrescue.com/> .
The Wine Merchant’s Holiday Preview [Saturday 29 November @ 2-5 PM]: Taste wine. Shop. Pre-order your holiday gift baskets. Come & sample some of their featured wines that are perfect for the holidays. Taste some of their gourmet food items, great for entertaining or gifts. Choose from their line of festive theme baskets or work with a staff member to create your own custom gift basket. They also have a great selection of wine accessories for the wine lovers on your list. At The Wine Merchant, 3972 Edwards Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209. More info @ 513.731.1515 & www.winemerchantcincinnati.com <http://www.winemerchantcincinnati.com/> .
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant [Saturday 29 November - Sunday 28 December]: A cast of children tell the story of L Ron Hubbard & the Church of Scientology in this indie rock musical by Kyle Jarrow. Songs cover everything from engrams to Dianetics, set in the style of a traditional Christmas pageant. Opening night party is Saturday 29 November @ 8 PM. Tickets are only $12, thanks to the generosity of the Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile Jr./US Bank Foundation. At Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & tix @ 513.300.5669 & www.knowtheatre.com <http://www.knowtheatre.com> .
Jupiter - Venus Conjunction [Saturday 29 November & Monday 1 December @ 5:30-7:30 PM]: Come view the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus – a time when they are very close to each other in the sky. At Cincinnati Observatory Center, 3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208. More info @ 513.321.5186, observatory@fuse.net & www.cincinnatiobservatory.org <http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org> .
Tai Chi Class Special [expire Sunday 30 November]: Elemental Om is now open in Lebanon with many class offerings including New to Yoga, Senior Yoga, Yoga for Weight Loss, Vinyasa Flow, Tai Chi & Friday Happy Hour. Come relax & enjoy their beautiful new space. Bring a friend for free. The Tai Chi classes are taught by Ralph Dehner, Tai Chi for Health Master/Trainer. At Elemental Om, 46 East Mulberry Street, Lebanon, OH 45036. More info @ 513.836.3822, mightyvine@juno.com & www.elementalom.com <http://www.elementalom.com> .
Holiday Gift Guide to Support Walnut Hills H.S. Music Department: The Walnut Hills H.S. Music Department has arranged 3 opportunities for you to find & purchase gifts for family & friends, while supporting music at Walnut Hills. More info & required coupons @ www.walnuthillseagles.com/Departments/Music/HolidayGiftFlyer2.pdf <http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/Departments/Music/HolidayGiftFlyer2.pdf> :
<> Barnes & Noble - Sunday 30 November @ 12-6 PM: Buy books, music, & more at Barnes & Noble with a coupon, & Walnut Hills gets part of each sale. The students will be wrapping gifts & playing & singing for your entertainment while you shop. Coupons required. At Sycamore Plaza at Kenwood, 7800 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.
<> 10,000 Villages - Saturday 13 December @ 10 AM - 5 PM: Buy unusual hand-made gifts from around the world at 10,000 Villages, & Walnut Hills gets part of each sale. All products at 10,000 Villages are made by artisans paid on a "fair-trade" basis. No Coupons required, just say you're from Walnut Hills. At 2011 Madison Road, O'Bryonville, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
<> Online Magazine sales @ anytime: Go to www.aphearst.com <http://www.aphearst.com/> to get the best prices available on renewals & new subscriptions to most magazines published in the US, & Walnut Hills gets 40% of the cost of the subscriptions. Use code WA8545, click the Check Code button, & specify the student's name, if appropriate, for the student to get credit for your order.
Cooking with Caitlin at Essencha Tea House [Wednesday 3 December @ 6-8 PM]: A special night of tea-infused tastiness. Learn how to prepare holiday-inspired tea cocktails by Essencha, while Caitlin of Cooking with Caitlin prepares & demonstrates a menu of tea-tickled appetizers. Learn tips & tricks for the ultimate open house from Caitlin & Tracy while you nibble & sip tea-inspired delights. $30 per person, reservations required. Essencha Tea House, 3212 Madison Road, Oakley, Cincinnati, OH 45209. Reservations & tix @ 513.533.4832 & www.cookingwithcaitlin.com/pages/events <http://www.cookingwithcaitlin.com/pages/events> . More info @ tea@essencha.com.
Eddie Bayard Quartet [Wednesday 3 December @ 7:30 PM]: Eddie Bayard, the outstanding tenor saxophonist based in Columbus, brings his aggressive quartet to Jaspers. Admission is $5; free if jazz club member or if you come to happy hour (5-7 PM). At Jasper's, 3187 Linwood Avenue, Mt Lookout Square, Cincinnati, OH 45208; free parking. More info @ 513.871.6789, waltb31@gmail.com <mailto:waltb31@gmail.com> & www.jaspersmtlookout.com <http://www.jaspersmtlookout.com> .
Winter Fest 2008 [Friday 5 December]: Pleasant Ridge, Kennedy Heights & Silverton host this festive celebration to kick-off the holiday season. The 5th annual Winterfest is full of free events for the entire family. The evening begins with a tree lighting at the Pleasant Ridge Community Center @ 6 PM. Then, go inside the Community Center for games, entertainment & craft activities. Catch a horse-drawn carriage & ride up the street to the Kennedy Heights Arts Center for a tree lighting at 8 PM. The Arts Center will host a reception & art activities from 8-11 PM. Enjoy free food & drink while viewing the Holiday Treasures guild art exhibition in the galleries, listen to live music & go into the art studio to create. Starting at 8:15 PM, join the “Dance Along” at ballet tech cincinnati across the street from the Arts Center. Pleasant Ridge Community Center, 5915 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213, 513.731.7894. Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213, 513.631.4278. ballet tech cincinnati, 6543 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213, 513.841.2822.
What You Think is True [Friday-Saturday 5-6 December @ 6-11 PM]: Marty Campolo, Owen Brock, Julianna Boehm & Holly Risch present their 1st group show, in conjunction with the Essex Studios' holiday Art Walk, to celebrate 4 very different kinds of creativity that fit together beautifully. All 4 artists will be present both evenings, along with wine & cheese, & live music by Ric Hordinski (www.monkmusic.com <http://www.monkmusic.com/> ) Friday night & Sandy Suskind (www.sandysuskind.com <http://www.sandysuskind.com/> ) Saturday night. Large, medium & small pieces will be available at a variety of prices for those looking for truly original holiday gifts. At Essex Studios, Studio #156, 1st Floor, 2511 Essex Place, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ www.essexstudios.com <http://www.essexstudios.com> .
Clay Alliance Annual Winter Sales Event [Friday-Sunday 5-7 December @ 6-9 PM (Fri), 12-5 PM (Sat) & 12-3 PM (Sun)]: Nineteen Clay Alliance artists will be featured on the main floor exhibiting a variety of ceramic styles, joined by jewelry makers & other artists in the upper galleries. At the Carnegie Arts Center, 1028 Scott Street, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.491.2030 & www.clayalliance.org <http://www.clayalliance.org/> .
Frostbite Follies [Friday-Sunday 5-7 & 12-14 December @ 8 PM (Fri-Sat) & 2 PM (Sun)]: The Showboat’s treasured salute to the holiday season, featuring a potent potpourri of holiday song, comedy, audience participation, improvisation & the annual Christmas-themed send-up of all things Cincinnati - the Queen City Toast. $15 for subscribers, $16 for students & seniors, $17 for adults. At Showboat Majestic, 435 East Mehring Way, Cincinnati Public Landing, OH 45202. Free & reserved adjacent parking. More info @ 513.241.6550, Jenniferperrino@covedalecenter.com & www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com <http://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.> . <http://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.>
UU Youth Holiday Choral Festival [Saturday 6 December @ 10 AM]: The First Unitarian Universalist Youth Choral Festival will feature the children’s choirs (K-8) from 3 local UU churches singing 9 pieces from many traditions. “Breakfast with the Elves” will follow. Free & open to the public. At St. John's UU Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Clifton, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info @ 513.961.1938, music@stjohnsuu.org & www.stjohnsuu.org <http://www.stjohnsuu.org> .
IJPC 6th Annual St. Nick Day Sale [Saturday 6 December @ 10 AM - 2 PM]: Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center will be selling fair-trade items. Your purchase benefit artisans from around the world, & IJPC. Items for sale: peace calendars, gifts, children's books from Syracuse cultural workers, fair-trade coffee, tea, & hot chocolate, art from death row inmates, products from artisans from Madagascar, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, & Ghana, Carol Rainey's book, homemade candles & ornaments from Sr. Alice, plus local artisan Elaine Adams will be demonstrating the art of making pottery. Plus yummy refreshments. At Peaslee Neighborhood Center, 215 E. 14th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202. More info @ 513.579.8547, kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org & www.ijpc-cincinnati.org <http://www.ijpc-cincinnati.org/> .
NVISION Fashion Show [Saturday 6 December @ 9 PM]: The show features 1-of-a-kind fashions by local designers including Helen Smith, Tori Kadish, Rosie Kovacs & a parade of outfits assembled from NVISION stock. A dazzling array of functional handmade items & local art will also be exhibited & available for purchase. Doors open @ 8 PM. Admission is $12 in advance @ NVISION & phone or $15 at the door; includes refreshments & afterparty with DJ Steve Schmoll spinning danceable tunes till midnight. Sponsored by Red Polly Space Outfitters, the Comet, Melt Eclectic Deli, Pinnokios Hair Design, Shoetopia, Shake It Records & Scott Beseler Photography. At Red Polly Space Outfitters, 4016 Hamilton Avenue, Northside, Cincinnati, OH 45223. More info @ 513.542.4577, contact@nvisionshop.com & www.nvisionshop.com <http://www.nvisionshop.com/> .
2008 International Crèche Exhibit & Crèche Luncheons [Sunday 7 December @ 3:30-5 PM]: The coming of the light: a liturgical program honoring advent in this darkest season when some Christians wait in hope for the coming of Christ. Enjoy this afternoon of family & friends, prayer & song, readings & an art project, & something hot to drink. Free. RSVP requested. Grailville Retreat & Program Center, 932 O'Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140. More info @ 513.683.2340, grailville@fuse.net <mailto:grailville@fuse.net> & www.grailville.org <http://www.grailville.org./> . <http://www.grailville.org./>
Winter Sunday Supper: A Seasonal Feast [Sunday 7 December @ 5:30 PM]: The last of the popular 2008 Sunday Suppers, the Winter Sunday Supper features Grailville grown food & other seasonal delights, surrounded by Grailville’s unique collection of over 40 Nativity scenes from around the world. Reserve early; other suppers have sold out. Prepaid reservations required. $15 per person; $10 for kids under 11. Grailville Retreat & Program Center, 932 O'Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140. More info @ 513.683.2340, grailville@fuse.net <mailto:grailville@fuse.net> & www.grailville.org <http://www.grailville.org./> . <http://www.grailville.org./>
Creche Luncheons [Tuesday-Friday 9-12 & Monday-Wednesday 15-17 December @ Noon - 2 PM]: The Advent season continues with Grailville's International Creche Exhibit Luncheon Series. A delicious holiday luncheon followed by a short presentation on the origin of the Nativity scene & the history of the many Nativity sets in the Grailville International Creche Collection. Holiday shopping at the Grailville shop. Reserve early; limited seating. Prepaid reservations required. $15 per person; $10 for kids under 11. Grailville Retreat & Program Center, 932 O'Bannonville Road, Loveland, OH 45140. More info & RSVP @ 513.683.2340, grailville@fuse.net <mailto:grailville@fuse.net> & www.grailville.org <http://www.grailville.org/> .
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Holiday Gift Ideas
Stocking Stuffer for the Mature Woman: A miniature hand fan for those times when menopausal women’s “inner child is playing with matches.” The inventor is from Northern Kentucky. The fans are made of recyclable materials & lead-free paint. Two sizes for $9 & $10. More info @ www.thebittybreeze.com <http://www.thebittybreeze.com./> . <http://www.thebittybreeze.com./>
Women Artists Datebook, 2009: This is the 16th edition of this beautiful datebook. It is spiral-bound, 5"x7" & available from Syracuse Cultural Workers, an org promoting peace & social change. "Art & poetry [that] inspires us to overcome fear & self-doubt, to use our minds & hearts to direct our creative energies in the year ahead." The datebook includes a black & white image showing the strength of women thru the generations by Cincinnati photographer Connie Springer. $14.95 for one; price decreases with larger orders. More info or order @ 800.949.5139 & www.SyracuseCulturalWorkers.com <http://www.syracuseculturalworkers.com./> . <http://www.syracuseculturalworkers.com./>
The Natural Mandala Fine Art Print: A museum quality, archival print of the 6-foot square mandala rendered totally in organic material. This unique image speaks deeply to the essence of our divine spirit nature. As a gift, this image means someone cares deeply for your emotional & spiritual well-being by encouraging a meditative practice. Created by Rex Oxley. 6 sizes, beginning at $150. More info, ordering & 20% discounts until 1 Jan @ 513.367.1456, rexoxley@msn.com <mailto:rexoxley@msn.com> & www.naturalmandala.com <http://www.naturalmandala.com/> . Contact Rex for 20% discount thru 1 Jan.
Lightboxes by Matthew Shelton [thru 1 February]: Painstakingly handcrafted lightboxes, illuminating intricate pin-hole patterns & colored light gels, to place the viewer in a meditative state where they might find a moment of peace & renewed sense of connection with themselves & their surroundings. Free. At NVISION, 4577 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223. More info @ 513.542.4577, contact@nvisionshop.com <mailto:contact@nvisionshop.com> & www.nvisionshop.com <http://www.nvisionshop.com> .
Give Homes to Cats & Dogs: President-Elect Obama described his wish to give his daughters pets from the local shelter. Cincinnati has outstanding shelters & pounds overflowing with kittens & puppies, mature cats & dogs that would love nothing better than to give you unconditional love in exchange for a home. Save The Animals Shelter is one good shelter (513.561.STAF & www.staf.org <http://www.staf.org/> ). The O’Bryonville Animal Rescue has cats & kittens for adoption plus low cost spay/neuter clinic (see next item below). Find others at Yahoo Yellow Pages under "Animal Shelters."
Fresh High Quality North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas Trees [thru Sunday 14 December]: Trees are 5-9 feet tall & cost $40-90. Delivery available within a limited area. Also wreaths, pine roping, poinsettias, cut greens, fire wood & handmade holiday arrangements. Proceeds support community programs of the Civic Garden Center. Noon-7PM (Mon-Fri) & 11AM-4PM (Sat-Sun). At the Civic Garden Center, Oak Street & Reading Road, Avondale, Cincinnati, OH. More info @ 513.221.0981 & www.civicgardencenter.org <http://www.civicgardencenter.org/> .
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Ongoing Tri-State Treasures
Terra Firma: A Survey of Approaches to Landscape [thru Friday 5 December @ 6-9 PM]: Landscape can be so very widely interpreted & expressed. Manifest presents a wide variety of contemporary works that explore the notion of landscape, including works of drawing, sculpture, painting & photography by 19 artists. Refreshments provided by Café MoCA & the Echo Restaurant. At Manifest Creative Research Gallery & Drawing Center, 2727 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ 513.861.3638, jason@manifestgallery.org & www.manifestgallery.org <http://www.manifestgallery.org/> .
Miami University Italian Cinema Series [Tuesdays 2 September - 9 December @ 7:30 PM]: Curated & presented by Professor Sante Matteo. Movies are in Italian with English subtitles, unless otherwise noted. Free & open to the public. In newly refurbished 102 Benton Hall with very comfortable seats, HighStreet @ Tallawanda Road, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. More info @ matteos@muohio.edu; map @ www.miami.muohio.edu/about_miami/campusmap/ <http://www.miami.muohio.edu/about_miami/campusmap/> :
Dec. 2: La vita è bella (Life Is Beautiful, Roberto Benigni, 1997)
Dec. 9: Le fate ignoranti (His Secret Life, Ferzan Ozpetek, 2001)
OAR Spay/Neuter Clinic: The O'Bryonville Animal Rescue Spay/Neuter Clinic is now open to the public. Operations will take place 2 weekend days per month until the start of the new year, when they will reevaluate the schedule. Surgeries are scheduled for Saturdays 6 & 20 December. Spay or neuter is $45. Vaccines, microchipping, parasite treatment, ear tipping & nail trims also offered at the time of surgery. Volunteers are needed to keep the clinic in operation (pardon the pun). If you are interested in registering cats as they are brought in, cleaning instruments, making surgical packs, helping to wake the cats from anesthesia, cleaning cages, or caring for ferals in traps, please contact Barb @ tuchfabj@yahoo.com. You’ll be helping to reduce the population of homeless cats & working toward a time when every kitten is wanted & loved. At 5619 Orlando Place, Cincinnati, OH 45227. More info @ 513-871-PAWS & www.TheAnimalRescue.com. <http://www.TheAnimalRescue.com.>
Going Greene: The Delta Queen & Greene Line Steamer Exhibit [thru January 4, 2009]: The collection of the Inland Rivers Library will be featured in this exhibit. Photographs & memorabilia from the Delta Queen & other steamboats from the Greene Line will be on display. At Cincinnati Room, 3rd Floor Bridge, Main Library, 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.369.6959, Emily.Mueller@CincinnatiLibrary.org <mailto:Emily.Mueller@CincinnatiLibrary.org> & www.cincinnatilibrary.org <http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org.> . <http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org.>
St Mary's Cathedral Basilica Concert Series [Sundays from 28 September thru 15 March @ 3 PM]: Enjoy beautiful music in an amazing space. St Mary's Cathedral Basilica presents the 33rd Series of concert music. Most concerts are free. At St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Madison Avenue @ 12th Street, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.431.2060, cathedralconcertseries@fuse.net & www.covcathedral.com/frame1.htm <http://www.covcathedral.com/frame1.htm> .
Tai Chi Classes with Ralph Dehner: Cincinnati's premier Tai Chi Health Master/Trainer provides a variety of ongoing classes in Clifton & Fairfield. Standardized Yang 24 Forms; the most popular Tai Chi forms in the world; great for students of all levels. Sun Short Style 31 Forms Tai Chi; gentle “moving meditation,” aka “Tai Chi for Arthritis,” easy to learn, reduces arthritis pain & reduces falls, reduces stress & quickly generates chi (energy). Yang 32 Sword Forms; this sword counterpart to 24 Forms adds a new dimension to Tai Chi practice. More info, locations, times & special rates @ 513.519.0559 & ralph.dehner@juno.com.
Pure Movement Classes of Growth In Motion [Mondays @ 6:30 PM & Wednesdays @ 9:30 AM]: Refresh, renew & reenergize your body & mind. Master teacher Fanchon Shur guides students to a sense of freedom, strength, flexibility & expression. Classes offer personal attention to individual alignment for authentic creativity. At Growth In Motion Studios, 4019 Red Bud Ave, Cincy 45229. More Info & rates @ 513.221.3222, fanchon@growthinmotion.org <mailto:fanchon@growthinmotion.org> & www.growthinmotion.org <http://www.growthinmotion.org> .
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Tri-State Treasures is compiled by James Kesner.
- Submit Tri-State Treasures, or request your email address to be added or removed from the list by sending an email to jkesner@nuvox.net <mailto:jkesner@nuvox.net> ; please specify "Tri-State Treasures."
- Email addresses are posted in BlindCopy to protect their identity. Email addresses are not shared, given, or sold without explicit permission from the owner.
- Tri-State Treasures are typically transmitted on Wednesdays; submissions should be received as soon as possible for best probability of being included.
- Please help me by submitting your Tri-State Treasure in the following format; because my time is limited, formatted submissions typically have a better chance of being included in the email transmission. Thank you for your help:
- Brief Title of the Treasure [date @ time]: Brief description of the treasure; what is it; why is it wonderful & unique. Cost. Sponsor. Location including address & zip code. More info @ telephone, email, & website.
- A Fictitious Example:
- Fabulous Film Festival [Friday 3 May @ 8 PM]: The first & best fabulous film festival in the city of Cincinnati will present live-action, documentary, & short films. Blah, blah, blah. Presented by Flicks R Us. Tickets are $8. At The Theatre, 111 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45200. More info @ 513.111.2222, info@filmfestival.com <mailto:info@filmfestival.com> , & www.filmfestival.com <http://www.filmfestival.com> .
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Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site: http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
Also, we have an Interactive Yahoo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon
For Pot Luck procedures including food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html . You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website: http://www.lloydhouse.com
> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck Salon list, send a REPLY message
to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #". In the place of #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my Weekly email. It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7or 8. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can
> delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
