Springville Action - 3/26/25 #2

If you do not wish to receive these (weekly or close to it) emails, use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this message. Ideas welcome, email [email protected].

Share this link to invite other people to subscribe to this newsletter.

Inspiration 🦄

📺 Something to watch: Degenerate Art with Andrea Pitzur

📖 Something to read: Still Hopeful: Lessons from a Lifetime of Activism by Maude Barlow

📻 Something to listen to: What’s Next? on WBFO-FM

👋 Something to share: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s speech to Human Rights Campaign 3/24.

Calling all high school students

There’s a nationwide art competition for high school students run by Congress. High school students in your life - consider art on themes of democracy, freedom, Ukrainian sunflowers, non-secure Signal chats - be creative! Deadline April 23.

What are your priority issues? 😡

My personal list is public health, public education, public libraries, postal service and due process. Write your priorities down and don’t let them slip away.

This list is borrowed (!) from a summary of priority topics from a local group’s visit to Rep. Nick Langworthy’s office:

1. Access to essential services (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security)
2. Upholding the constitution and the rule of law
3. Protecting education and science
4. Respectful and accountable representation
5. Damage to America's standing in the world

Part of a union? Group of retirees? Professional association? Political committee? Neighborhood group? Don’t just make your feelings known - no one cares about your feelings. Articulate to people in power structures exactly what the risks are to your community, services, etc., and why it is important to collectively, directly and immediately address those risks.

News 📺

3/26/25: Congressman Tim Kennedy - Defending Social Security - a solemn promise we keep

3/24/25: Focus on damaging tariffs: The Niagara 8 - Erie County, City of Buffalo, Niagara County, City of Niagara Falls Join Canadian Counterparts Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ontario, City of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Town of Fort Erie, Ontario, and Town of Niagara-On-The-Lake. Related: Poloncarz: Stand up against misinformation

3/10/25: Democracy Docket, Rage Against the Obscene, the Totally Organic Movement Confronting Trump

Events 📅

4/1, 6:30 pm - Indivisible East Aurora, Aurora Theater. Our friends to the north hold a general meeting. Email [email protected] to be connected to that group.

• Indivisible Groups near 14141

4/5, 11 am-1pm - Hands Off Rally, Niagara Square, Buffalo. Rally to protect your favorite causes - Social Security, postal service, climate, women’s rights, voting rights, rule of law, Medicaid, education, and on and on and on. Bus transportation from East Aurora is being planned; details at the 4/1 Indivisible meeting - plan for ~$15/person + driver’s tip.

4/26, all day - Green Springville and Tree the Village.

4/26, all day - Partnership for the Public Good, Advocacy Summit at Buffalo State University. Free.

5/31, 10 am - NYS Citizens Preparedness Corps, Concord Senior Center. Free. Registration link available in April.

To Do ✅

📱 5 Calls - Download the app to your phone; enter your ZIP code; follow the prompts to call local and DC offices for U.S. Senators and your local Congressional rep.

*New - EXTRA CREDIT - ask your local elected officials what the impact of general federal nonsense will have on local projects, and what they are doing to protect your community.

📮 Postcards - Explore the Postcards for Democrats web site and support Democratic candidates in swing states. Get together with a few friends to write your postcards together!

😊 Meet a Neighbor: How well do you know your neighbors? Start small but make a point to find one new acquaintance in your area this week!

🗳️ Go to a government meeting. These are open to the public and people rarely attend. See your government at work and pay attention to the decisions they’re making.

• The Town of Concord Board meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm with a work session preceding as needed.  If you would like to be on the agenda for a Town Board meeting, please contact the Supervisor's Office at (716) 592-4946.

• Sardinia Town Council Meets the 2nd Thursday of the Month 6:30 pm at the Sardinia Town Hall. 12320 Savage Road, Sardinia, NY 14134, 716-496-8900.

• Village of Springville: Meetings are held on the second floor at 65 Franklin Street. Meetings are normally the first and third Monday of the Month at 7:00pm. There are changes during the summer and with Holidays so check the Calendar of Events for the official dates.

• Springville-Griffith Institute Board of Education

• (email [email protected] to add other meeting info to this section)

At a loss for what to do?

Are you sick of hearing “there’s nothing I can do about everything that’s happening”? There’s plenty you can do - big or small, just try to do SOMETHING each day.

• *New - Plant a garden or support a local CSA

• *New - Plant a homemade lawn sign - it doesn’t have to be political - paint a flower or one word message like “Hope", ”Love,” “Peace.”

• *New - Learn first aid and basic medical skills

• Participate in local Buy Nothing groups

• Donate to Little Free Pantries or your local food pantry

• Maintain little free libraries or start your own

• Support or join a volunteer fire department

• Participate in a seed exchange, like the one at Hulbert Library in the Town of Concord

• Help people with phone calls and forms - like Social Security, health appointments and insurance paperwork

• Give neighbors rides, assist with basic needs

• Provide a meal to a struggling family or neighbor - see lasagnalove

• Offer babysitting or respite care - especially during meetings

• Teach a skill or coordinate a training - sewing, gardening, cooking, car repair, how to fix a toilet or bike.

• Green Springville, Grow with Springville, Springville Center for the Arts, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Finger Lakes Trail - just a small set of local organizations that would be glad for your support and time.