Springville Action - 7/30/25 #31

“We must do what they fear -- tell the truth, spread the truth. This is the most powerful weapon against this regime of liars, thieves and hypocrites. Everyone has this weapon. So make use of it.” ― Alexei Navalny, Patriot: A Memoir

Author

Springville Action
July 30, 2025

Note: Substack has some interesting, useful content; but the platform itself is (proudly) giving space to normalize and publicize Nazi/white supremacist content. That’s no bueno. From now on this publication will actively avoid linking to substack content. Don’t reward those fascist freaks with clicks and subsequent ad revenue. Think twice about consuming content there - even from great thinkers like HCR and Jess Piper. They publish other places and they know better.

🦄 Inspiration

Humor is a powerful ool.

🧟‍♂️ Nightmare Fuel

So it begins. ICE abducts local people, or as WGRZ puts it:

ICE agents raid popular Western New York supermarket

ICE agents raided a popular Buffalo supermarket Wednesday morning. 🚨 Here’s what was seized and why the store was shut down.

www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime/ice-agents-raid-several-wny-locations/71-455f2b91-1cd5-43f9-8fbf-727cdf88373b

To do ✅ 

📚 Something to read: The Springville Journal. Support local media for reals, y’all. They have a story from last week about the SGI school board reorganizational meeting. We absolutely have to pay attention to local elections like school board, town and village races, and what these elected bodies are doing in terms of policy and budgets. Most boards are transparent with the documents that they consider; SGI board documentation is all posted online, as are meeting recordings. Do you need a new hobby? Make a local elected board your hobby. We’ll all be better for it.

A big 👏 to: John Speers, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library director, who passed away in July after a long illness. He was an exceptional leader and proud defender of public libraries and free ideas. If you are inclined, please donate to the BECPL fund in his memory. Rest easy, Mr. Speers.

Yes, this newsletter is heavy on library content - whatcha gonna do about it?

🛍️ Reject commercialism - recycle, reuse, reclaim: The Concord Library is hosting Trunk Treasures - a Really Really Free Market on August 16. Register for a spot to park a vehicle and host your gently used and still-useful clothes, household items, tools, games, crafts, or stop by to “shop” from 10am-2pm. Let’s help make this a successful event!

A big 🖕 to: RFK Jr. Pick your reason.

Events

Saturday, 8/2, 11am: Rage against the Regime, Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo

Saturday, 8/2, 10am: Stronger Together meeting at the South Wales Community Hall with special guest Aaron Geis, a congressional candidate for the NY 23rd district.

8/12, 7pm: Braver Angels free workshop: Skills for Disagreeing Better, Elm Street Bakery. [Ed note: finding common ground with people who would deny the essential elements of common humanity isn’t my cup of tea, but we should be working on all fronts, so if you have the stomach for it, go for it]

8/16, 4pm: International Day of Friendship, Beaver Island State Park

Springville Action currently meets in person every 4 to 6 weeks at a local venue. We typically share ideas, local events, and have a facilitated discussion around a chosen theme. If you do not currently receive these email invitations, but would like to be included, please respond to  [email protected].

🧶 Crafters/Fiber Artists - lots of opportunities to come together! Concord Library, first Sat. of the month, 1-3; Concord Mercantile, second Sat. of the month, 10-1; Art’s Cafe, Wednesdays, 5:30pm. You’ll see your people.

[remainder of content repeats (mostly) from last email]

To Do ✅

😷 Medical checkups. Get a printout of your vaccination record and check with your doctor about recommended vaccines, including MMR, based on your age and other risk factors.

🐝 Citizen Scientists, Unite! Download the Inaturalist app on your phone; upload pictures of nature (animals, plants, trees) for identification and help out the environmental community.

📰 Letter to the Editor. Pick a topic, drill down to 1 key message and write your heart out. There are local people who will help zazz up your letter and get it ready for publication. Email [email protected].

📱 5 Calls - Download the app to your phone; enter your ZIP code; follow the prompts to call U.S. Senators and your local Congressional rep. 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. Organize for Action is local, find them on Facebook.

😊 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.

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.

  • Public Displays of Connection

    • Guerilla Gardening and Yarn Bombs! There is a slightly subversive and very fun tactic of guerilla gardening and placing handmade knit pieces in public places. Be creative.

    • Plant a garden or support a local CSA

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

    • Maintain little free libraries or start your own

  • Basic Needs

    • Donate blood

    • Learn first aid and basic medical skills

    • Participate in local Buy Nothing groups

    • Donate to Little Free Pantries or your local food pantry

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

  • Organized Volunteering

  • Neighbor Support

    • 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.

Misc.

Content welcome: Initially this newsletter was going to be sent weekly. Now it's sending as soon as it feels like there is enough content to let it fly - probably 2x/week. Your contributions are welcome. Email [email protected].

This newsletter will always be free, but if you like what you're reading and can find it in your budget, kick a few bucks to support your local food pantry, an abortion fund, or an elected official who has demonstrated common sense and decency.

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