[HCCN] April + Calendar of events

[Larry Dansinger]

Dear Newsletter editors,

Here are some calendar items for April and later.  FEEL FREE TO PICK AND
CHOOSE AND NOT USE EVERY ITEM.

Larry Dansinger

March 28: Seed swap and scion exchange for gardeners and orchardists,
noon-4:30 PM, MOFGA Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Rd., Unity. Call
568-4142 or mofga at mofga.org or www.mofga.org.

March 28: Local and Sustainable Food Conference on "The Global Food Crisis
and Local Food Opportunity," all day, Unity Center for the Performing Arts,
Route 139, Unity. Food for Maine's Future, bob at foodformainesfuture.org or
692-2571.

March 28: "Salsa for Social Justice" dance to benefit PICA (Peace Through
InterAmerican Community Action) scholarship programs, 7 PM (lesson) and 8-11
(dance), Unitarian-Universalist Church, 120 Park St., Bangor. PICA, 947-4203
or info at pica.ws or www.pica.ws.

March 28-April 4: Brunswick-Trinidad Sister City Week Celebration w/films,
lectures, and dance, several Brunswick locations. Tina Phillips,
tlphillips at suscom-maine.net or www.brunswicktrinidad.org.

March 31 (+ each Tuesday and Thursday thru April 16): Social Justice film
series, times and locations TBA, University of Maine, Farmington. Valerie
Huebner, 778-7258 or huebner at maine.edu.

April 1: Sexual Assault Awareness Month w/events sponsored by Maine's sexual
assault prevention projects. Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault,
626-0034.

April 1: "Grow Your Own Organic Garden" classes, evening, various locations
throughout Maine. Call MOFGA, 568-4142 or mofga at mofga.org or www.mofga.org.

April 2-8: Tour of Maine by Cheri Honkala, coordinator of Poor People's
Economic Human Rights Campaign speaking on the need for economic human
rights, Bangor area (2-3), Portland (5-6), Lewiston (7), Augusta/Waterville
(8). ROSC, 525-7776 or rosc at psouth.net for complete schedule and location of
talks.

April 3: Town Hall Meeting to address economic, health care, foreign policy,
and war/peace issues (plus others), 6:30-9:30 PM, Lecture Hall, Abromson
Building, USM, Portland. Global Network, 443-9502 or
globalnet at mindspring.com.

April 4: "Action Plan for Economic Human Rights Organizing in Maine" all-day
workshop to promote economic human rights in Maine w/Cheri Honkala, 9 AM-4
PM, Pine Tree State Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta. Larry
Dansinger/ROSC, 525-7776 or rosc at psouth.net.

April 4: SOH2O (Save Our Water) sponsors training by Thomas Linzey on "Who
Decides?" and Ellen Hayes of Advocates for Community Empowerment on
community control of resources like water, all day, Wells Activity Center,
208 Sanford Rd., Wells. Gail Darrell, 603-969-8542 or geodarrell at yahoo.com.

April 9: David Ray Griffin speaks on "9-11: Time for a Second Look,"  7:30
PM, South Church, 292 State St., Portsmouth, NH. David Diamond,
ddiam42 at earthlink.net.

April 14: Ismael Beah speaks on "War and Reconciliation: From Child Soldiers
to Community Healers," 7 PM, Lecture Hall, USM, Portland. Amnesty
International, 832-6863 or thesil at midcoast.com.

April 15: Leafletting on Tax Day with flyers about skewed budget priorities
around Maine, including Ellsworth, Farmington, Bangor, Belfast,
Damariscotta, Bath/Brunswick, Portland, and Kennebunk. Larry Dansinger,
Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center, 525-7776 or rosc at psouth.net.

April 16: Maine Initiatives: Grantees Summit for Maine¹s Future,² 9:30 AM-4
PM, Southern Maine Community College, S. Portland. Maine Initiatives,
622-6294 or charlie at maineinitiatives.org or www.maineinitiatives.org.

April 18-20: Tenth annual Youth Activism Gathering w/workshops, music, etc.
especially for high school and early 20's youth, late morning (18) to
mid-afternoon (20), Turner Grange, Route 117, Turner. Call Ariel, 774-9979
or MaineYAG at gmail.com to register or get more info.

April 19: Genesis Community Loan Fund: Genesis Family, Friends, and
Interested Newcomers fair with displays and presentations about the loans
and other benefits provided by Genesis for affordable housing and economic
development, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta. Fore more
information: 563-6073 x15 or jane at genesisfund.org or www.genesisfund.org.

April 25: 15th annual HOPE Festival & Green Expo w/Eliot Coleman, David
Mallett, other events and organizational fair, 11 AM-4 PM, Student
Recreation and Fitness Center, U/Maine, Orono. Peace and Justice Center of
Eastern Maine, 942-9343 or info at peacectr.org or www.peacectr.org.

April 25: Empty Bowl Supper to benefit MOFGA-El Salvador Sistering program,
6 PM, U-U Church, 37 Miller St., Belfast. MOFGA, 568-4142 or www.mofga.org.

April 26: "Latino Voices in New England" selections from this book read, 2-4
PM, One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. Maine Latino, 239-6930.

April 28: Maine Labor Group on Health: Workers Memorial Day breakfast to
honor workers who lost their lives on the job and support workplace safety
programs, 8 AM (tent.) Pipefitters Local 716 Union Hall, 21 Gabriel Drive,
Augusta. For more information:  622-7823, mlgh at gwi.net or www.mlgh.org.

May 1: May Day celebration for International Workers Day, sponsored by Food
AND Medicine, afternoon/evening (time TBA), Eastern Maine Labor Council, 20
Ivers St., Brewer. For more information: 989-5860 or
brent at foodandmedicine.org or www.foodandmedicine.org.

May 1-3, 2009  Maine Women¹s Fund: Weekend to Honor Maine Women and Girls. A
variety of fun-filled, joyful events to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of
the Maine Women¹s Fund. The weekend  theme is Mother¹s Day in honor of the
Fund¹s founding mothers and in recognition of the original Mother¹s Day
Proclamation. For full listing of events visit
www.mainewomensfund.org/anniversary.html or call 774-5513.

May 2-3, 2009  Maine AIDS Alliance: Maine AIDS Walk Weekend to raise funds
and awareness for AIDS services and prevention in eight locations (from
Portsmouth, NH to Ellsworth and other cities/towns in between). FMI: Maine
AIDS Alliance, 621-2924 or maa at gwi.net or www.aidswalkweekend.org

May 2-3: Maine Green Independent Party convention and 25th anniversary
dinner, 2nd (dinner, 6:30 PM) and 3rd (convention, 9AM-6 PM), Senator Hotel,
Augusta. MGIP, 934-1911 or jacquio50 at yahoo.com or www.mainegreens.org.

Notices:

Solar and energy efficiency advocate John Howe has a new book coming out on
peak oil and the possible economic and environmental collapse of the Earth.
He has sections of the book available by mail or PDF copies by email. The
LEARN section presents five actions (Localize, Educate, Adapt, Ration, and
Negative population growth) that everyone needs to take. For a copy of this
information or more on his work, call him at 583-4800 or howe at megalink.net
or www.solarcarandtractor.com.

A discussion about the movie "Milk" and its effects on the struggle for
queer rights with Ryan Conrad and Wendy Chapkis, a talk by Afsan Chowdhury
on climate change and global climate justice, and a speaker on restorative
justice at a recent Pax Christi retreat are the latest additions to the
Maine Video Activists Network list of films. To view these or past items
from the network, go to  www.roundpointmovies.org or email
craig at roundpointmovies.org.

What will the Stimulus Bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) do for
us in Maine? One goal is 15,000 new jobs in Maine. Another is about $1
billion in federal dollars for various programs, plus tax credits for many
low and moderate income households. Some money will prevent budget cuts to
state programs, especially for health care and education. Some will help get
homes weatherized, prevent domestic violence, and prevent homelessness. For
a more complete list, check the
www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/Recovery2009.shtml site, or contact
Maine Equal Justice Project, 626-7058.

The Worker Cooperative Toolbox is a series of resources. One of those, "In
Good Company: The Guide to Cooperative Employee Ownership," written by
members of the Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, is now available from
Cooperative Maine (www.cooperativemaine.org and ask for a copy). The 70+
page booklet goes from the simple, ("What is a Co-op") to membership issues,
financing, business management and doing business plans, to worker meetings.
Highly recommended for any group wanting to start a cooperative enterprise
of any sort.








April 28: Maine Labor Group on Health: Workers Memorial Day breakfast to
honor workers who lost their lives on the job and support workplace safety
programs, 8 AM (tent.) Pipefitters Local 716 Union Hall, 21 Gabriel Drive,
Augusta. For more information:  622-7823, mlgh at gwi.net or www.mlgh.org.

May 1: May Day celebration for International Workers Day, sponsored by Food
AND Medicine, afternoon/evening (time TBA), Eastern Maine Labor Council, 20
Ivers St., Brewer. For more information: 989-5860 or
brent at foodandmedicine.org or www.foodandmedicine.org.

May 1-3, 2009  Maine Women¹s Fund: Weekend to Honor Maine Women and Girls. A
variety of fun-filled, joyful events to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of
the Maine Women¹s Fund. The weekend  theme is Mother¹s Day in honor of the
Fund¹s founding mothers and in recognition of the original Mother¹s Day
Proclamation. For full listing of events visit
www.mainewomensfund.org/anniversary.html or call 774-5513.

May 2-3, 2009  Maine AIDS Alliance: Maine AIDS Walk Weekend to raise funds
and awareness for AIDS services and prevention in eight locations (from
Portsmouth, NH to Ellsworth and other cities/towns in between). FMI: Maine
AIDS Alliance, 621-2924 or maa at gwi.net or www.aidswalkweekend.org