If you are like me, then each day we have to decide whether we live with despair or hope. As you have probably noticed from this newsletter, I choose the latter. I once heard Pete Seeger, the great activist and singer, say to crowds demonstrating for safe energy, “Where there’s people, there’s hope.”

Hope, however, doesn’t magically appear. It’s not something we can search for and find. Hope comes from each one of us, we create it with our actions. This is why News from the Neighborhood brings you important information, while also encouraging action. We now have only 9 weeks before the elections—so let’s create the hope we all cherish by taking action to save our democracy and our planet. Future generations depend on us and, the future starts right now.

A News from the Neighborhood reader said, “I have missed reading this newsletter for a few weeks, but I am very glad not to have missed this one. I hope I have learned not to skip...” So, don’t take a short cut, please continue below and then plan your actions and create hope.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but please subscribe and show your support.

Subscribe now

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

There have been confusing and even contradictory court rulings about Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting. Swing Left put it this way, “What you need to know: this isn’t the end of the road for mail-in voting… The states—not Trump or the USPS—still run our elections….” The court had, “… ruled on a technicality, not the legality of the order. Again, nothing changes for voters right now. There is still a nationwide court order preventing implementation of this Executive Order, and there are potentially more legal challenges, too.” The Democracy Defenders Fund said, “Please don’t overreact… Now we HAVE a final rule & we will litigate it.”

A federal judge blocked Ohio from requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Eight losses in a row for ICE. Click here.

A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s planned ban on visas for immigrants from 75 countries.

Another loss for Trump vs. Stormy Daniels. See CNN here.

The Economist reviewed polling by YouGov that showed that Trump has a positive job approval rating in only three states: West Virginia, Idaho, and Wyoming.

In the Arkansas race for the Senate, Democratic candidate Hallie Schoffner is now leading MAGA GOP Senator Tom Cotton.

A federal judge rejected Epstein partner Ghislaine Maxwell’s effort to overturn her conviction. The judge said her claims were “all meritless” and “all or almost all… frivolous.” The judge said the most recently released Epstein files actually “incriminate her.”

Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida. All 5 city-wide council seats had been held by Republicans—but not anymore. A Democrat just won a council seat, and there are new elections for all the seats in the Spring.

After years of fighting in court, and fighting parental concerns, and hundreds of millions of dollars’ in fines, Meta (Facebook) finally agreed to a $16.7 billion settlement. It was one of the biggest consumer settlements in U.S. history. Now let’s see if META will finally seriously address the harm it is doing to children and teens. Read more here from Politico.

Joshua Aviles was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, watching over Iran, for 250 days. All that time, he had only two days on shore. The ship had shortages of food and other basic supplies, but Avilles and others had to work twelve-hour days. Last week, the Border Patrol arrested his father who had been in the US for 20 years, and was legally working, and had an open asylum case. From his ship, Joshua wrote on social media that he didn’t know how he could continue his work while his father was “possibly being treated like a criminal.” This week, an immigration judge dismissed the case against his father and he is now back at home with his family.

VoteVets, one of the largest veterans organizations in the country, put up almost one thousand billboards near military installations around the country that says the Iran war means higher prices with no end in sight. Another group, Win Without War, has billboards near Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, asking service members if domestic deployments and working with ICE is what they signed up for.

One of our readers, Dennis Gaffney, spoke on public radio about his encounter with ICE in Albany. Listen here.

From our reader Louis Wittig:

Get Louis’ political cartoons on a regular basis with a free subscription to The Non- Newsletter.

Actions of the Week

Join with a team to knock on doors to re-elect Congressman Josh Riley who is in a competitive race just south of Albany:

Wednesday, Sept. 2 - canvass in East Greenbush, with Gail and Sari: 1:30 - 5:00, https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999708/

Saturday, Sept. 5 - canvass in Hudson with Linda and Barry, 11 - 2: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999708/ Let Linda and Barry know you will be coming: lwbg300@gmail.com

Make phone calls from your home to help motivate voters in swing-states. Click here and see how easy it is.

Bethlehem Indivisible has been helping activists motivate voters in swing-states. They have already written over 17,000 postcards. Right now, they are focused on helping Democrat James Talarico win the US Senate seat in Texas. Contact Agnes to get your post-cards and simple instructions. If you have difficulty writing, you can help with a donation for postage. Get info. at: agnes.zellin@gmail.com .

Help New York make it possible for consumers to buy small, portable solar panels. New York Public Interest Research Group says, “The SUNNY Act (Solar Up Now New York) makes the clean energy future accessible to more people by legalizing small, portable ‘plug-in’ or ‘balcony’ solar panels…It…allows residents to simply plug the small panels into standard wall outlets without the need for rooftops or permanent installations…” Portable solar has already been adopted in Europe. Utah was the first state to authorize their use. Click her to ask Governor Hochul to support more solar energy for New Yorkers.

Send a New York farmer to Congress. Help Blake Gendebien’s campaign. Click here to help this Democratic retake this district.

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, August 30:

Thursday, Sept. 3, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, in front of Bethlehem Town Hall at the Pollinator Garden. Meet the Master Gardners and Bethlehem Garden Club members and learn about native plants. Come with your questions, they will gladly help you out.

Monday, Sept. 14, 6:30 PM to 7:15PM, Join the virtual fundraiser with Democratic Congressional candidate Jake Gendebien and environmental leader Bill McKibben. Register here.

Sat., Oct. 3, 12 PM, Our sponsor, Beyond Plastics is mobilizing people across the country to urge Starbucks to reduce its massive use of plastics. The company is using an estimated 8 billion plastic cups a year…. Starbucks claims that its plastic cold cups are “widely recyclable” - but we used bluetooth enable trackers to see where the cups are really going - most going to landfills and incinerators. RSVP: bit.ly/starbucks-action-albany

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

In the unforgettable 1989 film, Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner said, “If you build it, they will come.” He was, of course, referring to building a baseball stadium in Iowa and the fans who would surely come. Well, when it comes to ponds, if you build one, the frogs will come. The National Wildlife Federation says fall is a great time to build a frog pond. If you build it now, it will winter over and be ready for frogs when they leave their hibernation and look for new places to live in spring and summer. In the meanwhile, you are likely to see birds bathing and drinking from the pond. You can build your own frog pond, big or small, simple or elaborate—it is great fun and will help sustain these important creatures. Here is the basic idea and click here to do a bit more research. Quick tips: build your pond near where you have an outdoor hose; as some of the water evaporates gently refill the pond; for just a few dollars you can put an inexpensive filter on your hose so chlorine does not disturb the frogs or plants; never buy frogs or transport them from other ponds; don’t add fish because they will eat the baby frogs.

I don’t yet have my own photo of them, but I recently learned that flies, including pesky houseflies, are very important pollinators. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences says, “Flies can be distinguished from other insects by their one pair of wings. Other pollinating insects have two pairs. Although some flies are near perfect bee mimics, most do not have specialized pollen-carrying hairs like bees and are therefore generally thought to be less efficient pollinators by comparison. However, their importance as pollinators should not be underestimated. In fact, flies are the second most important pollinator after bees.”

Bumble Bees are thought of as “super pollinators” but are on the decline and need our help. Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences says, “Bumble bees build colonies of 50-400 in the ground—abandoned animal burrows, soft soil…or occasionally in structural cavities close to the ground. Like wasps, their queens are the only ones to survive over the winter, emerging in the spring to start a new colony…adult bees forage for pollen and nectar flowers of fruit trees and shrubs, vegetables and ornamental plants….Having bumble bees around the yard and garden is a good sign of a healthy environment.”

Click here to learn about pollinators and solar farms.

The Sierra Club says, “a typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office:

• It takes just a few minutes for any New Yorker who owns or rents to join a community solar farm. Joining cuts your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood). Community solar is available in 44 states and there are over 3,400 of these projects around the country and countless others around the world.

• Join 6 million Americans who already have their own solar panels. You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar Solutions know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood—where the grassroots grow and activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends and family

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I was in my second semester of college in 1972 and the war in Vietnam was raging. One day, to avoid studying, I hitch-hiked from my dorm to the nearby town to do some shopping. I was soon picked up by an older student who was headed to the local Democratic headquarters. She wanted to be part of the effort to end the war, to oust the worst president we could imagine, and to bring in a progressive president. She told me, we have to be involved, “it may be our last chance.” The next day, I hitch-hiked to town agin, but this time not to shop, instead to get involved. I was young and I was scared, but excited to be part of something bigger than myself. I got the information I needed at headquarters, took many deep breaths, and went knocking on doors in a small, rural town. After some months, I was deeply saddened that we didn’t win the election, but at least I knew that I had done my small share, that I had played an active part in our democracy. It is now so many years later, and I still hear that fellow student’s voice, much louder than ever, saying we have to be involved, “it may be our last chance.”.

There are only about 10 weeks left till the November elections and I am happy to hear from readers that this newsletter is helping them get more involved. After News from the Neighborhood was sent out last weekend, one reader, J., wrote a note saying, “I need to get re-activated after reading the newsletter!” She then picked up 50 postcards to send to swing-state voters. Thank you J., and thanks to all of you who are being activated. You can help, just see our Actions of the Week section below.

Please continue below to our news and opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but please subscribe and show your support.

Subscribe now

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

Swing Left reports “Voter turnout is surging in Democratic primaries, with over 16 million votes cast in 20 states that have held a major statewide primary. That’s compared to 12.4 million votes in Republican primaries in the same states and up 40% compared to Democratic primary numbers from 2022.”

CNN reports, “Nearly 300,000 people turned out to vote Tuesday in Republican primaries in Wyoming and two congressional districts in Florida where President Donald Trump endorsed one of the candidates. But just 28% of them voted for the candidates he told them to, marking a particularly brutal night for Trump-endorsed candidates…. Republican primary voters have now rejected 10 Trump-endorsed candidates…this primary season.”

Earlier this week, the Times Union reported that “New York and 20 other states are suing the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security to block the federal government’s demand for the the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of millions of commercial drivers…”. But on Friday, a federal judge ruled that the demand violated federal privacy law.

A long-time News from the Neighborhood reader and local activist reports, “a big win for the environment in Coeymans, just south of Albany—Special thanks to Riverkeeper and one of our sponsors, the Clean Air Coalition. The story hit the front page of the Times Union, and said, “The owners of Coeymans Industrial Park have agreed to restore wetlands, monitor stormwater runoff and spend $1.1 million on environmental projects to settle two lawsuits brought by the environmental group Riverkeeper.”

It took three years, but finally this esteemed university is addressing anti-semitism on its campus. Maybe this will be a model for other universities and colleges on how to balance free speech with protection for all students: https://www.ms.now/opinion/antisemitism-haverford-college-zionist-jewish-students

In Pennsylvania developers proposed six massive data centers in the tiny town of Achbald. The project would occupy 1,500 acres. Activists got involved, as did Democratic leaders, including Governor Josh Shapiro. This week, Shapiro signed the strictest data center rules in the country.

Amazon, as reported by Bill McKibben, plans to turn 8,000-acres in Texas into a data center that will be the biggest single source of carbon pollution in the US. Have you cancelled your Amazon subscriptions yet? Shop local.

The Boundary Waters in Minnesota is the most visited wilderness in the country. The Biden administration banned mining there but our Republican Senate took the protections away. Twin Metals is one of the biggest copper producers in the world and has been planning to mine there but Democratic Governor Tim Walz signed an order saying “NO,” and will review many current mining leases. State agencies will also create a bill to present to the state legislature to ban copper mining for good.

Why wait till election day? New voters are already ousting elected officials who support giant data centers. Click here from the NY Times.

Last week’s News from the Neighborhood featured a troubling environmental report on Costco from the Natural Resources Defense Council. This week, it seems worthwhile to feature the “10 Biggest Costco Controversies of All Time.”

World hunger and the Trump gang. Read this from regular contributor, scholar and activist Larry Wittner.

Actions of the Week

Door knock, phone call, donate, write postcards—help get out the vote!

Join a team and knock on doors for Congressman Josh Riley who is in a competitive race just south of Albany:

Saturday, Aug. 29 - canvass in Hudson with Linda and Barry, 1:00 - 4:00. https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999708/ Let Linda and Barry know you will be coming: lwbg300@gmail.com

Saturday, Aug. 29 - canvass in Chatham, 10:00: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999378/

Wednesday, Sept. 2 - canvass in East Greenbush, with Gail and Sari: 1:30 - 5:00, https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999708/

Saturday, Sept. 5 - canvass in Hudson with Linda and Barry, 11 - 2: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/999708/ Let Linda and Barry know you will be coming: lwbg300@gmail.com

Make phone calls from your home to help motivate voters in swing-states. Click here and see how easy it is.

Swing Left set a goal to raise $9,000 for 3 buses to travel to swing states for a Weekend of Action. Your contributions helped them quickly reached that goal and now they are hoping to send 33 buses to swing districts by November 3. Each bus “means more volunteers in swing districts, more doors knocked, and more conversations with voters in the races that will decide control of the House, Senate, and key governorships.”

Make a donation towards 33 Swing Left buses. Click here.

Over 16,000 postcards have been written from Bethlehem Indivisible’s efforts to reach swing-state voters. You can help write postcards to elect James Talarico for US Senate: Democrat James Talarico has a formidable fundraising operation while the Republican has with high name recognition—but significant baggage after years of scandals, investigations, and a bruising primary fight. Texas could be the seat that puts the Senate majority out of reach for Republicans. Write postcards to Texas voters and help Talarico win. It is easy with the simple instructions and postcards. Those who have difficulty writing can instead make a donation to help with postage. Contact: agnes.zellin@gmail.com .

Calendar of Events

From Audrey Seidman, a newsletter reader and the film’s media contact:

Sunday, August 30:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

There are a couple of great coops in the Capital Region. Don’t miss them. Check these out:

Honest Weight Food Cooperative for the freshest and most local foods.

REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) for the highest quality outdoor clothing and equipment and outdoor advice.

Agriculture, grazing and pollinators and solar is a win for all.

The Sierra Club says, “a typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office:

• It takes just a few minutes for any New Yorker who owns or rents to join a community solar farm. Joining cuts your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood). Community solar is available in 44 states and there are over 3,400 of these projects around the country and countless others around the world.

• Join 6 million Americans who already have their own solar panels. You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood—where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends and family

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I was camping in the Adirondacks this past week. While there, I had a reunion with a few friends and readers of News from the Neighborhood from the Capital District and, then with some from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Saratoga who I hadn’t seen in 2 years. Outside of the woods, I stopped at a natural foods store in a small town. While paying the cashier, she became momentarily flustered as she tried to figure out the change because she hadn’t dealt with pennies in a while. She laughed at her own clumsiness and joked that she wanted the government to, “Give me back my pennies.” I sensed an opening and replied, “Give me back my pennies and, give me back my democracy!” This led her to show me her bracelets, and then she became a subscriber to News from the Neighborhood.

Every day, all around us, there are opportunities to connect with others, possilby have a few laughs and just maybe even work together to make a difference. Let’s make the best of each chance encounter—you never know where it might lead. And even if nothing political comes from it, a friendly exchange just might make a difference in someone’s day.

Please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

A note from a reader: “I have missed reading this newsletter for a few weeks but I am very glad not to have missed this one. I hope I have learned not to skip....”

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

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Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

In Wisconsin, David Crowley won the Democratic nomination for Governor. Listen to just one minute of his acceptance speech and understanding of the need to unite the different factions of the Democratic Party and what voters care most about.

Welcoming people to the Democratic Party and not driving others out. “Midwestern Democrats seem to get it.”

A judge ordered Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to explain his testosterone testing plan for American troops.

The above editorial cartoon is from News from the Neighborhood reader Louis Wittig. Get a free subscription to his “non-newsletter newsletter” with just a quick click here: non-newsletter.com

In the courts, ICE loses again and again and again. Read it from POLITICO.

A Federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard. It found a number of instances of anti-Semitism that need to be addressed, but not the blatant pattern that had been claimed by Trump and company. Read here from POLITICO.

A Federal Judge stopped Trump’s efforts to hamper the post office’s ability to deliver mail ballots in November. The judge’s order applies to all fifty states.

The NY Times reports, “Traffic to Trump’s social media platform fell by double digits in June and July…. The parent company, which Trump co-founded, appears to be struggling financially.”

Take Action to Take Back Congress—don’t wait till it is too late

Swing Left set a goal to raise $9,000 for 3 buses to travel to swing states for a Weekend of Action. They quickly reached that goal and now they are hoping to send 33 buses to swing districts by November 3. Each bus “means more volunteers in swing districts, more doors knocked, and more conversations with voters in the races that will decide control of the House, Senate, and key governorships.”

Make a donation towards 33 Swing Left buses. Click here.

Bethlehem Indivisible continues to reach out to swing-state voters with a postcard writing campaign. It is easy to do with the simple instructions and postcards. Those who have difficulty writing can instead, make a donation to help with postage. Contact: agnes.zellin@gmail.com to get the information you need to help make a difference.

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on a recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events.

From Audrey Seidman, a newsletter reader and the film’s media contact: Thursday, August 2, 7PM, Acclaimed documentary SABBATH QUEEN, with in-person Q&A with its subject, Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, and director and producer, Sandi DuBowski. Location: Scene One Spectrum Theatre, 290 Delaware Avenue, Albany 12209, Online Ticket purchase: www.givebutter.com/sabbath-queen-aug-27. Sponsored by the iEAR Presents series, generously supported by funds from the NewYork State Council on the Arts by approval of the New York State Legislature and the Governor, in collaboration with Congregation Berith Sholom, in Troy.

Sunday, August 30

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

To my surprise, even some progressives are rushing to shop at the new Costco in Albany, yet it was built in the fragile Pine Bush that environmentalists have worked to protect. Every big box store does immense damage to local businesses, and attracts countless cars and trucks massively contributing to climate change. Read about Costco from the National Resources Defense Fund and remember, support your locally-owned small businesses, farms and coops whenever possible.

“Back to School Without So Much Waste.” Click here from our sponsor Beyond Plastics.

The Sierra Club says, “a typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office:

• It takes just a few minutes for any New Yorker who owns or rents to join a community solar farm. Joining cuts your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood). Community solar is available in 44 states and there are over 3,400 of these projects around the country and countless others around the world.

• Join 6 million Americans who already have their own solar panels. You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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My introduction to News from the Neighborhood this week will be brief, but I hope it will encourage everyone to keep looking forward and unite.

This week, both the moderate and more left candidates of the Democratic Party had victories but let’s think about this strategically. Our different sides can come together for the most important victory of all—defeating Trump and his MAGA friends. Let’s not waste time fighting among ourselves, let’s pull ourselves together and make ourselves into the movement that all people, from all backgrounds, want to join.

Please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

In the Elections:

The NY Times and The Guardian reported that Democrats are working to reconcile their differences. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand said in their joint statement, “Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate.” Michigan Governor Whitmer said, “There’s a lot of passion and energy in these primaries, and that’s a good thing. Democrats are ready to beat Republicans across the state.” Pete Buttigieg, the former and maybe future candidate for President said, “We’re going to win because we know what it means to focus on what’s at stake, to lock arms as allies after a spirited primary, to pull together in common cause.”

The Guardian on what we learned from the primaries on Tuesday.

A solar energy political action committee helped knock out an ultra-conservative candidate. Click here.

Conservatives and anti-abortion activists tried to elect judges to overrule Kansas voters who supported abortion rights—but Kansas voters said “NO”.

Missouri voters said “NO” when the state’s Republicans tried to give conservatives veto power over constitutional amendments proposed by Democrats.

The Maryland legislature approved elections that will allow state Democrats to redraw the state congressional districts. The final decision will be up to the voters in November.

In the Courts:

A federal appeals court ruled against Trump’s attempt to demolish portions of the White House and build a massive ballroom. The court said, “Executive actions that take control of that property out of the hands of the people’s representatives while irreparably harming the historical and visual architecture of perhaps the most prominent public building in the United States seriously intrude on the public interest…”.

A federal judge ordered the Pentagon to ends its freeze of reviewing onshore wind projects, and to end other delays that have slowed and even stopped wind power development. The judge in the case had been appointed by Trump.

A federal court says Trump administration improperly terminated billions of dollars in funds for clean energy projects.

National Public Radio reports that three more people have charges dropped in reflecting pool case.

The Department of Justice wants your voting records, driver’s license and Social Security numbers. This week, a judge threw out the Colorado case for good, then later in the week, another judge did the same in DC. I believe this is the twenty-first case of its kind to get tossed out by the courts with none supporting the Department of Justice.

Other News and Opinions:

Read about Congressman Pat Ryan and “The Monopoly Busters Caucus”.

Trump officials are now trying a gentler approach to colleges and universities. They are trying a request letter and backing off from the worst of their earlier demands.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over one million people have been killed. Nine million Ukrainians are now internal refugees or displaced to other countries. Donate to help Ukraine.

Nuclear arms and the slow learners, from newsletter contributor, scholar and activist Larry Witner.

Still like Amazon?

The NY Times reports, “Amazon is investing in a natural-gas-burning power plant, as part of a huge data center in Texas, that could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States…. The new gas-burning plant…would be permitted to release more planet-warming gases than any other power plant in the country.” Amazon is not meeting its “…promise that it would effectively eliminate its planet-warming emissions by 2040 as part of the Climate Pledge….” Amazon’s climate changing emissions continue to climb each year.

Take Action to Take Back Congress—don’t wait till it is too late

Adopt a voter. Check out this easy way to make a difference in the November elections.

Thanks to all of those who, along with Bethlehem Indivisible, wrote over 15,000 postcards to swing-state voters. Pick up your postcards and instructions at 78 Berwick Rd., Delmar. Those who have difficulty writing can instead, make a donation to help with postage. Contact: agnes.zellin@gmail.com.

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, August 9, 11 AM. Lions Park, Niskayuna. Commemoration of the atomic bombing of Japan. This solemn event, co-sponsored by Upper Hudson Peace Action, will include appropriate music, poetry, and short talks calling for a nuclear weapons-free world. Info.: elaineklein@hotmail.com

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on a recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events.

Sunday, August 30

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

Sesame Street takes up climate change. Click here and have your young neighbors and relatives see it too.

Now is the perfect time to plant your fall vegetables. Consider; Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chives, Garlic, Green Beans, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas, Radishes, and Spinach.

Congratulations to News from the Neighborhood reader J.W. who is our latest reader to go solar.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority states, “New York is home to 35 percent of the nation’s community solar capacity– securing its position as the top community solar market in the country…”. The Sierra Club says, “a typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office

• It takes just a few minutes for any New Yorker who owns or rents to join a community solar farm. Joining cuts your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood). Community solar is available in 44 states and there are over 3,400 of these projects around the country and countless others around the world.

• Join 6 million Americans who already have their own solar panels. You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Last week, I received many messages of appreciation for featuring an article encouraging the different segments of the Democratic Party to work together to save our democracy. Celebrating and cooperating what we have in common is necessary to defeat Trump and his MAGA buddies. So, this got me to thinking… about bees.

Every so often I slow down and just watch the bees. While I am a total amateur about these fascinating little critters, I think we can learn a few things from them. Bees have been studied extensively by casual observers, and scientists, and it seems that cooperation among them is a hallmark of their species. Below are a few telling few points some have noted about bees that provide lessons for us all.

For a colony of bees to survive, none can have absolute power and each has a specific and important role. They need to communicate with each other in clear and meaningful ways (you can observe their “waggle dance” that they use to share information about food sources). As they grow, they change roles depending on the needs of the hive. Some believe bees are democratic in nature, in that they work together to make decisions about their food sites. All in all, each bee works for the good of the hive—the good of the community. Sharing of power, quality communication, shared decision making, flexibility and working for the good of all…not at all a bad way to live…

Please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

A Democrat’s act of cooperation, humility and decency to help restore our democracy: In Nebraska, Dan Osborn, a navy veteran and a mechanic, is running for the Senate seat as an independent. The Democrat who was also in the race decided that Osborn has the best chance of beating the Republican, so she dropped out to try to bring everyone together to stand up for democracy.

National Public Radio reported on a study that says Democrats have to stop talking to each other about our leftist policies and start to understand, respect and appeal to working-class/non-college educated people. The path to victory in the coming elections “favors the party that wins working-class voters.” Click here for details.

A new Quinnipiac University poll found Trump with a 32% approval rating, an all-time low from this pollster. A new CNN/SSRS poll showed Trump’s approval rating matching his all-time low which was right after the January 6 riots that he fomented.

Trump said the reflecting pool in Washington was attacked by “vandals,” with knives, boxcutters, razors. But this week, Federal prosecutors dropped charges against a former Olympian they had accused of vandalizing the pool. They admitted the pool problems stem from a “hasty and botched”repair job. Click here from MSNOW.

Dr. Fauci testified to the Senate while the Republicans were busy “disgracing themselves.”

The NY Times reported, “A fifth federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s effort to have millions of immigrants — most of whom have lived in the U.S. for years without criminal records — sent to mandatory detention without bond. The ruling…is the most significant rejection yet of the Trump administration’s unprecedented mass detention policy.”

For another win in the federal courts this week click here from Politico.

“It’s been 10 years since the publication of Hillbilly Elegy, by Vice President JD Vance, and we finally have an Appalachian memoir worthy of its origins.” Check out the review of a new book about Appalachia but, unlike Vance, the author really does come from that part of the country and, also unlike Vance, he knows how to write. Click here to read more and consider ordering it from your local independent bookseller.

Is the Democratic National Committee really as big a problem as some like to say—maybe not. Click here.

Nice try Trump and company, but this court settlement will be the largest class action settlement ever against the Federal government. Click here from National Public Radio.

Taxing the second homes of the very wealthy is “A Win for New York.”

Take Action

Help win back Congress: Over the past 7 months, Bethlehem Indivisible members have written 15,150 postcards to swing-state voters. Join this effort and help increase voter turnout. Your postcards will be sent to Michigan voters. You can pick them up, with instructions at 78 Berwick Rd., Delmar. If you have difficulty writing, consider a donation for postage. Contact: agnes.zellin@gmail.com.

Rex Smith is the former Editor of the Times Union and a regular commentator on WAMC. This week he wrote in his Substack newsletter, “Why pollen has become political,” and encourages all of us to plant. He says, “Any little spot of land will do, in the country or the suburb or the city — and, heck, if you don’t have land of your own, just commandeer a patch of ground you pass along the road. You can ask the Google machine what native host plants are most useful in your region, and follow planting instructions. In short, you can make your plot of earth a way-station on the journey of a pollinator, a safe refuge in a dangerous world.”

Calendar of Events

When Governor Hochul signed The Medical Aid in Dying Act, she said it “… will afford terminally ill New Yorkers the right to spend their final days not under sterile hospital lights but with sunlight streaming through their bedroom window…The right to tell their family they love them and be able to hear those precious words in return.” This Friday, two News from the Neighborhood readers will help us understand how the new law impacts each of us and our families.

Sunday, August 9, 11 AM. Lions Park, Niskayuna. Commemoration of the atomic bombing of Japan. This solemn event, co-sponsored by Upper Hudson Peace Action, will include appropriate music, poetry, and short talks calling for a nuclear weapons-free world.

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on a recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events.

AND don’t miss:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

From WireCutter: “Traditional nonstick pans are slick and easy to clean, but are coated with PFAS — also known as forever chemicals… Ceramic nonstick pans, which have cropped up as a “clean” alternative to traditional nonstick, lose their slickness quickly and are relatively expensive. Both types of nonstick pans will need to be discarded eventually.” WireCutter recommends “…cookware made from stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel, which don’t rely on forever chemicals and should last for life.”

Sweeter than ever—Solar panels and blueberries

The Sierra Club says, “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office.

• It takes just a few minutes for New Yorkers to join a community solar farm. Joining cuts your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• Join 6 million Americans who already have solar their own solar panels. You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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In my earlier years in grassroots politics, I was often captivated by activists who could rally up a crowd; who could argue their position without giving an inch; who could easily rattle off answers to confounding questions. I wondered if I would ever possess such confidence. Over time however, I saw that many of these activists were frequently poor listeners, not engaging in healthy discussions, and not acknowledging the complexities and uncertainties of the real world. I now get concerned when we, on the political left, are too certain of our positions, and when we become rigid in our beliefs and then battle among ourselves.

The first article cited in the News and Opinions section below addresses a contentious debate in some progressive circles—capitalism vs. socialism. I chose to include the article because, as stated by the author, this debate “obscures broad agreement among Democrats on all sorts of things…progressive taxation; universal access, affordable health insurance, child care and housing; enhanced worker rights; climate action; and civil rights and voting rights.” With so much to agree on, it seems absurd to fight among ourselves, when we should be standing together and fighting to save our democracy and our environment.

Please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

Democrats fighting among ourselves is a “useless distraction” for those who want to see the end of the Trump era and a restored democracy. Click here for this important article.

Trump congratulates the journalists who forced the release of the Epstein files. Click and watch a 2 minute video.

Trump’s Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times reporters in hopes of getting the phone records and grand jury testimony from the journalists who reported the security lapses on Air Force One. The judge questioned the Justice Department methods, including trying to get the records from a reporter’s mother and from another one’s spouse. He pointed to the lack of professionalism and professional ethics. The judge in the case said to the Trump lawyers, “Either we can quash the subpoenas, or you could withdraw the subpoenas” and the Trump lawyers withdrew. The Times said, “We won…today is a day to celebrate the role of a free press in a robust democracy and the legal structure that protects us.”

It was “professional malpractice.” A group of super wealthy, left public relations people chose their favorite candidate, and gave us the mess in Maine. Read it here.

A writer in USA Today said of Governor Hochul’s data center moratorium,“Hating data centers might be the only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on right now, and politicians would be smart to take advantage of this rare moment of bipartisanship…New York’s moratorium is a great first step. Read “New York just showed the country how to stop data centers.”

Peter Navarro, an adviser to Trump, had told the House Jan. 6 Committee he couldn’t testify because Trump’s executive privilege covered him. The House voted to hold him in contempt. He was convicted and went to prison for four months, but he then appealed. This week, a federal appeals court upheld the conviction.

In March, a federal judge struck down the arrests of 17 immigrants who had been incarcerated by ICE. ICE ignored the judge and kept the migrants in prison. This month, the judge ordered them free and said ICE cannot re-arrest any of them unless it firsts proves its case to a judge.

Trump sued the British Broadcasting system for ten billion dollars because he didn’t like their edits of his Jan 6 speech. He said the edited film hurt his reputation and hurt his businesses. The BBC responded that Trump should have to prove this, and the judged then ordered Trump to turn over the financial records. His lawyers tried to avoid this saying Trump’s position had “evolved,” and he’s only claiming his feelings were hurt. The BBC hopes Trump will next have to testify under oath.

Take Action

Thanks to all those who attended postcard writing parties and those who are writing postcards from home. More cards are available:

Calendar of Events

Friday, July 31, 5:30 PM, Bethlehem Indivisible Pizza Party. Enjoy the company of BI friends, and make new friends. Learn about how to be involved -- canvassing, postcard writing, midterm election support. Warbler Brewery, 155 Delaware Ave. Delmar. Contact Gail Rychlewski grychlew@gmail.comfor more information.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 10AM to 1PM. Home gardeners and farmers, sign up for Soil Health Day at the historic Heath Dairy Farm in Glenmont, and stick around for a free lunch. Click here for information and registration.

Saturday, August 8, 11:30, Canvassing in East Greenbush for Congressman Josh Riley. Please register to get the information you will need. https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/971777/ Contact Gail for more info: grychlew@gmail.com

Two News from the Neighborhood readers present:

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on a recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events (and donate to help preserve more land).

AND don’t miss:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple. If you send an image, send it as a jpg.

Green Things Considered

Are you thinking about diseases like Cyclospora on fruits and vegetables? The NY Times says, “Outbreaks are…typically linked back to large suppliers, rather than farmers' markets or backyard gardens. Those local sources may be a safer bet…”.

Dental floss and forever chemicals; read about it from the Silent Spring Institute.

University of Michigan climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck pointed out that as we continue to burn fossil fuels, global temperatures will continue to increase, droughts will worsen, and there will be bigger, more frequent wildfires and smoke events. There is much we can do and one part of the solution is going solar for our electrical needs. The Sierra Club says, “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Here are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and office.

• It takes just a few minutes for New Yorkers to join a community solar farm. Joining cut your electricity bill by 10% and you don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• You can take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment even more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

There is a slight correction for the time of today’s event in Bethlehem. Please see below:

It is said that a woman asked Ben Franklin what kind of government the Constitutional Convention was proposing. Franklin is believed to have answered, “a republic, madam, if you can keep it.”

It is up to each of us to help “keep it.” Show up for this special reading, and let’s be sure to each do our parts. Stay involved and share News from the Neighborhood with others who might be interested and never give up—democracy and the environment depend on each of us. Don’t just watch history—be part of making history.

Pease continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

Governor Hochul made New York the first state in the nation to declare a one year moratorium on data centers. During the year the state will write tougher rules on data centers. Hochul is also working on taking away the special tax breaks for these companies. Click here.

In the City of Albany, Common Council member Deb Zamer introduced a resolution in support of a state moratorium on data center construction. Deb’s resolution passed 13-0.

In Florida, the Sarasota County Commission voted five to zero to freeze new data centers for a year. These commissioners are all Republicans but when the residents rallied, the commission backed them up.

Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows “Trump has lost even many Republicans. Only 37% of those polled approve of his job performance, while 61% disapprove. The percentage who “strongly” approve of Trump has dropped to a new low of 15%. Only 26% of Independents approve of his job performance, while 71% disapprove.”

One year ago, Musk spent $20 million to try to help his candidate win a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He held a lottery for people who voted in the race with two winners getting $1 million each. This week, the Wisconsin Elections Commission, that includes Republicans, found probable cause that Musk violated the state’s bribery law and referred the case to prosecutors. Read more from Time magazine.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said, “My doctors told me I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concusion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages, but I was briefly unconscious and taken to a hospital.” The public does not know what happened or how serious his condition is. McConnell, however, claims he will return to the Senate (sometime). Republicans are not calling for new elections and are keeping the seat open for him.

The above cartoon is by News from the Neighborhood reader Louis Wittig. Subscribe to his “non-newsletter newsletter” with a click here: non-newsletter.com

“Organizing, litigating, agitating, communicating, educating.” Read the Democrats’ plans for Trump election interference.

A federal judge said Trump, his lawyers, and the lawyers for the Department of Justice created the so-called settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. “[T]he Court finds that this matter was brought for an improper purpose—to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a ‘settlement’ that had no viable basis in law” and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, was “at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous.”

The gun lobby worked for years to kill an Illinois ban on assault weapons. Three Republican appointed federal judges, including one appointed by Trump, ruled against it.

A federal judge declared that the Trump administration can’t cancel federal grants that are based on new rules created after the fact. Trump had tried to terminate billions of dollars in grants that had already been approved.

Trump’s people want every voter’s Social Security number, birth date, address, and driver’s license numbers. Some states have refused and a federal judge became the twelfth in a row to throw the case out. All of the appeals so far, have also been lost.

The NY Times reports that “Federal prosecutors seldom lose cases. More than 90 percent of criminal defendants plead guilty or are convicted at trial.” Under the Trump administration however, federal “prosecutors have lost about half their cases against people charged with assaulting immigration officers…at least partly because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have engaged in misconduct…In dozens of the cases, videos and court records show that federal agents were the first to get physical — shoving, tackling or pepper-spraying defendants…”. Here is the report.

Following set-back after set-back in federal courts, the Trump administration has rescinded its $10 billion freeze on child care subsidies and social services funding for five Democratic states.

The NY Times broke the story on the dangers of Trump’s new Air Force One but now the Times reporters are being investigated by Trump’s Justice Department. The Times stated, “The security of the jets used as Air Force One, which transport not only the president but also hundreds of government officials and staff, members of Congress, journalists and invited guests, is manifestly in the public interest.” The Times said, their reporters will continue doing their work while defending themselves and “we will fight this legal abuse together.”

A Democratic Governor announced the nation’s first solar affordability project. Click here for the info.

Senator Mark Kelly announced, “I'm introducing two bills to recruit more men into teaching and volunteering—because when more people serve and are involved in their communities, everyone is better off. Click to see this brief interview with the Senator.

News from the Neighborhood contributor Larry Wittner writes about A Dream Deferred but Still Alive.

Take Action

Thanks to all those who attended last week’s postcard writing party. Now we are looking for 5 people to host the next Get Out the Vote postcard writing parties. It is easy, all you need are a few friends willing to spend an hour or so. We will give you the postcards, directions, and stamps. Contact agnes.zellin@gmail.com

If you prefer to write Get Out the Vote post cards on your own, we have more available. See below:

Calendar of Events

New York Senator Pat Fahy invites us to join her on Thursday, July 23 at 5:30pm at the Copper Crow in Albany as she launches her re-election campaign. RSVP: patfahy4senate.com/herewegoagain. Pat says, “This year, it is more important than ever that we elect Democrats up and down the ballot, not just here in the Capital Region, but across New York State, to rein in the worst excesses of the Trump Administration and its reckless attacks on New Yorkers and working people.”

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 10AM to 1PM. Home gardeners and farmers, sign up for Soil Health Day at the historic Heath Dairy Farm in Glenmont, and stick around for a free lunch. Click here for information and registration.

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on this recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events (and donate to help preserve more land).

AND don’t miss:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple.

Green Things Considered

How a farm became a bird haven. Click here.

Get the kids involved in helping protect birds. Click here.

Don’t cut down dead trees (except when they present a hazard0. Pileated Woodpeckers peck holes in these trees then raise their young in them. When they then leave the tree, the cavity in the tree becomes a home for owls and at least 37 others. Check out this great 30 second video from Audubon Great Lakes.

The Associated Press reports numerous medical studies show wildfires kill tens of thousands of people each year. You can help reduce climate change by cutting down on what you consume, your travel, your home energy use—and by going solar! The Sierra Club says, “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Below are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and/or office.

• All New Yorker who pay electric bills can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• Take solar energy a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment event more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 but it did not reach Albany until July 17. It was read to the people of the region on July 19. According to Bethlehem’s town historian, “…the crowd roared, fired their muskets skyward and church bells rang in celebration, despite the massive uncertainty every one of them faced.”

In honor of this major historical event, the Declaration will be read to the public today, Sunday, July 19:

— at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Town Hall and,

— at 12 PM at the Albany Institute of History and Art.

Both events will be outdoors on the lawns with refreshments afterwards, and both will be indoors if there is rain.

It is said that a woman asked Ben Franklin what kind of government the Constitutional Convention was proposing. Franklin is believed to have answered, “a republic, madam, if you can keep it.”

It is up to each of us to help “keep it.” Show up for this special reading, and let’s be sure to each do our parts. Stay involved and share News from the Neighborhood with others who might be interested and never give up—democracy and the environment depend on each of us. Don’t just watch history—be part of making history.

Pease continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

Governor Hochul made New York the first state in the nation to declare a one year moratorium on data centers. During the year the state will write tougher rules on data centers. Hochul is also working on taking away the special tax breaks for these companies. Click here.

In the City of Albany, Common Council member Deb Zamer introduced a resolution in support of a state moratorium on data center construction. Deb’s resolution passed 13-0.

In Florida, the Sarasota County Commission voted five to zero to freeze new data centers for a year. These commissioners are all Republicans but when the residents rallied, the commission backed them up.

Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows “Trump has lost even many Republicans. Only 37% of those polled approve of his job performance, while 61% disapprove. The percentage who “strongly” approve of Trump has dropped to a new low of 15%. Only 26% of Independents approve of his job performance, while 71% disapprove.”

One year ago, Musk spent $20 million to try to help his candidate win a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He held a lottery for people who voted in the race with two winners getting $1 million each. This week, the Wisconsin Elections Commission, that includes Republicans, found probable cause that Musk violated the state’s bribery law and referred the case to prosecutors. Read more from Time magazine.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said, “My doctors told me I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concusion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages, but I was briefly unconscious and taken to a hospital.” The public does not know what happened or how serious his condition is. McConnell, however, claims he will return to the Senate (sometime). Republicans are not calling for new elections and are keeping the seat open for him.

The above cartoon is by News from the Neighborhood reader Louis Wittig. Subscribe to his “non-newsletter newsletter” with a click here: non-newsletter.com

“Organizing, litigating, agitating, communicating, educating.” Read the Democrats’ plans for Trump election interference.

A federal judge said Trump, his lawyers, and the lawyers for the Department of Justice created the so-called settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. “[T]he Court finds that this matter was brought for an improper purpose—to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a ‘settlement’ that had no viable basis in law” and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, was “at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous.”

The gun lobby worked for years to kill an Illinois ban on assault weapons. Three Republican appointed federal judges, including one appointed by Trump, ruled against it.

A federal judge declared that the Trump administration can’t cancel federal grants that are based on new rules created after the fact. Trump had tried to terminate billions of dollars in grants that had already been approved.

Trump’s people want every voter’s Social Security number, birth date, address, and driver’s license numbers. Some states have refused and a federal judge became the twelfth in a row to throw the case out. All of the appeals so far, have also been lost.

The NY Times reports that “Federal prosecutors seldom lose cases. More than 90 percent of criminal defendants plead guilty or are convicted at trial.” Under the Trump administration however, federal “prosecutors have lost about half their cases against people charged with assaulting immigration officers…at least partly because Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have engaged in misconduct…In dozens of the cases, videos and court records show that federal agents were the first to get physical — shoving, tackling or pepper-spraying defendants…”. Here is the report.

Following set-back after set-back in federal courts, the Trump administration has rescinded its $10 billion freeze on child care subsidies and social services funding for five Democratic states.

The NY Times broke the story on the dangers of Trump’s new Air Force One but now the Times reporters are being investigated by Trump’s Justice Department. The Times stated, “The security of the jets used as Air Force One, which transport not only the president but also hundreds of government officials and staff, members of Congress, journalists and invited guests, is manifestly in the public interest.” The Times said, their reporters will continue doing their work while defending themselves and “we will fight this legal abuse together.”

A Democratic Governor announced the nation’s first solar affordability project. Click here for the info.

Senator Mark Kelly announced, “I'm introducing two bills to recruit more men into teaching and volunteering—because when more people serve and are involved in their communities, everyone is better off. Click to see this brief interview with the Senator.

News from the Neighborhood contributor Larry Wittner writes about A Dream Deferred but Still Alive.

Take Action

Thanks to all those who attended last week’s postcard writing party. Now we are looking for 5 people to host the next Get Out the Vote postcard writing parties. It is easy, all you need are a few friends willing to spend an hour or so. We will give you the postcards, directions, and stamps. Contact agnes.zellin@gmail.com

If you prefer to write Get Out the Vote post cards on your own, we have more available. See below:

Calendar of Events

New York Senator Pat Fahy invites us to join her on Thursday, July 23 at 5:30pm at the Copper Crow in Albany as she launches her re-election campaign. RSVP: patfahy4senate.com/herewegoagain. Pat says, “This year, it is more important than ever that we elect Democrats up and down the ballot, not just here in the Capital Region, but across New York State, to rein in the worst excesses of the Trump Administration and its reckless attacks on New Yorkers and working people.”

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 10AM to 1PM. Home gardeners and farmers, sign up for Soil Health Day at the historic Heath Dairy Farm in Glenmont, and stick around for a free lunch. Click here for information and registration.

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes—live music by four bands along four trails on this recently preserved farm. Click for details on this and other local nature events (and donate to help preserve more land).

AND don’t miss:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple.

Green Things Considered

How a farm became a bird haven. Click here.

Get the kids involved in helping protect birds. Click here.

Don’t cut down dead trees (except when they present a hazard0. Pileated Woodpeckers peck holes in these trees then raise their young in them. When they then leave the tree, the cavity in the tree becomes a home for owls and at least 37 others. Check out this great 30 second video from Audubon Great Lakes.

The Associated Press reports numerous medical studies show wildfires kill tens of thousands of people each year. You can help reduce climate change by cutting down on what you consume, your travel, your home energy use—and by going solar! The Sierra Club says, “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Below are two easy ways you can go solar for your home and/or office.

• All New Yorker who pay electric bills can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• Take solar energy a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment event more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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In The Washington Post, David Ignatius wrote about July 4. He said, “Today, we resemble the imperial Britain of 1776 more than the scruffy patriots who rebelled against it…. We may elect dreadful leaders, but we survive them…. We’ve had good leaders and terrible ones, but each year, whatever the adversity, we remember what this story is about. And we think how lucky we are, still, to be part of the American story.” You can be a conscious citizen by being an active part of a great American story, one that fights for democracy and for the environment. You can chose to be involved and help our nation take a proud step forward to reach the goals set forth on July 4, 1776.

Pease continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

The Times Union reported that Governor Hochul is granting $75 million to New York police departments to upgrade their technology—but only if they comply with the new laws that curb them from aiding ICE or other federal agencies.

Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity firm abandoned efforts to build the world’s largest AI data center in Manassas, Virginia, the site of the first major battle of the Civil War. Countless local residents, including historians, spoke out against the plan that one zoning hearing lasted for 27 hours! Read more here.

Milwaukee Judge Dugan was given a $5,000 fine. She said, “For more than a year, the circumstances of this prosecution have been politicized. I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who was just trying to do my job.” Read it here.

A federal judge nullified a Justice Department subpoena aimed at getting personal information about thousands of Georgia election workers. The judge said the statute of limitations for bringing potential charges had “long expired.”

A federal court in Florida struck down the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, a school censorship law in Florida that restricted educators from teaching about race and gender in schools and workplaces.

The NY Times reported, “Hours after three witnesses questioned the official account of how an immigration agent killed a man in Houston this week, city officials said they would begin their own investigation of the federal government’s actions.” Huston’s Democratic Mayor said, “We are not settling to wait for an F.B.I. report. We want answers.” Click here.

A Manhattan federal court rejected Trump’s latest effort to delay paying over $5 million to E. Jean Carroll after her sexual abuse and defamation trial against him. The judge said Trump “…has been stalling this case for years…A jury unanimously concluded that he sexually abused and defamed plaintiff and awarded her damages accordingly.”

A Palestinian business called Sidyanna of Galilee, has an important message about the boycott of goods from Israel, and specifically, the boycott by the Park Sloop Food Coop in Brooklyn. The business said they are targeted but it “ is very ironic since our products are farmed by Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel, and then produced and marketed by a group of Arab and Jewish women who have been working together to promote peace in our region for more than 30 (!) years. Read more and see a short clip about Sidyanna, Fair Trade for a Fair Society.

Euphemisms won’t save Black lives. Click here to read John McWhoter

Take Action

Call Governor Hochul at (518) 474-8390 today and tell her to support the Responsible Data Center Development Act(S10642/A11560). Read about it here.

Click here for Sidyanna of Galilee, the Taste of Fair Trade and order their products here.

Calendar of Events

Monday, July 13, 4:30 - 6:30; ​Join me and Agnes Zellin at our home for postcard writing to Michigan voters, and increase voter turnout in November. ​If you have difficulty writing, just bring stamps and help stamp ​the cards, or bring a donation to support ​​similar efforts.​ BYO outdoor chair​ as our supply is limited​, and maybe bring a light refreshment​ to share. Support Democratic candidates in the races that matter most​. ​RSVP for address or questions: agnes.zellin@gmail.com

Saturday, July 18, 1:30- to 4pm, Thacher State Park Visitor Center, see the film, The Extraordinary Caterpillar! Also, children’s crafts and a short nature walk. Free but $6 for parking. Presented by: Wild Ones, Capital Region and Thacher State Park Visitor Center. Watch the trailer.

Sunday, July 19, 11:00 a.m., Bethlehem Town Hall lawn. Historic reading of the Declaration of Independence. Why July 19? The declaration was signed on July 4, 1776, reached Albany on July 17, and on July 19, 1776 it was read publicly to the people of the Albany area. Join local leaders as they read the Declaration of Independence and celebrate our history and reflect on the ideals of our nation (and have refreshments afterward).

Sunday, Aug. 16, 1 to 4 PM, Bender Melon Farms, Slingerlands. The Mohawk Land Conservancy presents Trail Tunes, live music by four bands on four trails on this old farm that was recently preserved. Click for details on this and other local nature events (and to donate to help preserve more land).

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple.

Green Things Considered

Strawberries, blueberries and other berries are now everywhere, all year round —except most are not local or organic. Click here from the NY Times (and grow your own or buy your produce that is in season and from local farms).

While oil prices are going up, more countries are turning to renewable energy because of our war with Iran. Read it here from National Public Radio.

Last week, I mentioned the benefits of drying our clothes in the sun. One reader responded with, “Thanks for the article on Linear Solar Textile Dehydrators (a.k.a. clothes lines).

For additional thoughts on sun-drying your laundry click here.

The Sierra Club says, “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Check out these two easy ways you can go solar for your home and/or office.

• Any New Yorker who pays an electric bill can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• Take solar energy a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment event more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Please forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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Two-hundred and fifty years ago, the colonists created numerous ways to resist tyranny. Long before the “shot heard around the world,” individuals, citizen groups, and local government officials were meeting, petitioning the king, staging the Boston Tea Party, boycotting British goods, writing and publishing their grievences, and more. Like then, there are so many ways to protest, to resist, to insist on a better world and I hope News from the Neighborhood can be a small part of this great effort.

This week, Air Force Major Jason Watson showed his way of protesting and was arrested on the steps of the Capitol.

The brother of a A News from the Neighborhood reader, who is an attorney, sent a copy of his protest letter to the Florida State Bar Association. He wrote:

Dear Florida Bar:

I have received your dues statement. Please be advised that I am not renewing my bar membership, and will not be paying this statement. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, I refuse to be a member of an organization that welcomes and includes members such as Matthew Gaetz, Pamela Bondi, Kashyap Patel, and Kenneth Chesebro, recognizing that the latter two currently have inactive status and are not eligible to practice in Florida. I should not have to explain why I do not wish to be associated with these members of your organization. That should be evident. I have enjoyed my 40 year membership with the Florida Bar, but can no longer continue in good conscience to be a member.

Be sure your voice is one that helps make our democracy survives for future generations.

Now, please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

From a reader, “An article I read in News from the Neighborhood started a cascade of events that led me to meet many individuals with whom I now work—sometimes a pebble can start a ripple.”

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

The Times Union pointed to our July 4 celebrations as “…an opportunity to remember what we stand for, and what we stand to lose. This audacious experiment in self- governance has held through fire and strife, for two and a half centuries. At its foundation; the conviction that we are all created equal…. Freedom for everyone; It’s an idea that ignited a people, sparked a revolution and lit up the world.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

From a Times Union editorial “Tell America’s Full Story;” No nation should commemorate its 250th birth-day with an edited version of its past. A federal judge’s recent order restoring exhibits about historical events removed from museums, parks and land-marks by the Trump administration is a welcome step toward a more honest reckoning…A nation’s history belongs to its citizens, not to the political preferences of temporary office holders.”

Democratic Maryland Governor Wes Moore commented on patriotism as our “…obligation to protect each other and take care of each other. Patriotism is not political. It’s not partisan. It’s just simply saying there’s a uniqueness to this country that we all have an obligation to protect…. I think it’s our patriotic responsibility that when we see darkness, it’s our job to introduce light, that when we see cynicism and naysaying then it’s our job to introduce hope.”

Trump’s Great American State Fair is a big flop and Trump is furious. “The spectacle…is like watching your high school bully host a party that no one attends.”

Big Tent USA says the July 4 celebration “is for all of us” in their one minute video.

Politico reports, Scientists have shown that major pollution problems related to fireworks while Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency stated “…fireworks are awesome…”. Click here for more.

From Time magazine, the facts about fireworks and their impact on our environment and health.

The Supreme Court sucks up to Trump—but not necessarily on the projects he loves the most.

The Supreme Court got this one right. Click here from National Public Radio.

A federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service’s proposed restrictions on mail-in voting.

“…an enormous victory for ICE detainees…”. Read it here.

Economist and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Krugman says, socialism has little support in America, but social democratic policies, like Social Security and Medicare garner great support. Read here.

“From Independence to Interdependence” from our regular contributor, activist scholar Larry Wittner.

For a different kind of look at interdependence check out how beavers help mitigate flooding from climate change. Click here from NPR.

Actions of the Week

The Sierra Club asks you to sign this petition telling government regulators to put people before billion dollar data centers.

Don’t like Elise Stefanik or the Trumpers who want to take her seat??? If you are looking for a Democratic alternative— check out Blake right here.

Don’t forgot the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom. Here are a few support organizations vetted by one of our readers:

• Razom for Ukraine, https://www.razomforukraine.org has raises money for supplies and equipment for first responders, advocacy, medical training, youth programs and more.

• Nova Ukraine is similar but also does infrastructure work.

• Ukraine Focus https://ukrainefocus.org/ is buying ambulances and bringing them to Ukraine.

• Some of our readers along with thousands of others communicate with people in Ukraine and help them develop their English language skills and develop deep and meaningful friendships. With only one hour per week you can make a difference to a people under siege. Click here for ENGin.

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, July 7, 5:30; Bethlehem Indivisible Ice Cream Social. New members, canvassers, and anyone curious about canvassing. Slingerland’s Tastee Treat, 2070 New Scotland Ave. Slingerlands. Parking, covered pavilion.

Tuesday, July 7, 8 PM, Sierra Club virtual film screening on Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” followed by panel discussion led by Bill McKibben. Click here for details.

Monday, July 13, 4:30 - 6:30; ​Join me and Agnes Zellin me at our home for postcard writing to Michigan voters, and increase voter turnout in November. ​If you have difficulty writing, just bring stamps and help stamp ​the cards, or bring a donation to support ​​similar efforts.​ BYO outdoor chair​ as our supply is limited​, and maybe bring a light refreshment​ to share. Support Democratic candidates in the races that matter most​. ​RSVP for address or questions: agnes.zellin@gmail.com

Saturday, July 18, 1:30- to 4pm, Thacher State Park Visitor Center, see the film, The Extraordinary Caterpillar! Also, children’s crafts and a short nature walk. Free, but $6 for parking. Presented by: Wild Ones, Capital Region and Thacher State Park Visitor Center. Watch the trailer.

Mark you calendars for:

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

For event listing in News from the Neighborhood, use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Keep it short and simple.

Green Things Considered

Home cooling ideas: Keep windows open at night and closed during the day; double hung windows should be open at both the top and the bottom; keep shades and curtains closed during the day to block sunlight and heat; use your oven during the cooler parts of the day, use fans as needed to reduce dependence on a/c; plant trees to shade your home. If you are using a/c, WireCutter from the NY Times suggests, “…the most efficient way to keep your home cool and the bills low is to leave the AC running—ideally, with the temperature turned up toward the upper 70s,” as opposed to letting your home become too hot and then trying to cool it down.”

Use sun power to dry your clothes and help the planet. Click here for the many benefits of hang drying your laundry.

There are many dangers with our love of big cars and trucks; additional pollution, increased congestions, more wear and tear on the roads, more resources needed to build and maintain them, increased demand for gas and electric means higher prices for everyone. A new report shows challenges the notion that they are safer. Take a look here.

The National Wildlife Federation on how to help save the Monarchs.

The Sierra Club says, "Going solar is… not just for the climate, but for long-term financial resilience. When families save on energy, those savings stay in communities, not utility coffers." The Club points out that when you go solar, you have: Lower energy bills, increased home value, energy independence with stable, predictable clean energy, and a real climate impact. “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Check out these two easy ways you can go solar:

• Any New Yorker who pays an electric bill can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

• Take solar energy a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office and save more money and help the environment event more. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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For many of us, summer means vacation and vacation means travel. These days, it seems we even travel year ‘round. Unfortunately, travel usually means increasing climate warming jet and car fuel. While I don’t suggest we need to be perfect stewards of the earth, I do think we can all strive to do more—and, in the case of travel, do less. I happened upon a series of videos from Professor Parke Wilde called Lifestyles of the NOT Jet Set. The professor focuses on travel without burning jet fuel. He has short, fun videos where we can pick up ideas on how to travel but still keep the environment in mind. If this idea seems worthwhile, you can also look at this piece on staying local for vacations. Check out Staycation (So It’s Actually Fun). So, let’s consider what we can all do (or can do without) for the sake of our future).

Now, please continue below to our news, opinions, actions, calendar, Green Things Considered, and words from our wonderful sponsors.

From a News from the Neighborhood subscriber, “I support your work because I believe you have dedicated a large part of your life to serving…. You have listened well, and always are ready to listen further. And you have reported honestly. Keep up your fine work.”

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Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome

News and Opinions of the Week

Read what a leading Democrat has to say about the way Trump is celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary. This message can help us move forward.

The Trump-Epstein horror show unravels even more. Read about the latest court ruling.

A Federal judge blocked the Trump administration from creating a federal database of voter information — including Social Security numbers and citizenship status and dismissed the idea that this was a legitimate crackdown on so-called noncitizen voting.

Another Federal judge blocked most of Trump’s executive order on elections, including a rule for a proof-of-citizenship for voter registration. Trump’s order was seen as interfering with each state’s rights and responsibilities to regulate voting.

Still, another Federal judge blocked the Trump policy of making arrests at immigration courts throughout the nation. Click for more.

And, yes, here is one more victory in Federal Court, this one is for four sanctuary cities.

Well, still there is at least one more from a Federal Judge.

Note this: Alligator Alcatraz is shutting down.

In local good news from Albany County, 197 acres in Guilderland next to Thacher Park, and 133 acres in Bethlehem were preserved for the public and for our future.

Actions of the Week

Many of us helped Josh Riley’s election to Congress two years ago. His district is just south of Albany. This week Josh won his primary and will now face a Republican with a career supporting major corporations, voting against middle-class tax cuts, supporting utility companies, voting against lower prescription drug costs and to allow forever chemicals linked to cancer to remain in consumer products. If you’d like to help Democrats win…the best way you can do that is to sign up to volunteer with Ground Truth today. In the Capital District, contact Gail at grychlew@gmail.com and follow Bethlehem Indivisible on Facebook.

The United States Postal Service is proposing a rule that creates barriers to voting by mail. Please submit a comment opposing the rule as it would prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots—it could even disenfranchise eligible voters who are unable to vote in person. Comment until 5 PM, July 2. Use this form to file: Contact USPS Now

If you get HBO, check out this new climate film (and invite friends to join you when you see it).

Calendar of Events

Our sponsor, IMAGINE NATIVE Plant Farm, is Celebrating 250 Years of America’s Roots: 25% Off Native Plant Sale at 71 Retreat House Road in Glenmont. Join IMAGINE Plant Farm in celebrating 250 years of America the Beautiful! Over 40 species of native plants, grown from wild seed, collected by botanists, from and for the greater Capital Region. All plants marked down 25% the week of the 4. Sale runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Tuesday - Friday, June 30th - July 3rd; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturday, July 4th.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

According to the National Wildlife Federation, Butterfly Weed is a beneficial plant that monarch butterflies need to survive, and it’s native to most of the United States. However, a similar species, tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), has been linked to migration pattern disruption so be sure to avoid it. Plant Milkweed species that are native in your state.

Our sponsor, Beyond Plastics, asks, “Is Silicone Safe?” Learn about it here.

The Sierra Club says, “"Going solar is one of the most impactful individual steps a household can take—not just for the climate, but for long-term financial resilience. When families save on energy, those savings stay in communities, not utility coffers."

The Sierra Club points out that when you go solar, you have: Lower energy bills,
increased home value, energy independence with stable, predictable clean energy, and a real climate impact. “A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.” Check out these two easy ways you can go solar.

Any New Yorker who pays an electric bill can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a small “thank you” incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

You can even take solar a step further—buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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This past week, I took a trip to Vermont and had a little side-trip to New Hampshire. I visited an old friend, made a new friend, hiked, camped, visited a nature center, and saw plenty of signs of hope and beauty:

Also, this week, some of you sent me your own local nature photos, so in today’s newsletter I will post a few. The first, taken in the town of Colonie, is from Carol Waterman.

Please continue below where you will see a few more photos from our readers, as well as news, actions, events, and ideas for greening your lifestyle.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

President Obama calls for fairness, common sense and an end to divisiveness. He does not mention Trump by name, but we know exactly what he is saying and who he is saying it about. Click here for the clip.

Click here for his full 20 minute speech.

The NY Times reported that “The Trump administration backed down from a plan to remove hundreds of ocean monitoring instruments, which are critical for studying climate change.” The plan had been an executive order that would have killed thousands of clean energy jobs and clean power for a million homes. There were 18 state attorneys general who sued and brought us this great win.

Speaking of backing down, following citizen outrage, Georgia Republican lawmakers said they will not redraw the state’s Congressional map for the 2028 elections.

The NY Times also reported, “ICE, which spent $700 million on seven warehouses to hold detained immigrants, now wants to get rid of those purchases.”

New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer helps us get closer to taking back the Senate. Click here from Politico.

The citizens’ group called “De-ICE Citizens Bank” won a big victory when the city council of Jersey City voted to divest from Citizens’ Bank because of its funding of ICE detention camps.

Missouri restored medication abortions after a federal court found its ban unconstitutional.

Data centers were banned in Harford County, Maryland after a unanimous vote in the county legislature. The County Executive thanked the public for its actions to stop the centers and said, “Together we are protecting Harford’s wonderful quality of life for our families and for future generations.”

“The backlash to data center development is bipartisan and does not follow the typical ideological fault lines of American politics.” Click here to read this informative report.

Whether or not you are a father, there are reasons to celebrate fathers and Father’s Day. According to a new study, fathers do more sharing of the child care and house work than ever before, in addition to their usual employment. Here is the study.

”The U.S. Labor Movement as a Force for Peace and International Cooperation” from regular News from the Neighborhood contributor Larry Wittner: https://freepress.org/article/u-s-labor-movement-force-peace-and-international-cooperation

Honoring:

From National Public Radio, “It’s been a year since a gunman murdered Minnesota state Sen. Melissa Hortman, which is reflected on by another state senator who was also targeted. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette said being able to make change in the legislature is worth putting themselves out there. On a visit to the MN state house I caught this glimpse of the chambers where Sen. Hortman served. Now, listen to what Sen. Hoffman and his wife are planning.” Click here.

Actions of the Week

In New York State primaries:

Today is the last day of early primary voting but this Tuesday, June 23 is Election Day. Click here for early voting details.

My pick for Albany County Judge is Joe Meany and you can read about Joe here. The New York State Comptroller primary had been difficult to decide until I read a Times Union report. It turns out that the two challenger candidates have been criticizing incumbent Tom DiNapoli for investing New York pension money in a company that funds ICE—BUT both of these candidates had their personal investments in the same ICE supporting company. Because of this, I decided to vote for the candidate with the most experience, Tom DiNapoli. The NY AFL-CIO said, “He is an excellent steward of the common retirement fund for public employees and has repeatedly leveraged his shareholder position to advocate for positive labor relations and workers' rights.”

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, June 23, 6AM to 9PM, Primary Election Day. Note—some polling places have changed. For voter information in Albany County call 518-487-5060. All New Yorkers can find their voting place by clicking here.

Our sponsor, IMAGINE NATIVE Plant Farm, is Celebrating 250 Years of America’s Roots: 25% Off Native Plant Sale at 71 Retreat House Road in Glenmont. Join IMAGINE Plant Farm in celebrating 250 years of America the Beautiful! Over 40 species of native plants, grown from wild seed, collected by botanists, from and for the greater Capital Region. All plants marked down 25% the week of the 4th. Sale runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Tuesday - Friday, June 30th - July 3rd; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturday, July 4th.

Wednesday, July 22, 7-7:30 pm. The Future is on the Ballot: Why Elections Matter in the Fight Against Climate Change; Volunteer Blue welcomes Bill McKibben, one of the nation’s leading climate voices, for a conversation about why electing leaders who believe in climate science is so critical in 2026. Sign up for this "tiny zoom" at The Future is On The Ballot

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

I have some free native plant seeds to give away. Contact me if you want some.

Leo Levy sent the photo from his Albany home garden of a bee covered in pollen.

Al DeSalvo sent the photo below of his friend’s milkweed garden—so much nicer than a lawn. Milkweed is vital for survival of Monarch butterflies.

Here are six ways you can help save Monarch Butterflies. Click here.

The Sierra Club says, “"Going solar is one of the most impactful individual steps a household can take—not just for the climate, but for long-term financial resilience. When families save on energy, those savings stay in communities, not utility coffers."

The Sierra Club points out that when you go solar, you have:

• Lower energy bills
  Generate your own power and significantly reduce what you owe the utility—starting in year one.

• Increased home value
  Studies consistently show solar adds meaningful resale value—averaging $15,000+ for a typical system.

• Energy independence
  Protect yourself from volatile utility rate increases with stable, predictable clean energy.

• Real climate impact
  A typical solar home eliminates 3–4 tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to planting 100+ trees each year.

World renown environmental leader Bill McKibben says:

1. The cheapest power on earth comes from the sun and wind, and everyone but us seems to have realized it

2. That clean power gives us some hope of dealing with the climate crisis that threatens our future, not to mention our insurance premiums

3. That clean power does not involve us in foreign wars

4. And the only important person on earth who does not agree with1, 2, and 3 is Donald Trump.

   In an op-ed this week in the Times Union, Noah Ginsberg said, “New York leads the nation in community solar and our elected leaders just doubled down on our success…Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature allocated $200 million to NY-Sun, our state’s flagship solar initiative…It’s a historic investment…”.

   All New Yorkers who pay an electric bill can join a community solar farm in just a few minutes and cut their electricity bill by 10%. You don’t have to buy a thing or pay any new fees. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy (when you sign-up, a “small thank” you incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

   You can even take solar a step further—buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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Many of you commented that you really liked the nature photos in last week’s newsletter. I posted them to help balance the madness of the political times we live in. Today, I’d like you to take a look at a couple more photos contributed by our readers:

Enjoy the photos and enjoy nature, and do everything you can to protect it. Also, consider sending me a local nature picture you took and I will try to include it in News from the Neighborhood.

Now, please continue below for the news, actions, events, and ideas for greening your lifestyle.

A new newsletter reader said, “I was telling my brother about the newsletter. He pulls out his phone and says ‘you mean this one that I’ve been subscribed to for years, it’s great!!’”.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

The World Cup:

Reusable water bottles are banned at the World Cup. ESPN reports that “water, sodas and juices sold at World Cup stadiums are supplied exclusively by longtime FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola.” The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said it’s “wrong,” and it’s solely "about making money."

Coca-Cola is trying to give itself a good name by sponsoring the World Cup, an example of what many call “sportswashing.” Wikipedia defines this as “… the practice of governments, individuals or other groups to use sport as a means to improve their reputation by distracting or diverting attention away from activities considered by others as controversial or unethical…sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing or sponsoring sporting teams, or participating in a sport”.

The Sierra Club reports that the fight against sportswashing “surged to new heights in May when 2026 World Cup player Morten Thorsby of Norway joined other players around the world who petitioned the FIFA to adopt stronger heat protections for players and drop fossil fuel sponsors. Baseball’s Brent Suter of the L.A. Angels has become the first active Major League Baseball player to speak out. "As an athlete, I care a lot about promoting companies that share my values, and I also care a lot about our planet…”.

More News and Opinions of the Week:

From State Senator Pat Fahy: “Our community has been loud and clear: hit the brakes on the proposed data center while key questions and serious concerns on power and water usage are addressed - including on the one proposed on Kenwood Academy. Last week, the State Legislature passed a one-year moratorium on the construction of all data centers in New York State.” The Times Union urged Governor Hochul to sign the bill and urged the city of Albany and Albany County to “tread carefully”as they evaluate the proposed data center.

Read, “…all the best traits of a free press: Independence, fairness, accuracy and fearlessness.” Check this out from CNN.

A federal judge said she doesn’t believe President Donald Trump’s plan for a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” is fully dead, so she issued an order to indefinitely block it. She said she needed to do this because no officials have stated, under oath, that the proposed fund is dead.

A federal judge stands up for feeding our poorest people. Click here.

And another success in federal court. Click here.

And still another federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore all signs that were changed or removed at all of our national parks. The judge wrote, “Under the guise of promoting American dignity, this Administration seeks to share a limited history by ordering the removal of all signs, displays, and interpretive exhibits at National Parks that do not align with its preferred narrative, thereby telling half-truths.”

The Trump administration says it will follow the orders of a federal court and restart asylum and other immigration applications.

CNN reports that Trump’s “Great American State Fair" for our 250th anniversary “is losing great American states.” So far a least 7 states declined the Trump administration invitation to join. This came right after the opening concert was cancelled because so many performers refused to attend.

Congratulations to Josh Boschee, a family friend, who was just elected to be the next Mayor of Fargo, North Dakota. The Minnesota public radio station quoted a supporter of Josh who said, “A candidate like Josh is an antidote to Washington, D.C., right now, which is much needed.”

For the first time, “Americans are getting more of their electricity from solar than coal.” If you don’t already get solar for your home, office or apartment, see our Green Things Considered section below and find out how easy it is to help save the planet and save money on your electricity costs.

Actions of the Week

Early voting has started in New York State. Click for details.

News from the Neighborhood reader Will Lindau is a Climate Resiliency Educator. He sent us this message: Help Albany County become more resilient to a changing environment. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County’s Cornell Climate Stewards Program, a 12-week training program for adults who want to volunteer in their community. Trainings will be weekly, 2 hour sessions, covering climate science, mitigation, adaptation, impacts and more. After completing the training, volunteers agree to contribute 40 hours over one year to a local project to help advance their community’s goals. Get more info. from Will at wpl32@cornell.edu. You can apply by clicking here. Funding is provided by the Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Click to tell the government that the Trump Arch in Washington, D.C. is not wanted.

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, June 14 with Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment. Click here for more information.

Our sponsor, IMAGINE NATIVE Plant Farm, is Celebrating 250 Years of America’s Roots: 25% Off Native Plant Sale at 71 Retreat House Road in Glenmont. Join IMAGINE Plant Farm in celebrating 250 years of America the Beautiful! Over 40 species of native plants, grown from wild seed, collected by botanists, from and for the greater Capital Region. All plants marked down 25% the week of the 4th. Sale runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Tuesday - Friday, June 30th - July 3rd; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Saturday, July 4th.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

Where does your fish dinner come from? Click here from the NY Times. (Check out this local, sustainable fish seller).

The NYState Department of Environmental Conservation says take down your bird feeders during the warm months. There’s plenty of food available for the birds in warm weather, and bird feeders at this time attract bears and teach them to rely on human for food . Click here for a short video.

There is still time to plant vegatables. Go to this web site to get planting dates: https://garden.org/apps/calendar/

Click here to learn about native sunflowers from Wild Ones.

Recycle Coach tells us how to recycle anything. Get the free download here.”

The NY Times reports that in just one month, the Consumer Price Index was up 4.2% compared to May of last year. “Energy costs drove the bulk of the increase.” You can protect yourself from rising electricity costs by going solar. Here are two ways to do it:

1. In just a few minutes and with nothing at all to buy, you can join a community solar farm and New York has over 3,400 of them. Even renters can use this option. Your electricity will cost 10% less than dirty electricity, and you will be supporting a local farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. Take it a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward News from the Neighborhood to your friends

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Gardens support bio-diversity, feed us directly and indirectly, and they are beautiful. Today, before getting into some of the politics from this past week, let’s start with them.

Bob is a News from the Neighborhood reader and volunteer Master Gardener. He gave me a few useful gardening tips, as well as a packet of native plant seeds for plants that host bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Bob had a couple of extra native seed packets and asked me to give them away. From my own garden, I have plenty of dill seeds saved from last year. Dill is where swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs that turn into beautiful caterpillars. Dill is also great for salads, and for pickle making! If you are interested in some seeds from Bob or me, just drop me a note.

Enjoy my photos and 45 second video below, plant native seeds, and watch them grow—then get back to work for a beautiful and democratic world for all.

Visit the Home Earth Alliance native plant farm. It’s right here is the Capital District. Home Earth Alliance, like many of you is a generous supporter of News from the Neighborhood.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

Repair Cafes are a great way to help the environment by helping us make repairs rather than throw our goods into the landfill. Below are a couple of photos from last week’s Repair Cafe in Bethlehem, where readers of News from the Neighborhood and about 80 others got their items fixed. Keep an eye open to our Calendar of Events for future Repair Cafes.

From a News from the Neighborhood reader, “I am enthralled by Heather Cox Richardson’s 250 to 250 series. These 1 minute vignettes are an opportunity for non-historians, like me, to learn how our nation came to be. They might be of interest to your subscribers and there’s no paywall. Richardson is a national treasure we need in these unprecedented days.” Check it out with a click here.

Read this about a Brooklyn action that divided its own community; “The story of the Park Slope Food Co-op, like that of New York City, is one of collaboration toward shared goals, even when people don’t agree on everything. Whether New Yorkers will continue to be able to set their differences aside remains to be seen.” Read the story here. Also, Sadly, the boycott of Israel is hurting many of the people it set out to help. For more on this click here.

The New Jersey Attorney General sued the GEO Group for refusing to allow inspectors into its immigration detention center. Democratic Governor Sherrill said, “The people of New Jersey deserve transparency and accountability, and I will continue using all the power of this office to advocate for the detainees and their families.”

From CNN: After a federal judge’s ruling, The Kennedy Center told its staff to remove Trump’s name from building, letterheads, email signatures and marketing materials.

Also from CNN: A “scathing court ruling” invalidated a Trump policy that suspended asylum cases and froze immigration applications for people under Trump’s travel ban. The judge “Lambasts ‘strong evidence of anti-immigrant animus.’”

National Public Radio reported that in primary elections this past week, “Republican voters in Iowa rejected President Trump's pick for governor…, a rare moment of pushback.”

National Public Radio also reported; “The SAVE America Act, a far-reaching Republican election overhaul that President Trump said should be his congressional allies' top priority, has officially failed in the Senate.”

More from Congress this Week:

Some House Republicans are slowly pushing back

Eighteen (it should have been all of them) House Republicans joined the Democrats and approved new military aid and loans for Ukraine as well as new sanctions on Russia.

Four Republicans voted in the House to pass a Democratic resolution that directs Trump to either stop strikes against Iran or get congressional approval for them.

Some Senate Republicans are slowly pushing back

In the Senate, Bloomberg reported, “Senate Republicans stripped federal funds for Donald Trump’s White House ballroom from a spending package after the money triggered a backlash from lawmakers in both parties. The removal of the funds… is a fresh setback for Trump.” Just “a day earlier Senate Republicans scrapped the $1.8 billion slush fund so much wanted by Trump.”

In the Senate, only Republican Lisa Murkowski joined every Democrat to oppose the $70 billion to fund ICE and to bar Trump’s slush fund.

“Democrats play hardball,” from MSNOW.

On the international stage:

Larry Wittner, scholar and regular contributor, writes, “Around the World, Global Solidarity and Cooperation are Remarkably Popular”.

Actions of the Week

Help reduce plastic with this simple “citizen science” project anyone can do.

Join, or better yet, host a watch party on Sunday, June 14 with Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment. Click here for more information.

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, June 10, 7 PM, webinar for Global Wind Day with the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, the National Wildlife Federation, and special guests. Sign up here.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

Parking lots can be useful for more than just cars. Click here from the Associated Press.

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 of these farms in the U.S., and New York is one of the leading states. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. You don’t have to buy a thing and your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will be supporting a local farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. You can go a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward NFTN to your friends

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Sometime around 2001, I created a calendar of progressive events. This calendar slowly evolved into an occasional newsletter that my son named News from the Neighborhood. Then, on the day of Trump’s first election, I needed to do something more, and this newsletter became a weekly publication. In last week’s edition, I referred to it as “a little newsletter.” A reader named Carol however, took exception and wrote, “No way! News from the Neighborhood is a major and treasured contribution to your readers and to our community. Living in a kleptocratic dictatorship, News from the Neighborhood comforts me by reminding me that you, and many of your readers, are activists who will never give up and will keep fighting to restore democracy and freedom.” Wow, that message was exhilarating! Thank you Carol, and thank you everyone who still believes that our nation is worth the struggle and is working towards a better future.

And, by the way, don’t miss today’s Repair Cafe at Bethlehem Town Hall, 1 to 4 PM. Bring your broken items to a volunteer repair coach who will try to help you fix them and keep them out of the landfill—AND IT IS FREE.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

Trump’s ratings continue to fall—only 37 percent of Americans approve of him according to the newest Times/Siena poll. The Times says, “If there has been a floor during this partisan era of politics, Mr. Trump’s ratings today have fallen to it.”

The ICE agent facing assault charges for the shooting of two immigrants in Minnesota a few months ago has been arrested. Click here.

A federal judge blocked Trump from adding his name to the Kennedy Center, saying it was named for President John F. Kennedy by Congress, not by a president. The judge also temporarily blocked Trump from his plan to close the center for 2 years.

Thirty-five retired federal judges, Democrats and Republicans, asked a federal court to re-open the case of the $10 billion settlement between Trump and the I.R.S. The judge said she is looking at “grievous allegations” that the hasty deal between Trump and the IRS was “premised on deception,” and that “the court was the victim of a fraud.”

The NY Times called out other news organizations that have caved in to Trump.

From CNN: “Republicans’ redistricting efforts suffered a pair of setbacks… In Alabama, a panel of federal judges — two of whom were appointed by Trump — temporarily blocked that state’s effort to…that gutted part of the Voting Rights Act… In South Carolina, it was Republican lawmakers who defied Trump to reject plans for new maps that would have reshaped the district long held by Rep. James Clyburn, the sole Democratic member of South Carolina’s House delegation.”

A two-minute introduction to the new book, A Resistance History of the United States. You can order the book here or stop by your local book store.

A Nobel Prize-winning economist tells how Democrats can win in 2028.

In the Democratic primaries on Tuesday a vile and anti-semitic woman running for Congress was defeated—but, despite her viciousness, she got close to 6,000 votes.

Many in the Capital Region are concerned about a data center coming to Albany, but the Times Union reports our Democratic elected officials are speaking out, and with numerous legal hurdles to overcome, the center just ain’t about to happen. See: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/plans-kenwood-data-center-development-face-steep-22276890.php

Actions of the Week

Help Swing Left, win big. Click here and see what you can do today.

Host a watch party for the Committee for the First Amendment. Click here for more information.

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM; Repair Cafe, Bethlehem Town Hall Auditorium, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your beloved but broken items and fix them with a repair coach for FREE.

Saturday, June 6, D-Day 3:00-5:00 p.m. Albany - AlbaNY Visibility Brigade joins the Visibility Brigade Movement to honor the men and women who fought fascism on the beaches of Normandy and promote Peace & Democracy. National Visibility Brigade chapters across the country are claiming hundreds of bridges and overpasses on one day with one mission: We're taking our country back! Events: A “Bridge Party” on Western Ave & Route 85 Overpass, A Car Caravan Western Ave from Brevator St to Washington Park, Voter Registration, Drum for Democracy & The “Rigged Race” in Washington Park, Details and sign up on Mobilize https://www.mobilize.us/visibilitybrigade/event/952378/

Wednesday, June 17, 6:00-7:30PM, Slingerlands, NY (Address provided upon RSVP). Fundraiser/Cocktail Party for Senator Patrica Fahy. More info at: bit.ly/0617fahy or email lindawistar@gmail.com.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

From National Public Radio, “Climate scientists think this could be the hottest summer on record or at least close to it,” says the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. NEADA expects electric bills will be 8.5% higher this summer. Bill McKibben states, “…we have no more important task than converting absolutely everything we can, right away, to sun and wind and batteries, so that we stop pouring carbon into the air and making the problem ever worse…”. If you have not yet gone solar, here are two ways to reduce your energy costs and help protect the planet:

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 of these farms in the U.S., and New York is one of the leading states. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. You don’t have to buy a thing and your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will be supporting a local farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. You can go a step further and buy your own solar panels for your home and/or office. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. With your own panels, you will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let Hudson Solar know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

Forward NFTN to your friends

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

My friend Mike brought me an article from the New Yorker about local newsletters, like this one, that are thriving around the country. The author stated, “What these projects have in common is a desire to fight back against two forces, the disintegration of local media and the impersonality of the algorithmic internet…”. Local newsletters aim to help people “feel more connected to where they live,” and be less dependent on the junk we get when we search the internet. So, I am very happy that News from the Neighborhood helps us connect, and fills some of our information gaps—all the while remaining positive and action-oriented. I am fortunate to keep bumping into many of you, and grateful to your responses to this little newsletter, my little effort in this a very big and complicated world.

Please continue below.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

Washington, D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn sued Trump, acting attorney general Todd Blanche, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to block their plan for paying off the criminals of the Jan. 6 attack on our Capitol. The lawsuit states, “In the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century, President Donald J. Trump has created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund to finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name…The fund…is illegal. No statute authorizes its creation, the settlement on which it is premised is a corrupt sham, and its design violates the Constitution and federal law.” Here is the USA Today summary.

Republicans in the House cancelled a vote that would have directed Trump to end the Iran war or seek authorization for it. They knew, if a vote was allowed, it would pass. The NY Times called this, “a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P.

Republicans also put off a vote on Trump’s immigration crackdown and on his planned slush fund. A Republican says of the slush fund, “We’re going to try to kill it.” Republican Senator Susan Collins said, “It is in real trouble—and it should be.”

Republicans question Trump’s election “victories” because they may backfire.

CNN reports that just 32% of non-college, White Americans voted for Democrats in 2022 and for Kamala Harris in 2024 but now 56% of them say Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the country.

From Politico, Democratic district attorneys will prosecute federal agents who target voting sites.

State prosecutors charged an ICE agent with assault in the January shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis.

Good news, yes good news, from the Supreme Court, and bad news for “Big Pharma.”

The Hill thinks Democrats can even take the Senate, so get active now and help make it happen.

Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon and Whole Foods said, “Trump has lots of good ideas, and he has done a lot. “He’s been right about a lot of things, and you have to give him credit where credit is due”. Some boycott Amazon and Whole Foods.

Ukraine increased long-range drone attacks against Russia, with about 20 Russian oil terminals and refineries damaged since April. Russia lost 45 square miles of the territory it had conquered. Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine and Russia have suffered more than 1 million combined casualties.

Jacob Simon, in his excellent weekly environmental newsletter, The Hopemakers wrote, “Last week, I talked about No Mow May, where people aren’t mowing their lawns in an effort to increase biodiversity. A reader (thanks, Paul!) graciously pointed out that this isn’t a good solution everywhere, so if you’re curious about your area, here’s more information to start you off.” Anyone wanting another weekly dose of action and hope, check out the newsletter. I see it as an environmental complement of News from the Neighborhood.

Actions of the Week

Many of us worry before knocking on doors for votes. Check out this 2.5 minute presentation by Stacy Stroble, one of our readers and Bethlehem Indivisible activist. Then, get involved with Door Knockers for Democracy— volunteer to support Josh Riley’s re-election campaign just south of us. With a parter, you will knock on doors, talk with voters, and strengthen engagement across the district. In person conversations is one of the most effective ways to build trust, share information, and increase participation in our democracy. We create a welcoming and energized volunteer community that will make a real difference this election season! Contact: grychlew@gmail.com to get involved.

Tell McDonalds and Coke to stop trying to undermine the best plastic reduction laws in the world. Read about it here and sign the petition.

Calendar of Events

Thursday, May 28

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM (rain or shine). Garden Education Fair & Plant Sale at: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186. Support the Master Gardener community education programs, including a native plant sale, garden tours, children’s crafts & family activities, free soil pH testing, farm animals, tool sale, and much more! See https://albany.cce.cornell.edu/events/2026/05/30/garden-education-fair-rain-or-shine for more information.

Saturday, May 30, 10-2, ColumbiaNE Repair Cafe, Hoags Corner Fire Company, 7237 Route 66, East Nassau, 12062.Volunteer repair coaches will fix almost any broken items, (or let you know if it can’t be fixe), including bicycles, clocks, lamps, sewing machines, other electrical and mechanical repairs, ceramics, leather, jewelry and minor wood repairs. Special guest: A cellist who will consult on stringed instrument tuning, string replacement and other repairs. Plenty of refreshments and conversation! More information at ColumbiaNERepairCafe@gmail.com, or on Facebook.

Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM; Repair Cafe, Bethlehem Town Hall Auditorium, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your beloved but broken items and fix them with a repair coach for FREE.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

What really happens to those plastic cups Starbucks claims to recycle? Read this from Beyond Plastics and make your own drinks in your reusable containers.

Patrick Robbins, one of our readers wants you to know, “ why batteries are awesome :)’

From National Public Radio, “Climate scientists think this could be the hottest summer on record or at least close to it,” says Mark Wolfe, who heads the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). “So families need to use more of an increasingly expensive product to stay cool this summer. And that’s going to be tough.” NEADA is projecting that electricity bills will be 8.5% higher this summer than last, on average, with residents in some Southern states seeing even bigger increases. Meanwhile, Bill McKibben states, “…we have no more important task than converting absolutely everything we can, right away, to sun and wind and batteries, so that we stop pouring carbon into the air and making the problem ever worse…”

If you have not yet gone solar, here are two ways to reduce your energy costs and help protect the planet:

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 community solar farms in the U.S. with New York being one of the leaders. It takes just a few minutes to sign up with a community solar farm, and you don’t have to buy a thing. Your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will keep your current electric provider, while supporting a local solar farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. If you want to go a step further, you can buy your own solar panels and have them installed on your home, garage or canopy. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. You will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let them know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

My friend Mike brought me an article from the New Yorker about local newsletters, like this one, that are thriving around the country. The author stated, “What these projects have in common is a desire to fight back against two forces, the disintegration of local media and the impersonality of the algorithmic internet…”. Local newsletters aim to help people “feel more connected to where they live,” and be less dependent on the junk we get when we search the internet. So, I am very happy that News from the Neighborhood helps us connect, and fills some of our information gaps—all the while remaining positive and action-oriented. I am fortunate to keep bumping into many of you, and grateful to your responses to this little newsletter, my little effort in this a very big and complicated world.

Please continue below.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

Washington, D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn sued Trump, acting attorney general Todd Blanche, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to block their plan for paying off the criminals of the Jan. 6 attack on our Capitol. The lawsuit states, “In the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century, President Donald J. Trump has created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund to finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name…The fund…is illegal. No statute authorizes its creation, the settlement on which it is premised is a corrupt sham, and its design violates the Constitution and federal law.” Here is the USA Today summary.

Republicans in the House cancelled a vote that would have directed Trump to end the Iran war or seek authorization for it. They knew, if a vote was allowed, it would pass. The NY Times called this, “a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P.

Republicans also put off a vote on Trump’s immigration crackdown and on his planned slush fund. A Republican says of the slush fund, “We’re going to try to kill it.” Republican Senator Susan Collins said, “It is in real trouble—and it should be.”

Republicans question Trump’s election “victories” because they may backfire.

CNN reports that just 32% of non-college, White Americans voted for Democrats in 2022 and for Kamala Harris in 2024 but now 56% of them say Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the country.

From Politico, Democratic district attorneys will prosecute federal agents who target voting sites.

State prosecutors charged an ICE agent with assault in the January shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis.

Good news, yes good news, from the Supreme Court, and bad news for “Big Pharma.”

The Hill thinks Democrats can even take the Senate, so get active now and help make it happen.

Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon and Whole Foods said, “Trump has lots of good ideas, and he has done a lot. “He’s been right about a lot of things, and you have to give him credit where credit is due”. Some boycott Amazon and Whole Foods.

Ukraine increased long-range drone attacks against Russia, with about 20 Russian oil terminals and refineries damaged since April. Russia lost 45 square miles of the territory it had conquered. Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine and Russia have suffered more than 1 million combined casualties.

Jacob Simon, in his excellent weekly environmental newsletter, The Hopemakers wrote, “Last week, I talked about No Mow May, where people aren’t mowing their lawns in an effort to increase biodiversity. A reader (thanks, Paul!) graciously pointed out that this isn’t a good solution everywhere, so if you’re curious about your area, here’s more information to start you off.” Anyone wanting another weekly dose of action and hope, check out the newsletter. I see it as an environmental complement of News from the Neighborhood.

Actions of the Week

Many of us worry before knocking on doors for votes. Check out this 2.5 minute presentation by Stacy Stroble, one of our readers and Bethlehem Indivisible activist. Then, get involved with Door Knockers for Democracy— volunteer to support Josh Riley’s re-election campaign just south of us. With a parter, you will knock on doors, talk with voters, and strengthen engagement across the district. In person conversations is one of the most effective ways to build trust, share information, and increase participation in our democracy. We create a welcoming and energized volunteer community that will make a real difference this election season! Contact: grychlew@gmail.com to get involved.

Tell McDonalds and Coke to stop trying to undermine the best plastic reduction laws in the world. Read about it here and sign the petition.

Calendar of Events

Thursday, May 28

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM (rain or shine). Garden Education Fair & Plant Sale at: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186. Support the Master Gardener community education programs, including a native plant sale, garden tours, children’s crafts & family activities, free soil pH testing, farm animals, tool sale, and much more! See https://albany.cce.cornell.edu/events/2026/05/30/garden-education-fair-rain-or-shine for more information.

Saturday, May 30, 10-2, ColumbiaNE Repair Cafe, Hoags Corner Fire Company, 7237 Route 66, East Nassau, 12062.Volunteer repair coaches will fix almost any broken items, (or let you know if it can’t be fixe), including bicycles, clocks, lamps, sewing machines, other electrical and mechanical repairs, ceramics, leather, jewelry and minor wood repairs. Special guest: A cellist who will consult on stringed instrument tuning, string replacement and other repairs. Plenty of refreshments and conversation! More information at ColumbiaNERepairCafe@gmail.com, or on Facebook.

Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM; Repair Cafe, Bethlehem Town Hall Auditorium, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your beloved but broken items and fix them with a repair coach for FREE.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

What really happens to those plastic cups Starbucks claims to recycle? Read this from Beyond Plastics and make your own drinks in your reusable containers.

Patrick Robbins, one of our readers wants you to know, “ why batteries are awesome :)’

From National Public Radio, “Climate scientists think this could be the hottest summer on record or at least close to it,” says Mark Wolfe, who heads the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). “So families need to use more of an increasingly expensive product to stay cool this summer. And that’s going to be tough.” NEADA is projecting that electricity bills will be 8.5% higher this summer than last, on average, with residents in some Southern states seeing even bigger increases. Meanwhile, Bill McKibben states, “…we have no more important task than converting absolutely everything we can, right away, to sun and wind and batteries, so that we stop pouring carbon into the air and making the problem ever worse…”

If you have not yet gone solar, here are two ways to reduce your energy costs and help protect the planet:

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 community solar farms in the U.S. with New York being one of the leaders. It takes just a few minutes to sign up with a community solar farm, and you don’t have to buy a thing. Your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will keep your current electric provider, while supporting a local solar farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. If you want to go a step further, you can buy your own solar panels and have them installed on your home, garage or canopy. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. You will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let them know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

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It’s a beautiful spring day and my first of the season pickings of lettuce, parsley and chives are already mainstays of my dinner salads. In just a bit, I get to plant my tomatoes. In THE UPSTATE AMERICAN, former Times Union editor Rex Smith, who is a gardener and writer much better than me, relates farming to our politics. He said, “the farmer’s vision of perfection… is always tempered by realism, knowing that hard days in the field lie ahead. Americans likewise need to recognize that a romantic view of our history obscures the fact that struggle has always been the through-line of our history, and it’s our responsibility to wade through it now, eyes on the horizon ahead.” I hope this newsletter offers you a reminder that your efforts are worthwhile, we are making progress, and the struggle is on-going but always worthwhile.

A News from the Neighborhood reader wrote this week, “ You and Heather Cox Richardson are who I read first in the morning. You are doing a great job keeping us “liberal lunatics” sane & factually informed. Thank you!! Another said, “Reading your newsletter is the first thing I do every Sunday morning, well second, first I have to walk the dog…and drink my coffee.”

Please continue below.

News from the Neighborhood is always free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

The Climate & Community Institute reports that our electric bills are 31% higher than five years ago and they continue to rise. This short video, created by one of our readers for the Utility Customers Association, explains why our utility bills are so high.

The Consumer Price Index for April showed a 3.8% increase in energy prices. Food prices climbed 0.5% and the housing index rose 0.6%. Trump is very vulnerable on the economy. U.S.A. Today reports Trump’s disapproval rating is higher than ever due to everyday American’s concerns about inflation.

With a new approach, this court in Rhode Island is fighting.

The chief spokesman for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resigned to protest the administration’s push to allow major tobacco companies to sell flavored vapes.

The Senate rejected the seventh attempt by Democrats to force an end to American involvement in the war on Iran but lost by 1 vote. For the first time 3 Republicans voted with the Democrats.

Defense Secretary Hegseth again called for Senator Mark Kelly to be investigated for “blabbing on TV.” Read and watch Kelly respond to Hegseth’s threat with video of the two discussing depleting weapons stockpiles at public hearing.

Check it out, thanks to Trump, Cuba is undergoing a solar revolution. Read more solar updates in our Green Things Considered section below.

Activist and scholar Larry Wittner writes about The Man Who Would Rule the World

Actions of the Week

In Bethlehem, elections for the Boards of Directors for the library and school district are on Tuesday, May 19, 7 AM to 9 PM, at Bethlehem High School.

For the library board, there is one seat open and there will only be write-in candidates. News from the Neighborhood reader Audrey Koester asks you to consider her as your candidate. She has a Masters of Library Science, and has 30 years as a school Head Librarian, managing staff, budgets, collection development, and programming. She served on the Advisory Council to the Albany/Schoharie/Schenectady School Library System and testified to the State Assembly in support of increased funding for school libraries. Audrey says, “A vibrant public library is one of the most powerful testaments to a community’s commitment to individual and civic development.”

New Yorkers, write to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and get him on board with reducing plastic waste: Click: bit.ly/heastie-prria-letter

Calendar of Events

Today, Sunday, May 17, 12:00 PM, Art in War, art exhibit and sale at the Ukrainian American Citizens Club, 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes. A day of Ukrainian culture featuring contemporary paintings and photographs, wine tasting of Ukrainian wines, history presentation, and workshops for all ages. For more information and tickets click here. Tickets are also avaialbe at the door, children under 14 free. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine (bravechildren.org).

Today, Sunday May 17th 1pm-3pm, Mohican Homelands Initiative Presentation: Land, Food & Medicine, Bethlehem Town Hall, Room 101A/B (Free, but reservation required -- capacity limit -- open to all ages) Be-eco.org, will host this educational event that includes interactive, place-based lessons in land stewardship, traditional foodways, healing practices, and creative expression of Indigenous culture. Register at: https://be-eco.org/calendar-1/land-food-medicine

Today, Sunday, May 17, Bethlehem Indivisible General Membership meeting; 4:00 to 5:45 PM (note change in time); Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Delaware Ave.; special speaker, Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner and, information on how to win the midterms and take back the house; new GOTV postcards to Ohio will be available for pick-up.

Monday, May 18, 7:30-8:30 pm. Are you participating in a postcard-writing campaign? Join these evenings to write quietly together. After a short welcome, participants work diligently on their own set of postcards. Participants find that co-working on this way increases their writing speed, decreases isolation anxiety, and generates a shared sense of accomplishment. Email katadventures@gmail.com and mention this newsletter to receive link to join via Goggle Meet.

Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Bethlehem High School. Vote for school board, and library board candidates. There is also a vote for the school budget, and a separate vote for 9 new diesel buses.

Friday, May 22, 7:00 PM, The Ukrainian American Cultural Center, 405 25th Street, Watervliet. “From cyborgs to AI drones: the evolution of war in Ukraine,” with the film, “Cyborgs: Heroes Never Die;” and a presentation by Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant Mykola Melnyk. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine and Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Tickets available at the door or click here.

Thursday, May 28

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM (rain or shine). Garden Education Fair & Plant Sale at: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186. Support the Master Gardener community education programs, including a native plant sale, garden tours, children’s crafts & family activities, free soil pH testing, farm animals, tool sale, and much more! See https://albany.cce.cornell.edu/events/2026/05/30/garden-education-fair-rain-or-shine for more information.

Saturday, May 30, 10-2, ColumbiaNE Repair Cafe, Hoags Corner Fire Company, 7237 Route 66,

East Nassau, 12062.Volunteer repair coaches will fix almost any broken items, (or let you know if it can’t be fixe), including bicycles, clocks, lamps, sewing machines, other electrical and mechanical repairs, ceramics, leather, jewelry and minor wood repairs. Special guest: A cellist who will consult on stringed instrument tuning, string replacement and other repairs. Plenty of refreshments and conversation! More information at ColumbiaNERepairCafe@gmail.com, or on Facebook.

Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM; Repair Cafe, Bethlehem Town Hall Auditorium, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your beloved but broken items and fix them with a repair coach for FREE.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

Your electricity bill is 31% higher than it was five years ago, according to the Climate & Community Institute. Solar energy can help protect you from rising utilty costs. Read the latest solar news below and then, if you don’t already have solar power, consider getting it in one of two ways listed.

Solar and sheep can be a perfect match. Click here.

A native community in Ontario is part owner of the soon be largest solar farm in their Province. Click (Alex Flood|CBC)

Formerly incarcerated people are being trained, paid, and certified to become solar installers (Kamrin Baker|Goodgoodgood, Adam Mahoney|Capital B, BUFTx).

Bethlehem Town Board member Tom Schnurr sent us a photo of his new solar panels. He purchased the panels from News from the Neighborhood sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions.

Congratulations to the latest News from the Neighborhood readers who joined the solar revolution, and the hundreds who already have solar power. Clean power is there for your home and office and for all your electrical needs. Here are two ways to get solar and reduce your energy costs:

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 community solar farms in the U.S. with New York being one of the leaders. It takes just a few minutes to sign up with a community solar farm, and you don’t have to buy a thing. Your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will keep your current electric provider, while supporting a local solar farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. If you want to go a step further, you can buy your own solar panels and have them installed on your home, garage or canopy. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. You will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let them know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Trump blames “fake news” for our current problems while some progressives blame “the legacy press.” Yet, like any institution (and like every one of us), the press has both strengths and weaknesses. I mention this, because this year’s Pulitzer Prizes were awarded in celebration of the best of journalism. The New York Times won 3 Pulitzer Prizes. The Washington Post won the most prestigious of the prizes for its coverage of the Trump administration’s decimation of federal agencies. There was also plenty of other great coverage this year, of things we should all know about. You can read more here about this year’s awards.

Each week, I use various sources to prepare News from the Neighborhood, some from the legacy press and some from the newer progressive press. I attempt to remain optimistic without being naive, keeping a progerssive and activist perspective. Like everything else, it is a balancing act—but well worth it as we seek a more democratic and just nation.

Please continue on…

News from the Neighborhood is free, but a subscription shows your support.

Subscribe now

Share News from the Neighborhood

Our target audience is New York’s Capital District—but everyone is welcome!

News and Opinions of the Week

A great source of news and entertainment is the Public Broadcasting System. It recently created this short interview that is well-worth watching: See “dirtbag billionaire,” from PBS and consider getting the book from your local, independent bookstore.

Last year, after Trump and the Republican Congress cut funds for PBS and National Public Radio, in just three months there were 120,000 new donors who contributed $20 million. Support PBS here and support NPR here.

ABC television is fighting back. Click here from NPR.

Responding to the courts’ support of Republicans redistricting, Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin said, “…in an outrageous outburst of right-wing judicial activism following the Roberts Court’s Callais decision, the Virginia Supreme Court has struck down the will of the voters. But democracy won’t end with right-wingers in black robes. Now is the time to campaign like never before for strong democracy, freedom and progress. The American people will have the final say in November. Organize!” You can see a 10 minute interview with Raskin on MSNOW.

Your bank, your pension and $80 billion for ICE. Read it here.

Your 401 and 403 and ICE. Read it here.

Do you have insurance with State Farm? The NY Times reports “California Seeks ‘Historic’ Fine Against State Farm.”

More shame on State Farm. Click here.

Click here and learn about Amazon and ICE

The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization has $14 million invested in Citizens Bank But it announced they just pulled their first million dollars from Citizens Bank and may take out more.

The hantavirus and other potential diseases that spread on cruise ships are a significant concern, but what about the impact of cruise ships on the environment? Read more here.

In Election News:

Democrats won another big election this week, in a very Republican Texas district.

In Bethlehem, elections for the library board will be on May 19, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, at Bethlehem High School. There will only be write-in candidates. News from the Neighborhood reader Audrey Koester asks us to write in for her. She has a Masters of Library Science, and has 30 years as a school Head Librarian, managing staff, budgets, collection development, and programming. She served on the Advisory Council to the Albany/Schoharie/Schenectady School Library System and testified to the State Assembly in support of increased funding for school libraries. “To my way of thinking, a vibrant public library is one of the most powerful testaments to a community’s commitment to individual and civic development.” Remember, this is a write-in vote.

In the Courts:

Another big setback for Trump and his tariffs.

A ruling against DOGE but for the Humanities.

And a big ruling against ICE.

And another big ruling against ICE.

Actions of the Week

From News from the Neighborhood reader Kat F.: Are you participating in a postcard-writing campaign? Join these evenings to write quietly together. After a short welcome, participants work diligently on their own set of postcards. Participants find that co-working on this way increases their writing speed, decreases isolation anxiety, and generates a shared sense of accomplishment. Monday, May 11 & Monday, May 18, 7:30-8:30 pm. Email katadventures@gmail.com and mention this newsletter to receive link to join via Goggle Meet.

Citizens Bank CEO Bruce Van Saun claimed that the reported abuse at ICE detention centers “might be exaggerated.” Send an email to Richard Stein, Executive Vice President and Senior Risk Advisor at: richard.stein@citizensbank.com Tell them Citizens Bank should end its relationships with the corporations that run private immigration detention centers.

There’s an excellent chance that your money may be supporting ICE and fossil fuels, but you can take charge of your banking, credit cards, insurance companies, and investments. Click here from Green America.

Write a "Dear Mr. Speaker Letter” to Carl Heastie and get him on board with reducing plastic waste: Click: bit.ly/heastie-prria-letter

Calendar of Events

Join our sponsors Beyond Plastics and The Clean Air Coalition and others for:

Sunday, May 17, 12:00 PM, Art in War, art exhibit and sale at the Ukrainian American Citizens Club, 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes. A day of Ukrainian culture featuring contemporary paintings and photographs, wine tasting of Ukrainian wines, history presentation, and workshops for all ages. For more information and tickets click here. Tickets are also avaialbe at the door, children under 14 free. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine (bravechildren.org).

Sunday May 17th 1pm-3pm, Mohican Homelands Initiative Presentation: Land, Food & Medicine, Bethlehem Town Hall, Room 101A/B (Free, but reservation required -- capacity limit -- open to all ages) Be-eco.org, will host this educational event that includes interactive, place-based lessons in land stewardship, traditional foodways, healing practices, and creative expression of Indigenous culture. Register at: https://be-eco.org/calendar-1/land-food-medicine

May 19, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Bethlehem High School. Vote for school board, and library board candidates, the school budget, and a separate vote for 9 new diesel buses.

Friday, May 22, 7:00 PM, The Ukrainian American Cultural Center, 405 25th Street, Watervliet. “From cyborgs to AI drones: the evolution of war in Ukraine,” with the film, “Cyborgs: Heroes Never Die;” and a presentation by Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant Mykola Melnyk. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine and Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Tickets available at the door or click here.

Thursday, May 28

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM (rain or shine). Garden Education Fair & Plant Sale at: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186. Support the Master Gardener community education programs, including a native plant sale, garden tours, children’s crafts & family activities, free soil pH testing, farm animals, tool sale, and much more! See https://albany.cce.cornell.edu/events/2026/05/30/garden-education-fair-rain-or-shine for more information.

Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM; Bethlehem Town Hall Auditorium, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your beloved but broken items and fix them FREE with volunteer repair coaches. See the Repair Café website.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays in Albany, 4:00 to 5:30 pm, Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Overpass Resistance. Western Ave over Route 85 between Brevator St & Daytona Ave.

Fridays in Niskayuna, 5:30 to 6:30, Protest the Trump regime at the corner of Nottingham St. and Balltown Rd., in front of First National Bank.

Tuesdays in Delmar, 5 - 6 pm, Stand Up/Speak Out, 4 Corners in Delmar, Corner of Delaware Ave. and Kenwood Ave.

To have your event listed in News from the Neighborhood, send it up to two weeks in advance. Use this format: First, put in bold, the day of week, month, day and time. Then, in non-bold print add the location and the name of the event. Add a few sentences describing the event, and a related link. Do not send attachments.

Green Things Considered

Cornell Cooperative Extension states that caterpillars are the most important food for baby birds. One “clutch” of baby birds needs 7,000 caterpillars to survive and the caterpillars need native plants for growth. Without native plants, their essential food will be gone. Also, there are over 700 native bee species in New York. Between 20% and 40% of these bees can only survive on one or two species of native flowers. Please be sure your garden and lawn space have native flowers, trees, and shrubs. Audubon helps you find the best native plants for your area. Also, see our May 30 Calendar of Events listing to get your native plants and all kinds of gardening advice.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your gas-powered lawn mower emits as much pollution in one hour as driving a car for 45 miles. Don’t take my word for it—my neighbor just got his electric mover and says, “I love it.”

Choosing the right bathroom tissue makes a difference. Read this from National Resources Defense Council.

You can power electric mower, weed whacker, and your whole house or office with solar. Here is how:

1. Join millions using solar power from community solar farms. There are over 3,400 community solar farms in the U.S. with New York being one of the leaders. It takes just a few minutes to sign up with a community solar farm, and you don’t have to buy a thing. Your electricity will cost 10% less, and you will keep your current electric provider, while supporting a local solar farm. Click here to get the information you need to sign-up for CommonEnergy. (Note: when you sign-up, a small incentive comes to News from the Neighborhood).

2. If you want to go a step further, you can buy your own solar panels and have them installed on your home, garage or canopy. Contact our sponsor Hudson Solar Solutions. You will get great long-term savings and greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Let them know you heard about them here.

Support Our Sponsors

Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions empowers energy independence and resilience with premium solar and battery systems designed to keep you secure and in control, no matter what. Our high-quality, reliable solutions provide lasting peace of mind, offering energy security, cost savings, and even the opportunity to live off-grid in an ever-changing world. Our team of industry veterans specializes in custom engineered installations for homes, farms, and businesses across the Hudson Valley, Capital District, and Adirondacks. Learn more at HudsonSolarSolutions.com or call (845) 943-5404.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization formed to mitigate the global climate crisis primarily through national--but also state-level--legislation. Focused on “creating political will for a livable planet,” CCL empowers members to raise awareness of the climate issue in their own communities and build constructive relationships with elected officials. With more than 500 chapters across the US, CCL volunteers connect regularly with representatives from every Congressional district about climate-related measures that will benefit their own constituents.

To join CCL, click here.
For information about the NY Greater Capital Region chapter, contact kfrishkoff@gmail.com.

Our mission is to use our time, resources, and life skills for two immense objectives; to protect our democracy and to advance the rapid transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. Third Act Upstate New York mobilizes elders for Third Act’s national and regional campaigns. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own. Third Act Upstate New York is active with NY Renews, and affiliate of the Renewable Heat Now coalition and Beyond Plastics and partners with the New York Public Interest Research Group to advance climate change legislation. Learn about Third Act with a click here.

Sustainable PR is an Upstate New York-based public relations agency which brings earned media expertise to green companies. Founded in 2020, the company wins top media placements, develops key brand messaging, and builds award-winning campaigns which help companies realize their sustainability commitments and take advantage of a growing sustainability market — all while contributing to a greener planet. For more information about the company’s mission and services, visit us at: sustainablepr.com or call (518) 223-9962.

The mission of Home Earth Alliance is to educate, inspire, and empower people to mindfully manage their outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental justice. Our IMAGINE Native Plant Farm was launched to further that mission and meet the growing demand for native plants for public & private lands and urban areas in the greater Capital Region. Located at 71 Retreat House Rd, Glenmont, NY. Visit our website for seasonal hours or contact info@homeearthalliance.org for more information.

Wild seeds responsibly collected from, and native plants lovingly grown for, the greater Capital Region.

The Clean Air Coalition of Coeymans and Greater Ravena (CAC) addresses the environmental and public health concerns of waste management, incineration, tire burning, and port expansion in the Town of Coeymans, New York. We are concerned with the impact all will have on the Capital District and the Hudson River, specifically on the Greater Ravena-Coeymans area. The CAC aims to build a stronger community able to create a cleaner and more equitable future for the environment, the river, and the people who live here. Click here to learn more about us.

Sierra Club, with over 1 million members, and over 3,000 in the Capital District, is one of the world’s most important environmental activists groups. Join the local chapter now. www.sierraclubhudsonmohawk.org Help the fight to save the planet.

Since June 2021, Foodscraps360 has diverted 231,290 lbs (115 tons) of plant-based resources from the landfill, equal to over 7,700 gallons of gas or traveling by car 9 times around the earth. With your help we can divert even more this year. Let’s set a goal to divert 100 tons of foodscraps this year. Go to Foodscraps360.com to find out how you can join the cause that helps save the planet!

FoodScraps360 is a residential food waste collection service created to help reduce the amount of plant matter from entering the municipal landfill where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. With the climate crisis knocking on our door, we need to change our habits to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting household food scraps is an easy way to take a step in that direction. Foodscraps360 helps to make it even easier. If you have been on the fence about trying us out, give us a call and help us meet our 2024 goals with a subscription to our service. Just click right here.

Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project based at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. We use our deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Click here and learn how to have a plastic-free life and help make long-lasting policy changes.

Homespun Occasions

Homespun Occasions offers traditional folk, contra, and square dances for community and private celebrations with live acoustic music that is just right for each venue and audience. When the dancing starts, we teach the steps that are easy enough for everyone to join so that a great time is had by all! We help people discover the time-honored tradition of community dancing that fosters togetherness and goodwill--it’s like a barn raising without the barn! We bring the repertoire and the musicians who can transform your event from dull to divine! If you love the sound of a fiddle or flute flowing through your event, or would like someone to teach traditional American and/or ethnic dances, contact us--make your next special occasion a Homespun success! Contact Paul Rosenberg, www.homespun.biz Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music, 518-482-9255.

Thanks for reading News from the Neighborhood.

The neighborhood is where the grassroots grow and where activism begins.

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After reading the news each day, those of us who hope to remain happy, without drugs, are a tough spot. We should recognize however, that acting to change what we don’t like helps us feel better—even when we don’t get the results we hope for, or when the results are a long-time coming. If we don’t act, we are hapless victims.

It is also important to allow ourselves simple, joyful things like music, art, theater, gardening, being outdoors, socializing, and more. Along these lines, trees are blooming and beginning to leaf out, people are outside, and local farm markets are flourishing with all sorts of greens and flowers, and with locally made foods and crafts.

Kate Cohen, a News from the Neighborhood reader, found another way to have fun while helping the environment and saving money. Kate is a former Washington Post columnist, the author of Scratch that can be found on Substack, and is often funny has hell. In her latest piece, Things Break. Only Humans Can Fix Them, she wrote about the fun, and the importance of Repair Cafes. With these cafes, she says, “Landfill and Amazon averted.”

In New York’s Capital District, the next Repair Cafe is Sunday, May 31, 1 PM – 4 PM at Bethlehem Town Hall, 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar. Bring your broken items and get them fixed for FREE from volunteer repair coaches. If you are not in the area, check out the website to find one near you or learn how you can help get one started in your community. Like farm markets, these cafes can be lots of fun and way more meaningful than shopping on Amazon. For more information see the Repair Café website.

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News and Opinions of the Week

The economy, inflation and Trump’s astonishing bad numbers. Click here from CNN.

This week, Trump said on the extreme right-wing Newsmax station, “I have the best, I have some of the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.” However, his ratings for his overall job performance and his handling of the economy are at an all time low. A Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll shows Trump’s wrecking of the ballroom is opposed two to one. His proposed “triumphal arch” is opposed by 52% versus 21%. His signature on paper money is opposed by 68% to 12%. His war on Iran is opposed by 61% to 34%.

The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board said, “President Donald Trump has now been involved in what appears to be an unprecedented three attempts on his life…just imagine if Trump said enough is enough and used his immense charisma to turn those searing acts of horror into something positive by demanding commonsense gun reform… Instead of seeking unity, the president will soon be back to posting insults, lies, threats, hate, vitriol and late-night diatribes aimed at his perceived enemies — and giving no thought to how his anger and hate over the past decade has fueled the political divide.”

In the NY Times, David French wrote, “No nation can match American might, but for the first time in my adult life, the moral and strategic heart of the defense of liberal democracy doesn’t beat in Washington... It’s in [Ukraine] where a courageous leader and a courageous people have picked up the torch America has dropped.”

Former FBI Director Jame Comey was again indicted by Trump’s corrupt Justice Department but Comey said, “it’s really important that all of us remember this is not who we are as a country. This is not how the Department of Justice is supposed to be. And the good news is we get closer every day to restoring those values. Keep the faith.”

In July, Trump fired Comey’s daughter, Maurene, from her job as assistant U.S. attorney. Her specialty was prosecuting white-collar crime and corruption, and included cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She is in court over her firing and this week a judge said, “Maurene Comey was, by all accounts, an exemplary Assistant United States Attorney. In her nearly ten years working at the United States Attorney’s Office…she was assigned some of the country’s highest profile cases, and she consistently received the highest accolades from supervisors and peers alike.”

Trump wants Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell out, but Powell said he will stay on the board after his chairmanship ends. He said Trump and his people are creating legal threats against the central bank’s independence and pledged to work to protect it.

A Federal court announced that it won't rehear Trump's appeal of the $83 million decision against him for defaming magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.

The NY Times (and others) reported on King Charles’ visit with Trump, “The king sprinkled in some ever-so-subtle rebuttals to Mr. Trump. Charles spoke on Tuesday of the value of the trans-Atlantic alliance, the importance of checks and balances and his passion for the environment. He even spoke of his time in the Royal Navy, after Mr. Trump belittled British naval capabilities in recent weeks.”

Actions of the Week

Write a "Dear Mr. Speaker Letter” to Carl Heastie and get him on board with reducing plastic waste: Click: bit.ly/heastie-prria-letter

If you are still using Amazon and Whole Foods—consider Amazon ’s support of ICE.

Calendar of Events

Friday, May 8 - Sunday, May 10, Town of Bethlehem Give-Away Days. Put items you no longer need but are in good condition on your lawn. Your neighbors can pick them up for re-use and keep them out of the landfill. Click for details.

Join our sponsors Beyond Plastics and the Clean Air Coalition and others for:

Sunday, May 17, 12:00 PM, Art in War, art exhibit and sale at the Ukrainian American Citizens Club, 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes. A day of Ukrainian culture featuring contemporary paintings and photographs, wine tasting of Ukrainian wines, history presentation, and workshops for all ages. Tickets $15 at the door, children under 14 free. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine (bravechildren.org).

Sunday May 17th 1pm-3pm, Mohican Homelands Initiative Presentation: Land, Food & Medicine, Bethlehem Town Hall, Room 101A/B (Free, but reservation required -- capacity limit -- open to all ages) Be-eco.org, will host this educational event that includes interactive, place-based lessons in land stewardship, traditional foodways, healing practices, and creative expression of Indigenous culture. Register at: https://be-eco.org/calendar-1/land-food-medicine

Friday, May 22, 7:00 PM, The Ukrainian American Cultural Center, 405 25th Street, Watervliet. “From cyborgs to AI drones: the evolution of war in Ukraine,” with the film, “Cyborgs: Heroes Never Die;” and a presentation by Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant Mykola Melnyk. Proceeds benefit Brave Children of Ukraine and Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Tickets available at the door.

Thursday, May 28