Community
The Gift of Yellow Leaves
If there be wood sprites at play upon this land let them dress up in all the yellows of a late autumn day. Glorious October yellow stands of unruly tamarack, meandering branches that twist and turn like dervishes, sublime with ecstasy, begin our journey across the enchanted north woods. Poplar and birch, both paper and gray, rise up on sturdy, ballet toes, twirl exuberantly yellow beyond compare. Even the few not yet naked maples glint yellow amid a myriad of other colors. You would never call it an explosion of yellow, or accuse the lemon forest of being ablaze. ...
Crandon Mine Purchase Anniversary Celebration Held Last Saturday
By Tina L. Van Zile, Environmental Director
Last Saturday was the 20th Anniversary Celebration for the historic Crandon Mine Purchase. Events were held at the Mole Lake Casino and Lodge Conference Center and the Forest County Potawatomi Community Center. We started the day off with an opening drum song from the Sokaogon Singers, and their second song brought in the Sokaogon Chippewa Veterans Color Guard.
Chairman Robert Van Zile, Jr. and Chairman James A. Crawford each welcomed everyone to the glorious day. Then Chairman Van Zile offered a prayer for ...
Ban Censorship Not Books
“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all – except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors.” President John F Kennedy
Efforts to ban books and to censor what is taught in public schools have increased dramatically in the last two years. Since 2021, a handful of right-w...
DON’T DEFUND THE MARATHON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
On Wednesday, November 8, at 6 PM, the Wausau UU Social Justice will be having Beth Rosenberg Martin speak about the current state of things at the Marathon County Public Library and what we can do to become involved. We need full funding and common-sense people on our County Board to deliver this for starters.
The public is welcome. Please visit the Facebook page Don’t Defund the Marathon County Public Library and sign the petition also.
Funding Public Libraries Crucial to Diverse, Free Society
I am writing this letter in support of, not only maintaining, but increasing, the 2024 budget for the Marathon County Public Library. It seems strange that the budget of such a valued community resource should be threatened. We live in a complicated age where diversity of people and ideas should be celebrated, not condemned.
The public library system makes all kinds of books and ideas available to everyone. Public libraries are one of the safe places where people of all backgrounds, economic class, race, gender and ideology can gather and quietly go about their ...
HO CHUNK POW WOW
We are so fortunate to have an event that promotes culture in our area. This was a celebration of Indigenous People's Day. Our Rights of Nature group had a table at the event to help educate on the dangers of sulfide mining. There has never been a sulfide mine that does not pollute. Here in Marathon County, we are grateful for the help of the Ho Chunk who provided a resolution against mining to the Marathon County Board in 2022. A grand day of celebrating, feasting, and dancing.
A TRIP TO CAPITOL HILL
Last week I traveled to Washington D.C. with my fellow union retirees in AFSCME. We had a wonderful week of camaraderie and learning to craft our own message to take to our representatives regarding the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 597 / H.R. 82).
H.R. 82 would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that deprive more than 2.5 million public employees of Social Security benefits they have earned.
How the Government Pension Offset (GPO) Works – Social Security pays benefits to the spouse of retired and disabled ...
The Threat to Small Press
Please join us for another exciting month at Women for Women Wisconsin. We will give you a little teaser here to start out.
The Threat to Small Press
We are so happy to feature Shereen Siewert and Nick Ramos on the threat that is facing small press along with the issue of freedom of the press in general.
Our overall program purpose is to provide information on the challenges facing the news landscape. With 1 in 5 newspapers closed in the last decade giving rise to on-line news initiatives and small independent news sources, we know there are new opportunities as ...
Rights of Nature
Since we kicked off the Rights of Nature Wisconsin effort in late 2022, we have made some significant progress. When you join the call (link below), you can see our video, the website and other materials, hear about local resolutions and more. More importantly, you will learn what comes next and how we can all be part of building this movement and restoring our proper relationship with the natural world.
What exactly is Rights of Nature?
We envision a world where the inherent rights of nature are respected and protected, and where the natural world is ...