Issue 10
Quote of the week
“I am a veteran, and this is not what I fought for. I took an oath to the Constitution, not to a person, not to a king, and everyone needs to follow the Constitution.”
- Melinda Swayne, Navy veteran and MSAD#44 School Board Member from Woodstock
The Dark
We know how to outlast long winters and we never do it alone. Let this be your weekly reminder that we’re in this wild group project together.
The current Maine state budget proposal includes $30 million in cuts to wage subsidies for childcare workers, amounting to about a $2500 reduction in annual salary. It also includes cuts to Head Start programs around the state which could leave an estimated 200 families without support. More on the budget process coming soon.
There’s a lot going on at the federal level that will impact Maine, primarily because Trump is working hard to give your tax dollars to billionaires. Read about:
FEMA cuts ahead of hurricane season
Cuts to the NIH that will stop Alzheimer’s research, impacting Maine which has the average oldest population in the country
The potential end of programming that supports low income, first generation college students in Maine
Bangor’s plans to support its unhoused population with a tiny home village until they lost federal funding:
Senator Angus King who has expressed concerns about the genocide of Palestinians. The Maine Coalition for Palestine is urging him to take action and end military aid to Israel.
A lawsuit against the Trump administration for its plan to allow the sale of gun parts that make semi automatic rifles fire more rapidly
How Trump’s travel ban is impacting families in Maine
The Light
Yes, good things are happening -- here’s proof!
Tuesday was election day and y’all showed up for the progressive candidates on the ballot around Western Maine! (Psssttt: Who wants to run next year??)
Faye Cristoforo was elected to the select board in Bethel and Melinda Swayne was elected as the Woodstock write-in candidate for MSAD#44 School Board!
The annual Bethel Town Meeting last night was productive while being short in length, relative to previous years. In a hopeful display of democracy, there was thoughtful and civil debate between townspeople over many issues, including the continuously rising cost of contracting for enhanced policing services with the Oxford Sheriff’s Department.
Telstar High School students are raising awareness about a near-endangered fish species and it’s relationship to South Pond.
Maine state lawmakers
enacted a bill on Tuesday that will prohibit the doxxing of minors
Your Maine Action Kit
The fascist shit is hitting the fan across the country. In the words of Robert Reich, “we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Trump’s chaos model doesn’t have to distract us.” Pick a few.
Protest! There will be a peaceful “No King’s Day” protest this Saturday, June 14, from 12-2 here in Bethel. We will start at The Bethel Commons at 12pm and march down Main Street to Davis Park.
Not sure what to expect? Some of us who have been protesting repeatedly with our children over the course of this year lovingly refer to these as lower-case “d” democracy parties. You will find us pushing sleeping babies in our strollers while doling out bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and infinite snacks to the barefoot rugrats running circles around us.
If you don’t have your hands full with children or live animals, share a message that is meaningful to you on a sign made from that pile of cardboard that’s growing in a corner of your living quarters.
Live elsewhere or planning to travel this weekend? Find a rally near you!
Call! Let Susan Collins know that you are completely against the bullshit budget bill that sends our hard earned taxpayer dollars to billionaires while stripping the remaining guardrails from our democracy by rendering the judiciary impotent.
Listen! The latest episode of Jon Stewart’s “The Weekly Show” podcast with history professors Jill Lepore and Kevin M. Kruse put this moment into perspective. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
Support Maine’s trans community! The full Maine Legislature will be voting on three proposed anti-trans bills later this month.
Email your state representatives here.
Sign up for a solidarity shift at the State House in Augusta here.
Do you have connections around the state? We caught wind of representatives who are on the fence and we would love help to identify constituents who can reach out directly to these elected officials. Reply to this email and let us know if you can join the effort!
Have any questions about these issues? Read about why these bans are unfair, dangerous, and unconstitutional here. Please email us with any lingering questions!
Protect our dark skies and preserve stargazing. The Maine Legislature is currently considering LD 1934, An Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting, which would require the state and towns to lead by example by ensuring that public facilities and projects using public funds follow responsible lighting practices.
Bring kids into the conversation with a stunning picture book illustrated by Bethel’s own Mattie Rose Templeton: If You Can See the Dark. Borrow it from the library or order a copy here!
Go to a pride event! Celebrate and support folks in Bethel and beyond. Check out The Kindling calendar for Pride events throughout the month and across the state.
Know folks who aren’t seeing the urgency of our current situation? This short video hits the nail on the head.
Have energy and anxiety to burn? Check out the Action Kit Archive here, for more ideas! Another option? Reply to this email and let us know what issues you want to mobilize around. We are connected with organizations who are looking for people power!
For when it all feels like too much
Political historian and beloved Mainer Heather Cox Richardson launched a video series this week called “Ten Steps to Revolution”. The videos (each between one and three minutes long) outline the journey to American democracy and provide a handbook for these times!
It’s Thursday so The Gemini is open! Stop in with a friend to grab something delicious and then take a walk around town to enjoy this weather.
The Bethel Library launched their Summer Reading Program and you can swing by on Saturday before the protest to grab a sheet to log your books!
Local filmmaker Rob Banish is pitching a new film you can learn about here!
The farmer’s market will be open - with kids activities - this Saturday! Come get out of a slump.
Need a bit more to get out of the pit of despair? Check out this post.
Mark your calendar
See an ever evolving list of community events on The Kindling’s calendar here. Or subscribe to the google calendar directly. This week we’re spotlighting the “No Kings Day” protest here in Bethel.
Saturday, June 14, 12pm-2pm: “No Kings Day” protest in Bethel
Meet on the Bethel Commons and walk down Main Street to Davis Park for refreshments, conversation, and rejuvenation.
A spark of hope: One of our readers wrote that they “discovered there is a wildlife rehab in Waterford, Maine called Warren Brook .They devote much time, skill, and tender care to injured wildlife in hope to release them back into the wild. It’s great to see these creatures getting compassionate care.” What a lovely find!
As we part ways this week remember this: they want us to feel frozen but no one knows better than us that even ice melts. Do one thing this week—then text a friend. Let’s keep chipping away.
Til next week,
Michelle and The Kindling Crew
Logistical things
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