One action.
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Quote of the Week
“Kindness eases Change”
— Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
The Dark, The Light, The Action Item
…all rolled into one
What if Oxford County traded its independence for a $200,000 grant from the federal government? That’s the exact choice facing the Oxford County Commissioners—and it’s a deal that would cost us far more than we’d gain. Your voice can change this outcome.
What’s happening
The Oxford County Commissioner’s office applied for a federal grant (PPH) that comes with dangerous strings attached: mandatory collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Accepting this money would require the county to:
Participate in joint operations with ICE and provide an area for short-term detention.
Share the citizenship status of people in our community with federal agents.
Provide ICE with access to individuals in local police custody.
Do all of this while keeping the details of any immigration enforcement operations hidden from the public.
Have financial obligations to the federal government to provide the things noted above while having no clear additional financial support.
Why it matters
This isn’t just about immigration; it’s about a fundamental overreach that threatens our rights, safety, and autonomy in Oxford County.
Here’s why accepting any grant that requires cooperation with ICE is a bad idea:
It erodes local control and self-governance. Any collaboration with ICE will jeopardize the control that we have over our tax dollars and the associated decision making by forcing our local government to act as an arm of the federal government.
It wastes taxpayer resources. This mandate would divert precious time, manpower, and resources away from local priorities like emergency response and community safety. Our sheriff's office and county officials are valuable resources to serve our community, not do the work of federal agencies.
It destroys community trust—and safety. When people fear that reporting a crime or acting as a witness could lead to interrogation or deportation, they disengage. This makes everyone in our community less safe.
It harms our children and disrupts our schools. An atmosphere of fear discourages open communication. Students and parents may become reluctant to report safety concerns, because any interactions with law enforcement could impact their immigration status. This can negatively impact the well-being of all children.
It hurts our local economy and reputation. News of ICE collaboration can deter tourists and damage our region’s welcoming image, directly hurting local businesses that range from guide services to restaurants to retail workers.
Where you come in
Protect our community's values, resources, and independence by letting the district commissioners know that the terms of this grant make it unacceptable. If the commissioners start to think that this funding is “in the bank”, it will be considerably harder to stop.
Please contact your District Commissioner today. The three district commissioners are our elected officials who vote on policies that impact Oxford County. Email or call to tell them you oppose accepting any grant that requires collaboration with ICE and compromises Oxford County's autonomy.
District 1: H. Sawin Millett (Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Greenwood, Hiram, Lovell, Norway, Porter, Stoneham, Stow, Sweden, Waterford) Tel: 207-743-6359 | Email: sawin.millett@gmail.com
District 2: Lisa Keim (Andover, Bethel, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Gilead, Hanover, Mexico, Newry, Peru, Roxbury, Rumford and more) Tel: 207-562-6023 | Email: lkeim@oxfordcounty.org
District 3: Timothy Turner (Buckfield, Hartford, Hebron, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Sumner, West Paris, Woodstock) Tel: 207-336-2817 | Email: twturner53@gmail.com
A short and kind call or email has a powerful impact. Let’s ensure our county representatives know that we appreciate their advocacy through grant applications and that our county’s integrity and independence are not for sale.
For when it all feels like too much
Shake loose the shackles of capitalism! Check out the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) Repair Cafe in Norway the first Friday of every month. Get help with mending, sharpening, and other repairs to extend the life of your stuff.
Celebrate local art and local farms! The 5th Annual Mahoosuc Art & Agriculture Tour is this Sunday, September 7, 10-4. Maps are $20 and can be purchased at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.
Knit your way to stress relief. Did you know that knitting offers a unique blend of sensory engagement, mindfulness, and cognitive stimulation that can profoundly benefit mental health? The Bethel Library is offering learn-to-knit pop-up sessions on Monday, September 22 and 29, 3-5. Yarn and needles provided.
Rest. Rest is radical, restorative, and necessary.
Mark your calendar
See an ever evolving list of community events on The Kindling’s calendar here (F). Subscribe to our google calendar while you’re there!
Saturday, September 6: Bethel Farmer’s Market (9am-12:30pm)
Saturday, September 7: 5th Annual Mahoosuc Art and Agriculture Tour
Tuesday, September 9: Tour the newly remodeled Gehrling House in Bethel.
Wednesday, September 10: Children’s Storytime at The Bethel Library (10am)
Thursday, September 18: Maine Mineral & Gem Museum activity at the Bethel Library (3pm)
Friday, September 26: Open House at the Bethel Maine District Exchange & Food Pantry (3:00-6:00)
Lastly…
The Kindling is at its best when contributions are coming from you. The special edition issue you’re reading right now? It came out of a collaboration with many folks around the community!
Let us know what we should include in the next issue by responding to this email or making a newsletter submission.
And if you see something that looks wrong or feels off, reach out! We love some solid constructive criticism.
Til next week,
The Kindling Crew
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