The Peace and Justice Center

  "Dear Hearts and Gentle People... who live in our hometown," Wilkes-Barre,Pa

 Our District Study Meeting will be Sun Nov20 , 1pm Wilkes-Barre,PA at MrsWms.
The study material is in the newly designed, monthly Nov issue ofLiving Buddhism is President Ikeda s Lecture on the gosho letter of Nichiren Daishonin: "The Kalpa of Decrease."  It is on p22. If you want to better understand and win over obstacles, especially with our post flood recovery& upcoming local elections, then please enjoy Jeff Kriger s pre-prep lecture video on www.sgi-usa.org and select Leaders Resources.

Thank you, Beverly
SGI-USA NICHIREN BUDDHIST DISTRICT
Wilkes-Barre, Scranton & Bloomsburg,PA
District Publications Representative
borlandoe@yahoo.com
(570) 820 5364
For more subscription info please call (800) 835-4558 or visit www.sgipubs.com
 
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to establish the correct teaching for the peace and security of our land and to rid the earth of suffering for ALL

For immediate Release
October 1, 2011

“BUNNICULA”
At Arts YOUniverse
“Come laugh and be bitten by the theatre bug -- er, vampire”
October 22-23, 2011

Media Contacts:

Kathleen Godwin
Arts YOUniverse
570-970-2787
arts@epix.net

Noreen O’Connor
Dept. of English, King’s College
570-991-5914
noreenoconnor@kings.edu

Wilkes-Barre, PA (October 1, 2011) Arts YOUniverse and King’s College present Bunnicula, a charming musical mystery play that is sure to enchant both children and parents alike through its loveable, goofy characters and clever plot. This story of a vegetarian vampire bunny is especially fitting for the Halloween season because of its playful, kid-friendly take on today’s most popular monster.

Bunnicula will be performed at Arts YOUniverse on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, October 23, 2011, at 2:00 pm. The Sunday production will be followed by a meet-the-cast reception, featuring a Halloween costume contest. The play is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $5, and will be sold at the door. Tickets may be reserved in advance--call 570-970-2787 or e-mail arts@epix.net.

Proceeds from this production will benefit children in our community in two ways. One portion will go to the West Pittston Library to help its children’s collections recover from the devastating effects of this month’s flood. A second portion will be used to establish a children’s theatre program within the Arts YOUniverse Foundation, a non-profit that promotes and provides access to the arts in Wilkes-Barre.
First published in 1979, James and Deborah Howe’s Bunnicula is a modern classic for young readers that has spawned several sequels including Howliday Inn, and The Celery Stalks at Midnight. Adapted for the stage by Jon Klein, with music by Chris Jeffries, the howlingly funny mystery is centered on the Monroe family’s pets--Harriet the dog, Chester the cat, and family’s newest pet, Bunnicula, a rabbit they found at a movie theater showing “Dracula.” The family soon finds that all of the vegetables in their refrigerator have turned white because someone has drained them of their juice, and the vampire hunt begins. The Washington Post in 2010 positively described a prior production as “brainy,” “delightful,” and “a celebration of reading.” The Seattle Southside, also affirmatively stated, “[Bunnicula] is a sweet, funny tale that everyone in the family can enjoy together.”

Bunnicula’s director, Angel Berlane, is also a children’s drama teacher at Arts YOUniverse and a professional actor. Berlane has purposely taken on the challenge of creating the play with a number of young community actors in its cast. Says Berlane, “I am certain that you will enjoy this show no matter what age you are and that you will go away feeling entertained by this young cast who have been working so hard to create this clever, witty, funny show.”

The production stars pet sleuths Harriet the dog, played by Brenda Wenner, and her partner Chester the cat, played by 9-year-old Nicole Orlando. The title character will be played by a custom-designed bunny puppet with retractable vampire teeth and black-and-white markings reminiscent of a vampire’s cape. 11-year-old Daniel Hancuff will be the puppeteer. The play also features Kevin Lazarowicz as Mr. Monroe, Tonya Hill as Mrs. Monroe, and real-life sisters Mia and Cades Linder as Tabby and Patty, the Monroe children. Ensemble cast includes Gianna Dickson and Adit Mansury

To support this production, college students from the King’s College English/Professional Writing program have partnered with the Arts YOUniverse Foundation through a course called “Writing for the Arts.” The King’s students—Isabel Silva, James Donnelly, Angela Warner, Sarah Scinto, Kevin Conroy, and Jessica Kush—have been integral to the play’s entire pre-production process and have chosen as a class to give proceeds from the production back to the community.

King’s students are helping support Arts YOUniverse Foundation, a non-profit part of Arts YOUniverse, to create a program that promotes children’s theatre and art in the local community. After the severe flooding in our area this September, the students also decided to make the production of Bunnicula a fundraising event to benefit the West Pittston Library.

“I am truly inspired by the commitment, imagination, and civic-mindedness of my students,” says King’s English professor Noreen O’Connor. “They are learning and also practicing all aspects of professional writing to support this project—writing a documentary blog (bunnicula-kings-artsyouniverse.blogspot.com), fundraising letters, grant research, press releases, and the play’s program. It has become a very meaningful project. Bill Bolan, of King’s Shoval Center, and I worked on creating a course with real opportunities for service learning with ‘Writing for the Arts,’” says O’Connor. “The Bunnicula production is really turning out to involve the entire community, more completely than I could have hoped. Working with Kathleen Godwin has been wonderful, because she is so open to trying new ideas with my students. It has been such a valuable experience for everyone so far.”

Founded by Kathleen Godwin, Arts YOUniverse is dedicated to promoting the arts through productions, classes, and space rentals for local artists, bringing all the arts to one location making them accessible to anyone who is interested. Now, Godwin is delighted to be continuing her efforts to expand the community involvement by working with King’s College to put on the production of this delightful children’s play.

“The secret to success,” says Godwin, “was knowing who to call! In the case of Bunnicula, it was Noreen O'Connor and her students in the Professional Writing Program at King's College (my alma mater). With the energy and commitment of her students, a great script, fun music, and the fine young actors at Arts YOUniverse, we're sure to entertain.  And this time, there's another bonus.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the West Pittston Library Restoration Fund.  So come see, come laugh and be bitten by the theatre bug - er, vampire, (did I say that?)”

Bunnicula
•       Based on the book by Debra and James Howe
•       Adapted by Jon Klein; Music and lyrics by Chris Jeffries
•       Directed by Angel Berlane
•       Saturday, October 22 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 2:00 pm
•       Tickets: $5 at the door.
•       Tickets may also be reserved in advance by calling 570-970-2787 or by sending an e-mail to arts@epix.net.
•       For all ages
•       Meet-the-cast reception with Halloween costume contest after the Sunday performance
•       Bunnicula Project Blog: http://bunnicula-kings-artsyouniverse.blogspot.com/

Arts YOUniverse
•       Located At: 47 Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
•       For Information: 570-970-2787 or arts@epix.net.

###

Hi,

This is just a reminder that Pax Christi NEPA will beet this Wednesday (the 19th) at 7 PM in the Guild Building.
We have several important items on the agenda, and could use lots of help.
First, we want to put the finishing touches on the forum on the prison we have scheduled for the evening of the 26th.
Second, we want to arrange a local SOA activity.

Peace.

Joe Rogan 

RE:                 Join the Relief Effort for Girl Scouts of Japan

FROM:         Kathy Cloninger, National CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

We are devastated by the catastrophe in Japan and, on a personal level, are deeply concerned about our sisters there, the Girl Scouts of Japan.  USA Girl Scouts Overseas has served American military and civilian families in Japan for many years, and has extremely close ties with Girl Scouts of Japan. In fact, many of our overseas troops and Girl Scouts of Japan are sister troops.  We have received many calls from Girl Scouts around the country asking how to help and are happy to report that the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended. To contribute to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts, you can make an online donation to the newly established Girl Scouts of Japan Relief Efforts.  At times like these, Girl Scouts throughout the world come together in sisterhood to help those in need. We have seen our Movement rally in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters over the years, and will continue to do everything we can to help our sister Girls Scouts of Japan in the weeks and months ahead.

Make checks payable to Girl Scouts of the USA:

Girl Scouts of the USA-Fund Development

P.O. Box 5046

New York, NY  10087-5046

Memo: Girl Scouts of Japan relief efforts 

Girls are also encouraged to send expressions of friendship to their sister Girl Scouts in Japan by making origami cranes (Sadako). For instructions, see YouTube videos. The Girl Scouts of Japan made and mailed thousands of these cranes to the United States as an expression of peace and friendship after the September 11th tragedy.

Mail cranes to:

USAGSO - West Pacific

HQ USARJ/9th TSC

Unit 45005

APO, AP 96343-5005

Feria de Salud

Martes, 19 de abril de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m.

En Kirby Health Center

71 North Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre

Se proporcionarán folletos e información sobre enfermedades cardiovasculares y  respiratorias, diabetes, cáncer, vacunas, nutrición, y violencia doméstica. 

Se harán análisis de glucosa y de colesterol

Para más información llamar a 408-4519

The Jewish Community Center
 Invites you to hear
Rabbi Sally J. Priesand, America’s First Female Rabbi
Event is being sponsored by Elly & Murray Miller

Sunday, April 10 at 11:30 am
Refreshments will be served.

Rabbi Priesand, America's first female rabbi, earned her status as a pioneer on June 3, 1972 when she was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, she has led the way for approximately 1,000 women who have followed in her footsteps and joined the rabbinate.

At the age of 16, and before the women's liberation movement called for women's access to traditionally male professions, Priesand was determined to fulfill her dream to become a rabbi and teacher of her faith.
After serving as a rabbi at the Stephen Wise Free synagogue in New York City and Temple Beth El in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Priesand went on to become the spiritual leader of the Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton falls, New Jersey, a position she held until her retirement in 2006.

Rabbi Priesand will share her rabbinic journey on April 10 at 11:30 am at the JCC of Wyoming Valley. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend her presentation and to welcome her to our community. There will be no admission fee. For additional information, contact Barbara Sugarman at 824-4646.

Hi all,

You're invited to come to an informational meeting about the Transition Towns movement and how it might apply to the Wilkes-Barre area.

Michele Sands, from SEEDS (Wayne County sustainability group) and Jane Bollinger, from Transition Honesdale, will explain how they became involved in planning in their region of northeastern PA.  They also will share a powerpoint presentation on some British examples.

Please join us on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 at the offices of the Peace Center, 63 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, 2nd floor.  (If the door is not open, please ring the doorbell and wait for someone to let you in.)  Please RSVP to me so we can get an idea of how many people to expect.

The US branch of this international movement is Transition US, a nonprofit organization that provides inspiration, encouragement, support, networking, and training for Transition Initiatives across the United States. We are working in close partnership with the Transition Network <http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionNetwork> , a UK based organization that supports the international Transition Movement as a whole.

The Transition Movement is a vibrant, grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. It represents one of the most promising ways of engaging people in strengthening their communities against the effects of these challenges, resulting in a life that is more abundant, fulfilling, equitable and socially connected.
We believe that we can make the transition to a more sustainable world. We hope that you will join us.

To read up on this beforehand, check out the following articles.

Communities plan for a low-energy future -  HYPERLINK "http://CSMonitor.com" \t "_blank" CSMonitor.com
< HYPERLINK "http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Living-Green/2008/0911/communities-plan-for-a-low-energy-future" \t "_blank" http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Living-Green/2008/0911/communities-plan-for-a-low-energy-future>

The Green Issue - The End Is Near! (Yay!) -  HYPERLINK "http://NYTimes.com" \t "_blank" NYTimes.com
< HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/magazine/19town-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all" \t "_blank" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/magazine/19town-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all>

A new movement's advice on being psychologically and economically
resilient - Learn how to be resilient in today's economy
< HYPERLINK "http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Health-Fitness/Do-Worry.-Be-Happy" \t "_blank" http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Health-Fitness/Do-Worry.-Be-Happy>

The "Hirsch Memo" -- Peak Oil and Dr. Robert Hirsch
< HYPERLINK "http://www.compassionatespirit.com/Hirsch-Memo-about.htm" \t "_blank" http://www.compassionatespirit.com/Hirsch-Memo-about.htm>

the Transition Towns original website:  www. transitionus .org
the newer one is:     HYPERLINK "http://www.transitionnetwork.org" \t "_blank" www.transitionnetwork.org
< HYPERLINK "http://www.transitionnetwork.org/" \t "_blank" http://www.transitionnetwork.org/>

Thanks,
Margaret Bakker

[Thanks to Bill Browne for sharing the following.]

Khenpo Lama Pema Wangdak will give a unique, insightful view on topics from Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara OR “The Bodhisattva’s Guide to Life”.

Khenpo Lama Pema Wangdak, an internationally recognized and respected
...Tibetan Buddhist monk, will visit us again soon! He will speak at the
Wyoming Seminary Upper School on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in
the Stettler Learning Resources Center on North Sprague Avenue, Kingston.
Directions are given below. This event is free and open to the public.

Lama Pema will discuss the role of enthusiasm in spiritual practice, as
described in the classic Buddhist text by Shantideva, The Guide to the
Bodhisattva¹s Way of Life. He also will offer refuge, a recitation of the
prayer of refuge, to those who are interested. Refuge serves as the first
practice of Buddhism and is the foundation of the practice of the faith.

A monk since age 7, Lama Pema is a student of the great masters of the Sakya
Order of Tibetan Buddhism. He is an international advocate of peace and
tolerance, receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May, 2009. He is the
creator of ³Bur Yig² (Tibetan Braille), the founder of The Pema Ts¹al
Monastic Institute in Pokara, Nepal and the Pema Ts¹al School in Mundgod,
India and has been guiding western students for the past 20 years. In 1989
Lama Pema founded the Vikramasila Foundation which offers courses in Tibetan
Buddhist studies and meditation in four centers in New York and New Jersey.

For more information on this visit by the Lama Pema call the Sem Public
Relations Office at 270-2190 or Andrea Nerozzi (693-1731).

-----
Directions: Stetler Learning Resource Center at Wyoming Seminary Upper
School

From 81 take the exit for 309 N, the cross valley exit heading toward
Dallas. Continue until exit 4, Kingston/Forty Fort. Bear left onto Rutter
Ave at the end of the ramp. Continue on Rutter Ave until the intersection
with Pierce Street. Turn right onto Pierce. Continue to the intersection
with Wyoming Ave (Rte 11), about 2 blocks. Turn left onto Wyoming Ave.
Continue on Wyoming Ave until the intersection with Hoyt (about 2 blocks),
the Hoyt library will be on the corner. Turn right onto Hoyt. Turn left
onto Sprague Ave. About 1/3 the way down you will see the parking lot for
the Buckingham Center for the Performing Arts. You can park in that lot if
you wish or continue to just past the Arts center and park on the road. The
Stetler Learning Resource Center sits between Carpenter Hall, a large brick
building, and the Shafer House, a white residential property. Enter through
the front doors and through the next set of doors in the foyer.

Hello!

This email is a reminder that we will be meeting to discuss new developments in the proposal to construct a 2500 bed private immigration detention center in the Northeast. We now know that the proposed sites include Pike County and York County, PA and Essex County, NJ, and will be contracted with private corrections corporations including CCA, the nation's largest provider of these services, with a track record as dirty as GEO's.

The meeting will be tomorrow, Thursday December 9th at 11am at the LEPOCO Peace Center, 313 W 4th St, Bethlehem.

Please come out to speak about next steps and fight to keep these proposals from moving forward! We have been working with activists in New Jersey who know first-hand about the issues that arise from the privatization of the immigration detention system through the abuses at the CCA-run Elizabeth Detention Center.

Also, please read this article about the Mt. Bethel debacle in today's Morning Call, in case you need a reminder that YES we can work together to stop these facilities!
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-mount-bethel-prison-stalled-20101207,0,1681067.story

Best,
Emma
215-435-1574

Please let the members know about this fantastic opportunity to hear Ambassador Chowdhury speak. 
We also would like a really fantastic turnout from the SGI-USA members to welcome him to PA!!! 
And share this information with your friends, too!

Transforming the Human Spirit Exhibit at Lehigh University.
Lehigh University, United Religions Initiative (URI)
and Soka Gakkai International - USA are co-sponsoring

FROM A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE TO A CULTURE OF PEACE

TRANSFORMING THE HUMAN SPIRIT

The exhibit will run from Monday, November 15 through Friday,
November 19 in the lower library on Lehigh's campus.

This is open to the public between the hour of 10 am and 8 PM.

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury,
Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN,
will speak on Building a Culture of Peace on Tuesday, November 16th
at 7 PM in the Sinclair Auditorium at Lehigh University.

This lecture is open to the public.
We would like to have an excellent
turnout from SGI-USA Keystone Chapter. 
This is a very great opportunity to hear Ambassador Chowdhury
and to learn more about building a culture of peace. 
You may remember  from various SGI publications that Ambassador Chowdhury
has been very supportive of our activities in the past. 

Please help us welcome him to our area!

A CULTURE OF PEACE
(link above for full notice)


Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN,
will speak on Building a Culture of Peace on Tuesday, November 16th at 7 PM
in the Sinclair Auditorium at Lehigh University.

---

Peace Rides in the Sky!

Celebrate the peaceful beauty of the Wyoming Valley from above, with a scenic flight with pilot (and longtime supporter of the Peace and Justice Center) Brad Kurlancheek.

Brad has pledged 100% of your $250 Peace Flight cost to go to the good works of the Peace and Justice Center.

An excellent gift for birthdays, anniversaries, other milestone celebrations and the upcoming holiday season, Brad's 1998 Maule Single Engine airplane accommodates peace passengers in style.

Brad is a licensed FAA certified flight instructor with over 1200 total flight hours, and holds commercial and instrument ratings.  He earned his flight ratings at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  In the Maule, he's flown from the west coast to east, and from PA to FL and back several times.

Flights will originate at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, PA, where Brad keeps his plane.

To reserve your peace flight,
contact the Peace Center at (570) 823-9977 or peacewb@verizon.net.

Date: Monday, November 15, 2010
Time: 5:30PM-7PM
Place: Brennan 228
Speaker: Sister Patricia McCarthy, CND
Topic: A Chance to Make a Difference

Sister McCarthy told me that the talk could be especially pertinent for
faculty and students in Education, Criminal Justice, Philosophy, Theology,
and Counseling.
If you have a class at 5:30PM on Monday, please consider bringing them over
to the talk. Perhaps you can offer students extra credit for attending if
you believe this is a worthwhile discussion. Thank you for your
consideration--Anthony.

Here is the information Sister sent to me:

“A Chance To Make a Difference”

Imagine if someone gave you a black screen, canvas, stage, musical score,
hard drive, website, or a school, prison, church, or neighborhood, and said:
“Fill it with your dreams for life.” What would you create? What variety of
hopes would you be willing to speak and what challenges willing to meet?
This is truly what God offers us every day of our lives – a chance to make a
difference. Imagine if peace were the difference?

Sr. Patricia McCarthy is a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, United
States Province. Prior to her present leadership position, she worked with
abused children, administered a school for emotionally disturbed children,
taught elementary and high school in inner city and poor rural areas for
thirty years. She taught peace throughout the world, especially in places of
conflict and war: North Ireland, Ireland, Bosnia, Croatia, Vietnam,
Australia, Japan and Canada. She has given hundreds of workshops on
nonviolence to faculties and students of both public and private schools.
She is a columnist for a local paper in Providence, Rhode Island, has
published numerous articles and five books, including a curriculum on
Nonviolence for Elementary schools. Her book, The Word of God-The Word of
Peace won first place for spirituality by the Catholic Press Association in
2003. In 2007 the Catholic Press Association awarded her second place as
columnist in a Catholic paper and magazine. Currently she is Provincial for
the United States province of her community.

Hi, I'm Barb Gessner, one of the Co-Chairs of Creating a Culture of Peace and of the Peace commission for the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. We will be offering a three-day, 20-hour long training in Creating a Culture of Peace from Friday November 5 through Sunday November 7 at St. Stephen's Church, 35 south Franklin Street, in Wilkes-Barre. Please click above for more information on the event.

I am writing in the hope that you will list our event on your web page, spread the word to others, and possibly even send an e-mail out to those on your list. This is the first such training we have offered in the Wyoming Valley and I'm sure there are a lot of folks would be interested in this. You can learn more about CCP by going to our web page  http://www.creatingacultureofpeace.org/

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Barb Gessner, Co-Chair CCP Board of Directors & Diocesan Peace Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Halloween Storytelling returns to the River Common! Last Event for the year

Wilkes-Barre PA

– Grab your little ghoul or goblin and come out for a night of Halloween Storytelling this Friday, October 29th at the River Common Park’s Millennium Circle! Both young and young at heart are encouraged to dress-up in their favorite costume in an event perfect for children aged 3-12!

The night will be themed with hay bale seats, corn stalks, pumpkins, apple cider and light treats, and feature masked entertainers who will read and perform some classic Halloween tales including “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, “Bats at the Ballgame” by Brian Lies, “The Halloween Kid” by Rhode Montijo, and “Return to the Haunted House” by R. A. Montgomery.

Free Parking for the event will be hosted in the parking lot across the street from Millennium Circle and will be indicated by large, yellow “event parking” signs. A rain location is set for Arts YOUniverse: 47 N. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Directly preceding the event, the Halloween books will be donated to the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, PA for all children to enjoy! This is the last event for the year, so don’t miss out on the park’s season finale!

A FAMILY FRIENDLY PEACE CONCERT
featuring:
 EFFERVESCENCE 10-10
     A Music/Fusion Experience presenting songs dedicated to Peace
                                    
PLACE: Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Road, Scranton, Pa. 18503

WHEN: Sunday, 10/10/10 from 2 to 4 pm

EFFERVESCENCE a music/fusion group, named in the memory of  “Effie’ Alperin, (a community leader and a recipient of many awards) will present a musical, family friendly interactive Peace Concert with over 10 musicians, singers and dancers with special guests: Ileana Santamaria from Cuba, Rosa Darra of Chile and Sigal Shimoni from Israel.

Lot of Audience Participation!

Please join us in singing, dancing, playing music and having fun with an outstanding group of international artists!

The event is Part 3 of Temple Hesed’s 150th year celebration.

In addition, ZEYBRAH, a non profit organization founded in 1984 by Basha Alperin, Effie’s first born daughter, is planning to release a collection of quotes, poems, artwork, etc. in honor of Effie.

Please send your thoughts or reflections to ZEYBRAH@aol.com.

(Donations can be made to Temple Hesed or to ZEYBRAH through the temple or at www.ZEYBRAH.org)

PRESS RELEASE for immediate release

For more information, contact Skip Mendler, 570-251-3637

“MUSICAL POTLUCK” FEATURES SONGS OF PEACE, 10/17

(HONESDALE)
Local peace group Waynepeace will mark the eighth  anniversary of its founding, and the ninth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, with a “Musical Potluck for Peace.” 
The event will take place beginning at 6 PM on Sunday, October 17, at the Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall on Church Street in Honesdale.

“We're inviting people to bring food to share, like a regular potluck,” says Waynepeace co-founder Skip Mendler, “but we also want them to bring their favorite songs of peace, along with their voices and instruments.”  Mendler anticipates “a wide mix of music – everything from hymns to punk anthems to folk classics.”

There is no admission charge for the event, but donations will be collected for the Central Asia Institute to help in flood recovery efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
For more information, call 570-251-3637, or visit www.waynepeace.org.

GREEN CORPUSCLE COLLECTIVE

PRESS RELEASE/PSA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

for more information: Skip Mendler, 570-352-5769

Auditions are being held Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 5 to 7 PM at the Wayne County Public Library, Main Street in Honesdale for a new theatrical production, “FOURTEEN CHILDREN,” to be presented in November by the Green Corpuscle Collective.  Some knowledge, awareness, or interest regarding the Middle East helpful but not required.  High school and college-age students particularly encouraged to try out.  For more information, contact Skip Mendler, 570-352-5769.
This production is made possible in part by a grant from the Puffin Foundation.

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior Steamtown National Historic Site 150 South Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503-2018

570-340-5200 phone
570-340-5235 fax

Steamtown National Historic Site News Release

September 10, 2010
For Immediate Release
Mark Brennan, 570-340-5244
                
Steamtown National Historic Site to Host Naturalization Ceremony During Citizenship Week

Embrace Citizenship – Experience America Through Your National Parks

Scranton, PA - Twenty candidates will become new citizens during a ceremony at Steamtown National Historic Site at 12:00 PM on Friday, September 17, 2010. This is one of more than 20 naturalization ceremonies taking place in national parks during Citizenship Week under a partnership between the National Park Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The theme is “Embrace Citizenship – Experience America through your National Parks.”

Superintendent Kip Hagen stated “we are truly honored and humbled to host this Naturalization ceremony here at Steamtown NHS, fully understanding the critical role steam railroads played in the immigration of people to northeast Pennsylvania.

Keynote speaker will be Mr. Daniel Perry, Chief Operating Officer at the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. Mr. Perry a noted author and historian has worked extensively in the field of public interpretation and heritage tourism. A former Officer in the Marine Corp, he is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University.

“I can’t think of places more appropriate to welcome a new generation of American citizens than national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These parks, which are owned by all Americans, are not only places of stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife, but across this country the nearly 400 national parks preserve our nation’s fascinating history and protect our rich cultural heritage.  From the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico to Ellis Island in New York City, national parks ensure our nation’s artifacts and records are protected for generations to come.”

The National Park Service and USCIS recently renewed a formal partnership to enhance

- MORE –

Two

Steamtown National Historic Site to Host Naturalization Ceremony During Citizenship Week

citizenship ceremonies by holding them in national parks throughout the country. The agreement helps introduce new citizens to some of the nation’s most significant natural resources and cultural heritage sites. These historic and picturesque sites provide an ideal
backdrop for citizenship ceremonies, where new citizens can learn about and reflect on American identity and the responsibilities of citizenship.

 “Each year we recognize Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to reflect on what it means to be a citizen of this nation,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “While we continue to be enriched by our cultural and ethnic diversity, we remain united in our respect for the Constitution and to the foundational rights and responsibilities it represents.”

Located in downtown Scranton, Steamtown National Historic Site is open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  From I-81, follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway); continue on Spruce Street and then follow the signs to the Park entrance at Lackawanna and Cliff Avenues.  Additional details regarding interpretive and educational programs and activities may be obtained by calling (570) 340-5200 or toll free (888) 693-9391 during business hours, or by visiting the Steamtown NHS web site anytime at www.nps.gov/stea.
- NPS –

NEPA Organizing Center Event Announcement
Community Journalism:  Telling the Untold Stories
 
-  Media Mobilizing Project of NEPA:  Orientation Event and Training
-  Sat, Sept 11, 2-5, NEPA Organizing Center, 198 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA  18701
-  Now is the time to join our Community Journalism Program!
 
Are you a media maker, artist, writer, journalist or activist seeking to volunteer? 

Join us at our Orientation Event and help us build a public voice for local issues through our Community Journalism program!

We will be rolling out our work in September, so now is the perfect time to get involved!
 
Event will include:
 
-  A presentation of our work so far, and discussion of our upcoming Issue Campaigns (Housing Rights, Gas Drilling Awareness, and others)
-  Screening of MMPTV production from the Philadelphia Media Mobilizing Project
-  Discuss next steps:  Weblog and media production training, events, and trips
-  Free time, music, and refreshments
 
Visit www.nepaorganizingcenter.org or email frank@nepaorganizingcenter.org to RSVP or for more information. 

Space is limited so contact us today!

Hello Volunteers,

Would anyone be interested in volunteering at the upcoming “Gasstock” event? 
It is August 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds in Dallas, PA. 

The event is being organized and sponsored by the group NEPA Citizens in Action.  PennFuture was asked to provide informational materials via a booth or table.  Unfortunately, I am out of town on August 21st, which is why I am reaching out to any interested volunteers. 
I have attached the calendar link which gives additional details about the event - http://my.pennfuture.org/site/Calendar/1531470778?view=Detail&id=106041.

Please let me know if this is something you’d be interested in, and we can talk further. 
They are also looking for exhibitors, speakers, etc. so please feel free to pass the word along to colleagues who might be interested in this.

Thanks again for all of your help,

Joy

Joy Tetlak-Adelstein
Northeastern Pennsylvania Outreach Coordinator
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)
15 Public Square, Suite 101
Wilkes-Barre, PA  18701
570-208-1757
tetlak-adelstein@pennfuture.org
www.pennfuture.org

Lobby Day 2010: Save the Forests and Make Polluters Pay
 Ask legislators to be heroes and make sure drilling is done responsibly
Join PennFuture and our allies for a Lobby Day on Tuesday, June 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. We will be calling on our state legislators to be heroes by:
• Enacting a natural gas impact fee, or severance tax, to ensure that natural gas drillers- not Pennsylvania taxpayers – shoulder the public costs associated with increased drilling; and
• Passing HB 2235, the Save Our Forests legislation, in the Senate. This bill will put a freeze on new leases for natural gas drilling in our state forests.
We need you to attend a media event and meetings with your legislators throughout the day. We can help set up the meetings, and we’ll provide you with talking points and other helpful materials. We can also help with travel by setting up vanpools or connecting you with other interested carpoolers.

Register today!

There will be a memorial service and celebration of Bob Witkowski's
life on May 22nd, at noon, at the Memorial Shrine Cemetery on 8th St
in Wyoming up near Francis Slocum park. At that time, Bob's ashes will
be buried near his son Kevin's grave. The event will be grave side
weather permitting. If you would like to contribute any words,
thoughts, or songs at the time of the memorial and celebration, please
contact me, Beth-Ann, Bob's daughter, and let me know.
Please feel free to send this email on to others who may be interested
in attending or participating.
http://bobwitkowski.blogspot.com/

Beth-Ann Witkowski

2010 state of the world forum will recognize jim spak as the winner of the peace and protest award, in memory of Bob Witkowski.

date; sunday, may 2 at 893 main street, sugar notch. outdoors, no rain date.
open mic event will feature various speakers on big issues. music and food.
public can speak or perform after featured speakers and award presentation.
diiections, call mario at 570-819-0721 or email at mariofiorucci@yahoo.com.

An Evening with Dr. Viola Vaughn

Founder and Director of

Women’s Health Education & Prevention Strategies Alliance

And

10,000 Girls

In

Kaolack, Senegal, West Africa

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

7:30 - Lecture

F.M. Kirby Center

71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA

The lecture is free and open to the public

Presented by Friends of 10,000 Girls: PA Chapters: 570-674-3828

Do you have ideas and opinions to share about education? What was wrong with No Child Left Behind? Where has the arts curriculum gone? What can be done about school leadership and more effective teaching? Please spread the word to your personal and professional networks in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. This is an open dialogue, citizens can discuss ANY and ALL education issues.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Regional Dialogue on Public Education
Please join us for a productive community conversation about public education issues and solutions.
RSVP HERE 
April 28, 2010
 
Education Voters Institute of Pennsylvania has joined with the University of Pennsylvania's Project for Civic Engagement to host one of several community discussion in various regions statewide, where we will ask participants to come together to discuss issues and priorities in public education. These citizens’ voices will then be shared with candidates and elected leaders after we conduct 6-8 dialogues in regions around our state.
 
 
Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Community Dialogue on Education
Wednesday, April 28
 6:30pm-8:30 pm

LUZERNE COUNTY GREEN PARTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Contact: 

Carl Romanelli, 570-574-0829 cjromanellii@yahoo.com Jay Sweeney, 570-587-3603 jnln@epix.net

Summary: Green Parties of Northeastern Pennsylvania to join citizen groups for Earth Day press conference/rally/protest regarding gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.  Events are part of statewide events on drilling scheduled throughout Pennsylvania.

GREENS, OTHERS TO PROTEST DRILLING

On Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010; groups from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania will come together on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre; beginning at 11 AM for a press conference on the environmental threats of gas drilling in Pennsylvania.  The event is being coordinated by the Green Parties of the northeastern section of the state.  Greens from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Wayne and Susquehanna counties participated in the planning of the event, along with members of various citizen groups concerned about this issue.

Among the activist groups supporting the Earth Day protests are Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition (GDAC), Citizens for Clean Water, No Drill NEPA, and Energy Justice.  Speakers will include Dr. Gere Reisinger of GDAC, Dr. Richard Aston of the Green Party, Atty. Frank J. Muraca from the PA Sierra Club, and Jay Sweeney of the Wyoming County Green Party and candidate for State Representative in the 111th District.

Speakers will address the unified demands of environmentalists concerning drilling issues, which include:

* An immediate moratorium on all horizontal hydrofracturing in the Commonwealth, including in our state forests and on floodplains,

* An immediate freeze on all new Marcellus Shale drilling permits throughout Pennsylvania,

* The immediate suspension of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions’ authority to approve drilling-related water withdrawals anywhere in their respective watersheds, and, if necessary,

* The immediate resignation of DEP Secretary John Hanger.

Similar protests and rallies will be held at DEP offices in Norristown, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Meadville, and Williamsport.  Speakers will be available to answer questions for the media from 11:00 to noon.  Speakers and activities commence at 12:00 noon.

~END~

Hello everyone.  Please pass this announcement around.  Flyer is attached.  Thanks!
Frank

Community Journalism:  Telling the Untold Stories
 
-  Media Mobilizing Project of NEPA:  Orientation Event and Training
-  May 15th, 2-5, NEPA Organizing Center, 198 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA  18701
-  The NEPA Organizing Center is pleased to announce the formation of the Media Mobilizing Project of NEPA!
 
Are you a media maker, artist, writer, journalist or activist seeking to volunteer?  Join us at our Orientation Event and help us build a public voice for local issues through our Community Journalism program!
 
Event will include:
 
-  A presentation by the Philadelphia Media Mobilizing Project (www.mediamobilizing.org)
-  Discussion of NEPA Community Journalism Project and next steps
-  Free time, music, and refreshments
 
** No Experience Necessary **
 
Email frank@nepaorganizingcenter.org, or call us at (570) 270-6372 for more information!

Join NEPA for a State Wide Earth Day Action
 
 Thursday April 22, 2010
12:00 Noon
                                            
DEP Northeast Regional Office
2 Public Square
Wilkes-Barre, PA

 We will be gathering outside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s regional offices - as one - to call for
 
An immediate moratorium on all horizontal hydrofracturing in the Commonwealth, including in our state forests and on floodplains
 
An immediate freeze on all new Marcellus Shale drilling permits throughout Pennsylvania      
 
The immediate suspension of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions’ authority to approve drilling-related water withdrawals anywhere in their respective watersheds
 
 Events will take place through the state at DEP regional offices in
 
Norristown
 Wilkes-Barre
Pittsburgh 
Williamsport
Meadville
and
Harrisburg Headquarters
 
 For more Information on Wilkes-Barre Event Contact

 NEPA Citizens in Action

 Roxie

 Roxiep9@aol.com  570-840-1650

Dave

 dskaluba@yahoo.com 570-351-1644

or

Lead Coalition Partners

Green Party of Pennsylvania
 Jay Sweeney
  570-587-3603 
www.gpofpa.org
 
Citizens for Clean Water
 Vera Scroggins  607-237-9685
 
No Drill NEPA
baldwin@epix.net
 
Don Williams
 djw444@gmail.com 
215-380-6166
 (Harrisburg Event)

Global Warming Conference: Moving forward for the planet

Scranton, PA - 4/11/10
 
Global Warming Conference: Moving forward for the planet
Anthracite Heritage Museum at McDade Park

Global warming is already happening – everywhere.
Learn about how global warming is harming northeastern Pennsylvania, and the challenges and opportunities it brings.
Find out how you can take action now.

Sunday, April 11, 2010
1:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Refreshments and Check-In from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Topics to be covered:

Taming Wicked Problems: How psychology can help understand and address global climate change
Janet Kay Swim, Ph.D., professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Global Warming from a Social Dilemma Perspective: Social Uncertainty, Social Norms, and Energy Conservation
Jessica M. Nolan, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Scranton
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Luke Tonachel, senior analyst, Transportation Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
State and Federal Policy Solutions (panel discussion) - 
Nathan Willcox, energy & clean air advocate, PennEnvironment (State)
Joy Tetlak-Adelstein, Northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, PennFuture (Federal)
Solutions to Improving Energy Efficiency (panel discussion) -
John Costlow, director of technical services, Sustainable Energy Fund (economic opportunities & job creation potential)
Rod Gareda, Peace & Justice Center (faith perspective)
Frank Muraca, executive committee, Sierra Club, Northeastern Pennsylvania (Scranton Cool Cities campaign)
Peter Cleff, program manager-ACT 129, PPL Electric Utilities

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to share with you news of an upcoming lecture at King’s. 
I hope you will pass along this information to colleagues and students who would be interested!

Meredith LeVande
“Women, Pop Music, and Pornography”
March 23, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Burke Auditorium, McGowan Hall, King’s College

Meredith LeVande is a women's issues speaker and musician. 
She will be presenting a multi-media presentation that “looks at representations of pop stars in light of corporate ownership of pornography and media deregulation.”

The lecture is open to the public.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

All best,

Robin Field
Director of Women’s Studies

Robin E. Field, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English
Director of Women's Studies
King's College
133 N. River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
570.208.5900 x.5771
robinfield@kings.edu

Hello all-
The Misericordia University Campus Ministry Department and Student Activities will be running a program in conjunction with the Not For Sale Campaign, which raises awareness about human slavery in our country and within our state. There are many things planned, beginning March 22nd, 2010. If you could encourage your students or friends to these events, we would appreciate your support.
This is the schedule we have for the event:

• Not for Sale Campaign - focusing on Human Trafficking and Fair Trade:
• Monday March 22nd-Friday 26th – OT International chocolate bar sale
• Wednesday March 24th - 8:30 pm showing the documentary in the auditorium
• Thursday/Friday March 25th/26th – “Break the Chain” project - in Banks lobby
• Monday March 29th - 5-6 pm - workshop on Human Slavery- Slavery Mapping 101: In addition to gaining in-depth knowledge about the many types of human trafficking attendees will also learn how to research existing cases of modern-day slavery.
• Tuesday March 30th - 5-6 pm - workshop on the Supply chain - Supply Chain Responsibility: Our dynamic Free2Work presentation will introduce the next generation of business leaders to supply chain monitoring programs and the power of social entrepreneurship in the fight against human trafficking.
    Tuesday, March 30th - 8:30-10pm Theater - multimedia presentation -implements fast-paced multimedia, video, live songs, stories and reports from around the globe
• Tuesday March 30th – “Orange out" - encourage all to wear orange, the color of freedom.

More information about the organization can be found at http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/.
If you should have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you!
Be well,
Kristen

Kristen Mitchell, BSW
AmeriCorps*VISTA
Coordinator of Community Outreach
Misericordia University
301 Lake Street
Dallas, PA 18612
mitchek2@misericordia.edu
570-674-8041 (office)

CULTURE OF PEACE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS SERIES PRESENTS
VOV LIVE WEBCAST
www.VOV.com/coptv
Saturday March 13 @ 4:00 PM PST
Story Medicine: The Transformative Power of Theatre
You and your friends are invited to attend a lecture via LIVE Webcast at www.vov.com/coptv on Saturday March 13 at 4:00pm PST with  Velina Hasu Houston, Professor, Playwright, Poet and Essayist.
Velina Hasu Houston’s most popular work is her critically acclaimed play Tea. It and many of her other works have been presented internationally, garnering more than three dozen writing awards. Her other critically acclaimed plays include Asa Ga Kimashita, Kokoro, The Matsuyama Mirror, Calling Aphrodite, Calligraphy. She has been recognized three times by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, twice been selected as a Rockefeller Foundation playwriting fellow, and was a recipient of a Japan Foundation fellowship and a Lila Wallace-Readers Digest Foundation grant. She was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Remy Martin New Vision Award from Sidney Poitier and the American Film Institute.
Velina Hasu Houston is also a published poet and essayist; and writes for film, radio and television as well. A specialist in Pan-Asian American feminist dramatic literature, she edited the anthologies The Politics of Life: Four Plays by Asian American Women and But Still, Like Air, I’ll Rise: New Asian American Plays . She has lectured at institutions nationwide and taught screenwriting at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television. Velina Hasu Houston teaches courses in Playwriting and Adaptation and serves as Resident Playwright, Professor, Associate Dean of Faculty, and founder/Director of the MFA in Dramatic Writing at the University of Southern California.

VOV.COM is provided as a public service of the Soka Gakkai International -USA as part of its ongoing commitment to build a culture of peace through dialogue, mutual respect and altruistic action.

www.vov.com/coptv

Once again, extraordinary history professor, Martha Pezzino, brings education combined with fun and entertainment to LCCC campus. This open-to-the-public, FREE, event is guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and learn.

Marx is back! The premise of this witty and insightful "play on history" is that Karl Marx has agitated with the authorities of the afterlife for a chance to clear his name. Through a bureaucratic error, though, Marx is sent to Soho in New York, rather than his old stomping ground in London, to make his case.

Howard Zinn, best known for his book, 'A Peoples History of the United States', introduces us to Marx's wife, Jenny, his children, the anarchist Mikhail Bakunin, and a host of other characters.

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness."
- Howard Zinn (1922- 2010)

Note: Howard Zinn passed away in January of this year and I can not think of any finer tribute than to bring his play to the campus of LCCC. I had the benefit of attending one of these performances last year and I was truly blown away. - Bill Browne

From our good friend, Beverly Borlandoe, regarding:
Lecture and discussion, Arthur L. Caplan, PhD – “Why Rationing is Inevitable in Health Care Reform”

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm, the Penn Alumni Club, The Commonwealth Medical College and Lackawanna College, in collaboration with the Schemel Forum at the University of Scranton, will host a lecture and discussion with Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D, the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics and the Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania.

The topic of his presentation will be “Why Rationing is Inevitable in Health Care Reform”.

Dr. Caplan is a one of the nation’s leading experts on medical ethics and the moral issues that accompany our increasingly complex health care delivery system.

He is a frequent commentator on MSNBC and a regular contributor to many journals, periodicals and publications.

The event will be held at Lackawanna College’s Mellow Theater, 501 Vine Street in Scranton.
A reception will follow.

Admission is free, but seating is limited.

 Please RSVP online at www.thecommonwealthmedical.com/register
or email rsvp@tcmedc.org
or call 570-504-9637 by March 15, 2010 if you plan to attend.

Peace and Justice road trip!

Please E-mail if you are interested in joining us on a fun road trip > peacewb@verizon.net

We will be car-pooling from Wilkes-Barre, PA, to attend the following LEPOCO event:

Saturday March 6th, 2010, 5pm: LEPOCO Annual Dinner featuring Reverend Billy and Savitri D of the "Church of Life After Shopping" , at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity (321 Wyandotte Street) in Bethlehem.

Bill Talen AKA Reverend Billy, performance artist, author, and activist, will give a talk titled "Lifting the Peace-a-lujah Voice!" for the Annual Dinner of LEPOCO.

In character as Reverend Billy, Talen acts as the spiritual leader of the Church of Life After Shopping, a radical performance community using theater, humor, and grassroots organizing to advance individuals and communities towards a more equitable future. They are dedicated to participatory democracy, ecological sustainability, the preservation of vibrant communities and local economies, and the return of free expression to public space.
They pursue these goals through creative resistance to consumerism, militarism and the corporations who profit from these systems. In short, they work for peace and justice. After several years of writing and producing experimental theater in California, Bill Talen moved to New York City in 1994, where he became an artist in residence at St. Clement's Church. Taking inspiration from Andy Kaufman, Lenny Bruce, and Professor Elaine Pagels, Talen developed his street preacher persona in collaboration with Reverend Sidney Lanier. Soon, the Reverend Billy came to life on the sidewalks of Times Square. Opposing the corporate takeover and Disneyfication of the neighborhood, he set up his portable pulpit at the door of the Mouse, the Disney Store. Moral soap operas, also called "Retail Interventions" were staged inside the chain stores, principally Disney, the GAP, Nike, and Starbucks. The satirical preacher was soon accompanied by a choir, and began staging whole ?Worships?, where unsuspecting shoppers were jolted with passionate sermons and songs decrying the sweatshop exploitative tactics of these corporate entities.
Bill Talen is the author of two books "What Should I Do if Reverend Billy is in My Store?"
and
"What Would Jesus Buy?: Fabulous Prayers in the Face of the Shopocalypse",
and is featured in the film "What Would Jesus Buy?"
He has won the OBIE Award, The Dramalogue Award, The Historic Districts Council's ?Preservation? Award (for leading demonstrations to save the Edgar Allan Poe House at 85 W 3rd Street, NYC), has been jailed over 50 times, and ran for mayor of New York City as the Green Party candidate in 2009.

The program will also feature the drawing for an Art Raffle, the election of LEPOCO's Steering Committee members and music by the LEPOCO Peace Singers. The Art Raffle includes prizes donated by Sommerville Pottery, Lee & Ellen Buck, Gene Mater, and Anna Reczek, all artists and craftspeople working in the Lehigh Valley area.
Gift certificates were also donated by Sign of the Bear Natural Foods Store and the Civic Theatre of Allentown's 19th Street Theatre.
Doors open at 5pm, for music and appetizers, with a festive vegetarian dinner being served at 5:30pm. The program should begin at 6:15pm. Program-only tickets $10 (limited income $5) can be purchased in advance or at the door.
Tickets for the dinner and program are $25 regular and $10 for limited income and children.

Reservations for the dinner must be made by Friday, February 26th, at the LEPOCO Peace Center, call 610-691-8730, e-mail lepoco@fast.net, or visit 313 West Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

2.  Your senate and house district numbers or your mailing address so that we can schedule your legislative appointments

This area will serve as our base, please visit the table with any questions and to return feedback forms following your meetings.

Sponsored by Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Pennsylvania Moratorium Coalition                
PO BOX 605  ~  HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA  ~  17108  ~  T.  (717) 236-4840  ~   www.PADP.org

*********************************

Devon Buckley
Educator and Kindergarten Teacher
will be giving a presentation and answering questions on

“Waldorf Methods of Early and Primary Education” [cid:image001.jpg@01CAA650.4F22DDC0]
Monday, February 15th at 3:45
Room 115, Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center
Kings College

Devon Buckley is a kindergarten teacher, visiting from Ithaca (NY), where she works and teaches.  Formerly with the just recently accredited Ithaca Waldorf School, Devon now operates an independent, Waldorf-based, home-child care center.  I attach a couple of articles, one just this week from the NYT, which get at some issues addressed by Waldorf like developmental appropriateness, use of natural materials, functional toys only in the classroom, integrating outdoor time, use of a child's innate imaginative abilities, and drawing and craftwork as part of regular subjects taught, as well as home-schooling "enrichment".  (The articles are mostly about developmental appropriateness issues in schools.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02engel.html?emc=eta1

Devon will bring other materials on Waldorf-style schooling, speaking also of the educational tools (toys) used in a Waldorf classroom.  She plans to also bring samples of student “work.”  The event will be a brief presentation, with an open question and answer session--the beginning of what could be an exploration into alternative primary school methods for parents from the Wilkes Barre locality.  While the talk would be directly useful for parents of infants and children of up to 6 years old, Devon has a broad enough background into Waldorf to speak to the method more generally also.

 Please feel free to pass my message on to potentially interested parties.

We look forward to participation from members of the Peace and Justice Center community!

Cindy Postma

An invitation to an important peace and justice event from Rabbi Roger Lerner and the good people at The Interfaith Council:

Please attend this panel discussion scheduled for Sunday,
January 31, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 

The Interfaith Council is hosting the second event of a panel discussion series "The Challenges of Overcoming Hatred and Bigotry: a Multifaith Approach"  addressing the topic, "Uncovering Hate Groups" with guest speakers; Nancy Baron-Baer, associate regional director of the ADL and Jackie Musto Carroll, the Luzerne County District Attorney.

Date: January 31st, 2010
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Where: Temple B'nai B'rith,
408 Wyoming Avenue
Kingston, PA 18704
About the Program:
Nancy K. Baron-Baer, Associate Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation
League and Jackie Musto Carroll, Luzerne County District Attorney will
unearth what “groups” are operating in our area, what is being
done to monitor, observe, or hinder their objectives, and how we
promote awareness, while not bringing them publicity or
recognition. By learning what our local government and ADL are
doing, we may better understand how to cope with these heinous
acts and, in turn, what each of us can do about it.
A time for questions and discussion will follow the presentation.
Program is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Rabbi Roger Lerner, 287-9606.

Temple B'nai Brith

408 Wyoming Ave
Kingston, PA  18704

(570) 287-9606
 

"Three names are given to a person: one by his parents, another by the world, and the third by his works. 
Which of these three names is best? 
Solomon teaches us, when he says: "A good name is better than the sweetest oil.""

A notice from Bob Witkowski:

Please share the following invitation with your contacts:

Sunday, December 20, 2009, at 4:00 PM

Winter Solstice Celebration at the newly acquired UUCWV building on Church Road in the Carverton area of Kingston Twp.

The UUCWV building is located between Mt. Olivet Road and Frances Slocum State Park, directly across from Carverton Cemetery.

http://uucwv.org/info/Where_and_When

Please come and share the fellowship with friends and family!

Contact Bob Witkowski at 829-5788 for more information. 

peace,

The Peace and Justice Center

rod

The Green Initiative in conjunction with The Environmental Club will be showing an environmental documentary, “The Age of Stupid,” tomorrow night, Tuesday, Dec 1 at 7:30PM in the Burke Auditorium at King’s College. 
The entire movie is factual and current information. 
Please support the Environmental Awareness Week with your attendance and let anyone know who may be interested. 
This event is free!

Here is a synopsis:   http://www.ageofstupid.net/

'The Age of Stupid' is the new cinema documentary from the Director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day in September'.
This enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance?

CONTACT:Dorene Schutz

570-825-5672          

                                                                                                             deedee7@epix.net

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Luzurne County  JOINS MOST WIDESPREAD DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION IN HISTORY, 2000+ EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD

On October 24, people from around Northeast Pa will gather to Rally and march on Public Square as part of the largest global day of climate action ever. The event—one of more than 2,000 rallies in more than 140 nations—is coordinated by 350.org to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action on global warming. This is the first global campaign ever organized around a scientific data point: 350 parts per million CO2 is the safe upper limit for the atmosphere according to the latest scientific data.

WHO:              Members from 350.org, Greenpeace, 1Sky and several other local groups will be attending this event.

WHAT:                Simultaneously, people in every corner of the world will be taking similar action, from climbers with 350 banners high on the melting slopes of Mount Everest to government officials in the Maldive Islands holding an underwater cabinet meeting to demand action on climate change before their nation disappears.

WHEN:              October 24, 2009 at  from 1pm to 3pm

WHERE:           Wilkes-Barre, Public Square across from Kirby center

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Photos from events happening all over the world will be available for free use at: http://350.org/media

For more information on the global 350 campaign, please visit www.350.org or contact Cosa Bullock in New York, cbullock@mrss.com

###

Joseph - Tune into CNN tonight and tomorrow for the premiere of Soledad O’Brien’s groundbreaking new documentary, "Latino in America."
"Latino in America," hosted by acclaimed special investigations correspondent Soledad O’Brien, follows CNN’s highly successful "Black in America" series, and delves into what it means to be Latino in the 21st century United States. An in-depth examination of this growing and diverse segment of society, the documentary inspires viewers to rediscover how immigrants have shaped America.

“[Soledad O’Brien is] in command of her subject and [is] finely tuned to the nuances of assimilation, multiculturalism and changing notions of identity.”– The Baltimore Sun

You can explore "Latino in America" online, and watch new episodes on CNN tonight and tomorrow night at 9:00 PM ET.

One of the country’s most in-demand diversity speakers, Soledad O’Brien provides a unique perspective on America’s changing demographics. Contact me for more information on bringing her to your campus!

Best regards,

THEO MOLL
tmoll@kepplerspeakers.com

The Interdisciplinary Conference “Global Landscapes"

(Please note the link above.)

Global Landscapes: Ethics, Entrepreneurship, and Organizations in an Era of Global Economic and Financial Crisis

King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA
April 22-23, 2010
 
The interdisciplinary conference “Global Landscapes: Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Organizations in an Era of Global Economic and Financial Crisis” will assemble scholars, educators, graduate and undergraduate students, and community members interested in ethics, entrepreneurship, and organizations.
                                                   
The global landscapes conference is sponsored by The McGowan School of Business and The McGowan Ethics Center.  
The objective of this interdisciplinary conference is to promote ethics and deliberation about the ethics of the impact of entrepreneurs and organizations on individuals and communities around the world.
                          
The conference aims to bring together professionals, key decision makers, and leaders committed to ethics, development of entrepreneurship, and evaluation of the role of organizations during crisis.

“How Women Are Changing the World” Sabol Topic

Pamela Varkony, founder of “Power of Women”, a national networking, mentoring and education initiative that provides support for women to reach their goals, will deliver the Peace and Justice Center’s Twelfth Annual Barbara Sabol Memorial Lecture on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7 PM in the Burke Auditorium of King’s College’s McGowan School of Business.  Her topic is “Courage and Commitment: How Women Are Changing the World”.  Varkony, a nationally recognized writer and commentator is representing the Business Council for Peace (“B-Peace”), a UNIFEM/UN organization.  She is a pioneer in women’s empowerment, writing frequently on the subjects of gender, diversity, and their impact on business and government cultures.

Varkony is a member of “American Women in Radio and Television” and the “Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association” who recognized her with the 2008 “Excellence in Journalism” award for her editorial writing.  She is a recipient of the Athena Award for business achievement, the AAUW “Gateway Award” for leadership in women’s issues, and a “Woman of Distinction” award from the Girl Scouts.  For her work in with women in Afghanistan, she received the VERA Award from the Business Council for Peace.

The Barbara Sabol Memorial Lecture, which is free and open to the public, is named for a founding member of the Peace and Justice Center who died in 1997.

Previous presenters have included Roy Bourgeois, MM, John Dear, SJ, Colman McCarthy, Bob Edgar and David Kaczynski. 

The Peace and Justice Center is Northeastern PA’s interfaith resource center for issues of peace and justice. 

For more information, call 823-9977.

Are we…
RECOVERING FROM
RACISM ?

OPPORTUNITY:

You might be interested in an educational workshop for the community that will be provided on Saturday, October 24, 2009 by Pax Christi USA and Pax Christi of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

GOAL:

The goal of the workshop will be to prepare participants  - individuals who interact with the public on a regular basis, such as police, government workers, business persons, educators, medical personnel, clergy, students, etc. – with techniques they can use to react to racist comments and actions they confront in their daily lives and thus cooperate in a community-wide healing effort to recover from racism.  

PRESENTERS:

Presenters will include Bill Marx and Altonette Stone of PCUSA’s National Anti-Racism Team. Our special guest will be Rafael Samanez, Director of NY City’s VAMOS Unidos Project.

DETAILS:

The workshop will take place at Lackawanna College’s Lyceum (the former CYC). Registration will begin at 8 AM. The program will start at 8:30 AM and run ‘til 5 PM with a break for lunch (which will be provided). The workshop and lunch are free to members of our community.

REGISTRATION:

Space is limited. Register by October 15 by calling 570.558.5050, emailing joerogan@verizon.net, or writing to Pax Christi NEPA, P.O. Box 168, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

Group registrations are welcome.

  Pax
Christi
   NEPA

Made in LA,  an incredibly moving film, bilingual in English and Spanish is available through The Peace and Justice Center.

Made in L.A. is an intimate and inspiring Emmy-Award winning

documentary that follows the personal transformation of three

Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles sweatshops during

their three-year odyssey to obtain basic labor protections and

achieve personal dignity.

Made in L. A. has received a 2008 Emmy Award, and has received

numerous other international awards, including the Hillman Prize

for Broadcast Journalism, the Henry Hampton Award for

Excellence in Film and Digital Media from the Council on

Foundations, and the Ecumenical Jury Prize (SIGNIS) in Mexico.

Please E-mail The Peace and Justice Center if you are interested in hosting a viewing >>> peacewb@verizon.net

Dear friends and supporters of the Harrisburg Catholic Worker house,

I'm writing from our new e-mail address to invite you all to our informal fall open house, which will be held on Saturday, September 5th, between 9:30 am and 12:00 pm, including a group prayer at 11 am. Come by for to see our vegetable and flower gardens at their peak, or stop by just to catch up on the goings on of the house and neighborhood.

Since the latest update last fall (or so Naed says), the house has taken in five different guys for varying durations, in addition to our usual clothing, produce, furniture, and gardening hospitalities. In March, Naed traveled to Guatemala and El Salvador as a part of an international delegation for the purpose of monitoring and reporting fraud pertaining to the presidential election in El Salvador.

Following graduation from Messiah College in May, I (Francis Eanes) have been living in the house, helping facilitate a summer gardening program in the neighborhood. Parterning with Allison Hill Community Ministries, I started a garden on one of Hunter street's vacant lots (between 13th and 14th streets) and taught gardening lessons to the participating kids. The garden's produce (watermelons, pumpkins, carrots, onions, radishes,  lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, beans, squash, and various herbs) goes to the kids, their families, and to members of Allison Hill Community Ministries' food pantry.

In June, Joe Cassamasima (former teacher at Nativity School, across the street from us) moved in to help the Joshua Group (next door to us). In addition to tutoring the kids in the program and offering GED preparation, Joe is developing a curriculum that will integrate philosophy-based critical thinking skills into the current tutoring curriculum.

We hope to see you all Saturday. Pick an apple in the back yard 'n stay a while!

Francis, Joe, and Naed

[Please contact: info@opendoorcatholic.com ]

A note from our good friends at The St. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center,
 
Please, for more information, contact: info@opendoorcatholic.com

Two upcoming discussions.

A continuing Dorothy Day Discussion Series:

1.) a discussion on Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening at The Upper Room at 7 PM on Friday, September 25th

2.) A presentation and discussion on “Poverty and It’s Effects,” facilitated by Professor Tom O’Neill at 7 PM on Friday, October 23rd.

More will be forthcoming as we get closer to the dates to all that request more information.

May we keep each other in prayer that we might more fully live in God’s Kingdom in the everydayness of our lives -- Rev. James Michael Calderone.

The United Nations' International Day of Peace - marked every year on September 21 - is a global holiday when individuals, communities, nations and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace.

Established by U.N. resolution in 1982, "Peace Day" has grown to include millions of people around the world who participate in all kinds of events, large and small.

For 2009, this new Web site makes it easy to find and promote Peace Day events anywhere in the world.

Just click on "Participate!" to locate an event or post information.

And explore the rest of the site to learn more about Peace Day and how to get involved.

May Peace Prevail On Earth!

The Hazleton Area School District  would like to extend an invitation to parents and community leaders to come to hear a dynamic national speaker, Horacio Sanchez.

He will be providing a motivating talk for parents and community stake holders on Monday afternoon, August 24 at 1:00 p.m.

This presentation will be held in our large group instruction room of the administrative offices at 1515 W. 23rd Street. 

This presentation is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Horacio has been utilized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a consultant on resiliency and closing the achievement gap.  He will share information on improving student behaviors and improving academic performance for all students. 
Horacio's diverse education background has helped him merge research, science, and practice. 

His new book, A Brain-Based Approach to Closing the Achievement Gap, provides a blueprint to help school districts and communities close the achievement gap.

Please pass this invitation along to members of your organization and parent groups.

Dr. Deb Carr
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Hazleton Area School District
570-459-3111 Ext. 3124
carrd@hasd.k12.pa.us

1. Volunteer:

At the Peace and Justice Center, call us 823-9977, (we really need you!)

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