Progressive Wayne County
Good things are happening in Richmond and Wayne County, Indiana
Welcome to Progressive Wayne County, in Richmond, Indiana and Wayne County, Indiana! This site promotes and chronicles progressive ideas and efforts in the area. You can read the latest updates below, learn more about us, send us your news and events, consider becoming a contributing author, and check us out on Facebook and Twitter. Enjoy!
Bark For Life: A Great Event for People Who Love Dogs
Mar 27th
They lead a rough life
I’m a dog lover, most particularly my dogs Maddo and Marley. Maddo was the first addition, being just a puppy. His white dipped paws looked like little socks again his shiny black coat. I used to bring him to work and let him sleep in my lap. I would carry him around like a baby. I was madly in love with his cuteness.
Then came Marley, an addition solely based on the notion that Maddo needed a friend. That small, adorable little puppy had grown into a massive 75lb dog who wanted to play all day. Even after long walks, even after hours of catch, even after high speed chases for rogue socks he somehow snatched, the zest to play never ceased. So naturally, I thought Marley would be the solution to his tireless energy. I could have the companionship and protection of two dogs while each could share in the entertainment and love of their fellow canine. It was a win-win situation.
Rediscovering a Favorite Book
Mar 26th
I am not a science fiction fan by any means, but years ago I read an allegorical science fiction novel that left an impression on me. The book was about a planet with a group of Scholars and Technicians who kept knowledge of machines and metal away from the ordinary people. The people were to wait for the reappearance of the Mother Star before they could inherit the ancient knowledge. I had checked the book out of the Joseph Moore Elementary School library when I was in fifth or sixth grade. The book had challenging ideas and a memorable story.
Then again, it was not memorable enough. I had loved The Velvet Room and The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I remembered both the titles and the authors of those books. Why couldn’t I remember the name of book about the heretic Noren and his search for the truth about the Scholars and the Mother Star? Who was the author? I kept thinking of Susan Cooper, but that was wrong. Cooper had written Over Sea, Under Stone the first (and best) of The Dark Is Rising series. She did not write the one about Noren, however. I kept thinking that the book was found on the shelf not too far from The Dark Is Rising books and that the author’s first name began with the letter “S.”
A Retrospect on Eating Out
Mar 5th
Eating out is one of my favorite delights of life. Being a lifelong resident of Richmond, I cherish the places I’ve been a patron since childhood. A chocolate iced cupcake from Joy Ann Bakery has been a treasure my entire life. I frequented Main Street Diner with my father from a very young age (My sister, too, even before my time, when it was Alsop’s) and recently spent time there as a waitress. Breakfast happens to be my favorite meal of the day, and I have yet to find any breakfast that matches the quality and price of Mark and Rebecca Hoelscher’s establishment.
Of course this list would be incomplete without the mention of Clara’s Pizza King! As a child, no place was more majestic than Clara’s. What a great night it was if you, to the dismay of your sibling, got chosen to place the order on the telephone at your table. Not to mention the swinging benches suspended from the ceiling and the double decker bus (yes- bus!) inside the restaurant. To this day, I still enjoy Clara’s, although I’m not as excited to use the phone as I used to be.
Community supported agriculture news
Feb 20th
For those interested in sustainable agriculture isuses:
Kara Fitzgerald and Ryan Beauchamp, farmers and graduates of Earlham College, will be speaking about sustainable farming and their own experiences this Wednesday at 7 p.m., in Earlham’s Stout Meetinghouse. They started a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Vermont, only to have their fields destroyed during Hurricane Irene, when strong rains caused a nearby river to jump its banks and permanently take a new course right through their vegetable fields.
Also, local farmer Tom Cail is offering a CSA and herdshare. See the PDF brochure for more information about costs and what will be included. If you have any questions, you can contact him directly at (937) 437-1105 or cailtom@yahoo.com.
What Progressives Value
Feb 12th
I often hear the term “progressive” spoken with a sneer or in a way that makes it sound like a four-letter word. Writer Ann Coulter said, “You’ll find liberals (progressives) rooting for the savages against civilization.” Not that anyone should be too concerned about what Coulter says, but I think more than a few conservatives might want to associate themselves with her statement. For that reason, I will try to lay out a basic view of what progressives generally believe. Before I do that I’d like to make two points.
First, Indiana is generally a conservative leaning state. As such, the people who read this may not have a lot of truck with the points I hope to make. My aim, however, is not to convince you that my point of view is correct and yours is wrong. What I would like you to know is that progressives are not the red tailed, fire breathing, horned minions of Satan that Ann Coulter wants you to think we are.
Second, progressives don’t all think alike. Some are – shall we say – a little more progressive than others. In the same manner conservatives don’t all think alike. Some of them are – we can say – a little more conservative than some others. America makes room for all of us, and all of us contribute to the marketplace of ideas that permeate the air of a free nation. More >
Past, Present, or Future?
Feb 6th
Esther Griffin White
I often wonder about statements that romanticize the past. Politicians across the spectrum equally talk about the good old days, that we need to return to the days where everyone lived in harmony, crime was negligible, parents and children never found themselves at odds, and so on. I hear such talk at the local level and certainly the national level. Or sometimes you who that the past does not matter and is better left ignored and forgotten. Would returning to the past make life better? What about looking to the past for inspiration? Should we ignore the past so we can move on to the future?
This semester at Earlham College, a small group of students are tackling this issue head on. The students are researching Richmondite Esther Griffin White. Earlham has a significant amount of original manuscript material on Esther, and the students will also create an online exhibit that places Esther’s life into the context of the early twentieth century. Esther Griffin White was an outspoken writer, community activist, arts champion, and as George Blakey wrote in an excellent article about her, “an awakener of Hoosier Potential.”
The students find her “sassy”, “ahead of her times,” and “ a character.” They have wondered if Esther was born into the wrong era, or what she would have done with her life had she born into a time when women had more opportunities to pursue their interests. While admiring her, the students are also mindful of their own biases of wanting to like Esther: Esther was not perfect and could cause problems as much as she tried to solve them. The students are excited about finding ways to share what they have learned with the Richmond community outside of Earlham; the project is not simply a course they are taking for credit, but a way to engage and be a part of the city they have chosen to live in for four years.
The Republican Primary Picture Today
Feb 5th
Now the Republican nomination process is in full swing and candidates are doing battle. Since Indiana is one of the last states to hold a primary, typically Indiana voters have had little to say about who gets the nomination. This year it may be different. Many Republicans are not fully committed to frontrunner Mitt Romney. Following Romney’s win Florida, he is clearly the man to beat for the nomination, but if he stumbles or one of the other candidates catches on, Indiana’s 46 delegates might be the votes that swing the contest.
Now, the contest has come down to four candidates. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum could not win his last senatorial campaign and will surely fare just about as well in this race. Ron Paul has a small, very narrow, but enthusiastic, group of followers who will vote for him whenever or wherever he runs. Paul wants to take America back to the 19th century and he will never get very many people to vote for him.
Keep Dogs on a Leash
Feb 5th
As most people in my world know, I am a HUGE dog lover (and animal lover for that matter). Personally, I have three dogs of my own: Gizmo, Sebastian, and Abbey. All three of my dogs are my world, and I would do anything to keep them safe and healthy. This brings me to my topic for this post, controlling your dog.
Over the years, I have seen dog owners let their precious dogs just run loose around the neighborhoods of Richmond. My friends, this is VERY dangerous for your dog. Yes, you might have a wonderful dog that will eventually come back home; however, while your pooch is running the neighborhood, he or she might be hit by a car or taken by another person. Or worse, if your dog is not spayed or neutered, your male dog could either impregnate a female dog or your female dog can become pregnant. This means that you will become a puppy grandparent! Any of the three consequences to letting your dog run the neighborhood is not good.
