Food Bank Needs Your Help

The Greencastle Antrim Democratic Club meets at the Greencastle Presbyterian Church. That's also the site for an important food bank for our community. Recently your editor made a donation to the foodbank and was told that the number of people requesting assistance had doubled. But, unfortunately, food bank contributions are down. Can you help? Please bring contributions for the foodbank to our next meeting or to the August 15th picnic. Dollars or canned goods or packaged goods such as cereal and pasta are welcome. If you cannot attend either meeting you can leave the contributions in the church office. Our neighbors need us!

Summertime and a Picnic is in the Works

Democrats all over Franklin County have been actively involved with rallies for health care and monitoring visits from our new Democratic Senator Arlen Spector. Our big summer event will be the Franklin County picnic. Don't miss it!

Saturday, August 15, 2009, Noon to 4PM
Amvets Picnic Pavilion 750 Fifth Avenue, Chambersburg, PA
Admission $12.00 per Adult Kids under 12 are FREE

Lunch catered by the Amvets and served at 12:30
Lots of fun including a political trivia contest, Bingo, and our famous 50/50 raffle.
Desserts (and baked goods) will be sold by the Women’s Democratic Club
Meet Local and Statewide Democratic Officials and Judicial Candidates.

Reserve for the 2009 Summer Picnic by August 6 by sending a check for each person in your party. Let us know how many kids under 12 will be in your party. Make check payable to the Franklin County Democrats and please mail to:

Paul Politis
357 Bluebird Trail
Greencastle, PA 17225

That's What I Call a Rally!

More than 400 people from every county in Pennsylvania rallied in the rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg for single payer health care for Pennsylvania. Check out the photos in our photos album courtesy of Jack Hendricks Fulton County Democrats.

Go to CSPAN to Hear Important Single Payer Testimony

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/06/10/HP/A/19615/HELP+Subcmte+Hearing+on+the+Single+Payer+Health+Care+Option.aspx

Single Payer Health Care Rally in Harrisburg

RALLY ON THE CAPITOL STEPS * HARRISBURG, PA.

JUNE 11, 2009 * 11 am – 12:30 pm
Entertainment begins at 11 am
Rally and Lobby Day For Pennsylvania Single-Payer Health Care

FILL THE CAPITOL STEPS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 11
(100 N. THIRD STREET)
SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW!
Pa. House Bill: 1660 and Pa. Senate Bill: 400
Speakers will include Donna Smith (star of Michael Moore’s “SiCKO”); Bill George (President Pa. AFL-CIO); Walter Tsou (nationally recognized expert and consultant on public healthcare reform and former Philadelphia Health Commissioner); Chuck Pennacchio (Executive Director of HealthCare For ALLPA

Learn More at: http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/home.php

Antrim Township Supervisors Forum

Nearly 80 people attended the Antrim Township Supervisors forum sponsored by the Greencastle Atrim Democratic Club. The Club was congratulated for holding the forum despite the fact that all the candidates were Republicans. The local Republicans did not hold such a forum. The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 19. There are no Democrats on the ballot but if ten people write in a name that person can be on the November ballot.

State Democratic Party Welcomes Specter Switch

"The Pennsylvania Democratic Party welcomes Sen. Arlen Specter with open arms as he has been a tremendous influence on Pennsylvania and has always voted his conscience for the good of his constituents."

"It was the Republican Party that abandoned Arlen Specter, not the other way around. He has been good for the commonwealth and has taken courageous stands, such as supporting President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan that is already helping hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians."
"While the endorsement process is, obviously, a long time from now, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party has a long-standing practice of supporting Democratic incumbents."

EARTH DAY FUN

Members of the Greencastle Antrim Democrats celebrated Earth Day by weeding the garden planted by community beautification activist Marie Eshleman at the entrance to I81 on East Baltimore Street. We brought perennials from our gardens, planted and marked the new plantings. The Echo Pilot has run photos taken by Dan Jordan. Participants included Karin Johnson, Anne Larew, Shari Morgan, John Gamble, and Ruth Jordan. Marie Eshleman showed up to cheer us on as did a traveling employee of the State environmental protection agency who applauded our efforts. If you are separating plants and want to add hardy perennials or bulbs to the garden please send an email or phone our contact numbers.

Check out Democracy Now

Here's a worthwhile website where you'll find interesting discussions on politics, education and other issue.
http://www.democracynow.org/email/story/9858

President Obama -- Educator

Our President has been working nonstop to educate and activate the American people. He wants us to hear his position on the budget, education, health care, energy and jobs. We may not always agree 100 percent, but it sure is wonderful to have a president that is knowledgeable, clear in his language and ideas and able to communicate with the people. You can listen to the internet town hall meeting by going to the White House web site.

Successful Forum Draws a Crowd

The jointly sponsored GreencastleAntrim Democrats and Waynesboro Democrats forum was a great success. The forum was praised by the large audience and the participants. Waynesboro attorney Clint Barkdoll did a superb job as moderator. You can check out the debate by viewing the video posted by the Herald Mail.
http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=218510&format=html

Gov. Ed Rendell Announces Web Site

You can track how Pennsylvania is spending its portion of the recovery package by logging on to a new website announced by the Governor. You can also sound off on proposed expenditures and recommend programs. You can also track when public hearings will be held on pending projects or programs.
http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt?