What’s Happening?
Climate change is wreaking havoc in California. I will spend some time in the next several days doing some research so, in next week’s newsletter, I can recommend curated actions you can take to address this huge issue.
But, this week, I learned that there are only a VERY FEW days left to let your voice be heard by the EPA as to the ongoing use of leaded fuel in airplanes.
Why is this an issue?
Here is why, directly from the Earth Justice petition page:
While the use of leaded gasoline in most cars was banned 25 years ago, leaded aviation gasoline is still used in nearly 170,000 piston-engine aircraft across 20,000 airports. EPA estimates that emissions from these airplanes account for about 70% of lead released into the atmosphere.
The EPA has opened a comment period on its proposed endangerment finding on leaded avgas, which is the first step in the process to regulate lead pollution from piston-engine aircrafts. This proposed endangerment finding comes after over a decade of petitioning by community groups represented by Earthjustice. Send a letter to the EPA today to advocate for regulating this common source of lead pollution!
Over 5 million people, including more than 360,000 children under the age of 5, live near at least one of the airports where piston-engine aircraft operate, according to the EPA. Multiple studies have shown that children who live near these airports have higher levels of lead in their blood. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Even in tiny amounts, children exposed to lead can suffer permanent and irreversible harm to the central nervous system, resulting in maladaptive behaviors, learning difficulties, mental illness, hearing and speech impairments, developmental delays, and other lifelong impairments. Most of the airports with the highest lead emissions are in communities of color.
This is not the first-time petition groups have filed on this issue which is why it is important to weigh in on this proposed endangerment finding. Tell the EPA to finalize this endangerment finding as soon as possible and quickly transition away from leaded avgas.
What to Do?
You know what to do. Here is the link to click and sign!
https://earthjustice.org/action/tell-the-epa-to-ban-leaded-aviation-gasoline
What’s the Use?
I shared this information in the 11/17/2022 newsletter, but in case you missed it, here it is again:
This excerpt from the Earth Justice alert page describes how just signing one of their petitions helps:
Your Action Matters
Public comments make a difference, even if we have leaders who don’t want to listen. Here’s why:It’s the law.
Federal agencies must pause what they’re doing and ask for — and consider — your comment.Your action is with us in court.
If a federal agency finalizes a harmful action, the record of public comments provides a basis for bringing them into court.You level the playing field.
Elected officials pay attention when they see that we are paying attention.
And, in case you have not yet signed the petition:
https://earthjustice.org/action/tell-the-epa-to-ban-leaded-aviation-gasoline
😊
What to Read?
It has been a number of years since I re-read The Book of Lights by Chiam Potok for the umpteenth time, but I came across my very dog-eared copy in my bookcase the other day and now have it in my current “To Read” pile.
I first read it as a graduate student while taking an independent study class with Professor Carol Ochs at Simmons College in the early 1980s. I remember tearing through the book the first time because I was enthralled by the story. Subsequent readings took much longer and resulted in many pages being covered with notes.
But, along with inspiring much thought as to the meaning of light, the human condition, and the question of good and evil, it’s a darn good story. I highly recommend it.
Here is an excerpt about the book from Kirkus Reviews:
The quiet, questing hero here is Gershon Loran, "a scared twentieth-century Jew with visions." His parents were killed in a riot while on a 1930s land buying trip to Israel; he's grown up in Brooklyn with his uncle and aunt, fragile beings shattered by their son's WW II death. So by now, circa 1950, Gershon has turned inward, away from the horror—to the study of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism); at a N.Y. seminary, he becomes the protege of a great Kabbalist, spurning an equally great sage of Talmud (a more worldly, law-oriented field of study). But Gershon's roommate at the seminary turns out to be a boozy embodiment of the horrors from which Gershon is fleeing: he is Arthur Leiden, the handsome, joking, guilt-wracked son of a key A-bomb physicist.
It is way more of a page-turner than you might think from this description. 😉
BONUS!
Since, for some reason, this is one of the few of Mr. Potok’s books not on Bookshop.org, I ended up wandering around the Internet to see where it is available. (Okay, of course, it is on Amazon, but we all know that.)
Here is a very cool site that I found:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/
What a great site!
FYI, I of course did some research to make sure it is not owned by an evil corporation or the like, and found that it was started as a hobby by a book enthusiast and is now run by him and 29 family and friends employees. How cool is that? 😊
You can read about it here: https://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/reference/fantastic-fiction/
Here is what another library says about Fantastic Fiction:
Fantastic Fiction is a website that our staff loves to use to help patrons see what book comes next in the series, what the newest book in the series is, and when the next book will be published. If you search for an author you can see all of the series written by that author and read a short description of their history! Source: https://www.cityofzeeland.com/382/Series-Lists-and-Book-Websites
An additional bonus is that each book page includes sources for purchasing the book. Be sure to scroll down for all the used book options!
Here is the direct link to the Fantastic Fiction page for The Book of Lights:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/chaim-potok/book-of-lights.htm
I hope you get yourself a copy and enjoy it!
What’s Cooking?
Last week I shared my own recipe for chicken stock from a whole chicken. As a matter of fact, I just today made soup from what was left of the stock and the chicken meat after using most of it in a chicken pot pie mixture I split between my household and that of a friend. It was delicious! Just slice up a carrot, a celery stalk, and half an onion and add to 4-5 cups simmering stock, add 1-2 cups chopped cooked chicken once the veggies are cooked, and season to taste. Easy peasy.
Now I need to share that chicken pot pie recipe I discovered last weekend! Here is the link to the recipe I used:
https://www.thelifejolie.com/chicken-shepherds-pie-recipe/#recipe
I’ll tell you right now that it is my new go-to recipe for chicken pot pie! I didn’t do the mashed potato/shepherd’s pie part as I served mine over biscuits. But it would work fine with a crust or over noodles or rice, too. Just do NOT leave out the white wine! It has “(or broth)” after the wine in the ingredient list. Unless you are not able to include wine when cooking, make sure you have some handy.
CAVEAT: I of course can’t guarantee yours will be out of this world unless you use the stock and meat from a freshly poached chicken. Although, I bet using Better Than Bouillon (You can get it anywhere, I just thought I’d give a plug for Vitacost, one of my favorite online stores) for the stock and meat from a cooked rotisserie chicken from your local market might just do the trick as well. 😊
What Else?
Last week my heart was full of sadness due to the death of Carl Wickstrom, a friend and former choirmate. This week, my heart is full of happiness due to great news about a friend’s cancer surgery. No more cancer and life back to normal by or before the summer! YAY!!!
But what an ordeal. I have some advice for you no matter what medical issue you may have:
Always get a second opinion and find a doctor who makes you feel comfortable and confident that you have a chance to regain your health.
Cancer is such a prevalent force in our world these days. It is easy to feel powerless to do anything to help a family member or friend that is suffering from this horrid disease.
I have found that the best way to help is to offer specific things: a meal, and include a few options, so you don’t put your heart into preparing something that is not something eaten by the person or family. Or give days/times of the week you can run errands, visit, take the dog for a walk, or give a ride, etc. If you have a friend undergoing weekly or more chemo, offer to coordinate a ride pool, so the patient or just one other person does not have to do all the driving. Or, something that you know will be of help. But offering specifics is better than saying “let me know if I can be of help.”
And, here is a list, curated by Charity Watch, of donation-worthy organizations that are working to cure cancer or that support cancer patients:
https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities/cancer
You may have another favorite organization that is not on this list, but, if not, the ones on this list come up on multiple curated lists, so I have full confidence in the organizations on this list. But, let me know if you have solid info as to otherwise. The more people checking things out, the better.
Here’s another thing about cancer, or any illness. Sure, there are lifestyle choices that can increase your chances of getting ill. But, no lifestyle choice will guarantee that you will or will not get ill. It just does not work that way.
I have now added doing some research as to the power of positive thinking and prayer (the latter in the context of positive thinking versus celestial intervention) on my list due to having read some interesting articles in the past. But, I will say adamantly that I can’t stand the Louise Hay ilk of the “you cause your own illness” philosophy. What a miserable idea to purport.
So, now, how do I end this newsletter?
We do the best we can. (Not an original line)
Living is hazardous to your health. (Mine. I have been saying it for decades and as of this evening, don’t see it anywhere else. 😊)
And, here is a picture of Gracie Rose. Because a smile can never hurt.
Be kind,
Wendy