Wed, April 9, 2025

Written By MIchelle Zagardo

Hey hey!

I don’t know what you think you signed up for with this whole kindling scam but I can't imagine it's whatever it is we’re about to do here. Hit reply at any time and just shout “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

Quote of the week:
"I don't want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny -- Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear."
Margaret Chase Smith, Declaration of Conscience, June 1, 1950

The Dark
(Here are a few hard truths this week – but remember, we’re in this together!)

The Light
(Yes, good things are happening -- here’s proof!)

  • Thousands of people united around Maine (and across the country) to protest harmful policies from a fascist administration and the next protest is already scheduled for April 19.

  • Influential Trump supporters, like Joe Rogan, are speaking out against tariffs.

  • It's National Library Week and the Bethel Public Library wants to make sure you have a library card!

  • The sun is shining in Western Maine. Flowers are around the corner. The Spark Map is igniting.


Your Maine Action Kit
Pick one. Then go smell some pine trees.

  • Go to your local public library. Sign up for a library card. Ask what your membership gets you (in Bethel you get free tix to the Gem Museum sooo....). Check out a book. Your library needs you. 

  • Congress is voting on the SAVE Act which will dramatically limit voter rights by requiring documentary proof of citizenship (read: birth certificate) to register for federal elections. Call or write to Jared Golden and tell him to vote “No.”

  • Maine state legislators are considering rolling back vaccine requirements. Let your Maine state representatives know what vaccines mean to you.

  • Never contacted your elected officials before? You’re not alone! Start slow: get to know your Maine state and federal elected officials (representatives here, senators here). Grab a piece of paper (or pin a note on your notes app) and jot down the contact information for your Maine State Senator and your Maine State Representatives. Next week's blog post will be all about contacting elected officials -- and why it's so important!

For when it all feels like too much

  • Walk into the woods and scream into the wind .

  • Text a friend: ‘I’m thinking of you. Want to vent over coffee at the Gemini?’

  • Go down a Donny Pelletier rabbithole. [Warning: this is an IG link. Sorry not sorry.]

Mark your calendar

  • Wednesday, April 9, 5pm: Angus King is hosting a virtual town hall

  • Thursday, April 10, 12-5pm: Bethel Public Library Spring Fling (think: food, raffles, library card sign up, sidewalk chalk, general chaos, kids welcomed and encouraged)

  • Friday April 11, 8am: Submit order for the Local Food Connection (nobody asked but we get our eggs, yogurt, and kale each week through the LFC)

  • Saturday, April 12, 7pm: Lizzie No at The Gem Theater

  • Wednesday, April 16, 6pm: Mahoosuc Land Trust book club

  • Saturday, April 19: Next protest

  • Interested in signing up for a CSA? Local farmers need you.

Dive Deeper

Welp – we made it! If you're still here, hit “reply” and send me one small thing that gave you hope this week. I’ll feature my favorites in the next newsletter! (And if you’re too blah to answer? No pressure, just say “moose”. But pleeeassee: let me know you're out there.)


Til next week,
Michelle

Logistical things: 

  • Have news you want highlighted?

  • Have an event you want included in the roundup?

  • Have ideas I should hear?

  • Want to write my subject lines?

  • Find typos you think I care about?

  • Want to take over The Kindling and The Spark Map so I can get back to whatever it is I was doing last week?

But seriously. If it's anything except typos, reach out.

MIchelle Zagardo