Also on today’s menu:
Blocked By Health Conditions, Republicans, Cote Resigns
UNH Terminates Therapeutic Equine Program
First UPS Strike In 25 Years May Be On Its Way
The Rainbow Family Gathering, a loosely organized collection of people from around the world who gather each year to pray for world peace, met this year in the Kilkenny Area of the Androscoggin Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest in Berlin and Randolph. The Gathering is a utopian-inspired coming-together of people who share the same ideals — escaping from modern society, capitalism, and materialism in an atmosphere of unity and peace. Some gatherers believe it to be a manifestation of a bright new consciousness, as a tribe ready to begin a New Age on the planet, meeting ancient Hopi prophecies.
Gatherers sing, dance, cook, share experiences, attend workshops, and live in the spirit of one giant family. They meet somewhere around the globe every year, usually in remote forests. The first gathering was near Strawberry Lake in the Arapaho National Forest in 1972. The gatherings allow no commerce or alcohol, and no one is in charge. Because of the lack of leadership, no noncommercial group use permits were sought from the U.S. Forest Service.
According to authorities, there were about 2,200 members during the peak of activity on July 4, but because the Rainbow Family had not obtained a special use permit, rangers issued 121 violation notices to those illegally camping. Almost half of the violations involved the use of illegal drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Thirty-seven of the citations were resolved by the defendants agreeing to pay fines ranging from $25 to $200 per violation, while 58 violations were dismissed. Twenty-four of the cases were unresolved because the individuals failed to appear.
Blocked By Health Conditions, Republicans, Cote Resigns
Longtime state representative David Cote (D-Nashua) has resigned following a year in which he was unable to cast any votes because of chronic health conditions that prevented him from attending sessions in person and House Republicans’ refusal to allow remote participation.
Cote, who has served in the House of Representatives since the 1980s and was in Democratic leadership positions, was never sworn in after winning the 2022 election because the possibility of exposure to COVID-19 would put him at “extreme risk.”
Cote joined a federal lawsuit backed by Democrats in 2021, seeking the right to participate in House sessions remotely and citing the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case remains unresolved.
UNH Terminates Therapeutic Equine Program
The University of New Hampshire is no longer accepting new students for several equine programs, including equine-assisted activities and therapies. The university said it will introduce a new animal sciences degree option this fall that “includes equine-specific classes with strong hands-on components.”
Cindy Burke, who resigned as director of the therapeutic riding program and affiliated classes after being involved in the program since 2002, said the equine riding program disappeared from her course load in the spring, and the university moved donations that were targeted for the therapeutic riding program into a general fund where any department in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture could access the money.
Robbin Ray, speaking for the university, said it anticipates spending the money by the end of the summer, in part by buying a new horse. “The new program, animal science: equine studies, will officially launch in fall 2023,” she said in an emailed statement.
First UPS Strike In 25 Years May Be On Its Way
Companies that rely on UPS to get their products to customers are anticipating a significant disruption in deliveries after talks between UPS and its workers in the United States broke down. If workers go on strike, it would be the first time in more than 25 years.
The two sides have been negotiating for months over demands such as higher pay and better work conditions. Workers say changes are due after the surge in shipping during the pandemic.
UPS delivers more than 20 million packages a day in more than 220 countries around the world.
Café Chatter
On Free Speech Upheld: The issue with the 1st amendment and social media. The first amendment has nothing to do with truth and how, “alternative facts”, lies, are spread. It would be lovely if Americans had the ability and time to research messaging. But, they don’t. Or, just do not. For complicated reasons. I like the scene in the Blues Brothers movie with the Nazi’s. Just how do we combat this without stepping on the 1st amendment. I don’t have an answer. But, to restrict talking to companies … isn’t that a restriction on free speech? I am very confused about this world.
— Candace Skurnik
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