Yanah G. Cook running for Pierce County Council, District 3

Posted on May 6, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

Yanah G. Cook, a Democrat who resides in McKenna, is seeking the seat at the Pierce County Council for District 3, the region that encompasses all of South Pierce County.

This chair is being vacated by Jim McCune, who is termed-limited and now running for Washington State Senate in the 2nd Legislative District. Cook is challenged by GOP candidate Amy Crouver, who was McCune’s long-time executive assistant.

Although District 3 includes the Cities of Eatonville and Roy, and parts of the City of Orting, much of the district is comprised of rural, “non-incorporated” areas of Pierce County, such as Graham, Frederickson, and McKenna, along with Elbe and Ashford. As such, the councilmember who holds this office is the only elected official representing these residents at a local level. In effect, Ms. Cook is running to be the “mayor” of these areas. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Environment, Graham News, Health, Politics, preparedness, Self Reliance, Smoke, Spanaway | 3 Comments

Quarantining in New York – a personal account

Posted on April 28, 2020 by brucesmith49

Special to the Mountain News from our contributor, Rachel Holtzman, who has been in quarantine since early March at her home on Long Island, NY.

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Covid ala Altamont Avenue

The red sweatshirt or the New York Liberty one?

Mock chopped liver or the faux seafood salad?

Channel 23 or Channel 12?

Call Brian back or empty the dishwasher?

Clean out my closet?

Reorganize the panty shelves?

Maybe I should try to write something. . . Continue reading →

Posted in Barbara Jean Heller, Covid-19, Rachel Holtzman | Leave a comment

A Covid Journal – Day 39 – April 18, 2020 – America prepares to re-open, or not

Posted on April 19, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

The big question pounding in everyone’s brain this week is: When can I leave my house and get back to my life? Politically, it is the dominant subject and two routes are emerging.

One path forward is the safer bet via testing, tracing, and isolating identified Covid-positive people. This is the scenario championed by the break-away states forming coalitions led by Democratic governors, such as New York’s Andrew Cuomo and his neighboring states of CT, NJ, PA, DE, RI, and MA. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Environment, Self Reliance | Leave a comment

A Covid Journal – Day 28 – April 7, 2020 Dark Days and Bright Sunshine

Posted on April 7, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

The US Surgeon General, Admiral Jerome Adams, and President Trump are calling these next two weeks our darkest hours, forecasted to be filled with death and suffering, and comparable to “our Pearl Harbor.” Their mortality estimates range from 100,000 to 240,000, and the current death toll in the US is nearly 11,000. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Graham News, Health, Self Reliance | 1 Comment

Mah nish tanu: Why is this night different from all other nights, (or days)? – Passover in Quarantine

Posted on April 3, 2020 by brucesmith49

Special to the Mountain News, from contributor Rachel Holtzman

Editor’s Note: America may not be “raring to go,” as the President as hoped a few weeks ago, but Easter and Passover are upon us.

Passover is a unique religious celebration, as it takes place exclusively in the home with extended families gathered together. This year that will not happen. Will Jewish families ZOOM their Seder meal, as the Passover feast is termed? Or gather in onesies and twosies, or three or four at safe social distance, whatever number folks have selected for their quarantine? Regardless, Rachel Holtzman offers her perspective.

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By Rachel Holtzman

“… And it is the responsibility of every Jew to perform this Seder as if you were at Sinai

“… And you shall wash your hands before eating of the bitter herbs and before the festive meal

“… And you shall tell the story to your children, of freedom from the plague that beset Pharaoh. (Well, close to it anyway.)

“… And so it is written.”

… That it came to pass that the Chinese let loose upon this nation a terrible pestilence – (NO, NO! The Chinese didn’t cause it.) They were mightily stricken and thousands died.

But, the Great and mighty Pharaoh, in all of his wisdom, summoned a Fox to send out a decree from his castle of Mara Lago gold, that the nation need not fear as we, his people, at least the ones who love him and wear his stupid little red baseball cap, are definitely safe, for who ever heard of anything like a virus you can’t even see, swim across the Atlantic Ocean. What? It’s the Pacific? What difference does it make anyway? It’s a lot of water. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Rachel Holtzman, Spirituality | 1 Comment

Remembering Wauwepex

Posted on April 1, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

Editor’s Note: One of the most pleasant parts of our current Covid Quarantine is strengthening old friendships. For me, that has been connecting with my ol’ Boy Scout buddies. Most of us met at our summer camp on Long Island, NY, a place called Wauwepex. The Mountain News has featured parts of the following tale, but I thought it was time to tell the whole story. Please know that some names have been changed to maintain privacy.

Wauwepex was the Boy Scout camp that saved my life growing up. Or at least my soul. It was a place I loved, and still do, but it was also a place where I felt absolutely alive as a kid, and true to myself.

I’ve come to realize its value to me as an adult because nowadays many of my memories of camp trigger regrets or shame, which I didn’t feel at the time of the particular incidents. In meditation today, I realized that Wauwepex was the place I could safely make mistakes, even big ones—and grow up. Continue reading →

Posted in Boy Scouts, Covid-19, Culture, Environment, Folk tales and stories, Life Stories -For Mind and Soul, Stories from my Life, Stories from the Jounrey, Wauwepex | 7 Comments

A Covid Journal – Day 20 – “Hello in There” poignant testimony as singer-songwriter John Prine critically ill with Covid – Monday, March 30, 2020

Posted on March 30, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

Despite his chemo this week, my buddy James has recovered sufficiently to send me a missive informing me that sing-songwriter John Prine is critically ill with Covid-19. In addition, Prine’s wife, Jane, has also tested positive for the virus. The latest news states that John entered a hospital on Thursday and was admitted to the ICU on Saturday night.

This news is hitting me hard. John Prine may not be a world-famous singer, but to me he is a solid artist and his illness is the first celebrity or person known to me contracting Covid. I consider Prine’s music to be a celebration of America’s Average Joe, and akin to Woody Guthrie. As such, I hold his songs dear, especially “Hello in There.” Joan Baez feels the same way, apparently, and today released a YouTube tribute to John featuring his signature song. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Eatonville News, Family, preparedness, Self Reliance | 2 Comments

A Covid Journal – Day 17, Friday, March 27, 2020: Dylan’s dirge strikes a chord in quarantine

Posted on March 27, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

Bob Dylan released a new song today titled, “Murder Most Foul.” It’s a studio production of Bob’s stream of consciousness review of all the dramas of the past fifty years, starting with JFK’s assassination. As such, it’s dirge-like and sad. But it touches some deep feelings that may be obscured by our current boredom or fear of Covid.

In fact, I’m writing these words as I listen to Bob’s dirge a second time. The first time I had to abandon it because it was too depressing.

But the piece awakens something that is real and important. Perhaps vital. Maybe others will experience something similar. I don’t think I am alone, and Dylan may have sensed that today was a good time to release this recording. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Nature, Politics, Self Reliance | 4 Comments

A Covid Journal – Day 15, Wednesday, March 25, 2020 – Contributors come forward with songs, stories, and creative ideas to help us cope

Posted on March 25, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

As I go into my third week of selective self-quarantining, I am amazed at the outpouring of creative tips from around the world on how to stay safe and sane. These welcomed suggestions range from Neil Diamond strumming his guitar in an official Public Service Announcement (PSA) to state-sponsored mealtime etiquette videos from Thailand.

So, grab your guitars – and maybe a box of Kleenex – and let’s start singing. Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Health, Politics, preparedness, Self Reliance | 1 Comment

A Covid Journal – The Great Calm: Day 13, Monday, March 23, 2020

Posted on March 23, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith

As my second week in quarantine comes to a close, I feel a great calm emerging upon the land. Life is simpler, the world quieter. There is less traffic, less air pollution, less hustle and bustle. Maybe people are stressing less in some collective way – saying goodbye to the gotta get to work, gotta pay the bills, gotta take care of the kids hub-bub and just focusing on the basics of life, like food.

These past two weeks, I’ve driven to Eatonville every three or four days to get meds or food, and I can see Mount Rainier more clearly. All of nature seems in sharper focus to me. Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Covid-19, Culture, Graham News, Kapowsin, Mount Rainier, Nature, Politics, Self Reliance | 6 Comments