Thursday, July 5th, 2012

THE HISTORY OF July 5th, I'm ___________________ .

And I’m____________________ Today in 1933: Chicano berry pickers in California's San Gabriel Valley win their strike for higher wages and union recognition. Organized by the communist-led “Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union”, the strike started in May when thousands berry pickers walked off the strawberry fields in El Monte, protesting a wage rate of nine cents an hour.


The growers attempted to break the strike with violence. Yet in spite of intimidation, vigilante action, and the awesome task of picketing along a one hundred-mile front, the laborers have prevailed. The union will go on to lead California's labor movement through 37 other strikes during the Depression.

Thursday, July 5th, 2012

It's today’s Action Calendar!

Unity Church of Madison and Working Bikes Cooperative are holding a Bike Drive. Bicycles or bike parts, even broken or rusty, will be fixed and redistributed. Working Bikes Cooperative is a not-for-profit which diverts bikes from the waste stream and sends them to countries throughout the world to support sustainable development.  The Bike Drive is this Saturday at the Water Walk Community Festival in Winnequah Park in Monona. For more info, contact Bill or Jeanie at 226-8738.

Dane County CASA presents “2012 Stand Up For Kids!” featuring Chicago’s legendary comedy     theatre troupe, The Second City, on Friday, July 13 at the Majestic Theater. In addition to the show, the event will feature a silent auction, a decadent dessert buffet and an after-party with dancing, hosted by DJ Nick Nice.  Silent auction items will be listed on the Dane County CASA website two weeks before the event. More info and advance tickets at danecountycasa.org.

This Saturday, the Wisconsin Daylily Society is hosting its annual self-guided garden tour featuring seven fabulous gardens.  Admission is free and the public is encouraged to view the expansive array of colors, shapes, sizes, and varieties of daylilies.  In addition to the daylilies, you will also enjoy seeing how the gardeners have incorporated other plants, trees, water features and garden art.  The owners will be available to answer any questions.  This is Saturday from 9AM to 4PM rain or shine. For more info and directions, go to wisdaylilysoc.org.