SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 9, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/13/14
In this edition:
*RIP Arlene Neuzil
*Johnson County Democratic Party Hall of Fame
*Hypocrisy
*Cannabis Oil
*Congrats Mike Hensch!
*Housing Trust Fund
*Project Green Garden Fair
*Bike To Work Week
*Did You Know?
*RIP Arlene Neuzil
Arlene
Neuzil, Democratic Party Hall of Famer and mother of Supervisor Terrence
Neuzil, passed away on Wednesday, May 7. Mrs. Neuzil was a nice lady and the
Board of Supervisors’ biggest fan – she watched every meeting! My thoughts and
prayers go out to the whole Neuzil family.
*Johnson County Democratic Party Hall
of Fame
The
Johnson County Democratic Party is holding its Annual Hall of Fame Awards on
Saturday, May 17 at 7pm at the Coralville Marriott.
Please
join us for coffee, desserts, and plenty of old war stories! A cash bar will be
available. Parking is available for a small fee on either end of the building.
The
Hall of Fame inductees for 2014 are: Patrick Hughes, Joe Johnston, Carol
Thompson, Dennis Ryan, David Osterberg, and Pat Cancilla. We hope you can join
us in recognizing this remarkable group!
Tickets
are available for a $25 suggested donation. People who cannot afford that
amount should still feel welcome to attend.
We
hope you will join us for a fun evening, and lend your voice to those who are
honoring these very deserving people. We look forward to seeing you!
*Hypocrisy
I
hate hypocrisy. I try to avoid being a hypocrite. I try to teach my children to
avoid hypocrisy. I rail against it when I see it. I often write about hypocrisy
in these weekly missives.
But
you know what? I am a hypocrite. And so are you. Try as we might, we are ALL
guilty of some level of hypocrisy.
I
was recently thinking about all the areas in which I am hypocritical, and I
think I have identified the area in which I am worst. That would be eating fast
food.
I
am an environmentalist. I know that the monoculture of corn and soybeans, too
often grown with supplemental nitrogen and foregoing best practices, is ruining
our soil and water. I know that this grain is then fed to animals that are too
often confined, mistreated, and over medicated. Trees get cut down so the
animals can graze. Too much fresh water is diverted to their needs. Those
animals then end up as fast food. The cycle is taking a toll on the planet. In
addition, fast food plays into the car culture that makes us all less healthy.
I
am a labor guy. I know that fast food workers are underpaid. They lack health
care insurance, sick leave, family leave, vacation time, holidays, full time
hours, pensions, and more. Their workplaces are often unsafe and unclean. They
cannot unionize. Meanwhile, fast food franchisees make millions.
Given
this, I should never eat fast food. But I do. Because in this area of my life,
I am a hypocrite. (Imagine ME having a food problem! Who woulda thunk it?)
I
am going to try to cut down on the fast food. I know I will not cut it out
100%. But I am going to cut down. We’ll see how I do.
I’d
like to think that the hypocrisy in my personal life does not seep in to my
voting record. We all know people in politics who behave hypocritically.
Unfortunately, it is all too common.
Meanwhile, how about you? Where are you most hypocritical? I’d
like to hear your thoughts!
*Cannabis Oil
You
may have heard that a few forceful Moms managed to get the Iowa Legislature to
approve the very limited use of cannabis oil to address epilepsy.
Wow!
Who are these moms? Can we get them to lobby on issues of economic and
environmental justice?
In
all sincerity, good for them. But what if…
*Congrats Mike Hensch!
I am very pleased to announce that Johnson County’s
Medical Examiner Administrator Michael Hensch has achieved recertification as a
Board Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI). The American Board of
Medicolegal Death Investigators is the organization that enforces rigorous
requirements and examinations for Board Certification.
This is a substantial professional achievement in
that this is the highest level of professional recognition for Medicolegal
Death Investigators. There are only four Board Certified MDIs in Iowa and 175
nationwide. Mike is a member of a select group, and Johnson County is lucky to
have him. Congratulations, Mike!
*Housing Trust Fund
The
Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County is celebrating its tenth anniversary on
Thursday, May 15 at the Lodge at Terry Trueblood Park from 4-6 pm with a short
program at 5.
I
have served on the HTFJC Board for three or four years, and I love the
organization! You have heard me say it before, and you will hear me say it
again: affordable housing is the number one concern facing Johnson County. I
urge you to learn more about the work of the HTFJC to address this concern.
*Project Green Garden Fair
The
2014 GREEN Garden Fair will be held May 10, from 9 - 11:30 a.m. at
Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The
2013 Fair
The 2013 fair raised over $30,000, which will be used for the
beautification and landscaping of public spaces in our community. The plants
sold at the Garden Fair are all proven
performers for our climate. They have
all been nurtured and donated by local folks. Local experts will be available
to answer your garden questions. Experts from Master Gardeners, Iowa City
recycling and composting, Department of Natural Resources, and other wildlife
experts, biologists, and foresters will be on hand.
Refreshments
will be available for purchase - coffee, muffins, sweet rolls, sweet breads and
the like; plus tables and chairs where you can take a break from your shopping!
Also, plant-sitting stations will be available where you can stow your boxes of
plant treasures while you talk to the experts, enjoy refreshments, or shop for
more.
*Bike To Work Week
May
12-16 is Bike To Work Week in Johnson County, and there is an amazing list of
events taking place! For a complete list, see: http://www.thinkbicycles.org/bike-to-work-week/
Meanwhile,
please allow me to call your attention to one event in particular: First, a Bike Commuter Breakfast, Tuesday, May 13 from 7-9 a.m., sponsored by Johnson County. Located at Johnson County Administration Building, 913
South Dubuque Street, Iowa City (rain location at parking ramp north of Health
and Human Service Building, 855 S. Dubuque St.). Hope to see you there!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Supervisor Rettig was the first openly gay individual to win election to
the office of County Supervisor.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 9:49 AM
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