It’s now noon on Saturday, May 17th, and Jon Powers is on his way to Warsaw, NY to attend another canvassing event at 12:30. Noticing the grueling schedule Powers keeps I ask him if he has time for hobbies: “I used to ski in winter and I played rugby in school, this year it’s campaigning.”

Indeed. Powers is aptly named, powering through the day, going out to meet voters daily, whether by door-to-door canvassing, attending house parties, which Powers enjoys since he can hear personal stories more readily, or fundraising events and local clean up work. The hard work is paying off. At the earlier meeting in Batavia that morning, Lorie Longhany noted that Powers’ name recognition is soaring compared to just a month ago.

I asked his father Bill what advice he would offer his son and he said “Stay himself.” Powers seems to be listening because everywhere we went people said what they liked about Powers is his down-to-earth nature and how he looks people in the eye while they are sharing their personal stories with him. When I asked Powers what recent personal story had affected him the most he said that a man he spoke with who had an operation to remove a lung had to mortgage off his house because his insurance company dropped him due to the high costs of the operation. Stories like these motivate Powers as he continues on his marathon pace.

We arrived in Warsaw to a room of about 20 volunteers, including one intern from Perry High School named John McKay. When asked why he was volunteering for Powers, McKay said that he heard about him from Connie English, a political activist in Geneseo, and he was impressed. The grassroots effectiveness of Powers’ campaign is evident as we travel from town to town, empowering people from high school as well as those in their seventies and older.

Powers addressed the volunteers in Warsaw stating that “Grassroots leads to real leadership. We want to keep you guys together when this is all done. We want to take service back to this community.”

And just in case you’re wondering, Powers also has a lighter side that really resonates with voters. When ending the Warsaw speech he said:

“Warsaw has a 3:1 ratio of cows to people. If you can get the cows to vote, do it.” The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter as they hit the streets, boots on the ground.

Meanwhile, Powers headed back to Batavia for yet another event…

Posted without comment:

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and China have both undermined efforts to tighten rules designed to ensure that lead paint isn’t used in toys, bibs, jewelry and other children’s products.

Both have fought efforts to better police imported toys from China.

[snip]

The Bush administration has hindered regulation on two fronts, consumer advocates say. It stalled efforts to press for greater inspections of imported children’s products, and it altered the focus of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), moving it from aggressive protection of consumers to a more manufacturer-friendly approach.

To fight lead here at home, check out the local Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning, and join with their “Lead Safe by 2010″ campaign.

This may demand a multipart Better Know A Wedge series: there is now a South Wedge farmer’s market.  Our friends at Mustard St. Press have the details:

 ….the newest addition to the South Wedge community will be the South Wedge Farmers Market, Thursday nights starting June 14th, from 4 to 8 in the lot behind the Boulder Coffee Company. Boulder Coffee is at the corner of South Clinton and Alexander.

(snip)

Mayor Duffy will kick off the Market’s opening day on June 14th with a “Vine Cutting” ceremony at 4 pm.

This is something that’s going to be much more than a place to buy your veggies and fruit. The market will feature local artists, musicians and special events.

For more information contact swfarmersmarket@gmail.com, or call 546-7507.

Better Know a Wedge is a weekly series conducted on RT to highlight independently-owned shops, organizations, and community leaders who comprise the South-Wedge Community.

The Invite:

Event Flyer

Check out T H R E A D for cool Made in USA fashions!

Who says Rochester has no fashion sense?!

Scoping the Scene:

[ev type="youtube" data="Ci7MnnSSVYE"][/ev]

Mr. Money and Mr. Hunt with Co-Owners of Thread

Check your closet. Most likely your dollars were spent on socks, undies, shirts, blouses, and dresses which are made in China, India, Phillipines or anywhere except USA.This is hardly the case at our next tour stop Thread.

Here you can purchase environmental friendly, edgy and super stylin ‘Made in the USA’ clothes-novelty items-hand made jewelry from Rochester, Finger Lakes, Brooklyn, San Francisco…

Meet co-owner Mike Ford as he gives RT a tour:

[ev type="youtube" data="TA1z9DSwaVY"][/ev]

There are wonderful alternatives such as Thread and hey you can look absolutely fabulous while making your political statement!

T H R E A D

654 South Avenue
Rochester, NY
585-232-7110

t h r e a d

UPDATE 5/14: I tried compressing the original video a second time on Youtube and still looks crappy. Me thinks Youtube or my camera needs to be modified in settings. Directions don’t do jack. The film was shot at 640×480 (whic is its max capacity) if anyone is curious.

Thats the best I can do at the moment unless this bug is fixed.

Reminds me of the time Rumsfield said ‘”As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want.”

Thanks for the heads up DragonFlyEye.