Letter to the Editor - Energy Conservation

In response to David Greer's letter to the Cambridge Star saying that we have problems with the government because we need to have more drilling to help lower the price of our domestic natural gas and oil, the following letter was sent: 

May 2012

Reduce Energy Consumption

Letter to the Editor from Barb Kruschel:

I wish to reply to David Greer's letter : "We Depend On Affordable Energy"

Our need for energy is great and it is bigger than a black and white "Democrat or Republican" thing.

I took a bus tour with East Central Energy last fall.  There are ways people can use renewable energies from the wind, the sun or from garbage for heating for electricity.  ECE currently has 80 per cent of its electric power coming from coal. Current coal technology has reduced emissions  from coal plants to one third of what they used to be. 

We can all try to reduce our energy consumption by purchasing energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, unplugging appliances not in use, and considering more efficient methods of heating and cooling our homes.  We can also try to figure ways to reduce our gasoline consumption with carpooling or public transportation or buying more energy efficient cars.

We need to be careful about the use of technologies and their effect on our planet.  Many people had their livelihood disrupted by the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and we don't need to see another one.

Carbon dioxide is not toxic, but we have too much of it, and it is raising the temperature of our planet.

In conclusion, I would say that yes, we need coal, and electricity and oil and power plants, but we also need to cut our consumption and find more efficient technologies to help protect our planet.  Without conservation and energy efficiency, we will still be stuck on a treadmill of importing oil form other countries.

Barb Kruschel

Cambridge

Jeske Noordergraaf to run for MN Senate seat in District 32

Dr. Jeske (Yes-ka) Noordergraaf, chair of the Sunrise Town Board, seeks election as the senator in Minnesota Senate District 32. Noordergraaf earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1993 she began her equine practice in Chisago and Isanti counties, establishing the respected Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services.

Noordergraaf lives with her husband Jim and son Clay on a farm in Sunrise. Jim is a traffic engineer with the US Department of Transportation and has served on the Chisago County Board of Adjustment and the Chisago County Planning Commission. Clay is a student at the Chisago Lakes High School. Shortly after making Sunrise their home in the early '90s, Noordergraaf ran for political office and became the first woman elected to the Sunrise Town Board. During her first term she helped initiate the Sunrise Township road maintenance program, which led to significant improvement in the quality of roads and snowplowing in the township.

When her son was born in 1996 she left public service to focus on family and the development of her equine business. Having personally won the battle against breast cancer, Noordergraaf fully understands the importance of strengthening health care for all Minnesota citizens. She remains committed to the fight against cancer by dedicating her time to the organization Relay for Life.

Noordergraaf returned to public office in 2010 where she was again elected to the Sunrise Town Board, currently serving as chairman. Noordergraaf is also involved in the Chisago County Association of Townships.

In 2011, Noordergraaf sold her ownership interest in Sunrise Equine to her associate Dr. Kirsten Frederickson. While still practicing equine veterinary medicine, Noordergraaf now steps up to serve Chisago and Isanti counties in Minnesota District 32.

Her 17-year experience as a successful business owner and job creator will be invaluable in the Senate as it considers decisions that impact entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“Education is very important to the future of Minnesota and to me,” Noordergraaf says. “Education has made Minnesota a great state. This strong education legacy has been the key to the success of this state over 100 years. We are home to 3M, Medtronics, Target, Cargill and other Fortune 500 companies because business looks for the key ingredient to success – a strong, skilled and educated work force. As senator I will work to make Minnesota stronger and more competitive. As a business owner and professional I know how important a well educated and motivated workforce is.”

Noordergraaf states, “My interest in serving in the Senate stems in part from my frustration of seeing all the fighting that is going on in the House and Senate rather than cooperation. When I go on veterinary calls, I often hear clients’ concerns that are not being addressed by our current legislators. I pledge to work hard in the Senate, to listen to all voices and make fair decisions.”

Noordergraaf was endorsed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) at its Senate District 32 convention on March 24, 2012.

Noordergraaf can be reached at jnoordergraaf@yahoo.com or at 651-242-6059 and contributions can be sent to:

Jeske for Senate at 39750 Poor Farm Rd, North Branch MN 55056.
Her web site is www.jeskeforsenate.com

Minn. DFL party endorses Nolan to oppose Cravaack

by Rupa Shenoy, Minnesota Public Radio
May 5, 2012


St. Paul, Minn. — The state DFL party has endorsed former congressman Rick Nolan to oppose Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack in the state's 8th Congressional District.
Nolan earned the endorsement over opponents including former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and former Duluth councilman Jeff Anderson.
Nolan won with 76 percent of the first ballot at the 8th District convention Saturday.
Nolan likely will still face two Democratic challengers in August.
In early March Clark said she would run in the DFL primary. Later the same month Anderson said he would also run in the primary rather than compete for the party endorsement. He said his support for the mining industry and job creation made the endorsement unattainable.
Nolan said he won't focus on the primary. "I'm not going to say an unkind word because I don't have a unkind thought about the potential primary opponents that I'm looking at here. There are plenty of things to bring to the voters attention on Chip Cravaack and that's where I'm going to focus my campaign," he said.
DFL party chair Ken Martin released a statement Saturday calling Nolan a proven leader who will work to create jobs.
Cravaack ran a low-budget campaign in 2010 and upset longtime Rep. Jim Oberstar.            

Hold Rep. Chip Cravaack accountable for his shameful vote against women.

Rep. Chip Cravaack has voted for shameful bills to redefine rape, defund Planned Parenthood, and to let women die. But you would think, in spite of his appalling record in the radical right's war on women, that he might have some concern for domestic violence survivors. Think again.

Just last week, Rep. Cravaack joined with the Tea Party majority in Congress and voted against considering renewal of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), an incredibly popular, successful, and (until now) bipartisan bill that has reduced domestic violence rates by 58% since it was first passed in 1994.

What was more important to Rep. Cravaack than funding programs to help the one in four American women who will suffer domestic violence in their lifetime? Ending Medicare as we know it.

That's right. Rep. Cravaack and Congressional Republicans voted against considering reauthorization of VAWA and instead proceeded to vote for the Ryan Budget, providing massive tax breaks for corporations and the rich at the expense of women, children, seniors and the poor.

Just a few years ago, this was not a controversial bill. In fact the last time the program was reauthorized it passed nearly unanimously through both the House and the Senate. But the political climate in Washington DC is much different now than it was just a few years ago with extremists like Rep. Cravaack voting with the Tea Party instead of his constituents on key bills like the Violence Against Women Act

At moments like this, we must raise our voices as constituents and hold our elected representatives accountable for their shameful votes.

Due to redistricting, the Chisago County DFL, the Isanti County DFL and DFL Senate District 17 have been disbanded. The new DFL Senate District 32 will represent most of Chisago and Isanti counties. The reorganization into DFL SD 32 took place March 24.  Click on "Officers, etc." above to go to the list of new officers and directors.