Local
Catch up with Simply Living’s founding member Chuck Lynd — a lifelong advocate for local economies, sustainability, and the power of community to shape a just future.
The Early Years
Few people embody Simply Living’s mission as fully as Chuck Lynd — longtime board member, community organizer, and local economy advocate. Chuck’s journey from small-town Ohio to the frontlines of social and environmental change offers a model of what it means to “live simply so that others may simply live.”
“I was very lucky to grow up in a loving family in Ironton, a small town on the Ohio River. My parents grew up during the depression and my brother and sister and I were all born during WWII, while my dad worked double shifts at Armco Steel. Later my dad owned the Ironton Book Store, which also sold office supplies, typewriters, gifts and dishware. From age 11 though high school I worked at the store and learned everything about running a retail store, and even kept the books. This experience gave me a good work ethic and influenced my love of local economics and my involvement in helping start the Clintonville Community Market.”
I hadn’t heard Sawyer Fredericks. I saw Sawyer’s farm strum was scheduled at Rhumba Cafe October 21st, 2025. The email said Sawyer Fredericks won on the Voice in 2015. Pharrell coached Sawyer into victory.
I pondered. Pharrell brought us the Clipse. Pharrell produced NORE. I love Nothin, I love Drink Champs. “Homeboy I Came To Party. Your Girlfriend Was Looking At Me.”
I revisited The Clipse new record, Let God Sort Em Out. Which feature y’all like best: Kendrick, Nas or Tyler? I pressed play on Sawyer Fredierck’s newaest album…No Need To Wonder.
Pharrell wasn’t involved but Sawyer’s politics seemed correct. Sawyer Fredericks – I read online 11-14 million people watched season 8 of the Voice in 2015. I haven’t seen this show.
I watch Democracy Now, Fallon and Rick+Morty. I found Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny is fun because it’s like the real X-Files.
I love NORE. Sawyer Fredericks, I saw Pharrell was your coach for Season 8 of the Voice. I like the Clipse, and Nore.
Are there suggestions Pharrell made which assisted your victory from the Voice?
Athens County’s new treasurer, Taylor Sappington, has chosen not to reinvest the $300,000 Israel bond of county funds that came due October 1. In a memo (attached) to Athens County Commissioners, he explained: “On October first, $300,000 in our tax dollars matured from an Israel Foreign Government Bond alongside a domestic government debt maturity of nearly $1,000,000. I directed our investment firm to reinvest these dollars as close to home as possible, defined as investing in our region or state if rates and the market would allow for it. But beyond the geography, the decision was backed by the recommendations and advice of Meeder [Investment Management] who see the bonds’ downgrades and negative financial outlook as risky for public entities at the moment.”
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 4:30 – 5:30 PM
349 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
If you think the U.S. is rapidly moving in the wrong direction with healthcare cuts, rising prices, student loan changes, corruption, loss of rights, eroding democracy, personal data collection, tariffs and massive funding for a militarized police force... Say Something! Join our rally on the South Side. Gather at the corner of Grant and Livingston!
#Nuclear War, #Armageddon, #Doomsday Clock, #Nuclear Waste, #Nuclear Meltdown, #Nuclear Arms Treaty, #Nuclear Disarmament; et al
You probably haven’t read much in depth news coverage about nuclear war, right? Nuclear holocaust, like Climate Change and the possibility of an uninhabitable earth for human civilizations — or is it the probability? or inevitability? Both “topics” are too big, too scary, and most eyes and ears would likely ignore the “story” or change the channel.
And yet, we are all aware of these topics. Putin and Trump both make threats about the escalation beyond drone warfare, the new norm, to the use of “small scale” or “tactical” nuclear weapons designed for battlefield use rather than strategic destruction, with yields from less than 1 kiloton (1000 tons of TNT) to tens of kilotons. How small are these weapons, you might ask? They’re small enough to be deployed by individual soldiers.
I love Chinese food, but I have standards. What if there was a Chinese restaurant a mile away and rated 2 stars? NOT A CHANCE. No matter how hungry I might be, it’s worth it to drive farther for better Chinese food.
Why then, do we KEEP SETTLING FOR LESS? Recently, Columbus City Schools were rated overall as a TWO-STAR SCHOOL DISTRICT by the State of Ohio.
The Columbus City School Board has three Board of Education positions open for election this November 4. Every election we keep voting for the approved Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) “endorsed candidates.” And for all of our loyalty, our schools earn TWO STARS. No, it’s not the fault of the teachers or the students. It’s a MONOPOLY OF FAILED LEADERSHIP.
Politicians and education don’t mix
Wednesdays, October 15 and 22, 7:00 – 8:15 PM
More information and registration for the zoom here
Across the country, immigrant communities are under attack and authoritarian forces are gaining ground. But there’s a growing movement of people ready to take action with clarity, courage, and discipline.
This training is for all of us who want to stand up in solidarity, especially those of us who are white who are ready to organize, respond, and show up with commitment and care.
A stark but unsurprising contrast in the philosophy of governance and civil rights enforcement is emerging between the proposals of Project 2025 and the grassroots efforts of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity.
While Project 2025 seeks to curtail federal oversight and reshape the civil service, the Ohio initiative, much like the historic 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, aims to intensify and reinforce the accountability of government officials who’ve committed civil rights violations. The Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights citizen-led ballot amendment initiative was cleared for signature gathering earlier this year. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental check on government power by allowing Ohioans to hold public officials and entities accountable in civil court.
Wednesday, October 15, at 9 a.m.
We will meet at 8:45 a.m. in the Statehouse Rotunda to gather and distribute small signs.
Then we will walk together to the hearing in Room 116 of the Ohio Statehouse shortly before 9 a.m.
he House Natural Resources Committee will hear sponsor testimony on House Bill 399 – a two-page bill that would ban oil and gas extraction from under Lake Erie or any Ohio state park.
Released American hostage Tom Hayes received a hero's welcome at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio yesterday Sunday October 12, 2025.
He was among the nearly 500 Sumud Flotilla crew who were taken hostage by the Israeli pirates on October 3 in internarial water about 100 miles away from Gaza shores.
All Global Sumud 46 vessels were intercepted by Israel as it was sailing to break the siege in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged and starving people in the Strip. They carried food, water, baby formula, and toys for kids.
Several dozen people from Central Ohio and some from Athens in Ohio came to Columbus airport to give Tom Hayes the welcome he deserves: A hero's welcome! After all, he risked his life for the people of Gaza and for justice.
When Hayes saw the well-wishers with signs and balloons, he screamed from the top of his lungs repeatedly "Free, Free Palestine!" One of the well-wishers gave him a plant of olive trees, which is more than just a tree in Palestine but rather a symbol of resilience, rootedness, and deep connection of the Palestinian people to their land.