March 2012,

I heard that Alameda County, California, voted to implement its “ban” on single-use bags, not regulate them, sometime around January 2013.  It just so happens that at or around the same time, things were being finalized in different parts of our beautiful state of Washington. It has been a long struggle for Washington State to move towards an ordinance that would “ban” bags at retail outlets due to big MONEY in the plastics industry.

However, in late December, word was that the City Council’s Zero Waste Initiative to “ban” plastic bags in a limited and graduated way was realized after four years. In 2008, the Council tried to ban Styrofoam, and though they tried to regulate plastic bags, they got serious pushback from the industry, which spent about $1.4 million, collected signatures with rumors of leaving out some info, and then had the ordinance repealed. It was nice to read about Council Bill 117345, a bill to protect the Puget Sound, our marine life, Wildlife, and our Environment in general. About twelve states and up to twenty nations joined in this effort. The Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to implement the ban on plastic carry-out bags.

Finally, after years of pulling out my recycled bags for the checker to shove my groceries into, Washington State is joining the global movement to protect marine wildlife; the ordinance will take effect on July 1, 2012. It may be a cliché, but this ordinance is a change we can all believe in. I have to say, at first, in my experiences with retail folks, they all seemed a little annoyed at having to fight with the reusable bags. The word from most Checkers back in the day was that plastic is just easier. Yes, the first reusable bags were too small, the dye ran, the material was unforgiving, but as folks found better ways to make them, the cost came down, and more people bought them, including me.

Now, the bags not only cost a little bit more, but they are also bigger, more stylish, last forever are definitely more flexible, and a highly recommended investment. The move to switch from plastic to” bring your own bag” will be difficult for some at first. Studies are showing that birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife eat the bags, and obviously, some are made with toxic chemicals. The time for a behavior change is now. We all know change is tough, but here we are in the 21st Century, and that floating garbage patch /circle discovered in the 50′s is only getting bigger. There will always be pushback from the plastics industry, their supporters, as well as environmental activists, who all feel the government does not go far enough, and they may be right, but we have to start somewhere.

It baffles me how complicated people have made the effort to clean up our environment; we all know the need to reduce TRASH as a whole starts at home, although Seattle is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the nation, only 13% of plastic bags used are recycled.

We owe it to our next generation…

Grocery stores, as well as food service outlets, owe it to consumers and the environment.

It’s 2025, and plastic is everywhere! We all see our family members still have them, we see folks walking out of grocery stores with double-bagged plastic holding their groceries … sigh! There are the tiny, medium ones that are cute, but these gigantic ones with brand names and amazing graphics are made out of something different. Anyway, it’s like we’ve gone back to square one with no progress in sight and even less in the news about the current impact on Marine and Wildlife… which, ok includes those boats trying to watch,  and or sneak up on our marine life, only some are leaking fuel, making so much noise, others know they are dumping fuel and don’t get me started on some of the customers dumping trash! The trash people leave at local and National Parks is offensive … last, if each state only knew and put more importance on keeping the environment clean, it would change how people live… the significant change should also allow for higher wages … our environment sets the tone for illnesses

** MAMTAKIM Inc Recalls Dried Whole Smelts Salted (KORUSHKA) Because of Possible Health Risk

** Supreme Deli LLC Voluntarily Recalls Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk

** Yoplait brand drinkable yogurt recalled

ByHeart finds spores that cause botulism in unopened cans of infant formula; recalled products remain on store shelves

More patients identified in outbreak of infant botulism tied to ByHeart formula

Enoki mushrooms under recall in Canada because of Listeria

** Food To Live, of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling its packaged Organic Moringa Leaf Powder (dried Moringa oleifera) and its Organic Supergreens Powder Mix distributed under the Food To Live brand that are in the following sizes:

ORGANIC SUPERGREENS POWDER MIX in 8 ounce, 1 pound, 1.5 pound, 3 pound, 6 pound, and 12 pound bags.

ORGANIC MORINGA LEAF POWDER, in 8 ounce, 1 pound, 2 pound, 4 pound, 8 pound, 16 pound, and 44 pound bags. “Organic Moringa Leaf Powder” and “Organic Supergreens Powder Mix” are packaged in plastic stand-up pouches of various sizes (ranging from 8 ounces to 44 pounds). Only packages with lot codes starting with “SO-69006” and ending with “SO-72558” (printed directly onto the back of the bag) are affected. No other Food To Live products and lots are involved in this recall. Consumers with questions can call Food To Live at (718) 717-1029 during business hours (8:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday, or email recall@foodtolive.com for assistance. Media inquiries or requests for more information should be directed to the contact person listed above.

** Face Rock Creamery LLC of Bandon, OR is voluntarily recalling 16/6oz. units of Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar with a use-by date of 11/04/26 The affected Vampire Slayer Cheddar Block with a use-by date of 11/04/26 was sold exclusively at Face Rock Flagship store located at 680 2nd St. SE, Bandon, Oregon.Approximately 16 units were sold between November 10^th at 3:30pm PT and November 13th, 2025 at 3:30pm PT.

If you purchased the 6oz. Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar, UPC 8 512222 00547 8, during the specified dates above, please either destroy the product or return it to our retail location for a full refund. Customers with questions about this recall should call 541-347-3223 between 9am-4pm PT, Monday-Friday, or send email to info@facerockcreamery.com

** The recalled Organic Moringa Leaf Powder was sold nationwide through the company’s website, africaimports.com. The affected product is packaged in 1-kilogram boxes labeled “Organic Moringa Leaf Powder.” Photos of the affected product are attached to this notice to assist customers in identifying the product. All Organic Moringa Leaf Powder purchased after 06/05/2025 is included in this recall. For additional information, please contact Wayne Kiltz, President of Africa Imports, at 201-457-1995 x236 or africa@africaimports.com.

FDA Outbreak Advisory

** ByHeart expands recall of infant formula linked to outbreak of botulism poisonings

** Salmonella in sprouts sickens 44 in Australia

** FDA warned infant formula maker about unsanitary plant conditions two years before outbreak

** Enoki mushrooms recalled in Canada for contamination with Listeria

** Moonlight Companies is voluntarily recalling California-grown conventional yellow and white peaches because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. This recall is being conducted because Listeria monocytogenes was identified in the packing facility environment. The recalled peaches were sold at retail stores nationwide between September 16, 2025 and October 29, 2025. The peaches were either sold as individual pieces of fruit bearing PLU stickers or as multi-packs. This recall does not include packages or PLU stickers with the words “Washington” and/or “Organic.”
Consumers with questions can contact 855-215-5017, Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm Eastern Time.

** Vanguard Enterprises, LLC. DBA Bedrock MFG of Boise, Idaho is recalling Monarch Premium Kratom brand Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da, and White Elephant powder because product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Consumers who have the affected Monarch Premium Kratom powder at home are urged not to consume products and contact support@bedrockmfg.co for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 888-347-5088, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm GMT.

Monarch Premium Kratom – Product Lot Summary
Product Name	UPC Code	Lot Code
Monarch Premium Kratom, Bali Gold, 4oz powder (112g)	851006008428	020123PA3F-T
Monarch Premium Kratom, Bali Gold, 8oz powder (224g)	706970483712	020123PA3F-T
Monarch Premium Kratom, Green Maeng Da, 4oz powder (112g)	851006008466	020123PA3F-G
Monarch Premium Kratom, Green Maeng Da, 0.5oz powder (14g)	851006008770	020123PA3F-G
Monarch Premium Kratom, Green Maeng Da, 2oz powder (56g)	851006008459	020123PA3F-G
Monarch Premium Kratom, Red Bali, 4oz powder (112g)	851006008442	020123PA3F-R
Monarch Premium Kratom, Red Bali, 8oz powder (224g)	706970483859	020123PA3F-R
Monarch Premium Kratom, Red Bali, 2oz powder (56g)	851006008435	020123PA3F-R
Monarch Premium Kratom, White Elephant, 4oz powder (112g)	851006008480	020123PA3F-W
Monarch Premium Kratom, White Elephant, 0.5oz powder (14g)	851006008756	020123PA3F-W
Monarch Premium Kratom, White Elephant, 8oz powder (224g)	706970483644	020123PA3F-W

** Listeria Outbreak Linked to Pasta Meals – the Rest of the Untold Story

** New Salmonella outbreak traced to dietary supplement imported from India; recall initiated

** Whole peaches recalled because of Listeria

** More cinnamon added to public alert because of elevated levels of lead

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

During a White House ceremony attended by James S. Brady, President Bill Clinton signs the Brady handgun-control bill into law. The law requires a prospective handgun buyer to wait five business days while the authorities check on his or her background, during which time the sale is approved or prohibited based on an established set of criteria.

In 1981, James Brady, who served as press secretary for President Ronald Reagan, was shot in the head by John Hinckley, Jr., during an attempt on President Reagan’s life outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan himself was shot in his left lung but recovered and returned to the White House within two weeks. Brady, the most seriously injured in the attack, was momentarily pronounced dead at the hospital but survived and began an impressive recovery from his debilitating brain injury.

During the 1980s, Brady became a leading proponent of gun-control legislation and in 1987 succeeded in getting a bill introduced into Congress.

The Brady Bill, as it became known, was opposed by many congressmen, who, in reference to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, questioned the constitutionality of regulating the ownership of arms.

In 1993, with the support of President Bill Clinton, an advocate of gun control, the Brady Bill became law.

Now This Impact

My 2cents …

Whenever you receive an election ballot, remember the video above as a move toward something foreboding, and no little girl, or Woman in their childbearing years in America, should be forced to become a mom at all, or before they are ready.

Yes, we are vessels of life, but not mere vessels, and the fact that not every woman can then choose IVF, or those who don’t want to be forced into motherhood, should be a choice between the woman, her family, and the doctor. This government doesn’t seem to believe that Miscarriages and Abortions are part of healthcare that more often than not need intervention of some sort, which includes affordable, safe procedures. #SafeAbortions can and have saved lives! Their political party seems to talk one way, yet they vote against women far too often on the floor of Congress. When they are voting to give guns and the people who make, sell, and use them more rights, it makes you wonder about any Woman voting for this current admin … they might not have reproductive issues, but they probably know someone who has on some level. It’s about having CHOICE and possibly needing help that the other person involved opted out of, or a whole family needing to be helped with the reproductive issue. The fact is, no one who has compassion can forget that 10-year-old or any little girl or boy, who really doesn’t give consent to any sexual encounter… Women need to protect their rights, too. I don’t understand people, let alone government officials who believe Abortion should be illegal nationally, unless they have every intention to support each one until the age of 21? Just because you have sex doesn’t mean you’re a responsible person who has the means or wants to provide for a baby, and that opens up a whole new Pandora’s box of religious freedom, or in this era, the inevitable control by the government?

~~~ be a seed for change

Undocumented immigrants inside the United States have several key rights, including:

** The right to a hearing before deportation;
** The right to apply for asylum or other forms of protection;
** The right to be represented by legal counsel at their own expense;
** The right to challenge unlawful government actions;
Protection against indefinite detention.

Source: forbes.com