"El Lago de los Cisnes" to be performed at Oaxaca's Beautiful Teatro MACEDONIO ALCALÁ tonight. We will be in a box on the 2nd level.

 

Yes, another performance of "Swan Lake", but it's always a winner!

Back to Oaxaca, and lo and behold! The Organ Festival is going to be here in February. Whoo-hoo!

 

SAVE THE DATE!    XVI International Organ and Early Music Festival Oaxaca, México February 4 – 8, 2027

We are honored to announce the IOHIO’s 16th Organ Festival, a unique opportunity to hear more organ music than at any other time of the year and to experience Oaxaca off the tourist track.   This is a preliminary announcement to help you plan your trip to Oaxaca. Please visit our web site iohio .org.mx in November for the final schedule of activities, the daily participation fee, and the registration form.   As in past years, participants are responsible for their own transportation and lodging in Oaxaca. Meals are included with the festival activities. Please make your travel arrangements as soon as possible, since February is a month of high tourism in Oaxaca.   THE 16th FESTIVAL WILL OFFER THE FOLLOWING:   Seven concerts on seven restored historic pipe organs. Concerts by renowned organists Javier Artigas (Spain), Jesús López Moreno and José Suárez with Horacio Franco, recorder (Mexico), and Cicely Winter and Oaxacan colleagues with Valentín Hernández, percussion Visits to five unrestored organs and their churches, some of which are usually inaccessible to the public. A collective concert in Santa María Tamazulapan presented by professional organists and advanced students. The opportunity for interested organists to play the organs in the Basilica de la Soledad, the Cathedral, and the church of Jalatlaco. Scholarships for Mexican organ students to cover the cost of the festival activities. Meals showcasing Oaxaca’s famous local cuisine. A guided tour of the archeological site of Monte Alban. Safe and comfortable transportation for all events.   CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES (preliminary, details to follow)   February 4 (Thursday) 10:00—12:00: Registration in the Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca (MUFI) 1:00 PM: Presentation about “Oaxaca’s historic pipe organs and the work of the IOHIO,” Cicely Winter, Biblioteca Francisco de Burgoa Lunch on your own and the opportunity to explore the city of Oaxaca 8:30 PM: Concert in San Matías Jalatlaco, Javier Artigas, organ   February 5 (Friday) Visit to the unrestored organ in Santa María Tinu 12:30 PM: Concert in San Andrés Zautla, Festival organists Buffet lunch 7:00 PM: Concert of Oaxaca Folk Music in the Basílica de la Soledad, Cicely Winter and Oaxacan colleagues, organ, with Valentín Hernández, percussion   February 6 (Saturday) Visits to the unrestored organ in Santa María Tiltepec Lunch in Yanhuitlán 1:00 PM: Concert in Santo Domingo Yanhuitlán, Horacio Franco, recorder, José Suárez, organ Early dinner in Tamazulapan 6:00 PM: Concert in Santa María Natividad: Franco, Suárez, and Oaxacan organists   February 7 (Sunday) 11:00 PM: Concert in San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, Javier Artigas, organ Visit to the unrestored organ in Teotitlán del Valle Farewell meal in Teotitlán 5:00 PM: Concert in Santa María de la Asunción Tlacolula, Jesús López Moreno, organ   February 8 (Monday) Optional activities for Festival participants only Option 1 Guided tour of the archeological site of Monte Albán Option 2 Festival organists may play the organs in La Soledad, the Cathedral and Jalatlaco in the morning and the afternoon (lunch on your own). _____________________________________________________________ I decided to include the whole announcement in case you have a chance to attend. Life is never boring here. Drop a line if you are coming. We'd love to get together.

Last trip to the Oregon coast for 2026.

It's Autumn out on the Tillamook bar (where the ocean comes into the bay).

and we're saying goodbye to the coast and Casa Norte for 2026.

One of my favorite habitats, the temporate coastal "klickitat" forest.

and, after an early dinner at Shirelli's "Sand Dollar" restaurant in Rockaway...

We saw the weather coming onto land and hopped into the car to race it home, up into the hills.

Autumn in the coastal range of Oregon.

Julius' last summer days lounging in the potting room (he been spending his nights outdoors).

Monday, after attending the Weird Al Yankovich concert in Bend on Sunday night, we drove to Eugene by way of the McKenzie river Hwy. Stopped at the Belnap Hot Springs for pictures...

By the McKenzie River.

And arrived in Eugene to visit with our best-est friend, Meaghan Hackinen.

And, while the owner's are away...

National Play Music on your Porch Day

-always the last Saturday of August

 Tabling for Oregon's Universal Health Plan
at the Tillamook Saturday Market

This is where we spent yesterday (9:-2:pm) meeting many new and old friends and adding to our Tillamook Chapter of HCAO mailing list. -and, of course, eating well.
We had some great food from the Pacific Restaurant's booth, right next to us!
Thanks to Saydee for having our booth ready.

That sure is one long mutt!

Tillamook Chapter HCAO August Newsletter

AUGUST NEWSLETTER

HCAO Tillamook County Chapter
Issue 2026-08

HCAO News & August Announcements

CONTENTS

• A Quick Fair Wrap-Up
• Yesterday's meeting with Senator Wyden and HCAO Chair Valdez Bravo, and small crowd
• A Call for Tablers at next Saturday's Tillamook Farmers' Market
• October Presentation to AAUW Tillamook Chapter

A Quick Fair Wrap-Up

The Fair was amazing. I, just now, finished entering 106 records of neighbors interested in receiving our news, so we can call this a Real HCAO Tillamook Chapter - with members who are "in the loop."

We did hear, on the last day of the fair, that the Governance Board (which has been building the Oregon Health Plan) has postponed submission of the bill to the Oregon State Legislature from September 15th to December 1st, -more to come on that.

Thanks for coming to our Tillamook Fair booth and thanks to all those who helped put the booth together and those who spoke to the public about Oregon's Universal Health Plan. We will announce the Fair attendence numbers when they are made public, and let's plan on doing it again in '27!

Download: Tillamook Fair Handout (PDF)

Portland "Townhall Announcement"

with Senator Wyden and HCAO Chair Valdez Bravo, and supporters

Amazing news - U.S. Senator Wyden, has changed his mind on standing up for Single-Payer! He has decided to go full-bore for Federal "Medicare for All". In this effort he has partnered with our HCAO Chairman, Valdez Bravo, to also support our efforts for the Oregon Universal Health Plan. Look-Out Democrats, you've now got work to do!

On that note - we are copying TillCoDems on this newsletter and would like their serious feedback. Can we count on your active support for Healthcare for All Oregon, Dems?

They were arm-in-arm in Portland, Senator Ron Wyden and HCAO's Chair Valdez Bravo promising to help each other in our march toward single payer, towards achieving any and all Federal and State plans that we can accomplish. The meeting brought the medical community, individuals, especially the medically challenged, labor unions and several HCAO redshirts to testify and rally around Senator "Ron"'s new initiative.

The Senator did have a special ask. He asked for testimony to help him make the argument in Washington. So, here's where we can help. I am asking the Tillamook Chapter to tell their stories - and I will help you edit and polish them if you like. Please write out how the current system has hurt you and your loved ones, perhaps stolen your money and made your lives miserable.

Send your testimonies here, this is where Senator Wyden wants to receive your stories about the ways Medical Insurance companies have failed you. Again, if you are insecure about writing, I can help. Call or write to me and we'll get that story out.

Here are a couple of images from yesterdays' meetings and I'll also attach a scan of the Senator's handout below:

Download: Senator Wyden's Handout (PDF)

A Call for Tablers for at next Saturday's Tillamook Farmers' Market

We have our HCAO annual booth next Saturday, August 22nd at the Tillamook Farmer's Market on Laurel Street. The Market runs from 9:am - 2:pm and we'll meet there at 8:30. Gosh, if I can get up that early on a Saturday, maybe you can, too. But, seriously, it's great fun and a perfect time to talk to visitors about the Universal Health Plan. Please join us Saturday.

October Presentation to AAUW Tillamook Chapter

I have been asked to present our HCAO story about the Universal Health Plan to Tillamook's Chapter of the American Association of University Women, (AAUW) on October 10, 2026. Here's another opportunity to help out, be involved, just watch or get real speaking experience for anyone who would like to help with the presentation. In fact, I may have another opportunity or two before this one. So please drop me a line if you would like to be a speaker.

AND - Please let me know if you can help with our HCAO Tillamook Chapter. We could use a co-chair and others. Please don't hesitate, there's much we can do, including fostering neighboring countys' efforts to organize. I would love to hear from you. -B.D.

End of the Fair Breakdown

 We took down the HCAO Tillamook Fair Booth yesterday. It was a great 4 days and we talked with a great amount of people getting the message out. Here is a recap of our HCAO folks Aug. 5-8 at the Fair in photos:

Setting up the HCAO Booth at the Tillamook County Fair

 Tomorrow is the beginning of the 4-day Tillamook Fair and our HCAO (Health Care For ALL Oregon) booth is ready to go! Today Kristin Johnson from Tillamook Vision Center helped me construct the booth and I think it looks great.

(Shirt says, "Yes, I have a Retirement Plan. I Plan to Play my Accordion." -And I'm not sure there will be any practicing for the next 4 days.)