In December, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Occupy Meeting came together with participants from a dozen different small town and city Occupations. Occupy Scranton volunteered to host the January meeting on the 14th preceded by a benefit show on the 13th.
January 14 – Mid-Atlantic Regional Occupy Meeting

http://www.scrantonregionaloccupy.blogspot.com/

DIRECT ACTION TRAINING, 9am-Noon
Occupy Scranton and members of Marcellus Earth First! will be offering a direct action training on January 14 from 9am to Noon at the Vintage Theater. It will be tailored for anti-fracking activism and rural direct action, but will be useful for everyone.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY @ NOON, Steamtown Mall Food Court
At December’s meeting, the body decided not to be a decision-making body, but a collaboration body.

Proposals can be fleshed out and then sent back to each Occupy to be ratified. To see examples of proposals, check out our Proposals page on www.scrantonregionaloccupy.blogspot.com and feel free to submit your own.

DIRECT ACTION TRAINING Part II @ 1pm, Courthouse Square, Occupy Scranton camp on Linden St. (bundle up!)

The group will gather outside the Vintage Theater and move to the Occupy Scranton camp on Linden St. to role play a direct action on the lawn.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION, 8pm, The Bog
*Finding Community and Humanity In The Midst Of a Social Crisis*
Do not forget about this will be a great intellectual event. Dr Dan is a great speaker and I hope to see everyone there. Invite everyone.
http://www.facebook.com/events/342935165718587/

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BENEFIT CONCERT AND AWARDS SHOW, January 13, 7pm-1:00am
$5-$10 at the door
Featuring:
Sarah Yzkanin ( http://www.reverbnation.com/sarahyzkanin )
Misled Youth ( http://www.reverbnation.com/joshuakizer )
Alex Lotorto ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZP2AEWoMjU )
Richard Tucker (vocals/acoustic guitar)
3 to Breathe ( http://www.3tobreathe.com/downloads.php )
*More Artists TBA*

When Stephen Conklin Sr. purchased over 100 acres in the 90′s it was with the vision to use the land in a sustainable manner with roots in the community that would foster tolerance, understanding and acceptance. His vision was just beginning to come to fruition as he began building a relationship with the Fresh Air Fund, providing an opportunity for inner city children to experience a more rural life. He offered the use of his land to other organizations for a variety of purposes free of charge. He also offered the shelter of his home and food in his pantry to anyone in need. He was happy to share what he had.

In 1998, Mr. Conklin noticed thousands of dollars of additional charges on his mortgage. After contacting the mortgage holder and questioning these charges, he learned that three different companies claimed to hold the mortgage and wanted payment. After careful consideration Mr. Conklin was willing to pay off the entire mortgage, to the appropriate holder, by creating two to five lots to be sold. He received approval, had the land surveyed, and found investors with a similar vision as his. Then suddenly, he was informed that he was not allowed to subdivide. Mr. Conklin questioned why and continued to seek the appropriate mortgage holder.

Since then he has been subjected to misdirection, profiling, and numerous abuses within the courts. He has been asking for his right to due process, under the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which includes the right to a fair trial, in which he is able to cross examine, present expert witness testimony, and evidence. To date Mr. Conklin is facing eviction from his property at 100 Spanglers Rd. in Lewisberry on January 5th, 2012, without a hearing. He is being denied his property without due process of law.

You can learn more about the history of the farm here.