On Saturday, over 100 people gathered in Davis' Central Park to celebration the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Organizers say they hope to “strengthen the pride, power and unity of people with disabilities, our families and allies” and “challenge the way many people think about and define ‘disability.’ ”

The lively group marched on the sidewalk around the park and then gathered at the Rotary Stage for speakers and performers.

Today we will all pause for a moment in our lives to celebrate Independence Day.  Aside from the separation from the British Empire, Independence Day embodies the celebration of our most cherished values - freedom, liberty, and equality.  And yet even in 2010, some 234 years after the Declaration of Independence that declared, "we hold these truths to be self-evidence that all MEN are created equal...," the notion of equality is still a work in progress at best.

Even in our own pristine community we are not immune to the social problems that has tormented this nation and questioned its values from day one.  This is a nation not only of values that ask us, implore us to do better, to seek greatness, but at the same time it is a nation of contradictions.  The shining beacon of liberty at the same time only granted that liberty to free white property owning males.  African Americans were slaves and only counted as two-thirds of a person.

The Davis Food Cooperative stands out as one of the many outstanding benefits of living here.  For nearly forty years the Co-op has consistently provided the community with a wide variety of locally produced, fairly priced, fresh organic fruits and vegetables; a friendly, knowledgeable and customer-oriented staff; and, regular workshops and classes offering tasty and nutritious ways to prepare the many products it sells. 

What is most remarkable and unique about the Co-op is that all of these benefits are provided within a member-owned and directed governing structure strengthened by democratic polices, bylaws and procedures reflecting the seven (7) principles adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance.