GreenEd November Lecture features Greenline Wheels on Transportation

Submitted by Erin McMillan to the Attention of Oak Park and River Forest teachers-

GreenEd: Teachers Collaborating for a Greener Classroom., Tuesday, Nov 13, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm at Marion Street Cheese Market, 100 S. Marion St., Oak Park.

GreenEd, a six-part lecture series organized under the education topic area in Oak Park and River Forest's sustainability plan, PlanItGreen, will be holding its third lecture on Tuesday, November 13 from 4-5:30pm at the Marion Street Cheese Market. This month's lecture will focus on transportation and will feature Oak Park's own Greenline Wheels. Below is a description of the organization...

Greenline Wheels works to reinforce the values of the Oak Park River Forest community and contribute to its vibrancy by renting bikes and accessories, engaging with community partners of all types to support local commerce and tourism, promoting and expanding bike safety education, and promoting a more bicycle friendly community. We teach and advocate for bike safety by facilitating in-school and out-of-school bike safety training for students; by promoting special needs adult cycling classes; and by offering free programming for seniors.

By attending the lecture, a teacher could gain the following...

- An overview of bike curriculum materials available to teachers for a variety of grade levels and subject areas

- Resources and opportunities available to area schools for bike-related classes and events

- Update on local efforts related to schools, safety, and cycling

At each GreenEd lecture there will be complimentary appetizers, free dessert with the purchase of two entrees post lecture, as well as a Tuesday evening beer special of $4 drafts! If you've attended a previous lecture, be sure to bring your stamped flyer to increase your chances to win a prize in the drawing post-series. Please RSVP to me, Erin at erin@sevengenerationsahead.org.

Please distribute this message broadly! Hope to see you at Tuesday's lecture.

The Science of Climate Change

Climate Change: Everyone has heard about climate change, but what is it really? What is the science behind it? Is it really that bad? Why does there seem to be so much disagreement about the topic? And what can a concerned citizen do about it? Energy scientist Rick Knight will examine the issue on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in his Climate Change - Demanding Action, a three-part  presentation and discussion.  Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL

Get Pickled with Chicago Food Swap! Sat, 10/20, 10-noon, @ Whole Foods

As part of the Thoughtful Living Series offered through the River Forest Library, come learn the basics of canning and pickling fresh, seasonal vegetables. The class will include 2 recipes. After the demonstration, go on a tour through the WF produce department with class leader Emily Paster. Emily will share tips and tricks for picking out the best produce and what she looks for when she’s creating a new recipe. Saturday, 10/20, 10 AM- 12 PM Held at Whole Foods Market River Forest (7245 Lake Street). Registration is required- call 708.366.1045 to sign up.

First Ever Green Business Forum at Triton College - Oct 25th, 7-9pm

Incorporate Sustainability Practices and Thrive Learn how some Chicago-area businesses incorporate sustainability practices into their operations and thrive by attending the Triton College Sustainability Center’s first-ever Green Business Forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in B-204/210 of the Student Center on Triton’s River Grove campus.

The event, part of Sustainability Center’s monthly workshops called Sustainable Thursdays, will include several business representatives who will make presentations on their commitment, including the challenges and rewards they’ve faced, in running a sustainable business, as well as the green products and services they offer. An open panel discussion will follow the presentation.

The following area businesses will be represented at the event:

Consolidated Printing (Chicago) has won numerous environmental awards for its non-toxic processes and materials. Through the passion, initiative and long hours of its owner and staff, Consolidated Printing has managed to replace every one of the numerous toxic chemicals used in printing with natural products, including inks, toners, parts washers, solvents and more. Its facility has become a testing ground for developing these safer alternatives and is well known and respected in the printing industry. Founder and CEO Marilyn Jones will present.

DSC Logistics (Des Plaines) is a privately-held mid-sized supply chain management company that provides both high-level, quality services to Fortune 500 companies (in some cases, acting as their Lead Logistics Partner), while offering  easy access to senior management and providing an outstanding level of service and value. DSC has adopted practices that promote the responsible use of resources throughout the company as well as educating and supporting customers and employees in sustainability initiatives. Mark Cliffel, Senior Manager of Business Process Integration, will present.

Green Home Experts (Oak Park) is a retail store that specializes in everything needed to create a healthy home. From green lifestyle goods to sustainable building materials and eco-gardening, it supplies green alternatives to just about anything used in and around the home. The store is popular among young families and recently moved into a new, larger space to accommodate increasing demand. Owner Maria Onesto Moran will present.

USAgain (West Chicago)collects unwanted textiles and resells them in the U.S. and abroad, effectively diverting millions of pounds of clothing from landfills, while generating new revenue streams for U.S. businesses and non-profits and fueling local economies in emerging countries. In 2011 alone, USAgain collected 60 million pounds of clothing, shoes and other textiles. Triton alumnus Carlo Cavallaro, USAgain's Director of Government Affairs, will present.

The presentation will be moderated by Triton College Business Department Coordinator Dr. William Griffin, and special guest Cassie Carroll, Executive Director of the Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA), will also be on hand.

The event is free. For more information, contact Adrian Fisher, Sustainability Center Coordinator, at (708) 456-0300, ext. 3578 or e-mail afisher@triton.edu.

First Ever Recycling Extravaganza a HUGE Success!!

Submitted by Judy Deogracias on behalf of the D90 Green4Good Committee

600 cars brought all manner of items to be recycled!

Having never done anything like this, we weren’t sure what kind of response to anticipate. We had a modest goal of 50 cars (we thought that would be respectable for the first time). Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised by the actual volume as well as the gratitude expressed by those we served. People were thrilled to have this take place in their community and asked us if it would be an annual event. We certainly hope it will be! There was a lot of work to put this on - meetings, heavy lifting, getting the word out, logistics, etc. - but there was also a great energy among everyone involved.  Because of this, it just kind of all came together naturally.

Three semis of electronics and batteries were collected

River Forest School District 90’s Green4Good Committee organized the Recycling Extravaganza, a drive-up, drop-off recycling event on May 5, 2012. 8am to 1:30 pm.  When we officially closed, over 600 cars came through (a handful came through twice, and those aren’t counted twice in the tally!). Most drop offs were people from River Forest’s ZIP code but we also received substantial traffic from neighboring towns. We were astounded to see cars lined up as early as 7:30 when we did not officially “open” until 8:00. Three semis of electronics and batteries were collected as well as a substantial amount of scrap metal. There were also collections for unused prescription drugs, used bikes and many other items from a long list of vendors.

Success attributed to the cooperation and enthusiasm of partners and organizing team

The Recycling Extravaganza was inspired by a similar event organized by SCARCE, an environmental education not-for-profit in Glen Ellyn. District 90 Green4Good also wants to acknowledge that the event was successful because of the cooperation and enthusiasm for it we received at the District level (D90 School Superintendent Ed Condon volunteered during the event!) and collaboration of our event partners, which included the Village of River Forest, River Forest Citizens Corps, River Forest United Methodist Church, The River Forest Service Club, Whole Foods Market, River Forest Park District Foundation and SCARCE. The Recycling Extravaganza was designed as a zero waste event made possible by an on site household waste composter, donated to the event’s site host, the River Forest United Methodist Church, by the River Forest Park District Foundation.

Green4Good fosters a lifelong connection to the natural world for D90 students and families

District 90’s Green4Good Committee is comprised of the Green4Good Committees at each school, as well as several District 90 administrators all working toward making District 90 greener. Within each school, Green4Good strives to promote a safe and healthy learning environment; encourage environmental stewardship at school and in the community; and foster a lifelong connection to the natural world for all District 90 students and their families. 2011-12 Green4Good school committee members included Katerina Berin, Tina Ciserella, Keary Cragan, Judy Deogracias, Laura Maychruk, Julie Moller, Renee Sichlau and Liz Ziehl.

Vendors for the event

Vendors for the event included: ACME Recycling collected electronics (no dehumidifiers, air conditioners or refrigerators), batteries (household, computer and car), and scrap metal (including washers and dryers). SCARCE, an environmental education notfor-profit in Glen Ellyn will collect musical instruments, school supplies (old crayons, rulers, usable spiral notebooks and binders). In addition, plastic grocery and dry cleaning bags, and CFL bulbs (no fluorescent tubes) were collected, as well as tattered American flags and ink jet cartridges.

Additional collections on site: Whole Foods - corks and #5 plastic containers; Environmental Services of Cook County - prescription medications; Lions Club - eyeglasses and hearing aids; Amerigas - propane and Oxygen tanks; Cintas - fire extinguishers; Working Bikes - working and non-working bikes, sewing machines, bike helmets and accessories, non-motorized wheelchairs; Goodwill Textile Recycling - torn or stained clothing for recycling, all shoes, sheets and towels; Animal Care League - collars and leashes.

Please look for additional announcements about Green4Good’s initiatives on the District 90 Green4Good website, www.district90.org/subsite/dist/page/green-team-1385.

Thoughtful Living Series Presents . . . Trees, Lawns & Parkways

Wednesday March 14th, 7:00pm, at the River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Avenue The strip between the street and the sidewalk -- What are River Forest regulations for planting?  How can you care for your trees?  Can you protect your elm and ash trees from disease?  Can you have healthy grass without chemicals?  What about mulching -- how much, when and why?  Why is "volcano" mulching bad for trees?  Join us for an evening of ANSWERS!   Learn more about eco-friendly landscaping, what's the difference between organic and conventional lawn care, how to be the guardian of your trees and what the Village has to say about that unknown space between the street and your lawn.  Please share the attached flyer with others!

Speakers for the evening are . . .

Dan Krug is an ISA Certified Arborist with The Care of Trees, a national tree care company. Dan has been with the Care of Trees for 6 years and currently works in River Forest, Oak Park, Elmwood Park, and several other territories in the Chicagoland area. Dan will speak about tree selection for parkways and best practices for the planting and care of trees, including disease prevention.

Jeff Swano, owner of Dig RIght In Landscaping, is based in Brookfield. He is a member of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association “Sustainable Landscaping” Committee. Jeff will speak about the difference between traditional (chemical-based) lawn care and organic lawn care. He will explain how to manage soil, plants and pests sustainably, without chemicals; he will also address the trend toward the phasing out the use of lawn chemicals by municipalities.

Phil Cotter is the Director of Public Works with the Village of River Forest. Phil has been with the Village since 1997, and before that he was an Environmental Consultant. He will speak about village regulations relating to parkway plantings. Can we choose whatever plants we want for our lawns and parkways? Did you know that there is a recommended list? Phil will answer your questions about the Village’s regulations and recommendations.

About the "Thoughtful Living Series"

The Thoughtful Living Series is in it's second season.  It is a collaboration between the River Forest Park District Foundation and the River Forest Library.  The series was created as an opportunity for community discussion and a forum to share information and ideas for thoughtful living in our village and with our neighbors.

The Legacy and Challenge of Rachel Carson - March 22nd, 7:00pm

Thursday, March 22, 7:00 PM, Galvin Auditorium, Loyola University Chicago: "The Legacy and Challenge of Rachel Carson" -- A conversation with Lisa H. Sideris, Ph.D. Free and open to the public.   On the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership invites you to explore the intersection of women and leadership with the moral resolve and creativity necessary to form a sustainable world.   Please share the attached flyer with others. Lisa Sideris is a co-editor (with philosopher and nature writer Kathleen Dean Moore) of Rachel Carson:  Legacy and Challenge.   This volume of interdisciplinary essays challenges us to develop solutions that will contribute to the integrity of a natural world that supports life.

Sponsored by the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy, Department of Campus Ministry with generous support from the Ann and Alvin H. Baum Family Fund.

Submitted by Peggy McGrath

Now you too, can see the Green Roof at OPPL!

Video Tour. It’s not visible from the street, so not many people realize that it’s there, but the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library has a green roof. The roof is not open to the public for safety reasons, but the Oak Park Public Library wanted to provide a video tour to make more people aware of this environmentally-friendly feature of the library. A team of ten volunteers, now in grades 7th through 10th, worked together last summer on the filming, scripting, editing, and audio components. The 3-minute video tour of the Main Library’s green roof pairs technical information

According to the library's web site, some 12,500 square feet of the third floor roof holds a thin layer of soil and was planted with many native Illinois plants including phlox and sedum. The architects designed the extensive green roof system, and Oak Park landscape architect Carol JH Yetkin selected plants that require minimal upkeep.

The green roof improves the energy performance of the building, reduces run-off into the storm sewer system, contributes to better air quality in the neighborhood, and is a cool zone.  Additional information on the video project and the green roof is available at the Oak Park Public Library Web Site.

Volunteer Fair at the River Forest Library, Saturday, December 3rd, 10am-2pm

Submitted by Chung-Han Lee, River Forest Parks Foundation

Learn how you can participate, get involved and make a difference!

Drop in to the River Forest Library for the Volunteer Fair on Saturday, December 3rd, 10am - 2pm.  This event is part of the Thoughtful Living Series.  The fair will be held at the River Forest Library, 735 Lathrop Avenue, next to Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest.  Parking is available in the parking lot between the library and the scool.  The fair will take place in the main meeting room on the first floor of the library.

Learn About Volunteer Opportunities

Representatives from a variety of local organizations including the Animal Care League, River Forest Citizen Corps, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County, River Forest Public Library, Hephzibah, PADS, River Forest Park District, Green Community Connections, and more, will be on hand to tell you about volunteer opportunities within their organization and how you can get involved.

The River Forest Park District Foundation and the River Forest Public Library are co-sponsors of the Thoughtful Living Series.

Green Connections Bike Tour 2011 - Saturday, September 24th

Discovering Sustainable Oak Park & River Forest

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Green Community Connections will sponsor a self-designed, informational tour of selected green initiatives in Oak Park and River Forest.  The tour will start at 1pm and culminate at 4:00 pm with a post-tour informal gathering.

PlanItGreen Sustainability Plan

The Villages of Oak Park and River Forest have long been recognized for their commitment to ecologically-friendly living, and are currently implementing a joint sustainability plan, known as PlanItGreen.

Examples of low carbon living

The GCC bike tour will offer 15 residential and community sites from which participants can choose – including high-efficiency homes, community and school gardens, composting, homes with geothermal heating and cooling systems, urban chicken farming, and more. “We’ve got so much knowledge and so many great examples of green, low-carbon living right here in our community. We can learn a lot from our neighbors about everything from sustainable landscaping to alternative energy,” says Melanie Weiss, who is a member of the Green Connections Bike Tour planning committee.

Benefit from your neighbors' experience

Each site will feature a tour and/or demonstration to introduce visitors to the initiative(s) at that site and describe how it fosters sustainability in the community.  There will also be opportunities for questions and answers so participants can benefit from the experience of their neighbors. “We’re hoping sustainability-minded individuals will join the ride with their neighbors, friends, families, or co-workers. We want people to participate and feel that they’re a part of something big – that they’ll see this as one great opportunity to get moving on the green initiatives they’ve been considering,” says Ana Garcia-Doyle, also a member of the bike tour planning committee.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners!

Other tour sponsors for the event include the Active Transportation Alliance, Greenline Wheels, the Interfaith Green Network, and Seven Generations Ahead, as well as a host of local business partners.  We encourage you to support our great sponsors and local business partners who are helping make this opportunity possible!

Click here to learn more and to register!