Location(s)

Ohio Lead Awareness Week kicks off with a press conference featuring:

• Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan
• “The Big Picture of Lead Poisoning,” Stu Greenberg, Executive Director, Environmental Health Watch
• "An Educators Perspective," Nakiaa Robinson, Cuyahoga County Invest in Children
• Comments by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, East Cleveland Major Eric Brewer and Ohio Rep. Mike Foley.

The week includes free lead testing at the following locations:

• Monday July 21 4:30-7:30 p.m. Michael Zone 6301 Lorain Rd.
• Tuesday July 22 4:30-7:30 p.m. Central 2526 Central Ave.
• Wednesday July 23 4:30-7:30 p.m. Glenville 680 E. 113th St.
• Thursday July 24 4:00-7:00 p.m. E. C. MLK 14801 Shaw Ave.
• Friday July 25 4:30-7:30 p.m. JFK 17300 Harvard Ave.

For more information, call 216/263-LEAD.

Also, read "Lead facts for health care providers."

Location(s)

• Learn how and what to recycle
• Learn about the latest ‘green’ trends
• Learn simple ways to make an environmental difference
• Speakers on wind energy, organic lawn care, biodiversity, native plants and green products
• On-site shredding truck
• Exhibits, videos, bake sale, and snack bar. Free and open to the public

Sponsored by the South Euclid Recycling Committee 

Location(s)

The grand opening of the West side's first organic lifestyle store representing local and organic products from twenty vendors, including Green Clean, Good Nature Lawn Care, A Piece of Cleveland (tables, candlesticks, frames made from wood reclaimed from Cleveland homes), Nicole McGee (who makes jewelry and cards from re-used paper, wire, cable, glass, metal, stones, re-used pieces of other people's jewelry), Esperanza Threads and more locally made, quality goods.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

This Fall, The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Habitat Stewards Workshops.  Adult volunteers will become certified as Habitat Stewards and will be equipped with the knowledge to help residents in their communities transform their schools, worksites, and backyards into wildlife habitats. 

The 24 hours of training is taking place beginning the evening of Monday September 17, 2007 and continuing Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. until  October 3, 2007  at the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices at 6100 West Canal Road Valley View, Ohio.  Instruction will also take place on Saturdays September 22nd and September 29th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Certified stewards will be requested to complete 30 hours of volunteer service upon completion of the course. Registration fee is $50.00 per person and includes an instruction manual and numerous resource materials, two Saturday and evening classes of instruction and certification upon completion.

            Wildlife Habitat subjects to be included in the sessions include: four components of establishing a Natural Wildlife Habitat, use of native plants, how to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and amphibians, establishing a rain garden in a habitat, composting and other topics.

To register contact the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District office weekdays at 216-524-6580 X10 or visit our website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org.

I've recently noticed how many 'alternative' household cleaners there are out there – What makes them different and should I switch?

Many "green" cleaning products are different because they contain safer ingredients compared to traditional chemical cleaners. I say "many" because as a consumer you still have to be your own detective when purchasing any cleaning product.

Savvy companies, looking to make a dollar off of uneducated consumers, can easily market a product using terms such as "biodegradable", and "Eco friendly" without being much safer than a traditional chemical cleaner. However, currently there are no standards or guidelines enforced to determine if cleaning products are safe.

I can give some advice about choosing which products are safest for your family and the planet:
 
First, look for full disclosure of all ingredients on the package, and if you do not see this information, be highly skeptical. A company that is truly concerned about your safety and health will want to broadcast the pureness of their product.
 
Second, do a little detective work. Use your favorite search engine to look up any ingredient that you don't know. Make sure you check for the hazards as well as just general information.
 
Third, find out a little about the company manufacturing the product. Is this eco-friendly product a new line intended to reach a niche market produced from a company that has a history of producing toxic chemical cleaners? Because that begs the question: Do you really want your hard earned dollars supporting a company that isn't fully conscious of the environment?

It is also a good idea to find out where the product manufactured, and by whom? Caring about fair pay policies, child labor laws, and other social issues is all a part of protecting our planet. Purchasing products from a company that cares about people and planet makes an impact on society as a whole.