Cleveland artists Jeffry Chiplis, Stephen Manka and Karen St. John-Vincent take on issues of concern for American cities. Opening reception.

Ecological design means using every aspect of the planning, design, construction and management of metropolitan landscapes to benefit long-term ecological health and ecosystem services. One of its fundamental requirements is cultural sustainability: ensuring that people enjoy and appreciate landscapes that are patterned and managed to benefit ecological health. Joan Iverson Nassauer, professor of landscape architecture at the University of Michigan, describes culturally sustainable ecological designs for road corridors, vacant urban properties, brownfields, greenfield subdivisions and home landscapes. She also discusses on-the-ground experiments and Web surveys that demonstrate how and why these designs work.

Ticket information.

Tour the homes and condominiums of the Shaker Square neighborhood. The work of local artists will be featured at a special gallery exhibit. Event to benefit the Shaker Square Area Development Corporation, a nonprofit group.

Call 216-991-4991 for information. 

For more information call:

330.657.2538

After enthusiastic media coverage of our Save the Buckeye kick-off, we're excited to partner with OSU students, alumni, and concerned citizens for a Save the Buckeye tailgate event to sign up Buckeye fans and capture web photos!

This is a great way to educate Buckeye fans on how global warming is already affecting Ohio and what they can do to Save the Buckeye.

RSVP: info@savethebuckeye.org or call Tom at 440-554-7203

Opening of the exhibit "Race: Are We So Different?" at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. This moving and thought-provoking exhibit runs through Jan. 4, 2009.

Go here for more information about the exhibit and the many associated forums and events throughout the community.

Did you know that wetlands help protect streams and Lake Erie by breaking down pesticides and pharmaceuticals? Ask a scientist how at this day long festival highlighting research conducted at Old Woman Creek Reserve.

Experience the high sandstone ledges and passageways on a journey through time, long before the glaciers, as you read the geological evidence that shaped the high cliffs. Explore some less traveled areas, home to a variety of plants and animals found only in this micro-environment within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Free. Limited to Legacy and Capitol Club members of the Ohio Environmnental Council. Reservation required, contact oec@theOEC.org or 614/487-7506.

Event to explore how green jobs can help revitalize Cleveland, sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Restoration Alliance and the Hitchcock Center for Women.

For more information, call 216-375-3757 or 216-375-4410 or see Green Jobs Now.

The company is joined by all four members of the Verlezza family as choreographers and dancers and features two world premieres; The Secret Story, a dance exploring the interment of Italian-Americans during WWII, and Blank Canvas, a Hip-Hop style quartet that explores elements of de-humanization, The Golden Mean uses contemporary mixes of traditional music from different faiths, and is Verlezza's Socratic pursuit of tolerance and inclusion through the balance of faith, passion and spirit. Moments in Balance from the community event "In Concert with Ludlow", searches for equilibrium and stillness in relationship to community, self, and the intimacy of two people.

Tickets: $15 general / $10 students-seniors. For information and reservations call 216.314.0900.

For more information visit www.verlezzadance.com

The company is joined by all four members of the Verlezza family as choreographers and dancers and features two world premieres; The Secret Story, a dance exploring the interment of Italian-Americans during WWII, and Blank Canvas, a Hip-Hop style quartet that explores elements of de-humanization, The Golden Mean uses contemporary mixes of traditional music from different faiths, and is Verlezza's Socratic pursuit of tolerance and inclusion through the balance of faith, passion and spirit. Moments in Balance from the community event "In Concert with Ludlow", searches for equilibrium and stillness in relationship to community, self, and the intimacy of two people.

Tickets: $15 general / $10 students-seniors. For information and reservations call 216.314.0900.

For more information visit www.verlezzadance.com

Tremont Farmers Market
Sundays - June 22nd through October 26th from 10:00am-2:00pm
Celebrate local food at the Tremont Farmers Market at the corner of Starkweather and Professor Avenues in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.  Featuring locally-grown produce, local artists, chef demonstrations, educational activities and musical entertainment.  If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at (216) 575-0920 or tremontmarket@yahoo.com.
www.tremontfarmersmarket.com

This program, co-sponsored by Cleveland Lakefront State Park and Euclid Beach Park Now, will take you on a trip down memory lane - back to when our current State Park area was part of an amusement park.  Take the walking tour to see where rides and attractions once were, free rides on the Thriller and Rocket Ship Car - part of what was once one of the north coast's memorable rides, memorabilia displays, purchase a Humphrey popcorn ball or candy kiss, Arts Collinwood will have kids fun activities, and more!!  Concession food will be available for purchase.  Whether you remember going to the park or just heard about it from relatives and friends, you'll enjoy learning about the history of this area.  As always, attendance and parking at this event are FREE!!!  This event financially supported by a grant through Neighborhood Connections:  A program of the Cleveland Foundation.

Since 1970, Paula Gonzalez, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati, has offered over 1800 talks, seminars and retreats on various aspects of “Futuring and developing a planetary perspective”. These consciousness-raising programs have reached religious communities; educators and students; civic, church, and professional groups.

In the early ’80s, Paula gained direct experience with passive solar design and super-insulation techniques while converting a chicken barn into a passive solar residence. Modeled on the cyclical processes in nature, it was built by volunteers, using largely reused materials. This experience has led to energy consulting in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. A second major building project in Cincinnati resulted in the 1995 opening of EarthConnection a center for learning and reflection about ‘living lightly’ on Earth. This building is a 21st century, solar-heated model of resource efficiency.

Paula has written a series on Ecospirituality for Today’s Parish and developed audiotape minicourses on Earth-healing for St. Anthony Messenger Press and Credence Cassettes.

Sponsored by JCU Campus Ministry ~ For more information contact ckerr@jcu.edu or 216-397-4777

Come listen to a thought-provoking discussion of issues of world hunger and how it relates to affluent societies with L. Shannon Jung, professor of Town and Country Ministries, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri.

For more information, contact Jon Moody, 330.569.5147, moodyjf@hiram.edu.

Concerned about rising electricity rates? Want to know what your local utility will do to meet new energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements? Get answers from the Ohio Environmental Council, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, and others this briefing.

More information.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30, at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village, OH.

Commission Chairman Sean Logan, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Commission members will finalize the 2008 Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to identify the strategic direction and the near-term actions of the State of Ohio related to Lake Erie and its watershed. The Plan also provides a statement of what Ohio is doing to implement the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.

Winners of the 2008 “Life On Lake Erie” photo contest will be announced. Commission members are expected to approve the 2008 Ohio Lake Erie Award nominations and vote on the latest round of Lake Erie Protection Fund small grant proposals. Executive Director Edwin Hammett will discuss the 2008 Coastweeks program that took place September 12-21 and provide a report on the Lake Erie Balanced Growth Program which includes a viewing of the newly developed Best Local Land Use Practices DVD.

All meetings of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission are open to the public and include a public comment period. Organizations and citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting and provide input on issues of concern.

Regular meeting of the Northeast Ohio Watershed Council, with a presentation on the state's 319 funding program by Russ Gibson of Ohio EPA.

RSVP by September 25 to Kristy Meyer at Kristy@theOEC.org or (614) 487-7506.

AGENDA: The Ohio Department of Development may announce by Oct. 1 whether Lorain County's request for a regional collaboration grant of $80,000 for West Shore Corridor project planning has been awarded.

Depending on the outcome, what should our next step(s) be?

• If request is denied, what are the prospects for resubmitting?
• If request is approved but at a lesser amount, is it enough to provide the non-federal share of the planning funds? If not, who might be asked to fill the gap?
• If the request is approved in full, what are the next steps to undertake a transportation project planning process that is recognized by regional, state and federal transportation planning laws?

Please weigh in with additional questions and ideas. If you cannot attend but would like to submit your input, e-mail or call Ken at (216) 288-4883. We will share your feedback with those in attendance.

Steve Rugare, assistant professor, Kent College of Architecture and Environmental Design and associate at CUDC will present a vision of regreening urban areas.

Learn how to have a beautiful lawn without harmful chemical fertilizers. Protect your children, your pets and our lake. Presented by Dan Norris of Good Nature Organic Lawn Care.

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This is part of a series of Wednesday evenings focused on environmental issues and actions hosted by Avon Lake Public Library and co-sponsored by the City Council Environmental Committee and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Committee.

 All interested persons are welcome to attend.  

Questions: 440.933.8128.

National conference of Social Venture Partners International.

For more information call:

330.657.2538

Midtown Brews roundtable discussion focuses on:

• How can Social media tools change advocacy efforts?
• How can web 2.0 tools enhance and enrich public advocacy?
• How do you use these tools to make your personal advocacy efforts?

Participants include:

• Political bloggers-Jason Hass
• Social media networks-George Nemeth
• Marketing opportunities-the Insivia group- Andy Halko, Eric Purcell, Laura Wright
• Cleveland Collectivo-Lee Chilcote and colleagues
• REALNEO and Put It on The Ballot Campaign-Susan Miller
• Sustainability-Marc Lefkowitz, GreenCityBlueLake

Free and open to the public—come participate in the discussion. Bring your favorite six-pack to share.

Ohio EPA has scheduled a public meeting in Cleveland to discuss proposed modifications to the FirstEnergy Lake Shore Plant's wastewater discharge permit.

FirstEnergy is requesting Ohio EPA approval for two permit modifications related to wastewater discharges of mercury and copper at its facility located at 6800 Marginal Road in Cleveland.

The Lake Shore Plant's mercury discharge to Lake Erie averages 2.9 parts per trillion (ppt), higher than the 1.3 ppt average concentration limit required in its existing permit. To achieve the 1.3 ppt discharge limit, the facility would have to install extremely costly technology that would result in a substantial economic impact to the company. Ohio EPA has evaluated the cost and benefit of this approach and determined that a more effective way to lower the mercury impact is to reduce the amount of mercury being put into the wastewater system. Therefore, in order to receive a variance from the mercury limit, FirstEnergy would be required to identify the sources of mercury that go to its plant and take steps to minimize the mercury releases from those sources.

The proposed modification for copper would allow the facility to use a different method for calculating allowable discharges. If approved, the modification would not increase the amount of copper discharged to Lake Erie.

Comments on the proposed permit modifications may be presented at the hearing or submitted in writing to: Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Permits Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049. The public comment period ends October 9, 2008.

National conference of Social Venture Partners International.

Annual summit of the Lorain County Community Alliance, focusing on job creation and retention.

Registration information.

2008 Northeast Ohio Environmental Awards sponsored by the Biodiversity Alliance and Dominion. Guest speaker Dr. Michael Hutchins, President/CEO of The Wildlife Society will address efforts to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing wildlife managers and
conservationists.

National conference of Social Venture Partners International.

The AIDS Walk is the most visible way Northeast Ohio bands together to raise funds for the 9 local non-profit organizations that provide essential services for the many thousands of people in Northeast Ohio infected of affected by HIV/AIDS.

The money we raise supports education and outreach, housing, meals, rides and medical care for people in our community.

Now in our 18th year, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Northeast Ohio has proven that we are a community dedicated to helping each other, promoting awareness, and fighting HIV/AIDS.

For any questions, please contact Jill Rembrandt, AIDS Walk Coordinator 216.621.0766 ext 275 jrembrandt@atfgc.org

For more information call:

330.657.2538

The National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society, with tours of solar installations in Northeast Ohio organized by Green Energy Ohio and other groups.

Details.

 Take steps to fight diabetes. This 4-mile fundraising walk around downtown Cleveland supports the American Diabetes Association's mission to find a cure. 

Register and funraise here.  

Featuring keynote speaker and workshop leader, Paul Loeb, social activist and author of "Soul of a Citizen - Acting in a Critical Time." Workshops led by faculty from area colleges and universities.

Sponsored by West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church.

The National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society, with tours of solar installations in Northeast Ohio organized by Green Energy Ohio and other groups.

Details.

Tremont Farmers Market
Sundays - June 22nd through October 26th from 10:00am-2:00pm
Celebrate local food at the Tremont Farmers Market in our new location: Lincoln Park in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.  Featuring locally-grown produce, local artists, chef demonstrations, educational activities and musical entertainment.  If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at (216) 575-0920 or tremontmarket@yahoo.com.
www.tremontfarmersmarket.com

Spectrum, a program of the Cleveland Public Library presented in partnership with Cleveland Public Art, presents an evening with CNN Political Analyst Donna Brazile and New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Frank Rich.

Dan Moulthrop of ideastream will moderate a discussion that dissects how art, design, packaging, and branding are used to sell presidential candidates in modern elections.

SOLD OUT! (The library will, however, simulcast the presentation on screens in the atrium of Stokes Wing Auditorium)

For more information.

"Innovations in Sustainability: Engineering Solutions," the fall engineering conference of the Cleveland Engineering Society. Speakers include Patrick Conway, co-owner of Great Lakes Brewing Co., and Christina Ayers, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Office for a Healthy Environment.

Registration information.

The Medical Mart: It sounds like a good idea, but is it? Do Cuyahoga County taxpayers really understand this half-a-billion dollar project?

These were the questions urban planning professor William Bowen posed to his class this summer. His students did their homework and found some very interesting answers. Attend this forum to learn more about the Medical Mart and convention center, its projected costs and benefits to the community, the success of similar projects in other cities, and how to determine the rationale for using public money to subsidize private enterprise.

Michelle Distefano
Wendy Naylor
Fran Mentch
Emil Liszniansky
(students in Urban Spatial Structures, UST605, summer 2008)
Moderator: Professor Norman Krumholz

Registration and information available at

Nearly 1,500 schools are participating from 48 states to encourage students to get to school without a car. Walk-to-School Day in the United States is part of international Walk-to-School Day, which involves more than three million walkers around the world.

What is the Canon Envirothon?
The ENVIROTHON is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. A competitive outdoor team event, the Envirothon offers a unique and enjoyable learning experience. A team consists of 5 students, all from the same high school. The 2009 Area II Regional Envirothon Competition will be held in Spring 2009.

Quad County Ohio Envirothon ’08-’09 Training Session

Cuyahoga, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Lake Soil and Water Conservation Districts will be sponsoring a Pre-Envirothon Training/Education Session for Envirothon Teams looking to sharpen their skills before the Regional Competition.
Each team will rotate through four of the sessions on SOILS, AQUATICS, WILDLIFE, and FORESTRY and/or CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. There will be six presenters. Each of your school’s team will see four of the six presenters. Additional students are welcome to attend the Quad-County Training as long as they are put into teams of five.

This is a great opportunity to bring the entire class for an Envirothon experience, however only two teams per school are permitted to attend the Regional Envirothon Competition. (Bring them all now and send the best in the spring.)

Doug Hoffmann, principal at architecture firm Weber Murphy Fox will speak on current design work for housing related to the CSU campus master plan.

Part of Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative's Work-in-Progress brown bag lunch series.

Join E4S and a panel of regional and national sustainable design experts and practitioners at the Cleveland Institute of Art for an engaging E4S National Knowledge Network Speaker Event on The Future of Design: Integrating Sustainability. Registration information.

Speakers:

Catherine Bragdon, Grand Rapids, is currently a consultant to the design facilitation team at Herman Miller where she helps to explore product innovation. She has led the development of an alliance between Cradle to Cradle protocols and Material ConneXion to establish a global platform for material innovation as well as co-founding the Biomimicry Guild with Janine Benyus in 2003.

Susan Lyons, New York City, is a principal of Susan Lyons Studio LLC, focusing on sustainable product design, materials and color development, product marketing strategy, and dedicated to developing compelling and environmentally intelligent products informed and inspired by the principles of cradle-to-cradle design. Susan has worked as a consultant to Herman Miller, Shaw Carpet, Innovations and Crypton Carnegie.

Doug Paige, Cleveland, is an Associate Professor of Industrial Design at The Cleveland Institute of Art. He has helped further the legacy of one the most established industrial design programs in the country, founded by the late Viktor Schreckengost in 1933. Doug incorporated designing for sustainability into the curriculum in 2000. He also works as a design consultant for several companies in the NEO region.

Monthly meeting of the Northeast Ohio Sierra Club.

Contact for more information.

Would you like to grow your own vegetables and not have them eaten by the deer?  Save money on expensive groceries and eat food that you trust?  Holly Moore Kowalski of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club will share the plans for a community garden in Avon Lake and outline how residents can participate.

This is part of a series of events on environmental issues and actions hosted by Avon Lake Public Library and co-sponsored by the City Council Environmental Committee and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.

All interested gardeners and wanna-be gardeners are welcome.

Questions: 440.933.8128.

For more information call:

330.657.2538

Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) hosts this meeting focused on identifying the current issues of common cause that could be addressed through the Arts and Cultural roundtable going forward. As a tool in our discussion we will use the findings from CPAC's recent constituent survey, "Strengthening Arts & Culture: Familiarity, Use & Favorability of Sector-Enhancing Activities."

The event is free and open to all.

To RSVP please send your name, title (if applicable), organization (if applicable) and contact information to me, Valerie Schumacher, by email at vls@cpacbiz.org or by phone at 216.575.0331 x128.

Speakers include

• Keynote address by Brad Whitehead, president, Fund for Our Economic Future
• Andrew Watterson, director, Cleveland Office of Sustainability
• David Beach, director, GreenCityBlueLake Institute
• Michael Hynds, Metropolitan Architecture Studio in Cleveland
• David Orr, director, Environmental Studies Program, Oberlin College

Also, two workshops in the afternoon to brainstorm next steps for sustainability and economic development (one led by Andrew Watterson & Amy Malick of ICLEI, the other led by Daniel Gardner and Nathan Engstrom, sustainability director for the city of Oberlin).

Log on here for more information and registration.

Monthly meeting of the NOACA Governing Board.

Come to the West 11th Street pedestrian bridge for a one-night outdoor celebration, including:

circle remains:: David Jurca Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

Where RU? Here or There? Patsy Kline Gallery U-Haul

drops of light:: Gauri Torgalkar Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

street sofa:: Alex Tapie & Wes Johansen

plus…

Miss Melvis and the Buford Pusser Experience

stargazing, cultural dances, music, storytellers and Capoeira

NOURISHMENT::

Food and drink from Gypsy Beans Cafe

Fresh produce from Hooper's Farm

The event is free and all are welcome. The West 11th Street bridge is two blocks south of Lincoln Park on West 11th Street (or) one block north of Clark Field on West 11th Street (parking at Clark Field)

For more information

A Pop Up City production, sponsored by the Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative with the support of the Civic Innovation Lab, Tremont West Development Corporation, and Progressive Urban Real Estate.

"Creek Dance" to benefit the Friends of Euclid Creek.

Ticket information.

It's not just a race... it's an Experience! The towpath will host its annual marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, and Family Adventure Hike and offers a massage tent, live music, free food for runners, beer garden, hot tubs, nutritional advice, childrens area, food vendors and more.

Go here for more infomation or call 215/ 520-182

It's not just a race... it's an Experience! The towpath will host its annual marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, and Family Adventure Hike and offers a massage tent, live music, free food for runners, beer garden, hot tubs, nutritional advice, childrens area, food vendors and more.

Go here for more infomation or call 215/ 520-182

Tremont Farmers Market
Sundays - June 22nd through October 26th from 10:00am-2:00pm
Celebrate local food at the Tremont Farmers Market in our new location: Lincoln Park in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.  Featuring locally-grown produce, local artists, chef demonstrations, educational activities and musical entertainment.  If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at (216) 575-0920 or tremontmarket@yahoo.com.
www.tremontfarmersmarket.com

High school seniors from Beachwood, Mayfield and Richmond Heights raised more than $150,000 to build a classroom with ‘eco friendly’ products and designs, and raised awareness in their communities about living with a smaller ecological footprint as part of a marketing class last year. October 14 is the green classroom ribbon cutting at Beachwood High School.

Mark Winne, author of Slow Food for a Dying Planet, will have a book signing over local brew and local food.

Join the Cleveland friends of the Great Lakes Urban Exchange for a meeting and conference call at the offices of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. From 6:00 to 7:00, we'll enjoy pizza and have an informal discussion about strategy and local happenings. Following that, we'll join the GLUE network on a conference call with Kate Rube of Smart Growth America about federal transit reauthorization legislation. Please RSVP to Evelyn Burnett at eaburnett@gmail.com if you can attend.

Mark Winne, author of "Closing the Food Gap", will discuss food security projects and policies that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County can embrace to promote economic development and food security. Cleveland City Councilmember Joe Cimperman will highlight current citywide projects that have helped make Cleveland a national leader in the local food scene.

RSVP by October 7 to mer23@case.edu or 216.368.1918

The latest technologies, products, and services in facilities engineering, management, and operations.

Lectures topics include: green building, LEED, green roofs, energy savings in HVAC systems, energy conservation, lighting, solar power, ADA accessibility, facilities preparedness, emergency response planning, OSHA, roofing mistakes, wear particle and oil analysis, and improved motor efficiency. This is a free event, but pre-registration is suggested. For more information and to register.

Join Grant Thompson, Park Manager of the Avon Lake Reservation and member of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, to learn  about the Land Conservancy and how it helps landowners, farmers and others in Northeast Ohio to preserve land in perpetuity.

This is part of a series of Wednesday evening events focusing on environmental issues and actions hosted by Avon Lake Public Library and co-sponsored by the City Council Environmental Committee and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board of Avon Lake.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Questions: 440.933.8128.

The latest technologies, products, and services in facilities engineering, management, and operations.

Lectures topics include: green building, LEED, green roofs, energy savings in HVAC systems, energy conservation, lighting, solar power, ADA accessibility, facilities preparedness, emergency response planning, OSHA, roofing mistakes, wear particle and oil analysis, and improved motor efficiency. This is a free event, but pre-registration is suggested. For more information and to register.

Hear about all of the exciting eco-minded initiatives at the city of Cleveland from Andrew Watterson, director, Office of Sustainability.

Meeting of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee. A preliminary meeting agenda is available.

For more information call:

330.657.2538

Are you interested in finding out what are the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements you can make to your home? Do you want to reduce your home's environmental impacts? Would you like to green your future home improvements? Learn how at an upcoming Greening Your Home series.

Presented by Environmental Health Watch's Affordable Green Housing Center

Topics

• Landscaping and stormwater management
• Greening your basement
• Building envelope: insulation, air sealing, and windows
• Heating, ventilation, and hot water
• Renewable energy options
• Healthy interior finishes and maintenance

Dates: four Thursdays - October 16, 23, 30, November 6 Time: 7-9pm

Instructors: Matt Berges, BPI Certified Professional and Mandy Metcalf, LEED AP

Please call 216-961-4646 to register for the course by Oct.10. The cost for the series is $40, payable by check at the first session.

The University of Akron, Kent State University and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens hosts a forum for the study and discussion of a diverse range of historical, architectural, and preservation issues.

For more information please visit www.stanhywet.org or contact Mark J. Heppner, Symposium Liaison, at mheppner@stanhywet.org.

2008 Bioneers conference, with world-class speakers on sustainability beamed by satellite from the home event in California.

Neighborhood Progress, Inc. and the city of Cleveland are breaking ground on new single family homes in six city neighborhoods to counter the foreclosure crisis. The program launched today in Slavic Village.

Flow: For the Love of Water
USA, 2008, Irena Salina

This new documentary chronicles the ever-escalating threats to the world’s supply of freshwater—primarily pollution and privatization. It also looks at the activists who are trying to change courses in midstream. A must-see for Ohioans living on Lake Erie!

35mm. 93 min.
flowthefilm.com

An Aug. 5, 2008 report by Forbes.com that named four Ohio cities — Canton, Cleveland, Dayton and Youngstown — to its list of top-10 fastest-dying cities has generated much discussion, especially in northeast Ohio’s three communities that made the unfavorable list.

Western Reserve PBS (a service of Western Reserve Public Media) will give local and regional community leaders an opportunity to respond to the Forbes rankings in a one-hour broadcast, The Living Cities, to air on Friday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.

The program will present field segments on each of northeast Ohio’s so-called “dying cities,” featuring interviews with city officials and business leaders; a review of the statistics used by Forbes to make its assessments; and a broader view of what is happening in the three cities. It also will discuss the cities’ economic development plans and neighborhood revitalization projects, plus the growing focus on regionalism.

These segments will be used as a springboard for a live, studio-based conversation during which viewers will be invited to participate through live call-in, e-mail, Twitter and other instant response technology.

Community leaders interviewed for the program, which is a joint production of Western Reserve Public Media in cooperation with Municipal Leader magazine, include the following:

• David Abbott, chairman, Fund for Our Economic Future

• Canton Mayor William Healy II
• Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
• Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien
• Robert Torres, director, City of Canton Department of Development
• Chris Warren, chief of regional development, City of Cleveland
• Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams

The live panel discussion will be moderated by Eric Mansfield, host of Western Reserve PBS’s NewsNight Akron and Akron/Canton reporter for WKYC-TV3. Participating on the panel will be these civic leaders:

2008 Bioneers conference, with world-class speakers on sustainability beamed by satellite from the home event in California.

Climate Scientists Featured at Vertebrate Paleontology Meeting

Only the fossil record provides a window into the responses of species and ecosystems to climate change over extended periods of time. Detailed geological records of fossils and climatic data allow us to examine environmental change as it actually happened. A panel of scientists speaking in a special forum at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Cleveland, Ohio, will feature some of the most critical insights from the fossil record for global changes underway today, including warming of the earth’s surface, rise in sea level, and changes in seasonality.

The forum, “Global Climate Change: Past and Future,” occurs on Saturday, October 18, from 12:15-1:45 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in downtown Cleveland. It is free and open to the public.

Three distinguished scientists will participate in the climate forum. All three scientists study modern and ancient ecosystems. Dr. Elizabeth Hadly, from Stanford University, studies the influence of climate change on the geographic distribution and population biology of small mammals. Dr. Thure Cerling, from the University of Utah, studies ancient climate as recorded in the chemistry of mammal teeth and soils from modern and fossil ecosystems. Dr. Jack Williams, from the University of Wisconsin, studies the response of forests to climate change during the last 20 thousand years as continental ice sheets melted in response to global warming. Each scientist will present insights from the fossil record that are relevant for understanding how species and ecosystems could respond to current global climate changes. The forum will be moderated by SVP President Dr. Catherine Badgley, from the University of Michigan, and Dr. Jonathan Bloch, from the University of Florida.

FREE Family Fun @ Euclid Beach State Park:  'Haunted' hayride, storytellers, games & craft, marshmallow roasting & hot chocolate, costume contest at 7pm.  For questions or more info call 216-881-8141 ext. 3001.

Flow: For the Love of Water
USA, 2008, Irena Salina

This new documentary chronicles the ever-escalating threats to the world’s supply of freshwater—primarily pollution and privatization. It also looks at the activists who are trying to change courses in midstream. A must-see for Ohioans living on Lake Erie!

35mm. 93 min.
flowthefilm.com

2008 Bioneers conference, with world-class speakers on sustainability beamed by satellite from the home event in California.

Tremont Farmers Market
Sundays - June 22nd through October 26th from 10:00am-2:00pm
Celebrate local food at the Tremont Farmers Market in our new location: Lincoln Park in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.  Featuring locally-grown produce, local artists, chef demonstrations, educational activities and musical entertainment.  If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at (216) 575-0920 or tremontmarket@yahoo.com.
www.tremontfarmersmarket.com

Great Lakes Institute for Energy innovation is hosting an energy workshop that looks at challenges for cost-effective scientific and technical innovation in advanced energy.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mark Shanahan Energy Adviser to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.

The workshop will consist of three sessions:

• Session I: Panel discussion: Energy Storage: Status, Barriers to Progress, Need for Innovation
• Session II: Frontier Technologies: Innovation in Energy Storage
• Session III: Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology: The Role of Innovation and Potential for High Impact Breakthroughs

Register online.

Please join us for at our next City Fresh Monday for an advanced screening and feedback session of Uproooted: Reconnecting People and Food. LESS Productions and the New Agrarian Center are excited to preview the first 30 minutes of Uprooted to potential funders, sustainability advocates, movie goers and people who are just interested in learning more about innovative ways food is being grown and distributed in Northeast Ohio.

We seek to portray how local food systems contribute to health and happiness on various levels: personal, community, economic, and environmental. The section will feature first-hand stories from people benefiting from this growing movement in our area.

A multi-faceted, interdisciplinary topic, sustainability seeks to identify effective ways in which society can transform itself for the future of humanity and the natural world in which we live– its environmental, political, social, cultural, ethical, technological, and economic dimensions. This two-day symposium provides an opportunity for B-W to further delve into the theme of sustainability and the specific challenges facing Northeast Ohio.

The keynote address on Oct. 20 will be by Stuart Hart. A leading authority on the implications of sustainable development and environmentalism for business strategy, Hart is the Samuel C. Johnson Chair of Sustainable Global Enterprise and Professor of Management at Cornell University. His book, Capitalism at the Crossroads, is in its second edition with a new foreword by Al Gore. Dr. Hart believes environmental meltdown and a widening gap between rich and poor pose challenges for global capitalism. He maintains that corporations' technology, resources, capacity and global research can accelerate transformation.

Events are free and open to the public. Agenda details here.

Great Lakes Institute for Energy innovation is hosting an energy workshop that looks at challenges for cost-effective scientific and technical innovation in advanced energy.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mark Shanahan Energy Adviser to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.

The workshop will consist of three sessions:

• Session I: Panel discussion: Energy Storage: Status, Barriers to Progress, Need for Innovation
• Session II: Frontier Technologies: Innovation in Energy Storage
• Session III: Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology: The Role of Innovation and Potential for High Impact Breakthroughs

Register online.

A multi-faceted, interdisciplinary topic, sustainability seeks to identify effective ways in which society can transform itself for the future of humanity and the natural world in which we live– its environmental, political, social, cultural, ethical, technological, and economic dimensions. This two-day symposium provides an opportunity for B-W to further delve into the theme of sustainability and the specific challenges facing Northeast Ohio.

The keynote address on Oct. 20 will be by Stuart Hart. A leading authority on the implications of sustainable development and environmentalism for business strategy, Hart is the Samuel C. Johnson Chair of Sustainable Global Enterprise and Professor of Management at Cornell University. His book, Capitalism at the Crossroads, is in its second edition with a new foreword by Al Gore. Dr. Hart believes environmental meltdown and a widening gap between rich and poor pose challenges for global capitalism. He maintains that corporations' technology, resources, capacity and global research can accelerate transformation.

Events are free and open to the public. Agenda details here.

This workshop is for backyard gardeners, market gardeners, urban farmers and anyone who would like to learn more about growing food by utilizing a high tunnel system.
Two experts will present. Brad Bergefurd is an Extension Educator with OSU Extension Center in Piketon, Ohio. He will discuss what and how to grow under high tunnels as well as tunnel-specific pest management. Joe Kovach is an Associate Professor with OSU and will present his research in the theory, design, and practice of a fruit and vegetable polyculture system that is economically viable (greater than $80,000/A) and environmentally sound.

REGISTER: Call Denise Ellsworth, OSU Extension, Summit Co., 330-928-4769 ext.21
FEE: $20 includes workshop and box meal.

Third Tuesday networking event of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, with this month's topic the future of green building. Join 150+ leaders from business, government, academia and nonprofit organizations as we explore the possibilities to bring triple bottom line benefits to your business or organization and the region. Discover how to reduce costs, generate new revenue opportunities, start new businesses or product lines while reducing environmental and climate impacts.

Register here.

Annual conference of Great Lakes research.

More information.

Find out how to protect the beauty and cleanliness of Lake Erie. Phoebe Van Zoest of Old Woman Creek Estuary will talk about and show slides of area wetlands, their importance and care.  She'll describe the research going on right now on the shores of our great Lake Erie.

This is part of a series of Wednesday evening events on environmental issues and actions hosted by Avon Lake Public Library and co-sponsored by the City Council Environmental Committee and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board of Avon Lake.

All are welcome.

Questions: 440.933.8128.

Annual conference of Great Lakes research.

More information.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance's 10th annual Ruth Ratner Miller award will be presented at this luncheon to Cleveland Councilman Joseph Cimperman.

To register. 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is updating the Ohio Trails Plan to provide guidance for the development and expansion of recreational trails on a statewide basis. Local participation is critical to producing a complete and visionary planning tool to ensure a coordinated approach to statewide, regional and community trail systems.

To that end ODNR is conducting input meetings in 14 regions statewide. Each location will have two meetings to encourage maximum attendance. Participants only need to attend one.

Discussions from these meetings will structure the 2009 Ohio Trails Plan which will guide the Ohio Department of Natural Resources trail programs for the next several years. We want to know about your existing trails as well as any master plans or planning documents you may have that include planned trails and connections to trails in your community and neighboring communities. Please bring your maps and plans!

Email Sue.McAdams@dnr.state.oh.us to confirm your attendance. Please do not hesitate to contact ODNR if you have any questions regarding the meetings.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is updating the Ohio Trails Plan to provide guidance for the development and expansion of recreational trails on a statewide basis. Local participation is critical to producing a complete and visionary planning tool to ensure a coordinated approach to statewide, regional and community trail systems.

To that end ODNR is conducting input meetings in 14 regions statewide. Each location will have two meetings to encourage maximum attendance. Participants only need to attend one.

Discussions from these meetings will structure the 2009 Ohio Trails Plan which will guide the Ohio Department of Natural Resources trail programs for the next several years. We want to know about your existing trails as well as any master plans or planning documents you may have that include planned trails and connections to trails in your community and neighboring communities. Please bring your maps and plans!

Email Sue.McAdams@dnr.state.oh.us to confirm your attendance. Please do not hesitate to contact ODNR if you have any questions regarding the meetings.

Presented by the Environmental Health Watch Affordable Green Housing Center.

Topics

• Landscaping and stormwater management
• Greening your basement
• Building envelope: insulation, air sealing, and windows
• Heating, ventilation, and hot water
• Renewable energy options
• Healthy interior finishes and maintenance 

Dates: four Thursdays - October 16, 23, 30, November 6 Time: 7-9pm

Instructors: Matt Burges, BPI Certified Professional and Mandy Metcalf, LEED AP

Please call 216-961-4646 to register for the course by Oct.9

All are invited to attend the Quarterly Public Meeting of the Rocky River Watershed Council on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the Rocky River Nature Center. 

In addition to RRWC news and updates, Cleveland Metroparks Chief of Natural Resources John Mack will speak on Restoration Plans for the Upper Abram Creek/Lake-to-Lake Trail Ecosystem.  Click here for a complete description.

Contact Rocky River Watershed Coordinator Jared Bartley at 216-524-6580 x14 or jbartley@cuyahogaswcd.org for more information.

"The mission of the Rocky River Watershed Council is to protect, restore and perpetuate a healthy watershed through public education, watershed planning, communication,
and cooperation among stakeholders."

www.MyRockyRiver.org

Case Western Reserve University Economics Honor Society will host a four-part lecture series on election issues during its annual Economic Faculty Spotlight. Our esteemed economics faculty will analyze the state of the economy and the positions of the candidates on the pivotal issues of our time. 

Wednesday, October 22nd
Dr. James Rebitzer on "Labor, Outsourcing, and Unemployment"
5:00pm-6:00pm in 1914 Lounge, Thwing Center (Next to Severance Hall)

Thursday, October 23rd
Dr. Robin Dubin on "The Housing and Credit Crisis"
5:00pm-6:00pm in 1914 Lounge, Thwing Center

Friday, October 24th
Dr. Susan Helper on "The Candidates and the Environment"
12:30pm-1:45pm in Clapp 108 (off of Adelbert Rd.)

Monday, October 27th
Dr. Mark Votruba on "Health Care and the Election"
5:00-6:00 in Spartan Room, Thwing Center

For more information you may contact Timothy Gasper at tng4@case.edu

Lecture on the decline of sugar maple trees in the northeastern U.S. and links to air pollution by Holden Arboretum's Mary Topa.

Acer saccharum (sugar maple) is a keystone species in many forests of Northeastern and Midwestern United States, and Eastern Canada. Although recent surveys have shown that Acer saccharum is generally healthy throughout its range, sporadic declines have occurred during the last four decades in Ontario and Quebec, Wisconsin, Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania, and fewer seedlings appear to be maturing to adulthood. Topa, Holden’s director of research, will discuss potential causes of decline in urban trees, sugar bushes and forests, and why some forests are more susceptible than others. There will be light refreshments and time to speak