Recycle Old Electronics: Last Saturday of the Month at the OP Public Works Center

June 2012 OP/FYI Newsletter

Recycle old electronics…Now that electronic items are banned from landfills and not collected by trash haulers, Oak Parkers are invited to recycle old electronic equipment from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., the last Saturday of each month (through October) at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard (at Lombard Avenue). Acceptable items include computers, peripherals, laptops, monitors, TVs, cell phones, rechargeable batteries, printers, fax machines, MP3 players, portable digital assistants, video game consoles, video cassette recorders, digital video disk players, zip drives, scanners and microwaves. For more information call 708.358.5700 or e-mail publicworks@oak-park.us.

One Earth Film Festival Encore Screening Event - May 20th, 4pm

One Earth Film Festival has scheduled its first encore event for Sunday May 20 at greenline wheels in Oak Park. Two of the films featured during the main festival weekend will be screened again:  Food Patriots and Tapped.  If you missed either of these fascinating films - or want to see them again for further thought and discussion - please join us! Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig’s debut feature is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.  This timely documentary is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water.  View Tapped trailer.

Jeff Spitz, local filmmaker, will be present to host the screening of Food Patriots. "Food Patriots is focused on an issue that directly touches all of us — food. We aim to tell a story that unlocks the potential for healthier lives, a less polluted environment and new jobs that would evolve naturally if Americans shift by just 10% the way they buy, eat and educate the next generation about food." We will have the opportunity to see a 19-minute segment of this film that is still a work-in-progress!  View Food Patriots  trailer.

Greenline Wheels rents ecologically friendly and affordable transportation - bikes, electric bikes, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Easy to use maps with self-guided tour loops and easy access to many of Oak Park's independent tour guides makes Greenline an ideal starting point for your Oak Park adventure.  Plan to come and spend the day exploring the Oak Park area and finish up the day at the film screening.

Green4Good's Recycling Extravaganza -- May 5th, 8am to 1pm

The Green4Good committee of District 90 is hosting a Recycling Extravaganza -- drop-off recycling event Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 8 am to, 1 pm rain or shine at the parking lot of River Forest United Methodist Church, located on the northeast corner of Lake Street and Thatcher Avenue (7970 Lake Street). WHAT TO BRING: ELECTRONICS:  computers-televisions-radios-VCRs-DVD players-toasters-blenders-electric coffee makers-microwaves-vacuum cleaners (take out the dust collection bag)-monitors-cell phones-dial phones-answering machines-scanners-printers-keyboards-hard drives-copiers-cable boxes/modems- circuit boards-switches-cameras-projectors-insulated wire/cable-power supplies NO de-humidifiers, air conditioners or refrigerators SCRAP METAL: washers-dryers-radiators-metal lawn furniture-metal hangers-rusty swing sets-metal garbage cans-metal garden tools-water heaters-metal railings-metal pots and pans-gutters-metal shovels-metal shelving-metal wagons-metal pipes-metal wheel barrels-metal chicken wire-tomato cages-auto radiators-radiators

BATTERIES: A-C-D-9 volt-Ni Cad-Lithium- button batteries-car-motorcycle-sump pump-computer back up-boat, lawn mower batteries-rechargeable

MISCELLANEOUS: tattered and torn American Flags for proper retirement-bicycles-sewing machines-regular wheelchairs (no electric)-bike helmets-bike baskets-eyeglasses-hearing aids-keys-rulers-pencils, crayons, usable spiral notebooks, yarn-rubber stamps-buttons, musical instruments -ink jet cartridges-corks, propane tanks-fire extinguishers-plastic bags-plastic dry cleaning bags-plastic newspaper sleeves-prescription medications-shoes-CFL bulbs (no fluorescent tubes)-#5 plastics TEXTILE RECYCLING: Torn, tattered or stained clothing, fibrous material and clothing scraps nondurable goods such as sheets, towels, blankets

Animal Shelter Needs:  collars-leashes-carriers, etc.

Award-Winning Films that will Inspire

By Amy Boruta The Film Festival Planning Team is excited about the many films that will be shown during the One Earth Film Fest 2012 on April 27-29^th.  The screenings will take place throughout Oak Park/ River Forest at venues like Lake Street Theater and Dominican University.  The event will be kicked off with a celebratory event, the Green Carpet Gala, on Friday, April 27^th at the Oak Park Conservatory that will focus on community and conversation. Purchase your tickets for the Green Carpet Gala and register for the film fest here.

Approximately 300 films were considered for the fest and the planning team screened 70. The planning team thoughtfully selected a combination of long and short films that we feel embody the purpose of the event and there will be something for all members of the community.  These special films promote awareness, inspire change, and drive action.  We would like to move Oak Park / River Forest and the Chicago-area forward as sustainable communities and green community leaders and we feel that these films will inspire this change. You can find a complete list of films, showing times, and venues hereAn Amazing Line-Up

The films highlight the importance of climate change, sustainability, and the power of human involvement. Waste Land is one of the films that will be shown during the event and is the winner of the Sundance Film Festival Best World Cinema Audience Award. Waste Land follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”, self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives.  “The trailer alone had me choke up, and the reviews and awards are amazing,” said Sally Stovall, planning team member.  You can view the trailer here.  Wasteland will be shown on Saturday, April 28^th at 9:30am at the Lake Street Theatre.

Another featured Sundance film is A Fierce Green Fire that will be shown at Dominican University on Saturday, April 28^th at 5:00pm.  The film is the first to take on environmentalism as a whole, to bring together all the parts and eras, from conservation to climate change. It explores how the issues built into an international cause, the largest movement the world has ever seen and perhaps the most crucial in terms of what’s at stake. You can view the trailer here.

 Still Time To Get Involved

Oak Park/River Forest’s Green Community Connections is still looking for volunteers to get involved in the fest. We are interested in identifying volunteers for roles throughout Friday, April 27^th- Sunday, April 29^th that can assist with set-up, registration, facilitators for movie discussions, and clean up.  We are looking for volunteers to serve in a variety of roles on Saturday between 8:30am - 8:00pm and Sunday between 8:30am - 7:30pm.

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer during the event click here.  It's more fun to volunteer with a friend, so please share this volunteer opportunity with others that may be interested in participating.

Des Plaines River Clean-up & Composting Demo

16th Annual Des Plaines River Cleanup

The 16th Des Plaines River Cleanup will be held, April 28th, rain or shine.  The River Clean-Up will begin at 9:00am, and runs from North Avenue to Madison Avenue. You must PRE-REGISTER either online at www.rfparks.com or by completing the Registration Form and turning it into The Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave.  The whole family is encouraged to come and help with the Des Plaines River Clean-Up. The event benefits Thatcher Woods, the Des Plaines River, & the whole community. The first 100 volunteers to register receive a FREE t-shirt!  On cleanup day, participants can check-in at The Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave., to pick up garbage bags and maps, and to get assigned into a cleanup zone.

Composting Demo Launches River Forest Green Block Parties

The River Forest Park District along with other clean-up sponsors are hosting a free zero waste lunch.  Lunch will be followed by a composting demonstration where participants can compost food scraps and other compostable items from their lunches.  The composting demonstration will launch the Green Block Party Initiative in River Forest.  See attached flyer for details on  theGreen Block Party Initiative.

See the River Forest Park District website for more details about the cleanup.

Location: The Depot Day/Date: Saturday, April 28 Time: 9:00am; FREE Zero-Waste lunch from 11:30am-12:30pm Fee: FREE Code: 4100.300 Bring: Water bottle, rain gear, worker's gloves, garbage picks/tongs; wear bright colored clothes and long pants and boots Garbage bags WILL BE PROVIDED

The River Forest Park District along with other clean-up sponsors are hosting a free zero waste lunch.  Lunch will be followed by a composting demonstration where participants can compost food scraps and other compostable items from their lunches.  The composting demonstration will launch the Green Block Party Initiative in River Forest.

A key component of that effort will be educating residents about composting, so green block party hosts will receive a free kit containing a kitchen compost caddy, 20 composter discount coupons and a backyard "Earth Machine" composter, which, after the party wraps up, will stay in the neighborhood.

See Oak Park River Forest Patch articles for more details:

Des Plaines River Cleanup

In River Forest, the Block Party Goes Green

Coming Soon! Residential Food Scrap Collection in South OP

Submitted by Karen Rozmus and Gary Cuneen Starting, April 2012, the Village of Oak Park is moving ahead with the collection of food scraps from residences as part of a pilot program to divert more material from landfill and achieve community greenhouse gas emission and waste reduction goals.  The Village of Oak Park in collaboration with PlanItGreen and SEOPCO will host three community forums in South Oak Park that will provide residents with information on the Village’s new residential food scrap collection pilot program targeted for April 2012 and seek input on implementation.  The forums, listed below, will also provide brief updates on PlanItGreen OPRF Sustainability Plan implementation and ways to get involved. Upcoming forums are:

South Oak Park Residential Food Scrap Program Forum #2 Monday, February 13, 2012 7:00-8:30pm Lincoln Elementary School 1111 S. Grove, Oak Park

South Oak Park Residential Food Scrap Program Forum #3 Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:00-8:30pm Ascension Catholic School, Pine Room 601 Van Buren, Oak Park

For more information contact act@sevengenerationsahead.org.

South Oak Park Residential Food Scrap Program Forum #1 Wednesday, February 8, 2012 7:00-8:30pm Irving Elementary School 1125 S. Cuyler, Oak Park

South Oak Park Residential Food Scrap Program Forum #2 Monday, February 13, 2012 7:00-8:30pm Lincoln Elementary School 1111 S. Grove, Oak Park

South Oak Park Residential Food Scrap Program Forum #3 Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:00-8:30pm Ascension Catholic School, Pine Room 601 Van Buren, Oak Park

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Related Article:

For a (slightly dated) overview of what other cities and towns around the U.S. are doing see http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001992.html

Triton College Launches Sustainability Center

Our local community college has launched its Sustainability Center.  The center has developed a Web page and is working on outreach to campus and community groups and collaboration with other community colleges on state-wide projects.  Among other initiatives, the Center will sponsor the Greening the Campus Committee, expand Triton's Greening Your Curriculum program, coordinate Sustainability Month activities, and help enlarge Triton's recycling program. In the immediate future, the Center is co-sponsoring a min-conference for educators called Leave No Child Inside, on the educational and emotional benefits of outdoor education, on campus on February 8.  (Click here for more information.)

The Center's Coordinator is Oak Park resident, Adrian Fisher, who is a veteran adjunct instructor at Triton and has a long history of environmental advocacy.  Biology instructor Joe Beuchel will serve as consultant and liaison to the Illinois Green Economy Network, which provided funds to help launch the center.  The center is located in the B building, room 113A.  The phone number is 708 456-0300 ext. 3848.  Fisher can be reached at afisher@triton.edu, and Beuchel at jbeuchel@triton.edu.

Triton has also joined the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), which aims to unite and coordinate campus sustainability efforts regionally and nationally.

Neighbors working together to reduce their carbon footprint

Green Blocks rain barrel

A discussion with Dorie Blesoff and Margot McMahon written by Amy Boruta

Turn your block into a "green block"

Do you swear by your rain barrel or push mower and find yourself encouraging your neighbors to use one as well?  You may be interested in turning your block into a ‘green block’.  Dorie Blesoff and her neighbors had these conversations and began to turn their block green in 2006.  The green block is a group of neighbors who work together to reduce their carbon footprint, in specific ways, over time.  Dorie Blesoff and Margot McMahon share their experience with reducing their carbon footprint one block at a time.

During a Block Party in August 2006, Dorie and a small group of neighbors sat around late at night commenting on how much the movie "Inconvenient Truth" had impacted them.   Dorie explained that the question soon arose,  "What will we do about the fact our lifestyles are largely driving the huge carbon footprint made by the US?”

Build momentum through establishing seasonal projects

Dorie and her neighbors were active in the 1970's around environmental issues and they never lost their concern.  They committed to researching, thinking, meeting and coming up with ideas for their block.  They visited Green Technology Center, Green Depot, became familiar with Green Home Experts, and attended Green Tuesdays at the Library.

green block rickshaw

Soon their monthly meetings grew to 8 households and built momentum through establishing seasonal projects and providing additional green education.  Since 2006, the block focuses around several areas:  Zero Waste Block Parties, raising gardens in the summer (and Margot in the winter), encouraging their kids to think of ways to reduce carbon footprints and continuing to network with other organizations in the Village.

Block level initiatives intersect with village-level initiatives to speed change

Every single household participates in some way to reduce their carbon footprints.  One might raise their own garden, another might mow the lawn with a push mower, another might can their own tomatoes, several might have compost bins, another might walk with their kids to the Farmer's Market in the summer, etc.  They contribute some of their successes to the Village of Oak Park.  Margot stated, “we are delighted to be a part of Oak Park that has met this grass roots movement with LEED certified buildings, brick streets, renewable sourced electric supply, support of a comprehensive village-wide plan to change.”  They feel that their original concept of changing one block then another, then the whole village to reduce their carbon footprint has happened in a few short years because of the bottom up movement intersecting with the Village's top down movement.  Margot feels that other towns can use our Village as an example of a community on various levels changing quickly.  It is what the ‘green block’ envisioned years ago and while the process has no end, they believe that huge strides have taken place.

Green Block show-n-tell

The ‘green block’ recruits more participation through regular emails to the neighbors as well as word of mouth at block parties and their social gatherings on the block.  The ‘green block’ continues to encourage the wider community to participate in this initiative as well.  Residents of the ‘green block’ can be found attending many events to share their story through their show-n-tell book. They also share their Household Survey, which is distributed each year at the August Block Party, to show what has been improved.  The ‘green block’ residents view networking with others in Oak Park and River Forest as important to share new ideas.

Inspiring one another

Dorie is most proud of how many people on the block participate in some way. Margot added, “We came together to inspire each other to change faster in reducing oil dependency and CO2 emissions enabling the earth to heal”.  The ‘green block’ encourages others to find a community in their neighborhood, faith-based organization, or book group to support faster individual lifestyle change to lower carbon footprint.  The neighbors have supported each other in changing faster than any individual would have on their own.  “It's not about buying solar panels or purchasing things to 'go green’ but about walking more, shopping locally, growing backyard gardens and retaining water from run off,” Margot adds, “we are about simplifying our lives and reducing our energy use to help the climate change.”

Make it easy to try new things with a support system

At times it is difficult to maintain the momentum and find new ways for people to be involved.  Dorie would suggest that others start small, focus on new projects each season, and make things easy for people to try new approaches with a support system.

Dorie lists ideas for those interested in implementing this ‘green block’ initiative:

• Rain barrels to water lawns

• Push mower or electric mower

• Mulch leaves in fall instead of raking them for pick-up

• Buy local and organic food from Farmer's Market or CSA or Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks

• Zero Waste Block Parties twice a year

• Gardens with native plants and/or vegetables

• Shop at Farmer's Markets - summer and winter

• Walk, ride bikes, use the el - instead of cars

• Rehab using green materials and building techniques

• Fix up faulty insulation

• Plant new trees

• Install a compost bin and/or worm bin

If you would like to learn more about the ‘green block’ or the zero-waste block party, you can contact Dorie Blesoff at dorieblesoff1@comcast.net or Margot McMahon at mmcm310@comcast.net.

Oak Park Water Conservation Forum - Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7-9 p.m.

Water rates expected to increase significantly

As you may know, water rates are set to hike by a significant amount in the next few years (projections are 50% increase over the next 3 years).  The Village is creating a water conservation plan for residents and businesses with the help of CMAP, our regional planning agency

People interested in working on water conservation strategies are invited to attend this upcoming forum with CMAP.  There will be a chance to weigh in on and suggest strategies related to water conservation including those listed in the PlanItGreen plan.  If you plan to attend, please RSVP to K.C. Poulos at  708.358.5778 or  kcpoulos@oak-park.us.

 The forum is set for Tuesday, January 31^st,  7-9 p.m. at Village Hall, Room 101.

Oak Park gets its water from the Chicago Water Dept - directly from Lake Michigan through the filtration plant near Navy Pier. The Bureau of Water Supply provides just under one billion gallons of water a day to Chicago and neighboring suburban communities. Raw water is enters the crib about 2-miles out in the lake and is sent to one of two purification plants where the water is treated and impurities removed. The water then flows by gravity to 12 pumping stations strategically located throughout Chicago. At the pumping stations the water is elevated to grid mains and pressurized. This allows the water to be delivered to homes and business throughout Chicagoland.

For more information on the Chicago Water Department, link to the website: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/water.html

The Village of OP makes it greener to clean up after the holidays

Source:  VOP e-News

Holiday tree pick ups begin Monday

Holiday trees will be picked up on regular trash and recycling collection days during the weeks of January 9 and 16. Trees should be placed in the regular collection area next to the refuse cart. Only residents with no alley should put trees at the curb. Since the trees are mulched, all tinsel, decorations and stands should be removed, and trees cannot be in plastic disposal bags. Wreaths and garlands are held together with wire and are not recyclable, so place them in the refuse cart. For more information call 708.358.5700 or e-mail publicworks@oak-park.us.

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 Recycle holiday lights through January

Residents have through this month to recycle their holiday lights by dropping them off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. Mini-lights, C7 lights, C9 lights, rope and LED lights, as well as extension cords, are acceptable. For more information call 708.358.5700 or e-mail publicworks@oak-park.us.

e-mail vopnews-info@oak-park.us