a clean creek after the 10/10/10 Global Work Day

The photo is of a clean creek with only leaves in the water after the cleanup on 10/10/10 for 350.org's Global Work Party sponsored by Ben Lowe and the Friends of the Great Western Trails.

At the beginning of the day on 10/10 this section of the creek had 22 tires, a dishwasher, one large tank and too much trash. As of 10/12/10 it was still clean!

The creek parallels the Great Western Trail in Carol Stream, IL. This section is close to the intersection of Mantle and Burns. Special thanks to Ben Lowe for his support and to Jeremy Burke for extra help with hauling out the trash.

 

Feel free to pass along this message.

Don Kirchenberg
For news on trails and the environment go to www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com
 Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45

Press Release/Letter to the Editor

Press Release/Letter to the Editor:  For Immediate Release, October 11, 2010

 

Bob Mueller, the Green Party candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 47^th District continues to support the community's ongoing efforts to protect the trees and trails from Com Ed's tree butchering and spraying of herbicides.

 

"As a state representative, I would work to make the Illinois Commerce Commission - (ICC) – enforce their regulations that require the healthy trimming of trees by Com Ed and all its contractors.  The maintenance performed by Com Ed and its contractors damage and kill trees on and along private property and on the taxpayer-owned trails in DuPage County.  The Governor and our current representation in the state legislature have failed to act to protect our public areas" stated Bob Mueller.

 

Bob Mueller continues "The ICC has failed to respond ...

See the attached one page press release for further information.  Please call me at 630-280-0546 with any questions.

--
Bob Mueller

DuPage County Green Party Political Director

Green Party Candidate for Illinois State Representative, District 47
www.votemueller.org

Westmont, IL 60559

630-280-0546

Fwd: Today is International walk to school day

See the info in the email below and at the website for the SafeRoadways group www.saferoadways.net

 

We need safer roads to get around including to/from the trails without having to get behind a steering wheel.

 

Don Kirchenberg
For news on trails and the environment go to www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com
>>> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45

 

---

From: SAFERoadways@aol.com
BCC: FrndsGrtWstnTrl@aol.com
Sent: 10/6/2010 2:03:53 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Today is International walk to school day

 

Today 10/6 is International walk to school day http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/ and there is a lot to do to make that walk a safe one. Get more information at our website: www.saferoadways.net Please pass along this information and see the opportunities below FYI.

 

#2 Last minute reminder:

You can still register for either of the two free, half-day workshops on "How to Apply" for Safe Routes to School funds in Illinois (information below). Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funds help communities put infrastructure and programs in place to facilitate walking and cycling to school. SRTS projects and programs are typically funded without local matching funds required.

The Illinois SRTS program has just issued a call for projects, and school travel plans (required for SRTS funding) and project applications are due by November 12 and December 15, 2010, respectively.

The workshops will be conducted by Megan Holt Swanson (IDOT SRTS Coordinator) and will start with a one-hour mini-workshop on the "5 Es" of Safe Routes to School (engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement, and evaluation). Following the "5 Es" presentation, Megan will go through (1) step-by-step instructions for the development of the school travel plans (required for SRTS funding), (2) step-by-step instructions for the application for funding, (3) best practices, and (4) next steps for potential applicants. The workshop will end with a Q-and-A session. IDOT District 1 staff will also be on hand to answer questions with Ms. Holt Swanson.

If you are interested in applying for Safe Routes to School funding, please attend. Here are the workshop times, dates, and locations:

• October 7, 2010 from 12:45 to 4:30 at the Bolingbrook Town Center, 375 W Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, Illinois

• October 8, 2010, from 8:45 to 12:30 p.m. at CMAP, 233 S Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois

The workshops are free, but registration is required. To register today, visit http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/SafeRoutesRegistration.aspx.

Hope to see you there!

___________________________________________

#3 Also, please join CMAP and our friends and partners for the official launch of the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan!

This very special event will mark the beginning of the all-important implementation phase of the GO TO 2040 plan and will take place 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at the Harris Theater's Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park. Earlier that day, the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee will vote on adoption of the plan. This event will be to thank and inspire all who have participated in GO TO 2040to date and who will now help CMAP to lead its implementation.

Please RSVP via the web or by phone 312-676-7459.

For more information on the plan, visit the GO TO 2040 website

___________________________________________________

 

This email and information is being provided to you by Safe Roadways.

Safe Roadways is an all volunteer group promoting safe roadways for all users including pedestrians and bicycle riders.

Get more info here www.saferoadways.net 

Special Environmental Presentation on Tues. 10/5 and Action Day on Sun. 10/10

This Tuesday there will be a presentation about...
How Can Politics Rise to the Environmental Challenges Before Us?
Featuring: Dr. Fred Van Dyke
Followed by Q&A with local environmental leaders
 
Do you care about the health of our planet?  Frustrated at the political gridlock that keeps good clean energy legislation from passing year after year? Interested in exploring solutions to move us forward?
 
Then bring your friends and join us and other local environmental leaders for an evening of discussion and action in collaboration with 350.org's Global Work Party.  Congressional Candidate Ben Lowe will be present and there will be information on local environmental efforts, along with light refreshments.
When: Tuesday, October 5, 7-8:30pm
Where: 26 N Park Ave, Lombard, IL
                                              1 block west of Main St and 1 block north of St Charles Rd                                          
and only 1 block north of Lombard's Metra station
 
Who: It is free to attend and ALL are WELCOME.
_____________________________________________________
And in honor of 350.org's Global Work Party there will be an Environmental Work Day on Sunday 10/10/10 at 2PM at the Great Western Trail in Carol Stream, IL.
Volunteers are needed for the trail cleanup.
Garbage bags will be provided. Please bring work gloves because some litter has sharp edges. Wagons or carts to help move the filled bags would be appreciated.
The Great Western Trail at Schmale Rd in Carol Stream, IL parallels North Ave to the south by approximately 1/2 mile.
Parking is available east of Schmale on Burns Street in Carol Stream, IL.
For more information on the Great Western Trails and ongoing efforts to protect them go to www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com                                                                                                                                                          For more information about Ben Lowe and his campaign for Congress go to www.loweforcongress.com

All are welcome to join us!

For more info about the Environmental Action Day please contact Don Kirchenberg, Voluntary Chairman                                                       Friends of the Great Western Trails email frndsgrtwstntrl@aol.com mobile 630-853-7650

Please pass along this email and the attached one page flyer.

Get more information on efforts to protect our trees, trails and trail users including the wildlife at these sites on the web:

• http://ilgreenways.wordpress.com/
• www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com
• http://illinois-trails.blogspot.com/