facebook Check out Friends of the Great Western Trails You shared your email with Friends of the Great Western Trails and they've suggested you like their page on Facebook Sign up for a Facebook account if you want to like Friends of the Great Western Trails and connect with other friends. Or you can simply view the Page. Friends of the Great Western Trails Facebook is changing their format again and want the groups to become pages. We have started a page for the Friends of the Great Western Trails. 60 likes · 0 talking about this Sign Up for Facebook View This Page I don't knowFriends of the Great Western Trails This message was sent to aquarianm.trees-n-trails@blogger.com. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please unsubscribe. Facebook, Inc., Attention: Department 415, PO Box 10005, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Two days after the election the DuPage County...

Two days after the election the DuPage County States Attorney announces 317 felony indictments detailing 6 years of theft from our DuPage County Forest Preserve District under the current administration. Two days after the election is a perfect time for the party (Republican) in control of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and States Attorney office to announce these indictments because the voters could not take them into consideration when they went to the polls two days earlier. What difference... CountyLeaks PART THREE OF A COUNTYLEAKS SERIES... A grand jury handed down a total of 317 felony indictments to three men last week following an investigation of information technology (IT) contracts at the Fores... View or comment on Don Kirchenberg's post » Google+ makes sharing on the web more like sharing in real life. Learn more. Join Google+

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Annual all volunteer trails cleanup date set early to plan for success!

In observance of Earth Day 2013; the Friends of the Great Western Trails and The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation (IPPc) has scheduled its Annual Earth Day trails cleanup for Saturday, April 27 rain or shine.

Don Kirchenberg Voluntary Chairperson of the Friends of the Great Western Trails is pleased to announce that the Annual Trails Cleanup of the Great Western Trails & Illinois Prairie Path will be held onSaturday, April 27, 2013 Starting at 9:00AM* - Rain or Shine!. Times set by the local coordinators."Our goal this year is to clean all the trails including both sections of the Great Western Trail (GWT) and all of the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP)."

"We are asking for your help.Volunteers are needed! We hope to build on last year's very successful trail cleanup" stated Don Kirchenberg.

See the attached press release that includes maps of the trails.

Don Kirchenberg

> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45

 

All volunteer annual trails date set!

At the earliest date ever many trail and environmental groups have gotten together to set the date of the next all volunteer annual trails cleanup.

I attached a copy of the flyer for the 2013 trails cleanup. To clean the trails across many counties we need thousands of volunteers each year. The earlier we get the fliers distributed both electronically via email or website postings helps us make the trails cleaner and safer.

Anytime you want to have any follow-up discussions about the trails and trail safety I am willing to have that conversation.

Feel free to pass along this email.

Don Kirchenberg

Voluntary Chairman

Friends of the Great Western Trails

mobile 630-853-7650

> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

 

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45 

The SCARCE staff and volunteers have given back and now needs our support!

S.C.A.R.C.E. (SCARCE stands for: School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education) is not scarce when it comes to support of environmental education. They do an amazing amount of work every day all year round with volunteers and many donations. They do need your support with funding that I believe is well spent. I have heard their leader Kay McKeen speak and teach all of us on environmental issues with practical steps to help the environment. In addition, they help reuse thousands of books, crayons, toys and assorted items that benefit our schools across the area. What they get back into use for education has to be at least 5X the amount of money they get from DuPage County.

The SCARCE staff and volunteers have given back to our communities for many years. We need to support them now to continue their important work that ultimately is a savings in the long run. Their funding from DuPage County is in danger according to recent news reports. The DuPage County Environmental Committee will be meeting this Tues. 5/1 in the morning and needs to hear from us.

 

I have encouraged the Environmental Committee of the DuPage County Board to support the group and give it sufficient funding to continue its helpful programs. I also encourage you to go to their website http://www.scarceecoed.org/ or better yet go to their location in Glen Ellyn at 799 Roosevelt just west of Rte 53 on the south side of the street to learn more!

 

If you agree that DuPage County should continue to support the SCARCE group and their efforts to support environmental education please send an email by 5/1 to jredick@dupageco.org; rgonzalez@dupageco.org; Bill.Bedrossian@dupageco.org; robert.larsen@dupageco.org; mmcmahon@dupageco.org; amichelassi@dupageco.org, Chairman@dupageco.org and copy the local newspapers at letters@tribune.com, fencepost@dailyherald.com, letters@suntimes.com, questpublishing@aol.com, lombardian@sbcglobal.net, news@examinerpublications.com, doingnews@pioneerlocal.com, editor@cod.edu, editorial@mysuburbanlife.com, thesun@scn1.com,

 

You are encouraged to pass along this email.

 

Don Kirchenberg

Downers Grove, IL

630-853-7650

Email frndsgrtwstntrl@aol.com

> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

 

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45 

> We need safer roadways in our communities. See the webpage for all volunteer group Safe Roadways for more info. go to the SafeRoadways webpage http://saferoadways.net/

Annual all volunteer trails cleanup (next Sat. 4/28/12) safety tips

Please include this info in news articles and/or pass this info to your volunteers at the trails cleanup next Saturday 4/28/12:

Basic suggestions to follow
when picking up trash along the trails.

Thanks for your interest in the trails. We definitely need volunteers along the GWTs all year around.

Be careful out there so you can enjoy the trails year around. Here are some basic suggestions to help make the cleanup safer.

1. We suggest that you wear gloves, long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect you from thorny bushes and/or broken glass along the trails.
2. Take a wagon or cart to haul the filled trash bags out to the closest trash can or cross street.
3. Please do not leave the filled bags along the trails.
4. If you want to recycle bottles and cans you pick up you'll have to separate them and take them to your home or local recycling bin. The local authorities and waste pickup companies do not accomodate recycling along the trails. Unless you see a recycling container do not assume it will be recycled.
5. Be careful and if you see something too big or hazardous to pick up. Please advise us of the approximate location like north side of trail 1/4 mile east of the closest cross street. With that information we can get the appropriate authorities with the appropriate equipment to safely remove the items dumped along the trails. Send us an email to frndsgrtwstntrl@aol.com.

Volunteers cleaning up the trails is the essence of the spirit that started the Friends of the Great Western Trails over 12 years ago as an all volunteer group (and we remain unpaid volunteers) without any memberships or big bank accounts like other groups.

Thank you again for your support!

 

Don't forget to send us photos of your volunteers and your pile of trash bags with the tired but smiling volunteers. If you can list the volunteers by name we will print their names too!

>>> To promote the cleanup we encourage you to use this flyer which contains trail maps on the second map too: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/images/2012_cleanup_flyer_with_trails_map_second_page_1_.pdf

Don Kirchenberg

Voluntary Chairman Friends of the Great Western Trails
mobile 630-853-7650

> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45

 

Thank you again to all the volunteers from the Elmhurst Bicycle Club!

"The Elmhurst Bicycle Club with hundreds of members from Elmhurst and throughout the region has long supported protection of the trails natural beauty and believes this volunteer cleanup is another important way to help our trails and the environment. This is the 12^th year they have assisted us with the cleanup. They will be cleaning the section of the Great Western Trail from Schmale Rd. on the east and Gary Ave on the west." stated Don Kirchenberg Voluntary Chairman of the Friends of the Great Western Trails.

 

Thank you again to all the volunteers from the Elmhurst Bicycle Club for their continued support of the Great Western Trails! These hard working and dedicated volunteers will be cleaning the GWT on Saturday, April 28th rain or shine. Trail supporters from around the area are welcome to join them in Carol Stream or come out and help clean the trails anywhere along the Great Western Trails between Sycamore and Villa Park, IL.

See the attached press release announcing the trails cleanup and recognizing the help from the EBC for the 12th year in a row. Please pass it on.

 

Don Kirchenberg

Voluntary Chairman, Friends of the Great Western Trails
630-853-7650 Mobile
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

Fwd: Special Open House & Evening Meeting on 2/14?

You are welcome to pass along and/or publish my email below about the bad decision (or clever decision if they want to lower attendance) to have a special evening meeting and open house for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District on the evening of Valentine's Day.

 

If you agree or just want to send your Valentine Day wishes to the Commissioners and President of the DCFPD send them to their general email address box at forest@dupageforest.com or call them at phone #: (630) 933-7200.

 

And I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!

Don Kirchenberg
mobile 630-853-7650
Don't forget the annual all volunteer trails cleanup will be on Saturday, April 28th RAIN or SHINE!
> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/  

-----Original Message-----
From: frndsgrtwstntrl <frndsgrtwstntrl@aol.com>
To: linda <linda@lindapainter.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 13, 2012 5:48 pm
Subject: Re: Special Open House & Evening Meeting on 2/14?

Commissioner Painter

 

Thank you for the email and your regular email news blasts about the forest preserves in DuPage County. I would like to continue to receive your email news even after I make the following comments...

 

The Commissioners and President of the DuPage County Forest Preserve district has decided to have the special evening meeting and open house for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County on Valentine's day evening? Isn't that a bad date of all the dates during the year you could possibly meet on? I think it is a bad date because traditionally most folks try to spend some time together with the ones they love on 2/14.

 

I love the forest preserves and love the time I spend in them or trying to protect them but with all due respect the DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioners and President aren't on the top of my list ( I am being nice here) of the people I plan to be with on Valentine's Day. Hopefully you can repeat this event. And when the Commissioners decide to begin taping and rebroadcasting your meetings on the web and cable tv we can get many more people informed and hopefully involved.

Don Kirchenberg
mobile 630-853-7650
> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

 

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45 

> We need safer roadways in our communities. See the webpage for all volunteer group Safe Roadways for more info. go to the SafeRoadways webpage http://saferoadways.net/

-----Original Message-----
From: linda <linda@lindapainter.com>
To: linda <linda@lindapainter.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 13, 2012 12:02 am
Subject: Special Evening Meeting

From the Desk of Linda Painter . . . I am informing you about an open house, Tues. Feb. 14 at 6:00 p.m., at the Forest Preserve Headquarters. Recently the financial department has determined that the Forest Preserve District could save a substantial amount of money by refinancing some of its bonds. At the open house, there will be information provided on special projects at two of the forest preserve facilities. There have been several suggestions as to how to fund these projects through the proposed refinancing of bonds and possibly adding additional dollars through the refinancing process. You are invited to view the projects and the proposed funding of them. Following the open house, there will be time for public comment during our planning meeting. See the NEWS RELEASE below for more details. You are welcome to email me your comments. If you would like your comments to be included in the public record, please specify that in your note with your name and address, and I will submit them.                  NEWS RELEASE The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Board of Commissioners invites the public to a special open house and planning session on Feb. 14 at the District's headquarters building within Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton at 3S580 Naperville Road. Beginning at 6 p.m., staff members will showcase recently approved master plans for Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn and St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville. Developments at these locations will provide improved visitor access, additional amenities and, at Willowbrook, much-needed enhancements to animal-rehabilitation facilities. The public will also learn about a nonreferendum bond issuance to refinance debt that may also fund work at the two facilities. The board's planning session will then begin at 7 p.m. and will include staff reports, the opportunity for public comment and discussion of upcoming initiatives. According to Forest Preserve District President D. "Dewey" Pierotti Jr., "The public is always welcome at meetings of the Board of Commissioners, and this special evening session will provide a great opportunity for residents to review two master plans, ask questions on planned developments and gain insight to our proactive financial management." Good things happen when you explore nature at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's 60 forest preserves and five education facilities. For information on ways to experience conservation, education and recreation in your neck of the woods, call 630-933-7200, or visit  www.dupageforest.org.              Linda Painter DuPage County Forest Preserve Commissioner linda@lindapainter.com    P.S. For those of you on Facebook & Twitter, I am posting updates and info on both sites.  Look me up, follow & friend request me, and stay informed.   NOTE: I respect your privacy. If you would like to opt out of this mailing list please click here and send a blank email and I will honor your request    About Linda  |  Contact Me

 

   

Trail funding stopped by Congress!

 TRAIL FUNDING STOPPED in Congress!

 

Unfortunately, by a vote of 27 to 29, the first week of February 2012 the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted down the bipartisan Petri/Johnson/Lipinski amendment that would have fixed many of the deficiencies in the House transportation bill, particularly as they relate to the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School programs. The amendment would have also restored eligibility of rail-trails.

But all is not lost. The many thousands of you who contacted your representatives during the past few days about this amendment made a strong and powerful statement that Americans from all across the country want, need and deserve more trails and walking and bicycling opportunities.

See how your representative voted now. Click here: http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageServer?pagename=20120202_Petri_amdt_vote_results&autologin=true&AddInterest=1481

Consider contacting your Representatives in the House and Senators about restoring support for the trails and safe roads for everyone! Get their conatct info here: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx

Thank you again for all of your actions, time and energy!

You are encouraged to pass along this email. Don't forget the all volunteer trails cleanup is Sat. 4/28 rain or shine!

Don Kirchenberg Voluntary Chairman

Friends of the Great Western Trails
mobile 630-853-7650

> Info about the Great Western Trails is available at the following webpage: http://www.friendsofthegreatwesterntrails.com/

 

> Join us on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=3&c2=45 

> We need safer roadways in our communities. See the webpage for all volunteer group Safe Roadways for more info. go to the SafeRoadways webpage http://saferoadways.net/

No federal grants equals unsafe roads for walkers, bike riders and everyone else

Since 1991 Federal grants have helped the trails with safety projects like the new bridges on the GWT in Lombard that will benefit the entire community. The Federal government is now considering a budget plan with no more support for walking, bicycling and trail improvements.

 

Here is the info from the League of IL Bicyclists. Please act on it and PASS IT ON!

Dear LIB members and others,

2 minutes of your time is needed – please help!

... Since 1991, Congress has dedicated a tiny fraction of federal transportation spending to bicycling and walking, providing a needed bit of balance. This has funded most of our new trails and bikeways over that time (partial Illinois listing here).

The US House has just introduced a new multiyear transportation bill completely eliminating this funding! We're part of a national push to restore it in a committee amendment next week.

Please leave a quick phone message with your US Representative's office (by Tuesday). Reps. Hultgren, Johnson, Costello and Lipinski are on the committee. If one is your Representative, ask for a Yes vote on the amendment to preserve dedicated funding for bicycling and walking in the transportation bill. Otherwise, ask your Representative to contact the four on the committee in support of the amendment.

Another option: an editable email letter and more details are here. (If needed, also click there to learn who is your Representative.)

Thank you!
Ed Barsotti, LIB

US Reps' phone numbers:
Biggert 202-225-3515
Costello 202-225-5661
Davis 202-225-5006
Dold 202-225-4835
Gutierrez 202-225-8203
Hultgren 202-225-2976
Jackson 202-225-0773
Johnson 202-225-2371
Kinzinger 202-225-3635
Lipinski 202-225-5701
Manzullo 202-225-5676
Quigley 202-225-4061
Roskam 202-225-4561
Rush 202-225-4372
Schakowsky 202-225-2111
Schilling 202-225-5905
Schock 202-225-6201
Shimkus 202-225-5271
Walsh 202-225-3711

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS ALONG THIS MESSAGE. Thanks!

 

Don Kirchenberg

Voluntary Chairman, Friends of the Great Western Trails
630-853-7650 Mobile
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