City Commissions Host Week of Earth Day Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2010

For more information, please contact:
Nancy Hiestand, HAND Program Manager, City of Bloomington, 349.3507
Jared Schlemmer, Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov




Bloomington, IN --The City of Bloomington Commissions on Sustainability, Historic Preservation and the Environment are hosting a week-long celebration of Earth Day.

The celebration will feature events on topics from green building and gardening to peak oil. Below is a calendar of the events taking place from April 17 to April 25.

For more information about the events, visit http://bloomington.in.gov/earthweek or contact Nancy Hiestand, City Housing and Neighborhood Development Department Program Manager, at 349-3507 or hiestann@bloomington.in.gov.

Saturday, April 17 - The Green Building Tour
Featuring Monroe County homes and buildings utilizing green design techniques, renewable energy projects, energy-efficient retrofits and more. Tickets are $10 per person (plus $1.24 processing fee) and include a light lunch. They can be purchased at http://gbtour04172010.eventbrite.com.
Buses depart from Showers Plaza at City Hall. Tour is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m

Sunday, April 18 - EnviroVideo Event: Saving Your Green While Being Green, Makes Dollars and Sense
Presented by Mike Tosick
A collection of short films on how to financially benefit from conserving, reusing and recycling at home. A special craft project for elementary age children using recycled objects will coincide with the video showing.
Auditorium, Monroe County Public Library, 2 p.m.

Monday, April 19 - Green Careers: An Overview Presented by David Gulyas, ASID, LEED AP
Learn about jobs and careers in the new green economy including an overview of sustainability and its role in today's business world, projected top green careers, appropriate credentials, transitioning existing jobs into green careers and action steps you can take to move toward a successful green career.
McCloskey Room, City Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 20 - Build, Remodel and Weatherize: A Conversation with Local Experts
The panel includes Dan Killian, Sherlock Homes; Amie McCarty, Mann Plumbing; Charles Winslow, GW Worldwide; and Don and Melinda Seader, Worldwide Automotive Service. Participants will discuss their products, services and ventures, and answer your questions about incorporating them into your home or business.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 21 - Victory Gardens: Our Once and Future Food Security
Presented by Dr. Michael Simmons, Bloomington Parks & Recreation
This talk will give a brief overview on the history of victory gardens and their contribution to American food security, followed by a proposal to reintroduce them to enhance contemporary food security. Resources for successful victory gardening will be provided.
McCloskey Room, City Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 22 - The Community Challenge and Response to Peak Oil
Presented by Dave Rollo, Bloomington Peak Oil Task Force
The peaking of global petroleum production will usher in many changes in society. Fortunately, there are many ways we can meet this challenge. What are the obstacles and what are the opportunities that arise as we enter the end of the oil age? And what is the role of local community as we move forward?
McCloskey Room, City Hall, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 24 - Raingardens: A Practical Solution Towards Cleaner Water
Presented by Aaron Wagner, landscape designer
This presentation will discuss what rain gardens are and how they work and function in the landscape. Problem drainage areas can be transformed into clean water solutions while providing habitat and aesthetic appeal making them a win for every landscape. Design tips, installation and maintenance summaries, and other aspects of their uses will be discussed.
Atrium, City Hall, 10 a.m.
Atrium Extras: Throughout the Farmer's Market hours, free tree seedlings, native plant seedlings and packaged seeds will be available to the public at information tables sponsored by the Bloomington Tree Commission, Strangers Hill Organics and Bloomington in Bloom.

Sunday, April 25 - The Greenest House, may well be the one standing for the past hundred years. Presented by Nancy R. Hiller, designer, cabinetmaker and author
This talk will explore pre-1930s construction features relevant to current building design and the influences that helped position old-fashioned virtues in conflict with 20th-century ideals. Compelling arguments for including historic preservation as a vital component of green building will be considered, and a number of concrete actions you can take to "green" your own old house will be discussed.

Auditorium, Monroe County Public Library, 2:30 p.m.

Other Earth Week Events around Town - Have Fun, Get Involved

Bloomington Parks & Recreation, www.bloomington.in.gov:

Sunday, April 18 - Lower Cascades Creek Trail Clean-up, 1 p.m.

Monday, April 19 - Morning Paddle at Lake Griffy, 6:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 21 - Caves Among Us: Leonard Springs Nature Park Tour, 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 22 - Griffy Lake Clean-up, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 24 - Wildflower Foray at Winslow Woods, 1 p.m.

Indiana University, www.indiana.edu:

Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 - SustainIU Global Days of Service

Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society, www.inpaws.org:

Saturday, April 17 - Moores Creek Research & Teaching Preserve Hike, 10 a.m.

Sycamore Land Trust, www.bloomington.in.us/~sycamore/:

Friday, April 23 - Frogs and Rails: Looking & Listening at Bean Blossom Bottoms Preserve, 7 p.m.

Transition Bloomington, http://transitionbloomingtonind.ning.com:

Saturday, April 24 - The Great Unleashing, City Hall, beginning at 9 a.m.

Bloomington Restorations, Inc., www.bloomingtonrestorations.org:

Saturday, April 24 - 4th Annual Daisy Day at Hinkle-Garton Farmstead, Noon - 4 p.m.

T.C. Steele State Historic Site, www.tcsteele.org:

Friday April 23 - Sunday, April 25 - 25th Annual Wildflower Foray, various events and times

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