Events of Interest

Thursday, January 26
7PM Bicycle Dreams-Film to benefit Heights Bicycle Coalition and Bike Cleveland. At the Big Dog Theatre, 2781 Euclid Hts Blvd., Cleveland Hts. $11.00 Advance Online tix purchase or $15 at the door.

Sunday, January 29
1-3 PM Neighborhood Stabilization Program Open Homes Sponsored by the City of Cleveland Heights.
1:30 PM Citizens Study Group: Schools Sustainability - Meet at Studio Techne, 12210 Euclid Ave. Architect/Consultant Marc Ciccarelli will discuss CHUH Schools master facilities plan. Contact organizer Sam Bell, 371-8150 (M-F 8am-6pm) for more information

Let's grow community gardening! January 24

You are invited to a public informational meeting about the Sustainable Heights Network’s initiative to promote community gardening in the Heights. This meeting is open to all with an interest in starting a community garden in their neighborhood.



Tuesday, January 24, at 7:00 pm, at the CHUH Main Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

The goal of the initiative is to locate sites that could be used for community gardens and to provide a mechanism for people interested in community gardening to connect with each other and to gain access to resources that support new community gardens.

Everyone interested in seeing community gardening thrive in the Heights is encouraged to attend!
Please RSVP here

2nd Annual Seed Swap January 21st

what: Food Not Lawns, Cleveland second annual seed swap and meet-up
when: January 21, 2012, 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
where: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Hts.,OH 44122
why: to swap seeds you've saved or have left over (or barter something else for seeds), answer the question "why save seeds?", meet and greet others interested in: permaculture, gardening, local food, sustainability, community, native plants, creating habitat, food forest and more... we will have literature and presentations (including, Beyond Pesticides,Ohio, The Charmed Kitchen, Food Not Lawns, Cleveland (of course) and more.
Refreshments ( please consider bringing something to share - there will also be a collection box for non-perishable food donations).

How to bring seeds:
Bring packaged seeds or pack them in small envelopes or small ziplock jewelry -type bags (We'll have some available). Include as much info as possible regarding plant species, year collected/saved, source of origin, if known, growing specifications and anything in particular that deemed those seeds worth saving (drought/pest resistant, large, lovely etc. fruit, highly productive, easily grown ...whatever fits on a label.

Please come even if you don't have seeds! There are bound to be extras to share/swap
Thanks and hope to see you there.
For more info. contact Mari at : beanpie55@att.net and visit foodnotlawnscleveland@yahoogroups.com

When Sat Jan 21 11am – 3pm Eastern Time
Where First Unitarian Church, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH (map)

Fair Farm Bill Campaign Kickoff

Care about small farmers? How about healthy, sustainable food? Then please join us for the…

Fair Farm Bill Campaign Kickoff Meeting

Tuesday January 17th, 2012 

7:30-8:30pm 

Cleveland Heights Library

2345 Lee Road

Guest Speaker: Nick Swetye, City Fresh 

Food and Water Watch is launching this local campaign right here in Cleveland! Right now, our country’s food system is broken. A few large companies, like Cargill and Monsanto, control every part of our food system, risking public health, driving out small and mid-sized farmers, and hurting the environment. The good news is that we can make our food system work better for small farmers and our communities, and give consumers access to safer, more sustainable food. This winter, Senator Brown has the opportunity to level the playing field for small farmers through the Farm Bill. Senator Brown is on the Agricultural Committee and we need to show him that Ohioans want him to stand up for small farmers, and local, sustainable food. RSVP at bit.ly/FairFarmBillRSVP and come to the Fair Farm Bill Campaign Kickoff Meeting to learn how you can help! 

All are welcome – bring your friends! To learn more about how you can get involved before the meeting, please contact Tia Lebherz at tia@greencorps.org and visit http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/fair-farm **Refreshments provided** 

Your chance to have a lasting (50+ years) and sustainable local impact.

Update: Jan 1, 2012
Join the conversation about this issue and opportunity at The Civic Commons - CLICK HERE

By Sam Bell, Network Member and E4S "Champion of Sustainability"

The Cleveland Heights University Heights Board of Education has begun planning the next fifty years of school and administrative buildings programs. It is anticipated that a number of existing buildings will be closed, renovated, rebuilt, or replaced at a cost likely to run into several tens of millions of dollars. The process has already begun, and is gaining momentum. While sustainability has been identified as a key concern, no one individual has been given responsibility as a Director of Sustainability. I worry lest "sustainability" become just a fashionable buzz-word to which everyone pays lip-service but for which no one person is actually responsible or accountable.

Please consider one of these action alternatives:

• Call or write Mr Steve Shergalis [s_shergalis@chuh.org or 371-7171 ] to ask him to identify and name a local resident to the position of District Director of Sustainability. [Note: There is currently no such position. One will have to be created. Anyone qualified for this job will easily produce annual savings far in excess of salary, benefits and other costs. I believe we have an ample local talent pool. A community resident who is already attuned to our particular values will be up-to-speed from day one.]
• Attend the next scheduled planning meeting on Wednesday, January 11
  6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Heights High Social Room. Check out the Facilities Master Plan
• Contact your favorite School Board member(s) to ask that she or he make certain that this process is handled properly in order to avoid the kinds of painful and expensive missteps. Email the Board of Education

Giant Eagle recycling small electronics

Giant Eagle has rolled out a recycling program for small electronics. Beginning December 19, 2011, all of its Northeast Ohio stores will have a locked drop off bin for recycling cell phones, digital cameras, mp3 players, ipods, empty ink cartridges, and GPS systems. The items are recycled stateside through OPRA (Office Products Recycling Associates) and Clover Technologies. Items are either refurbished for reuse or demanufactured and recycled. 100% of the profits from this program are donated to local food banks in the Greater Cleveland area.

Check with your neighborhood store for more information.
Courtesy CCSWD

Bioneers Blitz

RESHAPING BIONEERS CLEVELAND
Bioneers Blitz — Saturday, Dec. 10, 1- 4:30 pm — First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21800 Shaker Blvd. Shaker Heights

See five of the outstanding speakers from the 2011 National Bioneers conference via DVD. Popcorn provided. No charge, donations accepted.

Co-sponsored by Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, First Unitarian Church.
Speakers: Rebecca Moore, Google Earth-Eye View: Mapping a Future Environment of Hope
Karen Brown, Revolutionizing K-12 Education with Sustainability in Mind
Paul Stamets, Solutions from the Underground: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World
Mary Ellen Tucker, The Power of Story
Amory Lovins, Reinventing Fire

BioneersCleveland.org

Reaching Heights Annual Meeting

Thursday, December 8
7 PM
Delisle Center for Educational Options (the former Taylor Academy) at 14780 Superior Rd. in Cleveland Heights

As part of Reaching Heights’ Thank-A-Teacher program, there will be presentations by parents who will recognize and thank teachers who have made a difference in their children’s lives. There will also be a presentation detailing the work going on at the new Delisle Center from Jeffrey Johnston, CH-UH Director of Student Services, and Brian Williams, the Delisle Center’s Building Coordinator. Light refreshments will be served. INFO