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October 2009
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Green Bulletin
Upcoming Environmental Events |
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This newsletter was created by SCARCE and funded by the DuPage County Board.
Robert Schillerstrom, Chairman
DuPage County Environmental Committee Members:
Jeff Redick, Chairman -- Linda Kurzawa -- Michael McMahon
Debra Olson -- Rita Gonzalez -- Anthony Michelassi _________________________________________________________________________
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Clean Up the World Weekend
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Join People All Around the World
Weekend of
September
18-20
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 Communities Uniting to
Combat Climate Change
Become a part of this international event whose main cause is to better the world around us by cleaning up or organizing/participating in an environmental activity on a local level. Community clean ups and events, though local, can be felt nationally and even internationally whether we see the effects of our efforts or not.
So, join in and be a part of the solution. Log onto the Clean Up the World website for ideas and to register your group.
To join the 2009 campaign and put your group and its activities on the Global Environmental Map, visit the Clean Up the World Activities Website.
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Clean Up the World in Your Own Backyard!!!
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September 19
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DuPage County has 3 events happening on Saturday, September 19 in which you can participate.
All of the events help to keep our natural resources out of the landfill for recycling or reuse. Just click on the event for details. Events are open to the public from any surrounding communities.
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World Water Monitoring Day
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All Around the World
Monitor any time before December 31
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This international event is designed to teach people how to monitor the water sources in their areas and to raise the awareness of the public in protecting that water.
Over 5,000 results were reported from around the world last year. Monitoring may take place between now and December 31 - your monitoring can be done on any day until the end of the year.
Log onto the World Water Monitoring website for details, to order test kits and to read about other people who are participating.
You can also plan your water activities around the anniversary of the Clean Water Act, October 18th. Just click on the link to get a description of this important piece of national legislation.
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Green Fair at Cantigny Park
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Cantigny Park
1S151 Winfield Rd
Wheaton
Saturday,
September 26
10:00 am -
4:00 pm
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You are Invited to Join the Family Fun!
 Come be a part of the first annual Green Fair at Cantigny Park! The fair will celebrate the things that make our environmental future a hopeful one! This is an exciting opportunity to see over 100 green booths & vendors who are making a difference with the products & services they offer.
Join our GREEN community on
Saturday, September 26th
from 10am to 4pm
and enjoy the fun!
Just a few things you will be able to enjoy:
- The Giving Tree Band live performance
- "Fashion EcoNista Show" with celebrity MC, Kristin Hassan, from Bravo TV's The Fashion Show
- Recycled Art Contest with cash prizes & Honorable Mention Awards
- Local/Organic Farmers Market & Wine Tasting
- Recycling Extravaganza Event - collecting electronics, scrap metal, cell phones, bicycles, eyeglasses, hearing aids, inkjet cartridges and flags to be properly retired
- Cooking Demonstrations
- Recycled Papermaking, Energy Bike, Composting, Solar Oven
- and more...
The Green Fair is FREE to the public -
a $5.00/vehicle parking fee is charged at the entrance gate.
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Downers Grove Recycling Extravaganza |
| Belmont Train Station in Parking Lot H
Saturday,
September 26
8am - 2pm |
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The Downers Grove Park District, in partnership with the Village of Downers Grove, will host a Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Belmont Road Train Station in Parking Lot H. The event is in advance of Amnesty Day and gives residents of DuPage County an opportunity to recycle or donate items that may otherwise end up in a landfill.
Items Accepted
- Electronics: TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cameras, computers/laptops, copiers, cords, discs, electric typewriters, fax/adding machines, hard drives, keyboards, mice, monitors, PDAs, printers, scanners, small kitchen appliances, radios, speakers, stereos, telephones, zip drives.
- Furniture: cribs and dressers
- Lead acid batteries: car, motorcycle, boat, lawn mower, truck, sump pump, RV and all sport vehicle batteries
- CFL Lightbulbs
- Ink jet cartridges
- Cell phones
- Hearing Aids and Eye Glasses
- Select Medical Supplies: Gently used wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches
To volunteer or if you have questions, call Jamie Belongia at 630.434.5652.
Log onto Downers Grove for complete details.
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Don't Throw in Your Glove - Donate it to Needy Kids!
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Training Academy
6200 River Bend Dr,
Lisle
Thru
September 20
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 "For the love of the game..."
So many kids would love to know what that really means, but do not have the chance to really find out.
You can help them realize that dream by donating your new or used baseball gloves to the Chicago Bulls/Chicago White Sox Training Academy in Lisle. The gloves will be given to disadvantaged Chicago kids in the Inner City Youth Baseball League.
Drop offs can be made at the Lisle academy or any of the satellite facilities in LaGrange, Tinley Park or Schereville, IN. For more details, log onto Bulls Sox Training Academy.
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16th Annual National Public Lands Day |
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September 26
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If you like to work outside and want to help maintain the beauty of our country, consider participating in National Public Lands Day. This day was begun 16 years ago to build upon the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps who worked diligently to help build our national trails and parks.
For more details, to register your event or to find one in which to participate, log onto the National Public Lands Day website.
Several events are listed in the Chicagoland area including the Lincoln Marsh Natural area in Wheaton.
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Bringing Green Down to Earth
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Hyatt Lodge,
Oak Brook
Sept 30
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University of Illinois Extension Environmental Leadership Conference is hosting this event.
If you would like more conference details or to register, click on the link, 2009 Environmental Leadership Conference.
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Wastewater Treatment Center Open House |
Downers Grove SD Wastewater Trtmt Ctr
Saturday, October 3
9:00 am to Noon
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Downers Grove Sanitary District
Wastewater Treatment Center
5003 Walnut Ave
Downers Grove 60515
20th Annual Open House - October 3rd
Come tour the wastewater treatment center to learn the "in's & out's" of water treatment collection and treatment services for south central DuPage County. Tours will be provided.
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Help Her Be the Belle of the Ball |
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Drop Offs from Now thru Oct 9
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 Cinderella's Closet needs your help
Do you have a prom dress, shoes or accessories just sitting around collecting dust? You can give that beautiful dress the chance to shine again!
Cinderella's Closet, an event sponsored by the Junior League of Kane and DuPage Counties, is holding a Dress and Accessory Drive between now and October 9. The dresses will be given to young ladies who need them to be able to attend their proms in April.
Drop Off sites:
- First Centennial Mortgage, 2471 W Sullivan Rd, Aurora
- Elburn Town & Country Public Library, 320 E North St, Elburn
- Indian Boundary YMCA, 711 59th St, Downers Grove
- DWS, 321 James St, Geneva
- Northern Trust, 401 S Main St, Naperville
- Fry YMCA, 2120 W 95th St, Naperville
- St Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 2220 Lisson Rd, Naperville
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DuPage Green Building Expo
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DPC Admin Building
421 North County Farm
Wheaton
1st Flr
Auditorium
Friday,
October 23
8am - Noon
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Learn About Green Building Design
at this free event!
DuPage County presents an opportunity to visit with expert green building exhibitors and learn about green building products & services. Discover what it takes to have a LEED certified green building.
Presentations from Wight & Company, U.S. Green Building Council, Hitchcock Design and DuPage County Stormwater. Exhibitors including architects, energy efficiency experts, native landscape design, stormwater experts, retailers & more.
For more info, go to DPC Green Buildingor SCARCE- Green Building website.
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Make a Difference Day - October 24th |
| Saturday,
October
24
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Organize an Event or Sign Up to Help at a Local Event
Make a Difference Day is a national day meant to encourage the idea of neighbor helping neighbor and people reaching out to show that they care. Every little act, whether organized in a group or performed individually, makes a difference to someone and adds to the collective efforts of us all.
Millions have taken part in the activities and events in their areas which have been organized by groups, organizations, churches, neighborhoods, municipalities, etc.
If you are looking for an activity or wish to register one or just have questions,
click on the link,
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Document Shredding & Electronics Recycling Event - Elmhurst
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Elmhurst Public Works
985 S Riverside Dr
Accessible from Rte 83
October 24
9am - Noon
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 DuPage County is sponsoring a document shredding event in the city of Elmhurst.
Limit of 3 boxes/grocery bags of personal documents to be shredded safely & securely while you watch. Shredded paper will then be recycled.
Examples of items to be shredded: personal financial statements, personal confidential documents, personal legal records, check stubs, personal payroll records, etc. NO business documents.
Staples & paper clips do not need to be removed. CANNOT shred binders, hard cover books, wire spirals (remove the paper), plastic coverings, cardboard.
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DETAILS:
Residential electronics can be dropped off at no charge.
ACCEPTED: computers, CPUs, monitors, keyboards, televisions, radios, microwaves, laptops, printers, cell phones, UPS systems, PDA's, fax machines, phones, DVD players, VCR's and stereo equipment.
The event will NOT accept any item containing liquids or refrigerants. NO business electronics will be accepted.
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International Day of Action on Climate Change
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Incandescent Bulbs Banned in Europe
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 Beginning September 1st, the European Union joined Australia in banning the sale of incandescent lightbulbs. The United States has reported that we will ban the sale of the incandescents beginning in 2012. The ban is yet one more effort to decrease the world's energy usage and to help reduce our carbon footprint. The incandescents use up to 80% more energy than their counterparts, the CFLs.
This is just one effort, but an even better solution lies in the future when LED bulbs are made available for general public in homes. LED lightbulbs use approximately 10% of the energy used by an incandescent bulb. Every little change makes a big difference especially when you look at the impact caused by an entire country!
If you have burned out CFLs, they can be recycled at any ACE Hardware or Home Depot. The long fluorescent lightbulbs as well as CFLs may be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1979 Brookdale Rd, Fire Station #4, Naperville on Saturdays & Sundays, 9 am - 2 pm (except holidays).
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Kudos to Businesses Making a Difference! |
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Businesses & Organizations Around DuPage County Doing Their Part to Be GREEN
More and more businesses and organizations are stepping up to do their parts to take care of the environment and to sustain our natural resources. Several have earned their a business Earth Flag through DuPage County. SCARCE encourages your business/organization to look at this program and become a part of this specially recognized group.
Cantigny Park in Wheaton, part of the McCormick Foundation and Earth Flag recipient, is encouraging its employees to compost by setting up 3 vermi-composting systems. Vermi-composting is indoor composting using red wiggler worms. Cantigny will be able to use the compost produced to naturally fertilize its grounds. It is a fabulous way to save and reuse nutrients found in our food.
 NOW Foods, Inc. in Bloomingdale, manufacturer of natural foods and supplements and recipient of the Earth Flag, has taken yet another environmentally responsible step by installing solar panels on its roof to help supply clean, renewable energy to its facilities. What a great way to reduce their carbon footprint!
 Molex, Inc. in Lisle, an international developer and manufacturer of electronic interconnect products, is innovative in conserving energy, too. When the corporation wanted to save energy with its lighting in the cafeteria, they simply designed their own housing for the LED spotlights that they installed saving a tremendous amount of energy and natural resources! LED lightbulbs use about one-tenth the energy of regular incandescent lightbulbs. Molex, Inc. is currently working on earning its Earth Flag.
 PerkinElmer, Inc. in Downers Grove, who designs, manufactures and services scientific solutions for evolving health, safety and environmental quality needs, is one of the sponsors of World Water Monitoring Day, September 18th. It is not too late to participate in this event. Water monitoring in your area can be conducted any time from now until December 31st. So, join this international project and get a test kit. Just click this link, World Water Monitoring Day, to get details and to order a kit. PerkinElmer, Inc. in Downers Grove has also earned its Earth Flag.
 Earthwise Environmental, Inc.in Bensenville, provider of green solutions for the treatment and management of commercial and industrial water systems, has just developed its own Earth Care water treatment products. Their green, bio-renewable products help reduce energy waste, water use and the impact of water systems on the environment. Plus, these products are a LEED point booster.
To find out more about earning an EARTH FLAG, log onto the SCARCE website, or contact SCARCE at ecoed@sbcglobal.net or call 630.545.9710.
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Contact
Us |
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Our Team
Kay McKeen, Director
Steve Kenny * Linda Knapp * Shefali Trivedi * Katie O'Brien
Carol Richart * Kris Salmen * Sue Tripp * Sam Knapp
Environmental Education Programs are operated
by SCARCE
(School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education)
This newsletter is part of the Teacher Training Program funded by DuPage County.
Our Professional Development Provider Number: 100363
The mention of a specific product or company is not an endorsement by DuPage County's Environmental Education Program.
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