Earth Day Spokane

We have all heard the stories and seen the pictures of the devastation caused by the Gulf oil spill. Thankfully, the oil well has been plugged and is no longer spewing oil into the the Gulf of Mexico.

But the pain and suffering of the families, communities and creation is only just beginning. Now is the time for prayer, worship, reflection and, most of all, healing.

Please join us for “Seeking God’s Grace for the Gulf: A Day of Worship, Reflection and Healing”

The National Council of Churches and its 36 member communions believe that prayer, reflection and healing are part of the long-term recovery that is vital for the Gulf. To begin this process, Eco-Justice is hosting a national event and invites you and your congregation to join them by hosting a worship service, candle light vigil or other event that lifts up the needs of those in the Gulf.

Eco-Justice is developing worship materials, a bulletin insert, educational resources and other activities for you and your congregation to use on this day.These materials can be found here.

Please let Eco-Justice know if your congregation will be participating by e-mailing: tedgar@nccecojustice.org

Where: Northern Quest Casino and Resort in Airway Heights

Susanne Croft (SLIP) & Geoff Glenn (City of Spokane’s Solid Waste Dept.) are the keynote speakers and are doing a breakout session at the Pacific NW Purchasing Conference on green purchasing. Host Organization: Institute of Supply Management local Spokane Chapter Details: Just the opening session of this conference will be open to the general public, for a small fee, as part of Sustainable September.

Registration form downloadable at: http://www.napmspokane.org/GreenPurch%20REGISTRATION%20FORM.doc

Each year 3 local organizations, Slow Foods Spokane River, Save Our Wild Salmon & Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited, come together in support of one single issue… supporting the longevity of wild salmon & steelhead in Salmon Nation. Many challenges face these fish, so critical to the health of the NW ecosystem, economy and culture. Extremely local and delicious meal. Join us at Hills Restaurant, 401 West Main Ave, Spokane. Tickets available now at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118578.

Join us for the Sustainable September Film Festival every Tuesday night in September at The Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave, Spokane, WA). We’ll explore sustainability issues ranging from food and fuel to the economy and our health.

On September 28th, we will show the following films:
Coal Country: Produced by the Sierra Club, this film explores the tension over mountain top removal mining in Appalachian communities and the pollution that comes with this method of extraction.

The Story of Cap and Trade: This 20 minute short explains why cap and trade may be an incredibly destructive attempt at climate “solution”. Created and narrated by Annie Leonard, creator of the popular “Story of Stuff”.

Each night of the Film Festival will cost $5, or a festival pass can be purchased for $12. Information on how to get involved with the issues presented will be available in the lobby before every showing.

44 West Main, Main Market Co-op

Local People, Local Food, Local Wine. Small plates highlighting local food, local wine flights led by local wine guru Carl Carlsteen. Get Local! Check with Main Market for ticket information.

Canada Island, Riverfront Park

Join Spokane’s poets and writers for a water-themed reading right in the middle of the Spokane River! Literary folk of all ages are invited to perform work on this theme, sign up to read with Shanti Perez by emailing ursusarctosana@gmail.com. You can reach Canada Island by either the Howard St Bridge or the suspension bridge West of Howard.

Where: CenterPlace, at Mirabeau Point Park

Description: This half-day interactive work-shop will provide participants with an overview of the cleanup and redevelopment process to assist with Brownfield redevelopment projects.

Topics include: keys to success, liability and risk management tools, property valuation, the cleanup process, funding sources, integrated planning and case studies.

Contact: Melissa Wittstruck, City of Spokane, Business & Development Services mwittstruck@spokanecity.org

Hosted by: WA St. Depts. Of Commerce & Ecology, U.S. EPA

Complimentary but space is limited. RSVP by Sept 9 to Adrienne Dorrah, adrienne.dorrah@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-7195

Join us at the Garland Theater for the Sustainable September Film Festival every Tuesday night in September to explore sustainability issues ranging from food and fuel to the economy and our health. On September 21st, we will show the following films:

Unnatural Causes: Bad Sugar: This film explores the connections between diabetes, oppression and empowerment in two Native American communities.

Red Gold: A profile on the land use debate surrounding a pebble mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska on one of the most prolific sockeye salmon runs remaining in North America.

Each night of the Film Festival will cost $5, or a festival pass can be purchased for $12. Information on how to get involved with the issues presented will be available in the lobby before every showing.

Where: Community Bldg. Lobby 35 W. Main Ave. Spokane, WA 99201

Host: Cara Weipert, SNAP Financial Access

Contact: 509-209-6141 http://www.snapwa.org/

Information on the financial benefits of sustainability, targeted to small businesses and microenterprises. Presenters include 2 small business clients of SNAP’s, John Blunt of Ecology, Tom Lienhard from Avista, and Susanne Croft with SLIP.

Light dinner will be served.

$15 Registration fee. Register @ www.snapwa.org

Event Sponsors: SLIP, Ecology, Avista

Contributions to Urban Forestry Can Now Be Made Via Your Utility Billing
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It’s quick and easy and you can help support a very worthy cause — your Urban Forest. Just look for your City of Spokane Utility Bill and check the box labeled “URBAN FOREST” and write in the amount you wish to contribute. Your donation will help support planting of trees and provide other much-needed care for our valuable urban forest.
Spokane’s Urban Forest belongs to everyone and it’s a valuable asset for our community. Our trees give us shade, clean air and water, a sense of place and history, better health, and tranquility as well as providing a unique identity for Spokane.

So, make a donation to support the City’s Urban Forestry program via your City of Spokane utility bill.

For more information please call 509.363.5470 or go online to www.spokaneurbanforestry.org

About Urban Forestry
City of Spokane Urban Forestry staff manages 50,000 street trees and another 28,000 trees on developed park land within the City of Spokane. City arborists help manage the urban forest by planting and maintaining trees throughout the City. The thinning of trees in some areas is also done to improve the overall health of various stands of trees in the City’s park system. Improving the City’s urban forest is an ongoing project that will take decades of work and careful management. In 2010 Spokane received its seventh year in a row designation as a Tree CityUSA. That program is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.