Green Notes Week of June 7, 2009

Green Notes

LINCOLN CITY COUNCIL WANTS INPUT . . . There is a proposal to change City Council weekly meeting times from 1:30 to 3:00pm in an effort to make them more accessible to public participation. There will be a June 22, 2009 vote on the change. Between now and then, the public is invited to offer opinions by phoning the council office at 402.441.7515, or e-mailing council [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov.

LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Join weekly peace vigils at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets in Lincoln, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402-499-6672 or e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.

OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Omaha peacemakers vigil every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm, at StratCom/UN-O, 6801 Pine Street, east of the Scott Technology Center on the Un-O campus. For more information, phone Jerry Ebner, 402.502-5887. Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is an Anti-War and Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. The event is always free and open to the public. This week’s film is Unborn in the USA. Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. For more information, click here.  The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

WACHISKA AUDUBON FOCUS ON NINE-MILE PRAIRIE . . . Current threats and opportunities to protect Nine-Mile Prairie will be addressed by UN-L Natural Resources professor David Wedin at the monthly meeting of Wachiska Audubon, Thursday, June 11, 2009, 7:00pm, at Union College Dick Administration Building, room 03 on the lower level, 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln. For more information, phone Wachiska at 402.486.4846, or e-mail wachiskaoffice [at] cornhusker [dot] net.

NINE-MILE PRAIRIE FIELD TRIP . . . There will be a guided hike at the 230-acre Nine-Mile Prairie native habitat on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Directions from Lincoln: From West “O”  drive north on Northwest 48th Street about four miles. At West Fletcher Road, go west one mile and park in the small lot opposite the historical marker. Walk south through the red gate and down the lane to meet by the kiosk at 9:00am. Phone Carole Closter, 402.475.9219, for more information.

BENSON SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL . . . Saturday, June 13, 2009, OMAHA’s Benson community will host the Annual Summer Arts Festival featuring local fare, ecclectic art and music. The heart of the Festival will be PS Collective, 6056 Maple Street. For more information, e-mail Raechel Ann Achelpohl, raechelann917 [at] gmail [dot] com.

JUNETEENTH NEBRASKA . . . Click here for website information about Nebraska Juneteenth Celebrations in OMAHA starting Friday, June 12, 2009.  The Lincoln Celebration of Freedom will be at Pentzer Park, 26th and Potter Streets, Saturday, June 13, 2009, from noon to 6:00pm.

PLANTS OF THE PRAIRIE . . . In conjunction with The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum  Wildflower Week, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center will hold a “Plants of the Prairie” art class Saturday, June 13, 2009, 10:00am to 2:00pm. Spring Creek Prairie is located 20 minutes southwest of Lincoln. To register by June 12th, phone 402.797.2301.

PROGRESSIVE OMAHA MEETING . . . Progressive Omaha will meet Saturday, June 13, 2009, 6:00 to 9:00pm, at 4924 Chicago, in the Dundee neighborhood of OMAHA. Willie Hamilton, founder of Black Men United, will speak at 8:00. There will be a Potluck from 6:00 to 7:00, and business meeting from 7:00 to 8:00. All are welcome. For more information, e-mail Karen Abrams, kabrams123 [at] cox [dot] net.

BIRD WALK AT SPRING CREEK PRAIRIE . . . Birders will meet Sunday, June 14, 2009, 8:30am, at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, for a tour guided by Kevin Poague. Everyone is welcome. For more information, phone Kevin at 402.797.2301.

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL. . . . Join the local food revolution by shopping farmer’s markets and eating fresh foods grown in or very near your own community. Eating locally grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher. Click here for Nebraska Buy Fresh. Buy Local. information. Lincoln’s eight Markets are as follows:

  • Old Cheney Farmers Market, 55th Street and Old Cheney Road, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Sundays through November 1.
  • Historic Haymarket Farmers Market, North Seventh between P and Q streets, 8:00am to noon, Saturdays through October 10. During peak season, mid-June through mid-August, there are about  215 vendors.
  • Havelock Farmers Market, north parking lot behind businesses between 62nd and 63rd streets and Havelock Avenue, 3:00 to 6:30pm, Wednesdays through October 28.
  • Piedmont Farmers Market, 1265 South Cotner Blvd., parking lot of Piedmont Shopping Center, 8:00am to noon, Saturdays through September/October.
  • Jazz in June Market, 12th & Q streets, Tuesday evenings in June, in conjunction with Jazz in June concerts.
  • St. Paul United Church of Christ Farmers Market, 1144 M Streets, 4:30 to 7:30pm, Tuesdays through September 8.
  • Community CROPS Farmers Market, Pentzer Park, North 27th & Potter Streets, 4:30 to 7:30pm, Thursdays, June through September. Click here for a map of local Community CROPS gardens.
  • Centennial Mall Garden Market, 14th & M Streets, noon to 4:00pm, Wednesdays, July 1 through September 30.

We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente