LINCOLN BIONEERS . . .  Lincoln Bioneers will meet Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 6:00pm, for finger food at 6115 Huntington Street.  After the pot luck, bioneers will walk to White Hall to help plant a garden bed.  For more information e-mail Amy Rose, brtleach [at] hotmail [dot] com.

LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Lincoln peace vigils continue at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets, 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. Free parking is available at the NE Corner of 67th Street and Pine in a student lot.  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 The Lives of Others.  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.

STRATEGY SESSION WITH SENATOR COUNCIL . . .  Omaha Senator Brenda Council intends to introduce a bill in the next legislative session aimed at prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and identity.  Extensive support will need to be coordinated. Key figures in the LGBT community and allies are invited to meet and develop a strategy to make this bill become law, Thursday, August 6, 2009, 3:00pm, in Room 1113 at the State Capitol.  If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Chris Triebsch by phone at Senator Council’s office, 402.471.2612.

LEED IN LINCOLN . . . Lincoln Green by Design will offer the public a behind-the-scenes look at a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified renovation in progress on Friday, August 7, 2009, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at The Paint and Color Court Building, 8th & M Streets, in the Haymarket.  Members of the Color Court design and build team will be on-hand to give tours and answer questions about Nebraska’s first Platinum LEED Certified Historic Renovation.  Platinum is the highest possible certification level of LEED.  Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.  For more information, phone 402.477.6767 or e-mail Project Manager Josh Berger, josh [at] wrkllc [dot] com.

OMAHA EVENTS WITH DR. KOMP . . .  Dr. Richard Komp, President of the Maine Solar Energy Society, will speak at the City Sprouts House, 40th and Seward, OMAHA, on how to make a solar cell from plant chlorophyll, Thursday, August 6, 2009, 6:00 to 8:00pm.  The event will begin with a potluck, so bring a favorite food to share.  Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, Komp will present an in-depth workshop on how to make your own photo-voltaic module, 9:00am to 4:30pm, at Peter Kiewit Institute, 1110 South 67 Street, Room 118, main floor.  There is a fee and registration is limited.  For more information, and to register, phone Rita Corell, 551.5275 or Michael Shonka, 689.0463.

L.E.S. SMART GRID EDUCATIONAL FORUM . . .  Smart grid development is key for the future of renewable energy, storage, conservation and efficiency improvements.  A free forum “Smart Grid: Taking Charge of Your Energy Future” will be from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the Grand Manse Jasmine Room, 129 North 10th Street, Lincoln, on Thursday, August 13, 2009.   Click here to register.  Lunch is also free if you register by Friday August 7th.  See the forum agenda here.

HERBAL WORKSHOPS . . .  Register by August 10th for “A Morning with Herbs” at Pioneers Park Nature Center, Prairie Building, in Lincoln’s Pioneers Park, Saturday, August 15, 2009.  Workshops highlighting the versatility of herbs will be at 9:30am, and 10:45am.  Take-home samples are included in the registration fee. Phone 441.8708 to register.

KEEP PIONEER’S PARK NATURE CENTER FREE FOR ALL . . .  Monday, August 10, 2009, 1:30pm, a hearing on the proposal to charge entrance fees at Pioneer’s Park Nature Center will be in Room 112 at the County-City Building, 555 South 10th Street, Lincoln.  Click here to learn about the extent of natural parkland that would be restricted by fees.  E-mail City Council members at council [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov.  E-mail Mayor Chris Beutler at mayor [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov.  And plan to attend the August 10th hearing if possible.  Help keep the opportunity to enjoy all 668 acres of natural prairie, wetlands, and woodlands free for everyone by speaking out against proposed park entrance fees.

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 current 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.
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