KEEP PIONEER’S PARK NATURE CENTER FREE FOR ALL . . . Monday, August 10, 2009, a budget 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. Mayor Chris Beutler said he will work with the City Council to seek alternate funding for the Nature Center for one year. Thank the mayor for considering an alternative to this proposal in e-mail at mayor [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov. E-mail City Council members at council [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov encouraging agreement on the delay for time to find other sources of funding. If you plan to attend August 10th, meet at 2:30pm in the County/City Building on first floor outside the hearing room. Help keep the opportunity to enjoy local natural prairie, wetlands, and woodlands free for everyone by speaking out against proposed park entrance fees.
SUPPORT OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARIES . . . The future of Omaha Public Libraries will be addressed at a public hearing on the 2010 budget Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 7:00m, in the Legislative Chambers at City Hall, 1819 Farnam Street, Room LC-1. Advocate keeping libraries open in person at the hearing, contact Mayor Jim Suttle by phone at 444.5555, or e-mail him at jim [dot] suttle [at] ci [dot] omaha [dot] ne [dot] us. For more information, e-mail kabrams123 [at] cox [dot] net.
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 “Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story.” 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.
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.
WACHISKA GALAPAGOS PRESENTATION . . . John Hess, emeritus professor of biology at the University of Central Missouri and author of “The Galapagos: Exploring Darwin’s Tapestry,” will show photographs and describe the beauty of Galapagos flora and fauna at the August Wachiska Audubon meeting, Thursay, August 13, 2009, 7:00pm at the Union College Dick Administration Building (lower level room 03), 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln. Click here for more details, and directions to the Dick Building.
HUMANISTS MEET . . . The First Annual Midwest Humanist Conference will be Saturday, August 15, 2009 at the UN-L Student Union Centennial Room, 1400 R Street LINCOLN. The Keynote address by D.J. Grothe is titled “The Future of Secular Humanist Activism.” Click here for details and a list of speakers. To register, e-mail Jason Frye at humanistsd [at] gmail [dot] com or call 619.646.2191. Listen to an interview with Frye on The Michael Baker Show, Room 101, on KZUM, 89.3fm, Wednesday, August 12, 6:00 to 6:30pm.
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