Green Notes for Congressional District 1: Lincoln area

LINCOLN HAYMARKET OPEN HOUSES . . . The public is invited speak with members of the Lincoln Haymarket Arena project team at Open Houses on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:30 to 7:30pm, at The Falls Reception Hall, 5925 Adams Street; and Thursday, November 12, 5:30 to 7:30pm at Auld Pavilion, 1650 Memorial Drive, inside Antelope Park, Lincoln. There will be 9 “stations” where people can learn about the economic impact of the proposal, design concepts for the building and surrounding development, and the finance plan.

HELP HAITIAN ORPHANS . . . Make reservations by Tuesday, November 10, 2009, for a One Cause Lincoln benefit to help a new orphanage for 250 children in Gonaives, Haiti. “The Stars of the Night” will be at The Lodge at Wilderness Ridge, 1800 Wilderness Woods Place, Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 6:30pm. For more information, and to make reservations, phone 540.0073, or e-mail ONEcauselincoln [at] yahoo [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.

PHOTOS FROM 1961 FREEDOM RIDES . . . Mississippi journalist and photographer Eric Etheridge will present “Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders” on Thursday, November 12, 2009, 1:00pm, at Nebraska Wesleyan University Olin B Lecture Hall. Etheridge is a former editor at Rolling Stone, the New York Observer, and Harpers, and the initial editor of George. Two of the Freedom Riders Etheridge photographed will accompany him during the free lecture, open to the public.

BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL RECEPTION . . . Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska will celebrate the diversity in-season food local producers bring to the community Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:00 to 8:00pm, at the Isles Reception Hall, 6232 Havelock Avenue, Lincoln. (Entrance off the north parking lot.) The benefit event will feature hors d’ oeuvres inspired by the local seasonal harvest, a cash bar, and live music by Dave Fowler and Swing Ambiance. For more information phone 472.5273 or e-mail bnemec2 [at] unl [dot] edu.

COFFEE WITH JOHANNS . . . Senator Johanns will host an open coffee in Lincoln to hear concerns about health care reform on Friday, November 13, 2009, 10-11:30am at Southeast Community College Gymnasium, 8800 O Street.

CRUDE AT THE ROSS . . . Three years in the making, CRUDE tells the epic story of one of the largest, most controversial legal cases on the planet. Crude is a real-life, high stakes drama involving global politics, the environmental movement, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, multinational corporate power, and the fate of disappearing indigenous cultures. The award-winning Joe Berlinger documentary explores a complex situation from all angles, bringing an important story of environmental peril and human suffering into focus. CRUDE is showing at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 North 13 Street, Lincoln, through Thursday, November 19, 2009. Click here for a 2:34 minute trailer. Click here for show times, consult your newspaper, or call the MRRMAC film information line at 402.472.5353.

ECOSTORES RESOURCE CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS . . .  EcoStores Nebraska is offering cutting-edge workshops on making buildings more economical and ecological.  Deconstruction and Construction Waste Reduction: Friday, November 13, 2009, 9:00am – noon, designed to inform builders, landlords, and other property owners on strategies to recycle and re-use materials where possible and deconstruct rather than demolish.  Retrofitting Buildings for Efficiency: Friday, November 13, 2009, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, designed to inform and inspire homeowners and business owners to retrofit buildings for greater energy and resource efficiency. Seating is limited. Print and return the registration form here (pdf) to EcoStores Nebraska, 530 West P Street, Lincoln, NE 68528, or e-mail ecostoresne [at] windstream [dot] net. Workshops will be held at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln.

PAINT EXCHANGE . . . EcoStores Nebraska, 530 West P Street, Lincoln, will host a usable latex paint exchange from 8:00am to noon, Saturday, November 14, 2009. Usable paint is free. A $2 fee will be charged for disposal of unusable paint.

LUNK OPEN HOUSE EVENT . . . The LUNk (Lincoln’s Underground Network) Collective will host an open house Saturday, November 14, 2009, 6:00 to 10:00pm, at their new space in the North Bottoms of Lincoln, 1213 North 12 Street, near 12th and Charleston. The house will serve as a hub for local progressives’ meetings, debates, potlucks, movie showings, etc., and will house a free store and radical lending library. LUNk Radio will broadcast with a low power AM transmitter. Any donations, or vegetarian food to share, will be welcome. LUNk House is a drug and alcohol free space. For more information, contact Brian Ellis, bpe3812 [at] yahoo [dot] com.

NAACP ANNUAL BANQUET . . . The NAACP Annual Banquet will be Saturday, November 14, 2009, 5:30pm, at the downtown Holiday Inn, 141 North 9th Street, Lincoln. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Anna Shavers, UN-L College of Law Interim Dean.  For more information, and to reserve tickets, phone Leroy Stokes, 402.430.7003.

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY . . . Lincoln will celebrate America Recycles Day Sunday, November 15, 2009. Residents may pledge to improve their recycling efforts and participate in special events. Prizes will be awarded at noon Saturday, November 14 at EcoStores Nebraska, 530 West P Street. More information about America Recycles Day is available here. (keyword: ARD)

FRIENDS OF WILDERENESS PARK MEETING . . . As part of Native American History month, noted archeologist Rob Bozell will speak about the pre-European Native Americans of Eastern Nebraska during the monthly Friends of Wilderness Park meeting Sunday, November 15, 2009, 3:00pm, at the Unitarian Church, 63rd & A Streets, Lincoln. There is no charge for the presentation, it is open to the public, and refreshments will be served. For more information, e-mail Michael Carlin, mcarlin [at] neb [dot] rr [dot] com.

Green Notes for Congressional District 2: Omaha area

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 Capitalism Hits The Fan.  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.

WINE, CHEESE & CHOICE . . . There will be a celebration for Pro-Choice Nebraskans sponsored by the Pro-Choice Coalition on Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5:30 to 8:00pm, at the First Unitarian Church of Omaha, 3114 Harney Street. To RSVP, or for more information, e-mail trustwomen2009 [at] gmail [dot] com.

AWAKENING THE DREAMER . . . An Awakening the Dreamer Symposium will be Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9:00am to noon, at the First Unitarian Church of Omaha, 3114 Harney Street. Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a global movement to reclaim our future. Click here for a 4:24 minute video trailer. Click here to pre-register.

HOUSING INFORMATION SUMMIT . . . The First Annual Housing Information Summit will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Omaha Opportunities and Industrialization Center, 2724 North 24th Street. With affordable housing, land use and relocation being major concerns of North and South Omahans, several groups have joined to provide information and resources regarding housing rights, assistance programs, and monies that are available for renovation, weatherization, repair and purchase. A “Community Awards” ceremony will also be a part of the Summit and refreshments will be served. For more information contact Jerome Drakeford, 402.619.8040 or Michel Payne, 402.991.5913.

OMAHA PV SOLAR PANEL MAKING WORKSHOP . . . A two-day “hands on” workshop on how to build and install your own electric PV solar panels will be Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, 2009, 9:00am to 4:30pm, at Peter Kiewit Institute, 1110 South 67 Street, Room 118, Omaha. Contact Michael Shonka, 689-0463, for more information, and to register.

Green Notes for Congressional District 3: Greater Nebraska

WIND POWER 2009 . . . Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10, 2009, the Nebraska Wind Power 2009 Conference will be held in KEARNEY at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The Conference will start at 8:30am, Nov. 9, with a general session on wind and public power basics. The two day conference workshops will include a wide range of topics with more than 70 experts on small and large wind. The early registration deadline has been extended to the end of October. For more information, and to register, click here.  Conference sponsor, the Nebraska Wind Working Group is a state and federal partnership funded by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America to help develop the state’s wind resources.

COFFEE WITH JOHANNS . . . Senator Johanns will host coffees in Grand Island, Lexington, and Kearney to hear concerns about health care reform. All events are open to the public. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7:00-8:30pm, College Park Auditorium, 3180 US Highway 34, Grand Island; Thursday, November 12, 2009, 11:30am -1:00pm, Lexington Public Library, 907 North Washington Street, Lexington; Thursday, November 12, 2009, 3:00-4:30pm, Harmon Park Activity Center, 3100 5th Avenue, Kearney.

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Local markets are over for the year, but farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople still come together through The Nebraska Food Cooperative, an on-line, year-round farmers’ market and local food distribution service offering the best in local freshness. For ordering and pickup schedules, refer to the calendar here.  Click here for Tomato Tomäto, Omaha’s year-round indoor Farmer’s Market at 156th & West Center. Shop for fresh foods grown in or very near your own community at Open Harvest, Lincoln’s member-owned natural foods retail cooperative in newly expanded space at 1618 South Street. Buying local grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher.

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