Sept 29: GASLAND film screening

Come out for a free showing of GASLAND, an award-winning documentary on the impacts of drilling for natural gas. Come see for yourself what the gas industry would like to do in our backyard!

7 p.m. at Lili Coffee Shop, 3138 Dobson St., Pittsburgh. For more information call 412-758-2597; you can learn more about the film at http://www.gaslandthemovie.com .

Sep 26: Park Cleanup on Mount Washington

Join Allegheny Cleanways for a cleanup of Pittsburgh's newest regional park - Emerald View park on Mt. Washington. We'll be working with the Mt. Washington CDC to remove debris from this beautiful green space. Some of the "junk" we remove will then be used by local artists to create art pieces for the annual Wild Art, Wild Trails festival on October 3rd.

Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes or boots. Bring a re-fillable water bottle if you've got one. We'll have everything else for you, including refreshments following the cleanup.

1-4 p.m.; meet at 513 Norton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15211.

Sep 26: Marcellus Shale forum

Upstream & Downstream: More on the Marcellus Shale: a forum featuring Peggy Utesch of New Castle, Colorado. Peggy's work on the gas drilling issue in Western Colorado has brought citizens, municipalities and gas companies together to look at the long-term impacts that will result from an intense level of projected development - more than 20,000 wells -- and seek solutions that benefit both industry and residents. The result was a Community Development Plan that aims to protect landowners while reducing conflict with the gas industry.


Peggy will speak about her experience with fracking in her home state. What happens upstream, and impacts downstream – flooding, salinization, erosion, pollution. Private roads that used to carry 10 cars a day, now carry 100 semis 24/7. Roads and traffic volume increase 10 fold. Blowouts release several tons of toxic materials to atmosphere. Groundwater becomes contaminated. Wells get contaminated. The ozone release is higher than LA in some rural areas of Wyoming and can cause permanent lung damage.


9:30 a.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, 15213 (in the Schweitzer Room). For more information, call 412-621-8008. All are welcome!

Sep 4-26: Shakespeare in the Parks

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents the comedy Much Ado About Nothing, free and on location in various parks around Pittsburgh each weekend in September. As always, "bring a blanket, a thermos, and a loved one."

Sept 4-5 in Frick Park, near Blue Slide Playground (Beechwood Boulevard & Nicholson St. in Squirrel Hill)
Sept 11-12 at Allegheny Commons West Park (W North Avenue & Brighton Road in the North Side)
Spet 18-19 at Mellon Park (5th & Shady Avenues in Shadyside)
Sept 25-26 Back in Frick Park.

All performances are free to the public, and begin at 2 p.m. The first performance will be preceded by a picnic lunch at 1pm; reservations required at pittsburghshakespeare@yahoo.com (cash only). The Sept 25th performance will be ASL interpreted.

Sep 4-26: Shakespeare in the Parks

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks presents the comedy Much Ado About Nothing, free and on location in various parks around Pittsburgh each weekend in September. As always, "bring a blanket, a thermos, and a loved one."

Sept 4-5 in Frick Park, near Blue Slide Playground (Beechwood Boulevard & Nicholson St. in Squirrel Hill)
Sept 11-12 at Allegheny Commons West Park (W North Avenue & Brighton Road in the North Side)
Spet 18-19 at Mellon Park (5th & Shady Avenues in Shadyside)
Sept 25-26 Back in Frick Park.

All performances are free to the public, and begin at 2 p.m. The first performance will be preceded by a picnic lunch at 1pm; reservations required at pittsburghshakespeare@yahoo.com (cash only). The Sept 25th performance will be ASL interpreted.

Sep 25-26: Mother Earth News Fair

Mother Earth News is hosting its first-ever sustainable living fair aimed at getting people more directly involved with the well-being of Mother Earth. Experts from Mother Earth News, PASA, and others will lead sessions on sustainable living, small-scale agriculture, natural health, do-it-yourself projects, and more.

In addition to the expert-led sessions, fair-goers will be invited to participate in fun-filled, family activities ranging from listening to musical entertainment and strolling around a green shopping pavillion.

For tickets and more information, visit the Fair's website. A fun-filled, family-oriented sustainable lifestyle event, featuring dozens of practical, hands-on demonstrations and workshops from leading authorities on:
  • Renewable Energy
  • Small-scale Agriculture
  • Gardening
  • Green Building
  • Green Transportation
  • Natural Health

You'll enjoy a vast eco-friendly marketplace, organic local food and beverages as well as outdoor equipment and livestock demonstrations.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PA 15622

Stay in the loop! Sign up now for the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR e-newsletter and get weekly updates.

Mother Earth News magazine has been helping folks live self-reliant, sustainable, meaningful lives for 40 years. With an audience of more than 3 million readers worldwide, it is the largest and longest-running environmental lifestyle magazine on the planet.

Sep 25: Lawrenceville riverfront cleanup

Join Allegheny Cleanways for the annual cleanup of the Lawrenceville Riverfront as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day. We’ll be removing litter and debris from along the Lawrenceville Riverfront Trail and adjacent Allegheny River riparian buffer zone. Come dressed appropriately and be prepared for inclement weather. We suggest long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy boots or close-toed shoes. We’ll provide all the equipment and supplies you’ll need as well as refreshments afterwards.

9 a.m. - 12 noon. Access from #10 40th Street in Lawrenceville. More information and a map are online.

There will be several cleanups scheduled in October - many on the weekend of October 17th, as part of the annual Fall Reddup. Stay tuned to Facebook and the events page on our website for updates.

Also...don't forget, if you'd like to help out on a more regular basis, we are always in need of "dump busters" - volunteers who are willing to help clean up and monitor smaller sites on a more regular basis. The Dump Busters program runs just about every day, so you can decide when and how often you'd like to help, based on your availability.Join us for our annual cleanup of the Lawrenceville Riverfront as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day. We’ll be removing litter and debris from along the Lawrenceville Riverfront Trail and adjacent Allegheny River riparian buffer zone. Come dressed appropriately and be prepared for inclement weather. We suggest long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy boots or close-toed shoes. We’ll provide all the equipment and supplies you’ll need as well as refreshments afterwards.

Sep 24: Challenging Marcellus Shale

The 2010 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference : Challenging Marcellus Shale - Consequences and Alternatives will address the health, environmental and community effects Pennsylvania will face with the development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas fields.

We have gathered people from New York, Colorado and Pennsylvania with experience and expertise in evaluating hte results of the deep shale fracking industry.

The Alternatives approach will be highlighted by keynote speaker Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt of Sweden founder of The Natural Step process for reaching a sustainable economy. He will be followed by Ken Melamed, Mayor of Whistler, B.C., who will describe the Whistler 2020 plan as implemented based on Dr. Robert's approach and a panel of renewable and sustainable energy businesses illustrating current economically viable applications of renewable energy systems.

Agenda:

A View from the Field: Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania John Stolz Duquesne University

Panel 1: Environmental Concerns and Policy Needs

Panel 2: The Consequences: Communities and Society

Keynote Session:

Introduction: Andre Heinz

Keynote: Karl-Henrik Rob̬rt РThe Natural Step, Sweden

The Natural Step - An example from Whistler, B.C. - Mayor Ken Melamed, Canada

Panel 3: Solutions For A sustainable Energy Future


Interactive Workshops (Concurrent Sessions)

Each session will develop a set of recommendations for action to be shared with the plenary group. Results will be posted in the proceedings of the Conference

A: Community Action Plan for Mitigating Marcellus Shale Development

B: Building a Sustainable Energy Infrastructure –The next steps

Closing: Call to Action

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CMU's Mellon Institute, S. Bellefield Ave. in Oakland, 15213. $50, $25 for students. More information and registration online.

Sep 23: Road to Sustainability II Conference

Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Community College of Beaver County are teaming up to present this cutting-edge conference where businesses and organizations will learn practical ways for moving a company from sustainable concept to sustainable reality, and what it will take train the current workforce.

Throughout the day, attendees will hear from regional and national experts and
• Obtain first-hand information on how to implement a sustainable plan
• Learn about what products to use
• Capture the return on your investment when "going green"
• Hear about construction, renovation, energy audits, and funding sources


Guests will also have the opportunity to attend mini workshops on such topics as

• GBC LEED programs
• Mechanical systems
• Grant development
• Energy Auditing I and II
• Municipal leadership
• Business (employer) leadership
• Building design
• Energy company available funding
• Sustainable construction with EPS
• Storm water management and utilization
• Lighting system primer
• Variable frequency drive applications
• Recycling EPS

8:30-3 at the Athletics and
Events Center of the Community College of Beaver County in Center Township. Cost: $40 per person; includes breakfast and lunch. More information and registration are available online. A Resources Room will also be available throughout the day, During the conference, a resources room will highlight vendors displaying green products and services. To reserve space at the conference as a vendor, contact (724) 480-3443.

Sep 20: Bus Rapid Transit forum at Duquesne

A new on-street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service is under consideration in Allegheny County to offer faster, more reliable, and easier-to-understand transit service. The initial focus is to link Downtown Pittsburgh with Oakland and other East End neighborhoods. As has been realized in other cities, “Rapid Bus” service improves transportation and is an effective catalyst for community revitalization. Implementation of BRT inPittsburgh’s East End could result in similar benefits for the Forbes and Fifth Avenues Corridor. Before us is a golden opportunity to envision and design the service, facilities and economic development that leaders and citizens want for their neighborhoods.

This forum, focused on
Pittsburgh’s Downtown – OaklandEast End area, will feature:
- Planning, development, and transportation professionals with BRT experience along with stakeholders from the community.
- BRT insights from other cities including:
Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Cleveland.
- Secretary Allen Biehler, PennDOT
- Breakout sessions will facilitate discussion of BRT benefits, challenges and community development issues.

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Duquesne University's Power Center Ballroom, 1015 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.
No fee to attend, but space is limited; to register send full contact information to:
info@sustainablepittsburgh.org


Pittsburgh BRT Forum Collaborators:
Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Allegheny County Transit Council, Allegheny County Transportation Action Partnership, Bike Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University’s Traffic21 Initiative, City of Pittsburgh - Department of City Planning, Hill House Development Corporation, NAIOP Pittsburgh - The Commercial Real Estate Development Association, National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, Oakland Planning & Development Corp., Oakland Transportation Management Association, Oakland Task Force, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development
Port Authority of Allegheny County, Remaking Cities Institute, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Sustainable Pittsburgh, UPMC, Uptown Partners, Urban Land Institute - Pittsburgh Chapter

Sep 19: A Taste of Grow Pittsburgh







Grow Pittsburgh's first annual special-event fundraiser will feature an assortment of tastings from Grow Pittsburgh's restaurant partners that purchase locally-grown produce from our urban farm sites. Participating restaurants will include Six Penn Kitchen, Enrico's Biscotti, the Square Café, Dozen Bake Shop, Casbah, Chipotle, the East End Food Co-op, the Frick Café, La Prima Espresso, Legume Bistro, Quiet Storm, and Whole Foods Market. Guests will be invited to indulge in organic foods, sip local beer and wine, and enjoy live local music on the great lawn of the Frick Art & Historical Center.

5-8 p.m. at the 7227 Reynolds St., Pittsburgh, 15208; tickets may be purchased online.

Sep 19: Canning 101: Tomatoes

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September marks the start of typical end-of-summer activities like canning and freezing, so we can preserve fresh, local produce to use throughout the winter.


Learn the ins and outs of canning with Slow Food Pittsburgh's 2010 Of Course You Can Series. Canning 101: Tomatoes is an interactive demonstration to teach you the best techniques for canning all of those beautifully ripe tomatoes available this time of year. Learn to preserve the tomato's every mood and color: Whole Tomatoes, Tomato Passata (Nonna's old-fashioned Italian tomato sauce using an old-time tomato mill), Paul Bertolli's Green Tomato Confit with raisins and mint, and Julia Child's Provencale Tomato Coulis with saffron. All recipes will be provided.


The event will include a lunch of organic pasta with marinara sauce, green tomato quesadillas, and iced tea by Betsy Hollweck, the Tea Goddess.


The Faculty: Nancy Hanst, master preserver food writer, teacher and guiding spirit of this successful canning series, now in its second year; Jamie Moore, closet canner, Eat'n'Park's director of sourcing and sustainability, and chef; Anthony DiPietro and Giulianna Pozzuto of Delallo's in Jeannette, with a presentation on their legendary San Marzano tomatoes (specially canned for them in Italy) and with goodie bags for all; Domenica Merante, first-generation Italian, gifted teacher, of the famous Pittsburgh Merantes (Merante Market in Oakland) --about to launch her own cooking school and prepared foods store; Laura King, the farmer's wife at Harvest Valley Farm and talented cook, not to forget the farmer himself, Larry King, who will bring tomatoes for you to taste, compare and buy (we hope also to have tomatoes from Eden Hall's own fields). Assisting will be the the Slow Food team -- Alyce Spencer, Barrie Mars, Virginia Phillips, and Susan Barclay, with expert help from the first class of Chatham University's new Graduate Level Food Studies Program (Alice Julier, Director).


11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Chatham University's beautiful Eden Hall campus and farm in Richland Twp: 365 Ridge Road, Gibsonia, 15044 -- here are directions. $25 SFP members, $30 nonmembers. To register, contact Virginia Phillips at vredpath@aol.com or 412-343-7354.


More preserving and fermentation classes are being planned for the fall in collaboration with Chatham University's new Food Studies Masters Program. Remember to check buylocalpa.org for details on current and future local-food events.

Sep 18: ALCOSAN Open House

ALCOSAN, a.k.a. the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, holds its annual Open House, the region's largest watershed and environmental festival, featuring treatment plant and laboratory tours, watershed life presentations, hands-on environmental activities, games, food and fun!

9-4 p.m. at the ALCOSAN facility at 3300 Preble Avenue, 15233. Current directions by bus and car are online. The event is free and open to the public. Lots more information can be found here.





Sep 17: FRESH screening with Faith Starr

Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club is celebrating Local Food Month by hosting a Local Food Potluck followed by a special screening of the movie FRESH. They will also be holding a special event with radio host Faith Starr, who will discuss why eating local foods is important and the affect this decision has on us and our communities.


Ms. Starr is the host of "Living Green with Faith," which offers tips for living a healthier, organic lifestyle, can be heard live every Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. on 1620 AM.


6:30 p.m. at the Peters Twp Public Library. To register for these events, please contact the library at 724-941-9430 or email programs@ptlibrary.org


Sep 16: PSU Webinar on Marcellus resident experiences

A web seminar on Natural Gas Experiences of Marcellus Residents: Preliminary Results from the Community Satisfaction Survey, presented by Kathy Brasier, Penn State University

1-2 p.m.; for more information and to register, go to the PSU website.

Sep 15: Grow Pittsburgh 5% Day at Whole Foods

As part of their community giving days, Whole Foods Market will hold a "5% Day" to benefit Grow Pittsburgh at their East Liberty location (5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206). 5% of the store's net sales for Wednesday, September 15th will be donated to Grow Pittsburgh.

Sep 15: Promise and Perils of Marcellus Shale

Five faculty from Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne University come together for a discussion on the Marcellus Shale, a geological formation underlying the state of Pennsylvania containing large reserves of natural gas, and a hot button economic and environmental issue for the Pittsburgh region and the state of Pennsylvania. Refreshments will be served, and an RSVP will be required.

The discussion will cover the panelists recent investigations, or expertise on several issues related to the Shale, including trends in the energy market, environmental risks and remediation, and the proposed severance tax on drilling.

Panelists will include Kent Moors, an expert in oil and natural gas policy from the Department of Political Science at Duquesne University; Kelvin Gregory, from the Department of Civil Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, who is leading a research team to develop new treatments for cleaning the water used in shale gas production; Jon Stolz, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquense University, and an expert on environmental microbiology and the microbial metabolism of metals and metalloids; and Robert Strauss, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Heinz College. Carnegie Mellon's Joel Tarr, Richard S. Caliguiri University Professor of History and Policy, will moderate.

This panel was organized by the Center for Economic Development at the Heinz College, and is co-sponsored by the University's Smart Growth Club, an organization of students interested in local government, economic development, and environmental policy.

12-1:30 in Hamburg Hall 1502 or 1000, CMU's Heinz School. For more Information, contact Greg Lagana by email or 412-268-9810.

Sep 15: Marcellus hearing in Jefferson Hills

Jefferson Hills is now ready to make their ordinances public -- including rules/restrictions on all gas drilling -- with a public hearing on these ordinances.

Word on the street is families who've already signed gas leases are going to pack the room, hoping to sway Council's opinion. Activists are fearful this could turn out to be a major problem and undo all the hard work the community has been doing for over a year. Please consider attending to help show support for protective rules in Jefferson Hills!

6:30 p.m. at Council Chambers in the Jefferson Hills Municipal Building. For more information, contact Lisa Graves Marcucci at 412-655-0261 or 412-897-0569 (cell), or by email.

Sep 13: Marcellus hearing at Pittsburgh City Council

Pittsburgh City Council will hold a public hearing on Marcellus Shale drilling proposed for City neighborhoods.


7 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 5th floor of the City-County Building, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Those who wish to speak (3 minute limit) should contact the Clerk's Office at 412-255-2138

Sep 13: Gas Ordinance Meeting in Bethel Park

Bethel Park Municipal Council will consider the following ordinance at the regular meeting:

An Ordinance of the Municipality of Bethel Park, County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Chapter 69 of the Code of the Municipality of Bethel Park ("Zoning Ordinance") to provide for oil and gas drilling operations as a conditional use in all zoning districts in the Municipality.

William J. Spagnol, Manager - Municipality of Bethel Park

7:30 p.m. at the Bethel Park Municipal Building, 5100 West Library Avenue, Bethel Park, PA 15102

Sep 9: Tele-Town Hall on Marcellus

Drilling Marcellus Shale: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Senator Jim Ferlo will host and moderate this innovative tele-town hall meeting, featuring; an engaging panel discussion, a toll-free number for thousands of callers to listen and ask questions, studio audience participation, live video streaming at www.senatorferlo.com.

Senator Ferlo represents a three-county district that includes most of the City of Pittsburgh, as well as suburban and rural communities. He sponsored the Statewide Marcellus Shale Drilling Moratorium Act in June. In addition, he supports a competitive severance tax that benefits local communities, and is inviting feedback from the community for additional regulatory proposals. "Regardless, when an issue like Marcellus Shale emerges, healthy conversation is critical to safety and good policy-making," said the Senator in a statement. Panelists include:

· Morgan O’Brien, CEO – People’s Natural Gas

· Richard Weber, President - Atlas Energy

· Scott Perry, Director - PA DEP, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management

· Nadia Steinzor, Marcellus Shale Organizer – EarthWorks

· Charles L. Christen, DrPH, MEd - University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

· James Kunz, Business Manager - IUOE Local #66

· Emily Collins, Director - University of Pittsburgh School of Law Environmental Law Clinic

Discussion begins at 6 p.m. Please join us by phone at 1-888-886-6603, Ext. 15390#, or RSVP for limited studio-audience seating at the Grey Box Theater in Lawrenceville (3595 Butler Street) by contacting Mikhail Pappas: 412.621.3006, mpappas@pasenate.com.


Sep 9: DIG IT! (But Not Like That)

A discussion with activists from West Virginia and Pennsylvania, with an art show including quilts, toys, posters, and drawings. Mining songs, informational tables, and a silkscreening lesson!

6-10 p.m. (discussion at 8, songs at 9) at Artists Image Resource, 518 Foreland St. 15212

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Sep 9: Regional Water Conference

Protecting and Using our Greatest Asset.

This conference highlights ways in which southwestern Pennsylvania leads in the management of water and how its residents and businesses are using the region's greatest asset. The event is intended for professionals seeking to learn about practical solutions regarding water, and engineering practitioners looking to understand what is on the minds of community leaders relating to sustainability and clean water (including Marcellus Shale impacts).

This conference builds on the conversation launched during the Water Matters! Global Water Conference held in June 2010 as part of the Pittsburgh region’s World Environment Day 2010 celebration.

Topics to be covered:
Our Region’s Water Advantages – Why Pittsburgh?
Marcellus Shale Mining Impacts and Solutions f
Early Warning Detection Systems for Water Protection
The Future of Water Quality Regulations and Solutions
The Water Consortium Initiative in Southwest PA
Innovative Solutions to Clean Water
The conference will also feature three speakers on practical solutions related to Marcellus Shale water issues as well as a panel to discuss what engineering and policy practitioners believe to be the most important water-related issues for this region in order to ensure that the right responses to water demand are addressed.

7:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Regional Learning Alliance at Cranberry Woods, Cranberry 16066. Cost: $110 for ASCE, EWRI, or C4S members | $130 nonmembers | $50 students. Register by September 2, 2010 and save $20!
Breakfast and lunch provided More information, including registration and agenda, is available at
www.C4SPgh.org.

Presented by: American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section; Environmental & Water Resources Institute; and Champions for Sustainability Recent publicity surrounding Marcellus Shale exploration tends towards polarized debate over whether drilling should be encouraged or banned.

Sep 8: PennFuture Keep the Promise Tour

The Pennsylvania State Legislature promised to pass a severance tax on deep natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale by October 1. Now we must make sure that a promise made is a promise kept.

The drilling companies are spending enormous amounts of money to stop the severance tax. They have hired lobbyists of every stripe - including former Governor Tom Ridge - and are working hard to keep the voice of the people from being heard.

The drillers will make enormous profits from the natural gas they take from our land - it's only fair that they pay a reasonable tax that will go to protect our environment and local communities that "host" the drilling, fund our natural resource agencies, and help balance our budget.

Join PennFuture on the
Keep the Promise Tour to send the message that Pennsylvanians demand that the drillers pay their fair share. The Tour is traveling throughout the state, holding town hall meetings with legislators and other elected and appointed officials, representatives of land trust organizations and conservancies, anglers and hunters, and ordinary citizens who care about Pennsylvania's environment and economy, all to make sure our elected officials Keep the Promise.

8-10 a.m. at Georgetown Centre 526 East Bruceton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Sep 7: Governor's severance tax event

Governor Rendell will be joined by Secretary Hanger to discuss in an open forum the issue of a severance tax on Marcellus Shale drilling.

Washington County Court House, 100 West Beau Street, Washington, PA 15301

Sep 7: Drilling Ban legislation introduced

Council member Doug Shields invites Pittsburghers to stand with him in support of new legislation to ban Marcellus gas drilling in the city of Pittsburgh.

9:30 a.m. at Pittsburgh City Council chambers, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219