Putting Down Roots: Maren's List

Oct 23: SustEnable: The Metamentary funding deadline

Sust Enable: The Metamentary is an experimental feature-length nonfiction film that addresses the controversy and uncertainty forming our modern understanding of sustainability. We will attempt to answer the question, “what does sustainability mean?” holistically, through all aspects of our film: in the narrative, in the stylistic treatment, and even in the production methodology. Themes of process, complexity, feedback, reflexivity and dialogism will emerge on all levels. It’s not about converting all information to fit one closed-off worldview anymore... now, Sust Enable: The Metamentary is about opening up to debate, embracing complexity, embracing relativity and rejecting clean, easy answers--all in service to a broader statement about how human society, and living ecosystems, are actively defining sustainability.

For more information on the project, please take a look at our film’s fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.com: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1686680197/sust-enable-the-metamentary

The deadline for KickStarter funding of this project is October 23, at midnight -- please click, view, and contribute!

Oct 22-23: Three Rivers Bioneers

The Pittsburgh satellite conference associated with the 21st national Bioneers Conference will be held a week after the main conference so that we may better focus our time here on issues and solutions relevant to our bioregion. Share models for innovative solutions, and help build a just, progressive, eco-focused, positive, action-oriented community!

Attendees will be able to participate in local workshops and field trips, as well as view talks from the national conference -- which will feature luminaries such as Jane Goodall, women's rights leader Gloria Feldt, Tree People's Andy Lipkis, Stonyfield Farm founder Gary Hirshberg, NASA climate expert James Hansen, Planetwalker John Francis, and the Kirwan Institute's john a. powell (among others).

The local conference will take place at the Pittsburgh Project, 2801 North Charles Street, Pittsburgh, 15214.

More information, RFPs for workshops and art displays, and conference registration will be available online at the 3RB web site.

Oct 21: Public Action Meeting on transit and other problems

PIIN Public Action Meeting will seek action on transit funding and other regional problems

The Port Authority’s current funding crisis (with a 35% service cutback planned for next March) will be among issues addressed at a Public Action Meeting of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN). The public is urged to attend—no admission charge.

1000 PIIN members and supporters—committed to working together for greater justice and equity in this region, state, and nation—are expected to attend. They will challenge local, state, and national public officials, as well as candidates for public office, to agree to specific remedies to the transit funding shortage; poor school performance; racial profiling; need for immigration law reform; and gun violence.

PIIN is an interracial alliance of more than 40 congregations representing many faiths working to realize their shared values through civic engagement on issues identified by their members.

7 - 8:30 pm, at Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Avenue, (Oakland). Doors will open at 6:15. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact: PIIN at (412) 621-9230 or office@piin.org; www.piin.org

Oct 21: ALCOSAN public meeting

Is untreated wastewater entering your source of drinking water? Sewer overflows impact everyone, and everyone can contribute to the resolution of this critical problem. By participating in an upcoming meeting, you can learn what is being considered in your community to address the public health, environmental and economic impacts of untreated wastewater discharges into this region's rivers and streams. Meetings will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm with a presentation given at 6:30 pm. These meetings will focus on the community-based potential solutions for each area as well as provide ALCOSAN's Annual Customer Information update.

Additional meetings are scheduled through November. A complete list is available here.

Monday, October 18
Heidelberg Volunteer Fire Department, 456 1st Street, Carnegie, 15106

Tuesday, October 19
East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206 (East Liberty)

Wednesday, October 20
Bellevue Christian Church, 680 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue, 15202

Thursday, October 21
Carnegie Library, 510 E. 10th Avenue, Munhall, 15120

Oct 21: 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!

8:30 p.m. at The Double Wide Grill, 2339 E Carson St., Pittsburgh. For more information call 412-758-2597; you can learn more about the film at http://www.gaslandthemovie.com .

Oct 20: ALCOSAN public meeting

Is untreated wastewater entering your source of drinking water? Sewer overflows impact everyone, and everyone can contribute to the resolution of this critical problem. By participating in an upcoming meeting, you can learn what is being considered in your community to address the public health, environmental and economic impacts of untreated wastewater discharges into this region's rivers and streams. Meetings will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm with a presentation given at 6:30 pm. These meetings will focus on the community-based potential solutions for each area as well as provide ALCOSAN's Annual Customer Information update.

Additional meetings are scheduled through November. A complete list is available here.

Oct 20: GASLAND showing at Lili Coffee Shop

GASLAND Wednesdays -- Come out for a screening of this important documentary each Wednesday in October at the Lili Coffee Shop, followed by a Q&A session.

7 pm at Lili Coffee Shop, at Dobson & Downing Streets, 15219. For more information, email danadolney@hotmail.com .

Oct 20: EPA rep comes to Clairton

In response to an urgent citizen request, Brian Rehn, Associate Director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Program, will be speaking -- and hearing residents' concerns -- at the REACH Mon Valley monthly meeting. The Liberty-Clairton area is home to the nation's largest coke works and faces some of the country's toughest air pollution problems. REACH Mon Valley is a project of Clean Water Action, and provides a monthly forum to discuss pollution issues in the Mon Valley.

REACH stands for REaching A Clean & Healthy Mon Valley, a.k.a. the Mon Valley Bucket Brigade; it formed around bucket sampling for air toxics a few years ago.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Elrama Fire Hall (17 Elrama Avenue, Elrama, PA 15038). For more information, call (412)765-3053x210 or visit http://www.pabucketbrigade.org .

Oct 20: Meet-the-Candidates forum in New Kensington

The Northern Westmoreland Foundation presents a Meet-the-Candidates Forum featuring two state races:

State House 54th District

John Pallone - D

Eli Evankovich - R

State Senate (Sean Logan's seat)

Phil Olijar, - R

Jim Brewster - D

Len Young - Libertarian

You can submit questions by email to admin@nkchamber.org

or by postal mail to New Kensington Chamber, 858 4th Ave. New Kensington, PA 15068

or on-site, in writing, a half-hour before the event begins.

7-9 p.m. at the Penn State New Kensington auditorium.

Oct 19: ALCOSAN public meeting

Is untreated wastewater entering your source of drinking water? Sewer overflows impact everyone, and everyone can contribute to the resolution of this critical problem. By participating in an upcoming meeting, you can learn what is being considered in your community to address the public health, environmental and economic impacts of untreated wastewater discharges into this region's rivers and streams. Meetings will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm with a presentation given at 6:30 pm. These meetings will focus on the community-based potential solutions for each area as well as provide ALCOSAN's Annual Customer Information update.

Additional meetings are scheduled through November. A complete list is available here.

Oct 18: No Student Left Inside talk

Author Jane Kirkland will speak at The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park. 829 Milton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 about the importance of getting children outside and ideas to make it happen. This free event sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) is open to the public, everyone interested in children and the environment. Join us for this important opportunity! Jane will have books for sale and an opportunity to have them autographed. Visit www.paee.net for further information.

Jane Kirkland is a bestselling author, the recipient of the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Education Award, two Teacher’s Choice Awards, a Writer’s Magazine Book Award, and her books have been finalists in Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year, and USA BookNews Best Books. Jane has been featured on Animal Planet, PBS, and Comcast’s CN8 TV and is a regular guest on WXPN’s Kids Corner radio program in Philadelphia. She is a popular keynote speaker at national conferences on children and nature and visits schools, colleges and universities throughout North America.

7 p.m. at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, 829 Milton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. Books will be for sale and there will be time for autographs. Free and open to the public; please come early to make sure you have a seat.

Oct 18: ALCOSAN public meeting

Is untreated wastewater entering your source of drinking water? Sewer overflows impact everyone, and everyone can contribute to the resolution of this critical problem. By participating in an upcoming meeting, you can learn what is being considered in your community to address the public health, environmental and economic impacts of untreated wastewater discharges into this region's rivers and streams. Meetings will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm with a presentation given at 6:30 pm. These meetings will focus on the community-based potential solutions for each area as well as provide ALCOSAN's Annual Customer Information update.

Additional meetings are scheduled through November. A complete list is available here.

Oct 18: City Council Post-Agenda on Marcellus

Pittsburgh City Council will hold a Post-Agenda session to educate members of Council and the public about issues related to Marcellus Shale drilling. Council member Doug Shields recently introduced legislation to ban drilling in the City of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Anthony Ingraffea (Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering), Dr. John Stolz (Duquesne University, Department of Biological Sciences and Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education), and Mrs. Peggy Utesch (community activist, Movin' Forward Consulting) will highlight the public health concerns. The legal perspective will be presented by Ms. Emily Collins (University of Pittsburgh Environmental Law Clinic), Mr. Jules Lobel (University of Pittsburgh, constitutional lawyer), Mr. Thomas Linzey (co-founder and Chief Legal Counsel of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund), and Mr. Ben Price (Projects Director, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund). Dr. Kent Moors (Duquesne University, Department of Political Sciences and Director of the Energy Policy Research Group) will discuss the business aspects.

The session will take place at 1 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 5th floor of the City-County Building, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. It will also be televised on Pittsburgh Cable Channel 13, and can also be viewed on the Legislative Information Center website: http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/lic/

Oct 16: Film on farmer suicides in India

On World Food Day, come watch an interesting film and hear about how a local group is using sustainable agriculture to solve social and economic problems. Pittsburgh's Association for India's Development (AID) invites you to a screening of Nero's Guests: The Age of Inequality, a film by Deepa Bhatia.

The program will start with a 15-minute overview of two current agriculture-related AID projects in India: Kisan Swaraj Yatra, co-organized by AID, in which activists are traveling all over India and spreading awareness about sustainable practices in agriculture; and Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture, a project on sustainable non-chemical farming, supported by AID Pittsburgh. The 1-hour documentary will be screened following these presentations.

About the documentary
Nearly 200,000 farmers have committed suicide in India over the last 10 years, but the mainstream media hardly reflects this. Nero´s Guests (www.nerosguests.com) is a story about India’s agrarian crisis and the growing inequality seen through the work of a renowned journalist P. Sainath. Through his writings and lectures, Sainath makes us confront the India we don’t want to see, and provokes us to think about who the ‘Nero’s Guests’ are in today’s world.

5 p.m. in 100 Porter Hall on the Carnegie Mellon University campus, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 (Map: http://tinyurl.com/378pgh5 ). Free and open to the public. For more information, email aidpittsburgh@gmail.com

About P. Sainath
P. Sainath, Rural Affairs Editor of The Hindu, is the 2007 winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s most prestigious prize (and often referred to as the ‘Asian Nobel’), for Journalism Literature and Creative Communications Arts. Winner of over 35 global and national awards, his work on the problems faced by the rural farming communities is the largest
work on the current agrarian crisis in India. His writings go far beyond the realm of journalism and reports, capturing the complex and fundamental issues of the Indian agriculture system and society which have been overlooked by the academicians and policy makers. Through sustained level coverage, Sainath and his colleagues have created a national agenda through this film, compelling the government to take notice and act.

About Deepa Bhatia
Deepa Bhatia is a filmmaker based in Mumbai. She has worked with acclaimed directors like Govind Nihalani & Jahnu Barua. She has been the editor of many popular works like 'My name is Khan', 'Rock On' and 'Taare Zameen Par'. Deepa has also been involved in research on several documentaries & films. Nero's guests is her first independent documentary.

About AID
The Association for India's Development is dedicated to promoting grass roots development efforts in India that organize communities for health care, education, small enterprise, alternate energy, environmental action and people's rights. AID is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Visit http://pittsburgh.aidindia.org for details on the activities of the Pittsburgh chapter.

Oct 16: No Student Left Inside workshop

No Student Left Inside Workshop – The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) along with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is sponsoring a FREE all-day workshop with a focus on getting students outdoors. The day will start with an introduction and short presentations by the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, and PAEE outlining the resources available for classrooms, non formal educators, and homeschoolers. Each will also preview the outdoor activities they will model that day. The group (about 100) will break into three sections. Everyone will rotate through the three hour-long OUTDOOR sessions. (Dress appropriately for the weather.) At these sessions they will learn exciting (but easy to use) activities they can do outside with students. Workshop includes a year’s membership in PAEE, a 5% discount to attend the PAEE annual conference, March 17-19,2011 near Ligonier, and 6 Act 48 hours if needed.

The day will culminate with keynote speaker, Jane Kirkland. Jane is a dynamic and knowledgeable author whose books are directed at taking students outdoors. Her website is www.takeawalk.com .

This workshop will be held at The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, 829 Milton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. Visit www.paee.net to register. Space is limited. rroperti@zoominternet.net

Oct 16: GASPtoberfest!

GASP's annual fundraiser will include an easy nature hike and a family-friendly geocaching treasure hunt offered by Venture Outdoors (2-4 p.m.), followed by an opportunity to celebrate GASP's accomplishments while enjoying delicious food and drinks from various European traditions. Featuring music by Pittsburgh's acclaimed Gypsy Strings, and local beer from Penn Brewery.

2-7 p.m. at Riverview Park's Chapel Shelter. Learn more about GASP and purchase tickets online at www.gasp-pgh.org or call 412-325-7382

Oct 16: Marcellus conference (Hbg)

Building a Stronger Movement: Statewide Conference on Natural Gas Drilling for community groups, activists, and residents concerned about the effects of drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

Participating organizations: ACLU, Campaign for Clean Water, Common Cause, Clean Water Action, Protecting our Waters, Democracy for America, Responsible Drilling Alliance, Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Delaware Riverkeepers Network, Penn Future, Penn Environment, and many more.

The extraction of natural gas in Pennsylvania has been going on largely with minimal state and federal oversight. This conference is an opportunity to exchange information about natural gas drilling or "fracking" and learn how to make our voices heard in the Marcellus Shale debate.Conference topics include:

* Best practices of how to wage a winning campaign
* Training on organizing and getting your message out
* How to build an organization, fundraise, and do outreach
* Success stories from different regions of the state
* Networking
* And lots more.

Who Should Come? Community and organizational leaders, activists, concerned individuals and individuals who have leased their land or have been approached about a lease. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, home and business owners, farmers, hunters and fishermen - anyone who cares about protecting our property rights, air quality, drinking water, farmland and Pennsylvania's natural beauty.
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg: 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, PA 17011

Register Today! Sign up online at: http://bit.ly/9juhGz To RSVP and for any questions, contact Hannah Miller at 215-888-8036 or golden.notebook@gmail.com

Oct 15: Smart Growth Conference

10th Annual Southwestern PA Smart Growth Conference: Regional Collaboration: Investing in Sustainable Communities. For this 10th anniversary, the conference will be a milestone for the high stakes surrounding the region's capacity building for smart growth. Focus will be on alignment with the Obama Administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (comprising federal DOT, EPA, and HUD) in supporting integration of housing, transportation, water infrastructure, energy conservation, and land use planning and investment. As such, this one-day, conference will identify barriers and solutions to cross-jurisdictional coordination for regional smart growth and sustainable community development policy and implementation. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan hit home the need and opportunity of our times in recently stating, "Our challenge now is to bring that holistic view of community development into the mainstream -- to help build sustainable neighborhoods, communities and regions that are as interconnected as the challenges they face."

The conference will again serve as a public input session to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's process of updating the region's Long Range Transportation and Development Plan. This update will be distinguished by addition of enhancements appropriate to a regional sustainable development plan per the six "Livability Principles" prioritized by the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

The conference will feature:
- Mariia Zimmerman, Deputy Director, HUD Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities
- Representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will discuss the U.S. government's interagency partnership to support and promote sustainable communities.
- Keynote address by Peter Calthorpe, Principal, Calthorpe Associates - Urban Designers, Planners, Architects
- Allen Biehler, Secretary of PA Department of Transportation
- John Hanger, Secretary of PA Department of Environmental Protection
- SPC public process per the region's sustainable development plan
- Four pressing issues interwoven in deliberations: Transportation Funding Crisis, Water & Sewer Infrastructure, Marcellus Impacts, Affordable Housing
- Panel strategy session with: Steve Bland, Port Authority of Allegheny County; Caren Glotfelty, The Heinz Endowments; Doug Hill, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; John Schombert, 3 Rivers Wet Weather
- Formal presentation of competition results – “14 Essential Tipping Points for SWPA Sustainable Community Development" (Learn how to enter the competition) - Launch of the online Sustainable Community Essentials Rapid Assessment
- Learn what federal and state agencies are looking for in capacity and qualification for sustainable community investment
- Identification of actionable steps whose implementation will position our region to accelerate sustainable development and be a priority place for investment
- Crafting of a summary of participants' input and resulting action plan for presentation to the candidates for Governor, other candidates and incumbents, and community leaders

Southwestern PA is a contemporary proving ground for hastening the new American dream found in revitalizing livable, sustainable communities through smart growth policies that discourage sprawl, congestion and pollution. Come be part of continuing the region's sustainability renaissance for economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, opportunity rich communities. More than a one-time event, the conference will be a point of acceleration and innovation for the region's positive path.

Peter Calthorpe has been named one of twenty-five "innovators on the cutting edge" by Newsweek Magazine for his work redefining the models of urban and suburban growth in America. Starting practice in 1976, he has a long and honored career in urban design, planning and architecture, combining his experience in each discipline to develop new approaches to urban revitalization, suburban growth, and regional planning. His early published work included technical papers, articles for popular magazines, and a number of seminal books, including Sustainable Communities with Sim Van der Ryn, and the Pedestrian Pocket Book with Doug Kelbaugh. The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream, published in 1993, introduced the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and provided extensive guidelines and illustrations of their board application. His latest book with William Fulton, The Regional City: Planning for the End of Sprawl, explains how regional-scale planning and design can integrate urban revitalization and suburban renewal into a coherent vision of metropolitan growth.

Presented by Sustainable Pittsburgh's Sustainable Community Development Network in collaboration with: 3 Rivers Wet Weather, 10,000 Friends of PA, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance, Group Against Smog and Pollution, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Local Government Academy, Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 10, District 11, and District 12, Pennsylvania Resources Council, Remaking Cities Institute, Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County, Southwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Planners Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Pittsburgh, Young Preservationists Association

Sponsored by: The PNC Financial Services Group Michael Baker

Additional support provided by: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation Richard King Mellon Foundation The Heinz Endowments.

8:30 am - 4:30 pm at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh; lunch is provided. More information and registration are online. Early registration is $25; $45 after 9/23; free for elected officials. For exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, contact cgould@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Enter the TIPPING POINTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY Competition! More information here . Deadline to enter September 24.

Post Smart Growth Conference - Power of 32 Community Conversation
Continuing the regional dialogue, immediately following conclusion of the October 15 Smart Growth Conference, a Power of 32 Community Conversation will be held from 4:30 - 6:00 pm in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Ballroom. This regional visioning session is open and free to residents of the 32 county region. Pre-register by calling 866-431-3622 and refer to the post Oct. 15 Smart Growth Conference Community Conversation. Attendees of the Smart Growth Conference are encouraged to stay and apply insights from the day. The public at large is welcomed too. Power of 32 is a regional visioning initiative engaging residents across 32 counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia in creating a shared vision for the region's future. Through the Power of 32, we can think differently about our region's challenges—our role in the global world, our quality of life, and our opportunities—and act in ways that set a new direction for the future. Please join with other champions of smart growth and sustainability in this important opportunity to share your ideas about the future of the Power of 32 region. Input gained in the community conversations held around the region will by synthesized and vetted toward creation of a shared regional action agenda.

Oct 13: Shale Trail Benefit

A marching band, a drag show, a DJ, a poetry reading, dance parties, enviro groups, politicoes, and more at six great venues in Lawrenceville (Remedy, Blue Moon, New Amsterdam, Hambones, Belvederes, and the Brillo Box) will educate, empower, and entertain participants while raising money for the November 3rd Marcellus protest.

The event will kick off at 7pm at Hambones with the Common Ground Social Lawrenceville Marcellus Action Group. Suggested donation $5; $10 gets you into all 7 venues. You can also donate online at www.marcellusprotest.org .

Oct 11: Marcellus Shale forum at the JCC

The Environmental Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will hold a forum on Marcellus Shale drilling at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

7-9 p.m. at the JCC, 5783 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Oct 10: 10/10/10 Climate Action Fest

The Fourth Annual Wilkins School Community Center Ecofest focuses this year on community-driven action to tackle climate change. Be a catalyst for change -- join a climate action team on 10/10/10, in conjunction with 350.org's International Day of Climate Action -- a.k.a. the Global Work Party -- and the local group Citizen's Climate Corps. Action teams work together for a few months to reduce greenhouse gases through one specific action. Join established teams or participate in the brainstorming session to create ideas for new team actions. By the end of the Fest, you will learn why grassroots action is crucial to solving the climate crisis, and belong to an organized climate action team with a clear strategy to reduce greenhouse gases. Be part of the climate solution!

1:30-5 p.m. at the Wilkins School Community Center 7604 Charleston Ave. Regent Square, 15218. Free & open to the public. For more information and to register, go to Citizens Climate Corps; for further questions call 412-215-5995.

Oct 7: 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!

8:30 p.m. at The Double Wide Grill, 2339 E Carson St., Pittsburgh. For more information call 412-758-2597; you can learn more about the film at http://www.gaslandthemovie.com .

Oct 5: Health and Environment workshop

The Pennsylvania Resources Council and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's Center for Environmental Oncology present a workshop on Human Health and the Environment, designed to heighten awareness and encourage action around the issue of toxins in our environment.

In 1962 Rachel Carson stated that for the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death. This statement was true then and continues to be true today.

We all are exposed to a number of different chemicals, carcinogens, and toxins in our environment on a daily basis, but while we may have no control over some exposures, there are many that we do. These exposures can come from our cell phones, parabens in our personal care products, or BPA in our plastics - so how can we seek these out and avoid them?

The Health and the Environment Workshop is designed to heighten awareness and encourage action around the issue of carcinogens and toxins that we come into contact with daily in our environment through the products we use and the food we eat. The workshop also focuses on the consequences of these toxins on our health and how we can avoid exposure. The program provides the public with practical solutions such as safe alternatives and healthy lifestyle choices.

6:30 - 8pm at the CCI Center (64 South 14th Street, Pgh, PA 15203)$20 per person, or $25 per couple. In an effort to reduce exposure to toxins and to reduce the amount of toxins in our environment, all workshop participants will receive a non-toxic green cleaning kit. If you are interested in attending the workshop please contact Sarah Alessio Shea at saraha@ccicenter.org or by calling 412.488.7490 ext. 236, or go to http://www.prc.org/education_environmentalHealth.html .

"You are nontoxic and biodegradable. Deep down your home wants to be too." -- Squeaky Green

Oct 4: Oil & gas drilling hearing in Upper St. Clair

The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper St. Clair will hold a public hearing to consider the following:

PLC10-1302 - Amendment to Chapter 130 entitled, "Zoning," to Provide for Oil and Gas Drilling Operations as a Conditional Use in all Zoning Districts in the Township except for the R-LI, Low Intensity Residential District.

A copy of the amendment is available for public inspection at the Township Offices, address above, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All persons wishing to be heard should appear at the above place at the time specified.

USC Gas Drilling Ordinance - Draft

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., or shortly thereafter, in the Board of Commissioners' Meeting Room, Upper St. Clair Township, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241,

Oct 3: Wild Art Wild Trails

Join the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation for celebration and art at the 2^nd annual Wild Art Wild Trails!

*Free activities and entertainment for all ages
*Crafts, climbing wall, geocaching treasure hunt, and more
*Help artists turn dumpsite trash in works of art
*Snacks and refreshments

Activities provided by: Citiparks' Roving Art Cart, the Outdoor Classroom, Venture Outdoors, PA Resources Council, and more!

1-4 p.m. at Mount Washington Park, 515 Norton St. Pittsburgh 15211. For more information, contact the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation at 412-481-3220 x200 or khunninen@mwcdc.org .