-SAVE THE DATE-

HARVEST MOON MADNESS
Fine Arts and Craft Sale

Oshkosh Convention Center
2 North Main Street

Saturday, November 6th, 2010 9AM—4PM
Sunday, November 7th, 2010 10AM—3PM

Pottery ~ Jewelry ~ Glass Items ~ Hand Crafted Gifts ~ Photography ~ Paintings
Fiber Art ~ Embellished Clothing ~ Baskets ~ Hand Crafted Items
and Much More!

START YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING EARLY!
Admission
$1.00

Read More

Lupines and Karner Blues

My good friend Dan Rylance and I were talking flowers recently, and he commented on how great my Lupines turned out this year. 11 plants grew from one seed packet, which was a surprisingly high rate. I started them from seed two summers ago, and transplated them to the garden last Spring. This year was their first solid flowering. Here is one patch late May:



Dan had recently spent some time camping in the U.P., where he came across a wonderful field of wild Lupine. Though Dan is aged with wisdom, he did not know that Lupines grow wild in this region.


Not only do they grow wild, but the DNR has a program dedicated to the expansion of wild Lupine fields, primarly for their habitat support of the Blue Karner butterfly. According to the DNR, "Wild Lupine leaves are the only larval food source for federally endangered Karner blue butterfly."

So, how to grow wild Lupine - DNR Publication

.

More information about the Karner Blue - DNR Karner Blue Website

.

Sources for native seeds - DNR Wisconsin Native Seed Source Publication

.

Karner Blue pic from http://www.nhdfl.org/

Read More

American Backyard Campout Day

This Saturday, June 26, 2010, is the Great American Backyard Campout Day. Weather permitting, we'll be in our backyard. Check out the National Wildlife Federation for more information.

And speaking of camping, many in Oshkosh recognize the limited outdoor camping opportunities in the area. There is also ongoing discussion concerning the use of picnic point just north of town. This would seem to have the potential to make a tremendous tenting site, with the mass planting of evergreens in much of the open area. It is not uncommon for county governments to run parks that have camping options.

Read More

An Unsustainable Technical Decision

The following article was submitted by a regular reader who wished to contribute but remain anonymous.

It makes you wonder how we’re ever going to get citizens, businesses and industries to subscribe to sustainable practices when a public institution we assume teaches sustainability principles has so little regard for them. Case in point, the Fox Valley Technical College. A few days ago the Oshkosh Plan Commission approved plans for the Technical College to lease a new facility to be built to accommodate training for welders and other manufacturing trades. The building is just another big box on highway 41, three miles south of Hy 44. It covers 24 acres of farmland . It adds a paved-over parking lot to accommodate 55 cars. It is not served by transit. It contributes to urban sprawl.

Fox Valley Tech chose this option over reuse of the vacant Copps building and other proposals that were not discussed at the meeting. The Copps building is on the bus line. It already has a huge parking lot. It would incorporate sustainability principles of recycling and reuse. It would not entail encroachment on farmland. As one plan commissioner pointed out, a college reusing a similar building in a Madison shopping mall contributed to the revitalization of that mall. The location offered students numerous amenities within walking distance, of benefit both to the students and nearby businesses.

Compare Fox Valley Tech’s action to the Madison situation, and to our very own university which is currently building to high environmental standards and is about to embark on developing the first biodigester in the nation to provide five percent of its energy use.

Read More

Aquatic Plant Harvesters

I was driving back from Sturgeon Bay today following a much needed vacation, and noticed two aquatic plant harvesters chugging along as I crossed the Sturgeon Bay bridge. It was good to see - this town of about 10,000 that obviously places a strong emphasis and value on their waterways (such as a community with the slogan "on the water" might do), utilizing the harvester approach as a more practical, sustainable, and long-term alternative to the dumping of hazardous chemicals into the waterways.

Another comment on Harvesters: city reports have suggested that the purchase of a harvester exceeds $100,000 - numbers that have not really been questioned by councilors, parks board folks, or the media. However, a local aquatic management company out of Waupaca offers a harvester for under $38,000. In context - chemical application - $25,000 every year, polluted waters.

Read More

Butterflies and kids

On June 19, Family Services of NEW is hosting a great family program in city park, Appleton, including a beautiful symbolic butterfly release.

Everyone is welcome for a morning of family fun and Help Families Fly! This is a great fundraising event for Family Services, and includes the following:

- One butterfly

- Face painting and crafts

- Kids’ games and entertainment

- Group butterfly release at 10:45 am

- Butterfly demonstrations

- Food & Beverages

Butterflies must be purchased in advance. All family registrations include one butterfly; additional butterflies can be purchase for $10 each. Registration must be received by Thursday, June 17.

VISIT HERE for more information.

Read More

New Housing Blog in Community

The Winnebagoland Housing Coalition recently launched a new weblog to facilitate the sharing of news and resource information among partners and community members. The site - http://winnebagolandhousing.blogspot.com - includes recent posts on Wisconsin Foreclosure data, a homelessness conference, coalition info, and more.

The coalition is comprised of agencies and individuals in the broader Oshkosh area involved in housing programming, including rental, home buyer, homeless services, land development, and more.

According to a post on tenant training programming, there is a free Rent Smart course being offered June 15 and 17 at the Hooper Building downtown Oshkosh. There is still room to register for this valuable class, and if you haven't already attended but are involved in some manner with renting or renters, this course is highly recommended and supported by Main Street Oshkosh staff.

Read More

Green Bay hiring Sustainability Coordinator

See the job post here

From the post:

Duties and Responsibilities of the Job:
Administers and coordinates all eligible activities under the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

Performs detailed data collection and analysis functions for internal and external audiences.

Identifies opportunities for continuous environmental, economic, and societal improvements and implements related programs.

Serves as City's sustainability spokesperson at various events and activities and presents information at public meetings to residents and business owners.

Establishes relationships with existing organizations engaged in sustainability initiatives and creates complex partnerships that leverage existing resources and increases awareness of the City's sustainability efforts statewide.

Promotes and coordinates the integration of environmental and sustainability initiatives into policies, rules, activities, services, and operations.

Works with City departments and committees through education and outreach to perform more efficiently through sustainability initiatives.

Connects with and supports the Green Bay Sustainability Task Force mission by engaging elected officials, managers, staff, and other employees in the environmental, economic, and social performance of the City.

Read More

States and cities consider soda taxes

Not a bad idea at all - Great source of revenue on a product extremely unhealthy, extremely low-priced, and highly consumed.

Article in the NEJM

Wall Street Journal article

Interesting Myth / Fact piece from a councilor in the Dist of Columbia

New York Times article

CDC director suggests soda tax

Of course, many folks have been raised to fear this word tax, so, instead we could have the healthy communities fund, supported with each purchase of a soda and sugar drink. Consider - while it is great to enjoy a soda, you also help fund our healthy riverwalk and bicycle lanes, you help build park space in those large and excessively obvious gaps in the city where there are no neighborhood parks. You help to fund a seriously undervalued and under-utilized public health department.

Of course things like this are sometimes difficult on a local level, and may make real sense at the state level. I don't have time to explore this further, but an interesting read and revenue source to debate.

Read More

Irish Fest- Volunteers Needed!

Irish Fest- Volunteers Needed!

Irish Fest volunteers needed for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 11-13, 2010.

Have fun while serving your community.  Short shifts available.

Contact Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin
920-424-4071 or email CP@cpmideastwis.com

Call today!

Go raibh maith agat
Thank You!


http://www.oshkoshirishfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oshkosh-WI/Cerebral-Palsy-of-Mideast-Wisconsin/115001688536388

Read More