MORPC Update: Waterfire, Clean Air Awards, Farmers Markets and more

From MORPC:

MORPC
Center for Energy & Environment Update

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Items of Interest:

Riverfest On Tour Kick-Off!
Friday, May 29, COSI, 5:00 p.m.
In hopes of attracting people outdoors to appreciate our abundant natural resources, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has coordinated plenty of weekend activities to enjoy this June as part of Riverfest On Tour! presented by Outdoor Source.

COSI Family Friday Night and WaterFire on Friday, May 29th will kick-off the month-long series of events. Attendees will be invited into the COSI Extreme Screen Theatre at 5:30 p.m. for free popcorn, trivia games, prizes and a showing of Grand Canyon Adventure: Rivers at Risk. COSI will be open until 9:00 p.m. featuring additional Riverfest activities. Later in the night, fire will dance on the Scioto River as live music plays at WaterFire presented from 7:00 p.m.to 10:30 p.m. The standard $7 admission rate to COSI will apply; WaterFire will be free and open to the public.

There will be activities to suit everyone’s interests throughout June as Riverfest On Tour! continues. Free weekend activities include canoe, kayak and pontoon boat rides, kite flying over the Dawes Arboretum wetlands, fishing with Metro Parks and more.

The full details of Riverfest On Tour! are available at www.riverfestcolumbus.org. This free series of events is available to the community as a result of generous support from Outdoor Source, the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities, Franklin County and Metro Parks.

2009 Clean Air Award Recipients
‘¢ Columbus City Schools Transportation & Fleet Services Departments ‘“ for installing pollution-reduction technology on more than 100 school buses and replacing over 137 of their oldest buses to reduce emissions.
‘¢ Jeff Stephens, Consider Biking ‘“ for being a champion advocate encouraging and promoting bicycling and active transportation in Central Ohio.
‘¢ SWACO’s Green Energy Center ‘“ for transforming landfill gas into compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel.
‘¢ The OSU Center for Automotive Research ‘“ for the EcoCAR Team’s development of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for continued research on alternative vehicle technologies.

America’s Favorite Farmers Market
This summer American Farmland Trust is supporting farmers markets across the nation with a national farmers market contest to promote farmers markets in your community and beyond. This is part of their national campaign to help spread the No Farms No Food message and promote sustainable local farms and food across the country. American Farmland Trust is launching a three-month campaign to ask Americans across the county to show support for their farmers market by voting in their America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest! Read more on the two simple steps farmers markets must take to opt-in and make sure their customers will be able to vote for them. Customers will be able to vote starting June 1st at www.farmland.org/vote.

Operation Feed 2009
Operation Feed, a community-wide food drive coordinated by the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, will run until June. MORPC is taking part in the initiative by collecting food and online donations. Donation boxes are in the Scioto Conference Room or you can contribute through the MORPC Virtual Food Drive. Click on make a gift to donate.

Transportation Change in the Wind
Click here to read Reuter’s April 20, 2009 article, America’s road hogs veer off freeway, hop on bus.

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Green Events:

Growing Green Jobs in Ohio
Monday, May 18, 2009, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Elson Hall, Ohio University, Zanesville Campus, 1425 Newark Road
Please join local business owners, labor leaders, elected officials, and university representatives to discuss energy efficiency and opportunities to repower Ohio with clean energy solutions that will create jobs. Moderated by Ohio University Sustainability Coordinator Sonia Marcus and hosted by Zanesville Mayor Howard Butch Zwelling. If you have any questions, contact Marnie Urso at 216.246.7150 or Marnie.Urso@sbcglobal.net.

Youth Bike Rally
Saturday, May 23, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, Bremen Banking Center Parking Lot, Village of Bremen
Visit www.bremenvillage.com for more information.

BikeColumbus
Saturday, May 30, 2009, COSI
Sign-up here.

Save the Date for the Summit on Sustainability and the Environment
Tuesday, October 6, 2009, COSI
Learn more.

More events at the MORPC Green Calendar.
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Grant Possibilities:

2009 Kodak American Greenways Program Grants
The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program, a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society, provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America. Land trusts, local governments and other organizations are invited to submit proposals for small greenway project grants. Funded projects typically advance one or more of the following program goals:
‘¢ Catalyzing new greenway projects
‘¢ Assisting grassroots greenway organizations
‘¢ Leveraging additional money for conservation and greenway development
‘¢ Promoting use and enjoyment of greenways
Application deadline is June 30. Visit www.conservationfund.org/kodak_awards for more information.

More grants outlined at the MORPC Grant Index.