Complete Streets
Complete Streets Presentation
Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00pm
Rochester Public Library
Complete Streets are road systems that provide safe access for all users includ-ing motorists, bicyclists, transit users and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets are achieved by changing the project development process to routinely plan for, design and build the necessary infrastructure to encourage safe and convenient walking, bicycling, and transit use. They include sidewalks accessible to all users, pedestrian crossings, bike facilities, and features de-signed for transit vehicles and users.
National experts Barbara McCann (National Complete Streets Coalition) and John LaPlante, PE, PTOE (T.Y. Lin International), will cover what complete streets are and how they contribute to a healthy and vibrant community. John N. LaPlante, PE, PTOE, is currently Director of Traffic Engineering for T.Y. Lin International, working out of their Chicago office. Barbara McCann of McCann Consulting coined the term ‘complete streets’ and serves as coordinator of the National Complete Streets Coalition, a broad-based coalition working for the adoption of policies to ensure that roads are routinely designed, built, improved and operated for the safety of all users, including bicy-clists, motorists, transit riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
Sponsored by: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Complete the Streets, and the Active Rochester Partnership.
For more information: Contact Mitzi Baker, Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department, 507-328-7122
Published by thefootprint on December 2nd, 2008 tagged Neighbors, Rochester, Transportation | Comment now »
Ike’s Home Energy Forums: Solar Electric Energy
The Rochester Chapter of the Isaak Walton League will be hosting a series of 5 forums on home energy. Each forum will begin at 7:00 pm and will be held at the Cabin, 937 7th Ave NE, Rochester.
Solar Electric Energy will be the topic of the first forum held on Tuesday, December 2nd.
Tom Thompson, owner of Pine Island Solar, started building super insulated homes in the 1970’s. His work then migrated to passive solar homes and now photovoltaic and solar thermal installations. He will be discussing design requirements, system sizing and expected performance of photovoltaic systems in December and solar thermal systems during the last forum in April.
Published by thefootprint on December 1st, 2008 tagged Environment, Energy, Green living | Comment now »
Rescheduled: Four Days In September
SPECIAL FREE DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: FOUR DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Two weeks before the election, a documentary about what happened OUTSIDE the Republican National Convention in St. Paul
Rescheduled:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 6:30pm
Rochester Public Library Auditorium
FREE! Free will donations accepted. Treats included!
Followed by a discussion with local participants in RNC protests and organizing:
Brian Hokanson - member of Twin Cities Indymedia and the RNC 8 Support Committee, detained in pre-emptive police raid the week before the RNC
Chuck Handlon, member of SE MN Alliance of Peacemakers, participated in September 1 peace march
***
When John McCain was interrupted by an Iraq Veteran Against the War during his speech at last month’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, he asked delegates not to listen to “the ground noise and the static.”
This is what he didn’t want you to listen to.
Two weeks before the election and with the economy in crisis, the political climate is more intense than at any time since 9/11. Just ask the protesters, bystanders, medics, and journalists who withstood what Fox News reporter Tom Lyden said “looks like a police state” at the RNC. You can ask the Glass Bead Collective and Twin Cities Indymedia, too: in the face of continued police harassment that forced them to move their studio to a Minneapolis church, they’ve spent the last six weeks creating a feature-length documentary about those four days (and more) in September.
The documentary contains exclusive footage from independent journalists across the continent - videographers who resisted the attacks and arrests of over 40 journalists trying to cover what was happening outside the convention. It shows the pre-emptive raids on houses and organizing centers the week before the convention; the mass arrests and calling out of the National Guard on September 1; police surrounding and then attacking and crowd in front of Mickey’s Dining Car on the night of September 2; the mass arrest of 396 people and dozens of journalists on September 4; the infiltration of protest groups by the FBI and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department; and the eight protest organizers who now face up to eight years in prison after being charged as terrorists in the first ever use of Minnesota’s USA PATRIOT Act (see www.rnc8.org).
Every segment of the documentary is to be released for free on the Internet for anyone to view and arrange showings. One segment, with footage that was buried at the site of a mass arrest on September 1 and later recovered, was released in September at the link below:
Come witness the “fall of St. Paul” and discuss its implications on the election, economy, and the future of dissent in America.
For more info, visit:
www.twincities.indymedia.org
www.glassbeadcollective.org
or email haloka@riseup.net
Published by Brian Hokanson on October 16th, 2008 tagged Politics | Comment now »
LWV Candidate Forums
Local LWV Candidate Forums on October 13, 14, and 16
The schedule for our local LWV candidate forums is below.
Note that the candidate forum for Olmsted County Commissioner District 7 (incumbent July Ohly, challenger Terry Throndson) has been cancelled; Mr. Throndson is unable to attend because of a prior commitment.
Monday, October 13: Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road SE, Rochester
Room 110
7:00 – 7:40 pm City Council – Ward 4
7:50 – 8:30 pm City Council – Ward 2
8:40 – 9:20 pm County Commissioner – District 3
Room 112
7:00 – 7:40 pm City council – Ward 6
7:50 – 8:30 pm County Commissioner District 7 (will not be held - as only one candidate is available)
8:40 – 9:20 pm County Commissioner District 5
Tuesday, October 14: Edison Building, Rochester Public Schools
Board Room, 615 7th St. SW
7:00 – 7:40 pm School Board Seat 1
7:50 – 8:30 pm School Board Seat 3
8:40 – 9:20 pm School Board Seat 7
Thursday, October 16: Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road SE, Rochester
Room 110
7:00 – 7:40 pm City Council “At Large”
7:50 – 8:30 pm State District 29A
8:40 – 9:20 pm State District 29B
Room 112
7:50 – 8:30 pm State District 30A
8:40 – 9:20 pm State District 30B
Published by thefootprint on October 13th, 2008 tagged Rochester | Comment now »
66th Annual Butterfass Mulligan Stew
Rochester Izaak Walton League hosts the 66th Annual Butterfass Mulligan Stew
Saturday, October 11th from 4:40pm to 7:30pm at the Cabin, 937 7th Ave NE.
Serving beef and vegetarian stew, biscuit, donut, apple, milk, and coffee.
Tickets are $9.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door. Kids 6 and under eat free (at the cabin only). Take out available until 6:30pm.
Live accordian music!
For tickets or additional information about the Rochester Chapter and the Izaak Walton League, please call 507-775-2814 or visit rochestermnikes.org
Published by thefootprint on October 7th, 2008 tagged Food | Comment now »
Candidate Forum
Local conservation and environmental groups will host a Candidate Forum on October 20 and 21 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm each night. The forums are free and open to the public. Both forums will be held at the Izaak Walton League Cabin, 937 7th Ave NE, Rochester.
Candidates running for Olmsted County Board and Rochester City Council will be sharing their views on the enivroment and conservation during the forums. Candidates running for the county board will meet on October 20th with the council candidates on October 21st.
The forums are being co-sponsored by the following Rochester area groups: Earth Community Coalition, Rochester Chaper of the Izaac Walton League, Friends of Oxbow, Prairie Smoke Chaper of Prairie Enthusiasts, Zumbro Land Conservancy, and Zumbro Valley Audubon Society.
For more information, please contact Joel Dunnette at 365-8091 (email: jdunnette@kmtel.com) or Ray Schmitz at 288-3948 (email: rschmitz22@charter.net)
Published by thefootprint on September 18th, 2008 tagged Environment, Rochester | Comment now »
RE-fest: A Celebration of Green Living & Clean Energy
RE٠think… green living
RE٠new… clean energy
RE٠store…conservation
FREE ADMISSION
Saturday, September 20th
Riverland Community College
Austin, MN
At RE-fest you’ll learn how you can take action to conserve the Earth’s limited resources and make positive changes in your community.
The event will begin with a musical concert at the Paramount Theater featuring Peter Ostroushko, creator and producer of the original soundtrack for the 4-part documentary series Minnesota: A History of the Land. Saturday morning festivities will begin with a tasty solar breakfast. For the remainder of the day you can browse, participate in and enjoy a variety of activities:
Workshops will run throughout the day. You can learn more about recycling, renewable energy for your home or business, saving money through simple energy conservation efforts, and more.
Exhibitors will be on-site displaying and selling their eco-friendly products and services.
Solar Stage activities will provide entertainment all through the day. Musicians and entertainers including Ken Lonquist, David Stokes, and winners of our Sustainable Songwriting Contest will perform on a stage that is powered by the sun, thanks to the Midwest Renewable Energy Society’s (MRES) Solar Power Trailer. Entertainment will conclude with a musical finale featuring Douglas Wood, Minnesota’s “renaissance man” -author, artist, musician, naturalist and wilderness guide.
Green Living Bookstore will feature titles you can purchase on topics such as green living, renewable energy, and organic food.
Movie Room - Drop in to view a variety of green living movies that will be playing throughout the day.
Local Food - Start out the day at our Solar Breakfast, then enjoy food sold by vendors offering delicious locally-grown or -produced food that will appeal to all ages. Be sure to bring your appetite!
Artisans - Local Artisans ad cottage industries will be selling hand-crafted products.
Children’s Activities - Kids will learn about the environment while having fun.
We encourage people to walk, bike or take public transit to RE-fest. Anyone who drives will have the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets. Proceeds will be used for tree planting and prairie restoration to help make this a carbon-free event.
RE-fest will have something for everyone to enjoy!
Published by thefootprint on August 26th, 2008 tagged Environment, Energy, Green living | Comment now »
Volunteer for the Farmers Market
The Rochester Downtown Farmers Market (RDFM) seeks volunteers to help on market days. 2-4 hour shift options are available each Saturday from May 1st through the end of October. A breakdown of times and duties are as follows:
6:30 to 7:30-8am is Market Set-up. 2-4 people needed.
Duties included:
- Put up signs.
- Assist vendors with set-up.
- Set-up additional canopies and props for event days.
**Note: These duties require people who have physical strength and good people skills.
7:30 to 11:30am-noon: 5-6 people needed, 2-4 hour shift options.
Duties included:
- Staff market booth (selling tote bags, dispersing information, taking messages), 1-2 people needed.
- Assist customers (carrying bags and/or pulling market wagons; on rainy days take umbrella and walk with customers; cover at vendors’ booths while they take restroom breaks) - 2 people.
- Help with traffic flow in parking lot - 2 people.
11:30am-12:30pm Market break-down: 5 people needed.
Duties included:
- Go around with market wagon, collect produce from vendors for Channel One, and give receipts to vendors - 1-2 people.
- General break-down (taking down canopy at market booth and offer help to vendors with canopies).
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jodeen Wink, Assistant Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at 507-252-1557 or Jodeenwink@hotmail.com
Published by thefootprint on June 27th, 2008 tagged Food, Green living | Comment now »
Weekly Farmer’s Market News
The footprint is happy to announce a new weekly feature! Every week we will publish an announcement called “What’s Fresh at the Rochester Downtown Farmer’s Market”. This news item will be posted as a regular “article” on our main webpage and updated weekly. In it you will find a up-to-date listing on the fresh, local foods that will be available at the market for the upcoming Saturday. Entertainment and special attractions will be included along with volunteer information
The link to the Rochester Downtown Farmer’s Markete website has been updated and will now take you to their new website.
Published by thefootprint on June 23rd, 2008 tagged Food, Farms, Green living | Comment now »
People Can Do It! Campaign
The Rochester group, Global Action, has undertaken a fun community awareness campaign that focuses on positive, simple actions people can take every day to reduce carbon emissions, & conserve energy and resources.
The project is called “People Can Do It!”. Dozens of ordinary Rochester residents are being photographed in action, holding a sign stating what they do to make a difference, such as “I take the bus”. The photos will be made into posters. At the bottom of each poster, additional facts will explain how much money is being saved and carbon emissions are being avoided by this action. The posters will be displayed in businesses and public wenues throughout the community.
Next summer, all of the photos will be shown in an exhibition and all the models and participating business owners will be invited for an opening celebration. If you would like to be photographed as a part of this project or have a great idea for a photo, contact Susan Waughtal at skwaughtal@aol.com.
More information will be available soon at the footprint. We will proudly sponsor this positive campaign by creating a place on the site for people to view the campaign posters.