The good things just keep happening . . .
The theme for the annual Faulkner County Fair Parade on September 16: Get Smart, Go Green!
More information at www.faulknerfairparade.net.
Transportation
The Conway City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution to dedicate all natural gas severance tax proceeds in the coming years (estimated at over $230,000 in 2009) to identifying, enabling and promoting alternatives to automobile transportation!
AND topursue bicycle-friendly certification from the League of American Bicyclists! Check out http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/communities/
Local cyclists can go to www.cycleconway.com to share information, ask questions, learn about cycling in Conway and participate in an active online community forum.
Clean Energy
With thanks to the Faulkner County Library, there will be a free screening of the documentary Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars. The film will be shown in the auditorium of the Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler St., on Friday, August 29th at 7:00pm. This movie night is open to all and there will be free popcorn and drinks.
Fighting Goliath premiered at the Redford Center at Sundance Preserve, is narrated by Robert Redford and produced by Alpheus Media. The film follows the story of a collaborative effort in Texas as they oppose the construction of nineteen coal fire power plants that were slated to be built in eastern and central Texas and fast-tracked by the Texas Governor. They're successful in stopping eight.
Two coal-fired power plants are in the works in Arkansas: one in northeast Arkansas in Osceola, which has already been approved, and one outside of Hope in Hempstead County, still waiting for an air permit. After the screening there will be a public discussion for those interested. For more information contact Sarah at the Faulkner County Library, 501-327-7482, or mailto: sarah@fcl.org.
Update on the proposed coal plant in Hope:
There is an important hearing scheduled for September 18th in Hope, Arkansas. Volunteers from around the state are organizing carpools to travel to southwest Arkansas. To join in or to learn more about what’s happening locally, contact David Stedman at mydogplusme@mac.com. More details on the hearing can be found here: http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aid=107248.54928.119377
Also, MTV has started filming the NO NEW COAL grassroots efforts in Arkansas! http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF00989EC1001700992473/
For additional news information, follow these links:
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/news/?cid=96901
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/08/04/news/080508fzlibmov.txt
Local Food
From Mary and Cliff Beacham of the Local Food Group:
“We’re forming a discussion group to explore food security and sustainable food solutions for the future. We’ll be using the six-week course from Northwest Earth Institute called “Menu for the Future.” Those discussion guides are $20.
Please consider joining us! Email beacham@hendrix.edu. We’ll host a short planning session on Saturday, September 6 at 10 a.m. at our home in Conway for about an hour. If you can’t attend the planning meeting but want to participate in the discussion, please let me know when you reply.
The purpose of the planning meeting will be to establish time and place for the six sessions and to distribute the discussion guides.
We’re looking forward to a great food discussion.”
To learn more about the Earth Institute discussion groups happening across the country, go to http://arkansasearth.org/
From the Conway City Planning Department
“Conway Planning: Balancing our boom in development with sound planning policy to plant the seeds for a sustainable future”
The August 2008 edition of Conway Planning includes: “Walk Score” and how it measures Conway’s neighborhoods, proposed sweeping changes in Conway Planning and Development Code Enforcement, the City of Austin’s creative reuse of its former airport and the 2008 Conway Planning Awards, which will be presented in October. To join the email distribution list for this impressive periodic newsletter, email City Planner Donald Anthony at donald.anthony@cityofconway.org.
Regarding the upcoming Planning Awards, residents are invited to help select this year’s recipients by following this link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/58422/2008-conway-planning-awards. Award recipients will be chosen in four categories: Aesthetics; Contextual Design; Historic Neighborhoods; and Special Contribution. Voting ends on August 31st.
Faulkner County Hazardous Waste Pick-up
The next electronic waste drive for Faulkner County will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Faulkner County Fair Grounds on Robins Street in Conway on the following days:
Businesses: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Residential: Thursday September 11, 2008
This will be a free event to those in Faulkner County, and is sponsored by the Faulkner County Solid Waste District.
For further information on recycling go to www.conwaysanitation.com.
Green For All!
Green For All is a national movement dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. (www.greenforall.org)
Together with other groups such as 1Sky and the We Campaign, they are planning a national day of action for green jobs on September 27, 2008.
From a recent mailing:
“People from every walk of life and every corner of the country will organize events in their communities. You can join them.
We've all seen the baby steps our country is taking, and that's great. But we can take a giant leap forward on September 27.
Help us send the next President and Congress a clear message: America is ready for green jobs now.
JOIN US ON SEP 27: www.greenjobsnow.com”
Are you one to help Green Jobs grow in Faulkner County?
Save the Date! Faulkner County Community Forum!
Tentatively set for October 25th, the Faulkner County Supporters of Sustainable Communities will once again host a county-wide people’s forum. This is a great opportunity for volunteering to be part of a team that helps make this happen. We are recruiting now! Simply reply to this email to learn more and pitch in. Thanks!!
With thanks,
Pamela Mosley,
Coordinating Team Member,
FCSSC
www.fcssc.org
