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| Sustainable Santa Monica Newsletter | February 2012 |
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| Greetings! | Thank you for receiving this Newsletter-- Keeping you informed of everything Sustainable in Santa Monica, from community events, news, and resources, to business and educational opportunities!
The purpose of this Newsletter is to provide Santa Monica residents, businesses and organizations with the information and resources needed to help meet the goals of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan in eight target areas: Resource Conservation, Environmental and Public Health, Transportation, Economic Development, Open Space & Land Use, Housing, Community Education & Civic Participation, and Human Dignity.
We guarantee that if you continue scrolling the entire length of this newsletter, you are sure to find plenty of inspirational opportunities to get educated and active in our sustainable community!!
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Bergamot Area Plan Workshop
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Call for Entries -- Sixth Annual Green Prize for Sustainable Literature
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The Santa Monica Public Library announces a call for entries for the sixth annual Green Prize for Sustainable Literature. The Green Prize is sponsored by the Santa Monica Public Library and the City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment. It was created to encourage and commend authors, illustrators, and publishers who produce quality books that make significant contributions to, and broaden public awareness of, sustainability. The City of Santa Monica's Sustainable City Plan defines sustainability as "meeting current needs - environmental, economic and social - without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same."
Books published in the United States in 2011 are eligible for the Prize. Authors, illustrators and publishers are encouraged to submit titles for consideration. Additionally, the public is encouraged to suggest titles for the Green Prize. Criteria include effective presentation of material, distinctive literary quality, and originality of scholarship. Youth titles to be considered should have potential for classroom use and be appropriate for students in grades K-12. Books may be submitted by following the guidelines on the Santa Monica Public Library website.
The submission deadline is April 30, 2012. A selection committee consisting of librarians and local authorities on sustainable issues will choose the winning titles that demonstrate outstanding achievement in their respective categories. The winners will be announced later this year, preceding an awards program in September.
For more information about the Santa Monica Public Library's Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, visit smpl.org/Green_Prize.aspx, or call the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600.
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Valentine's Day Green DIY Workshop
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Green Living Workshops
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Sign up for a Green Living Workshop to learn about environmental problems and sustainable solutions which can have a positive impact on your life and the health of the planet!
What You'll Learn
The Green Living Workshop covers the following topics, one per week:
Water | Energy | Waste | Chemicals | Transportation | Shopping & Food
Workshop meets for six sessions at the same location and time.
Learn about the problems related to each of the above topics on a global, national and local scale, then with the help of the WorksBook take action on ten related solutions.
LA Workshops
Starts Monday, February 6, 2012 7-8:30pm Temple Isaiah, 10345 West Pico Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90064 Map. 6 Monday Meetings Starting February 6, 2012: 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19 No Mtg. 2/20 |
Starts Thursday, February 16, 2012 7-8:30pm LMU, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045 Map. 6 Thursday Meetings Starting February 16, 2012: 2/16, 2/23, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22 |
Santa Monica Green Living Energy Workshop and Demo- One Off
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7pm-8:30pm Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 MapGLW 101- A Condensed Version of the 6 week workshop! Saturday, February 4, 2012 10am- 1pm Sustainable Works, 1744 Pearl Street, Santa Monica, 90405 MAP |
Click here to reserve your spot in a Green Living Workshop today!
Contact Gina Garcia with any questions
Sustainable Works supports the City of Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
Sustainable Works is a project of Community Partners
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Free Paper Shredding and Electronics Recycling
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Electric Vehicles Workshop
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Green Parent Night
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WHAT: Please join Heal the Bay at a networking, discussion and SMMUSD sustainability update.
So much work has been done by active parents to improve the health and sustainability of SMMUSD schools and our community. Our collective hope is that these improvements themselves are sustainable. There are lessons to learn from one another and more work needs to be done to institutionalize sustainability in our local schools. It can't come from one school. Together we make a difference.
WHEN: Monday, February 13, 2012 7pm-9pm WHERE: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica, CA, Map
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Gardening On the Farm and In the City
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Green Garden Academy 2012
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 February's Class: Lawn Be Gone Part 1
WHAT: Learn about the City of Santa Monica's sustainable landscape design program, Green Garden Academy. The class covers the basic principles of sustainable landscaping, local landscape and irrigation requirements, rebates, and grant programs. Green Garden Academy meets monthly with different topics.
WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 2011, 10:30am-1:30pm
WHERE: Multipurpose Room at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Map
WHAT ELSE: For more information and 2012's monthly class schedule, visit www.sustainablesm.org/landscape or call 310-458-8972
Green Garden Honor Academy
WHAT: This class is for graduates of the year-long Green Garden Academy course, and/or advanced-level gardeners/landscapers with a focus on sustainability. There will be four classes held this year (remaining class dates are to be determined). In this session, discuss upcoming Citywide projects for designing, installing and maintaining sustainable landscapes in our own community. Set up a schedule of events and begin coordinating 'Green Garden' activities.
WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 2-3 p.m.
WHERE: Santa Monica Public Library, Multipurpose Room 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Map
WHAT ELSE: Registration is NOT required. For more information, visit
www.sustainablesm.org/landscape or call 310-458-8972
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Spring 2012 SMC Environmental and Urban Issues Lecture Series
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 Here is the spring schedule as we continue our tradition in the 10th year of our Environmental and Urban Issues Speakers Series at Santa Monica College. All presentations will be in HSS 263 on the Main Campus (Map) on Tuesday nights and will start at 6:30. February 28: Sustainable Works Grows for You
Professionals from Sustainable Works continue to change our lives and our communities as they grow, showing a greater population in our region how to become more efficient and sustainable. March 13: Santa Monica College on the Road to Sustainability Join Genevieve Bertone and other faculty, staff, and students to learn how we are working on transportation, energy, food and other projects that make SMC more efficient and a better neighbor. April 17: Perspectives on Environmental Psychology Join psychologist Alex Schwartz, PhD, to learn about psychological perspectives on our persistent environmental problems as we explore some paths to progress. May 15: Global Activism: One Woman's Story Fighting Big Oil in Italy Meet Maria Rita D'Orsogna (physicist and math professor), who has been using social networks to educate about the consequences of oil drilling in the Italian countryside. May 22: How to Energy Upgrade Your Home Joy Cernac and other experts from Energy Upgrade California teach you how to improve your home, help the environment, and save money by choosing energy upgrades that work best for you. |
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Green Rebates
|  Sustainable Landscape Grant - up to $5,000 - currently accepting applications for 50 more projects.
Rain Harvest Rebate - up to $2,000 - currently accepting applications for downspout redirects, rain barrels, and cisterns.
Parkway Cash for Grass Rebate - up to $2,000 per parkway
Front Yard Cash for Grass Rebate - up to $2,000
Greywater Rebate - up to $250 for qualified parts
Drip Irrigation Rebate - up to $1,000 for qualified parts |
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LA County Master Food Preserver Program
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WHAT: The University of California Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce the spring 2012 class of the LA County Master Food Preserver program. This program is ideal for individuals who have a strong interest in becoming trained in home food preservation (such as canning, pressure canning, freezing, drying, pickling and fermenting) and who would like to pass this knowledge onto the public. The classes will be taught by trained LA County Master Food Preservers. LA County residents who would like to become UC Master Food Preservers must attend 12 weeks of classes, which will convene once a week. The dates and times of the classes are indicated below. Once trained, Master Food Preservers are required to complete 30 hours of volunteer work and 15 hours of continuing education each year. UC Cooperative Extension and the Master Food Preserver program have a strong commitment to reach limited-resource audiences. Therefore, volunteer activities should focus on low-income communities. Examples of volunteer activities include farmers market and community garden demonstrations, basic food preservation classes for the public, participating in the LA County Fair, answering email inquiries, etc. The fee is $120 per person (partial scholarships are available in event of hardship) and includes text books.
WHEN: Tuesday nights from 5:30 to 9:30 pm from March 20, 2012 through June 5, 2012. The deadline to apply is 5:00pm on February 10, 2012.
WHERE: 4800 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90022, Map (some classes may be held at an off-site location)
WHAT ELSE: Apply online here. Questions should be directed to Brenda Roche, UCCE Nutrition Family & Consumer Sciences Advisor: (323) 260-3299 or bkroche@ucdavis.edu |
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Los Angeles Bioneers
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WHAT: Please join Barbara Bosson, Anneke Campbell and Sara Nichols for the February gathering of Los Angeles Bioneers, people dedicated to re-imagining the future of our planet. Bioneers are biological pioneers who are working with nature to heal nature and ourselves. Our guest speakers this month will be members of Mar Vista, Venice, Culver City, Westchester and other Transition Movement groups in the Los Angeles area. By becoming more resource aware and locally self-sufficient, we can design our way to a more healthful and resilient future. Transition groups increase local resilience through physical projects such as replacing lawns with edible gardens, produce exchanges, teaching rain-water harvesting techniques, seed swaps, gift circles and repurposing old clothes. Our presentation will include videos and stories that will put the joy back into sustainability. For more information go to www.TransitionLA.org WHEN: Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 7pm
WHERE: G2 Gallery at 1503 Abbot Kinney Bl. in Venice, Map
WHAT ELSE: There is both street parking and parking behind the building. Please enter on the Milwood Ave. side of the gallery, next to the garage. Carpool if you can! Or ride a bike! Please try to arrive as close to 7 as possible so we can meet and mingle then get the program underway by 7:30.
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Green Business Networking
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WHAT: On the second Tuesday of every month, you're invited to the only pure networking event for owners and decision-makers of LA's green businesses. Delicious organic snacks, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 6pm-9pm
WHERE: DIRTT (Doing It Right This Time) 9014 Lindblade St. Culver City, CA 90232, Map
COST: Space permitting, the door charge on the day of the GBN is $15. You may secure your spots at a discounted contribution of $10 when you pre-pay online no later than December, 10th
WHAT ELSE: For further event information, please contacts us at greenbusinessnetworking@gmail.com.
AND: Did you know GBN events are also recycling collection points? Bring your old batteries, cell phones, clean, dry and empty plastic shopping bags, dry cleaning bags and newspaper wrappers, and we will properly dispose of them for you!
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SLOLA
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WHAT: Best Practices Co-Chair Albert Chang reports on the 6th Annual Organic Seed Growers Conference, where farmers, seed production and distribution companies, plant breeders and others share their latest news and findings. Free seed distribution to members follows the meeting.
WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 2:30pm-4pm
WHERE: The Learning Garden, on Walgrove, just south of Venice Blvd, on the grounds of Venice High School, Map. Park outside, enter the first gate immediately SOUTH of Venice on Walgrove.
WHAT ELSE: A $10 lifetime membership lets you borrow seeds FREE, grow them out, enjoy the bounty, then return a like quantity of seeds at season's end. Join here and email us with any questions.
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Bike Center Santa Monica
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Bike and Park's mission is to inspire people to ride bicycles for the benefit of one's health, spirit, and planet. We realize this by partnering with progressive communities to create spaces and programs that encourage people to ride.
Come and visit us at our main location on 2nd street and Colorado Map, where the following services are available:
Or visit us at our satellite location on 4th street and Broadway Map, where following services are available:
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Business @ Sunset Mixer
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WHAT: Want to start off the year keeping those new year's resolutions? Come join us for a health and fitness themed night of food, drinks, and networking at 220 Fitness! With over 100 members at each event, it is a perfect way to network and make important business contacts.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 5:30pm-7:30pm
WHERE: TBD
WHAT ELSE: To purchase tickets, click here. If you are NOT a member of the Chamber, you will need to create a login/password. If you ARE a member of the Chamber, and do not remember your username/password, email membership@smchamber.com.
COST: $15 members in advance, $20 members at the door, $25 prospective members (prospective members may attend 2 paid events before joining the Chamber)
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Energy Upgrade California
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Solar Santa Monica
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Solar Santa Monica is now an information hub for the Energy Upgrade California program. EUC is offering up to $8,000 for Santa Monica homeowners who make qualified energy efficiency upgrades through a Participating Contractor.
Want to know what a typical experience through the EUC program is like? Watch testimonial videos and read through example home assessments at our website!
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Santa Monica Green Business Certification Program
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The Green Business Certification Program is a voluntary program that encourages businesses to implement proactive actions that are good for their bottom line and the environment. The Santa Monica Green Business Certification Program is a collaboration between the City of Santa Monica, Sustainable Works, the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Santa Monica College Small Business Development Center, to recognize businesses that meet the City of the Santa Monica's resource efficiency standards in the areas of Waste Reduction, Energy and Water Efficiency, Pollution Prevention, Sustainable Procurement, and Transportation Management. For details of the required and optional measures businesses must achieve, visit www.smgbc.org.
Featured Green Business:
Bru 's Wiffle (A Waffle Joint)
2408 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.453.2787
Contact: bruswiffle@gmail.com
Bru's Wiffle is a cozy, bright yellow Waffle Joint where everything (including the waffles!) is made from scratch, using only the freshest and finest ingredients. Also featuring, gluten-free waffles, this family-friendly establishment makes kid-sized waffles at kid-sized prices. Owner, Ebru Fidan, successfully practices zero waste measures at her restaurant. Before implementing Food Waste composting, she was recycling 40% of waste stream (cans, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard). With the addition of composting via Santa Monica's Food Waste Composting program , the waffle joint is now recycling 85-90% of their waste stream. They barely uses the trash bin! Bru's Wiffle also excels in reduce and reusing practices and greening her supplier chain. Instead of recycling empty jugs of dishwashing sanitizer, rinse and detergent cleaners, she goes above and beyond by arranging with her chemical supplier, Auto-Chlor, to take back the containers for refilling! Her bread delivery company also agrees to reuse the paper bags her baked goods are delivered in for her orders. By installing 0.5 gallon per minute aerators and an ultra-efficient pre-rinse spray nozzle by Fisher, Bru's Wiffle also excels in water efficiency. In line with their Zero Waste efforts and in preparation for Santa Monica's upcoming plastic bag ban on September 1st 2011, you can soon find Bru's Wiffle reusable canvas bags up for grabs too. For a small waffle joint, Bru's Wiffle makes a big difference in terms of reducing their ecological footprint!
Gorman and Miller
201 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA
310.394.4747
www.gormanmiller.com
Gorman & Miller is a sophisticated, Santa Monica-based law firm, with an emphasis on commercial real estate transactions, business and real estate litigation, venture capital transactions, and probate and estate planning. They integrate Environmental policies into employee manuals, making sure each employee is knowledgeable about the maintenance of an environmentally-friendly space. Their Santa Monica office was recently retrofitted with LED lights; and all cleaning chemicals procured in-house are non-toxic. Additionally, the printing paper stocked at Gorman & Miller is sustainably sourced - Forest Stewardship Council certified and contains minimum 30% post-consumer content. Other supplies such as notepads and paper towels also contain 30-60% post-consumer content. To further reduce their ecological footprint, they eliminate individual bottles of water by refilling glassware and stock reusable mugs.Gorman & Miller excels at using modern technology to reduce the extensive use of paper in both transactional and litigated matters. They use a paperless online document management system called the Closing Table® (www.iclosings.com) which enables clients and their counterparties to securely access, approve and digitally sign documents via any Internet connected device.
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New Program at Santa Monica College-- Recycling & Resource Management | 
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Save the Date - Greywater Workshop
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Save the Date - Sustainable Quality Awards 2012
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The 2012 Sustainable Quality Awards will be held on May 2nd.
The Sustainable Quality Awards (SQA) are a successful collaboration between the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Works and the City of Santa Monica.
Celebrating its 17th year, the SQA honors organizations and businesses, large and small, private and nonprofit, located in Santa Monica or belonging to the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
The growing group of Sustainable Quality Award winners demonstrates significant achievements in the areas of economic development, social responsibility, and stewardship of the natural environment above and beyond their primary mission. Click HEREfor more info! |
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Save the Date - 9th Annual 2012 AltBuild Expo
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Save the Date - Santa Monica Festival 2012
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Don't miss the 21st annual Santa Monica Festival
on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm at Clover Park.
Experience an eclectic mix of live music and dance, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth-friendly artistic wares and local services offered by a variety of City, environmental and local non-profit organizations. The Festival is a celebration with a purpose, highlighting the dynamic connection between the City's communities, businesses, art, culture and the environment while offering ideas and options for a greener, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
Mark your calendar and see you at the Festival!
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Thank you for your commitment to a Sustainable Santa Monica!
Sincerely,
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Samantha Sommer
Sustainable Santa Monica
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