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Home Resource Center April Newswire |
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Greenbelt Newswire
In this edition Fun for All at Bluegrass Concert Sunny skies and great music marked the fourth annual Bluegrass for the Greenbelt at Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate on June 28. The benefit concert featured some of the best in local bluegrass talent on two stages, and children flocked to the petting zoo and pony rides. For the finale, all the musicians—The Waybacks, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Laurie Lewis and the rest—returned to the stage. They sang our adopted anthem: “Let the Greenbelt Be Unbroken/ Round the bay, round the Bay/ Open spaces, vibrant places/ Greenbelt Alliance leads the way.” See more concert photos on the Greenbelt Alliance website.
Event: Take a Class on Climate Change Looking for climate change solutions? Greenbelt Alliance Policy Director Stephanie Reyes and other speakers are leading weekly classes on “Urbanism: The Convenient Solution to the Problem of Climate Change.” The five-part series is sponsored by The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR), in partnership with Greenbelt Alliance. The program is $100 for all five classes; scholarships are available. The first class is 4 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at SPUR’s Urban Center, 654 Mission Street in San Francisco. Sign up online.
Action Alert: Do Nothing and Help Save Open Space In 2001, voters in eastern Santa Clara County voted to enact a parcel assessment to help preserve natural open spaces. Just last year, however, the California Supreme Court ruled that the will of the majority was not enough and that two-thirds approval was required. Now these property owners are entitled to their money back and the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority has begun mailing refund letters. By simply tossing this letter in the recycling bin, you are helping to protect the oak studded hillsides and sweeping vistas that contribute to the beauty of Silicon Valley. At most, property owners are entitled to $130. If you do nothing and don’t ask for your money back, the authority will have more revenue to purchase and preserve open space. For more information on the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, please visit www.openspaceauthority.org. Questions? Please contact Michele Beasley at (408) 983-0856 or mbeasley@greenbelt.org.
Event: Sign up for Campaign Training July 18 Calling all activists! Join Greenbelt Alliance, the Planning and Conservation League, and the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club for a free half-day training session on July 18. Learn how to develop strategic plans for your grassroots campaigns and how to recruit your neighbors to join your efforts. Then use your new skills in a working session with other activists from your town.
For more information, visit the Sierra Club calendar.
Action Alert: Advocate for Homes in Marin In July, two cities in Marin are seeking community ideas as they plan for where homes and shops should go. In Novato, the city is inviting residents to share their vision of Novato at a July 15 workshop and open house. Participants will have a chance to talk with other residents and business owners about the key issues facing the city today. In San Anselmo, residents are invited to a July 30 community workshop to speak with planning staff and elected officials about the town’s housing plan. Participants will discuss their vision for San Anselmo, look at maps with potential sites for new homes, and work together to determine what kinds of homes to build.
For more information, contact Field Representative Whitney Merchant at (415) 491-4993 or wmerchant@greenbelt.org.
Urban Outing: Tour Lake Merritt August 7 With nearby transit connections and a central location, the neighborhood around the Lake Merritt BART station is ready for new homes, shops, and jobs. The City of Oakland is creating a plan, and Greenbelt Alliance is leading an Urban Outing to help imagine a pedestrian-friendly area with a distinct urban character. Join Greenbelt Alliance, TransForm, and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network as we tour the neighborhood August 7. We’ll discuss how compact homes and good urban design can help make the area more safe, livable, and prosperous.
Please RSVP to Amber Chan at (510) 390-1543 or amber@apen4ej.org.
Event: Making Transit-Oriented Development Work Mark your calendars! Greenbelt Alliance is a co-sponsor of the fourth annual TOD MarketPlace, which connects city planners with developers who can help them realize their vision for vibrant communities near transit. Over the summer, each participating city leads a tour of its Transit-Oriented Development area and presents its plan to a panel of real estate, transportation, and affordable housing specialists. At the September 24 Marketplace, panelists present their findings and recommendations in a dynamic conversation with city staff and the audience. The event concludes with a walking tour of downtown San Jose.
Volunteer of the Month: The Ong Family It’s a family affair for Greenbelt Alliance’s July volunteer of the month. We’re honoring Norman, Eileen, and Gaelyn Ong, who lead birding outings for Greenbelt Alliance. Norman Ong, a financial analyst, and his wife Eileen, an architect, live in San Francisco. Their daughter, Gaelyn, is now a student at UC Santa Cruz and a concert cellist. They’ve been leading bird walks for more than seven years. Now, Gaelyn comes home to help—including on the July 25 outing. The Ongs are knowledgeable birders and patient teachers. Their hikes attract beginners through advanced birdwatchers. Through their programs, the Ongs are able to track changes in bird populations and spotlight the importance of preserving the natural areas Greenbelt Alliance works to protect. Thanks Norman, Eileen, and Gaelyn!
Greenbelt Alliance in the News
Editorial: Smart growth is essential to Marin's future Editorial: Room for Bay Area to grow, smartly Urban Outings: Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate
Sat Jul 11: At Home with John Muir, East Bay
Become a Member or Renew Your Membership Support Greenbelt Alliance's work to protect the Bay Area's open spaces and vibrant places. Join or renew now, or join the Greenbelt Guardian monthly donor club. And don't forget to ask your employer about matching contributions!
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