July 12: JRA's Runoff Rundown and Nader

On Saturday, July 12, 2008, the James River Association (JRA) will host the first annual Runoff Rundown - a one-day event celebrating America’s Founding River. The goal is for teams and individuals to collectively travel the entire 340 miles of the River, from the headwaters at Iron Gate to the mouth at the Chesapeake Bay. Through our combined efforts, participants and supporters will celebrate the heritage of the James River, increase awareness of the JRA, support efforts to improve water quality and use the River for recreational enjoyment. For more information visit the Runoff Rundown’s website -www.runoffrundown.org. The Runoff Rundown regional gathering will be held at the BlackFinn Restaurant in Richmond from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. Parking is available adjacent to the restaurant for $3 an hour, or there is surrounding street parking. The BlackFinn is generously donating appetizers and will offer drink specials.http://www.blackfinnrichmond.com/

Though the Sierra Club has officially endorsed Barrack Obama for President, I do think Ralph Nader deserves to be heard by all Americans. His environmental legacy alone is huge and deserves respect. He’s coming to speak again in Richmond on July 12.

From: John B Wade/wadejb/O/VCU <wadejb@vcu.edu>
Date: July 3, 2008 8:00:44 PM EDT
To: wadejb@vcu.edu
Subject: Ralph Nader in Richmond

RALPH NADER COMES TO RICHMOND!
Presidential Candidate to Discuss Environment, Iraq War

Ralph Nader will be speaking in Richmond at the Virginia Holocaust Museum
on July 12th at 1:00 in the afternoon. The presidential candidate will
discuss health care, the Iraq War, sustainable energy, corporate crime, a
living wage, carbon tax, and nuclear disarmament.

Honored by Time magazine as “One of the 100 Most Influential Americans of
the Twentieth Century,” and recently as “One of the 100 Most Influential
Figures in American History” by The Atlantic, consumer advocate and
presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, has devoted his life to giving
ordinary people the tools they need to defend themselves against corporate
negligence and government indifference. With a tireless, selfless
dedication, he continues to expose and remedy the dangers that threaten a
free and safe society. His goal is to build the foundation of a third
political party and a robust progressive political movement that rally
around issues rather than empty slogans and figureheads.

Everyone should come, and if anyone wants some fliers to hand out, let me
know.

Thanks,

John

Mattaponi update

Tyla Matteson tells it like it is:

It is appropriate that money lenders take a close look at the likelihood of the proposed King William Reservoir ever being built. This huge drinking water reservoir will destroy over 400 acres of valuable wetlands, harm the recovery of the American shad fishery, and harm the livelihood and heritage of the Native Americans living on the Mattaponi River. With proper protection of the existing watersheds, with water conservation practices not even begun, and with other alternatives, this unneeded project can and should halt.

Comments to Chesterfield County

the chesterfield county address for the plan access:http://www.chesterfield.gov/CommunityDevelopment/Planning/ProposedCompPlanAmend.asp

Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors

P.O. Box 40

Chesterfield, VA 23832-0040

County Administrator

James J. L. Stegmaier

E-Mail: galushaj@chesterfield.gov

Bermuda District

Dorothy Jaeckle

E-Mail: jaeckled@chesterfield.gov

Dale District

James M. “Jim” Holland

E-Mail: hollandj@chesterfield.gov

Clover Hill District

Arthur S. (Art) Warren

E-Mail: warrena@chesterfield.gov

Matoaca District

Marleen K. Durfee

E-:Mail: durfeem@chesterfield.gov

Midlothian District

Daniel A. Gecker

E-mail: geckerd@chesterfield.gov

Dear Sir:

The Falls of the James Group Sierra Club is in support of “Passage Now” for the Upper Swift Creek Plan and recommends no delay or deferral in proposed amendments. Ordinance passage in July should be in accordance with the changes.

Goal 2: We are in support of a growth deferral plan recommended in the BOS Amendment to slow outbound growth. The growth deferral area is currently unsupported by adequate public facilities. Extension in the deferral area could cause harm through extended emergency access times. We do support the Level of Service caveat amendment to encourage development of approved area retail and service uses.

Goal 4: We are in support of changing the current plan and ordinance to protect forested vistas adjacent to but outside the ultimate rights of way of area roads by 200 feet. We do not support the Powhite Extension at this time. Impacts to the environment will be severe.

Goal 6: The FOJG has long been in support of funded statewide and for Chesterfield a countywide purchase of development rights program and support this change to the plan. We encourage it’s passage in this plan with extension to wider countywide plan as appropriate.

Goal 7: We are in support of the goal for orderly development patterns and are in support of a growth management boundary as indicated in goal 2.

Goal 9: FOJ is strongly in favor of integrated affordable housing which can be accomplished within a desirable zoning buildout. This is currently the successful practice in New Kent County zoning.

Water Quality Alternatives: Regarding the existing zoning ordinance for post-development phosphorus, we are in support of 0.16 which may either be shown in the current plan or in the ordinance up for change in July. The last available County WASP data for 02-06 reflects impaired streams around the reservoir, and the latest DEQ report reflects increase in severe impairment in the Richmond watershed, including Chesterfield. We must do better through buffer protection of our streams and containment of runoff of our road pollutants and yards.

Diana Parker, Member, Executive Committee June 25, 2008

Falls of the James Group Sierra Club

Calling Captain Planet

CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION 
Deadline:  June 30, 2007
For More Information Visit: http://captainplanetfdn.org/default.aspx?pid=3&tab=apply   

The Captain Planet Foundation will fund as many projects as its annual resources allow. Please read the following guidelines thoroughly if you would like to seek funding from us. In order to maximize the impact of Foundation funds, the Board of Trustees limits their grant awards to those applications which comply with the following guidelines.

Criteria: All applicant organizations or sponsoring agencies must be exempt from federal taxation under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501, in order to be eligible for funding 
Proposal Requirements:
• Promote understanding of environmental issues
• Focus on hands-on involvement
• Involve children and young adults 6-18 (elementary through high school)
• Promote interaction and cooperation within the group
• Help young people develop planning and problem solving skills
• Include adult supervision
• Commit to follow-up communication with the Foundation (specific requirements are explained once the grant has been awarded)
Generally, the range of grants awarded by the Foundation is $250 - $2,500*.

Another Green Monday with Back Porch

You are cordially invited to join us for conversations on the Back Porch, Monday evenings at GlobeHopper coffee house.   GlobeHopper, located at 2100 E Main Street, is home to a weekly forum of open issue-based community discussions.  Back Porch moderates multi-media discussions based on social topics of social-interest.  Gathering begins at 6:30pm, multi-media discussion begins promptly at 7:00pm.  

Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock, famous for his documentary Super Size Me, has launched a new television series called 30 Days which explores the various life-changing experiences that are possible in a 30-day period.   From working in a coal mine to eating only fast food, Spurlock takes us to the extremes of life in America, investigating some of the most pressing issues within our modern society.  This week we will be watching one of Spurlock’s episodes, “Off the Grid” detailing the story of two highly consumptive Americans from New Jersey who uproot themselves and move to an ‘eco village’ where they must live 100% off the grid.   

Following the screening we will explore some of the issues associated with our modern world, specifically focusing on the issues affecting and influencing the American way of life and consumptive lifestyles.

For more information and a monthly schedule, visit www.globehoppercoffee.com or www.backporchenergy.org.

Thanks and hope to see you there!!

-The Back Porch Crew 

Rainbarrels + Stormwater Utility = Green Jobs for Youths

Everyone’s doing rainbarrel workshops, from SCFOJ (this past April) to Tricycle Gardens to Ellwood Thompsons. As much as I do like DIY culture, the fact is many people want the convenience of buying a pre-made rainbarrel for their house or apartment building. A local demand is building. People are asking me, where can I buy a rainbarrel locally?

The City is still mulling over the stormwater utility. One issue is that the Commonwealth does not allow municipalities to directly rebate individual residential property owners for taking steps to ameliorate stormwater runoff. That’s not to say that municipalities can’t encourage property owners to take steps like say, subsidized rainbarrels.

Goldman and other mayoral candidates are calling for job creation. Richmond youth are looking for opportunities.

Local nonprofits are looking to expand their programs and go green. 

What will it take for Richmond government/nonprofits to create a small youth program devoted to residential rainbarrel manufacture and/or retail?

Go ahead and bring art into it if you want.

Other cities are figuring this out, including ones in Virginia.