January 05, 2009
Tulsa Community Gardens Proposed
The City of Tulsa Community Garden Committee invites you to a public meeting…
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 6:00 pm
Tulsa Garden Center, Ballroom
2435 S. Peoria Ave.
…to introduce and discuss a proposal to amend the City of Tulsa Zoning Code to incorporate ‘Community Garden’ as a classified use to be permitted by right in all zoning districts.
For more information please contact:
Duane Cuthbertson, INCOG
579.9437
dcuthbertson@incog.org
** This meeting is not sponsored by the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission or the City of Tulsa City Council . The City of Tulsa Community Garden Committee is wholly responsible for the organization and notification of this meeting.
**The City of Tulsa is not actively pursuing the establishment of municipally managed/owned Community Gardens . The proposed language would enable citizens to establish individually sponsored Community Gardens .
Posted by Brookside at 10:16 PM
"Greening your Special Event in Tulsa" Workshop
Special events are fun for attendees, but for event organizers they can be a challenge to organize. This is especially true now that attendees and participants increasingly demand that their events be "green!"
When you attend "Greening your Special Event in Tulsa", you will learn how to meet the challenge of planning for and hosting an event in Tulsa that protects and preserves our natural resources. This is a workshop you do not want to miss!
Issues addressed:
Preventing and reducing waste
Recycling and managing waste
Food service and lodging
Educating participants and exhibitors
Buying environmentally aware products
Conserving energy and reducing traffic
(public transportation)
Registration is only $25, including lunch.
Who should attend: Hosts, venue operators and planners interested in making their events "green."
When: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: City Hall at One Technology Center. 175 East Second Street, 10-South Conference Room
Sponsored by:
- Mayor's Green Team
- Tulsa Master Recyclers Association
To register, mail your contact information with your check made out to "Tulsa Master Recyclers Association" to:
Tulsa Master Recyclers Association
1232 South Columbia Place
Tulsa, OK 74104
Slots are limited so please register by January 28!
For more information, contact Laureen Gibson Gilroy at 918-596-2859 or
LGilroy@cityoftulsa.org
Posted by Brookside at 09:39 PM
December 31, 2008
Get Off the Couch on January 2, 2009!
Start the new year fit and healthy! Join Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor for
FitFest, a citywide health and wellness event featuring games, prizes,
and fun for all ages! Together, lets get on the path of health and
fitness and help Tulsa achieve its goal of walking, running, biking, and
swimming one million miles!
WHAT: FitFest, Tulsa Million Miles Event
WHERE: Hicks Recreation Center, 3443 S. Mingo Rd.
WHEN: Friday, January 2, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tulsa Million Miles Sign-Up
- Create a FREE account on the Tulsa Million Miles Web site
(www.tulsamillionmiles.com) to log your miles each time you exercise and
help Tulsa achieve its goal of one million miles
- Receive a FREE pedometer and additional giveaways.
Health and Wellness Exhibit
- Information on exciting Tulsa Parks programs for families, kids and
seniors
- Access to resources offered by Mayors Fitness Challenge partners -
from fitness centers to community organizations.
9 a.m.
News Conference
- Mayor Taylor will explain how Tulsa Million Miles works to reverse
Tulsa's health rankings.
9:30 a.m.
Recumbent Bike Race
- See if you can go the distance and become a Fitfest champion!
10 a.m.
Volleyball Tournament
- Opening Match: City of Tulsa All Stars Team vs. Media team
- Junior Volleyball Tournament
11 a.m.
Ping Pong Matches
- Just come on over and participate!
Dont Miss:
Healthy Snacks and Drinks
Fantastic Prizes and Great Giveaways
*Note: Tulsa Million Miles is a health and wellness initiative launched
by Mayor Kathy Taylor with a goal of walking, running, swimming and
biking one million miles - together, as a city. The initiative is
powered through www.tulsamillionmiles.com , an interactive, customizable
Web tool which allows anyone to create a free account and log exercise
miles, monitor weight, form fitness groups, and access a wealth of
health and wellness resources in the Tulsa community.
Posted by Brookside at 01:16 PM
Christmas Tree Disposal
The Tulsa Park & Recreation Department discontinued its annual Twelfth Night burning of the greens because of fire danger and pollution concerns.
Tulsa residents may dispose of cut Christmas trees with their regular trash pickup at the curb. If a tree is large, it should be cut into 4-foot-by-2-foot bundles weighing up to 50 pounds. Of course, your tree winds up in a landfill, so try the next option, if able.
Another (and better) Christmas tree disposal option is to bring it to the City's greenwaste/wood-chip site at 1040 E. 56th St. North, where it may be ground into mulch. Those who bring a tree should provide proof of Tulsa residency: either a driver's license or utility bill with a Tulsa address. The greenwaste/wood-chip site is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and anyone including nonresidents may take a load of wood chips from the site.
A cut Christmas tree also provides fish habitat in a pond or lake.
Contact: Lara Christiansen
Phone Number: 596-7804
Posted by Brookside at 12:53 PM
December 19, 2008
Are you considering a remodel project next year?
Check out the ReStore Store operated by Tulsa Habitat for Humanity. It is located at 1234 S. Norwood (west of Sheridan on 13th)
You can find and reuse building supplies and also donate your unwanted or excess materials.
Help yourself while helping others and our planet!
Visit the ReStore: 9-6 pm, Tues-Fri
8-5pm, Saturday
Posted by Brookside at 03:39 PM
December 17, 2008
Tulsa Million Miles FitFest
WHAT: Tulsa Million Miles FitFest
WHEN: Friday, January 2, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WHERE: Hicks Recreation Center, 3443 S. Mingo Rd.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
9:30 a.m. - Tulsa Million Miles Sign-up. Every guest can:
o Create a FREE account on the Tulsa Million Miles Web site (www.tulsamillionmiles.com) and start logging miles towards Tulsa’s common city goal of one million miles.
Receive a FREE pedometer and other fun giveaways
9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Health and Wellness Resources Exhibit:
o Information about exciting Tulsa Parks programs for the whole family
o Resources offered by Mayor’s Fitness Challenge partners, ranging from health clubs to non-profit organizations
9:30 – 10 a.m. - Recumbent Bike Race
10 a.m. – News Conference to explain how Tulsa Million Miles works to reverse Tulsa’s health rankings.
10:30 a.m. - Volleyball Tournament:
o Opening Game: Featuring the City of Tulsa’s “All Stars” team and refereed by Mayor Kathy Taylor
o Junior volleyball tournament
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Ping Pong Matches.
Together, let’s show we are serious about reversing our city’s alarming health statistics and help Tulsa make a healthy 2009 resolution – and keep it!
*Note: Tulsa Million Miles is a health and wellness initiative launched by Mayor Kathy Taylor with a goal of walking, running, swimming and biking one million miles – together, as a city. The initiative is powered through www.tulsamillionmiles.com, an interactive, customizable Web tool which allows anyone to create a free account and log exercise miles, monitor weight, form fitness groups, and access a wealth of health and wellness resources in the Tulsa community.
Posted by Brookside at 04:11 PM
December 16, 2008
Thanks for Hazardous Recycling!
Many thanks to all of you who came to the annual Fall Household Pollutant Collection November 8 & 9 this year.
There were 2,400 cars in 10 hours of operation!
We collected:
1,055 lbs of mercury
4,050 non-latex paint cans
410 lbs of medication
4,865 aerosol cans
1,791 gallons of flammables
Plus, thousands of other materials equaling almost 80,000 lbs. or 40 tons.
Remember, save all your hazardous materials for our next collection in the Spring!
Posted by Brookside at 11:10 AM
December 15, 2008
Project ReDirectory ends December 22!
Don't forget to recycle your old phone books in "Project Redirectory."
Each ton of recycled phone books saves 17 trees and frees three cubic yards of landfill space.
Phone books will be collected in bins placed at MET sites.
Deadline is Monday, December 22!
Posted by Brookside at 08:42 PM
December 11, 2008
Green Tips to save Trees!
Be A Woodwise Consumer
This fall and all year long, be a “woodwise” consumer. There are several ways you can reduce your use of paper, and thus reduce the number of trees cut down each year to provide it. Remember, trees pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and put oxygen back in! Our forests, particularly the rain forests of Central and South America, are crucial to life on Planet Earth.
Here are several key ways to Save trees:
Buy recycled paper. When you shop for paper products such as greeting cards, computer paper, or sticky notes, make sure you buy tree-free or 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification when you or your contractors buy lumber. The FSC certifies that lumber bearing its symbol originated in a responsibly managed forest.
Check whether the magazines you read are printed on recycled paper. If not, contact the publisher and tell them you’d like them to switch to post-consumer recycled paper.
Read magazines online or share a subscription with a friend. You’ll save money as well as paper.
Remove yourself from junk mail lists, cancel unnecessary catalogs, and ask businesses and other organizations not to share your name.
Save paper in your financial transactions. Utilize direct deposit, automatic bill paying, online banking, and online portfolio management to save paper in your financial transactions.
Carry cloth bags with you to the store to avoid wasting paper (or plastic).
Reuse old envelopes by placing new labels over old addresses.
Set your computer printer to print on both sides of the page.
(This week’s tip is taken from the Coop America green pages.)
Posted by Brookside at 08:28 PM
December 01, 2008
Next Step for PlaniTulsa-Join In!
PlaniTulsa North Tulsa Workshop planning session
When: Tuesday, December 9, 6-9 pm
Where: Booker T WAshington HS, 1514 E. Zion
Registration: 5:30 pm
PlaniTulsa East Tulsa Workshop planning session
When: Tuesday, December 9, 6-9 pm
Where: East Central HS, 12150 E. 11th St.
Registration: 5:30 pm
All interested Tulsans are invited to participate!
More information: http://planitulsa.org/node/87
Posted by Brookside at 08:32 AM
November 30, 2008
Compact Flourescent Light Savings
CFL's use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
CFL's save the average consumer $30 worth of energy over the bulb's life.
CFL's last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
The use of CFL's reduce power demand, which helps reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
CFL's do contain small amounts of mercury which we do not want in our environment.
If your CFL breaks, simply open a window or door and leave the room for 15 minutes. After returning, scoop up the fragments using stiff paper or cardboard. Use duct tape to pick up the remaining pieces and powder. Wipe the surface with a damp disposable rag and place all items in a sealed jar or bag.
In Brookside, Best Hardware will recycle your CFL light bulbs at no charge. You can also store it until the next Fairgrounds Pollutant Collection Event next spring.
Posted by Brookside at 05:22 PM
November 27, 2008
Green Facts: Did You Know?
It takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture a year's supply of bottled water. That is enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars!
Recycled paper saves 60 percent of the energy needed to make paper!
In a landfill, plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade!
From the Fall 2008 MET Newsletter
Posted by Brookside at 12:29 PM
November 25, 2008
Upcoming Opportunities
Dear PLANiTULSA supporter,
Here's a brief update from the PLANiTULSA team to let you know about exciting upcoming opportunities for continued participation.
First, thank you to everyone who participated in the citywide workshops. Over 1,200 Tulsans attended and we had to schedule an additional workshop to accommodate our community's incredible demand!
Overwhelming interest is a wonderful problem to have!
Next up: North Tulsa and East Tulsa will host small area workshops on December 9. These workshops will give you a chance to zoom into a smaller focus area and make detailed recommendations for desired land
use, transportation, urban design, and development opportunities.
Whether you live in these areas or simply have a strong interest in seeing them grow, we hope you will join us! Additional information and registration for these workshops is available on the PLANiTULSA website.
We also will conduct additional small area workshops around Tulsa - and we're asking for your help to nominate these study areas. Planning areas should be between 20 and 200 acres in size and should be illustrative of local planning issues that may be typical in other parts of the city.
The nomination form is short and available online at
http://www.planitulsa.org/nominate. The deadline for nominations is December 4th, so, please do not wait to apply.
Thanks again for your participation and interest. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming PLANiTULSA events!
Best wishes,
The PLANiTULSA Team
Posted by Brookside at 09:46 PM
November 20, 2008
PlaniTulsa Deadline December 4th!
PlaniTulsa will conduct additional small area planning workshops around Tulsa - and we're asking for your help to nominate these study areas.
Planning areas should be between 20 and 200 acres in size and should be illustrative of local planning issues that may be typical in other parts of the city.
The nomination form is short and available online at http://www.planitulsa.org/nominate. The deadline for nominations is December 4th, so, please do not wait to apply
Posted by Brookside at 10:06 PM
November 18, 2008
AEP Rate Hike Comments NOW!
AEP is requesting another rate hike.
If you are not pleased with the way they provide their services, now is the time to make your voice heard.
Go to the following web site to leave your comments with the Corporation Commission. http://www.occ.state.ok.us/
Time is of the essence, sooner rather than later.
Posted by Brookside at 11:48 AM
November 08, 2008
Efficient Appliances Save Energy and Money!
Consumers get lower utility bills, and we all get a cleaner environment.
The major appliances in your home -- refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers -- account for a big chunk of your monthly utility bill. And if your refrigerator or washing machine is more than a decade old, you're spending a lot more on energy than you need to.
Today's major appliances don't hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you're replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today's most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that's 12 years old or older.
Of course, efficient appliances don't just save you money; they're good for the environment. The less energy we all use, the lower our demand on power plants, which means less pollution. The trick is to figure out which models use the least energy. Here are some guidelines.
Look for the Energy Star® label. Energy Star models are the most energy efficient in any product category, exceeding the energy efficiency minimums set by the federal government. If you remember only one rule when you shop, remember to look for the Energy Star label. In some parts of the country, utilities and state governments even sweeten the deal by offering rebates on Energy Star-rated models. Check http://www.energystar.gov for details.
Use the EnergyGuide label. Some uninformed salespeople might tell you that a model you're looking at is the most efficient because it has an EnergyGuide label. Not exactly. All new appliances must carry the EnergyGuide label, either on the appliance itself or on the packaging. The label allows you to compare the typical annual energy consumption and operating cost of different models of any type of appliance you're thinking of buying.
Get the right size. Make sure the product you're buying suits your needs. Oversized air conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators waste energy and money; in many cases they also don't perform as well.
This may be a good time to make a money and energy saving investment in your home!
Posted by Brookside at 11:17 AM