Agree or Disagree: The Stimulus Package is Good for the GREEN ECO Mission

The newest EcoBroker newsletter highlights some of the "Green" items on the stimulus package:

• $6.3 billion for energy efficiency in multifamily housing getting federal assistance, such as HUD-sponsored low-income housing
• $5 billion to weatherize more than 1 million homes owned by "modest-income" families.
• $4.5 billion to increase the energy efficiency of federal buildings
• $4 billion to repair and modernize public housing units
• $2 billion to increase the tax credit for hybrid cars to $7,500
• $1.4 billion for bonds to carry out state and local renewable energy and conservation projects
• $510 million to repair and modernize more than 4,000 Native American housing units
• $500 million to train workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy
• $300 million for consumer rebates for energy-efficient appliances
• $268 million to remove caps on a 30 percent residential credit for solar, wind, and geothermal
• $250 million to HUD to improve the efficiency of government-subsidized apartments

New York Times Breakdown:
http://projects.nytimes.com/44th_president/stimulus/energy

San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/12/MN4I15T240.DTL

For green ecorealestate in Northern Ohio call: 440-315-6000

Green Energy Ohio: Solar Event February 26th

Living with Solar: A Homeowner's Perspective
Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 6:15 - 7:30PM
Fairlawn-Bath Library3101 Smith Road, Fairlawn 44333

Join Green Energy Ohio at this month's Clean Energy Network Meeting as local homeowners share their experience with solar. Learn about the planning process, installation experience, cost and bottom line savings on electric bills. Wondering how you can afford a solar system in 2009? Hear about the new residential solar electric grants launched in January through the Ohio Department of Development's Advanced Energy Program. Then get a sneak peak into details of the new residential solar thermal rebate program Green Energy Ohio will be launching in March 2009.

The event is Free & Open to the public.
Light snacks provided by Plant Kingdom Bakery of Akron.
For more information, contact Athan Barkoukis by phone at 216-526-5545
or email Athan@GreenEnergyOhio.org.
CLICK HERE for directions.

NOTE: The Ohio Solar Tour for 2009 will be held October 3rd and 4th.

February 21st: A Day In Lorain County - Oberlin & Vermilion

Spend a day in Lorain county, Ohio:

Vermilion, Ohio

An Ice-A-Fair to Remember

Downtown Victory Park  10 AM to 5 PM

440-963-0772

www.MainStreetVermilion.com

Ice Sculpture, Carriage Rides, Ice Wine, Ice Coffee and more.

Oberlin, Ohio

Freezin' Arts Festival  11 AM to 3 PM

Downtown Oberlin along W. College Street

Art Exhibits, Music and more.

Back from quick Florida vacation .... Finished my last day at the Home and Garden Show's "Green" Section

I spent a week in what is reported to be the worst Real Estate market in the U.S. - Ft. Meyers, Naples, Bonita Bay area. Many, many for sale signs. Many people upset that they can't sell their homes. Many of the homes are second homes for "Snow Birds" - a large number of them from Ohio.

Just finished my last day at the Home and Garden Show at the IX Center. I'm not available on Sunday. Go tomorrow and check out the fantastic gardens, the straw house, and my friends in the green eco area!

Jet Express Ferry Service from Lorain, Ohio to Kelleys Island and Put In Bay !!

It has been reported that a new Jet Express boat is being purchased for a new run from the City of Lorain to Kelleys Island and Put In Bay on South Bass Island. The boat will depart from the Black River Landing, a very nice facility downtown Lorain, to Kelleys Island, then to Put In Bay. The return run will be in reverse in the evening. It is scheduled to run once a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the summer months.

I conducted a quick search of the Jet Express and Lorain Port Authority websites for additional info, but couldn't find any. I've been told that ticket prices are still being determined.

Should be a great trip - and hopefully Lorain County and westside residents will take advantage and support this effort!

Jet Express: http://www.jet-express.com/index.html
Lorain Port Authority: http://www.lorainportauthority.com/

Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club: Middle Bass Island, Ohio

I received this from Doug and Belle on Middle Bass Island:

The Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club would like to announce the 1st annual "Golden Eagle Island Classic" vintage base ball tournament. The tournament will feature three games to be played at the ball field on Middle Bass on Saturday, August 29th, beginning at 12:30. Game #1 will be The Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club v. The Alliance Iron Benders and begin at 1:00. Game #2 will be The Wood County Infirmary Inmates v. The Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club, and begin at 2:15. Game #3 will feature the Alliance Iron Benders v. The Wood County Infirmary Inmates and begin at 3:30.

Vintage base ball is the game of baseball, played by the rules of the 1860*s. Players wear uniforms from the time period, use the same equipment that was used during the time period, and speak the language of the time period. Middle Bass Island had a winery called the Golden Eagle during the 1860*s, hence the name of the tournament.

We welcome the residents of Middle Bass Island, and all the islands to join us for a day of vintage base ball. There is no cost to attend the event, but donations to our non-profit teams are always welcome. For further information, please visit our website at www.cbbbc.webs.com, or email us at cbbbc1@gmail.com.

Much thanks to J.F. Walleyes, middlebass2.org & Middle Bass Council for helping us put on the event.
--
Jay "Tomahawk" Demagall
Manager, Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club

Cleveland Botanical Garden's Sustainability Symposium 2009: In Your Own Backyard

Saturday, February 7th, 20098:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m

Our 2009 Sustainability Symposium will teach you how the gardening practices you adapt in your own backyard can lead to the proverbial green city on a blue lake in a healthier world. Learn how to have a beautiful garden while still making wise and responsible environmental choices.

What are the presenting organizations?

Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s GreenCityBlueLake Institute.

Who should attend?

• Home gardeners
• Landscape architects and designers
• Horticulturists• Environmental professionals
• Educators and students• Community gardeners and planners
• Anyone interested in sustainable landscaping.

For additional information go to: http://www.cbgarden.org/Events/Detail.aspx?id=3614

Cleveland Home & Garden Show: EcoBrokers and Straw Bale Construction

Prep for the Home and Garden Show:

Cleveland, Ohio February 7th to the 15th

Visit me and other "Green" Eco organizations at the 66th Annual Home & Garden Show at the amazing IX Center from the 7th at 10am to the 15th at 6pm. I'll be at the EcoBroker table on the 7th, 8th and the 15th. Other EcoBrokers may also be at the table. Please stop and visit - we are in row 900. Check out the straw house, cleaning products, farm markets and more, and don't forget the incredible gardens!!

Just For Fun: A little crude, but it was so funny I cried.

Someone mailed me this today - being a father I've been there. This is funny.

Why Parents Drink:

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bedwas nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, proppedup prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.' With theworst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elopewith my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. Ihave been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos,tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacycan get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love, Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I Just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than a Report card that's in my center desk drawer. I love you.

Call me when it's safe to come home.

Avon Lake Library: Solar and Wind Energy for the Home

Solar and Wind Energy for the Home will be the topic at this Wednesday's
FREE Environmental Issue Series.

February 4th at 7pm at the Gallery Room
Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, OH 44012
Telephone 440-933-7710

Erika Weliczko of Repower Solutions will discuss the myths and realities of alternative energy for home scale applications.

The Environmental Issue Series is brought to you by a collaboration between Lorain County Metro Parks, Environmental Committee of City Council of Avon Lake, and the Avon Lake Public Library.