News
TCEC members receive the Eco-Logic Newsletter, which is published monthly except for July/August and November/December issues. Each issue is full of local environmental news, events and activities, and ways you can get involved in environmental issues. Review a sample (past) issue.
Online, we feature the Closer Look column, written for our newsletter by TCEC Publications Chairperson, Donna Olsen.
Closer Look — October 2017
Sign up Today….LEAF / TCEC Member Movie Night
Our two groups will co-host a screening of the award-winning documentary, “SEED: The Untold Story”… about seed-savers and protecting biodiversity”.
- When: Sunday, Oct 22 at 4:30 – 6 p.m.
- Where: Fremont Community Activities Center
3375 Country Dr., Fremont (near Washington High School) - Cost: free! (including drinks and snacks)
Watch for an email for registration. Seating is limited! Members are allowed to bring up to 3 guests. If you are unable to register on-line, contact Patricia Schaffarczyk at 510-677-8461.
About “SEED, the Untold Story”
“Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.
SEED is Executive Produced by Academy Award Winning Actress Marisa Tomei, Marc Turtletaub (Little Miss Sunshine) and Phil Fairclough (Grizzly Man, Cave of Forgotten Dreams).
Grey Water Project Receives Eco-Grant Award
The recent drought made us clearly realize the need for water conservation. But Shreya Ramchandran took us many steps beyond that realization. She began her Grey Water Project early in the drought and has been working on it for several years. On October 5, the TCEC Board awarded Shreya a $600 eco-grant to continue her research. Congratulations.
A brief explanation: Shreya has been working on finding a safe, environmentally-friendly laundry soap whose gray water can be reused. She began by testing soap nuts (the berry shell of the soapberry). So far she has found that soap nuts are better than regular water for irrigating lawns. However, her goal is not to use the water just for landscaping, but for food products such as trees, fruits and vegetables as well. According to Shreya, “If I am able to prove that the soap nut will be more beneficial than other detergents and just as useful as regular water and also prove they are antibacterial or if they will not lead to pathogenic presence then I have a very effective laundry soap which can be used worldwide.” Shreya is a freshman at American High School.
Marine Mammal Center Visit
Seven intrepid TCEC members headed to Sausalito to visit the Marine Mammal rehab September 7th. A fun group and a world class facility. Lots more to see in the area too! There were only two patients at the time so that was positive. We learned how to tell the difference between seals and sea lions from our docent. She showed us how they catch and later release their patients into the wild. There were some heartwarming success stories but they’re fighting an uphill (upstream?) battle.
Approximately 11% of patients at The Marine Mammal Center suffer from the negative effects of humans, many of them ocean trash related. Apparently tiny bits of plastic are now found even in sea salt. Many more suffer from the long term effects of global pollution. Learn more about what we can do at home, sign up for email updates, take a pledge to Stop Trashing our Oceans, personally fundraise for seals and write to your local and state leaders to urge positive environmental policy change.
Keep reading your Ecologic for news of future TCEC tours and get-togethers. Ideas welcome to danielodonnell1212@gmail.com. Source: Ann Morrison
New State Parks Funding?
New funding to improve and preserve state, regional, and local parks continues to be a possibility as two statewide park bond measures are advancing in the California State Legislature. Assembly Bill (AB) 18 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Senate Bill (SB) 5 by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) both propose statewide bond measures for voters to approve in 2018. SB 5 and AB 18 will eventually be merged into one bond bill. Access to safe and well-maintained parks at the state, regional and local levels improve the quality of life for all Californians, and CSPF is committed to making sure that the final bond measure will achieve that goal. Stay tuned for more information on these bond proposals as they move forward at the state capitol! Source: California State Park Foundation
Welcome to the Office Crew
Pat Finch is the latest person to join the volunteer crew for the Tri-City Ecology Center at the Fremont Community Activities Center (3375 Country Dr.). Welcome!
And I’d like to take this moment to thank our office volunteers. They are Adrienne Stephens, Sally Mills, Lynn Ragghianti, Gail Blalock, Dee Minor, and Elaine Sanchez. This amazing group needs no reminding of their volunteer day or locating their own substitutes. We are blessed!
Roll and Stroll…..Read All About It – Eco-Logic News!
It’s the first news coverage of the 2017 Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll – which took place Sept 30 – and so far nothing has appeared in newspapers. Notably, Ecologic comes by mass transit oriented delivery – USPS. And human powered mass transit was what the Stroll and Roll was all about. According to the County between 7 to 15 thousand showed up without a single car traveling the 6.4 miles up the canyon! Well, actually two ambulances ran up the hill – one for a dehydrated stroller and one for a sprained ankle. Most importantly there were likely as many bicyclists as strollers. The bikes had an early start from 7 – 8 AM and were followed by a very large host of walkers, hikers, and more bicycles. All ages were represented. Feedback was very positive about the event and if you were there you probably ran into a number of friends, notables, and a large assortment of tables such as Alameda Creek Alliance, NEST, EBRP, City of Fremont, Kaiser, Sierra Club, Richard Valle, Scott Haggerty and more.
The take home was a wonderful walk or ride on a beautiful day and a chance to explore once more the possibility of developing a trail in years to come. It would allow walkers, cyclists, and equestrians to travel up and down the pristine scenery along Alameda Creek. The cost of the trail could be prohibitive, estimated to be from 57 to 69 million before inflation, but the more citizens discover this special region the more likely it will come to be. Many players are involved, including Caltrans, Alameda County, EBRP, Niles Canyon Railway, Alameda Creek Alliance, Water Utilities, etc. and environmental studies will have to be done. We welcome an opportunity to have a Stroll and Roll in 2018 to keep the ball rolling! By Rich Godfrey, TCEC Board Member