Green Parent Chicago™

Making It a Green Thanksgiving This Year

With the excitement of holiday gift giving just around the corner, it's easy to forget to pause and appreciate the simple good fortune our families have received however small or large over the past year.

Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to reflect on and celebrate your family's "harvest".

Whether it is the health of your children and spouses/partners or a new career opportunity, a new endeavor or new home, the addition of a new member of the family or the mending of a relationship, there are many ways to talk with your children about what Thanksgiving means to your family.

Some families will celebrate on their own through a simple meal at home, others will travel to extended family or friends' houses for larger celebrations and reunions.

But no matter what type of celebration you'll be having, when planning your Thanksgiving, consider making your Thanksgiving a green one. You can incorporate locally and organically produced food into the menu, plan leftovers to avoid waste or do what many cultures in the U.S. already do: let guests bring home leftovers of their choice. You can avoid using disposable tableware, or use earth friendly disposable tableware that's recycled and recyclable.

In addition, you can send email invitations. You'll be sure they'll reach your guests in time and they don't use up paper, create waste or rely on auto emissions to get to their destination. Consider having a meatless Thanksgiving. If you do plan to serve turkey, Planet Green has a thorough rundown of turkeys, from organic to free range and cage free and what each designation means.

Meatless alternatives can range from Tofurky, a vegan meat alternative, to Roasted Pumpkin and Creamed Kale Lasagna or traditional comfort foods like vegetable lasagna and stuffed green peppers. Any delicious vegetarian main dish that serves a large group can work. Of course, it's a nice touch to adapt seasonal vegetables and favorite family recipes into your menu. Side dishes can be equally diverse and meatless too.

The delicious aromas will make keeping kids out of the kitchen a difficult task. So, welcome their help by letting them wash fruits, peel vegetables, measure, mix and stir, frost cakes, roll the dough, cut cookies, sprinkle decorations, and add the finishing touch of whipped cream. When you involve children in the dinner's menu planning, they can feel proud of their responsibility and will be more likely to enjoy the finished result.

Parents Should Take Advantage of EPA's Comment Period On Perchlorate in Drinking Water

Concerned parents and citizens can add their public comments on the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision against perchlorate regulation in drinking water.

The EPA extended the public comment period for 15 days to Nov. 28 before they make a final determination on the contaminant.

Advisers and critics strongly urged the EPA to extend the public comment deadline in response to concerns about the health effects of unchecked perchlorate in the nation's drinking water supply.

Perchlorate is a chemical used by the Defense Department for testing missiles and rockets. Most perchlorate contamination is believed to be the result of defense and aerospace activities.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental advocacy group that has been following the EPA's handling of the regulations wants the agency to adopt a maximum contaminant level for perchlorate in drinking water based on the most recent scientific studies.

The group claimed that a Centers for Disease Control national survey found perchlorate in the urine of every person tested and that children between ages 6 and 11 had perchlorate levels 1.6 times higher than adults. In addition, related studies have shown the presence of perchlorate at dangerously high levels in the breast milk of nursing mothers.

According to the EWG, tests show that the chemical disrupts production of thyroid hormones at the levels claimed to be safe by the EPA. Adequate thyroid hormones are crucial to normal brain development and growth in infants and children.

EPA officials contracted their perchlorate assessment out to the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CIIT), which its website says was created in 1974 by “chemical industry leaders.” They then based their Oct. 10 decision on this information.

Furthermore, in a related release, the EWG said that in 2004, CIIT provided a risk assessment for formaldehyde and

"claimed the chemical was 2,500 to 10,000 times less dangerous than EPA had previously asserted. Since 1981, the U.S. federal government has listed formaldehyde as a "probable human carcinogen." (Formaldehyde-treated plywood and other components were found to have sickened Hurricane Katrina survivors living in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.) "

The EPA's decision against perchlorate regulation runs counter to its own guidelines on contaminant regulation, due to the faulty data used to back their decision:

To regulate a contaminant the Safe Drinking Water Act requires that the EPA determine whether:

1. The contaminant may have an adverse effect on the health of persons;
2. The contaminant is known to occur or there is a substantial likelihood the contaminant will occur in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern; and
3. In the sole judgment of the Administrator, regulation of the contaminant presents a meaningful opportunity for health risk reductions for persons served by public water systems.

For information and instructions on how and where to send comments on the upcoming decision, see the EPA's website. Comments are accepted online, by mail and in person by hand delivery. Submit comments identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW- 2008-06.

City public rinks opening for ice skating

The Chicago Park District’s ice skating rinks open for the 2008-09 season Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Skating season runs through Saturday, Feb. 28, weather permitting.

If you bring your own skates, ice skating at all Chicago Park District ice rinks is free. Skate rentals are $5 at all rinks except for Daley Bicentennial, which has an additional $1 surcharge.

Concessions are available at most rinks. All rinks are outdoors except McFetridge in California Park which is open year round except August.

The Chicago Park District operates the following 9 ice rinks:

Daley Bicentennial Park, McFetridge Sports Center, McKinley Park, Midway Plaisance Park, Mt. Greenwood Park, Riis Park, Rowan Park, Warren Park, and West Lawn Park.

For more details including hours, fees and locations, see the Chicago Park District's website.

In addition, skating is scheduled to open today at Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (weather permitting). The rink, originally scheduled to open on November 12, will remain open through Sunday, March 15, 2009 (weather permitting). Skating in Millennium Park is free and open to the public. Skate rental is available for $10.

photo credit www.aradise.com

CTA Fares Increase for 2009, Changes Ahead for CTA/Pace Riders

Effective January 1, 2009, the Chicago Transit Authority will raise fares for most riders on buses and trains to aid budget shortfalls for the year.

The changes are said to be less than the 20 percent increase originally proposed. Reduced fares will remain the same as 2008 levels. So fares will not increase for people with disabilities or elementary and high school students.

A chart of the 2009 fares can be found here.

CTA University Pass (U-Pass) users, currently students from over 40 Chicago area colleges and universities, will see their fares raise by 15 percent for the Fall 2009 term.

CTA officials cited the "economic downturn" and "higher prices for energy, fuel and materials", a lack of designated state capital resources to replace aging equipment and infrastructure and free ride programs as factors impacting the 2009 budget.

In related news, the CTA announced a new joint 7-Day pass that can be used to travel on the CTA and Pace suburban bus service.

CTA’s 30-Day passes and stored value cards, Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus and magnetic strip transit cards may still be used on Pace buses. However, Pace will no longer accept CTA’s 1-Day, 3-Day, 7-Day and U-Pass fare media on its system effective January 1, 2009.

The joint CTA/Pace 7-Day pass will cost $5 more than the price of a regular CTA 7-Day pass and is available beginning January 1.

"Buy Nothing Day" November 28

We at Green Parent Chicago would like to remind you on behalf of Adbusters, to give Buy Nothing Day a try this Black Friday, that's the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S. 

Buy Nothing Day is an effort to curb overconsumption and corporate control over our spending habits, placing the emphasis on alternative, sustainable actions such as recycling, reusing and refusal of unneeded goods.

Looking for something to do in lieu of shopping? Enjoy your extra day off with the family. Or if you've had all you can take of cabin fever or the in-laws, try organizing your own swap among friends. You could make a theme for it: a household decor swap, clothing swap, kids hand-me-downs swap, book swap, etc.

If you'd like to try your hand at something crafty instead, check out Greenheart Shop's "Green Friday" event in Chicago. Where you can learn to make your own green gifts in free workshops such as knitting, refashioning sweaters into mittens, re-styling old t-shirts, jewelry making, and more. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

CORRECTION: Chicago Family Farmed Expo November 21 to 23

We incorrectly stated the dates of the expo to be Nov. 14 to the 16. Please see post below for details on this upcoming event. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Chicago Family Farmed Expo November 21 to 23

Updated: Our previously run post incorrectly stated the date for the Expo as Nov. 14 to the 16th. Please note corrected date below.

The Family Farmed Expo, a gathering of Chicago-area fans of locally grown and responsibly produced food and artisanal goods will run Friday Nov. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The event will consist of workshops, cooking demonstrations, exhibitors, children's activities and interactive seminars.

Several noted restaurateurs will present workshops on Friday, a day devoted to sustainable business practices in Chicago's dining industry.

Some of the many workshops and symposiums scheduled are "Local and Organic Eating on a Dime", "Urban Agriculture", and Benefits of Grass Fed Meat and Dairy" among others. Speakers scheduled for the event include Rick Bayless, Bill Curtis, and Mari Gallagher.

Purple Asparagus will host a Kids’ Activity Corner at the Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Purple Asparagus is a local non-profit dedicated to bringing families back to the table by promoting and enjoying healthy eating.

Kids activities will include arts and crafts, story time, a reading corner of books related to food, farming and nature, taste testing of local food items, an explanation of label reading and face painting. Children under 12 are admitted free with any parent who has purchased a Family Farmed Expo ticket.

Tickets for the Expo are discounted if purchased prior to the event online. Tickets may be purchased at the Family Farmed Expo website.

The Great Debate About Library Late Fees

Library fines: those seemingly small penalties we pay for returning borrowed items late can range from mere pocket change to several hundred dollars in some instances.

Patrons faced with fines often find themselves in a quandary: fines accrue quickly, libraries often accept only cash for fines, items get misplaced, reminders to renew items go unheeded.

Libraries across the nation appear to be equally at odds with collecting fines. Many try novel ways to bestow amnesty on patrons, stressing the items mean more than the money. Some stage amnesty days, while others readily turn unpaid fines over to collection agencies: an activity reportedly not practiced by the Chicago Public Library.

In suburban Detroit, one library is trying to encourage patrons to bring in overdue books and help the hungry. The Food for Fines project lets patrons with late fees donate a can of food in exchange for having 50 cents waived from their library fees. But, only up to $5 in late fees may be waived. A similar initiative will be held in New Jersey this month.

In October, the Boston public library held a special day to forgive children’s library fines. Called the New Start initiative, the event was intended to increase youth access to the library and participation in children's library programming and services.

Some libraries, like one in Tucson, Ariz. allow kids and teens with late fines to pay down fines by reading. One Book Buck is earned for each 30 minutes of reading or listening to books. Book Bucks can be used to pay down as much as $30 in fines. However, Book Bucks cannot be used to pay for lost or damaged items or collection agency fees.

A Wisconsin library became notorious for their enforcement of fines this past August when local police arrested and handcuffed patron, Heidi Dalibor, 20, at her home for owing only $30 for two overdue paperbacks. Dalibor's mother had to pay $172 to free her daughter from jail. 

Green Parent Chicago readers, we want to hear from you. What do you think of library fines? Take the poll or leave your answer in the comments section below.

Obama Landslide in Chicagoland School Mock Elections

The Daily Herald reports that among student voters in the 5 city and suburban counties, Barack Obama has won heartily.

By the numbers:
Northwest Cook: Obama 75.2%; McCain 24.8%*

DuPage: Obama 72.2%; McCain 27.8%**

Kane: Obama 69%; McCain 31%***

Lake: Obama 68%; McCain 32%****

McHenry: 71.8%; McCain 28.2%*****

*6,925 total votes, 12 schools
**17,956 total votes, 24 schools
 ***6,057 total votes, 10 schools
****1,921 total votes, 5 schools
*****543 total votes, 2 schools

Data: Illinois League of Women Voters

photo credit: Kids for Obama