aubunique

Washington County Quorum Court LISTENS and LISTENS as county residents speak to the need to expand Ozark Regional Transit on February 9, 2012

2012-02-10T23:43:00.002-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

Rack on front of ORT bus carries two bikes safely for physically active

Phone number on side reminds people where to call for information

Wheelchair lift near back right side allows easy access to physically handicapped

Quorum Court to vote on Transportation sales-tax issue tonight: This may be your final time to comment on the proposal

2012-02-09T16:36:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the second reading for the ¼-percent sales-tax measure that the Washington County Quorum Court can put on the ballot in May. The ¼-percent sales tax would be used to EXPAND Ozark Regional Transit to make it a truly viable alternative transportation option. This has obvious environmental and economic benefits, as well as social benefits.
I hope you’ll consider coming to the Quorum Court tonight at 6:00 pm to address our elected representatives about the need for public transit and your support for putting this initiative on the ballot in May. We can move Fayetteville and Washington County ahead significantly and provide leadership to the NWA region by funding public transit at the level at which it needs to be funded.

Fayetteville AR calendar for today

2012-02-09T08:36:00.000-06:00

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Tigers Be Still

Community Events

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios

Special Fayetteville Housing Authority Board Meeting

City Clerk

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Room 111

Historic District Commission

City Clerk

Time: 5:30 PM

Location: Room 326

Planning Agenda Session and Tour

City Clerk

Time: 4:00 PM

Location: Room 111

Airport Board

City Clerk

Time: 1:30 PM

Location: Airport Conference Room

Leadership Fayetteville Government Day

City Clerk

Time: 1:00 PM

Location: Room 219

Compost Site open 8 am to 3 pm

Solid Waste

Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: 1708 S. Armstrong Ave.

Thinking about eminent-domain issue?

2012-02-08T11:33:00.000-06:00

"Most municipalities have chosen to RESPECT their citizenry and make the HONORABLE decision
 to pay their property owners full appraisal value when the city takes property for a municipal


 project. Unfortunately, the city of Fayetteville is not doing that."
                                 quote from an experienced professional AR appraiser

Jacqueline Froelich's report on varying municipal easement formulas regarding private property will air Wednesday February 8th at noon on “Ozarks at Large” our daily news hour on KUAF National Public Radio 91.3fm, repeated at 7pm. She's also filed it for broadcast on their state-wide public radio network.

If you are out of listening range, you can stream it at KUAF.com

They also post the show on their website, so expect to see it by 1pm. Go to KUAF.com and scroll down to the “Ozarks at Large” section-- you should see the entire news hour and the individual segment as well.

Here’s the direct link to the daily shows: http://www.kuaf.com/ozarksatlarge

You can download the show for free at the “Ozarks At Large” podcast link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ozarks-at-large/id129608203

Eminent Domain Condemnation

Do you know Rogers & Springdale & other neighboring towns offer their impacted citizens full value for land taken for govt. projects. Fayetteville does NOT offer this same fair market value for its easements. Commonly they offer either 25% or 33% of current appraisal value.

Fayetteville citizens who want to reform this practice will meet:

Thurs., Feb. 9^th, 6:30pm

Ann Henry Board Room

Fayetteville Public Library

401 W. Mountain St.

Come Join Us.

We Deserve Better.

For more info contact: David at 479.521.5677 or Dawn at 479.444.8027

website: reformfed.org

FaceBook pg: Fayette Junction Cottonwood Tree

Why not protect corner lot to keep part of the water where it falls?

2012-02-08T08:40:00.005-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of wetland barely outside the 50-foot riparian buffer set by the 2011 Fayetteville stream-side protection ordinance. Site now slated for construction. Spout Spring Branch flows from left to right through a culvert under MLK JR Blvd. A low berm around this corner could contain a great deal more water, which would recharge the stream slowly as all low-impact development manuals would require.

Spout Spring Branch riparian wetland slows runoff and allows much water to soak into absorbent prairie soil, fulfilling the intention of the city's streamside protection ordinance passed nearly a year ago. Filling this land for construction will negate its value for the Beaver Lake watershed.

January 25, 2012, view north from MLK Blvd. across natural-raingarden up South East Avenue

Tom McKinney talks about U.S. Forest Service plan to reconfigure Ozark National Forest to accommodate a non-native species, the elks imported from out west

2012-02-06T23:53:00.003-06:00

Pipeline fight heats up again. Please share your opinion with congress and president

2012-02-05T22:28:00.001-06:00

Please click on the Sierra Web site link below to see full view of this information online.
View a web version of this email.

Republican senators are trying to revive the Keystone XL oil pipeline proposal.

Your senators have heard from Big Oil -- now make sure they hear from you. Write them today to stop the Keystone XL pipeline!

Dear Aubrey,
There's breaking -- and disturbing -- news about the Keystone XL pipeline. Big Oil is bringing it back, and with a vengeance.

The Senate may vote as early as this week to force construction of the dirty tar sands oil pipeline -- and once again, it's up to you to stop this bill.

Last month, President Obama rejected the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which TransCanada spent $1.3 million lobbying for in 2011. We knew Big Oil wouldn't give up, and sure enough, they're still at it, using their money to force the pipeline down our throats, thwart the President, and pass this bill.

Email your senators today and tell them to oppose any legislation that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

With Big Oil and the lawmakers they've bought and paid for allied against us, we face a tough fight. This bill could pass. But by standing together, we beat their millions in round one, and we can do it again in round two.

It's obvious that Big Oil will do almost anything to buy influence and get their way on Capitol Hill -- they have to, since no project as dangerous as Keystone XL could ever pass on the merits alone.

This pipeline would carry the world's dirtiest fossil fuel, tar sands oil, from Canada to Texas, where it would be shipped overseas. To build the pipeline, TransCanada has to seize private land from ranchers and farmers, and then expose what's left to the threat of oil spills and leaks. Clean water, clean air, agriculture, and our shared climate would all be put at risk for what have been greatly exaggerated benefits.

There's no reason the public should sacrifice so much just so Big Oil can increase their already-record profits. We may not have $1.3 million to lobby Congress -- but we do have 1.4 million members and supporters like you.

Take thirty seconds to tell Sen. Boozman and Sen. Pryor -- put our public health before Big Oil profits. Oppose this and any other attempt to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
Big Oil is used to getting their way, no matter what that means for the rest of us. But together, we can send a powerful message -- write your senators today.

Thanks for all that you do to protect the environment,

Sarah Hodgdon
Sierra Club Conservation Director

P.S. Our senators need to hear from as many of us as possible. Please forward this email to your friends and family!
You can also help spread the word on your social networks:

2012-02-05T09:25:00.000-06:00

Program schedule for Fayettevile public-access television Feb. 5-11, 2012 at this link.

Bee keeper's classes Feb. 6 and Feb. 13

2012-02-04T10:16:00.002-06:00

The Northwest Arkansas Beekeepers Association will host three classes for beginning beekeepers Jan. 30, Feb 6, and Feb 13. The classes willbe 6-9 pm at the Pauline Whitaker Equine Center in Fayetteville. One of the speakers will be Jon Zawislak of the University of Arkansas who gave a presentation to FGNS in May of 2010 on Solitary Bees and Syrphid flies as Pollinators (along with Ricky Corder).

Amber Tripodi's bumblebee presentation for Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association now available as 12 video clips on YOU TUBE. Use link below to get to them all.

2012-02-01T22:26:00.001-06:00

Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association video clips of Amber Tripodi's presentation on bumblebee populations on local prairie, former prairie and prairie-restoration sites in Northwest Arkansas.

Arresting someone for filming a meeting: Is that a Republican family value?

2012-02-01T20:11:00.001-06:00

February 1, 2012

'Gasland' Journalists Arrested At Hearing By Order Of House Republicans (UPDATES)

Posted: 2/1/12 11:45 AM ET | Updated: 2/1/12 05:56 PM ET

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This image, taken by a Democratic source, shows Josh Fox being arrested by Capitol Hill police.

WASHINGTON -- In a stunning break with First Amendment policy, House Republicans directed Capitol Hill police to detain a highly regarded documentary crew that was attempting to film a Wednesday hearing on a controversial natural gas procurement practice. Initial reports from sources suggested that an ABC News camera was also prevented from taping the hearing; ABC has since denied that they sent a crew to the hearing.
Josh Fox, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary "Gasland" was taken into custody by Capitol Hill police this morning, along with his crew, after Republicans objected to their presence, according to Democratic sources present at the hearing. The meeting of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment had been taking place in room 2318 of the Rayburn building.
HuffPost has obtained exclusive video of the arrest of Josh Fox. Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, can be heard at the end of the clip asking Republican Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) to halt the arrest and permit Fox to film the public hearing. Harris denies Miller's request as Fox is escorted out of the hearing in handcuffs.
WATCH Capitol Hill Police Arrest a Journalist for Filming a Public Hearing: (story continues below)
"Gasland" received strong critical acclaim and takes a critical eye toward the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," a process in which several tons of highly pressurized water and chemicals are injected into the ground, allowing valuable natural gas to escape. The practice is decried by ecological experts for destroying ecosystems and polluting groundwater. The energy industry keeps the actual content of fracking chemicals secret.
Fox had hoped to film Wednesday's hearing for a follow-up to "Gasland." Fox told HuffPost later Wednesday evening, "We did get his staff on the phone, they never returned the phone call," referring to staffers for Chairman Harris. "This is not transparency. This is a lockout and it's bad. It's the people's House, after all. We went through the proper channels to arrange to tape this hearing. We have taped congressional hearings before and we've been turned down before, but I disagree with the policy. Anyone who says they're a journalist is a journalist. It's called the First Amendment. It's the freedom of the press, and that is fundamental to our core identity as the United States of America."
Hearings are open to the public, and any citizen can attend. Regulations only govern the use of cameras. Even under an extreme adherence to the rules, Fox's camera could have been confiscated or disabled without subjecting him to arrest. And while Fox did not have formal Capitol Hill credentials, such formalities are rarely enforced against high-profile journalists. Temporary passes are easy to obtain, and if Republicans had objected on procedural grounds, they could have simply sent the crew to the front desk, rather than ordering police to arrest journalists. The right to a free press is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Documentary crews are almost never denied access to public meetings of elected government officials.
UPDATE: 12:09 p.m. -- Capitol Police public information officer Sergeant Kimberly Schneider provided the following statement to HuffPost on the morning's events:
"At approximately 10:30 a.m. today, United States Capitol Police arrested Joshua Fox of Milanville, Pa. in room 2318 of the Rayburn House office building. He is charged with unlawful entry, and he is currently being processed at United States Capitol Police headquarters."
UPDATE: 2:27 p.m. -- Fox apparently had applied for credentialing the day before the hearing but had been unable to obtain official permission to film. He had asked a credentialed film crew to tape the proceedings on his behalf but was informed that this was not permitted.
Nevertheless, turning away journalists is extremely rare on Capitol Hill. The rules requiring pre-approval for film crews are designed to prevent hearings from being disrupted by hordes of camera operators. That was not the case for this hearing. Only two cameras requested entrance to the event, which was not crowded.
Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) was unavailable for comment, but several Democrats on the committee voiced outrage with the GOP's press blackout.
"I was chair of the Subcommittee for four years, and we frequently had people show up the day of a hearing to film," Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) told HuffPost. "We asked for their name, but they were told if they would not disrupt the hearing, they were free to record. A couple of times staff said, 'You're getting in the way, don't stand there,' but other than that, I do not ever recall anything like this. We certainly never turned anyone away for not providing 24 hours' notice."
"It's an outrageous violation of the First Amendment," Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) told HuffPost. "Here we've got an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, and it's an important subject and the subject that he did his prior film on for HBO. And they put him in handcuffs and hauled him out of there. This is stunning."

"I found it ironic that there was not a flood of cameras there," noted Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). "There was the one camera and then before that, the ABC camera ... if you have a camera there to bring the issue home to the public, that's a good thing."
The hearing was already being filmed by C-SPAN. Josh Fox had only sought to obtain higher-quality video by bringing their own cameras to the event. Democrats attempted to suspend the rules governing camerawork to allow Fox and ABC to film the hearing, but Republicans, who hold a majority on all House committees and subcommittees, voted down the motion. Democrats then sought to postpone the hearing to allow for filming at a later date, a motion which Republicans also overruled.
UPDATE: 3:45 p.m. -- Republican staffers told Democrats that a crew for ABC News had also been denied access to the event, but ABC News told HuffPost that their organization did not have any journalists assigned to cover the hearing. It is not clear what caused the confusion.
"We definitely did not have a crew on the Hill this morning to cover this hearing," an ABC News spokeswoman told HuffPost. "The individual who was turned away absolutely did not have ABC news credentials."
UPDATE: 4:45 p.m. -- Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost, “I have served in the House of Representatives since 1992, and I had the privilege of chairing the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. In all that time, I cannot recall a chair of any committee or subcommittee having ever ordered the removal of a person who was filming a committee proceeding and not being disruptive, whether or not that person was accredited. It is a matter of routine that all sorts of people photograph and record our proceedings. Most of them are not accredited. I cannot recall anyone questioning their right to be there."
Arthur Spitzer, legal director of the ACLU in Washington, explained that "congressional committees routinely allow professional journalists to record hearings even when they don't have official press credentials, and excluding a journalist because he doesn't share the political views of the committee chair is outrageous. The Supreme Court has explained many times that censorship based on viewpoint is the clearest kind of First Amendment violation, and that seems to be what happened here."
Josh Fox, meanwhile, has issued the following statement to the press:

I was arrested today for exercising my First Amendment rights to freedom of the press on Capitol Hill. I was not expecting to be arrested for practicing journalism. Today's hearing in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee was called to examine EPAs findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming. I have a long history with the town of Pavillion and its residents who have maintained since 2008 that fracking has contaminated their water supply. I featured the stories of residents John Fenton, Louis Meeks and Jeff Locker in GASLAND and I have continued to document the catastrophic water contamination in Pavillion for the upcoming sequel GASLAND 2. It would seem that the Republican leadership was using this hearing to attack the three year Region 8 EPA investigation involving hundreds of samples and extensive water testing which ruled that Pavillion's groundwater was a health hazard, contaminated by benzene at 50x the safe level and numerous other contaminants associated with gas drilling. Most importantly, EPA stated in this case that fracking was the likely cause. As a filmmaker and journalist I have covered hundreds of public hearings, including Congressional hearings. It is my understanding that public speech is allowed to be filmed. Congress should be no exception. No one on Capitol Hill should regard themselves exempt from the Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states explicitly "Congress shall make no law...that infringes on the Freedom of the Press". Which means that no subcommittee rule or regulation should prohibit a respectful journalist or citizen from recording a public hearing.
This was an act of civil disobedience, yes done in an impromptu fashion, but at the moment when they told me to turn off the cameras, I could not. I know my rights and I felt it was imperative to exercise them.
When I was led out of the hearing room in handcuffs, John Boehner's pledge of transparency in congress was taken out with me.
The people of Pavillion deserve better. The thousands across the US who have documented cases of water contamination in fracking areas deserve their own hearing on Capitol hill. They deserve the chance to testify in before Congress. The truth that fracking contaminates groundwater is out, and no amount of intimidation tactics --either outright challenges to science or the arrest of journalists --will put the genie back in the bottle. Such a brazen attempt to discredit and silence the EPA, the citizens of Pavillion and documentary filmmaking will ultimately fail and it is an affront to the health and integrity of Americans.
Lastly, in defense of my profession, I will state that many many Americans get their news from independent documentaries. The hill should immediately move to make hearings and meetings accessible to independent journalists and not further obstruct the truth from being reported in the vivid and in depth manner that is only achievable through long form documentary filmmaking.
I will be thinking on this event further and will post further thoughts and developments.
I have been charged with "unlawful entry" and my court date is February 15.
Josh Fox
Washington D.C.
2/1/12

This is a developing story. Check back with HuffPost for more.

Also on HuffPost:

Public meeting last week in Elkins unnoticed by most but public-comment period on new bridge proposal for Arkansas Highway 16 remains open for a few more days: See comment from one affected landowner below plus Google map of area in question

2012-02-01T11:15:00.005-06:00

For numerous photos of the area where the new bridge and the approach road would be built, please see lower part of AHTD set of photos on Flickr.
For aerial photo map of the land, please scroll down this blog post.

Public Meeting Notice

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

WHAT:		Public Involvement - West & Middle Forks White River Structures and Approaches (Fayetteville) (Hwy. 16)
WHEN:		Thursday, January 26, 2012 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
WHERE:		Harris Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall) 2201 North Center Street in Elkins
CONTACT:		Ruby Jordan, Section Head - Public Involvement

Note: Material will be posted as links as soon as they become available and if applicable to the Meeting.
Flyer (.pdf)
Legal Notice (.pdf)
Environmental Document (.pdf)
Project Map (.pdf)
Project Packet (includes comment form)
AHTD Job 040569
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Freedom of Information
In the last year my husband and I bought property by the Middle Fork of the White River that right now is being affected by a proposed bridge replacement that I wanted to notify you about because 1) it raises some important concerns regarding urban sprawl; and 2) even though the two bridges affected are in the City of Fayetteville (and one area that will have a some land taken BELONGS to the City of Fayetteville) the public-input meeting was held in . . . . ELKINS rather than Fayetteville. As a result, attendance by interested Fayetteville residents was probably decreased, and attendance by people who live in Elkins was probably increased, resulting in a public-input primarily by those who would be more receptive to a faster, wider route to Elkins.

I have attached several documents, including the COMMENT FORM. And also my thoughts, below.

I spoke with the chief engineer on this project, Linda Gunn, and she says that the new bridge (which will be wider- two lanes and two shoulders) and the new section of road and new bridge at the Middle Fork will accommodate 60 MPH traffic. Currently it is only 50 MPH. She has assured me that there is no "current" plan to widen all of 16 West for the next few years, but these bridges are being built bigger and wider for just that reason. So what's the problem with all this? THIS WILL SUBSIDIZE AND FACILITATE MORE URBAN SPRAWL!!! This Middle Fork bridge was built in 1927 and is not unsound. The only real reason I can imagine it is being replaced is because the State has received federal funding and doing this now will make expansion of Hwy. 16 East easier and less costly.

If we stop the bridge widening (and the public is probably not even being made aware that this expansion will eventually accommodate faster and therefore increased traffic) perhaps we can slow down the sprawl!!!

The comment period is only 15 days from the day of the meeting which was held on January 26th, yet pertinent information and the comment form itself is not available on the State's website even today! They are not making it easy to attend the meeting or even provide comments! Here's a link. http://www.arkansashighways.com/public_meetings/2012/040569/040569.aspx

Please make your opinion heard!!! Please help by submitting public comments!!!

DEMAND THAT ANOTHER PUBLIC INTEREST AND INPUT MEETING BE HELD IN FAYETTEVILLE BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE! IT IS NOT FAIR TO HOLD IT WAY OUT IN ELKINS (2201 n. center street, elkins) WHEN THE TWO BRIDGES ARE IN FAYETTEVILLE!!! DEMAND THAT THE COMMENT PERIOD NOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, WHEN I ASKED FOR THESE THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT COMPLETED YET, SO THE PUBLIC IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE THE PUBLIC EVEN HAS ENOUGH INFORMATION.
Stephanie Dzur

View Larger Map

Species of elk released in Arkansas no more native than species of cougars released in Arkansas: Reasons for Forest Service plan for burning and changing habitat of Ozark National Forest flawed

2012-01-30T11:33:00.001-06:00

U.S. Forest Service plan to burn massive portions of Ozark National Forest to create open land for elk pasture target of comments by Sierra Club conservation chairman, Tom McKinney.
Please read all the way through and comment.

Video clips from Climatologist Robert McAfee's presentation documenting increasing evidence of man-made climate changes from January 26, 2012, at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas

2012-01-29T11:57:00.002-06:00

Direct link to McAfee video clips on You Tube.
McAfee narrates powerful slideshow.

First daffodils bloom in time for Restaurant week in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and first FNHA event of 2012

2012-01-29T08:55:00.002-06:00

South sloping areas show off early blooming flowers on January 28, 2012

FNHA annual meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2012, includes presentation on bumblebees and other pollinators on northwest Arkansas prairie sites by Amber Tripodi, a doctoral candidate in entomology at the University of Arkansas: Non-members welcome free and all invited to become members

2012-01-28T22:16:00.009-06:00

Please click on highlighted or underlined words to open live links.

Amber Tripodi (left) and Bob Caulk laugh with members of the Fayetteville Natural History Association during question and answer session after Tripodi's lecture on bumblebees and other pollinators.

Members of Fayettevillle Natural History Association enjoy Amber Tripodi's lecture Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Fayetteville Public Library

Amber Tripodi (left) Cindi Cope (center) Bruce Shackleford (right) with favorite kitten: Photo by Aubrey James Shepherd

Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association Annual Meeting

TOMORROW

Sunday, January 29
2:00 pm
Fayetteville Public Library

Henry Board Room

Our featured speaker will be Amber Tripodi, a doctoral candidate and Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arkansas. Amber’s research on bee populations and habitat has focused on prairie-restoration sites in Fayetteville, comparing the bee populations in the Lake Fayetteville prairie-restoration area, Paul Noland sewage-treatment site, Woolsey Wet Prairie adjacent to Fayetteville's westside sewage-treatment plantand World Peace Wetland Prairie with those on small farms, undeveloped lots and roadside tracts throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Although Amber also studies carpenter bees, other native bees and flower flies and honey bees, her focus is on various species of bumblebees and the plants that support them. Her fast-paced and educational presentation will leave you wondering how a subject like bees can be so interesting and exciting. Amber's knowledge is vast and her enthusiasm is absolutely contagious!

A brief business meeting will include election of officers for the upcoming year. Light refreshments will be served.

Thanks to Sara Caulk for sharing FNHA information.

Congratulations to Northwest Arkansas Times photographer and reporter who produced an objective front-page story for the January 28 edition of the Times on Arkansas highway department's watershed abuse

2012-01-28T18:51:00.003-06:00

For more photos of environmentally unsound practices of the AHTD, please see Flickr set.

Reporters are supposed to do what they did. However, columnists, editorial writers and bloggers have the right to express opinions. For an outdoor writer, however, there is a clear and overwhelming DUTY to write a strong, factually sound evaluation of the situation.
Juniper hairstreak butterfly's caterpillars feed only on the foliage of cedar trees such as those being wastefully and unnecessarily burned at the ADTD site on Arkansas 265 in northeast Fayetteville.

Bill Harrison's latest book drew admiring crowd to Nightbird Books on January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T20:34:00.003-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE:

Did you express an opinion you really would like to share with more people than heard it? I did, and I am sharing on the shortake-segment of Fayetteville public television for the coming week of January 29 through February 4, 2012, on Fayetteville's public-access television station, Cox 218 and AT&T U-verse, as well as on You Tube, linked below: Don't miss your chance to do the same every week

2012-01-27T17:16:00.002-06:00

To learn how and when you can have your own 5-minute short takes recorded, please see
the Your Media Web site.

Sierra Club sponsors important discussion of Climate Reality-Separating Fact From Fiction tonight

2012-01-26T10:25:00.001-06:00

- When
  Today
- Time
  7:00pm until 9:00pm

Description

Please join us for Climate Reality- Separating Fact From Fiction, a presentation by Dr. Robert McAfee and Joanna Pollock.

Pollock will speak on the Obama administration's national plan for preparation of water management in the US due to the threat of climate change as w...ell as the role of eco-therapy and spending time outdoors in individuals' mental health and willingness to advocate on behalf of the environment.

Dr. McAfee will speak about the recent climate change talks in Durban, South Africa (Update from Durban) and discuss climate change in Arkansas and talk about predictions to expect here locally.

For more information check out the Sierra Club newsletter:

http://arkansas.sierraclub.org/Ozark_headwaters/OHGnewsletter-winter2011.pdf
See More

Nightbird Books

205 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR 72701

View Map · Get Directions

November Council of Neighborhoods meeting served for November and December with the annual potluck dinner. Show up tonight (6 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012, and add some excitement to the meeting. Anything bothering people in your part of town? Come share it on public television and maybe on You Tube next week. Don't accept NO for an answer if you KNOW you have a legitimate isssue to share: The FCON listens to everyone!

2012-01-25T23:10:00.001-06:00

youtu.be/6vsQkB8mxf0

Today at Fayetteville National Cemetery and old livestock-auction site

2012-01-25T19:07:00.001-06:00

Aerial view, concept drawing and people forced to park on streets because sale-barn land now fenced off for year of construction.

Sierra Club's statement on SWEPCO wind-power purchase

2012-01-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

SIERRA CLUB STATEMENT ON SWEPCO WIND POWER PURCHASE

"The clean energy revolution is happening right now. Today, as a result of our recent legal settlement, hundreds of megawatts of clean wind energy will power homes and businesses in our region for the next 20 to 25 years. Unlike dirty coal, which devastates our air, water, and communities, wind power produces zero pollution.

"Unlike our neighboring states, Arkansas currently does not have wind energy production in place, although we are home to multiple factories that produce wind turbines and blades. If we did have wind energy production in place, SWEPCO could have bought it from an Arkansas company. Instead, that money to purchase wind power went to out of state companies and jobs. As Governor Beebe works toward the state's energy plan, Sierra Club calls on him to aggressively pursue clean, renewable sources of energy for the Natural State.

"In his State of the Union speech, President Obama didn't mention coal a single time but spent a lot of time talking about clean energy. Coal is on its way out. Clean, renewable energy projects--like those announced today--are the key to our nation's energy future."
--

Lev Guter

Associate Organizing Representative

Sierra Club

1308 W. 2nd Street

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 301-8280

Bill Harrison's friends and readers invited to discuss books with him Friday night

2012-01-25T10:53:00.001-06:00

Information about Harrison's latest publication and directions to Nightbird Books for the 5-9 p.m. gathering Friday.

Fayetteville meetings and events for Thursday, January 26, 2012

2012-01-24T17:30:00.000-06:00

Calendar of Events

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods

City Clerk

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Room 326

Housing Authority Board of Commissioners

City Clerk

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Room 111

Firemen's Pension and Relief Fund Board of Trustees

City Clerk

Time: 3:00 PM

Location: Room 326

Compost Site open 8 am to 3 pm

Solid Waste

Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: 1708 S. Armstrong Ave.

OMNI gathering group shot at end of multi-program annual members and friends dinner

2012-01-22T23:14:00.003-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.
For more than 100 more photos from this event, please see this Flickr link.

OMNI's annual gathering of friends and neighbors late Sunday afternoon at Lifestyles' new facility

2012-01-21T19:08:00.007-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

Site Map for Sunday gathering.

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Lauren D. Hawkins' new design for OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology.

New OMNI design by Lauren D. Hawkins in December 2011

2012 -- A year of consequence begins

OMNI Members & Friends Gathering ! January 22, 2012
6:00 pm
LifeStyles Building

Sunday January 22, 2012, is the next Members and Friends Gathering. Join your friends at 6:00 pm at the new home of sister -nonprofit LifeStyles, 2590 W. Sycamore. We'll send a map next week. They have a really beautiful and quirky new building that you'll love visiting. It's colorful, friendly and spacious... lots of room for us to do music, have a hot January meal, and fun breakout sessions, where the talking can happen. Join OMNI friends to ponder the future of peace in the uncertain new age.

Breakout sessions have been confirmed, and as always, there's too much good stuff. Here's what we have:

The Future of Peace- Jacob George and Gladys Tiffany talk about the glimmers of positive change happening, and give you something you can do to encourage young Afghan peace workers right now.

The Future of Earth - Robert McAfee, and several area experts are prepared to update you on things we can't help but worry about. Many of them are attending the Citizens First environental caucus
this weekend, and will have current info on upcoming legislation, hopefully including the state water plan, now in the works.

Future Leaders for the Culture of Peace- OMNI's Youth Programs is organizing work with college and high school age students. It's exciting, and if you're that age, or if you have family or friends who are... or if you'd like to find out what's happening, you'll want to be here. Meet the Youth Resource Board, and the Youth Programs VISTA volunteer coordinating the program. Pretty cool.

The Future of the Occupy Movement -- A group of Occupy Northwest Arkansas members are coming to update you on what the local and national movements are planning; including reports on the "Occupy the Courts" that you're invited to join. Friday January 20 at noon, meet on the Town Square in front of Odom Law Office at Mountain and Block. You'll march the short one-block to the Federal Building together. January 20 is the 2nd anniversary of the odious "Citizens United" court decision that made money equal speech.

EARTH DAY 2012 !- Last but not least, Donna Stjerna is working with area enviro groups on the annual Earth Month celebration in April. She has dynamo ideas about centering the whole thing on TREES, and has convinced the whole town to go for it. There's a big concert in the works, and other activities. She could use volunteer help, and of course it'll be really fun. Find out what the plans are, and where you could fit in at this session.
PRAIRIE: Lauren D. Hawkins and Aubrey James Shepherd share photos and information about the prairies surrounding Fayetteville and how to help maintain World Peace Wetland Prairie, a city-owned, neighborhood-maintained nature park that would not exist if OMNI's founder, James Richard Bennett, had not provided a donation of $25,000, (one-fifth of the purchase price of the land) to purchase this karst-based, natural flow-area of a large parcel of seasonal wet prairie in south Fayetteville AR.
Remember that the menu for the evening is veggie lasagna, fresh salad, bread and simple desert.
OMNI cooks do a mean lasagna.
For detail, contact Gladys at 479-935-4422 or gladystiffany@yahoo.com.
OMNI and Community Events
Veggie Potluck
Upcoming Events

Jan 22 - WE Connection presentation 2:00 pm - Showing of movie "Thrive" Beginning early to allow time for the movie, a bit of conversation, and preparation for the Member Gathering. Jan 22 - don't forget the wow-level OMNI Members and Friends Gathering at 6:00 pm

Photo and video from OMNI meeting site: Preview with more to come after the event at the same URL Internet link.

Jan 25 - Visiting Tibetan Lama - 6:00 pm - Geshe Dakpa Togyal speaks at Fayetteville Library. Author, teacher, on Jan 25 he speaks on "Modern Ethics & Traditional Wisdom." His visit concludes Jan 30 with a talk at UA on "Nonviolence." More info coming.
Jan 28 - Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks Annual Member Meeting - 3:00 @OMNI Center. Everyone invited.
Feb. 19 HOWL moves to OMNI - 6:00 pm - After years of meeting at Nightbird Books (love 'em), HOWL will now move to OMNI on 3rd Sunday evenings. Wonderful women writers will read their own or somebody's fascinating writing. Everyone welcome to listen in.
Feb 26 - Climate Change Book Club - 2:00 pm, Fay Public Library Walker Room. Discussing the book "End of Growth." You do not need to read the book to join in.

Preview video short take to run for the coming seven days on Fayetteville Public Access Television

2012-01-20T15:08:00.000-06:00

Graveside service for Robert Williams at 2 p.m. today

2012-01-19T10:18:00.000-06:00

Visitation ends at 11 a.m. at Beard's Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville.

Obama does the right thing

2012-01-19T00:36:00.000-06:00

Dear Aubrey,

Thank President Obama for
Rejecting Keystone XL
and Standing Up to Big Oil

Huge news!
The Obama administration announced that it would deny a federal permit for the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, which would run 1,700 miles across six US states bringing toxic, highly corrosive tar sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries and ports in Texas.

The president stood up to Big Oil, backed by the voices of hundreds of thousands of activists just like you, who have built the movement to stop this dirty, dangerous oil project.

Thank President Obama for standing up to Big Oil and rejecting the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

I want to also thank you, our grassroots activists, who have worked so hard to get us to this point. This is a huge victory and proof that while Big Oil may have more money, we have what matters: the voice of our communities. Our victory is a victory for the boreal forest, for the Sand Hills and the Ogallala aquifer and for the protection of our climate.

Unfortunately, the fight is not over. Over the coming weeks we will need to work hard together to defend the decision to deny Keystone XL. Big Oil companies have launched an all-out assault on the president for not doing their bidding on Keystone XL. We will undoubtedly see a barrage of misinformation on Keystone XL from Big Oil in the form of flashy ads attacking the president.
Thank the president for rejecting Keystone XL and tell him that we aren't fooled by Big Oil.

Big Oil says the pipeline would ease our pain at the pump? Nope. This is a fight about oil company profits. The pipeline will actually raise gas prices in the Midwest by 10 to 20 cents a gallon, hurting American families and American farmers and putting a damper on our fragile economy.¹
Oil companies say the pipeline wouldn't spill? Not buying it. The last pipeline that was built like this spilled over 12 times in the first year of production.²
The oil lobby touts the economic boom and national security benefits from the project. The truth is the job numbers have been inflated and the tar sands oil is destined for export to Europe and Latin America from refineries in a Texas free trade zone -- i.e. no taxes collected.³

Now is the time to speak truth to power, to support the president's decision and push back against Big Oil's lies about Keystone XL. Thank President Obama for rejecting Keystone XL.
Thanks for all you do to protect the environment,

Sarah Hodgdon
Sierra Club Conservation Director

P.S. We need as many people as we can get to send this message to President Obama. Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues.

Homework for those attending or watching Tuesday, Jan. 17, city-council meeting in Fayetteville AR

2012-01-16T11:27:00.001-06:00

Jim Bemis comments at this link.

Please join us at Martin Luther King Jr. holiday events Monday, January 16, 2012, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. List linked below

2012-01-15T21:42:00.001-06:00

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in Northwest Arkansas

Martin Luther King Jr. celebration IN 2009 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, included unveiling signs renaming Sixth Street to honor the civil-rights leader

Please click on images to ENLARGE view of unveiling of Martin Luther King Boulevard Signs at Razorback Road and the former Sixth Street

Fayetteville City Attorney Kit Williams rode up in a lift bucket to remove the cover from the newly installed signs, giving the change his full legal blessing.
In the crowd photo, Ernestine Gibson, president of the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. planning committee is speaking to the group.

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Preview of shortakes to run next week on public-access television in Fayettevile AR

2012-01-13T16:29:00.000-06:00

New York City's stormwater-management rules upgraded: Can Fayetteville match the NYC model?

2012-01-13T11:03:00.001-06:00

New York City's Urban GreenCouncil (a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council) Web site celebrates advances in Department of Environmental Protection stormwater rules.

Stormwater Management As Mother Nature Intended

January

11,

2012

Russell

Unger

The same day last week the City Council helped us all breathe easier with a new law on chemicals in carpets, the Department of Environmental Protection released its new stormwater rule that encourages natural rainwater detention and retention, along with accompanying design guidelines. “Natural” here is not being used like the labels on cleaning products – here we are talking about honest to goodness mother nature. Rather than send rainwater to concrete tanks, sewers, and treatment plants, the new DEP rule encourages onsite reuse and natural infiltration.
It’s hard to overstate how much of a “180” this rule and the Green Infrastructure Plan represents for DEP, at least in terms of the principles involved. Until very recently, the only stormwater approach that mattered to DEP’s water engineers were those that could be measured in tanks and pipes. While we all know rainwater can be absorbed in the ground, directed into a rain barrel, and retained by a green roof, it wasn’t that easy to measure this capture. So it didn’t count at all for DEP. It does now.
The new rule is not a panacea for those who favor green infrastructure but is still a big step forward. The rule drastically reduces the allowable runoff from new construction and major reconstruction (a 90% reduction from previous limits). DEP will consider a range of approaches to reduce runoff including vegetative cover, green roofs, and permeable pavement. It will also consider open-bottomed detention systems that allow infiltration. Owners are required to provide maintenance for these systems so they work as intended. And finally, new developments next to a waterway must send rainwater into the waterway (rather than the sewer system).
Taken together, this rule implements 4 Task Force recommendations:

SW 2: Reduce Stormwater Runoff From New Developments
SW 4: Send Rainwater to Waterways
SW 5: Encourage Innovative Stormwater Practices
SW 6: Maintain Site-Based Stormwater Detention Systems

Another good day for green codes and a great way to kick off the New Year!

National Cemetery noisy as destruction of the Sale Barn and removal of the debris continues

2012-01-11T18:52:00.000-06:00

See Fayetteville National Cemetery site on Flickr for many photos of the area. Also, please see National Cemetery Neighbors and Friends Web log for more selected items.

Sierra Club's Ozark Highlands Group meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. today at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street in Fayetteville

2012-01-10T10:55:00.000-06:00

Sierra Club meeting tonight in Fayetteville. Details at link.

My shortakes running this week on Fayetteville Public Television

2012-01-09T18:55:00.003-06:00

Annual gathering of friends and members of OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology set for January 22, 2012, at a very special site

2012-01-05T20:04:00.004-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE for easy reading.

January 2, 2009, Lioneld Jordan was sworn in as mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

2012-01-01T18:25:00.000-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

December 20, 2011, meeting of Fayetteville AR city council draws comment on several important local issues on a 3-hour, 37-minute video

2012-01-01T01:54:00.000-06:00

Blue Jay's cries attract Dec. 31, 2011, attention at World Peace Wetland Prairie in Fayetteville, Arkansas

2011-12-31T14:18:00.003-06:00

Picture OK, sound of bluejay good

Blurry picture, clear sounds of Blue Jay

Please see Christmas bird count by Audubon members as reported by Joe Neal

Slide show on video to run Jan. 1-5, 2011, featuring cats, dogs, birds, butterflies, native wildflowers, bad development sites both old and new

2011-12-30T15:28:00.000-06:00

Cardinals the most photographed Christmas-card birds in the U.S.

2011-12-28T22:12:00.000-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

A decade ago, we had a lot of pets: Lauren must have used photoshop to get this many of them to pose in downtown Fayetteville

2011-12-26T11:48:00.002-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE decade-old Christmas card:

Fuzzy white rabbit enjoys having nails clipped before devouring his vegetable buffet: Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T15:13:00.003-06:00

White with black spot member of O'Feral family lurks nearby waiting for feeding time

Please click on images to ENLARGE.

Photo by Lauren D Hawkins

Storm enjoys peaceful, cold, sunny Christmas 2011

Lauren pets sleepy Storm on Christmas 2011

Arkansas fans enjoy Razorback's win over Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on December 22, 2011, at Bud Walton Arena: Tech fans appeared to enjoy everything but the final score

2011-12-23T11:43:00.002-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

Family members of a couple of Tech players drove up for the game in Fayetteville in photos above and below.

If everyone read this single book review, the way land and water are managed in the development process could be corrected in a hurry

2011-12-20T06:53:00.004-06:00

'Keep the water where it falls' might summarize the message of 'Blue Revolution: Unmaking America's water crisis' by Cynthia Barnett. Bruce Ritchie on the Floridaenvironments.com Web log
reviews the work and comments on previous books by the author.

Second take on shortake file video shares photos and comments on wet-prairie destruction north of Fayetteville's Holiday Inn Express PLUS Environmental Action Committee video of Dec. 8, 2011, meeting covers diverse subject list, including the prairie-destruction issue near the end

2011-12-16T09:37:00.012-06:00

More than 100 photos of mounded wet prairie parcel proposed as site for convention center on north side of Holiday Inn Express available on Flickr near bottom of urban infill set. A sample of the photos appears below the meeting video. Discussion of the site occurs near the end of the meeting. A slide bar at the bottom of the video allows a person skip over discussion of other subjects.

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

View east shows tiny wooded-wetland tree-protection area on low corner of several acres of remnant of mounded wet prairie.

Mowing vegetation out of swale that carries water north to a creek unnecessary and harmful.

Healthy habitat important especially where it also protects watershed

Existing tree-protection area is best place for natural swale and sheet-flow surface water to soak in.

Ditch and pipe from existing Holiday Inn Express parking lot exemplies outmoded high-impact water management

Existing stormwater pipe causes erosion of big ditch that sends dangerous flow to swale along road toward creek, increasing erosion and flooding of downtream property.

Natural swale through wet prairie takes water to low, wooded wetland at NW corner of property

Park Board allows acceptance of money in lieu of land that will result in more habitat destruction on Hollywood Prairie despite plea to preserve wetland

2011-12-13T22:50:00.001-06:00

Slide show on video to be shown December 12-16 2011 on Fayetteville AR public television

2011-12-12T21:51:00.000-06:00

Trailside Cafe and Tea Room closing on Friday after three years of providing excellent food and tea of high quality

2011-12-12T09:55:00.001-06:00

Bad economy kills another great small business in Fayetteville.

Date: December 11, 2011 5:44:34 PM CST

Subject: Trailside Cafe closing

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

Dear Friends and Patrons –
Trailside Café and Tea Room will be closed starting Friday, December 16. We hope to find a buyer who will keep the place going, but in the meantime we want to let you know that for our last week we will try to serve all our regular menu items EXCEPT there will be no further plate lunches.
All retail items including bulk tea, Christmas baskets, teaware, and books will be 20% off.
More announcements will follow regarding new ownership.
Featured dessert this week (while supplies last) is Rhubarb Cobbler. Come on by!
We have greatly appreciated all the wonderful people we have met in the last three years. It’s been an exhilarating experience serving delicious food and introducing quality tea to our patrons. Thank you for your input and generous patronage.
Sincerely,
Denele Campbell, Kadie Campbell, Jeb Campbell, Deste Campbell, and our excellent staff.
Trailside Cafe & Tea Room

Donna and Kelly bring a few friends to the stage late in their Still on the Hill winter concert at Mike Shirkey's place on Block Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Dec. 10, 2011

2011-12-11T00:36:00.003-06:00

Dr. Paige Mulhollan, Kelly's father celebrated birthday night of this concert. Dr. Mullhollan served a term as president of Wright State University
1985
Dr. Paige E. Mulhollan becomes the university’s third president. Faculty members Thomas Whissen and David Garrison compose the Wright State University Alma Mater, performed for the first time at commencement.

Joe Neal's presentation with slide show from new book, 'In the Province of Birds: A Memoir from Western Arkansas,' fills the seats at Nightbird Books on Saturday, December 9, 2011

2011-12-09T23:55:00.004-06:00

Please click on individual images to enlarge. Check this Flickr link for more fans of Joe Neal.

Susan Young of the Shiloh Museum was among the several writers on hand for Joe Neal''s 'In the Province of Birds.' She wrote a wonderful book on Tontitown that was published about a year ago.

Bryan Welch and Hershey Garner chat near end of Welch's book-signing on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at Fayetteville AR public library

2011-12-06T21:38:00.004-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

youtu.be/Lcjc2qvS01s
Utne Reader editor describes changes in past 300 years.

November 14, 2011, quarterly Mayor's Town Hall meeting video

2011-12-06T11:09:00.002-06:00

Mayor's town-hall video Nov. 2011

Bryan Welch shares thoughts from his book, Beautiful and Abundant, at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at the Fayetteville Public Library

2011-12-05T23:53:00.003-06:00

OHG is pleased to present Mr. Bryan Welch, author of the book, Beautiful and Abundant, on Tuesday (TOMORROW), December 6, at

6:00 pm in the Walker Room of the Fayetteville Public Library.

I am writing to let you know that we have another big name in sustainability coming to Fayetteville on December the 6th. On December 6th Bryan Welch will share his insights with the Northwest Arkansas community and sign copies of his book, Beautiful and Abundant, at the Fayetteville Public Library at 6pm. Bryan Welch is also the Editorial Director of Mother Earth News and The Utne Reader. The Ozark Headwaters Group Sierra Club is honored to host this event as an opportunity to share the empowering message of Bryan Welch with the community. Mr. Welch believes that humanity needs a collective positive vision to inspire constructive engagement and positive change. In his new book, Beautiful and Abundant, he explores the power of human visualization and offers an engaging and practical method for building a collective vision of human sustainability one person – and one endeavor – at a time. Again, this event is Tuesday, December 6th at 6pm in the Fayetteville Public Library Walker Room.

Please use this link to read a sample from the book.

Please come join us and invite your friends. All are welcome!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joanna Pollock

OHG Sierra Club Programs Committee

Buy the Book

Humanity's definitive challenge: Sustain our quality of life on Earth.

While we fight about short-term environmental obstacles and debate symptoms and solutions, societies fail to offer positive incentives for change.
We need a positive vision for humanity’s future to harness the full power of human imagination and community initiative. This is where Beautiful and Abundant comes in.
Learn how to make your lifestyle more sustainable, and learn how to look beyond immediate obstacles toward humanity's destination: a world that is aesthetically beautiful, economically abundant, ethically fair and irresistably contagious.
-Bryan Welch
Author, Beautiful and Abundant

In his compelling book Beautiful and Abundant, Bryan Welch challenges us to reframe our most pressing environmental challenges into a transformative, equitable vision of the future. His rich blend of practical strategies, poetic narrative, and deep curiosity will engage and inspire anyone intent on living a better life today - and creating a sustainable legacy for generations to come.
- P. Simran Sethi, Emmy award-winning journalist and Associate Professor of Journalism, University of Kansas

Joe Neal introduces 'In the Province of Birds' at 7 p.m. December 9, 2011, at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street in Fayetteville AR

2011-12-05T11:04:00.001-06:00

Hi Aubrey -- just wanted to let you know that Half Acre Press has a new book out from Joe Neal, In the Province of Birds, in case you'd like to mention it on your blog. There will be a booksigning and slideshow/bird talk by Joe at Nightbird Books on Friday, December 9 at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

Thanks,
Liz

---------------------------------------------------
Liz Lester
479-236-0992
Liz Lester Design
lizlesterdesign@yahoo.com
www.lizlesterdesign.com

Half Acre Press
liz@halfacrepress.com

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

Fracking causing quakes, says company doing the fracking in Great Britain

2011-12-02T23:55:00.002-06:00

Confessions of a Fracker

Nature photos on next week's video include frost flowers from this week and last year

2011-12-02T16:23:00.004-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE for easy reading.

Beignet, sopapilla made from same mix: Difference is whether the product is covered with powdered sugar or honey

2011-11-30T21:35:00.000-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

Monarch butterfly's life story on PBS right now!

2011-11-30T20:23:00.000-06:00

Monarchs' incredible journey on PBS right now!

Frost flowers the morning glories of first hard frost of fall

2011-11-30T09:30:00.001-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of Verbesina virginica frost flowers.

Verbesina virginica on Sept. 14, 2011, stem is frost flower in December

Ward Four meeting Monday included Fayetteville budget and several other subjects

2011-11-28T18:50:00.005-06:00

Please click on text in images below to ENLARGE for easy readying.

Planning Commission hears presentations on Kum & Go stores and Campus Crest (The Grove) apartment plans as well as proposed rezoning for Hollywood Prairie, a parcel listed on the Enduring Green Network endorsed by the City Council two years ago or more

2011-11-23T09:34:00.000-06:00

My takes recorded Monday to show next Monday through Friday on Fayetteville, Arkansas, public-access television

2011-11-22T15:56:00.002-06:00

Person who wants to remain anonymous contributes important message to share with people in Little Rock

2011-11-22T09:35:00.000-06:00

Dear Little Rock friends and folk who might forward this info on to Little Rock friends of their own----

Your water quality is being put in jeopardy by this decision of the Central Arkansas Water Commission, and you need to do something about it. EVERY one of you, IF, of course, you have any interest at all in what you put in your mouth and body.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/11/21/central-arkansas-water-meets-on-maumelle-zoning

http://protectarkansaswater.org/

These links should be forwarded to everyone you know that drinks water in Little Rock.

This "political compromise" by the Central Arkansas Water Commission is clearly one of the most stupid decisions possible in regard to water protection. If enough people call, write, and/or show up at the final decision making meeting(s), your right to clean water might have a better chance. The problem in not taking this personally and not acting on this issue is that no one knows what is "enough," when it comes to influencing the outcome of a vote by a governmental body, therefore everyone needs to voice their opinions. OR just show up and clap or give a hurrah when someone speaks for the watershed's protection. Don't take this "political compromise" of your health lying down.

Below are a couple of links to a great site about New York City's watershed. It is protected by forests, not eroding sediment into the water supply from subdivisions and roads, and it serves millions of people with relatively clean water. The water is tested constantly, and their watershed is understood as a filter and purifier, the total opposite of what the lame brains in central Ark are doing.

"The success of the program is one of the main reasons why New York City remains one of only five large cities in the United States that is not required to filter its drinking water."

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/watershed_regulations.shtml

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/about.shtml

Should you want anything less for your body, your city, and your state than what New York provides its citizens?

Get out there and fight these people, for heavens' sake!

Photos to be used in a short take to be recorded at 5 p.m. today at the public-access television studio on Rock Street in downtown Fayetteville: Got to record between 5 and 6 p.m. today because Fayetteville television center won't be open for the usual second taping of the week on Thursday. The employees will be thankful for the holiday

2011-11-21T15:26:00.003-06:00

Photos for a short-take to run next week on Fayetteville public television at this Flickr link Photos on public television next week.

Pony rides a part of Fayetteville's Lights of the Ozarks

2011-11-20T14:46:00.003-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE.
To view more photos from Saturday, November 19, 2011, at the Fayetteville Farmer's market on the square, please use this link. New photos appear at the bottom of the Fayetteville square set after one goes to the bottom and clicks on the latest page number.

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Markets

Downtown Fayetteville
April 2nd - November 19th, 2011

Saturdays
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tuesdays & Thursdays
7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
May - October

Sundays
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Mill District
May - October

Thursdays
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Newsletter

Sign up for our Newsletter Name: Email Address:

Contact

Managers

Market Manager
479.236.2910
fayettevillefm@gmail.com

Business Manager
joecanfield1@windstream.net

Asst. Manager
479.935.5111
fayettevillefarmersmarket@gmail.com

Board of Directors:

Chuck Rutherford, President
479.582.1967
crutherford@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

Mark Corley, Vice President
479.521.0578

Cheryl Buell, Secretary
479.634.7791
cheryl@buellpottery.com

Mark Priest, Treasurer
479.839.2248

Mark Cain
479.283.6527
drippingspringsgdn@gmail.com

Ken Fields 479-643-3825 ken3929@msn.com

Kim Kapity
479.466.9654 sycamorevalleyfarm@gmail.com

Paul Kong
479.225.5124
paulkong@live.com

Glenn Woelk 479.530.2627 gwoelk@rocketmail.com

Upcoming Events
Holiday Square Market Saturday, Nov. 19, Downtown Square Market t

7am-1pm Saturday, holiday gift items, all locally handcrafted, jams, honey, baked goods, meats, seasonal produce, decorations, cards and gift certificate stocking stuffers.

Thanks for voting us #5 in the Nation!

Holiday Market at the Botanical Garden
Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 10am-3pm at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Fresh evergreen decorations, holiday baked goods, gift items, furniture, art, seasonal produce, gift certificates for 2012, Santa and his Alpaca Reindeer photo op.
Fayetteville, Arkansas Farmers' Market
on Facebook

Flower, Garden and Nature Society to hear presentation by Steve Sampers, president of Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists: Maybe someone will ask him how to identify various flowerflies and how to tell a flowerfly from a solitary native bee

2011-11-19T00:19:00.004-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE for better view of Heirloom Italian arugala (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) with two individuals from different flower fly species nectaring and for easier reading of meeting announcement.

Arugala, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, offers extraordinary beauty, nectar for late pollinators and salad flavor hard to beat

2011-11-18T16:01:00.002-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of two species of flower fly nectaring on Diplototaxis tenuifolia, an heirloom variety of Arugala.

Fayetteville public-meeting list extra large today: Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods the important one for residents of the city who want to have their voices heard

2011-11-17T16:44:00.002-06:00

Please click on images to ENLARGE.

November 17, 2011

Fran Deane Alexander's presentation at Shiloh Museum draws retired and active journalists and fans of good journalism

2011-11-16T16:44:00.001-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.
For more photos, please scroll to the bottom of the Conservation Groups and People set on Flickr.

Report from Truthout on last night's events in New York

2011-11-15T10:29:00.000-06:00

Last night, I watched lower Manhattan turn into a militarized lockdown. The park known as Liberty Square was apparently cleared by force, though I arrived 20 minutes after the police barricades encircled a two-block radius, kicked out all media and prevented all foot traffic on public sidewalks surrounding the park.

This was expected. The emergency text message went out at 1:00 AM and read, "URGENT: Hundreds of police mobilizing around Zuccotti. Eviction in progress!" prompting a mass mobilization of people like me, part-time protesters who signed up to converge on the park for the looming police raid on the physical heart of the Occupy movement.

The police were prepared for this flood of bodies. Many subway stops were shut down, as was the Brooklyn Bridge. My go bag had been packed for weeks, waiting for just this moment. I laced up my boots, and spent an agonizing 20 minutes on the subway from Brooklyn.

Upon arrival in lower Manhattan, I struggled for about two hours to get to a position where I could see into the park, to no avail. From a block away, I saw massive piles of what used to be supplies dumped into waiting trucks. People's major concerns were two-fold: first, the health and safety of the occupiers locked in the camp; and second, the 5,000 books of the Occupy Wall Street library. What a picture it would be (maybe it exists) of police in riot gear gathering boxes of donated books and loading them into garbage trucks. A perfect metaphor for what appears to be the intention of last night's raid: destroying the body of knowledge that had been collected by a movement just two months old, which was built by collective effort, literally from the ground up.

After four hours of wandering in groups and alone on the dark, empty streets of lower Manhattan, Foley Square, a park rich with the history of labor struggles in New York City, became the rallying point. After a short discussion with the handful of police on hand, Foley Square was determined to be a safe zone - for the time being.

Here I sit, watching the pulse of the Occupy Wall Street movement strengthen. Stories of arrests are being exchanged over a breakfast of apples and muffins. A sleepless crowd is beginning to be reinforced by New Yorkers from around the city as the morning news streams images of a camp turned back into a barren, soulless corporate park known as Zuccotti. But the drums are back. The spirit and the idea of the Occupy movement has only been strengthened. Today is the end of the beginning, and what has been built cannot be disbanded. Now, we stand at the beginning of the next phase, looking into the eyes of the people who created a new consciousness and a new politics.

Today is November 15, 2011, a beautiful day tainted only by the physical harm of those who left their blood and sweat on the cement of Liberty Park.

Please support Truthout as we cover this revolutionary history in the making. We're skating on the edge and we need you there with us. Can you make a donation so we can continue this vital coverage?

Mayor's town-hall meeting provides lots of important information for Thanksgiving and Christmas: Watch it on Government Channel later this week and next week

2011-11-14T22:59:00.002-06:00

Please click on images to ENLARGE. See more photos on Flickr

Overall winner of Veterans' 5 K was far ahead of the pack: Link to final results and numerous photos have been added to this post

2011-11-12T11:24:00.002-06:00

Please click on images to Enlarge. More photos from the event are being uploaded on Aubunique Flickr site. Took all afternoon. 2011 5K photos near bottom of set on final page of that set.
Complete official results added.

Town Branch Neighborhood fought apartment plan hard in 2009

2011-11-11T17:42:00.003-06:00

Shortakes for 21-25 November 2011 say goodbye to summer and fall and reluctantly welcome winter

2011-11-11T01:16:00.000-06:00

Fayetteville: The Superstar among the shining stars of Arkansas

2011-11-09T17:55:00.003-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE for easy reading.

After receiving successive Shine Awards, Fayetteville received the first Superstar Award

After accepting the award for the city, Mayor Lioneld Jordan stands with a few of the many stalwart supporters of keeping Fayetteville the leader in Arkansas environmental action

High water after rain in Northwest Arkansas as seen at confluence of West Fork of the White River and the Town Branch of the West Fork

2011-11-08T23:08:00.002-06:00

Election today (Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011) important to future of Arkansas and adds no new tax

2011-11-07T10:59:00.001-06:00

dayGovernor Beebe has called a special election for this Tuesday, November 8, giving Arkansans an opportunity to modernize our Interstates, support jobs, and improve economic development — all without raising taxes.

The Interstate Rehabilitation Program will continue the successful 1999 Interstate rebuilding program by authorizing the Arkansas Highway Commission to re-issue bonds for Interstate maintenance. The bonds will be paid by future federal funds and the existing 4¢ diesel tax approved by voters in 1999. No new taxes and no increase in existing taxes will be necessary to rebuild over 400 miles of Arkansas Interstates.

Join with Governor Beebe and support the 2011 Interstate Rehabilitation Program this Tuesday, November 8. By voting FOR the bond issue, we can make Arkansas Interstates smoother, safer, soo

Did you feel the earthquake in Fayetteville at 10:50 or shortly thereafter Saturday, October 5, 2011?

2011-11-05T23:10:00.002-05:00

Even birthday a great day to do a short take on Fayetteville Public Television: This nature video runs Nov. 7-11 on Cox Cable 218 and U-verse 99

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The Arctic Inuit and Climate Change lecture by Carlos Velazquez from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at Fayetteville Public Library brought to you by Omni Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology's Climate Change Task Force and the Ozark Highlands Chapter of the Sierra Club

2011-11-02T21:41:00.004-05:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE.
More more photos from the event, please go to Flickr: Conservation Groups and People and scroll near the bottom of the set for this new event.

Video below also available on You Tube direct link at Aubunique channel

Send email
FindTo Sierra Club - Arkansas Chapter

Ozark Headwaters Group Sierra Club and the OMNI Climate Change Task Force will host Mr. Carlos Velazquez, a renowned environmental educator. 
Mr. Velazquez will share with our community from his unique experiences living with the Arctic Inuit People. 
 
On Thursday, November 3rd from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Walker Room at the Fayetteville Public Library. 
 
Carlos Velazquez has lived among the Inuit people to gain deep understanding of how climate change has severely, altered their way of life. 
 
He will present: "The Arctic Inuit: A Harbinger." 
 
This event is free and all are encouraged to attend.

Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods elects officers in October: Video embedded below

2011-11-01T20:18:00.003-05:00

Whooping Cranes need your HELP now

2011-11-01T11:01:00.002-05:00

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Halloween delight

2011-10-31T19:38:00.002-05:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

Shortakes recorded Monday, October 24, and Thursday Oct. 27, 2011, to broadcast on Fayetteville Public Television 218 on Cox Cable and AT&T Uverse next week: Preview now

2011-10-28T18:58:00.001-05:00

Honeyvine milkweed pods green now but will mature and open to display their mature seeds in coming weeks, so please let them mature before picking

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Please click on individual images to ENLARGE views of Cynanchum laeve seed pods.
For scientific description, please see Missouri link.

Monarch caterpillars often eat milkweed seed pods when foliage has already been eaten or when leaves are wilting

Milkweed aphids compete with monarch caterpillars and might have destroyed this pod had I not gently mashed and removed them

Honeyvine milkweed pod turns reddish brown as seeds approach maturity. Caterpillar may have eaten part of this one. The pod will split along the deep line soon. Leaves in photo are those of plant the milkweed vine has climbed. Vine dies back after frost and new vine rises from roots in spring.

A few green leaves of the Honeyvine milkweed still green on October 28, 2011, but may not be green after tonight's frost. After pods mature and are collected for seed, vines may be cut down in winter. They do not damage fences or shrubs or trees or trellises they climb. The clumps of tiny white flowers offer nectar to many species of butterflies, bees and flower flies in summer and foliage feeds monarch caterpillars.

Council of Neighborhoods elected officers at 6 p.m. meeting. Please don't fail to attend and run for office next year for the coming year or nominate somehow or just vote yes or no on the three suggested by the nominating committee

2011-10-27T16:34:00.003-05:00

Richard Russell new president of Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods. Don Connor, chairman for the past two years, is now vice chairman. Stan Lancaster reelected as secretary/treasurer.

Blue and snow geese working over the lights of Fayetteville at 11 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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What a wonderful pre-coldfront night in Northwest Arkansas.

Tiny white native wild orchids show up big on October 26, 2011

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Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and identify exact species if you can!

One huge old tree to remain near sale-barn property corner but second one slated for destruction along with many old trees in the wetland floodplain along the Tanglewood Branch riparian zone

2011-10-24T08:35:00.001-05:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for even better view of trees near Fayetteville National Cemetery main gate.
For more photos, please see Tanglewood Branch set on Flickr and Fayetteville National Cemetery set on Flickr. Some pages from the current plan for Campus Crest student apartments appear at the bottom of the second Flickr page on the National Cemetery. Try this link. Page 2

Adella Gray announces candidacy for seat in Arkansas House of Representatives

2011-10-22T16:30:00.002-05:00

Short video to run Oct. 24-28, 2011, on Cox 218 in Fayetteville AR and on AT&T Uverse 99 in Northwest Arkansas cities

2011-10-21T18:09:00.002-05:00

Fayetteville National Cemetery continues to expand to South Hill Avenue thanks to RNCIC, but one-source stories never tell the rest of the story: Housing for low-income people destroyed and watershed of Beaver Lake damaged while developers plan to build huge student-apartment complex along the eastern edge of the National Cemetery

2011-10-19T23:09:00.003-05:00

Flickr set of National Cemetery photos includes many pages of Campus Crest plan for student apartments on sale-barn property and demolition of houses on S. Hill Avenue.

More information and photos at National Cemetery Neighbors and Friends.

Story from KNWA Fox 24 Website:

Cemetary to Expand Again

Wednesday, October 19 2011

The Fayetteville National Cemetery is one step closer to another expansion after the demolition of a house Wednesday.
The house was the last to go in a strip of four lots on Hill St. purchased by the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation.
"When we buy a lot, we have to clear it," says RNCIC President Ron Butler. "There can be no buildings left on it, all the cement work has to come out, and all the utilities have to come out of the ground."
The corporation then gives the land to Veteran's Affairs, so they can conduct a site survey before excavating and installing burial vaults. Butler says the process takes time before the site is usable.
"You're looking at probably four to five years right here from where we're standing," he says.
The new addition is next to the last expansion, which added close to 1,300 vaults, but Butler says the RNCIC isn't done working.
"These folks average better than one funeral a day," he says. "It doesn't take long to get it filled up."
It does take time to raise the funds to purchase more property, though. The organization is a non-profit, run by volunteers, and Butler says he could use some help.
"We're getting old," Butler says. "We need younger people, every organization does."
He says anyone interested can become a member, or donate through their website.

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view and for easier reading.

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for easier reading.

Migrating birds fleeing the cold front fill trees in our yard and on World Peace Wetland Prairie at dusk

2011-10-18T21:20:00.002-05:00

First true cold front of fall brings snow and blue geese over Fayetteville just as light rain finally begins to fall after hours of thunder and lightning went north, south, east and west of south Fayetteville: Canada geese have been bunching up and flying around Fayetteville's remnant prairies and ponds for more than a month

2011-10-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

Male box turtle now prowling World Peace Wetland Prairie in search of a mate

2011-10-17T20:52:00.001-05:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view. Click on Enlargement for closer view.

Three-toed box turtles

Larry Lowman, former owner of Ridgecrest Nursery in Wynne, Arkansas, addresses Flower, Garden and Nature Society at 10 a.m. on native success stories by a southern nurseryman at NTI in Springdale while Celebration of Trees continues at Fayetteville downtown square

2011-10-15T09:57:00.002-05:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for even easier reading.
More photos from tree-giveaway during Fayetteville's Celebration of Trees at Flickr.
Permanent link to photos from Fayetteville downtown square and town center.

Longtime park-department employees out before dawn preparing to give trees to Fayetteville residents

Fayetteville residents happy to get native plants for their yards

Celebration of Trees Event

The City of Fayetteville and the Urban Forestry Advisory Board will be hosting the annual Celebration of Trees October 15, 2011. Trees to be given away this year include Pin Oak, Swamp White Oak, Willow Oak, Bald Cypress, White Dogwood and two shrubs including Arrowwood Viburnum and Oakleaf Hydrandea. The giveaway will begin at 7:00 am on the Town Center Plaza. You must show proof of City of Fayetteville residency to pick up your plants.
This event continues a twelve year tradition of providing citizens with plants that beautify the landscape and provide community benefits such as air pollution reduction, stormwater peak flow reductions, reduced soil erosion, oxygen production, increased property values as well as psychological benefits such as reducing crime, aiding hospital patients with quicker recovery rates and increasing children’s attention span.
2011 Celebration of Trees
Bald Cypress Tree Fact Sheet Hydrangea and Viburnum Shrub Fact Sheet Pin Oak Tree Fact Sheet

Swamp White Oak Tree Fact Sheet White Flowering Dogwood Tree Fact Sheet Willow Oak Tree Fact Sheet

Brief video recorded October 10 & 13, 2011, to run October 17-21 on public-access television in Fayetteville AR

2011-10-14T17:32:00.000-05:00