Greetings,

The newsletter's primary purpose is to help people learn about events and initiatives related to sustainability in Central Wisconsin.

If someone you know would like to receive the Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter by email, they can sign up by entering their email address in the green box on our sustainability web page at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/sustainability.html.

Starting in this edition of this newsletter, we feature a few businesses in central Wisconsin that are moving toward sustainability.

Here is our recent sustainability news as well as a list of upcoming events.

Businesses Moving Toward Sustainability...

Thanks to Janis Borski for interviewing businesses for this newsletter. If you would like to nominate a business that is moving toward sustainability to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, email Lynn Markham at lmarkham@uwsp.edu

Copps’ East Side sustainability efforts, Stevens Point, WI
Based on an interview with Brian Bender, Store Director, January 2009

• Recycle bins for plastic and paper bags at all entrances.
• Sell cloth bags for $0.99 HOWEVER responding to customer request in just a couple weeks they will be offering cloths bags in small, medium, large sizes.
• If you bring in your own container/bag from home for your groceries they will give the customer $.05 for each home container they fill.
• Some but not all Copps stores are working on changing out lights to CFLs.
• Plastic bags are from recycled material.

Wal-Mart's sustainability efforts, Plover, WI
Based on an interview with Terri Ohlson, Co-Manager, in January 2009

• The ceiling lights in the store automatically turn off and/or go down when the natural light in the store is strong enough. The natural lighting comes from skylights throughout the entire store.
• The numbered lights at all the cash registers are now CFL lights.
• All employee vending machines no longer have any advertising lights in them.
• Wal-Mart and multiple vendors have combined sustainability efforts. Many vendors now deliver less days per week then previously. Wal-Mart has made accommodations in their store to be able to safely store larger quantities of products and the vendors now save on fuel, time, and their carbon footprint.
• There are recycling bins for plastic and paper bags at all entrances.
• All plastics bags used in the store are from recycled plastic.
• Wal-Mart sells cloth bags for $1.00 throughout the store.
• Arbor Tree Day – Last year Wal-Mart personally delivered thousands of trees to the elementary schools in Stevens Point. This year they are extending their outreach program to the surrounding communities. They anticipate donating and personally delivering approximately 20,000 trees to students to take home and plant this year.
• Use of paper bags at cash registers.

Recent Sustainability News...

Portage County Parks Department sustainability projects
The Portage County Parks Department has been reducing fuel consumption since 2001 by purchasing smaller pickup trucks and reducing mowing. In 2000 almost 14,000 gallons of fuel were consumed by the Parks Department and that was reduced to around11,000 annually by 2002. Mowing has been reduced by almost 20% and tree plantings, shoreline restoration and natural re-vegetation has occurred.

In 2006 an outdoor wood boiler was installed at the Jordan Park office/maintenance facility. Wood from hazardous tree and oak wilt disease removal heats the facility.

Late in 2008 the Parks Department contracted with Sand Creek Consultants to design solar energy system for the Jordan Park office/maintenance facility. The feasibility of implementing this will be determined once the design is completed.

In addition, the Parks Department has budgeted money to start replacing the Jordan Park maintenance facility shop lighting with more energy efficient lighting in 2009.

Marathon County Bike and Pedestrian Plan
The Marathon County Metropolitan Planning Commission met Tues, Jan 13th and unanimously approved the Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub-Committee's “Bike and Ped Plan.” For over a year, this sub-committee has worked to create a plan for bicycle and pedestrian trails in the Wausau Area. Working with Reed Dunbar (of Scheiber-Anderson Assoc of Madison), the committee's plan evaluated bicycle and pedestrian routes and trails to determine areas of need. The plan also includes new route and trail plans, educational and safety plans, and time tables to help municipalities plan for the future.

The approval of this plan will allow the committee and governing bodies to work together on the desired projects. Grant requests have and will assist with the implementation of some parts of the plan. Some improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians have already been noted and include:
   -   Striping of some roads with bike lanes
   -   Widening of some roads to include bike lanes
   -   Bicycle racks on MetroRide buses
   -   The bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Wisconsin River connecting Rothschild and the Town of Rib Mountain

This list is just some of the improvements, but there are more. With the plan as a guide, the hope is to make our community a more bike and pedestrian friendly community.

The plan may be viewed on-line at: www.saa-madison.com/WAMPOindex.htm

Marshfield receives award to develop a sustainable energy plan
On January 14, Governor Doyle awarded over $400,000 in grants to 23 community groups working to create a “25x25” Plan to meet the Governor’s goal of generating 25 percent of the state’s electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025.

In central Wisconsin, Marshfield recently won one of these awards to create a plan to meet Governor Jim Doyle's 25 by 25 initiative. The $28,000 grant will be used for developing an energy independence plan as well as to conduct educational activities both with City staff and the general community.

To view the Governor’s press release, go to http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=3898 
For more information about the Energy Independent Communities Partnership, go to http://power.wisconsin.gov/section.asp?linkid=1238&locid=131 

Other sustainability news from Marshfield
A compact fluorescent light bulb give away will be conducted at the 2009 Cultural Fair in Marshfield on Saturday, February 28th. More than 1,500 light bulbs were purchased to distribute throughout the community.

Check back on the City of Marshfield Web site for an updated Sustainable Marshfield Section. The new content will inform the community and interested stakeholders about our initiatives as well as our 2009 updated strategic directions.

2008 Christmas Bird Count records 48 species
The Stevens Point Audubon Christmas Bird Count held on December 20 recorded 48 species, down from the high count of 53 in 2007 and 2005 but far above the low count of 33 tallied in 1976 and 1962. The 10-year average remains at 48 species. Thirty-one birders in eight field parties covered 586 miles by car and 14 miles on foot. Four birders covered an additional 52 miles listening for owls in the pre-dawn chill, and seven volunteers tallied birds at backyard feeders.

Hybrid guru leads seminar in Stevens Point
Hybrid Guru Chris Schneider presented a seminar on alternative fuel vehicles at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Thursday, January 29. The event, which included two hybrid display vehicles, a Columbia Mega Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) and Honda Civic GX Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle was sponsored by the UWSP Sustainability Task Force and drew university and regional community attendees.

Schneider showed a video on alternative fuel vehicles and fielded questions along with several experts in the electric and natural gas technology field. As president of International Motorwerks of La Crosse, Schneider is able to put his mechanical engineering degree and his love of hybrid vehicles to work every day. He is known nationwide as a proponent of environmental change and education.

3rd Annual Wisconsin Local Food Summit
The 3rd Annual Wisconsin Local Food Summit was held January 8th and 9th at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. 145 were able to attend and help to make this event a success. Much was learned, many contacts were made and many plans for continuing local food system development were established.

New at the summit this year was a session which highlighted the producers and local food projects of the Heart of Wisconsin region, our host region for this summit. That panel included Michael Hittner of Family Natural Foods, Brian Ruesch of Ruesch Century Farm Organic Cranberries, Sara and Larry Raikowski from Raikowski Farm and Eric Olson representing Central Rivers Farmshed who worked together to give an overview of the local food initiatives underway in the region. The session was moderated by Jasia Steinmetz, also an active member of the Central Rivers Farmshed. Central Rivers Farmshed is a nonprofit community group in central Wisconsin which promotes and educates about local foods.

New Central Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas available
Volume 2 of the Central Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas will be available to the public, free of charge in early February, 2009. The Atlas connects local, sustainable farming operations with buyers and marketing/distribution venues through a convenient, folding map showing the locations, directions and descriptions of over 30 local farms, dozens of farmers markets and local businesses that support local sustainable agriculture. This is cooperative effort between Golden Sands RC&D, UW-Stevens Point, and local businesses. Atlases are available at Golden Sands RC&D at 1462 Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point and at many cooperating businesses and Chambers of Commerce.

Locally made rain barrels available
The cooperative Rain Barrel Sale program, sponsored by Golden Sands RC&D and the Portage County Master Gardeners, continues to show increased interest. To date, nearly 50 barrels have been sold locally, with more orders still being taken. The order form is at http://goldensandsrcd.org/downloads/rain_barrel_order_form.pdf.  If you would like to help with this project, contact Bill Ebert at 343-6214 or bill.ebert@wi.usda.gov

Stevens Point Area Neighborhood Gardens project enters its second year
The Stevens Point Area Neighborhood Gardens (SPANG) project will enter its second year in 2009, with a planning meeting tentatively scheduled for early February. The SPANG project, a cooperative effort between Golden Sands RC&D, City of Stevens Point, Portage County Master Gardeners, UW-Stevens Point, and a handful of dedicated volunteers; aims to work cooperatively with spirited people to make garden space available to those who want and need it for food production, solace, socializing, and increasing their (and their neighbors) sense of self reliance. To get involved with this project as a gardener or a volunteer contact Bill Ebert at 343-6214 or bill.ebert@wi.usda.gov

Stevens Point Travel Green brochure available
The Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau recently developed a brochure highlighting Travel Green certified businesses, other eco-friendly organizations and events, parks, outdoor recreation, and state owned/managed recreation areas http://www.spacvb.com/pdf/PC%20Travel%20Green.pdf.

Fountain, Pickerel and Wolf Lakes planning committee forming
Lake management plans are being developed for Fountain, Pickerel and Wolf Lakes in southeastern Portage County. The lake management planning process is designed to enable participants to learn about Fountain, Pickerel and Wolf Lakes, identify factors important to lake residents and users, and develop goals and objectives for each lake. Common topics include water quality, invasive aquatic plants, fishery, and/or shoreland habitat.

Committees for Lake Helen and Tree Lake are wrapping up lake management plans for those lakes. “We got involved with the Lake Planning Committee because we had a desire to do something positive for our Lake”, said Don and Pat Guth, members of the planning committee for Lake Helen. “We found the whole experience a very positive thing. We learned so much and this information will help us make better decisions”.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact Linda Stoll 346‐4853 or Jen McNelly 346‐2722 or send an e‐mail to pclakes@uwsp.edu . Citizens and the media are welcome to observe these planning sessions. Information on the meetings and plan drafts can be found at the Portage County website http://www.co.portage.wi.us/. Access the lake information by selecting the County Info tab, then Portage County Lakes.

Stange named educator at Mead Wildlife Area
Pamela Stange has been named the natural resources educator at Mead Wildlife Area. Tom Meier, project manager at Mead said “Pam is extremely dedicated and talented. She brings many ideas and innovative approaches to the Mead education program and will definitely be an asset to it.” Her main responosibilities will be coordinating on-site and off-site wildlife, environmental and renewable energy education as well as wildlife-based outdoor skills programs. Her target groups include K-12 and college students, teachers, adult groups, organizations, hunters, trappers and tourists visiting Mead. For more information about Mead educational programs visit www.meadwildlife.org/education.html.

Climate Change Summit in Stevens Point
The Climate Change Summit held in December at UW-Stevens Point featured the following local foods:

• Fruit breads - Prepared with vegetables and fruits provided by Cee Dee Acres in Portage County.
• Wild Rice Soup – Prepared with wild rice, grown and harvested by Sokaogon Ojibwa Nation, Forest City, Wisconsin.
• Apple Pies – Prepared with apples from Casey’s Orchard, Portage County.
• Cheese Wedge - Produced at Mullins Cheese, Marathon County.
• Cherry Pies – Prepared with cherries from Door County.

Upcoming Events...

February 2009

February 6
Solar Space Heating Systems – Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), Custer, WI

February 12, 7-9 pm
Crude Impact – MREA, Custer, WI
Third in a video/discussion series sponsored by Sustainable Stockton and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. All are welcome. We will provide popcorn, please bring your own beverage. MREA building, 7558 Deer Road in Custer

February 14, 9-11 am
Winter farmers market – Emy J's, Stevens Point, WI
Two local farms, Raikowski Farm (Meat products) and Malek Family Stewardship Farm (Produce), will join forces and set up a small indoor market. There will also be several other local made products. For more information, contact Chris Malek at 340-5366 or malekfarm@gmail.com.

February 17, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Sustainable Business Practices and Strategies: UW-Extension Webinar
Some businesses have embraced the idea of sustainability while others still reject it. Why have some companies resisted sustainability strategies? How can business leaders be persuaded to go further? What is the business case for sustainability? This session looks at how businesses can capture the opportunities associated with sustainability. It quantifies the benefits of business sustainability strategies and offers insights into how these advantages can be communicated to business leaders. Specific examples are used throughout the presentation. Offered at 4 central Wisconsin locations:

• Wisconsin Rapids - Courthouse Room 101 (Auditorium), 400 Market Street. FREE. Call (715) 421-8440 to register
• Marshfield - Room 101 UW-Marshfield/Wood County, 2000 W 5th Street. FREE. Call (715) 389-6520 to register.
• Wausau - 212 River Drive. $5 per session or $35 for the full series. Register by calling (715) 261-1241.
• Stevens Point - UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies, Room 104. FREE.

February 17, 6 pm
Home Energy Workshop – Portage County Public Library, Stevens Point, WI
Learn how to tackle your heating bills and help the environment. With the winter season upon us, there isn’t a better time to learn how energy is used in your home, and gain some tips on where you can save yet this year. This Home Energy Workshop is presented by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, with support of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Sustainable Stockton, Sustainable Stevens Point, UW-Extension Portage County, League of Women Voters, CAP Services, and Village of Park Ridge.

February 26
Solar Water Site Assessor Training - MREA, Custer, WI

February 26-28
MOSES Organic Farming Conference - La Crosse, WI
An extraordinary, farmer-centered event, the Organic Farming Conference is the largest organic farming conference in the U.S. In 2008, more than 2,300 people attended, with participants traveling from 37 states and 1 foreign country. Sponsored by the Wisconsin-based Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the conference is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community.
Contact: info@mosesorganic.org  715-772-3153
Website: www.mosesorganic.org/conference.html 

February 28, 9-11 am
Winter farmers market – Emy J's, Stevens Point, WI
Two local farms, Raikowski Farm (Meat products) and Malek Family Stewardship Farm (Produce), will join forces and set up a small indoor market. There will also be several other local made products. For more information, contact Chris Malek at 340-5366 or malekfarm@gmail.com.

March 2009

March 3, 5:30-8 pm Local Food Fair - Stevens Point Area senior High (SPASH) North Commons, Stevens Point, WI
Want to understand how local foods relate to community and personal health, food security and climate change? Interested to learn what community organizations are doing to address food issues in the Central Wisconsin? The event is free and open to all interested people. Contact: Jeremy Solin at 342-4643 or jeremy@farmshed.org.
Schedule:

• 5:30 - 6:15 - Potato bar served: Baked potatoes with toppings provided by local restaurants (free, donations accepted)
• 6:30 - 7:00 - The Emperor's New Food: An original production featuring local artists and highlighting local food's connection to our health, security, and climate change.
• 7:00 - 8:00 - Information and Networking Courtyard and desserts: Meet local farmers, sign up for CSA shares, learn about diverse organizations' local food- related efforts, and find ways to get involved in supporting local foods. Enjoy desserts provided by local restaurants.

March 3-6
Better Buildings: Better Business Conference - Wisconsin Dells, WI
In two short days you will learn: How to build homes that deliver the energy savings customers want. About renewable energy technologies that reduce energy costs. How energy efficiency and green building practices keep you competitive.
Contact: Phil Jahnke Sauer pjahnkesauer@ecw.org, 608-238-8276 x124
Website: http://www.ecw.org/university/ecuevent.php?ecuid=6. 

March 12, 7-9 pm
Power of Community - MREA, Custer, WI
Fourth in a video/discussion series sponsored by Sustainable Stockton and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. All are welcome. We will provide popcorn, please bring your own beverage. MREA building, 7558 Deer Road in Custer.

March 17, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Green Collar Jobs: Sustainable Work in a Low Carbon World: UW-Extension Webinar
Will future jobs be increasingly “green?” If so, what makes a job or an industry green? Is a green job a good job? What constitutes this “green economy” that we hear so much about these days? This session explores the nature of green collar jobs and their implications for business and community development. It looks at links with environmental concerns, efficiency considerations, and workforce (and employment) development in terms of education and skills requirements. Offered at 4 central Wisconsin locations:

• Wisconsin Rapids - Courthouse Room 101 (Auditorium), 400 Market Street. FREE. Call (715) 421-8440 to register
• Marshfield - Room 101 UW-Marshfield/Wood County, 2000 W 5th Street. FREE. Call (715) 389-6520 to register.
• Wausau - 212 River Drive. $5 per session or $35 for the full series. Register by calling (715) 261-1241.
• Stevens Point - UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies, Room 104. FREE.

March 17-18
Solar Hot Water System Design - MREA, Custer, WI

March 19
Basic Photovoltaics - MREA, Custer, WI

March 20
Basic Photovoltaics - MREA, Custer, WI

March 28
Energy Efficient, Environmentally Friendly Construction - MREA, Custer, WI

March 29
Sustainable Building and Living - MREA, Custer, WI

April 2009

April 1
The Solar Lifestyle: Intro to Renewable Energy - MREA, Custer, WI

April 8-10
Solar Water Heating Installation Lab - MREA, Custer, WI

April 17-19
Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival
Join us as we celebrate Central Wisconsin's Grassland habitats, a unique experience. Come to see Prairie Chickens do their mating dance, observe kestrels on their nests with a video camera, watch Master Bird banders band birds for research, and learn what you can do in your own backyard to benefit wildlife. These are just a few of the activities at the Festival. For more info see http://goldensandsrcd.org/pcfest/index.htm or call 343-6215.

April 21, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Local Food Networks: Food Localization as a Sustainability Strategy: UW-Extension Webinar
Localization strategies often characterize sustainability efforts. And nothing is more central to our lives than the food that we eat. Building a local sustainable food economy has implications related to local spending choices, nutrition and health, developing strong linkages between rural and urban areas, creating local jobs, land use patterns, and regenerating community. Learn about this rapidly growing sustainability strategy— through examples and best practices—and how it is helping to reshape our food system and our communities. Offered at 4 central Wisconsin locations:

• Wisconsin Rapids - Courthouse Room 101 (Auditorium), 400 Market Street. FREE. Call (715) 421-8440 to register
• Marshfield - Room 101 UW-Marshfield/Wood County, 2000 W 5th Street. FREE. Call (715) 389-6520 to register.
• Wausau - 212 River Drive. $5 per session or $35 for the full series. Register by calling (715) 261-1241.
• Stevens Point - UW-Stevens Point College of Professional Studies, Room 104. FREE.

April 23-25
Solar Water Heating Installation Lab - MREA, Custer, WI

June 2009

June 22-26
Midwest Regional Collaborative for Sustainability Education Workshop - Ashland, WI
The Midwest Regional Collaborative for Sustainability Education Workshop will be held June 22 to 26, 2009 at Northland College—located in Ashland, Wisconsin along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. The goal of this workshop is to create a space where people who have a shared interest in community-based sustainability initiatives can collaborate over an extended period to share ideas, find solutions, build innovations, and take action. Attend this workshop to learn from others’ experiences, share your own expertise, discover the power of systems thinking, explore transformative learning techniques, find a team of co-collaborators, and help us build a lasting learning community for sustainability education. All workshop participants will be eligible to seek seed grant funds to support innovate sustainability action strategies birthed at the workshop. Limited workshop scholarships are also available. More information can be found at www.mrcse.org.

Other

2009 grant program announced by Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
Multiple sustainability projects in central Wisconsin have received funding through these grants. The deadline for grant applications is February 14, 2009. For details, see www.uwsp.edu/cnr/weeb/grant-program. 

The End of Children’s Resale?
A new law will require testing of all items intended for use by children for high levels of lead and phthalates. Vendors of items not meeting the new standards will be subject to prosecution - including resale outlets. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) goes into effect February 10, 2009.

Resale outlets may be forced to close or no longer offer children’s items due to legal concerns. Other consequences of H.R. 4040 include additional strain on already overburdened landfills, as well as the environmental cost of producing and transporting millions of items of new merchandise rather than used.

The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops has a web page for those concerned about children’s resale: www.narts.org/SaveKidsResale. The page features a petition, a sample letter, as well as links to blogs about the issue.

If you would like an event you or your organization is sponsoring to be included in the Sustainability Newsletter, please send submissions to Center for Land Use Education

• Date, time, location, contact information, and a short description of the event.
• Send a brief justification as to why this event is relevant for the newsletter.
• Respond with "Sustainability Newsletter" in the email subject line.

Thank you and please forward this invitation to any who may be interested in advertising in the newsletter.