The Mile High Million Initiative is scheduled to plant trees in Autumn 2010 in Bear Valley, Capitol Hill , Goldsmith, Hampden, Indian Creek, Mar Lee, North Park Hill, Overland, Rosedale, Sloan Lake, Virginia Village, Wellshire, and Windsor neighborhoods have been selected by The Million Tree Initiative to participate in The Trees for Energy Savings Program. We will begin outreach for the autumn planting season August 27, 2010.

The Mile High Million has teamed up with Veterans Green Jobs to plant trees in neighborhoods across Denver. Trees planted on the west side of a home can reduce summer energy bills by as much as 24% by shading the home. If your home faces west, you may be eligible for a free tree.

Here’s how the program works:

• Contact us and let us know if you are interested in a tree. We can be reached by phone at 720-913-0681 or by email at million.trees@denvergov.org. You can also sign up with our online form.

• We will call and have your underground utilities marked.

• Veterans Green Jobs will visit your property to determine if there is space for a tree to be planted and to mark the location with spray paint and a flag. The flag will be labeled with S, M, or L to note what size class of tree will be planted.

• You will have one week to approve the tree location as marked; a non-response will indicate your approval.

• You will be notified of the time frame in which Veterans Green Jobs will plant and mulch your new tree.

• Water and watch your new tree grow!

If you would like a tree but your front yard doesn’t face west you can get a low cost tree from The Park People’s Denver Digs Trees program. To learn more about the Denver Digs Trees program visit their site at: http://www.theparkpeople.org/Programs/DenverDigsTrees.aspx

Contact us today for your free tree!

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Certification. The CCC is the largest building in Colorado to ever receive this certification and is one of the three largest convention centers in the nation to receive this certification.

Sneaker Mountain
Friday September 3
5:00 to 9:00 pm
Tenn Street Coffee & Books (north parking lot), 44th and Tennyson
Bring your old sneakers for reuse/recycling to either the Sneaker Mountain event, or drop them off at the Groundwork Denver office before Friday the 3rd. Walking and feet resources will be available, and a prize drawing for the person who is closest to guessing the number of sneakers in the pile.

Bicycle Exploration
Saturday, September 11
9:00 am to Noon pm
Cesar Chavez Park, 41st and Tennyson
You’re invited to free bike sessions for kids and women (9 to 10 am) and commuters (11 am). September is a beautiful month to ride around on two wheels, so give your bike one last go-over for the season. Hands-on topics covered: basic maintenance; emergency repairs; and equipment ideas. Then head over to the Tour de Fat (City Park) or the Bicycle Film Festival (Starz Film Center at the Tivoli). Biking resources available too. RSVPs* preferred.

Transit Rideabout
Saturday, September 18
3:30 to 4:30 pm
RSVP* by September 15th for starting location
Join us on a free guided tour by bus, light rail, Mall Shuttle and B-Share from Berkeley to Downtown, one-way or round-trip, ending with a complimentary refreshment at a local watering hole. If you’ve never checked out Denver’s bike share program or validated a light rail ticket, this is your opportunity to do it for free. Then you’ll know exactly how to get down to and back from the Oktoberfest on Larimer.

World Car-Free Day Movie
Wednesday, September 22
7:00 pm
The Comfort Café, 3945 Tennyson
Join the rest of the world in celebrating Car-Free Day by relaxing for the evening at the movies. The film hasn’t been decided on yet, and suggestions are welcome – we’re aiming for something light and entertaining. Complimentary refreshments provided.

* RSVP at 303-455-5600 or to Heidi@GroundworkDenver.org. Prize drawings and incentives available for project participants.
Ask us how to sign up!

Strive to Not Drive: Save time. Save energy. Save money. Spend them on living.

The Strive to Not Drive project provides people with personalized information, incentives and inspiration to make transportation decisions that measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This saves people time, energy and money that they can then spend on living. For more information, contact Groundwork Denver at 303-455-5600 or visit their website at www.GroundworkDenver.org.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring a National Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day on September 25, 2010. A nation-wide event will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction. This one day effort will bring national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical substance abuse, while providing a secure and environmentally-friendly outlet for disposal that will protect our water resources.

For more information and a list of locations, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/.

Sunday, September 12, from 10 to 2

Magna Carta Park (NE corner of Hampden & Colorado). 

Along with live music, the festivities in the park feature kids’ activities, free electronics recycling (with the exception of larger items such as TVs & monitors), and a vegetarian Brunch provided by City O City & WaterCourse Foods for $5 to $8.

Don’t miss this fundraiser for Revision International, specially prepared by JEFF OSAKA (Twelve Restaurant), JUSTIN BRUNSON (Masterpiece Delicatessen), SCOTT AND DEANNA PARKER (Table 6) , and ALEX SIDEL (Fruition Restaurant).

Location: Infinite Monkey Wine Theorom,

931 W. 5th Ave. Denver, CO 80204

Time & Date: Sunday, August 22nd 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Cost: $50 for food; Infinite Monkey wine available by glass or flight

RSVP: For reservations and to pre-pay for this event, please call the Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery @ 303.736.8376, respond before Friday to reserve your space!

Attire: Classy Casual

 This is a fundraiser for Revision International’s mission to empower local actions that lead to global sustainability.

DENVER DIGS TREES FALL SHADE TREE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW

Applications Due September 1

 DENVER, CO  – Although summer days are filled with lazy afternoons by the pool and picnics in the park, all that time in the sun may have many people wondering where to get a bit of shade.  Thanks to The Park People, the solution is simple; purchase a tree through the non-profit’s Denver Digs Trees Fall Shade Tree Program, sponsored by Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., and the City of Denver Office of Economic Development.  The trees are low-cost, and free for those who qualify.

 “The shade provided by yard trees cools our homes, reducing our energy use and saving us money,” says The Park People’s Kim Yuan-Farrell.  “Also, by cooling homes naturally, we can avoid emitting green house gasses, which helps fight global warming.”

 Trees purchased through this fall tree distribution must be planted on private property, and, unlike last year, there is no tree limit per household.  Trees are $25 each, or free for Denverites living in the following neighborhoods, selected for their low tree canopy:

Athmar Park, Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sunnyside, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood, and Whittier. 

Visit  www.theparkpeople.org for a list of available tree varieties and to apply, or call 303-722-6262.  Applications are due September 1, 2010.

You can access the map from the Residents tab and/or the Community tab on our home page – or click here

8:00 am-5:00 pm

CSU Learning Center, Denver, CO

Introduction to Green Roofs is a one day course offered on Friday, September 24, 2010 at the CSU Learning Center in downtown Denver.  Green roof systems are integrated into new construction and existing structures to benefit the overall performance of a building. This new introductory course trains participants to meet the growing workforce need for skilled green roof leaders. The course is facilitated by the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University and taught by Mark Fusco, LEED AP, GRP who works as a green roof consultant and has comprehensive green roof construction and horticultural experience.

The cost is $395.  Please click here for more information or to register: http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/HSLL/HSLL4030.dot

The Online Green Homes Certificate Program begins on October 4, 2010 and is offered as a self-paced course for twelve weeks.  This course provides graduates with a working knowledge of green building principles that are specific to residential environments and includes an overview of the best practices in a variety of disciplines.  Leading experts in the field of green residential building teach the course and offer practical green building solutions from a broad base of professional expertise.  This program is facilitated by the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State.  This course is approved for LEED credential maintenance (CEUs).

The cost is $1395 for registrations received before September 13, 2010 and $1495 after that date.  Please click here for more information or to register:  http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/HSLL/HSLL4013.dot