learn how to make a rain barrel

Brought to you by UW Extension and Sustainable Green Bay:

Rain Barrels: Learn how to make a rain barrel to conserve water

Aug. 25

Green Bay Buses Equipped with Bikeracks

From the City's website:

Mayor Schmitt took a bus ride to demonstrate how easy it is to take your bike with you. Buses are now equipped with bike racks which
will hold two bikes. The Mayor demonstrated the ease to secure your bike and remove it at the end of your bus ride. The bike racks were partially funded by a Federal grant to encourage the use of bikes in combination with public transit. These new racks make it easy for metro system passengers to use the many recreational trails, as well as bike to and from bus stops to their final destination.

Green Bay Metro website

The bike racks are actually pretty cool and very easy to use. Yesterday I took the bus to where I get my haircut because I figured it would be common courtesy when I got there to not be all sweaty and then I rode my bike home. The bus driver hollered at me for not putting my back in the spot closest to the bus. That is VERY logical, but I was nervous as this was my first time. Put your bike in the rear position so that there is room for another one in front. He did NOT have to honk and yell at me thought.

I have seen many bikes on the racks. People are using them!

PLEASE help me win a prize by going to this link to pledge to

"Downshift Your Driving" !!

Also, someone emailed me this interesting article the other day:

The Year Without Toilet Paper

Air Alert for August 2

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an Air Quality Watch for Both Ozone and Particulates effective Thursday, August 02, 2007 12:01:01 AM through Thursday, August 02, 2007 11:59:59 PM for Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties.

The watch is being issued because of the forecast for elevated levels of both ozone and fine particles in the air. Ground level ozone is formed when pollution from power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust and volatile organic compounds chemically reacts with hot temperatures, high humidity and atmospheric stagnation. Fine particle pollution is composed of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and o ther industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires.

The Air Quality Index is forecast to reach the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality watch is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities during the watch period.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Ground level ozone can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, aggravate asthma and chronic lung diseases, a nd, over time, cause permanent lung damage. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

To receive air quality advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/newsletters/.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

• Reduce driving when possible and don't leave vehicle engines idling.
• Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.
• Minimize outdoor wood fires.
• Conserve electricity.

For more information:

• Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov
• DNR's statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov/wisards
• For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/staff/regions.htm