Plant Extravaganza to Benefit DCCG

Neighbors and Friends,

You are invited to a PLANT EXTRAVAGANZA!

 

A WHAT?   

It’s a give-away of free plants for your garden or home.  

Come peruse the Hostas, many types of Succulents, Iris (blue & white), Snake plants, Wild Geranium, Hardy Hibiscus, Lamb’s Ear, Pink Yarrow, Spiderwort, Variegated Liriope, Raspberries, Ivy, …and more!

Take as many as you can carry!

 

WHEN?

Friday, June 26     3:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 27    10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 28    1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

 

WHERE?

Outdoors in the front and backyard at the home of Linda Slabon & Toni Tollerud:  1622 Carlisle Lane, DeKalb  (If it rains – Garage open and bring an umbrella!)

That house with the huge garden and tons of flowers.  It was on the DeKalb County Garden Walk in 2018.    Come stroll in our gardens!

Please wear a mask and follow social distancing.  We will have some hand sanitizer and wipes out for use.

 

A free-will donation to DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) is appreciated.

DCCG addresses food insecurity by providing food for those in need throughout DeKalb County.  With the job loss due to Covid-19 the need has increased exponentially.  Your contribution will help.  

Two for one! Lunch & Learns on our food system and the ICC

The IEC weekly Lunch & Learn series will feature two fantastic discussions this week, and you’re invited to attend!

Each session is free and open to all, so please join us and pass this information along to those in your network who might also be interested.

Our Food System & COVID: How to improve security and resilience
Tuesday, Jun 16 at Noon via Zoom | Click here to register.
Our presenters will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed fractures within our food chain and how shifting towards a decentralized food system that strengthens local food infrastructure and increases accessibility can create a much more resilient agricultural system.

Presenters: Liz Stelk of Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Rodger Cooley of Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Sean Ruane of Advocates for Urban Agriculture, Anton Seals of Grow Greater Englewood and Erika Allen of Urban Growers Collective

Illinois Commerce Commission and the Environment
Friday, June 19 at Noon via Zoom | Click here to register. 
Commissioner Maria Bocanegra will present on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), a quasi-judicial body made of five appointed commissioners that makes decisions related to regulating Illinois utilities. She will review the role of the ICC with respect to environmental issues and the process the ICC uses to make decisions. CLE is available to Illinois attorneys.

You can register for Lunch & Learns on other upcoming topics as well by clicking here.
 

Job Opening Solid Waste Coordinator

Cook County seeks a Solid Waste Coordinator to supervise the solid waste facility regulatory, inspectional and enforcement unit, as well as to lead the County in solid waste policy and planning.  Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to Deborah.stone@cookcountyil.gov.  The job description can be found at: 

https://www.cookcountyil.gov/file/14774/download?token=l41We_Wi.  Salary commensurate with experience. Supervisory experience greatly desired.

Bureau of Human Resources

118 N. Clark Street, Room 840 Chicago IL 60602

Job Code:                  2227
Job Title:                   Solid Waste Coordinator
Salary Grade:            21

Bureau:                     Administration

Department:              Environmental Control & Sustainability

Dept. Budget No.     161

Position I.D.             9502177

Shakman Exempt

                                                        Characteristics of the Position

General Overview

Under the general supervision, confers with and reports directly to the Environmental Control Director. Coordinates solid waste planning efforts of suburban Cook County municipalities. Supportive of the department’s role in solid waste management (i.e. disposal, recycling, and source reduction of solid waste materials). Interacts with EPA officials, local solid waste agencies, and local municipalities in order to coordinate waste information, and to apprise the Director of status/progress on various projects. Provides expertise relative to the County’s business procedures through review of the Cook County Solid Waste Management Plan, in terms of long range goals, to address solid waste problems in an environmentally safe and financially feasible manner. Effectively recommends advisories of proposed legislation which are forwarded to County officials in accordance with priorities established in conjunction with the Environmental Control Director.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Coordinates implementation of the Cook County Solid Waste Management Plan for suburban municipalities located within the County of Cook.

Represents the Department at public hearings in matters related to solid waste.

Liaison with EPA officials, local municipal officials, and local solid waste agencies in regards to solid waste matters.

Reviews proposed solid waste legislation and prepares advisories which are forwarded to appropriate County officials.

Assigns workloads, per permit applications filed or complaints received, to environmental control inspection personnel; monitors their work activities as to collection of material samples and to completeness of supportive inspection documentation relative to environmental pollution.

Conducts investigatory environmental pollution inspections in the field, wherein previous environmental inspections reported non-abatement of asbestos emissions or dust emissions, to assure compliance to the rules and regulations of the Department of Environmental Control and in conjunction with State and Federal environmental protection laws.

Trains new environmental control inspection personnel in regards to the policies and procedures of the department.

Responds to a 24 hour call back respective to all disasters and hazardous material incidents.

Represents the Cook County Department of Environmental Control in matters related to asbestos containing material removal, demolition of structures, and hazardous material; provides assistance to the general public pertaining to the aforementioned.

Maintains liaison with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies and local organizations relevant to asbestos containing material, demolition of structures, and hazardous materials; attends scheduled meetings with said agencies respective to the denoted subject matter.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Environmental Control Ordinance of Cook County respective to asbestos containing removal, demolition of structures and hazardous material.

Knowledge of State and Federal environmental protection laws as related to air pollution.

Skill in sampling procedures and use of portable equipment utilized in environmental pollution control.

Skill in communicating both verbally and in writing with the general public respective to mandates of environmental protection laws.

Skill in preparing comprehensive written reports relative to investigatory environmental pollution inspections.

Ability to supervisor and coordinate work activities of the assigned personnel to carry out the objectives and goals of the department.

Ability to train staff members in the policies and procedures of the department.

This position requires various types of physical exertion, including but not limited to lifting, pulling, pushing, climbing, and moving objects of moderate to heavy weight.

This position requires moderate to extensive travel to work assignments throughout Cook County, for which the employee must provide his or her own adequate means of transportation.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree PLUS a minimum of one (1) year of professional work experience in related field OR, an equivalent combination of professional work experience, training and education.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in urban planning, environmental engineering, or related field.

Five (5) years professional work experience in environmental control solid waste management.

Physical Requirements
Sedentary Work
Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

Virtual STEM Cafe June 24 Backyard Wildlife

Our next Virtual STEM Café is Backyard Wildlife: Urban Ecology and Conservation, scheduled for June 24, 2020, online via Adobe Connect at 6PM.

American toads, blue-spotted salamanders, red foxes and coyotes all make their homes in urban or suburban areas, including DeKalb and the Chicago suburbs.  Find out how scientists study these animals and how humans and pets can safely coexist with them at the next Northern Illinois University Online STEM Café with John Vanek, Ph.D. Candidate in the NIU Department of Biological Sciences. For log-in details and to register for this free two-hour event, visit go.niu.edu/backyardwildlife. Please spread the word! I have attached the flyer.

John Vanek is a wildlife biologist and urban ecologist. He has a B.S. in Wildlife Science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, an M.S. in Biology and is currently a doctoral candidate in Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University. His doctoral research focuses on the ecology and conservation of urban wildlife in the suburbs of Chicago. 

John Vanek will discuss urban wildlife ecology and conservation, especially species that are common in urban areas and those secretive species that thrive in urban areas but that few know about (such as coyotes).  He’ll share ways to coexist with backyard wildlife, how to attract backyard wildlife that is wanted and how to dissuade unwanted backyard wildlife. Vanek will also share photos that he has taken during his research and will discuss how scientists use motion triggered cameras to study urban wildlife. Vanek says the audience might be surprised to learn that coyotes are not the big bad wolf and that they are much smaller than most people think. 

“Wildlife science is about balancing the needs of humans and wildlife,” says Vanek.

To register for this free, 2-hour event, go to go.niu.edu/backyardwildlife. You’ll receive a link to the event in your confirmation email. Click the link to join the meeting by 5:50 p.m. The online room opens at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation begins promptly at 6 p.m. On a computer, the Chrome browser works best, and you will be asked to download the Adobe Connect app. For tablets and mobile phones, go to your app store and download the Adobe Connect mobile app before attending. You’ll be able to listen to the speaker and have a chance to type in your questions. John Vanek will speak for an hour.  The second hour will be questions, answers, and audience comments. If you would like specific instructions for connecting, see attached.

This STEM Café is sponsored by NIU STEAM, in the Northern Illinois University Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, in partnership with the DeKalb Citizens’ Environmental Commission.

For more information, contact Judith Dymond, Ed.D., at 815-753-4751 or email jdymond@niu.edu. Learn more about NIU STEM Cafés at go.niu.edu/stemcafes. 

NIU Virtual STEM Cafe June 3

Join us for a lively discussion about how businesses are meeting the challenge of the current economy.  Find out how consumers are interacting with businesses, and what permanent changes we can expect. Our experts will discuss the creative ways in which businesses large and small, rural and urban, are responding to the current challenges and innovating for the future. Please spread the word! I have attached the flyer.

We will have four speakers for approximately one hour, followed by discussion from our audience.  You may send in questions ahead of time if you would like to my email, but you will be able to write in your questions and comments during the first hour. 

At the virtual STEM Café you will hear from experts: 

 Mya Pronschinske Groza, Ph.D., NIU Associate Professor of Marketing;

Carl Campbell, Ph.D., Chair of the NIU Department of Economics; 

 Norman Walzer, Ph.D., Senior Research Scholar at the NIU Center for Governmental Studies;

 Federico Sciammarella, Ph.D., President of MxD in Chicago.

To register for this free, 2-hour event, go to go.niu.edu/thriving. You’ll receive a link to the event in your confirmation email. Click the link to join the meeting by 5:50 p.m. The online room opens at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation begins promptly at 6 p.m. On a computer, the Chrome browser works best, and you will be asked to download the Adobe Connect app. For tablets and mobile phones, go to your app store and download the Adobe Connect mobile app before attending. You’ll be able to listen to the speakers and have a chance to type in your questions. I have attached “how to” instructions to this email for those who have not already downloaded Adobe Connect. 

For more information, contact Judith Dymond, Ed.D., at 815-753-4751 or email jdymond@niu.edu. Learn more about NIU STEM Cafés at go.niu.edu/stemcafes

Adobe Connect Setup for STEM CafeGetting ready to attend a webinar in Adobe Connect from a personal computer.
1. Testing your computer
Use the Chrome browser (preferred).
Open your Chrome browser and go to:
https://niuonline.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_te st.htm
If you have not previously installed the Adobe Connect app click on "Install Adobe Connect” this will install the desktop app. Note, the Adobe Connect app is completely free!
Next “Run Diagnostic Test” to make sure you have adequate internet speed. Most home networks should be able to access a meeting without any issues. If you experience issues connecting or dropping out of the meeting you will want to close extra applications and browser tabs during the meeting.

 

From Firefox – if you are using Firefox the diagnostic requires Flash to be enabled in your browser.

2. Opening Adobe Connect
   You are now ready to attend an Adobe Connect webinar. To access the meeting, paste the webinar URL into your Chrome browser. When it asks you to launch the Adobe Connect app click on “Open Adobe Connect” and the app your previously installed will load on your computer. If it gets hidden behind your browser you will find it on your taskbar. Look for the following icon.
3. Configure Audio for Adobe Connect
   It is always a good idea to log into a webinar a little before the start of a meeting to check your audio.
   First, make sure you have turned on your speakers with your system controls to hear the webinar.
   To test your audio:
   Click on the “Meeting” menu in the top left corner, then select “Audio Setup Wizard” and go through the steps to test your sound.

 

Click ‘Play Sound’ button

You should be able to hear the audio playing through your speakers or headphones.

If you can’t hear the music playing in the “Wizard” check to make sure your speakers are plugged in, and your volume is turned up on your computer settings.
You can skip the microphone test since participants of the STEM Café will not be using this feature. Questions can be submitted through the Q & A pod.
Back in the main window, make sure the speaker icon on the top menu bar is green.
If not, click on it and it will turn green. You can also adjust your speak volume if needed by clicking on the arrow next to the icon and selecting “Adjust Speaker Volume”
4. Troubleshooting audio
If you cannot hear the audio close the browser (click X to exit out of the browser). Open Chrome and repeat Steps 1 – 2
On your home network you may want to use the regular wifi (not 5G Wifi). For the best results plug into your home internet (wired connection).

Invite - LEED Training Special - Illinois - Summer Online Webinars

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training

Due to the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus, this has been transitioned from all in-person workshops to scheduled live webinars, or you can take the on-demand self-paced online workshop any time accessible for an entire year. Starting this week, the exam can now be taken online too!

Webinar and Online self-paced options:

There will be live webinars offered that can be streamed on any of the following dates:

1.      June 6 2020 – 2:00PM – 6:00PM EDT

2.      June 25 2020 – 5:00PM – 9:00PM EDT

3.      July 11 2020 – 1:00PM – 5:00PM EDT

4.      July 29 2020 – 5:00PM – 9:00PM EDT

5.      August 23 2020 – 1:00PM – 5:00PM EDT   -   OR   -

6.      September 12 2020 – 2:00PM – 6:00PM EDT

The above options are identical to the in-person workshops. 

You can register here for a webinar - https://leadinggreen.com/webinars

Online – Start today - Self-paced recorded workshop

Or take the on-demand recorded course completed at your own pace here - https://leadinggreen.com/online

Take advantage of your summer to make your resume stand out with the LEED Green Associate, the only professional designation to show employers and clients you have certified knowledge in the field. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is simply a sustainability scorecard for green buildings. Buildings can become LEED Certified as can people!

To date, this course and its materials have proven to be instrumental in helping over 9000 students pass their respective exam at a 99% pass rate. This course is offered at a quarter of the price and time as the competition and allows students to graduate with letters after their name!

This course is instructed by a USGBC Faculty member and is the most effective way to pass. The USGBC charges a $100 (reduced for students) fee for the actual exam which can now be taken online from home. Save money by reserving your spot today and make a positive difference in your career! 

Cost: $200

Students can use the coupon code ‘green’ for $50 off (Discounted course price $150)

To register for a live webinar please visit: https://leadinggreen.com/webinars

Or online on-demand here -  https://leadinggreen.com/online

Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at info@leadinggreen.com