You can RSVP for the workshop here.

Thank you!

Day Without a Bag Event

On December 15th (Thursday), Heal the Bay will be hosting its annual Day Without a Bag event throughout LA County.  Heal the Bay finds sponsors who are willing to donate thousands of reusable bags; these bags are then distributed with the help of volunteers.  This year, the Coalition will participate and help to give away free reusable shopping bags.

In light of City Council’s recent direction to pursue a carryout bag ordinance that will ultimately ban plastic bags in many stores, we want to take this opportunity to engage with the public and get the word out.

We are working vigorously to partner with local grocery stores to table in front of their establishments, but we’ll need volunteers to man the booths.  We imagine 2 people per location - bring a friend or let us know you are signing up solo - we’ll match you with someone fun!  We’ll provide you with bags, a table, and informational material (to be included in the bags).  There will be two time slots that you can choose from, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (to cover the lunch-hour), and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (to cover after-work rush).

The more volunteers we can get to sign up, the more locations we will be able to cover.  For that reason, the locations are yet to be determined - we will work with you to find a convenient location about one week prior to the event.  We’ll also take that opportunity to meet with you one-on-one to give you bags, do a very brief orientation, and answer any questions you have. 

If you are interested and would like to help or have any questions, please let us know by Saturday, November 26th, and indicate the time slots when you are available.  This is an important event for Glendale.  Join us!

In 2010, the California State Legislature buckled under pressure from the American Chemistry Council’s lobbying power and voted down a bill that would have banned plastic bags statewide. The bill’s defeat prompted local government to voluntarily impose their own regulations.

Manhattan Beach spearheaded the current effort by cities back in 2008. They were challenged by the so-called Save the Plastic Bag Coalition to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact report. The lawsuit landed before the CA Supreme Court, which unanimously concluded earlier this year that cities do not have to conduct the arduous and expensive EIR for every plastic bag ordinance.

Now that the threat of a potential lawsuit has been lulled, cities are seizing the opportunity to reduce litter and protect our local ecosystems. With your help, Glendale can join the following cities/counties in putting an end to plastic bags:

San Francisco, Long Beach, Malibu, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Santa Cruz, County, Marin County, Los Angeles County, San Jose, Calabasas, and Manhattan Beach.

The following cities are currently considering a ban as well:

Pasadena, Palm Desert, Huntington Beach, and San Mateo County.

The trend is clear and the answer is obvious. We ask members of the Coalition and all Glendale residents to stand up and show support for the city’s effort to go green and eliminate an ongoing issue of litter and environmental degradation in our community.

Take Action – We ask that you show up at City Hall on Tuesday, October 25th, 6 p.m. City Council wants to hear from the community. There will certainly be pushback from those who are okay with the status quo. Can we count on you?

If you are unable to attend the meeting, voice your opinions to council members via phone or email:
citycouncil@ci.glendale.ca.us, lfriedman@ci.glendale.ca.us, anajarian@ci.glendale.ca.us, dweaver@ci.glendale.ca.us, fquintero@ci.glendale.ca.us, manoukiancouncil@gmail.com.

Open letter to the City Council

Join us on June 25th at 10 a.m. with Jeff Spurier on pest management!  If you have a vegetable garden at home or plan to have one this will be essential for sharing knowledge among gardeners and hearing some tips from an expert!  Jeff Spurrier is a Master Gardener, trained at the University of California Cooperative Extension.  Jeff contributes his services to communities, sharing his knowledge and expertise.  We are excited to have Jeff back with us to learn more insightful information about our gardens. 

When a leaf does not look right, we try to figure out what is wrong, why is it curling, is that rust, is that mildew, as we closely monitor our gardens.  Then there are those holes in the leaves, and even worse, what bored the holes into our vegetable?  Now we can find out the answers!  And, we can learn tips on preventative measures that can be taken!  This is very valuable information for those growing vegetable gardens. 

Parking:  Please park with caution.  It’s recommended to park on Coronado.