A World of Health: Connecting People, Place, and Planet

Join us for a 6 session discussion group that will focus on topics exploring the
intersection of human health and the environment. Weekly topics will explore
issues of personal health such as how eating organic food affects us and the
environment, how to help keep our living spaces healthy safe havens, the
impact of consumption on our lives and the environment, and how urban
sprawl and green spaces effect us and the health of our community and the
Earth’s ecosystems.

Monday nights, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM,
Feb. 21 to Mar. 28
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church,
717 Rugby Ave.
Charlottesville.

$22.00 fee for course guide.

Sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Task Force and the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club.

Facilitators: Deborah Judson-Ebbets, instructor of medicinal herbs, organic
gardening and landscaping and Barbara Cruickshank, RN, MSN Community Health.

Preregistration required. Please contact Deborah 296-9637, Barbara 973-0373.

For more information, go to:
http://nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/a-world-of-heath-con....

More than 50 owners have again emailed the Board of Supervisors to strongly oppose a proposal being pushed by our Supervisor Ken Boyd to add a large set of parcels across from Ashwood Boulevard to the Growth Area, the first step toward potentially dense development of them including big box store, hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial space and hundreds of new residences. Previously, over 100 residents from the Forest Lakes Community signed a petition in opposition which was delivered in person to the BOS, and over 100 other comments from the public were submitted, leading to the temporary withdrawal of the proposal by Mr. Boyd. However, he has subsequently flip-flopped and has put it back on the table and seeks to push this added growth/development concept through, despite widespread public opposition - ironically as part of the Places 29 plan that is designed to reduce traffic congestion.

Artist Aaron Fein has made the national flags of many countries using only white thread on white cloth. Each national flag is identifiable. Yet, their identical color shows the commonality of the world’s people. Come and help Aaron finish the flags of the world. Sewing machines and ironing boards will be provided, as well as instructions. You are welcome even if your skills are presently nil. Join this artistic effort to promote world peace. You will find it fun and inspiring. The complete project is currently scheduled to be displayed locally and at Vassar College.

Join us on April 2nd for the first annual SARA Three-for-All, which will be the world's largest three-legged race! We will meet downtown at McGuffey Art Center at 10am for performances, t-shirt decoration, and other activities, then head to the Downtown Mall at 11am for the race! People of all ages are welcome, as we will have separate categories for varying ages.

The event will benefit SARA, the Sexual Assault Resource Agency.

To register, please visit www.saracville.org .

An art show will be held the night before - for more information about submitting a piece, please visit http://www.saracville.org/call-for-artwork-for-the-sara-three-for-all/

Interfaith Pray for Peace Gatherings

Ongoing, falling on the last Thursday of each month as noted in the schedule below.

UPCOMING DATES::

> Thursday, January 22, 2011, 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Host: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist
Location: 717 Rugby Rd., Charlottesville
www.uucharlottesville.org

> Thursday, February 24, 2011, 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Host: Baha’i Community of Charlottesville
Location: Unity Church Meditation Room, 2825 Hydraulic Cir.
www.bahaicommunity.org

> Thursday, March 31, 2011, 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Host: Harmony Center of the Blue Ridge (Sufi Order International)
Location: Unity Church Meditation Room, 2825 Hydraulic Cir.
Harmony Center of the Blue Ridge website.

> Thursday, April 28, 2011, 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Host: Jewish Renewal Community of Charlottesville
Location: Unity Church Meditation Room 2825 Hydraulic Cir.
www.geshercenter.org

> Thursday, May 26, 2011, 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Host: Sojourners United Church of Christ
Location: 1017 Elliott Ave., Charlottesville
www.sojourners-ucc.org

A Faith Dialogue on Peace with Hajjah Amr Rasheed of the Islamic Study Center in Charlottesville.

During her 10 years in Charlottesville, Hajjah Amr Rasheed has been active in the local mosque and helped create the Islamic Study Center where she teaches the Koran, oversees mentoring and after-school tutoring for refugees, and organizes outreach and social justice advocacy. She has participated in the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice and is one of the co-founders of Interfaith Pray for Peace.

Hajjah Amr Rasheed will provide an introduction to Islam, presenting the basic tenets of Islam and the tradition's teachings on peace and reconciliation, including the practice of zikr, the chanting of an Arabic phrase affirming the unity of God. Listening circles will be facilitated to heighten experience and understanding. Refreshments will be available.

see: http://interfaithcooperation.org/events/

Sojourners UCC
2:00-4:00 PM

Please contact decision-makers !

January 16, 2011

Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club

YET ANOTHER WATER PLAN ACTION ALERT

The long-running water plan controversy may be coming to a head. Charlottesville City Councilors and Albemarle County Supervisors will meet to discuss their differences at 2 PM Tuesday afternoon at the Albemarle County office building. The Piedmont Group urges members and friends to email
members of the Albemarle Boad of Supervisors(bos@albemarle.org ) before the meeting. Please ask supervisors to consider amendments to the water plan
that include: 1) capacity-restoring dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir 2) an aggressive program of water conservation 3) only phased increases of the dam at Ragged Mountain. We believe that a water plan incorporating the above amendments will far better serve Albemarle County's
policy commitments to environmental protection and community sustainability.

In September, Charlottesville City Councilors passed a resolution calling for amendments to the water plan. The water plan amendments proposed by the Council included capacity restoring dredging, water conservation and phased
dam raising. Since then, Albemarle County Supervisors have expressed resistance to any changes in the existing plan. Council has been under pressure to give up on its proposed amendments. Emails to the City Council(council@charlottesville.org ) encouraging them to stick to their proposals can help.

Please join in on the effort to bring our community the better water plan it needs and deserves. Every email, even two sentences long, counts. For further information, contact: Tom Olivier, Piedmont Group Chairman ( email:
cruz.olivier@gmail.com; tel. 434-831-2408 )

Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We value Dr. King’s philosophy and seek to commemorate his life and enduring legacy during events planned January 16-27. Along with community partners, student and academic organizations we are planning a number of exciting events during this year’s celebration. We hope to see you at many of them. Your participation and feedback are welcomed.

Please go to http://www.virginia.edu/mlk/ for information regarding Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, and the complete program planned for this celebration.

We hope you can join us for the MLK Celebration at Central United Methodist Church at 0630pm on Jan 17.Our monthly ACPJ meeting will also be held at 630pm to 730pm in the Connections Room (downstairs) at Central United Methodist Church on Jan 18th.Please join us.

Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice
P.O. Box 1063
Fishersville, VA 22939
540.885.6858
acpjva@gmail.com

Naturalist Dan Bieker will use pictures and words to describe our native species. He will offer suggestions on the best locations for viewing wildlife in our area.

Refreshments and door prizes provided by the Sierra Club.