The Big Benford Show

Jamie Oliver has a new show on TV called Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Have you seen it yet? He’s doing some potentially amazing things for the community of Huntington, West Virginia. And the thing is, the problem isn’t just there. If you’d like to support the Food Revolution and sign the petition for better food in schools, go do it! Good on ya, Jamie!

I’m not quite sure what “special thing” I’ll do today for Earth Day but I have come to truely believe in the last few years that our home has an expiration date if we don’t consciously work at it, we’ll see that expiration date. I may not be the most resourceful person at it yet but I think about what else I can do almost every day…and put as many things into action as I can, as often as I can.

Living in Texas and being a band director, there are a few things that are difficult to do, like not driving myself everywhere all the time. I am really excited to see that there is a great possibility for a high speed rail system across the US (see below for planned major routes). According to The Austinist, one of those dots on the red line that meets the grey line in the middle of Texas is Austin!!

I’ve mentioned in the past about my garden and compost. New veggies have been planted and some of the peppers from last year are coming back. I started the 2nd box but it still needs more soil (I guess I forgot how much each box needs when I bought this year’s round of soil!) so I’m not sure I’ll get anything planted for the spring season but for sure, I’ll get something in there over the summer that I can harvest in the fall. A little reading must be done so I do this well.

I’ve started to replace light bulbs in my house with the compact flourescents and I even installed an automatic switch for the front porch light. I’m trying to be more conscious of water usage but when Pfema loves to play in the other bathroom sink as I’m getting ready in the morning, it’s hard not to let that faucet drip a little for that time frame. When I first bought my house 3 years ago (can you believe it’s been THREE years already?), the first thing I did was install a programmable A/C controller and I try to have that set quite conservatively, seeing as I’m not home as often as I’d like to be.

The next set of home projects I’ll be working on is finding somewhere I can regularly recycle (the trash companies available in my neighborhood either don’t recycle for my neighborhood or cost too much and take away so very little that it’s not worth it) and change the landscaping of my yard (both front and back) so that it’s more water conservative.

Little steps, folks. Little steps.

From Cathy Humphrey of AISD. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend either….

Diane Goryzcki Service(s) will be held:

Visitation - 6 p.m. Today and Friday
Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home
3125 North Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78705
Saturday, October 4
10 a.m. Interment at The Austin Memorial Cemetary
2800 Hancock Dr.
Austin, TX 78731
3 p.m. Episcopalian Church of the Good Shephard
3201 Windsor
Austin, TX 78703

A Musical Tribute to Diane will be held on her Birthdate at 3 p.m., Sunday, November 9 at the Hays Performing Arts Center. Please let me know if you would like to bring a performing ensemble.

Blessings,
Cathy Humphrey
Band Director, Covington Middle School
chumphre@austinisd.org
(512) 414-5397

Can we classify this as at all ironic? From an article in BizJournals sent to me by my friend Cathy T.:

Under California’s Prop. 65, consumer products that contain toxic levels of 1,4-Dioxane must have warning labels stating they may cause cancer. 1,4-Dioxane is typically produced as a byproduct when cleansing and moisturizing products are processed.

The suit, California v. Avalon Natural Products, also names as a defendant Austin-based Whole Foods Market Inc., which manufactures the 365 brand sold in the company’s stores. Beaumont Products Inc., maker of the Citrus Magic brand, and a Lakeport, Calif.-based company are also named.
The attorney general alleges the companies should have put warning labels on products containing high levels of 1,4-Dioxane, stating that they may cause cancer.

I got this email today. As a person who has lost at least one friend to suicice, I can attest that any help you can contribute is well appreciated.

Dear SPHS Band Directors,

Last October I lost a family member to suicide. My mother and I have decided to create a team in memory of my great-aunt Marilyn.

I would like permission to post a flyer in the band hall to educate and recruit walkers for our team and to raise donations. Below is the standard donation letter with more info on the community walk.

I will be joining with thousand of people nationwide this fall walking in AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

My personal fundraising goal is $150.00. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 30,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP’s mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.

I hope you will consider supporting my participation in this event. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP. Checks should be made payable to AFSP and are 100% tax deductible.

Thank you for considering this request for your support. If you have any questions about the Out of the Darkness Community Walks or AFSP do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Tyler R.

Please visit my Community Walk fundraising page if you would like to donate online or see how close I am to reaching my personal goal:

http://www.outofthedarkness.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=communityWalks.participant∂icipantID=123822