bookmark_borderLocal Artist Springs into Spring

Philadelphia painter, muralist and landscape artist, Paulette Bensignor annouces the opening of her latest exhibit,
Spring 2010 Landscapes, at the Tyme Gallery in Havertown PA.

The Tyme Gallery is located at
17 W. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA 19083, 610-853-1215, www.tymegallery.com
hours: Tue – Fri. 10am to 6:30pm, Sat. 10am-4pm

For more info contact Paulette at (610) 664-0972.

bookmark_borderNational Junior Tennis League Celebrates 40th Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join us on Friday, August 13, 2010 as Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL).

We are marking the longevity of NJTL. This celebration honors its founders and key program leaders as well as four decades of players and staff.

The USTA/National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network is a nation-wide group of community tennis organizations seeking to develop the character of young people through tennis and education. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, this growing network of tennis providers share similar values, ideals, and goals by:

-reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play tennis -instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence -giving all kids (regardless of income, race, gender) the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a life time of enjoyment from the sport.

NJTLs are unique because they offer a variety of on-court programming and also educational and life-skill components designed to enhance a player’s overall development. These educational components are diverse in nature, but can vary from things like mentoring, drug and alcohol counseling, to things like computer skills training, health and nutrition, and college preparation.

The NJTL is a great way for kids to get exercise, make friends, and have fun in a team-oriented and safe environment.

Read More…

bookmark_borderZoo and EPA Work Together on Sustainability

PHILADELPHIA (April 22, 2010) – At a signing ceremony today, the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, joined EPA’s Sustainability Partnership, a voluntary program that helps organizations reach their environmental goals.

EPA’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin, and Dr. Andrew Baker, Chief Operating Officer for the Philadelphia Zoo were on hand for the signing.

“We’re pleased that the Philadelphia Zoo is collaborating with EPA to become more sustainable. The zoo has a tremendous plan in place already, and we look forward to working with them as they implement additional measures to help make Philadelphia a more sustainable city,” said Garvin.

“The Philadelphia Zoo is thrilled, on this 40th anniversary of Earth Day, to team up with the EPA to celebrate and strengthen our outreach about environmental awareness,” said Dr. Baker. “Whether implementing green practices on site and encouraging our million plus visitors to do the same, replanting forests or rescuing amphibians and other species from extinction, the Zoo is committed to being a leader in global conservation, and working together with the EPA will only strengthen those efforts.”

Today’s signing ceremony took place at the zoo’s PECO Primate Reserve next to the Orangutan and Creatures of Habitat exhibit to highlight a new carbon-offset program called FootPrints. When some people travel, they choose to buy carbon credits to off-set the greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emitted by their travel. These funds, through FootPrints, go to reforestation to maintain the orangutan habitat in Borneo. FootPrints is a Philadelphia Zoo program that EPA is promoting to regional transportation partners.

In joining EPA’s program, the zoo has committed to finding more ways to help the environment. Zoo officials have already completed a sustainability audit and implemented several environmental awareness programs.

Since 2008, the zoo has reduced its overall water usage by more than 50 percent and continues to integrate water reuse systems and sound storm water management practices on its site. The zoo has tripled its recycling capacity in the past year and is keeping more than four tons of material out of landfills each month through this program.

A food composting program is being developed and will be unveiled later this summer. The zoo’s next major construction project will strive for the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and has a LEED accredited professional on staff.

Zoo staff strives to help its more than 1.2 million annual visitors understand why it is important to preserve wildlife and the environment we share.

In addition to the signing ceremony, over the course of three days of Earth Day celebrations at the zoo, 80 EPA employees will join 20 other Philadelphia-area organizations presenting special activities, exhibits and hands-on demonstrations for zoo visitors.

For information on the Sustainability Partnerships Program go to: www.epa.gov/region3/green.