BRINGING THE NEWS TO YOU
Sometimes weekly  sometimes biweekly, we strive to bring you news that makes a difference.  We direct you  to the sources that we find, to activities and events that are happening all over this area   on the topics that interest you, so you can learn from your neighbors and so  those with common interests can find one another .  We smetimes help bring perspective to what seems like ordinary news.  New zoning laws...ho hum.  But how those laws affect you and your family.... oh my.   So many issues, so many organizations, so many events. So much going on.  But you can't participate if you don't know about it!  We encourage you to share back with us what you think your neighbors should know, too.  Rely on Transition Cheltentenhams News and Events list to come right to your email box and keep you informed. Ask to get on our News and Updates list  info@transitioncheltenham.org

MUSIC and  THE ARTS :  THE CHELTEN JAM  IN CHELTENHAM  - MONTHLY
We host an accoustic music jam - circle format -  uniting local folks in song. All accoustic instruments welcomed. Participants a jam along together all night long .   Generally held 4th Fridays - but the schedule differs once in a while - so you'll want to get on the email list . Contact us at  info@transitioncheltenham.org

HERE IS A SAMPLE OF SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST .   JOIN US AND ADD YOUR OWN IDEAS TO THE MIX 

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION & POTLUCK SUPPER …GENERAL TOWNSHIP ISSUES
Bringing our concerns of local issues and matters before our local Boards and Committees to a relaxed forum for general discussion.

Redevelopment? What the future will look like in our  community.  How do the zoning decisions being made now  impact us?  What other concerns do residents have?  What about the newest projects in our Township and what kinds of new businesses are opening up?  How will these impact us ?   
SUPPORTING  LOCAL BUSINESSES
Sometimes we just have a relaxing evening of  cameraderie,  where you may get introduced to a restaruant or business  you didn't know about before - like the secluded courtyard seating at the Blue Comet.  Supporting local businesses means you are supporting the ones that leave more profits right here in our own community  rather than at a corporate headquarters across the country or across  the ocean.   That's a great topic for discussion  for the evening, too !  We literally put our money where our mouth is. 

FOSTERING THE ARTS, COMMUNITY  & SUSTAINABILITY :   
Besides the  Music Jam on fourth Fridays, we encourage participation in - and often can be found participating ourselves  in local events like the Arts in the Park Fest at High School Park, Harvest Fest  and similar .  We hope you will come to these events, meet your neighbors and enjoy the rtists, musicians, crafts, children’s  activities,  plant sales, raffle prizes  and  plenty of good food  & drink  at these events . Connect with other local organizations doing good work, too and learn more about what's going on in your community .

OUR ENVIRONMENT  :   INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT  AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS
A local environmental educator presented Integrated Pest Management  highlights by bringing us right to  her Cheltenham garden where we met her 5 laying hens, 4 most important butterfly plants, 3 great mini "farms", 2 funny solar path lights, and had 1 very informative talk about gardening and Integrated Pest Management.   We are currently working on a project that is all about the importance of native plants.  Increasingly gardens are being transplated with beautiful flowering ornamentals or easy to keep groundcovers and plants------  plants that we unwittingly fail to realize are decimating our environment.  There is an urgency to educate ourselves and change the pattern that has evolved.  Those with experience in video and an interest in promoting native plants are  encouraged to contact us and to join in this important project .

EDUCATING OURSELVES WHILE HAVING FUN -  LOCAL TRIVIA NITES  or QUIZZ ME NITES
We have held Cheltenham Trivia nights, where you can learn interesting facts and information about the people, places and things all around you.  At "Quizz Me" nites, you get to bring your own questions to stump others, as well.  (Don't forget to bring the answers....!)   Test your knowledge & knowledge about our local town, township  and area.  Held at local eateries,  so good food and drink is part of the evening's fun, and so local businesses thrive.  Laugh & Learn & Boost the local economy

FOOD :  FROM THE GARDEN TO THE JAR - SHARING  KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING SYSTEMS
Share your gardening secrets with  us  --- we learn from those who are doing ......   about :  elevated  veggie  garden beds, composting,  freezing, canning ,  jams, permaculture, etc.   Put your garden or your special talent on display . Let us know what you'd like to offer to share with others.  Are you using Permaculture techniques. Have you mastered the art of raised bed gardening?  Let us help you share that with others .

FIELD TRIPS AND /OR TOURS : Near or far
We have taken some interesting  jaunts . For example, few know that some examples of cooperative communities  exist near .  Bryn Gweled Homesteads  is "an  Intentional Community" just 20 mins or so away from ous . A very rare tour including inside 5 homes was offered along with a tour of the many sustainable activities in this most unique community which is among the nation's oldest and most successful intentionally cooperative communities. The  homes on 2-acre land-trusted lots feature large gardens and small livestock , and many joint ventures including the keeping of common areas including 80 acres of forest . This intentional Community has a community center, swimming pool, sports and tennis courts, soccer field, large community organic garden, skating pond, the acres of woods and hiking trails.The  75 homesteads on 240 acres host examples of solar / beekeeping /  shepherding / tool share / passive solar and solar heat / solar water heating/ community gardens / cooperative governance.  A wonderful community model.   We appreciate community members offering  suggestions for tours and exploration that enhance our ideas of sustainability and connect us in with local "doers" .

PARTICIPATING IN FORUMS  AND ROUND TABLES ON IMPORTANT ISSUES
Regular revolving topics of interest are  hosted  by various groups. Creekside Coo-op's community room is often  busy with gatherings covering fascinating  and important topics.   A " Waste Not Want Not" forum sought participants with a mission to explore "Rethinking The Wasting Of Food And $$$" :  A  "Hands-on Food Waste Workshop To Address  An Epidemic of Food Waste.   A forum on "Living Well With Less  "Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, Rebuild" was an  Open Space" forum that sought to bring  a concrete list of solutions to legislators for consideration.  Join your voice together with others and learn what collaboration and group-think can accomplish. Tie in to our news and we'll keep you informed.

FOSTERING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND DISCUSSION: BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER  
On important issues like stormwater management and sewers and the rezoning of communitities , often the specific stakeholders have few of the facts - but  no forum for the kind of informal discussion that leads to satifying solutions for all sides. A sharing of information and a time to bring together our questions & concerns in a more informal discussion format rather than the "presentation" format.   Residents have been encouraged to  bring pictures,  dates, and information that might be helpful to share and discussions of such issues as the infamous "Black Pipes" , a  development project underway or the effects of  rezoning on a particular neighborhood, or  about the water quality in our area -  Chromium 6? Flouride?  or perhaps a discussion regarding the preservation of parks and greenspace , or about  the policing of litter/ trash township-wide - what are the policies. How about the spraying of pesticides all along roadways -- or overhead applications for West Nile.All of these are issues about which our members had played a role, taken a part, and sought to gather the community in awareness

TACKLING MAJOR ISSUES  BY INFORMING AND ENCOURAGING ACTION
Issues such as fracking leave many feeling helpless to tackle something that is not local, yet that can still affect us dramatically ( the Delaware River is the source of our drinking water )  and affects our  distant neighbors.  We have attended events together, such as  the  large Shale Gas Outrage Anti-Fracking Rally in Center City  which saw over 1500 people join together outside the Convention Center, we help people learn how to gather petition signatures, use their local media options, like the letters to the editor function and we constantly seek ways to lend support and inform others.   Air pollution, water contamination and environmental degradation are just some of the byproducts of fracking - so these larger issues affect us quite directly and need local awareness.   Other rallies and education endeavors have included  rallying for the 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United , marches, rallies and events on gun control
 building  awareness and a network for education on issues of elections such as gerrymandering and hackable voting machines, tcampaign finance inequities and the inequitable role of corporations in our election process. The issues are many so many voices are needed. We are proud to count our involvement in so many of these things.

EDUCATING OURSELVES AS CITIZENS  :  DEMOCRACY SCHOOL
 We gathered a group to attend the Daniel Pennock Democracy School. They   presented a learning workshop  that explained how and why corporations can get away with rampant development, polluting  our air, water and soil while we pay for the clean-up.  It was a fruitful experience in learning  how to take back our communities and to have a say in our government .... which requires a clear understanding of the founding principles of our government.   The Community Environmental

TRANSPORTATION : SAFE  BIKE ROUTES  and  THE UN-CAR PICNIC
A picnic at  Robinson Park iwith workshops  representing all forms of transportation - but cars!  Teaching  bike care and sharing information on best bike  routes and even tried out some new commuter bikes and electric bikes.  Train and public transit maps and issues were explored. At another  time, a  team of 8  walked a proposed bike route from Calvary Church to Cedarbrook Jr High  to make a  "bikeability assessment" .   We prote trails and  transit features that  help us move in more environmentally sound ways.

FOOD  AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION :  LOCAVORE BANQUET
Just try it !  A fun time trying to make all your recipes for this event  with ingredients from within 100 miles or less .  A real challenge - and an eye-opener when you learn where the food you usually use if from. And learn  what items are very difficult to find locally, organic and fresh and local musicians , too. A wondeful evening of local talent,  sharing music and storytelling.

 COMMUNITY CONNECTION :  EVENT - GATHERING THE GENIUS
Gathered over 60 groups of existing practitioners, those already making changes in fun, substantive and innovative ways. We created visions for our community for the long term and formed bonds with others having the same passions.

ENERGY AND GREEN BUILDING
Introduced Transition Cheltenham and Transition Town concepts  at a Town Hall meeting at an  Energy Event - Energy Conservation led by Grahame E. Maisey, P.E., Energy Master Planner; &  Laura Blau, AIA, Certified Passive House Designer and Energy Auditor.  Learned how homes and community buildings could begin a transformation from energy users to energy producers.

MEANINGFUL MOVIE NITE :  HERE ARE A FEW OF THE ONES WE HAVE SHOWN & SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER
             "GASLAND 2 "  - "Gasland " is the award winning movie by Josh Fox about fracking. The story continues in part 2
             "THE TAKE"  See what Argentinian workers did in the face of economic collapse, taking over their bankrupt factories and turning profits amid  threats of takeover if they achieved success.   This movie was made in 2006.  Discussion about what has happened since then.  This is about collaborative corporations and what the implications of this phenomenon might be if applied to our own business communities .
             "HEIST" About the recent banking crisis . Understand the underpinning of our economy is crucial to us participating in the smart management of our communities. Heist  is an exploration of what began the banking crisis, making  a strong case that government regulation of business is essential for democracy to flourish. ...  that some really don’t need  government as much as others.
              "GENETIC ROULETTE" Genetic Roulette is a 1 hour documentary about Genetically Modified Organisms ( GMO's ) now found in nearly all our foods . An excellent overall review 
              "DEAR GOVERNOR  CUOMO" New Yorkers hold a concert  to create awareness and to impact and fund the fracking movement.   Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Merchant and others use their artistic talents to bring their plea to the Governor of New York. All that applys in New York applys in our own  local watersheds. 
               "SACRED SOILS"  The continued struggle for the LaMott Community Garden to remain in the hands of the gardeners. The film is paired with a discussion of other local community issues   
              "PRECIOUS PLACES "  La Mott Community Community Garden Group joined forces with Transition Cheltenham  to air the  film "Precious Places"  about the LaMott Community Garden's history and current struggles.  Diane Williams of the Gardeners Group led a Group Garden Tour and discussion after the movie
              "FRESH"  An upbeat view of the super fresh world or organic food and farming and a look at how things "might be".  Organics can work just fine and farmers can profit well if they learn to farm sustainably. After the movie : a fundamentals  discussion roundtable on sustainability.
             "THE POWER OF COMMUNITY" & "THE AWAKENING UNIVERSE"   Public Event in conjunction with Arcadia University's Environmental Club and their  12 full hours of  Environmental / Earth Day events . We were pleased to show the short film, and lead an interactive discussion . The movie highlights the incredible struggle that Cuba had to face when it's economy  had to be quickly transitioned to local orientation .  We concluded with another short film, "The Awakening Universe".
              EARTH WEEK  MOVIE FUN NIGHT  Sharing our favorite Earth oriented movie shorts or CD's . We will be voting together on which ones to watch after  sharing a synopsis of each selection - keeping others of interest for a future film night or for you to view at home.