May is Bike Month

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Highland Park is hosting a Bicycle Fair on May 16 from 10 am – 12 pm at the Highland Park Metra Station, southeast parking lot. Join me for a pre-fair community bike ride at 9:15 am. The family friendly fair will include a children’s bike rodeo, Biking 101 workshops, maintenance clinics, helmet checks, and more.  Working Bikes will be there to collect bicycles that you want to donate. Other activities happening in celebration of National Bike Month include:

May 4, 10:30-11:30 am: Senior Cycling Presentation hosted by Trek at the Police Department Training Room. This event is free and registration is not required.

May 5: Bike to School Day. Information is here.

May 6, 10 – 11:30 am: Senior Bike Expo at Trek Highland Park, 1925 Skokie Valley Road. Try innovative bikes, including recumbents and 3 wheelers, as well as new accessories to make your ride more comfortable. Register by emailing Laura.

May 12, 9 – 11 am: Bicycle Repair Clinic. Register by May 7. Learn how to handle simple bicycle breakdowns with confidence, including; 1) changing and repairing a flat tire, 2) re-engaging a dropped chain, and 3) creating a survival kit with basic items to keep you rolling. Trek Highland Park, 1925 Skokie Valley Rd. Register by emailing Laura.

May 21, 1 pm: Senior Ride, contact Laura by May 15 for information and to register. This ride is appropriate for people of all abilities ages 50 and up.

May 2 Recycling Event

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Go Green Highland Park is collecting eyeglasses, trophies, shoes (paired), keys, pens, crayons, empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and panty hose on May 2 between 7 am and 1 pm at the HP Recycle Center, 1180 Half Day Road. The City will be accepting electronics and styrofoam, as well as clothing and textiles. Please bring items sorted by category, to help keep the drop off running smoothly. If you’d like to help, or want to learn more about Go Green Highland Park, contact them here.

Highland Park Approves Green Energy Contract

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On March 23, the City Council approved a new contract for residents who are currently in its municipal aggregation program. The two year agreement with Integrys provides cost savings over the ComEd rate, and also includes the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs). One REC is produced for each megawatt hour of renewable electricity put on the grid, and will help finance renewable energy generation. The REC option will add approximately $1.60 per month to the electricity bill for an average Highland Park home.

Green Bay Trail Improvements Proposed

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The portion of the Green Bay Trail within Highland Park is officially called the McClory Trail. The City of Highland Park has received a grant from the Transportation Enhancements Program to pay for 70% of the cost of paving our portion of the Trail. Paving would enable use of the trail year round and increase accessibility for people with disabilities. Click here for more information.

City Dark Film

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Please join me on Friday, November 14 at 6 pm at Heller Nature Center to see the film City Dark. The movie explores the implications of a globe glittering with lights — including increased cancer rates, and a generation of kids who can’t see the universe above. The film features stunning astrophotography, and an eclectic cast of scientists, philosophers, historians, and lighting designers. The Highland Park screening is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by the Natural Resources Commission and the Park District.

Highland Park does not truly experience darkness … Should we care?

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This was the first slide of a presentation given at the Natural Resources Commission meeting this month. I believe the answer is, yes, we should care. There are many benefits to reducing light pollution beyond improving our view of the stars. The health of birds and pollinators is impacted by the lack of darkness.  We can increase energy efficiency and provide better lighting by directing it where it’s needed, thereby reducing light pollution. There may be benefits to human health and safety, too. Simply considering this issue in the design and purchase of new fixtures would have a significant impact.