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Monitor Notes: Earth Day, Albatross Doc, Priced Out, SJ BART, Wildfire Smoke

Welcome to Monitor Notes, a weekly roundup of news items, event announcements, and updates on past Bay Area Monitor articles.

 

What on Earth?

Celebrate Earth Day with events and speakers in Berkeley. The David Brower Center is partnering with several organizations, including co-sponsor League of Women Voters of California, to host an expanded celebration on Sunday, April 21 and Monday, Earth Day, April 22. Activities include the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, featuring “Solutions to the Climate Crisis” films and discussion panel on Monday. Diz Swift (pictured), the League’s climate change program director, will moderate the panel. Click here for film times and other event information.

 

For the Birds

Join the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory on Thursday, April 18 in Santa Clara, for a free viewing of “Albatross,” a documentary film that explores the threat of ocean plastic pollution and its effect on Midway Island albatross populations. Prior to the 6:15 p.m. screening, film-goers will hear about POST’s work to protect habitat for birds and many other species from the Peninsula and the South Bay. Get a ticket.

 

Mind Your Home Business

Attend a panel discussion that resides on the question, “Who gets to live in our changing community?” on Saturday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fremont Main Library. The event is being presented by the League of Women Voters of Fremont-Newark-Union City and advocacy group Greenbelt Alliance. Housing discussions will feature Randy Shaw, Berkeley author of “Generation Priced Out: Who Gets to Live in the New Urban America.” Shaw, also executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, will be available to sign books. Head to the League’s site for event information.

 

Get Back on the Rails

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is holding several public meetings this spring to update rail riders about its BART Phase II project, which will extend service through downtown San Jose and into Santa Clara. VTA staff will give project overviews, focusing on the future stations, construction information, and what makes a transit-oriented community. The first two community meetings are scheduled for April 24 and 25, followed by a third gathering on May 11. Get on track to RSVP.

 

Feel a Draft

San Francisco public health officials recently released a draft emergency response plan to better handle unhealthy air from wildfires. Last fall’s Camp Fire in Butte County resulted in about two weeks of exposure to hazardous levels of particulate matter, a “principal pollutant of concern from wildfire smoke,” according to the plan. While residents’ tendency is to grab a mask, the plan points out they are not a “replacement for staying indoors.” It also details strategies like canceling outdoor events to protect the local population, in addition to suggested advisory messaging changes when heat and air-quality events co-occur. Read the draft plan.

 

Monitor Notes is produced by Cecily O’Connor. To receive it by email, scroll to the bottom of this page, enter your email address in the box under “RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES,” and click the red “SIGN UP” button.

 

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