As most of you know, we’ve been at this whole Down To Earth thing for quite a while now. In fact, it was this time of year in 2007 that we decided we wanted to stay in Spokane and hatched the idea of starting an environmental issues blog.

Since then, the blog has grown into a full-featured environmental news site and communications tool, we’ve branched off and formed or joined many different organizations, projects and causes, and as many of you Spokane contacts know, we developed, produce, and do a 30-minute weekly radio show on KYRS.

The KYRS fund drive goes until Thursday March 11^th. Whether you’re a loyal listener or not, there is something about KYRS and community radio that effects you – yes, even those of you far away from Spokane. During the Fund Drive we have been asking for your financial support – but this isn’t just about supporting the operations of the radio station - this is supporting diversity in the community, this is supporting sustainability in Spokane, and this is supporting a free, independent voice here and everywhere.

Here’s a little about KYRS for those of you that don’t know.
· KYRS is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, independent, non-commercial, community radio station.
· Nearly all of the work at KYRS is done by volunteers. That’s over 100 programmers hosting local shows from diverse musical genres to public affairs shows that cover just about everything.
· KYRS has been on the air for six years – that’s six year’s worth of people saying they support community radio.
· A donation to KYRS will help pay for a new 70-foot tower to power the 6,500 watts that will bring KYRS to full power at the end of the year. The tower costs $25,000. But remember, donations first and foremost go towards current operating expensive.

Two local organizations leading the way. The Spokane Indians announced today that their home, Avista Stadium, will be powered entirely by renewable energy for the 2010 season through the Avista Buck-A-Block program.  The Indians are believed to be the first professional sports team to make the commitment to have their electricity generated entirely from renewable energy sources.  “We want to be responsible stewards of the environment and this was a big step toward making our business more sustainable,” said Spokane Indians President Andy Billig. “In addition to being the right thing to do, we hope this move will help raise awareness among other business and individuals about the importance of sustainability and the steps that can be taken to lessen our environmental footprint.”

Spokane’s own Mountain Gear recently encouraged a major portion of their staff in include bicycle commuting into their work commute plans to the company’s headquarters in Spokane Valley.  This encouragement came by way of an employee purchase program for new bikes.  Mountain Gear president Paul Fish, as he did last year as well, “arranged for a group purchase of new bikes to help his workers stay healthy and commute without relying on fossil fuel,” as reported by Tom Sowa in the Spokesman-Review.  “They said, ‘If you could find a way to help us get good inexpensive bikes, it would be easier to commute,’ ” Fish said in the article.  Mountain Gear worked with another local company, North Division Bicycle Shop to make it happen.

More to that Vitamin R than you thought. It hasn’t been brewed their since the 90’s, but there’s still a chance that during our rebellious underage days that we sipped our fair share of PCB’s via cans of Rainier that came from the Old Rainier Brewery in Seattle.  The iconic building, which is now home to Tully’s Coffee and a  bunch of other artist lofts and microbreweries, might be torn down due to paint chips that have been shown to have levels of toxins up to 240 times higher than the level at which the state requires removal.  According to The Seattle Times, the Seattle Public Utilities raised red flags when it found high levels of the chemical compound in stormwater sediment.

Bellingham man heading from west coast to Florida with solar-powered stroller. Bruce Maynard is 74-years-old, and he’s heading to Florida.  However, it’s not what you think.  Maynard will walk across America, to Key West, Florida, and he will be accompanied by Sam, “the jogging stroller he is rigging into a solar- and battery-powered contraption that will be his mobile office and campsite on the road,” as reported in the Bellingham Herald.

Source: Down to Earth