Natural Awakenings Chicago North & North Shore OCT 10

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

Special Edition

HEALTHY PLANET What We Need to Do Now Bill McKibben On: How to Be a

CLIMATE

HERO

Transition Towns Where Sustainable Living Is Real

WAYS TO GO

VEGAN Put More Plants on Your Plate

OCTOBER 2010 | Chicago North & North Shore | NAChicagoNorth.com natural awakenings

October 2010

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Natural Awakenings Magazine

Friendly-User Guide

Welcome...

...to the northern Chicagoland area’s newest healthy living magazine! We’re delighted to be here and want to make it easy for you to use and benefit from this new resource and community builder. From the photos selected for our eye-catching covers to the appealing editorial throughout, you’ve discovered the perfect guide to a healthier and more balanced life for you and your family. Each month, Natural Awakenings’ advertisers and authors provide a helping hand along your personal path to wellness and creative self-expression.

Let’s get started!

Publisher’s Letter – Each month, Publisher Peggy Malecki shares her thoughts on the featured monthly topic. She’ll offer her entertaining and informative perspective with a nod to stories from her own experience.

News Briefs – Local and national news keeps you up to date on cutting-edge perspectives in the fields of natural health, alternative medicine, fitness and related fields. We welcome everyone’s contributions of newsworthy information.

Health Briefs – Timely news items introduce and hook you up with the latest treatments and tools for specific health and wellness concerns. They include practical tips that you can use today to advance a healthy living lifestyle.

Global Briefs – The rain forest is half a world away, yet our health depends upon its health.

This department keeps you wired with relevant current events and opportunities for action vital to our planet’s well-being.

Community Spotlight – Articles packed with insight into local businesses and healing arts practitioners show they can be of service to you and your loved ones. You’ll be amazed by the level of knowledge and expertise right here in our local communities in Lake and northern Cook counties!

Healthy Kids – Our children’s health is paramount. This column helps parents and

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caretakers make wise decisions in protecting your children’s health and well-being.

Natural Pet – We love to see our family pets active and thriving. Surprising alternative therapies, nutrition ideas and resources open new possibilities.

Fit Body – We all know that exercise and physical fitness are essential. The trick is finding the right options for you. We will supply fresh windows of thought that can help get you moving.

Healing Ways – Turn here to learn about therapies and modalities both new and traditional, all focused on enhancing the bodymind-spirit connection for optimal well-being.

Inspiration – Spreading light and encouraging positive perspectives, this column is a beacon that spotlights our interconnections with Nature, Spirit and community.

Wise Words – Exclusive interviews with renowned national and international leaders, experts and authors offer lively dialogues on topics both current and timeless.

Feature Articles – Interesting, informative, often exclusive articles take advantage of Natural Awakenings’ national scope and local interest in our community. You’ll want to read them all.

Calendar of Events – There’s so much to do in the northern Chicagoland area. Check out the exciting classes, weekend workshops and special events that pop up each month.

www.awakemona.com

Classified Ads – Classifieds are an inexpensive way to let readers know what you have to offer and search for additional help for your business. They’re a great source to locate “that’s exactly what I need” types of services, products and opportunities.

Community Resource Guide – Here’s a quick reference to the best health and wellness resources in the northern Chicagoland area.

It’s a quick way to find gifts of health and fun for yourself or others.

Display Ads – Our advertisers are the absolute best! They not only make this magazine possible, but are the nicest people in town.

Please patronize them and tell them you saw their ads in Natural Awakenings.

Distribution Locations – Please ask for Natural Awakenings at every business you visit, and support our distributors with purchases.

Our distributors are just as important as our advertisers and readers. All three are essential elements of the wider community we seek to cultivate for the benefit of all.

Thank you for reading, supporting and contributing to Natural Awakenings. We’re glad you’ve joined us in rousing a real natural awakening of Lake and northern Cook counties. Feel good, live simply, and laugh more!

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5 newsbriefs 12 ecobriefs 14 healthbriefs 16 wisewords 24 greenliving 26 inspiration 28 healthykids 30 healingways 32 fitbody 34 consciouseating 36 naturalpet 39 calendar 44 resourceguide

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 847-858-3697 or email info@NAChicagoNorth.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@NAChicagoNorth.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: Editor@NAChicagoNorth.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

16 A CONVERSATION

WITH JIM HIGHTOWER Acclaimed Columnist,

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Commentator and Populist

by Ellen Mahoney

20 BE A CLIMATE HERO Act Up. Act Now.

by Bill McKibben

26 ECO-FILM PICKS

Movies With a Message

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Worth Watching

28 BE AFRAID,

BE VERY AFRAID...

Learn How to Avoid The Real Goblins

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

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30 BETTER BREAST

HEALTH Make Prevention a Daily Habit

by Beth Davis

32 EXERCISE FOR

SPINE HEALTH Smart Training Beats Back Pain

by Michael Curran

34 ON THE VEGAN TRAIL

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Why People Are Putting More Plants on Their Plates

by Kristin Ohlson

36 PUMPKIN FOR PETS

by Morieka V. Johnson

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October 2010

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publisher’sletter

contact us Publisher Peggy Malecki and Jim Irwin Circulation Manager Jim Irwin Sales & Marketing Jim Irwin, Peggy Malecki Lori Punko Editors Julianne Hale, Barb Amrhein Theresa Archer, Verla Winters Writers Linda Seachrist, S. Alison Chabonais Design & Production John R. Voell III, Stephen Blancett Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales John Voell II 239-530-1377 Natural Awakenings Chicago North & North Shore PO Box 72, Highland Park, IL 60035 PH: 847-858-3697 FAX: 888-858-3107 www.NAChicagoNorth.com Join our Facebook page © 2010 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink

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Chicago North & North Shore

Welcome to the premiere issue of Natural Awakenings – Chicago North and North Shore, our area’s free healthy living magazine.

We’re here to help you find the knowledge and resources you need to support your journey in improving the quality of your life—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

We also aim to become your favorite go-to resource for all things related to healthy and holistic lifestyles in our Northeast Illinois communities.

Each month, you’ll find cutting-edge information from leading national and local experts on complementary and alternative therapies, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, creative expression and living lighter on the Earth. Our timely local News Briefs and calendar listings alert you to the best of what’s happening in Lake and northern Cook counties. In display ads and the Community Resource Guide, you’ll find fabulous local businesses, practitioners, products and services ready to help you further your realization of a healthier, happier life.

What began as a homegrown newsletter in Naples, Florida, 16 years ago, has now blossomed into a growing family of 80 locally owned magazines reaching 3 million readers across the United States. As we prepared to launch this magazine, we’ve been delighted to hear you say, “It’s about time!”

Our Natural Awakenings journey began in December 2007, when we first picked up a local copy in Saugatuck, Michigan, and avidly read it from cover to cover. It spoke so directly to our passions, beliefs and worldview that we knew we had to bring it home.

How fitting that our first issue focuses on a healthy planet, a topic near to our hearts. Our region is blessed by natural resources, yet larger work needs to be done to preserve our productive lands and fresh water supplies. Natural Awakenings is all about positive solutions and alternatives to the status quo.

We’re particularly taken with Bill McKibben’s vision of how together we can solve a host of environmental challenges in “Be a Climate Hero,” on page 20. Registered dietician Melinda Hemmelgarn helps us avoid toxins in America’s food supply on page 28, and local expert Susan Campbell, of The Alliance for the Great Lakes, explains what we need to know to support abatement of pollutants in regional waterways (page 29). On a lighter note, healthy menu tips and other options for optimum living are found throughout the magazine, with a special nod to Fair Trade Month by local writer Megy Karydes, on page 18.

Special thanks go to our advertisers, because this publication would not be possible without them. Please give them your support when you shop for products and services, and add your thanks for supporting Natural Awakenings in promoting a more sustainable, healthful community for us all.

We know you will enjoy this first monthly issue, and many more to come.

Please share the good news with friends and coworkers, and let us know what you’d like to see in future issues. We look forward to hearing stories of your own path to sustained health and happiness.

With warmest regards,

Peggy Malecki and Jim Irwin www.NAChicagoNorth.com

newsbriefs Wise Women Gallery and Gifts Opens in Lake Zurich

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ise Women Gallery and Gifts, a place for local artists to display and sell their work and a gathering spot for classes, special events and shopping, will celebrate a grand opening at its Lake Zurich location from 6 to 8 p.m., October 8 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October 9. Friday’s festivities include a meet-and-greet with the artists, and special celebration surprises are planned throughout the day on Saturday.

Wise Women features the work of painters, potters, jewelry artists, fabric artists and writers, and is open Tuesday through Saturday. The shop will also offer special events such as demos by local artists, classes and book signings.

Location: Lakeview Plaza, 91 South Rand Road, Lake Zurich.

For more info, email Artists@WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com or visit WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

Did you know?

Alternative Health Associates Celebrates Grand Opening

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njoy organic and healthy refreshments, giveaways, complimentary chair massages and free prize drawings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 2, at the grand opening of Alternative Health Associates’ new location in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Alternative Health Associates is comprised of a team of integrated health practitioners, including Naturopathic Doctor and founder Gail Kopin, who provide alternative, natural and medical health education and advice. They offer multiple health plans and provide in-office visits with naturopathic doctors, online consultations, email visits and prevention screenings that can be ordered online to do at home or at the clinic.

“ Th e k e y principle at Alternative Health Associates is education versus medication,” says Kopin. “Whether it is through individualized family practice or a corporate wellness program, we strongly believe that education and prevention Gail Kopin are the keys to wellness. Using this philosophy, we determine the root cause of disease, rather than focusing on specific symptoms, and we treat the whole person, using natural substances to build health and optimize the body’s ability to heal and maintain health.”

Location: 105 Townline Road (across from The Cheese Box), Lake Geneva, WI. For more information, call 847-955-0800 or visit AlternativeHealthAssoc.com.

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newsbriefs Community Health Workshops in Riverwoods

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he Center for Holistic Medicine in Riverwoods/ Deerfield will offer several community workshops throughout the month of October on topics that range from hormone balancing and weight management to gender-specific issues and Jewish meditation. An Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., October 13, will feature food, minisessions with practitioners, literature and more.

Established in 1978, the Center provides comprehensive holistic and general medicine, and its multidisciplinary team offers a variety of body-mind-spirit healing services for the entire family. Its mission is to treat, train and transform, assisting clients in creating balance, harmony and life-long wellness. Reaching beyond conventional attempts that merely treat symptoms, practitioners seek to identify and eliminate underlying causes of unwanted symptoms, illness and dis-ease.

Practitioners at the Center include medical doctors, an osteopathic physician, chiropractors, psychotherapists, licensed acupuncturists, a registered nurse, a massage therapist, a certified life coach, a reflexologist and naprapathic and homeopathic physicians.

Location: 240 Saunders Road, Riverwoods/Deerfield. For more information and to register for classes, visit HolisticMedicine.com or call 847-236-1701. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

Third Annual Evanston Harvest Celebration

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vanston’s top restaurant chefs will partner with prominent Midwest sustainable growers from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., October 21, for a tasting dinner to celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest, at Evanston’s Now We’re Cookin’ culinary center. Guests can meet with participating chefs and farmers/producers, getting to know them better while

enjoying their creations.

Each chef will prepare a dish using autumn products from their farmer-partner. All producers are participants in the Evanston Farmers’ Market, one of the largest and oldest in Illinois.

The chefs, from restaurants in Evanston and the north side of 6

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Chicago, are farm customers and enthusiastic supporters of the “Eat local” philosophy. The event benefits the Evanston Farmers’ Market and the Evanston Township High School student garden.

Now We’re Cookin’ is a culinary center promoting education and entrepreneurship. In its demonstration kitchen, Culinary Director Mary McMahon and her team of chefs conduct cooking classes and host private parties and events, as well as corporate meetings. Commercial kitchens are rented to small culinary enterprises, enabling them to start or grow their businesses with support from the facility staff.

Cost: $80/person before October 1, $100 after. Location: Now We’re Cookin’, 1601 Payne Street, Evanston. For more information and to reserve a seat, call 847-570-4140 or visit NWCookin.com.

Free Wellness Classes Available at Healing Arts

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he fall and winter months need not be synonymous with illness.

Flu and colds can be prevented naturally by enhancing the immune system. Starting in September at their Deerfield wellness center, Healing Arts of Oriental Medicine is offering free educational sessions on fall and winter healthcare and staying healthy through the holidays. The classes meet every other Tuesday Anatoliy Pak through December, and include a healthy snack.

Classes are taught by owner and licensed Acupuncturist Anatoliy Pak and experts Haron Armstrong and Saul Passman.

September and October topics include preventing cold and flu naturally; enhancing the immune system; a workout plan that protects against lower back injury; and respiratory care. Holiday wellness classes are scheduled for November and December.

Healing Arts of Oriental Medicine is a wellness studio for restoring health and well-being through acupuncture, massage, nutrition, exercise and education. “We believe education and personal responsibility are the keys to achieving and maintaining natural health,” states Pak. “Through our lecture series and demonstrations, we will empower you to take control over your own health by sharing with you knowledge of different ways to restore and maintain your health and to better understand your own body’s needs.”

Cost: All events are free, but a $10 refundable deposit is required to reserve a spot (attendance is required for refund). Bring a guest and receive a free gift. Location: 405 Lake Cook Road, Ste. A211, Deerfield. For more information and to register, call 847-845-4090 or visit OrientalMedicineArts.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide. natural awakenings

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newsbriefs Living Green Now Offers Free Monthly Workshops

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s it easy being green? According to Terry Black, founder of the newly opened, Northbrook-based Living Green Now, the answer is “Yes!” He has created a free workshop, Renewable Energy, Dollars and Sense, to be offered at 6:30 p.m., October 7, at the company’s Northbrook showroom. The workshop will cover how renewable energy works, what to expect in performance and return on investment, and the tax incentives available to make the up-front investment easier. Additional workshops will be offered the first Thursday of every month.

Living Green Now specializes in Earth-friendly, energysmart products and services that help consumers reuse, recycle, save money, improve indoor air quality and conserve energy and water. In addition to featuring products in the showroom and online, the company sells and installs energy-efficient and alternative energy solutions, including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and LED lighting.

Black says, “Our goal is to educate as many people as possible to help them pursue a greener, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle for themselves and their families.”

Space is limited and reservations are suggested. Location: Living Green Now, 425 Huehl, Ste. 19A, Northbrook. For more information, call 847-282-0031 or visit LivingGreenNow.biz.

See ad on page 17.

Raw Food 101 at Walsh Natural Health

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Gwen Marzano

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nterested in the health benefits of a raw food diet, but not sure where to start? Join certified raw foods Chef Gwen Marzano, M.S., for an evening of green recipes and an introduction to the basics of raw, vegan food preparation at 7 p.m., October 21, at Walsh Natural Health, in Evanston. The class will include information about the benefits of a plantbased diet, simple dietary transitions to improve overall health, and some easy, energizing recipes.

Marzano says her per-

sonal journey arose from continuous, unhealthy relationships with food, poor digestion, bloating, mood swings, fatigue, depression and the constant feeling of, “What’s wrong with me?” Despite eating mindfully, watching sugar and fat intake and avoiding processed foods, food additives and fast food, Marzano concluded that avoiding certain foods is not the true path to good health. Rather, she believes the answer also lies within the foods you do eat. “I feel that it is my calling to share my knowledge and love of food with others,” says Marzano. “Food is life; why not enjoy it and be healthy?”

Walsh Natural Health is dedicated to providing the community with high-quality, natural health products to promote wellness as an alternative to prescription drugs. Its monthly programs cover a variety of health topics.

Cost: $20 payable at registration. Bring a friend for $10 more. Location: 2116-1/2 Central Street, Evanston. Parking available across the street. For additional information or to register, call 847-864-1600 or visit WalshNatural.com. See ad on page 15.

Gabriel Halpern Offers Workshop at Avani Yoga

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wo of the most beneficial yet challenging categories of poses in yoga are inversions and back bends. Renowned Iyengar teacher Gabriel Halpern, in association Gabriel Halpern with Avani Yoga Studio, will offer Safe Inversions & Back Bends: Baby Steps to Quantum Leaps, from 6 to 9 p.m., October 21, at the studio. The workshop will focus on how to build up the requisite strength, flexibility and alignment to safely tackle these postures.

Halpern holds degrees in philosophy and healthy psychology and is a long-time member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the director of the Yoga Circle in Chicago, which he founded in 1985. Halpern’s teaching encompasses all that is yoga: art form, science, world view, lifestyle and mystical mentoring.

Avani Yoga Studio is part of the Highnatural awakenings

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land Park Hospital Health and Fitness Center, in Buffalo Grove. The studio focuses on authentic yogic teachings that include daily classes, with a variety of styles and levels available through 18 classes per week. Workshops, private lessons and free monthly events are also offered.

Cost: $45/members; $50/non-members.

Location: 1501 Busch Pkwy., Buffalo Grove 60089. Pre-registration required; contact Adam Braun at 847-419-7130 or Abraun@PowerWellness.com or visit HPHFitness.com. See ad on page 10.

Andrew Harvey Brings Compassion in Action to Heaven Meets Earth

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earn how to be awakened a n d t ra n s formed into a sacred activist at spiriAndrew Harvey tual teacher and writer Andrew Harvey’s four-part Compassion in Action series at Heaven Meets Earth, in Evanston. Harvey presents his course curriculum from the Institute for Sacred Activism, offering the first session, “The Realm of the Heart,” from 7 to 9 p.m., October 28. Additional sessions will take place one Thursday each month through January 2011.

Harvey describes sacred activism as one solution to the world’s crises to which ordinary people can make a real and profound, necessary contribution.

Heaven Meets Earth is Evanston’s first green yoga studio and eco-boutique.

Owner Lisa Faremouth Weber says, “I am committed to nurturing the hearts and souls of the community through yoga and meditation. Our yoga studio offers prenatal, mommy and baby, kids and adult yoga programs featuring hatha, Vinyasa and Kundalini yoga systems.”

Cost: $50/session or $180/all four classes.

Students enrolling in all four classes receive a free copy of Harvey’s book, Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism. Location: 2746 Central Street, Evanston. For more information, call 847-475-1500 or visit Heaven MeetsEarthYoga.com. See ad on page 7 .

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Community Spotlight

An Old-Fashioned Doctor Dr. Lynn Belsky Helps Her Patients Be Their Best

by Peggy Malecki

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ld-fashioned doctor.” It’s a term associated more frequently with small towns and doctor bags than with a modern physician comfortable with high-tech diagnostics and online medical records.

But Dr. Lynne C. Belsky of Living Well Medical, LLC, in Northbrook, says she is just that: an old-fashioned doctor practicing new-fangled medicine.

“My driving force is not just to treat people when they are ill, but to prevent illness by helping people obtain optimum health,” explains Belsky.

Medicine came naturally to Belsky, whose father, Dr. Abe Chervony, led family discussions about the topic at the dinner table. “My dad was an old-fashioned kind of internist,” Belsky recalls fondly, noting that he instilled in her the importance of being a caring doctor and a teacher. “He loved practicing medicine, and his patients appreciated him for who he was as a person and what he did as a doctor. Because of him, I always thought I’d be a doctor.”

Today, Belsky honors her father’s tradition in a modern way: She is a concierge, or boutique, doctor. For a

retainer fee that includes an annual exam and extensive blood work, Belsky is available 24/7, answers her own phone, calls patients back directly, and can usually be seen the same day for at least 30 minutes per visit.

Belsky prefers to call herself a “personal” doctor, similar to a personal trainer for the body, but also looking after the wellness of mind and spirit.

She says many of her patients come to her because they are frustrated with long waits and short visits at traditional medical offices. “The current model of medicine allows 15 minutes for a doctor to see a patient, which is not enough time to teach them about their illness or treatment,” advises Belsky.

Her own indirect path to medical school helped inspire the beliefs and values Belsky holds true in her practice.

After high school, she danced in New York with the Joffrey Ballet, earned a degree in physical therapy (PT) from Northwestern University, and went on to practice outpatient PT in orthopedics, sports and pediatric medicines.

Then, her father passed away, and Belsky found herself re-examining her career and her life. “I realized I really

wanted to know about the whole body and be able to incorporate my knowledge of healing from a muscular/skeletal sense, in terms of healing the whole person,” she says.

So, in her 30s, Belsky entered medical school, becoming board certified in internal medicine. She built a successful practice with a large medical group, following the current economic model of medicine but feeling that she was losing touch with why she became a doctor.

She wanted to spend more time with each patient, educating them and helping them follow the path to wellness.

Belsky’s solution was to go into practice for herself, and she opened Living Well Medical in 2008. Here, she integrates traditional Western medicine with nutrition and other holistic approaches, and is open to patients who choose to complement her care with acupuncture and other non-traditional therapies.

“Optimal health does not just happen as you sit there and hope to be healthy,” advises Belsky, who practices yoga and regularly dances hip-hop, zumba and ballet. “The time I have as a concierge physician allows me to teach my patients about the disease process, how a vitamin or mineral works in the body, and how a person heals from a specific injury or disease. Through this teaching element, I create a partnership with the patient.

The time we have together allows it not to be a one-way conversation.

“I love learning,” Belsky continues.

“I love listening to new information and figuring out how I can explain it to patients. Having lived a life prior to medical school, I see medicine, and helping others to be the best they can be, as a part of life.”

Contact Dr. Lynne Belsky, Living Well Medical, LLC, 1535 Lake Cook Road, Ste. 306, Northbook 60062. Call 847-4182030 or visit LivingWellMD.com. See ad on page 16.

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ecobriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

75th Anniversary The Wilderness Society Celebrates Nationwide Successes

Fresh from a major achievement in 2009, The Wilderness Society has not been resting on its laurels in this, its 75th year of striving to protect our nation’s public lands. Following last year’s passage of the largest land conservation bill in decades, permanently protecting 4 million acres in 11 states, it’s had more than a dozen wilderness bills in the works this year.

Current campaigns tackle global warming, fossil fuel drilling in public lands and re-vegetating unused forest roads, as well as wilderness protection. They’re also initiating job programs to restore forests, rivers and grasslands that native species need to adapt to climate change.

Take action at Wilderness.org.

Assaults Halted

Wolves Receive Endangered Species Protection Massive wolf hunts have been stopped in their tracks, thanks to a federal court ruling that has restored endangered species protection for these animals in Montana and Idaho.

More than 500 wolves have been gunned down since the U.S. government stripped them of federal protection. “The ruling effectively returns all wolves in the Northern Rockies to the endangered species list,” confirms Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Garbage Blight

Second Patch of Plastic Soup Spotted in Atlantic A rising tide of consumer plastics, jettisoned into the oceans via rivers, storm drains, sewage overflows and windstorms, is devastating the environment across the world, says Charles Moore, the ocean researcher credited with discovering a vast, plastics-infested area in the Pacific Ocean in 1997. Now, his Algalita Marine Research Foundation researchers have defined a second vortex of garbage in the Atlantic Ocean. The soup of confetti-like bits of plastics stretches over thousands of square miles of the western North Atlantic, with the densest concentrations between the latitudes of Virginia and Cuba, including the unique Sargasso Sea ecosystem.

Sea Education Association (SEA) oceanography faculty member Kara Lavender Law, Ph.D., clarifies: “There’s no large patch, no solid mass of material. If it were an island, we could go get it. But we can’t; it’s a thin soup of plastic fragments.”

SEA, in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, which has monitored the North Atlantic for 22 years, expects that several such areas exist in the world’s oceans.

The plastic soup has essentially become a permanent part of the ecosystem, posing harm to the entire marine food chain. The only remedy is to halt the influx of consumer plastics by producing less of them and recycling them all. Public education is key.

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Rainforest Rescue Daily Computer Use Helps the Cause

Using a green search engine for holiday shopping and other online searches can turn daily Internet use into a give-back to nature. Forestle.org is an independent nonprofit that donates all profits from sponsored links to The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program (more at Adopt.Nature.org). Together, Forestle home page visitors rescue thousands of square meters of rainforest every day. It has even partnered with Google.

Gene Escape

Wild Roadside Canola Shows Herbicide Resistance of GM Cousins Across the United States, wild canola grows in asphalt cracks and along roadways; it’s been found that this weedy plant often survives herbicide applications. Scientists at the University of Arkansas recently discovered why: About 83 percent of the weedy canola they tested contained herbicide resistance genes from genetically modified (GM), cultivated canola. Globally, canola can interbreed with 40 different weed species, 25 percent of which are found in the United States.

The findings raise questions about the regulation of herbicide- and pesticideresistant weeds and about how these plants might compete with others in the wild. Nature reports that GM crops have spread beyond cultivated land in several countries, including Canada, Japan, the UK and the United States.

Bioneer Heroes

Spotlight Recognizes Activists Protecting Our Coasts and Oceans The Blue Frontier/Peter Benchley 2010 Hero of the Seas recognition was awarded to Cynthia Sarthou, executive director of the New Orleans-based Gulf Restoration Network (HealthyGulf.org), a frontline group dealing with the environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This year’s winner is just one of 2,000 groups and agencies working on behalf of ocean and coastline conservation.

Blue Frontier’s mission is to strengthen and help unify this solution-oriented marine conservation community.

“As the Gulf disaster shows, we are all dependent on the ocean for protection, security and sustenance,” remarks David Helvarg, president of the Blue Frontier Campaign (BlueFront.org).

Guiding Light

South Pole Ozone Hole has Stabilized Ongoing monitoring by the British Antarctic Survey, which alerted the world to the hole in the protective ozone layer over the South Pole in 1985, has concluded that the hole has now stabilized. Thinning of the ozone that surrounds the Earth provided the first clear evidence that man could damage the global environment on a colossal scale. “It also provided the first case of concerted international action to counteract such an effect,” says Richard Stolarski, a research scientist with NASA, who has reviewed the history and science related to the phenomenon.

Scientists had discovered that the accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in industrial solvents, refrigeration, air conditioning systems and aerosols were depleting the blanket of ozone that surrounds the Earth. Action by United Nations governments around the world led to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, effectively phasing out use of such chemicals. Today, scientists predict that, with continued care, Antarctic ozone levels will return to their 1950s levels by about 2080.

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healthbriefs

Tidier House, Fitter Body

Why People Need Germs Parents should ease up on antibacterial soaps and wipes and perhaps allow their little ones a romp or two in the mud—or at least more of an acquaintance with everyday germs, suggests a Northwestern University long-term study.

Exposure to germs in childhood, the researchers observe, helps develop the immune system and may help prevent cardiovascular and other diseases in adulthood. Such early exposure, they note, promotes the body’s own ability to regulate inflammation, a root cause associated with many diseases.

“Now, for the first time in the history of our species, our bodies are being deprived of exposure to those everyday germs because we live in such a sanitary environment,” explains lead author Thomas McDade, of Northwestern. “Think about the immune system as [one] that needs information from the environment to guide its development and function; if you live in a rich microbial environment, you get exposed to lots of germs, and that helps your immune system develop.”

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new study at Indiana University suggests that how tidy we keep our home can also indicate how fit we are. That conclusion was based on an examination of the domestic habits of 998 urban AfricanAmericans, ages 49 to 65, that found a correlation between the interior condition, or cleanliness, of a participant’s residence and their level of physical activity. Remarks researcher NiCole Keith, “If you spend your day dusting, cleaning, doing laundry, you’re active.”

An Apple A Day

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here’s truth in the adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Research published in the open access journal BMC Microbiology contributes to our understanding of why apples are good for us.

Microbiologists from the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark fed rats a diet rich in whole apples or apple juice, purée or pomace. Another group of lab animals was put on a control diet. The researchers then analyzed the animals’ digestive systems to see if eating apples had any impact on the amount of friendly bacteria in their gut.

“We found that rats eating a diet high in pectin, a component of dietary fiber in apples, had increased amounts of certain bacteria that may improve intestinal health,” says co-researcher Andrea Wilcks.

“It seems that when apples are eaten regularly and over a prolonged period of time, these bacteria help produce short-chain fatty acids that provide ideal pH conditions for ensuring a beneficial balance of microorganisms. They also produce a chemical called butyrate, which is an important fuel for the cells of the intestinal wall.” Ultimately, a healthy digestive tract translates into a stronger immune system.

Source: BioMed Central, 2010

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Pesticides Can Contribute to ADHD

A team of scientists from the University of Montreal and Harvard University have discovered that exposure to organophosphate pesticides may be associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Exposure to organophosphates, they report, might affect neural systems in ways that contribute to ADHD behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

How Sugar Feeds Cancer

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esearchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have uncovered new information about the notion that sugar “feeds” tumors. While it’s accepted that tumor cells use a lot more glucose (a simple sugar) than normal cells, the new study sheds light on how this process takes place and might be stopped.

The researchers discovered that during both normal and cancerous cell growth, a cellular process takes place that involves both glucose and glutamine, a common amino acid found in many foods. Glucose and glutamine, both essential for cell growth, were thought to operate independently.

This groundbreaking research now shows not only that they are interdependent, but that restricting glutamine works to stop the utilization of glucose. Essentially, if glutamine is absent, the cell is short-circuited, due to a lack of glucose; thus, it suggests a new way to halt the growth of tumor cells. The researchers hope that their findings will lead to more effective cancer treatment therapies.

School Nutrition Gets a Boost

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ong-awaited child nutrition legislation known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act unanimously passed the Senate in August before moving on to the House, where passage is also expected. National child nutrition programs were set to expire September 30.

Remarks Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “Put simply, [the bill] will get junk food out of, and put more healthy food into, America’s schools.”

The $4.5 billion, applied over the next decade, would enable school cafeterias to overhaul their menus and provide updated, healthier choices, supporters explain. News sources report that it would provide schools with their first increase in the costs of providing meals since 1973. The package would also establish new nutritional standards on all food offered on campuses—including items in vending machines.

FreshVending.com has proven that it’s possible to mechanically vend more than 400 natural and organic foods that meet school nutrition requirements and corporate wellness initiatives. Current offerings include 100-percent juices, smoothies, fruits and vegetables.

Ginger Eases Muscle Pain

For centuries, ginger root has been used as a folk remedy for various ailments, including colds and upset stomachs. Now, researchers at the University of Georgia have found that daily ginger consumption also reduces muscle pain caused by exercise. Ginger that’s been heated, as by cooking, might even increase the root’s pain-relieving effects. natural awakenings

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wisewords Essentially, I consider myself a modernday Johnny Appleseed, with a populist viewpoint. I try to inform people, rally them and help them see that they’re not alone, despite the power of the establishment trying to teach them that the corporate way is the only way.

A Conversation with Jim Hightower Acclaimed Columnist, Commentator and Populist

Why do you say that politics is more about top versus bottom than right versus left?

by Ellen Mahoney

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im Hightower, a syndicated columnist and national radio commentator, is the bestselling author of Swim Against the Current and Thieves in High Places. A former Texas agriculture commissioner, he’s spent some 30 years fighting for the rights of consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses and just plain folks.

A favorite saying of his is, “The water won’t clear up until we get the hogs out of the creek.” Hightower is the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship.

Why do you consider populism the people’s rebellion against the corporate powers-that-be and how do you define it?

Populists have historically understood that the real battle in America is not an ideological fight of conservative versus liberal. Rather, the battle is over money

and power, and populists are engaged in a fight against corporatists to create a democratization of both our government and our economy. Too few people control the money and power at the expense of the rest of us.

In this country, populism began in Texas in 1877, when farmers, who were going broke because of railroad monopolies, realized they had to do something about it. What began as a farmers’ movement quickly spread throughout the country. The movement later evolved into the People’s Party and had a powerful impact on women’s suffrage, the direct elections of senators, wage and hour laws and the nationalization of railroads and public resources. It was very progressive.

How is your work helping individuals to swim against the political currents, work for the common good and make a difference in their communities?

Right versus left is what we’re told politics is all about—you’re either a conservative or you’re a liberal. But those are tiny little boxes that few Americans fit within, and this ideology is what divides us in this country. Most of us are a mix of both. The real political spectrum is in fact, top to bottom, because that is [the paradigm] where most people live; most folks know they are way down in that top-to-bottom spectrum.

What do you mean when you encourage people to be agitators, much like a metaphor of the way a washing machine agitates the dirt out?

First of all, the powers that be try to make the term “agitator” seem pejorative. But, in fact, agitation is what America is all about.

Agitators created America itself, first with the Continental Congress, and then

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus

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with the American Revolution. It was agitators who democratized The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It also took agitators to form the suffragist, antislavery, populist and labor movements—and later, the civil rights, women’s and environmental movements.

It takes people willing to stand up to the establishment and say, “No.”

How can we individually or collectively work to improve the world?

First of all, assess your own values and what matters to you. If you think there’s something that strikes you as particularly unfair or not right or that could be done better, then look at that and begin to build on what you really care about.

Inform yourself and then look around in your own area. It’s likely there is someone working on the very issue that bothers you. You’ve got to reach out to make those connections through places like your church, local groups and independent bookstores.

How do we create a government truly of, by and for the people?

Democracy is not a quick fix; it requires a lot of citizen involvement, and you’ve got to find ways to become a part of that. You can’t do it alone.

I often talk about Harrell’s Hardware store, in Austin. They’ll loan you a tool to take home for a project or sell you two nails. Their slogan is, “Together We Can Do It Yourself,” and this is exactly the operating principle of a progressive movement. We can’t do it ourselves—it takes all of us together, as like-minded people of goodwill. The possibility of selfgovernment comes from this.

For more information, visit JimHightower.com.

Ellen Mahoney teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email evm@infionline.net. natural awakenings

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Everything Is Better When It’s Fair The Fair Trade Movement Is Abuzz in Chicagoland

by Megy Karydes

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he holiday season is just beginning, but some artisans around the world are already working on designs for next year’s season. Many of them are producing for fair trade companies in the U.S., creating everything from jewelry and apparel to gifts and home accessories. “Fair trade is a worldwide movement aimed toward reducing poverty by providing farmers and artisans in developing countries a fair wage for their work,” says Nancy Jones, executive director of Chicago

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Fair Trade. Originating with handicrafts as early as the 1940s and ’50s, fair trade products began to include agricultural commodities such as coffee and tea by the 1980s and now include dried fruits, cocoa, sugar, rice, spices, nuts and most recently, wine.

As a movement, fair trade aims not only to pay fair wages, but also to contribute to sustainable development by providing market access to otherwise marginalized producers, giving them better trading conditions and connecting them with customers. Fair

trade practices may include supplying producers in lesser developed countries with financial and technical assistance, while respecting their cultural identity.

Because women comprise the majority of those who live in poverty, it is no surprise that they are a strong force in the fair trade movement. It yields public accountability and seeks to educate consumers about making responsible choices a part of their regular shopping habits. Beyond those primary purposes, fair trade standards seek to ensure environmental sustainability.

Local Initiatives with Global Goals

The fair trade movement is abuzz in Chicagoland, with the help of nonprofit organizations like Chicago Fair Trade,

Want to See More?

Visit these retailers who carry fair trade products: n Ten Thousand Villages, Evanston;

Evanston.TenThousandVillages.com n Earth & Spirit, Long Grove;

EarthAndSpiritLongGrove.com n The Mustard Seed, Lake Forest;

MustardSeedFairTrade.com n Global Handmade Hope, Park Ridge;

GlobalHandmadeHope.com

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and importers, online stores and retailers in places like Evanston, Lake Forest, Long Grove and Park Ridge, that carry fair trade items in their shops. Events celebrating October as Fair Trade Month, or World Fair Trade Day, in May, also help promote the message about fair trade products in our local communities.

Chicago Fair Trade has been working with area businesses, faith-based groups and fair trade activists to encourage more residents and businesses to support fair trade and to identify where in Chicagoland fair trade certified products are currently offered. The intended goal is to make Chicago a fair trade city—and then to expand the reach of that goal to the northern suburban communities.

“As the Chicagoland area continues to grow and be known as a global mecca, we want to offer more than a choice of good ethnic restaurants and cultural exchanges,” Jones adds. “We want to be recognized as a strong fair trade community and show other countries that we want relationships built on mutual fairness and respect. These are the building blocks of authentic global partnership.”

Fair trade Coffee, Wholesale and Retail n Charmers Café (coffee shop);

1500 W. Jarvis Avenue (Rogers Park) Chicago 60626 773-743-2233; CharmersCafe.com n Casteel Coffee (coffee shop/wholesaler); 2924 Central Street, Evanston 60201 877-560-8335; CasteelCoffee.com n Metropolis Coffee (coffee shop/wholesaler); 1039 W. Granville Avenue (Rogers Park) Chicago 60660 773-764-0400; MetropolisCoffee.com n Roasters (to receive fresh, roasted fairtrade coffee in the Chicago area); Chicago Coffee Confederation; email CoffeeConfederation@gmail.com or visit ChicagoCoffeeConfederation.wordpress.com n Whole Foods Market; and many other local grocery stores carry fair trade brands (retail)

Investing in a Better World

Ten Thousand Villages, in Evanston, has been promoting fair trade for more than a decade and has seen its number of customers and supporters grow through the years as more consumers demand social and economic accountability in the products they buy. “Everybody who is trying to make a change in the world is on the same page,” explains Community Outreach Manager Susanne Donoghue.

“Many things in this world are not fair. Through [fair trade], we are trying to make... things more fair for everyone,” Donoghue continues. “Fair trade is changing the status of women within their own families. They are being paid for what they do, and being paid fairly.

We need to ask what the products we are using cost, in terms of resources and the lives of the people who make them.

It’s the good neighbor approach.”

Despite the economic situation in the U.S., growing consumer demand in our local communities has prompted the opening of new fair trade shops during the last 24 months, including The Mustard Seed, in Lake Forest, and Global Handmade Hope, in Park Ridge.

Lake Forest resident Jackie Renwick opened The Mustard Seed when she realized she could help improve the lives of others by providing an outlet for women in lesser developed countries to produce income for their families.

Today, she partners with artisans and cooperatives, selling products from more than 30 countries and educating the community through outreach and special programs at her store. Most of the artisans are women working at home or in small groups, and many are widows supporting their children.

“Nothing begins to change shopping habits more than learning and sharing the stories of our artisans,” Renwick says. “When you buy a fair trade product for yourself or as a gift, you are giving more than once. It starts a wonderful ripple effect that keeps growing.”

For those who want to become more involved in the movement locally, October—designated Fair Trade month by TransFair USA—is rife with possibilities. Ten Thousand Villages will host a number of activities throughout the week of October 11, including a

What’s Fair?

According to the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), fair trade means an equitable and fair partnership between retail/wholesale marketers in North America and Europe and producers in Asia, Africa and Latin America and other parts of the world.

FTF criteria for membership are: n Paying a fair wage in the local context n Offering employees opportunities for advancement n Providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged n Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices n Being open to public accountability n Building long-term trade relationships n Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context n Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible For more info, visit FairTradeFederation.org.

book signing, women’s spa night and a fashion show featuring MarketPlace Handwork of India fashions and jewelry. Chicago Fair Trade will sponsor educational events, including GlobalFest, on October 14, an annual event spotlighting artisans and producers.

Donoghue sums up the importance of fair trade in our modern world: “We all have to change how we think and how we buy. When you buy fair trade products, you are investing in a better world for other people and for yourself.”

Megy Karydes, the owner of World Shoppe, a fair trade importing company, is active in the fair trade movement nationally and locally in the Chicagoland area. For more information on what is being done to promote fair trade throughout the greater Chicagoland area or to find more fair trade shops and cafés, visit ChicagoFairTrade.org. To learn how to make your community a fair trade town, visit FairTradeTownsUSA.org.

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BE A CLIMATE HERO Act up. Act now.

by Bill McKibben

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t any given moment, there are a thousand things going wrong in the world. If we were to list just major environmental problems alone we could go on for a long time, citing everything from toxic contaminants in our food to the scarcity of safe drinking water.

This past summer, we all stared in horror at the slowly blackening Gulf of Mexico as the Deepwater Horizon oil slick spread on and below the water’s surface. Making such a list is such a depressing exercise that the temptation is to just walk away from the task. We might feel like a surgeon at a wartime field hospital, forced to do major triage.

Where do we turn first?

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The half-good news is that our planet’s mounting environmental troubles aren’t isolated, individual casualties. If we can figure out what the keystone is, then we can collectively start to work to cure a bunch of the most pressing problems at once. By the same token, if we guess wrong, we can labor for years to correct a particular woe, only to have our hard work overwhelmed by the underlying infection.

Based on the scientific evidence, I think it’s pretty clear that the most crucial of all the complex issues we face today revolve around the causeand-effect relationship of burning fossil fuels and the accelerating changes in Earth’s climate. In short: If we can’t www.NAChicagoNorth.com

deal with global warming, nothing else we do will really matter. To put it more positively: If we can remove the needle from our arm that feeds society’s addiction to petroleum products, many of our other troubles would begin to wane.

Signs of the Times Let’s start with the hard stuff: Global warming is the first crisis we’ve ever faced that has the potential to shake our civilization to its core. So far, human beings have burned enough coal, gas and oil to raise the temperature of the planet about one degree Fahrenheit.

That’s already been enough to cause all manner of troubles:

n The Arctic icecap is melting, and quickly. By summer’s end in 2007, a record-setting year, the northernmost continent, which moderates air and water temperatures for the whole planet, contained 25 percent less ice than the year before. As of this writing, the 2010 melt was outpacing that of 2007.

Scientists now routinely predict it won’t be long before we’ve seen the end of Arctic summer sea ice altogether— that is, the world as viewed from outer space would be without its familiar white top. Worse, it’s not only the Arctic; pretty much every other geographic area that’s frozen is melting as well, perhaps most dangerously in the high-altitude glaciers of the Andes and Himalaya mountains, historically relied upon to send water, respectively, to the South American and Asian continents below. n The Earth’s hydrological cycles are undergoing a dramatic shift. Because warm air holds more water vapor than cold, the general atmosphere is about 5 percent moister than it was 40 years ago. This means more evaporation, hence more drought, in arid areas.

But on the rest of a planet, where what goes up must come down—we’re witnessing extraordinary increases in flooding. This year, for example, we’ve seen record (and lethal) rainstorms in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Arkansas, just within the 1.5 percent of the planet’s surface comprised by the continental United States. n Overall, temperatures are rising to near unbearable levels as that single degree average increase on the thermometer reverberates in savage heat waves. This past spring, India experienced weeks of record temperatures that beat anything recorded since the British started measuring them in the early 1800s. Early this summer, seven nations smashed all-time temperature records. In Burma, the mercury set a new all-time record for Southeast Asia, at 118 degrees. In June, Pakistan went on to establish a new benchmark for the highest temperature ever recorded at any time, anywhere in Asia, of 129 degrees.

All of this is due to a single degree of global temperature increase. The climatologists have warned us that if the

This year, China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest energy user, a status held for more than a century. Because China gets most of its electricity from coal, it’s also the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases as of 2007, yet the United States remains the world’s biggest oil consumer by a wide margin. We’re also by far the bigger energy consumer per capita, despite an overall 2.5 percent annual improvement in energy efficiency since 2000; the average American burns five times as much energy annually as the average Chinese citizen. ~ International Energy Agency

United States, China and other countries don’t make a super-swift transition from the use of coal and oil, the world’s collective temperature will climb something like five degrees before the century is out. If one degree melts the Arctic icecap, we don’t want to see what five degrees looks like.

So, that’s the bad news. Here’s the good news.

Alternate Scenario Let’s imagine we took the most significant step we could to speed the worldwide transition off of fossil fuel. Let’s imagine that the U.S. Congress and the United Nations managed to agree on a national and international scheme to set stiff pricing on coal and oil that accurately reflects the damage these fossil fuels are wreaking in the atmosphere. If that happened, then many other things would follow.

The most obvious is that we’d see lots more solar panels and wind turbines. Suddenly, anyone with a spreadsheet would be able to see that it no longer makes sense to invest in a coal-fired power plant. Anyone build-

ing a new apartment complex would immediately understand that it’s in his or her best interest to install solar hot water tubes on the roof. In China, the world leader in total energy use, yet also in renewable energies, 250 million people now get their hot water this way.

But, such a simple and effective solution still has to fight against the force of economic gravity there, as elsewhere.

As long as coal-fired electricity is absurdly cheap, renewable energy sources will stay marginal.

The effects of a widespread switch to clean and renewable energies wouldn’t be confined to the energy sector. Think about farming. We’ve spent half a century building a giant agro-industrial complex that runs entirely on fossil fuel.

Yet author Michael Pollan recently calculated that it takes 10 calories of fossil energy to produce one calorie of food. Because that growing complex is a machine, not really a farm, the food it produces is terrible in terms of taste and nutrition, and includes toxic residues from pesticides, herbicides and chemically synthesized fertilizers.

The ultimate irony is that we now devote the best farmland on the planet, the American Midwest, to growing highfructose corn syrup. It’s a prime culprit in our country’s diabetes epidemic. The ripple effect goes on and on.

On the other hand, consider what would happen if the price of oil went up high enough that this nation could no longer afford to farm in the manner preferred by agribusiness behemoths?

What would happen is that we’d need more Americans engaged in healthier farming, with human labor and ingenuity replacing some of the fossil fuel.

That would increase yields per acre and also increase the quality of the foods we eat. Research studies reported

by Jules Pretty, pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Essex, UK, in his book, Agri-Culture, have proved that small farms around the world are routinely as productive as agro-industrial lands, and that low-input farming, too, can feed the world with a wholesale switchover.

Again, this is already starting to happen: Farmers’ markets continue to be the fastest growing part of our nation’s food economy; the last agricul

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tural census found that the number of farms in the United States is increasing for the first time in a century-and-a-half.

That’s good news and potentially great news, but small farming, co-ops and organic production will remain a small, marginal trend until the price of energy changes. The day that happens is the day that everyone finds their way to a local farmers’ market.

Helpful changes roll out, from bus and train commutes replacing cars to the rising popularity of densely inhabited urban blocks, as cul-de-sac suburbia loses its appeal. Local storefronts naturally get the nod over big box chain stores, too, and so on.

The Key to Change How do we make it happen? How do we change the price of energy, which is what almost every observer thinks is the only way we can make a real change in the physics and chemistry of the current global warming phenomenon, and make an effective difference in the short time allowed before the harmful consequences explode exponentially?

If only everyday people could do it solely by making personal energy improvements around the house, at work and in their communities—through such steps as switching to more energyefficient light bulbs and riding our bikes to work. Such changes are good to do, of course, and it all helps, but we don’t have a century to turn around our global situation. Which means we also need to engage in… politics.

We need to put the pressure on our leaders now to change the price of energy now. Remember—they’re getting plenty of pressure from lobbyists pocketing profits on the other side.

Because of government subsidies and cartels, fossil fuel is the most profitable industry humans have ever engaged in; last year, Exxon Mobil Corporation made more money than any company in recorded history. That buys them a lot of power.

We won’t be able to outspend them, so we will have to do what people have always done when they have found themselves needing to take charge of their future: We must build a movement. Politicians won’t change because scientists tell them we have 22

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Scientific data shows the ocean becoming more acidic at an unprecedented rate as surface waters continue to absorb approximately a third of manmade atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. ~ National Research Council, Ocean Acidification, 2010

Global phytoplankton populations have dropped about 40 percent since 1950, and scientists believe that rising sea surface temperatures are to blame. The microscopic plants both form the foundation of the ocean’s food web and gobble up carbon dioxide to produce half of the world’s oxygen output. ~ Dalhousie University, Canada, Nature, 2010

a problem—they’ll change because enough people tell them they have to, or they’ll lose their jobs.

Building just this kind of movement is entirely possible.

Citizen Action Plan Two years ago, a few concerned citizens joined me in launching 350.org, a wholly grassroots campaign that takes its name from a wonky scientific data point.

NASA scientists led by James Hansen have published reams of data showing that, “Any value for carwww.NAChicagoNorth.com

bon in the atmosphere greater than 350 parts per million [ppm] is not compatible with the planet on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted.”

It sounds like an unpromising banner to rally people around—too serious and too depressing, because we’re already well past the 350 mark.

The atmosphere is currently at 392 ppm carbon dioxide, which is why the Arctic is melting. So far, we’ve racked up some successes; in October 2009, we held an International Day of Action that created some 5,200 demonstrations in 181 countries. That’s a lot—in fact, CNN called it, “… the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.”

Online images posted from those events banish wrong preconceptions people might have about who is and is not an environmentalist. Most of the rallies were orchestrated by poor, black, brown, Asian and young people, because that’s what most of the world is made up of. Six weeks later, at the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 117 nations endorsed that

350 target, which was good; except that they were 117 poor and vulnerable nations, not the richest and most addicted to fossil fuels. So, we fight on.

This October, we’re holding a 10/10/10 Global Work Party. It’s set to spread around the world, too, with people in thousands of communities doing something practical: putting solar panels on local schools, harvesting community gardens and planting mangroves along rising shorelines.

In Auckland, New Zealand, they aim to repair every bicycle in every garage. The intention will be twofold.

Point one is that bikes are good. Ditto solar panels. We need both in our communities. Point two acknowledges that we know we can’t solve climate change one bike path at a time.

So we’re also intent on sending a strong political message to our leaders: If we can get to work, so can you. Right now. If I can climb up on the roof of the school to hammer in a solar panel, you can climb to the floor of the Senate and hammer out some helpful legislation.

It’s time to shame our government and corporate leaders a little, and maybe inspire them, too.

This is far from the only people’s campaign swelling around the world.

They range from the small and specific (e.g., Project Laundry List, which advocates for right-to-dry laws that would let all Americans hang their laundry on clotheslines) to the far-ranging Green for All, which works for clean energy jobs across the country. This year, the Great Power Race, between campuses in the United States, China and India, will make news via a friendly competition to see who can come up with the most creative sustainability ideas. Then there’s PutSolarOnIt.com, pushing the U.S. president and other world leaders to at least do the symbolic work of sticking panels on the roof of the White House and all of its equivalent buildings around the world. The list goes on.

We all need to get to work addressing climate change right where we live, in our communities. We need to build towns and cities that make sense and create jobs for families. We also need to build a world that works, because the best organic gardener on Earth won’t be able to cope with 30

We the People Can Help Mother Earth Organizing a local action for 10/10/10 doesn’t need to be large or complicated; these acts are about community and solutions and sending a message to the world. Find ideas at 350.org, search People or nearby work parties.

We understand that 10/10/10 is one important day of many in a long, universal (and beautiful) fight for a workable planet. Other groups doing great work include: Center for Biological Diversity (BiologicalDiversity.org) Energy Action Coalition (EnergyActionCoalition.org) Friends of the Earth (foe.org) Interfaith Power and Light (InterfaithPowerAndLight.org)

straight days of rain, or a month with no rain at all, without helpful policies.

That means resorting to politics, which is another way of saying that we must work together as people for better solutions to climate change than what we have now. It can be beautiful. If you don’t believe me, check out the pictures at 350.org.

I dare you.

Bill McKibben is the author, most recently, of the bestselling Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet. He’s the founder of 350.org, and a scholar in residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. The Boston Globe this year described him as “…probably the country’s leading environmentalist,” and Time called him “…the planet’s best green journalist.”

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greenliving

Transition Towns

network, led by individuals who are working to transform their own communities. While Berea is seeing its subdivisions expand and farmland disappear, one group of residents is making plans to help their community end its reliance on fossil fuels.

Berea locals have a goal they’re

by Tara Lohan calling “50 x 25.” By 2025, they aim to have the town using 50 percent less energy, deriving 50 percent of the it does use from local sources, More and more neighborhoods are making the transition energy procuring 50 percent of its food from farms and processors within 100 miles to a climate-friendly community. of town, and generating 50 percent of its gross domestic product from locally owned, independent businesses. he coastal town “We know that if we Cities first began com The Transition Town Berea group of Lincoln City, holds monthly reskilling workshops to mitting to Kyoto Protocol work together, not Oregon, has a lot help locals acquire the know-how to goals in 2005, through only can we lessen to lose if nothing is done grow their own food, weatherize their the U.S. Conference of about climate change.

Mayors Climate Protection houses and install solar panels. Their our impact, but we The town sits 11 feet projects help neighbors replant lawns Agreement. Now, more also can live more above sea level, and unwith edibles and build raised vegetable than 1,000 cities in the checked climate change fully and justly,” United States, the District beds. They’ve also auctioned rain barcould erode its beaches rels painted by local artists and orgaof Columbia and Puerto or flood the town.

— Pam Richart, nized a 100-Mile Potluck to celebrate Rico have signed on.

Residents are taking local food and farmers.

The community Transition Rogers matters into their own climate movement goes Park organizer hands. “We could ignore beyond government initia- Building a Future from it, let the federal governtives; it’s a cultural shift the Ground Up ment deal with it,” Mayor Lori Hollinginvolving people from tiny rural towns to The Transition Towns movement in sworth says. “We’re not willing to do major metropolitan areas. the United States is less than two that.” Last year, Lincoln City committed years old, but it came from the seeds to becoming carbon neutral, through The Heart of Climate Action of earlier re-localization efforts and renewable energy, energy efficiency The fast-growing college town of Berea, other community climate groups and and carbon offsets.

Kentucky, is one of scores of U.S. com- nonprofits.

Communities like Lincoln City have

A lecture on climate change may munities that have become Transition long been ahead of Congress and the not appeal to everyone, but advoTowns and formed a diffuse, grassroots White House on climate commitments.

Where Sustainable Living is Real

T

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Transition Rogers Park

cates find they can interest people in things like gardening, says Richard Olson, director of the Berea College Sustainability and Environmental Studies program. “We talk to them about heirloom seeds and what their grandparents grew and if they’d like to learn canning. We get them involved without even mentioning transition or sustainability.”

Interest in climate-readiness is spreading: Austin, Texas, has an ambitious plan to make city facilities, vehicles and all other operations carbonneutral by 2020. Louisville, Colorado, now has a car share program. Charlottesville, Virginia, is creating a trail system for walking and biking to connect schools, parks and other public spaces.

Greensburg, Kansas, a city of fewer than 2,000, was leveled by a tornado in May 2007. Residents have decided to rebuild as green as they can, requiring all city buildings to meet the U.S.

For more information visit Transition US.org.

Tara Lohan is a contributing writer to YES! Magazine, a senior editor at AlterNet and editor of the book, Water Consciousness.

Transforming Community

Photo credit: Pam Richart

Transition Houston, in Houston, Texas, is working on a Transition film series with Rice University and a Permablitz program of neighborhood permaculture workshops.

Green Building Council’s LEED platinum rating for top-level environmentally friendly construction. They’ve also formed the group Greensburg GreenTown to increase public education about green living, make resources available at the library and distribute educational materials through online and telephone classes and events.

Green building initiatives also are spreading, thanks in part to Architecture 2030, a nonprofit based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which calls for an immediate 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel consumption in new buildings and renovations, and sets a goal of carbonneutral design by 2030. The U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted the program in 2006.

These communities hope they can lead the way toward the big changes we’ll need, both nationally and internationally, to respond to climate change. “Working at the community level to build resilience is the strategy that has the most chance of success,” observes Olson. “It’s not going to take until our grandchildren’s generation to see if we’ve succeeded.

I think in 10 years we’ll see if we’re going to have a chance.”

T

ransition Rogers Park (TRP), an initiative in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, is built upon the foundation of the larger Transition Towns Movement. Residents are working to create a community-led response to challenges of energy, climate change and the economy through self-reliance, relocalization and relationships. Some of their initiatives include: Education – Through small group meetings, film series and community-wide events, TRP is raising awareness of the urgent need to move beyond fossil fuels.

Shared Skills – TRP created the People’s College of Transition Skills as a way to share resources and talents. Educational events planned for this fall include urban food forages and workshops on permaculture, food preservation, rooftop gardens and cold frames—all with home-grown talent.

Group Work – TRP has catalyzed groups based on members’ passion that create positive projects. The Gardening Group has brought together gardeners and social service organizations through its Howard Street Gardens initiative, providing an opportunity to share knowledge and break down stereotypes. A second garden is in the works and will be ready for planting next spring. This fall, the Heart and Soul Group is planning a community building workshop and the Local Commerce Group will host a workshop on money.

Partnering with Others – TRP is participating in a community-wide initiative that will bring an urban farm and greenhouse to Rogers Park as an initial step in creating a local food system. Partners include Loyola University, community-based organizations and the local city alderman’s office.

Celebration! – TRP takes time to celebrate life and relationships through potlucks, song circles and other social gatherings.“We know that if we work together, not only can we lessen our impact, but we also can live more fully and justly,” says Transition Rogers Park organizer Pam Richart.

Contact prichart@EcoJusticeCollabo rative.org to learn more or visit Transition RogersPark.org to get involved.

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October 2010

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inspiration

ECO-FILM PICKS Movies with a Message Worth Watching

A

s movie-making technology has become less expensive and more accessible, eco-films have exploded onto the scene.

While companies like National Geographic and Discovery Channel continue to contribute high-quality nature films, independent ecofilmmakers are also releasing inspired films almost by the day. Because most of these movies run less than 90 minutes, they have become sought-after teaching tools for family movie nights, school classrooms and readers looking for a break from books.

It was a tough call, but after reviewing 50 standouts, Natural Awakenings picked five films highly favored for their clear message, entertainment value and motivating call to action.

FOOD, INC.: Producers present the whole enchilada when it comes to understanding what we eat and the implications of our food choices. Beyond a plateful of facts, it’s also packed with entertaining graphics. The climax answers the inevitable viewer question: “This is an appalling situation, but what can I do about it?” Attention parents: There is a documentary-style scene showing mistreatment of an ailing cow to fast-forward through; otherwise, the coast is clear. (FoodIncMovie.com)

TAPPED: Filmmakers tackle two significant issues facing the modern world: the emerging scarcity of water and the staggering quantity of plastic bottle waste. Images of the Texas-sized floating island of garbage in the middle of the Pacific Ocean will make us think seriously about kicking the bottled water habit for good. (TappedTheMovie.com) 26

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A COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS: Anyone taking up the first lady’s call to home vegetable gardening will revel in this film’s portrayal of the many ways local gardens provide communities with gifts of food, knowledge, empowerment and reconciliation. A Community of Gardeners shows that local gardening is so much more than a labor-intensive solution to the

ills of the manufactured-food industry; it is also good for the soul. (Community OfGardeners.com)

THE END OF THE LINE: Much as the eco-film standard bearer, An Inconvenient Truth, sounds the alert on global warming, The End of the Line reports on the troubled state of the rapid decline of the fish stocks that feed the world. Similarly, the film highlights how viewers’ everyday choices can stop contributing to the problem.

(EndOfTheLine.com)

FUEL: Civilization’s era of crude oil and other fossil fuels is rapidly coming to a close, while the future of energy has yet to be written. The replacement technologies for alternative sustainable energies are already understood, if not widely promoted. Many are ready to be put to work now and await only our adoption. Next-generation technologies also beckon. Fuel, a Hollywood-style documentary featuring such environmental spokespersons as Woody Harrelson and Sheryl Crow, proves that the future of energy is as much about imagination and creativity as it is about kilowatt-hours. (TheFuelFilm.com) Contributors include Michael Curran, health writer, and Michael D’Estries, film reviewer.

More Great Films Black Gold: A Film about Coffee and Trade on the economics of coffee BlackGoldMovie.com

Garbage Warrior on truly sustainable housing GarbageWarrior.com

Blue Gold: World Water Wars on the politics of water BlueGold-WorldWaterWars.com

King Corn on the great American corn diet KingCorn.net

Dirt! The Movie on the vital role of healthy soil DirtTheMovie.org

The Last Beekeeper on the global bee crisis PlanetGreen.Discovery.com

Dive! on American food waste DiveTheFilm.com

No Impact Man on implementing sustainable living NoImpactDoc.com

Everything’s Cool on environmentalism in politics EverythingsCool.org Flow on the world water crisis FlowTheFilm.com

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Ripe for Change on the economics of agriculture CaliforniaDreamSeries.org/rfc.htm

natural awakenings

October 2010

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healthykids

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID...

LEARN HOW TO AVOID THE REAL GOBLINS

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

O

ur little ones, masquerading this month as ghosts and goblins, only look scary. What’s really frightening are the toxic chemicals lurking in our families’ food and water.

Pregnant women, infants and children are most vulnerable, because expectant, young and growing bodies are less able to break down and excrete toxins. Halloween screams for a list of valid fears, plus strategies to keep our families safe.

Pesticides: According to Charles Benbrook, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Boulder, Colorado-based Organic Center, more than 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the United States alone. More than half of the most widely applied pesticides are known endocrine disruptors, compounds that mimic natural hormones and interfere with normal development.

At Beyond Pesticides’ annual meeting last spring, Indianapolis-based neonatologist Dr. Paul Winchester 28

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explained how pesticide exposure contributes to birth defects, autism, hyperactivity, diabetes, reduced fertility, obesity and cancer. It’s no wonder that the President’s Cancer Panel Report recommends choosing foods grown or produced without pesticides.

Genetically Modified Foods: An estimated 70 percent of common processed foods lining supermarkets shelves, including Halloween candy, contain at least one genetically modified (GM) ingredient. Yet, genetically modified crops and foods (GMOs) have never been tested for long-term safety.

Since the introduction of GM crops 13 years ago, Benbrook says pesticide use has increased by more than 300 million pounds. Because GM crops are designed to withstand pesticide spray, over time, weeds and pests naturally develop resistance, requiring more and stronger chemicals.

Mercury Rising: Recent U.S. Geological Survey research found mercury contamination in every fish sampled from 291 streams nationwide.

More surprising, the Institute for Agriculture www.NAChicagoNorth.com

and Trade Policy (IATP) found mercury in assorted products containing high fructose corn syrup, likely the result of the sweetener’s manufacturing process, says Renee Dufault, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration health officer.

David Wallinga, a medical doctor and director of the Food and Health program at IATP, says mercury is a toxic, heavy metal that harms brain development; no exposure level is considered safe.

Plastic Poisons: Like pesticides, plastics can release endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) into food and water. Even more scary, “These compounds are biologically active at extremely low and previously undetected levels,” says University of Missouri biologist Frederick vom Saal.

Food Dyes: The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that common food dyes can pose unnecessary risks for cancer, hyperactivity and allergies. Each year, approximately 15 million pounds of

synthetic food dyes are added to foods that are heavily marketed to children.

It’s frightening to think of our children as guinea pigs for profit, isn’t it? Here’s how to keep family members safe:

Buy Organic: Researchers at Washington State University found that switching children from a conventional to an organic diet resulted in a dramatic drop in pesticide exposure. By definition, organic foods cannot contain GMOs, synthetic pesticides, artificial hormones or antibiotics. Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., a prominent ecologist and author of Living Downstream, says, “Organic food is really a bargain, when you consider the full cost to our children’s health and their environment.”

Read Labels: Most nonorganic corn, soy, canola and sugar (processed from sugar beets, not cane) are genetically engineered, although an identifying label is not required. Common GMO ingredients include soy lecithin,

corn starch and high fructose corn syrup. “Good” food advocates suggest that we call or write our favorite food manufacturers and tell them we won’t buy their products if they use GMO ingredients or artificial colors.

Avoid Plastics: Always heat food in glass, lead-free ceramic, stainless steel or other non-reactive metal cookware (excludes most nonstick brands).

Avoid House and Garden Chemicals: Banish bug sprays and lawn and garden chemicals in favor of more natural products. Check with Beyond Pesticides for suggested alternatives, at BeyondPesticides.org.

Pass this Article on to Friends: Protect the neighborhood and beyond.

Petition Legislators: Ask representatives to support H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, at ewg.org/ actioncenter.

Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host based in Columbia, MO. Tune into “Food Sleuth” radio at kopn.org.

Reach her at FoodSleuth@gmail.com.

For more information visit: The Organic Center (Organic-Center.org); Pesticide Action Network of North America (panna.org); IATP Smart Guides (HealthObservatory.org).

BANISHING THE CANDY MONSTER n When goblins come a-knocking, offer stickers, pencils, crayons or children’s party favors. n Host a haunted dinner party with a creepy twist: Serve guacamole (aka “frogs’ guts”), spaghetti with tomato sauce (“bloody brains”) and organic cranberry juice mixed with warm spiced cider (“Dracula’s blood”). Eat by candlelight or around a fire pit and howl at the moon. n Make up spooky stories.

n Emphasize the dress-up factor. Visit a secondhand store and create unique costumes, complete with homemade masks, face paint and hairdos. n Celebrate the season with true treats, like time with family and nature. Take a treasure hunt hike to search for leaves, feathers, rocks and seedpods. Decorate small pumpkins or gourds from the farmers’ market, dunk for organic apples, carve jack-o-lanterns and toast pumpkin seeds. Yum.

Drug Pollution in Our Great Lakes

by Susan Campbell

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ecent testing of Lake Michigan water has revealed the presence of pharmaceutical byproducts, raising concerns about potential long-term health threats to anyone drinking water from the Great Lakes.

Particularly worrisome are the potential effects on children, whose developing bodies face greater contaminant risks because of their smaller size.

Low levels of cotinine, a nicotine byproduct, and the cholesterol-modifying drug gemfibrozil are among the pharmaceutical compounds that scientists have found in Lake Michigan water to date. Although the levels of these byproducts are too low to show any immediate effects on human health, scientists say little is known about the long-term consequences of consuming them or how they might degrade or interact with other chemicals in the water.

Patient use is the main source of drugs in our water supply. Most drugs are secreted in human and pet urine, but they also wind up in our water through careless disposal. A 2009 University of Illinois-Chicago survey of 450 Cook County residents found that 32 percent discard their unused and expired medications in the toilet or sink, and 59 percent place them in the trash.

Other drugs enter the water through treatment plant and septic system effluent, runoff from uncontrolled landfills, industrial discharges, commercial animal feeding operations and manure applications. Most waste-water treatment plants are not able to remove pharmaceuticals.

Because the Great Lakes provide drinking water for more than 40 million people, this issue is urgent. Illinois lawmakers and policyfocused environmental groups are attempting to address residential and institutional disposal issues, but more work is needed.

Susan Campbell is the Communications Manager for Alliance for the Great Lakes. For more information on this topic, the studies that are underway and what you can do, visit the website of the Alliance for the Great Lakes at GreatLakes.org/PharmaReport.

natural awakenings

October 2010

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healingways

BETTER BREAST

HEALTH Make Prevention a Daily Habit

by Beth Davis

The National Cancer Institute

F

Embrace Fish Oil or some women, the thought of breast cancer elicits fears related estimates that roughly one-third According to a recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevento body image, surgery and of all cancer deaths may be tion, women who regularly included mortality. It has likely affected every a fish oil supplement in their diet had woman in this country, either through diet-related. To help decrease a 32 percent reduced risk of breast the trauma of personal experience or cancer than those not taking the through another’s trials. a woman’s risk, The Cancer supplement.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), some 207,000 new Cure Foundation recommends Take Up Tea cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women this year. adding foods containing cancer- Green tea, the most widely consumed Despite this staggering number, there beverage in the world, after water, is good news. The ACS also reports fighting properties, including fiber, reportedly contains the highest conthat after increasing for more than two centration of polyphenols, powerful seaweed and whole soy products. antioxidants that help fight off the free decades, the incidence rate of female breast cancer recently has been deradicals that scientists believe concreasing, by about 2 percent per year tribute to the aging process, as well as from 1999 to 2006, which may indicate that we are adopting the development of many health problems, including cancer. more effective prevention methods.

According to a new study led by Martha Shrubsole, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Here are some natural ways to keep breast tissue healthy. in Nashville, regular consumption of green tea may reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer by as much as 12 percent.

Get a Move On Walk, run, swim or bike—just move. Studies show that The Power of Produce exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer. Results of research Eat more fruits and vegetables. The American Institute of published in BMC Cancer found that women in the study Cancer Research lists the foods most likely to help decrease group who engaged in more than seven hours a week of the risk of breast cancer. Superstar vegetables include all moderate-to-vigorous exercise for the last 10 years were 16 cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who were inactive. cauliflower); dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach); car30

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rots; and tomatoes. Steam the vegetables or eat them raw to best preserve their cancer-fighting nutrients. Superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries.

The Magic of Mushrooms Regularly include medicinal mushrooms at mealtime, especially the Japanese varieties maitake and shiitake. Studies have shown that maitake mushrooms, in particular, stimulate immune function and also inhibit tumor growth. In a study of more than 2,000 Chinese women, those who ate the most fresh mushrooms (10 grams or more a day) proved about two-thirds less likely to develop breast cancer than non-consumers.

Limit the Alcohol A study of more than a million women by Oxford University scientists indicates a clear link between drinking even moderate amounts of wine and breast cancer. A Harvard Nurses’ Health study has shown that consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day can increase breast cancer risk by as much as 20 to 25 percent.

Cut the Fat Ann Kulze, a medical doctor and author of Dr. Ann’s 10-Step Diet, says women should minimize consumption of omega-6 and saturated fats, avoid trans fats, and maximize intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines and mackerel. Kulze suggests that women consume monounsaturated fats like olive oil, as well as nuts and seeds; the latter also provide selenium, an important mineral in cancer protection, according to the British Journal of Cancer.

Cut Chemical Exposure Certain chemicals, many of which are found in plastic, appear to interfere with the body’s hormonal balance and could harm breast tissue. To reduce exposure to chemicals such as Biphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, Marissa Weiss, a physician and president of BreastCancer.org, recommends using products that are made from glass, ceramic or stainless steel, instead.

Avoid Long-Term Hormone Therapy The link between postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) and breast cancer has long been a subject of debate, and research results have been mixed. According to experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, it’s probably safe to take hormones for up to four to five years, although they recommend using the lowest dose possible. Of course, not using PHT to start with is a way to avoid raising this particular risk.

Making such conscious daily life choices pays off today and in many tomorrows.

Beth Davis is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings magazines.

Breast Health for All Ages & Stages

by Gail Kopin

A

ccording to the American Cancer Society, one out of eight American women who live to be 85 will develop breast cancer, a risk that was one out of 14 during the 1960s.

We need to address breast cancer’s prevalence in the United States and take proactive steps toward prevention.

As a naturopathic doctor, I believe that our current health system is too focused on sickness, rather than earlier prevention and wellness.

It’s possible that up to 90 percent of disease in the U.S., including cancer, can be prevented and reversed if caught early enough.

Fortunately, more women today are becoming educated about the importance of early detection. Familiarity with their breasts and understanding early changes in their breast tissue is a great start at prevention.

Seeking alternative prevention methods, such as a digital thermogram using infrared scan, is also helpful. This compression- and radiation-free tool can help detect breast inflammation and the early onset stages of cancer. By comparison, the National Cancer Institute reports that a breast tumor can be developing for eight years or more before it is discovered by a mammogram. As a cancer survivor and a woman, I believe it is vital to seek out earlier and alternative detection methods, educate yourself and obtain multiple opinions.

In addition, be aware of your exposure to potential toxins and know what is going into your body. Assess the air quality and chemicals in your home and work environments—are they healthy? Do you eat organic foods and exercise regularly? What is your level of stress? Stress creates high levels of cortisol that can promote inflammation and disease.

Our poor dietary and lifestyle habits, coupled with environmental toxins, are most likely at the root of breast cancer’s increased prevalence today. By making wise choices and focusing on preventive care, we can reverse this trend and return to wellness.

Gail Kopin, a naturopathic doctor, speaker, expert on preventive care and the founder of Alternative Health Associates, sees patients of all ages in Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin. For more information on Dr. Kopin or to order her Breast Health for All Ages and Stages DVD, visit AlternativeHealthAssoc.com. All proceeds from the DVD are donated to her patients battling breast cancer. natural awakenings

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fitbody

EXERCISE FOR SPINE HEALTH SMART TRAINING BEATS BACK PAIN

by Michael Curran

A

s exercise reaches beyond the realm of pure athletics to include fitness fans everywhere, people have noticed that their efforts to stay in shape often are thwarted by back pain. That’s why knowledgeable trainers counsel that any well-designed workout must honor the health and mechanics of this important part of the body.

Dr. Karen Erickson, a New York City-based chiropractor and spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association, sees firsthand why alignment is crucial, especially if an individual has a history of back pain. “Good stability and good flexibility are the big factors for keeping the spine healthy,” she says. No matter what exercise modality one chooses to practice, Erickson advises beginning conservatively, as benefits can be achieved without pushing the level of difficulty.

Core Strength Counts Developing muscle strength throughout the torso is key to maintaining the correct spinal curvature for a strong back. In addition to the muscles that directly attach to the spine, the spine is also stabilized by deep stomach strength, strong pelvic floor support and the upper thigh muscles. Pilates is well-known for its focus on such core conditioning.

“Pilates uses apparatus expressly designed for working the abdominals and the back,” explains Lolita San Miguel, from her studio in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. “Most of our work is in the supine or prone positions [lying down], so that the vertical pull from gravity is lessened, and the body can be worked with a more correct alignment, and thus more effectively.” One of a small group of active practitioners who studied with Pilates method founder Joseph Pilates, San Miguel is a living testament to the benefits of the practice. When this 75-year-old isn’t doing her daily Pilates, she’s engaged in other physically demanding activities. “Pilates makes life sweet for the senior,” she says.

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Posture Matters Despite well-meaning parental advice, it turns out that good posture entails more than just pulling our shoulders back.

Alignment practices like Restorative Exercise and the Alexander Technique were designed to develop an awareness of full-body mechanics as we go about daily activities.

Annette Cantor-Groenfeldt teaches the Alexander Technique in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“The central theme of the technique is the spine, learning how to maintain length through the spine as you move,” she advises. “It is used extensively by actors, dancers, musicians and other high-performance people whose activities depend on postural alignment.”

In 2008, the Alexander Technique was the subject of a yearlong study published in the British Medical Journal, where it was shown to be effective in relieving low-back pain. The system focuses on both mental and physical aspects of movement, and usually includes passive treatments on the massage table, where the

www.NAChicagoNorth.com

October is National Spinal Health Month

teaching practitioner manipulates the body to help release muscular tension.

Stay Flexible Keeping spinal movements fluid and supple is also essential for keeping the discs of the spine healthy. Tai chi and the related qigong emphasize this kind of mobility.

“Many Tai chi students find that they can move some of their vertebrae, but others seem to be stuck, with several vertebrae moving as one,” reports Sound Beach, New Yorkbased Tai chi Master Bob Klein. He explains, “In Tai chi, you become a master of moving the spine so that it almost seems devoid of bones, flowing and turning with ease, in exact coordination with the rest of the body.” Both Tai chi and qigong are gaining popularity among those who are looking to maximize a cardio-style workout, while minimizing impact on their bones and joints.

Yoga is a longtime favorite approach to maintaining both stability and flexibility through strong muscles and alignment. Ana Forrest used her hatha yoga practice to recover from an accident that seriously injured all the regions of her spine, and Forrest Yoga was born out of her retraining.

“People spend 90 percent of their waking hours in positions that compress the spine—in how they sit, how they stand, even how they do backbends in yoga class,” she observes.

“Part of a good yoga practice is to create length in the spine, create a feeling of spaciousness in the body.”

While Erickson considers herself a fan of all the exercise modalities listed here, she always emphasizes personal responsibility when it comes to back health. “Never do an exercise that causes you pain,” she offers as a rule of thumb.

For long-term back health, she explains that chiropractic care is great for improving alignment and other back-related issues, yet is no substitute for daily exercise and self-care.

Michael Curran has credentials in psychology, ayurvedic medicine, and Restorative Exercise™. He is the director of Health and Wellness Media (HealthAndWellnessMedia.com).

Contacts: Karen Erickson at DrKarenErickson@msn.com; Ana Forrest at ForrestYoga.com; Bob Klein at MovementsOfMagic. com; Lolita San Miguel at LolitaPilates.com; and Annette Cantor-Groenfeldt at 505-670-0474.

Iron Out Those Soft-Tissue Issues

by Sandy Saldano

Y

ou exercise, eat right and get plenty of sleep—yet you wake up feeling as stiff as an ironing board. What now?

Your muscles, or soft tissue, may be tight and shortened, a condition that causes inflexibility and inflammation that can lead to pain. To ease back stiffness, soft tissue can be “pressed,” in the same way you press your clothes when they are wrinkled. Here are some ways to “iron out” your muscles and relieve stiffness.

Nutrients: Carbohydrate deficiency can cause muscle weakness, neck pain and headaches. Protein deficiency can cause muscle cramps, low tolerance for exercise and chronic spinal conditions, as well as gas, bloating and constipation.

Many people think they are eating enough healthy food, when in fact their bodies simply can’t digest what’s going into their stomachs. See a digestive health specialist who uses enzyme supplements to improve digestion.

Water: Drinking lots of water—half your body weight in ounces daily—will flush toxins and oxygenate the blood, which aids in healing and maximizes hormonal and bodily functions.

Coffee, tea and soda don’t count!

Ice or heat: If you have sharp pain, do not use heat.

Always apply ice, and do so within 72 hours of an injury. Ice reduces inflammation, but heat makes pain worse. If you have dull aches and stiffness, however, use moist heat for 20 minutes. Always use a towel with both ice and heat to prevent burning.

Press: Massage therapy by knowledgeable and experienced licensed massage therapists can target and treat the areas of pain. Lengthening and stretching soft tissue releases tension and causes the pituitary gland to secrete endorphins, the body’s natural tranquilizers. Regular massage calms nerves, improves circulation and flexibility, and enhances emotional well-being. You may want to try several massage therapists to find a good match.

Prevention is the best health insurance you can buy. Invest in yourself with these few simple steps, and you’ll iron out stiffness to feel strong, flexible and healthy.

Sandy Saldano, a licensed massage therapist for 22 years, is the owner of Therapeutic Kneads, Ltd., 1779 Green Bay Road, Highland Park 60035. Call 847-266-0131 or visit WeKneadYou. com. See ad on page 8.

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consciouseating

eaters? Yes, our hunter-gatherer forbears may have liked meat, explain some experts, but it comprised only a tiny part of their diet—those animals were hard to catch. Instead, early humans subsisted largely on wild vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Milk and cheese didn’t become a diet staple until 10,000 years ago, and then only in Europe.

Author Virginia Messina, a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in public health, based in Port Townsend, Washington, says her research for the American Dietetic Association confirms that vegetarians overall have lower levels of bad cholesterol, less obesity and a lower incidence of both hypertension and colon cancer than meat-eaters. Vegans have even lower cholesterol and blood pressure than vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy.

But eschewing animal products only leads to improved health if people follow some basic guidelines. Vegans must be sure to eat a variety of whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds—good sources of protein—as well as fruits and vegetables. (Messina notes that the average person needs about 55 grams of protein a day, about half that ingested in a typical America diet.) And, while plant diets are generally rich in iron, Messina notes that vegans need to make sure that the iron is

by Kristin Ohlson well absorbed by eating a diet rich in vitamin C—leafy greens, ased upon what he observed at a plantation in Hawaii as well as citrus, peppers, potatoes, melons and tomatoes. She on his first job out of medical school, California physireminds vegans to get enough zinc in their diets with nuts, cian John McDougall has eaten a vegan diet for 35 years. seeds and seed butters like tahini. Some nutritionists suggest There, he cared for workers hailing from China, Japan, Korea that vegans take a vitamin B12 supplement, as well as a caland the Philippines, and quickly noticed that first-generation cium supplement. immigrants didn’t have the diseases he’d been trained to treat: Vegans insist that giving up these animal products doesn’t no heart disease, no diabetes, no cancer, no arthritis. However, mean giving up the pleasures of food. Perhaps no vegan chef he saw more evidence of these conditions with each succeedhas done more to convince skeptics than Isa Chandra Mosing generation, as the workers increasingly indulged in standard kowitz, with cookbooks like Vegan with a Vengeance, VegaAmerican fare. nomicon, and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. (She also

“My first-generation patients kept to the diet they had eaten founded the Post Punk Kitchen vegan website with free recipes in their home countries,” McDougall says. “They lived on rice at theppk.com). Many of her recipes take fewer than 45 minutes and vegetables, with very little meat and no to prepare, often from inexpensive ingredients. dairy. But, as their kids started to eat burgers The American Institute “It’s an economical way to eat,” she says. “It’s and shakes, the kids got fatter and sicker.” the way poor people have always eaten.” for Cancer Research

Accounts like this contribute to the fact Certainly, it takes some retraining to adopt recommends avoiding that today, as many as 8 million Americans say a vegan diet. Some people start by keeping that they are vegetarians, according to a 2009 processed meat and meat portions to three or four ounces and Harris Interactive survey commissioned by The going meatless one day each week, as author eating no more than Vegetarian Resource Group. Of these, about Michael Pollan recommends. But once people a third are vegans, who avoid meat, eggs and 500 grams (18 ounces) get the hang of preparing tasty, plant-based dairy products, as well as meat. Many choose of red meat a week, meals, they realize the breadth of the culinary a plant-based diet for better health; others, experience. because they believe it’s more humane and the equivalent of six “The people who have been vegan for environmentally conscious. According to the 3-ounce servings.

Natural Marketing Institute, as many as 30 perany length of time actually have a diet that’s cent of Americans say they are trying to reduce substantially more diverse and interesting than their meat intake. ~ Elaine Magee, WebMD.com the typical omnivore,” observes Erik Marcus,

Vegan advocates, who include celebrities author of The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compaslike Alicia Silverstone, Tobey Maguire and Woody Harsionate Living Without Sacrifice. “You relson, support a robust vegan infrastructure, with new might think that your diet becomes cookbooks and gourmet recipes, hip new restaurants and more limited if you get rid of an explosion of websites and chat rooms devoted to a animal foods, but the opposite plant-based lifestyle. is actually true.”

Some omnivores doubt that people can be either Kristin Ohlson is a freelance healthy or satisfied without the nutrients and flavor of writer in Cleveland, OH. Reach animal products. After all, didn’t we evolve from meat her at KristinOhlson.com.

On The

WHY PEOPLE ARE PUTTING MORE PLANTS ON THEIR PLATES

B

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Terra Cotta Spaghetti Squash Recipe from Now We’re Cookin’

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e tested this recipe on a group of young fraternity men who came to our facility for a hands-on cooking lesson. They weren’t really sure what they were eating, but that didn’t stop them from consuming every bite! Southwestern in sensibility (go ahead and add more chili if you like your food hot), this makes a great alternative to pasta for kids and a complete, healthy meal for adults. ~Chef Mary McMahon Terra Cotta Spaghetti Squash Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 cups cooked spaghetti squash 2 tsp olive oil ½ cup red onion, chopped 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained ½ cup sweet corn (fresh or frozen) 1 tsp chili powder ⅓ cup fresh cilantro, rough chopped 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp sea salt To cook squash: Use either of these methods.

Oven: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the squash down the middle lengthwise and remove any seeds. Place on baking sheet and roast in the oven for 50 minutes, until tender.

Microwave: Cut squash in half, remove seeds, and place in a microwavable dish with ½ inch of water. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 20 minutes on high, until tender.

When cooking is completed and the squash is cool enough to handle, drag a fork across the flesh to release spaghetti-like strands from the halves. Work all the way around each half until all the flesh has been released.

To complete the dish: Heat oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion, jalapeño pepper and red pepper for 2 minutes or until softened. Add the beans, corn and chili powder, stirring well.

Sauté one minute longer, then add the cooked squash and all remaining ingredients, cooking until heated through. Adjust seasonings, serve hot and enjoy!

About spaghetti squash: Generally available year-round, with a peak season from early fall through winter, spaghetti squash is an excellent source of niacin, vitamins C and B6, pantothenic acid, potassium and manganese. It’s high in dietary fiber and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, with only 37 calories per four-ounce serving.

When buying spaghetti squash, look for hard fruit with a pale, even color that is heavy for its size, about eight to nine inches in length and four to five inches in diameter. Avoid any squash with green color—a sign of immaturity—or soft spots. The average four-pound spaghetti squash will yield about five cups.

Store spaghetti squash at room temperature for about a month.

About Now We’re Cookin’: This unique culinary center promotes culinary education and entrepreneurship. In its demonstration kitchen, Culinary Director Mary McMahon and her team of talented chefs conduct a wide range of cooking classes and host private parties and events, as well as corporate meetings.

Now We’re Cookin’, 1601 Payne Street, Evanston 60201. For more information, call 847-570-4140 or visit NWCookin.com.

Let’s Meetup!

“H

umans are social beings,” explains Chicago Veg Meetup Chairman Vadim Moskalin. “It’s much easier for people to achieve their goals when they have a support system. Meetups provide this support system and allow people to expand their social circle by connecting with others who have similar interests. So many people who joined our meetup group have told us that they gave up being vegetarians/vegans because they did not have any support around them.

Now they are thrilled to discover our community and have an opportunity to meet like-minded friends.”

Meetups are gatherings of people interested in the same thing who use the Internet to create real-world meetings. More than 2,000 meetup groups around the globe get together each day with the goal of improving themselves or their communities. The world’s largest free network of these local groups is Meetup (MeetUp. com), whose mission is to help people around the world self-organize and revitalize their community. Meetup’s website makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up, face-to-face.

Local Meetup Groups These Chicago area meetup groups are related to vegetarian, vegan and raw foods: • VeganChicago.com • Arlington Heights area veg and vegan group Cooking.Meetup.com/497 • Chicago Veg Kids – Chicago area veg and vegan families group Meetup.com/ChicagoVegKids/ • Chicago area veg, vegan and raw group Chicagoveg.org • Chicago area vegan group meetup.com/vegNerds • Living food, vitality and transformation group Meetup.com/TransformationForYou • North Shore raw food group Meetup.com/The-North-Shore-Raw-Food-Meetup-Group • Palatine area raw food group Meetup.com/The-Palatine-RAWSome-Food-Meetup-Group • Taste of Vegan Chicagoland group Meetup.com/Taste-of-Vegan-Chicagoland

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Whole DIETS Equal

Healthy Pets

by John J. Hanover t’s common knowledge that, “You are what you eat,” and this wisdom applies to our pets as well. No pill, drug or medical treatment can make up for poor nutrition, yet store shelves are packed with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, herbals, probiotics and many other supplements designed to help our pets. These products can be useful, but providing a high-quality diet and ensuring a healthy GI tract is the most important thing you can do for your pet’s health.

A diet of poor-quality, high-grain dry kibble contributes to the increase in obesity, diabetes, allergies, colitis and chronic inflammatory diseases in our pets. Because domesticated dogs have the same GI tract as wild gray wolves, we should feed them speciesappropriate food, such as a raw, meat-based diet, high in protein, fat and moisture, but low in carbohydrates. Cats are designed to obtain water by eating the meat and organs of animals, and a dry food diet may cause chronic mild dehydration, which increases the risk of urinary tract disease and kidney failure.

Just like people, animals can suffer from food allergies and intolerances. Feeding pets a balanced, raw, meat-based diet is ideal, but for some pet owners it’s not always possible, due to cost, lack of freezer space and pets’ tastes. A high-quality canned food, alone or in combination with a high-quality dry food, will work as well. You can rotate between different brands if your pet’s GI tract can tolerate this, which it should—pets generally should not have sensitive stomachs, and it is not normal for cats and dogs to vomit. Those pets with GI problems may benefit from receiving probiotics, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, herbal marshmallow and/or slippery elm.

In combination with a healthy diet, it’s helpful to add digestive enzymes (Prozyme or Ritezyme), prebiotics and probiotics (Florastor and KAM’s KLPP, but not yogurt), essential fatty acids (fish oils) and whole food vitamins (Juice Plus capsules).

To ensure their well-being, it’s essential to keep pets’ GI tracts in good condition. The extra effort you make now will help to give your pet a long and healthy life.

naturalpet

Pumpkin for Pets

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John J. Hanover, DVM, is certified in veterinary acupuncture and animal chiropractics and is also trained in homotoxicology, applied kinesiology, Western herbs, essential oils, flower essences and Reiki. Connect with him at the Animal Hospital of Gurnee, 38028 N. Dilleys Road, Wadsworth 60083. Call 847360-1630 or visit AHOG.us or WholeVet.net.

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by Morieka V. Johnson “But it’s best in small doses, in order to prevent weight gain.” The low-calorie gourd comes loaded with carbohyike kids who clamor for every tidbit drates; one cup of puréed, canned in a candy store, Val Clows’ Great pumpkin has as much as eight grams.

Danes have their choice of flavor Monroe observes that pumpkin has ful, high-quality dog kibble. But they been a go-to item for pets with digestive still can’t wait to get their paws on new issues since she was in veterinary school deliveries of pumpkin-based granola in the mid-1980s, primarily because it arriving at her Holistic for Pets shop in is a relatively inexpensive and readily Sarasota, Florida. She reports that her available item. Bland, white rice is antwo-legged customers enjoy eating the other popular home remedy for settling pumpkin product, too. “Everybody is pets’ stomachs, she notes, but its high looking for something tasty that’s low fiber content typically makes pumpkin calorie and high fiber,” the better choice. Before “Pumpkin, which is says Clows, smiling. stocking up on pumpkin, very soothing to the

Traditionally reMonroe recommends startentire digestive track, served for grocery store ing with prebiotic and proworks on both diarrhea biotic products, which have aisles, pumpkin is now and constipation. It is showing up in pet stores, been tested extensively for too, as human food-grade loaded with vitamins, their health benefits. animal treats, dried kibble and pets just love it! I When diarrhea strikes, give my dogs and cats and simple puréed goodVeterinary Doctor Alice pumpkin several times ness. A growing array of Martin, of Eagles Landing, a week as a healthy pet food products, from says it’s best to consult a granola to dog biscuits, treat.” professional before attempttouts pumpkin for its vita- —Jody Page ing any home remedies. min A and fiber content.

Owner, Page’s Healthy Paws Monroe adds that cats with

“We’ve been using Lake Zurich constipation need no more pumpkin for a long, See ad on page 23. than one to two tablespoons long time at our house,” of pumpkin per can of cat remarks Clows. “But about two years food. For dogs, the amount of pumpkin ago, I started seeing pumpkin products should be at least 10 percent of the day’s labeled for pets, as well as pet treats total caloric intake. that are pumpkin based. My dogs par As autumn temperatures drop and ticularly love canned pumpkin, laced pumpkins become readily available, with a touch of cinnamon and ginger.” many pet owners prefer the all-natural,

As with all good things, use pump- do-it-yourself approach. Monroe likes kin in moderation, suggests Dr. Jennifer to grow and purée her garden pumpMonroe, of Eagles Landing Veterinary kins as a good-tasting aid to ensuring a Hospital, in McDonough, Georgia. happy, healthy home.

“Pumpkin is good for pets with digestive issues, especially those on a Morieka V. Johnson is a freelance writer hypoallergenic diet, because it doesn’t typically appear in pet foods,” she says. in Atlanta, GA. Morieka@gmail.com.

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www.NAChicagoNorth.com

Breathe Easy

Tips for Greener, Cleaner Indoor Air

by Lenore Weiss Baigelman oing green is today’s big buzz, with no shortage of products, technologies and services promising a healthier home and a happier life. The proliferation of green options can seem overwhelming, tempting many of us to simply ignore the entire topic.

A more helpful approach is to consider why eco-friendly choices make good sense, especially in your own home.

A healthier home environment, with cleaner indoor air, is one of the most compelling reasons to embrace sustainability within your living space.

Despite all the press about pollutants in the outdoor environment, the air quality inside your home can be even worse.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, where levels of pollutants may run two to five times higher than those found in outdoor air. It’s important to be aware of the number and types of contaminants inside your home and learn how you can reduce them.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), found in building materials and common household products such as paint, cleaning supplies, pesticides, carpets, drapes and furnishings, are primary indoor pollutants that release potentially harmful gases into the air.

Their adverse effects on individuals vary, based upon personal health and the level of VOC exposure, but the Environmental Protection Agency notes links with respiratory disorders, such as asthma, and even more serious illnesses, like cancer. Other indoor air pollutants, such as mold or smoke, can also wreak havoc upon your health.

Short of leaving your house, pitching a tent or sailing off into the sunset, a variety of easily accomplished controls that improve indoor air quality can be incorporated into your daily routine.

The USGBC suggests a three-pronged approach: source removal, source control, and dilution.

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Source Removal Keep toxins out of the home. n Enforce a no-smoking policy n Choose low-toxic cleaning products n When decorating or remodeling: • Choose formaldehyde-free cabinets, furniture and building products • Use zero- or very low-VOC paints, sealants and adhesives • Install finishes that are naturally easy to clean and maintain, such as wood or tile • Choose “Green Label Plus” certified carpet

Source Control Identify and remove the pollutants already in the home. n Filter the supply air to the HVAC system to remove particulates that would otherwise be continuously recirculated n Establish a regular maintenance schedule to change furnace filters and to inspect and clean ventilation system filters, exhaust fans, vents and dehumidifiers

A healthier home environment, with cleaner indoor air, is one of the most compelling reasons to embrace sustainability within your living space.

n Protect HVAC systems during any kind of construction

Dilution Use fresh outside air to ventilate and exhaust pollutants to the outdoors. (This also helps control moisture and potential mold.) n Open windows located on opposite walls to provide natural cross-ventilation n Install a whole-house ventilation system or attic fan to help flush out stale air n Regularly use kitchen and bathroom fans ducted directly outdoors (not to the attic) to reduce cooking fumes and moisture

Implementing these strategies to improve indoor air quality is not an all-or-nothing proposition; you can reap benefits simply by adopting the best practices you can, when you can.

Even if that means just cracking open a window more frequently to welcome in fresh air, you are taking a positive step toward a healthier home and a healthier you!

Lenore Weiss Baigelman, AIA, LEED-AP, is a founding partner of the architecture and interior design firm, Full Circle Architects, LLC. For more information, visit FullCircleArchitects.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

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Event Spotlight

Women’s Spirit of Leadership Conference A Dynamic Force for Positive Change

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The conference presents women he Anniva Partnership presents who have found ways to love, relate, the second annual Spirit of Leadwork and create soulfully, and these ership Conference, October 8-9, leaders will teach attendees how to at the Gorton Conference Center, in bridge the gap between spirit and everyLake Forest. The conference runs from day life. The onsite conference Market8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and includes place will showcase a variety of goods lectures and experiential workshops related to women’s from some of The conference presents women who leadership.

Chicagoland’s The Anniva most motivational have found ways to love, relate, work Partnership invites women. Registraand create soulfully, and these leaders the community tion is open to will teach attendees how to bridge the to, “… Be in the women and men gap between spirit and everyday life. world with the who want to be power of your enthused and chalheart, spirit and soul. Join in the global lenged to live life to its fullest. community that promotes healthy and

The event’s keynote speaker, Clawhole women healing and leading our rissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D., is an interplanet. Become a dynamic force for nationally recognized scholar, awardwinning poet, diplomate senior Jungian positive change in the world!” psychoanalyst, cantadora (keeper of the Location: Gorton Conference old stories, in the Latina tradition) and Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. post-trauma specialist. Her book, Wom- Fee: $150 each day or $300 for both en Who Run With the Wolves, was on days. For more information and to registhe New York Times international bestter, call 847-309-8621 or visit seller list for 145 weeks and has been TheSpiritOfLeadership.net. See ad on published in 35 languages. page 8.

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www.NAChicagoNorth.com

calendarofevents Saturday, September 25 Adopt-A-Beach Lake Michigan Beach Clean-up – 9am-12pm. Help clean up Illinois’s shoreline, collect data on findings. All ages welcome, groups encouraged. Free. Alliance for the Great Lakes. Register for a local beach, contact Frances Canonizado, 312939-0838 x227. FCanonizado@GreatLakes.org.

Farm Heritage Festival – Sept 25-26. 9am-4pm.

Hundreds of tractors, cars, engines, farm machinery. Daily highlights: tractor parade, sheep herding demo, live music, scarecrow making, wagon and barrel train rides, petting zoo. $8/adult, $4/senior (55 and up) and youth (ages 4-17), free under 3.

Lakewood Forest Preserve, Rte 176 just west of Fairfield Rd, Wauconda. 847-968-3400. LCFPD.org.

The Edgewater Gralley – 12-10pm. Chicago’s largest alley party features live music, food, crafts and a Green Pavilion. $25/family, $10/adult, $5/ senior-student-child. Pre-register and save. The Edgewater Gralley, 1420 W Granville Ave, Chicago.

773-761-1782. EdgewaterGralley.com.

Beekeeping – 2-3:30pm. Put on a bee suit and get a safe, fascinating look inside Heller’s beehives and taste this special honey. $6. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd, Highland Park. 847-433-6901. PDHP.org.

Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org.

about preserving. Free/members, $20/nonmembers per car. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe. 847-835-5440. ChicagoBotanic.org.

Fall Bird Walk Grassland Birding – 7-10am.

Audubon Society-led woodland bird walk. Great habitat for migrating sparrows, waterfowl and late shorebirds. Free. Meet at Atkinson Rd entrance.

Rollins Savannah, Washington St, Grayslake. Call Rena Cohen, 847-831-4730. Rena@SSPR.com.

Evanston Green Living Festival – 9am-3pm. Learn how to reduce one’s personal carbon footprint. “Live Green, Bring it Home” showcases green services, products, ideas focused on the home. Free. Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd, Evanston.

847-448-8256. LaddArboretum.org.

Page’s Healthy Paws 4th Anniversary Celebration – 10am-5pm. Celebrate with games, food, prizes, and local rescue groups. Free. 249 N Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, 847-550-1002. PagesHealthyPaws.com.

Harvest Dinner Cooking Class – 10:30am-1:30pm.

Learn to cook a complete seasonal dinner. Take home

save time & energy! phone first.

Chase the Bear Glenview Run – 7am, registration; 8:15am, 5K, 10K; 8:30am, Fun Run. Glenview Rotary Club to benefit local community partners. $23/ single, $50/family. Hoffman School, 2000 Harrison St, Glenview. 847-657-9977. ChaseTheBear.com.

WEDNESDAY, September 29 Reduce Your Stress Now – 4:30-5:30pm. Learn about the Pain Cycle; gain health strategies to build resistance to stress. Presented by Sandy Saldano, LMT/Owner Therapeutic Kneads. Free. Spanish interpreter available. Lake County Health Dept, Community Health Center, 1840 Green Bay Rd, Highland Park. RSVP, Rosie Branson: 847-984-5325. LakeCHD.com.

an apple and cranberry-stuffed pork loin to grill/bake.

Prepare salad, two side dishes, and dessert. Hands-on class, $65. Held at 2 locations: Lake Forest Sunset Foods Cooking Studio, 825 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest. 847-234-8380; Northbrook Sunset Foods Cooking Studio, 1127 Church St, Northbrook. 847272-7700. Thyme@SunsetFoods.com.

Integrated Health & Wellness Open House/Free Consultations – 11am-2pm. Meet the staff, free consultations, refreshments. Free. Integrated Health & Wellness, 4920 N Central Ave, Ste 1A, Chicago.

773-427-0820.

Oktoberfest Celebration City of Vernon Hills – 3-10pm. Crafts, pumpkin painting, inflatable activities, more. Food and drinks prepared and sold by local not-for-profit organizations. Free. Vernon Hills Metra Station, 75 US Rte 45, Vernon Hills.

847-367-3700. VernonHills.org.

SUNDAY, October 3

Long Grove’s Apple Festival – Oct 1-3. All day.

Cider donuts, caramel apples, famous brown bag apple pie, live toe-tapping music, carriage rides, hayrides, children’s activities. Wonderful family outing. Free. Long Grove Historic Village, Long Grove. LongGroveOnline.com.

Chicago River Flatwater Classic – 10am-4pm.

Friends of the Chicago River annual canoe and kayak 7.25-mile race. Natural riverbanks teem with wildlife, transforming to an urban paddle through downtown Chicago. $27/members, $32/nonmembers, $17/under 17; lunch extra. Begin at Clark Park, 3400 N Rockwell, Chicago. Call Kim 312-939-0490 x15. KBevan@ChicagoRiver.org. Register: ChicagoRiver.org.

Harvest Festival – Oct 2-3. All day. Fresh-baked goods, roasted nuts, cut flowers, handmade soaps and fresh vegetables. Navigate straw bale maze, guess weight of the pumpkin, make leaf rubbings, learn

Later Life Housing Options – 12-1:30pm. Explore whether to stay at home or move, how to modify for safety, evaluate finances. Housing options include retirement communities, assisted living and nursing homes. Presenter: Marie Caviness, University of Illinois Extension Service. Free. Ela Township Senior Center, Foglia YMCA, 1025 Old McHenry Rd, Lake Zurich. 847-438-9160. RetirementCommunity.com.

Living a New Earth Group – 6:30-8:30pm. Overcome challenges of work/life balance and take an inner leap into consciousness. Maggie Wilkins teaches techniques learned as Eckhart Tolle’s assistant. $20. The Present Moment (back of bookstore), 521 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville. 847-648-8955.

Teachings@One-Heart.net.

WEDNESDAY, October 6

FRIDAY, October 1

SATURDAY, October 2

TUESDAY, October 5

Balancing Your Hormones Naturally – 7-8:30pm.

With Randall Davis, DC, CCST. $10. Register online. The Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/Deerfield. 847-236-1701. HolisticMedicine.com.

SUNDAY, September 26

Exploring the Explorer: The Life of Robert Kennicott – 8am-12pm. Migratory bird walk. Presentation by director Steve Swanson about former resident, Robert Kennicott, Smithsonian scholar/explorer/ naturalist whose work led to the purchase of Alaska.

Tour the laboratory, the Kennicott family home and exhibit. Free. The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview. 847-299-6096. GlenviewParks.org.

Bonner Farm Country Fair – 12-4pm. A day at an old-fashioned country fair. Wagon rides, crafts, games, a petting zoo and more. Bring a picnic; enjoy live entertainment and a fun-filled family day. $3/ person, free/3 and under. Bonner Heritage Farm, Country Pl off of Sand Lake Rd, just west of Rte 45, Lindenhurst. 847-367-6640.

One Thing Holding You Back – 10am-4pm.

Grounded in contemporary neuroscience and the great wisdoms traditions. Fall in love with every moment of life. $85/10 days in advance, $95/after. The Infinity Foundation, 1282 Old Skokie Rd, Highland

Getting through Tough Financial Times – 7-8:30pm. Workshop gives tips for reducing spending, prioritizing debt, contacting creditors, and paying down debt. Presented by Karen Chan, University of Illinois Extension, Consumer & Family Economics Educator. Free. Fremont Public Library District, 1170 N Midlothian, Mundelein.

847-918-3225. FremontLibrary.org.

Neurobehavioral and Learning Disorders in Kids Age 4-17 – 7:30pm. Latest research and innovative drug-free approach for kids. Free. Brain Balance Achievement Center, 1101 S Milwaukee Ave, Ste 105, Vernon Hills. 847-821-1328. RSVP: Info@ BrainBalanceChicago.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 WomanCraft Harvest Benefit – 5:30-8pm. Benefit for women’s green social enterprise in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood. Inspiring program, networking, beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres. WomanCraft items and unique silent auction. $35/advance, $45/ at door. DIRRT Environmental Solutions Showroom Penthouse, 325 N Wells St, 10th Fl, Chicago. 773521-3114. HeartlandAlliance.org/Harvest Benefit.

Color Balancing Mini-Sessions and Bath Salt Demonstration – 6-9pm, 20-min intervals. With Lisa Iris, owner of Luminous Colors. In a mini-color energy session, Lisa will determine what colors one’s energy system needs to balance chakras and enliven aura. Sign up in advance or night of if space still available. $20/mini-session. Karen Daughtry, the local aromatherapist, will demonstrate how to make own bath salts and answer any questions about using essential oils. Offering all essential oils at 15% off. Walsh Natural Health, 2116 1/2 Central St, Evanston. 847-864-1600.

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Relaxation Seminar for Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia & the Busy Life – 6:30pm. Learn breathing techniques to relieve stress and anxiety as well as how environmental factors such as light, sound and color affect stress. $30/members, $35/nonmembers. Registration required. Highland Park Hospital Health & Fitness Center, 1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove.

847-229-0292. HPHFitness.com.

Help and Healing on the Spiritual Path – 7pm.

Speaker W. Vogelsberger, MD, travels from Germany to present the healing works of Bruno Groening. Free. Courtyard by Marriott O’Hare, 2950 S River Rd, Des Plaines. Bruno-Groenig.org/English.

Renewable Energy Dollars & Sense – 7pm. Learn how it works, what to expect in performance and return on investment, and tax incentives available to make upfront investment easier. Free. Living Green NOW, 425 Heuhl, Ste 19A, Northbrook. 847-282-0031.

FRIDAY, October 8 The Spirit of Leadership: Reawakening the Feminine – Oct 8-9. 9am-5pm. Women’s leadership conference, experiential workshops. Speaker: Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PhD: scholar, Diplomat senior Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and cantadora (keeper of old stories in the Latina tradition). $300/2 days, $150/each day. Gorton Conference Center, 400 Illinois Rd, Lake Forest. 847309-8621. TheSpiritOfLeadership.net.

John Lennon 70th Birthday Celebration – 11am4pm. Opening of new “Give Peace a Chance” exhibit.

Live music, refreshments and activities. $6/adult, $2.50/ages 4-17, $3/students 18-25 and seniors over 55, free/under 3 years. Lake County Discovery Museum, Lakewood Forest Preserve, Rte 176 just west of Fairfield Rd, Wauconda. 847-968-3400. LCFPD.org.

Gong Meditation with Kenny Kolter – 7:30-9pm.

Ride the healing sound waves, meditate and pray in the harmonious blend of sustained resonance with recording artist and sound practitioner, Kenny Kolter. $20 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. Heaven Meets Earth Yoga, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500.

HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

TUESDAY, October 12 Managing Stress during Tough Economic Times – 10-11:30am. Identify and manage stress, how to reach out to others who may be suffering. Presented

by Molly Hofer, University of Illinois Extension Educator, Family Life. $10, pre-register by Oct 7.

Lake County Extension, 100 S Hwy 45, Grayslake.

847-223-8627. Lake.Extension.UIUC.edu.

Tots on Tuesday – 11:15-11:45am. Monthly story circle for kids of all ages. Free. Global Handmade Hope, 428 W Touhy Ave, Park Ridge. 847-720-4084.

GlobalHandmadeHope.com.

Wise Women Gallery and Gifts Grand Opening – 6-8pm. Meet artists, enjoy refreshments. Will provide a place for local artists to display and sell their work. Free. 91 S Rand Rd (Lakeview Plaza), Lake Zurich. Artists@WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com.

WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com.

Apple Pie Contest – 10am pie drop-off, 10:30am judging. Bake a competition pie; win a private baking class for two with Now We’re Cookin’ Culinary Director/Pastry Chef Mary McMahon. Free. Now We’re Cookin’ tent at Evanston Farmers’ Market, University Place and Oak Ave, Evanston. 847-5704140. NWCookin.com.

Chicago Vegan Mania 2010 – 10am-6pm. Celebrate Chicagoland’s vegan community, culture, commerce, cuisine and couture. Sample food, listen to speakers, enjoy live music, dance and fashion exhibit, art show and dozens of vendors. Free. Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W Blackhawk, Chicago.

ChicagoVeganMania.com.

Spices and Herbs Cooking Class – 10:30am1:30pm. Discover flavorful enhancement of spices and herbs and embark on culinary adventure. Handson class. $65. Held at 2 locations: Lake Forest Sunset Foods Cooking Studio, 825 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest. 847-234-8380; Northbrook Sunset Foods Cooking Studio, 1127 Church St, Northbrook. 847272-7700. Thyme@SunsetFoods.com.

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5 Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss – 5:30pm. Chiropractor and acupuncturist Dr. Jason Hui discusses the keys to successful weight loss. Sponsored by Affinity Healthcare. Free. Registration required. Highland Park Hospital Health & Fitness Center, 1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove. 847-229-0292. HPHFitness.com.

GlobalFest – 5:30-9pm. A festive night celebrating the growth of fair trade as reflected in the lives of producers in Africa. Appetizers, fair trade wine and silent auction. Akainyah Gallery, 357 W Erie St, Chicago. ChicagoFairTrade.org.

Drumming Circle – 7-9pm. Drums and instruments provided or bring your own. $20. Earth & Spirit, 323 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove. 847-821-2116.

EarthAndSpiritLongGrove.com.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Seminar – 7:30pm. Dr. Joseph Mazzei, D.O. will lead a discussion about menopause and andropause (the male menopause) and bio-identical hormone treatments.

Lecture appropriate for women and men ages 35+ suffering from symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

Free. BodyLogic MD, 65 E. Wacker Pl, Suite 600, Chicago RSVP Required - Register Online. Chicago.

BodyLogicMD.com or call 866-972-5306.

FRIDAY, October 15 Feng Shui In A Day Class – 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn the basics of how to apply Feng Shui to your own home $108, pre-registration required. Oakbrook.

Contact LauriePawli@Comcast.net or 630-2798870 for location and to register.

Feng Shui Pre-Certification One – Oct 15-17, 9:30am-4:30pm. First in a series of training to become a Certified Feng Shui Consultant from The Feng Shui School of Chicago. $639, pre-registration required. Oakbrook. Contact LauriePawli@Comcast.net or 630-279-8870 for location and to register.

SATURDAY, October 9 Breast Health for All Ages and Stages – 9-10am.

Dr. Gail Kopin discusses early detection, digital thermal imaging, signs of inflammation and how nutrition can be medicine. $25 includes refreshments and DVD. Pre-registration recommended. Proceeds donated to patients. Alternative Health Associates, 105 Townline Rd (across from The Cheese Box), Lake Geneva, WI. 847-955-0800. Info@AlternativeHealthAssociates.com.

THURSDAY, October 14

SATURDAY, October 16 Get Well and Stay Healthy Naturally – 7pm.

Workout plan for fall/winter protection for the lower back. Chair exercises and functional movements that strengthen. Free. Healing Arts of Oriental Medicine, 405 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 211A, Deerfield. 847-8454090. OrientalMedicineArts.com.

Oktoberfest – Oct 16-17. All day. Celebrate Long Grove’s German heritage with ethnic food, beverage, dancing, live entertainment and shopping. Old-fashioned family carriage ride, lively German dancing, pumpkin decorating and children’s activities. Free.

Long Grove Historic Village, 307 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove. 847-634-0888. LongGroveOnline.com.

WEDNESDAY, October 13

Photography Workshop by Joel Sartore – 9am4pm. Shoot side-by-side with legendary National Geographic photographer and author in intensive photography workshop. Lectures, critiques and hands-on outdoor field assignments. $250/person.

Pre-register. Ryerson Conservation Area, Riverwoods Rd, between Half Day Rd (Rte 22) and Deerfield Rd, Riverwoods. 847-968-3321.

200-Hour Teacher Training – Oct 13-March 13, 2011. Wed-Sat, 9am-5:30pm; Sun, 9am-12pm. 200hour program in 5 day sessions. See website for full list of dates and times and to register. $2,500/before Oct 1, $2,700/after. The Yoga Effect, 170 Center St, Unit 3, Grayslake. 847-752-8699. TheYogaEffect.net.

Center for Holistic Medicine Open House – 5:307:30pm. Free. The Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/Deerfield. 847-236-1701.

Holistic-Medicine.com.

Raising Financially Responsible Children – 7pm.

How to teach children the value and responsible use of money. Free. Registration required. Highland Park Hospital Health & Fitness Center, 1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove. 847-229-0292. HPHFitness.com.

Beginners Dance Party – 8pm. Learn ballroom, social or Latin dancing. Free. Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 404 W Half Day Rd, Buffalo Grove. Elle 847-634-1100. Elle.FredAstaire@gmail.com.

www.NAChicagoNorth.com

Intuitive Readings – 10am-2pm. Janice Olson, popular ordained spiritual minister, certified Angel Practitioner and certified hypnotherapist, offers intuitive readings. Half-hour appts available. See website for registration and fee. Wise Women Gallery and Gifts, 91 S Rand Rd (Lakeview Plaza), Lake Zurich. Artists@WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com.

WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com.

TrailKeepers: Upper Des Plaines River Clean-up Day – 10am-3pm. Volunteers needed to clean up waterways by walking along the shore and adjacent Des Plaines River Trail. Free. Contact Illinois TrailKeepers’ Program Manager, Tom Eckels, Eckelst@

Comcast.net; Upper Des Plaines River Trail Steward, Paul Klonowski, PKlonowski@Comcast.net.

Monday, October 18 Transformation 2010 Conference – 9am-3:30pm.

Sponsored by Powerful You! Women’s Network, experiential event focuses on transforming professionally and personally to gain clarity of purpose, build business and create momentum. Designed for entrepreneurs, business owners, conscious employees and women in transition. Keynote speaker is Sue Urda, author award-winning book, Powerful Intentions Everyday Gratitude. $39/members, $49 nonmembers, register with friend to save 10%. Tamarack Golf Club, 24032 Royal Worlington Dr, Naperville.

Register at PowerfulYou.com/Transformation2010.

TUESDAY, October 19 Grandparents Guide to Teen Dating Violence – 7pm. Learn signs of abusive relationships, the effects of witnessing abuse, and how to talk to one’s grandchildren about healthy relationships.

Free. Registration required. Highland Park Hospital Health & Fitness Center, 1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove. 847-229-0292. HPHFitness.com.

Health, Weight Loss and Fat: Surprise! It’s Not What You Think – 7-8pm. With Jerry Gore, MD. $10.

Register online. The Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/Deerfield. 847-2361701. Holistic-Medicine.com.

showcasing the best of the autumn harvest. Proceeds benefit Evanston Farmers’Market and ETHS Edible Farm Project. $80. Reservations. Now We’re Cookin’, 1601 Payne St, Evanston. 847-570-4140. NWCookin.com.

Gong Meditation with Energy Healing – 6:308pm. Bring blanket, yoga mat, pillow and water. $40.

Earth & Spirit, 323 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove.

847-821-2116. EarthAndSpiritLongGrove.com.

Raw Food 101 – 7pm. With Gwen Marzano, MS and raw foods chef. An exciting evening of green recipes and an introduction to the basics of raw vegan food preparation. Will include information on the benefits of a plant-based diet, easy dietary transitions to make for improved health, and a few easy recipes. $20, payable at sign up; bring a friend for just $10 extra. Walsh Natural Health, 2116 1/2 Central St, Evanston. 847-864-1600.

SATURDAY, October 23 Breast Health for All Ages and Stages – 9-10am.

See Oct 9 listing. Alternative Health Associates, 105 Townline Rd (across from The Cheese Box), Lake Geneva, WI. 847-955-0800. Info@AlternativeHealthAssociates.com.

Future Chefs “Caribbean” Cooking Class – 10:30am-1:30pm. One-pot wonders for children and parents. Hands-on class. $65/parent. Held at 2 locations: Lake Forest Sunset Foods Cooking Studio,

Great Pumpkin Fest – Oct 20-23. 4-8pm. Food, live music, hay rides, pumpkin carving, dancing in the streets, pumpkin regatta, and pumpkin pie contest. Highwood’s City Park at Highwood City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave, Highwood. 847-432-1924. CityOfHighwood.com.

Aromatherapy Workshop with Swedish Covenant Hospital – 6-9pm. Enjoy seasonal raw food dinner from Cousin’s IV, then customize own blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils based on skin type and preferences. $20. Registration recommended. Cousin’s Incredible Vitality, 3038 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago. 773-478-6868. Events@CousinsIV.com.

Authentic Chinese Cuisine at Home – 7pm. Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd, Deerfield.

847-580-8950. KKLeckner@DeerfieldLibrary.org.

THURSDAY, October 21

Free Shiatsu Intro – 7-9pm. Learn fundamental techniques and philosophies of Zen Shiatsu. Free.

Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825 Chicago Ave, Evanston. 847-864-1130. Info@ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

MONDAY, October 25 Bring Out Your Dead Electronic Waste Recycling Campaign – Oct 25-29. All day. Pick up and recycle computers, monitors, printers and other electronic waste from local businesses. Paige Finnegan, 312496-6810. PFinnegan@EOne.pro. BaseEvanston.org.

TUESDAY, October 26 Get Well and Stay Healthy Naturally – 7pm. Respiratory Care and Oriental Medicine. Learn about natural remedies for sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Healing Arts of Oriental Medicine, 405 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 211A, Deerfield.

847-845-4090. OrientalMedicineArts.com.

Woman to Woman: An Evening of Wellness Part 1 – 7-8:30pm. With Linda Kramer, RN, MS. $10.

Register online. The Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/Deerfield. 847-2361701. Holistic-Medicine.com.

WEDNESDAY, October 27

It’s Owl Right: Owls of Illinois – 7pm. Steve Bailey, ornithologist with Illinois Natural History Survey and co-author of Birds of Illinois discusses behavior and identification of owls, how to look for owls, their habitats, best places locally, and a demo of his worldfamous barred owl call. Free. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Rd, Highland Park. 847-433-6901.

WEDNESDAY, October 20

perience calm with each pose. Free. Heaven Meets Earth Yoga, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-4751500. HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

Self-Help Reflexology – 7-8:30pm. With Elda DuPlessis, CHC, LMT. $10. Register online. The Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/ Deerfield. 847-236-1701. Holistic-Medicine.com.

THURSDAY, October 28 825 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest. 847-234-8380; Northbrook Sunset Foods Cooking Studio, 1127 Church St, Northbrook. 847-272-7700. Thyme@ SunsetFoods.com.

Great Pumpkin Fest – 4-8pm. Pumpkin regatta: giant pumpkin flotillas and pumpkin catapult on Lake Michigan. Record-breaking pumpkin lighting and grand display of pumpkins, 6:30pm. Highwood’s City Park at Highwood City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave, Highwood. 847-432-1924. CityOfHighwood.com.

SUNDAY, October 24 Old St. Patrick’s Alternative Fair – 9am-1pm.

Over 20 local businesses, artisans, job training programs. Small, local and Fair Trade vendors feature products and share stories of individuals who grow or craft items for sale. Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W Adams, Chicago. 312-648-1021. OldStPats.org.

Inversions & Back Bends: Baby Steps to Quantum Leaps – 6-9pm. Yoga expert Gabriel Halpern will present methodology to build up requisite strength, flexibility, and alignment to tackle yoga inversions and backbends without injury and with a great feeling afterward. Free. Avani Yoga Studio, Highland Park Hospital Health and Fitness Center,1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove. Adam Braun, 847-419-7130.

Silent Movie Music – 2pm. Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd, Deerfield. 847-580-8950.

KKLeckner@DeerfieldLibrary.org.

Evanston Autumn Harvest Celebration – 6:30-9:30pm.

Farmers pair up with Evanston chefs to present dishes

Restorative Yoga with Jenny Kaufman – 4-6pm.

Rejuvenate mind and body, let go of stress and ex-

Raw Food Pot Luck – 3pm. Sponsored by The Palatine Raw Some Food Meet-up Group. Free.

Wellspring Family Health, 339 W Palatine Rd, Palatine. 847-496-7207. MeetUp.com/The-PalatineRAWSome-Food-Meetup-Group.

Compassion in Action – 7-9pm. Sacred Activism, Part One: The Realm of The soul with Andrew Harvey. Four-part series. A coherent mystical vision of the path to radical embodiment and practical vision of sacred practice. $50/session, $180/4 classes.

Heaven Meets Earth Yoga, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500. HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

SATURDAY, October 30 Sterling Lake Clean-up Day – 10am-3pm.

Volunteers needed to clean up Sterling Lake, Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve, by walking along the shore and picking up trash. Free. Van Patten Woods, Rte 173, east of Rt 41 and west of Green Bay Rd, Wadsworth. Illinois TrailKeepers’ Program Manager, Tom Eckels, Eckelst@Comcast.net; Upper Des Plaines River Trail Steward, Paul Klonowski, PKlonowski@Comcast.net.

Classic Monster Mash – 2pm. Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd, Deerfield. 847-580-8950.

KKLeckner@DeerfieldLibrary.org.

SUNDAY, October 31 Halloween Funfest Lake County Forest Preserve District – 2-5pm. Contest for scariest or cutest costumes. Trick or treat and fun, interactive games. Inside for other games, crafts, refreshments, more. Free.

Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago. 847-968-3477. Greenbelt@LCFPD.org.

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ongoingevents sunday Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 24.

7:30am-12:30pm. Local vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and homegrown, farm-raised food products. In front of the Spray N Play Park, 951 Mchenry Rd, Buffalo Grove. 847-459-2525; 847-459-7906. SLevy@VBG.org.

Skokie Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 31. 7:30am12:30pm. Old World knife sharpening, fresh Wisconsin cheeses, mushrooms, plants, baked goods, fruits and vegetables. 5127 Oakton St, Skokie. 847933-8224; 847-933-8230. Terry.Oline@Skokie.org.

Mt. Prospect Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 17.

8am-1pm. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and other goodies. Sponsored by Mt Prospect Lions Club.

NW Hwy and Rt 83, SW corner, Mount Prospect.

847-682-0880; 847-392-6022. MWG514@aol.com.

Glenwood Sunday Market – Thru Oct 17. 9am2pm. Local, sustainably produced food and goods in a friendly neighborhood street market. 6950 N Glenwood Ave between Morse & Lunt, Chicago.

773-837-5544; 800-840-1178. ShereeMoratto@ SBCGlobal.net.

LIVING SIMPLY Natural Awakenings Shows You How to Simplify Daily Life…

At home, work and play … including holidays.

Independence Park Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 10. 9am-1pm. Fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, tamales, pet treats, Polish and French baked goods, flowers, baked goods, knife- sharpening service, organic foods, jams, jellies, honey, plants, caramel corn, and bluegrass musicians. 3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago. 312-263-3754. GIPNA@SBCGlobal.net.

Portage Park Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 31, every other week. 10am-2pm. Local farmers, bakers, dairy vendors, meats, chocolates, ice cream, specialty items. 4100 N Long Ave, Chicago. 773-7205381. PortageMarket@FriendsOfPortagePark.org.

monday Rinse & Save Eco-Blitz – Thru Dec 31. Mon-Fri. BASE (Business Alliance for a Sustainable Evanston) campaign to reduce water and natural gas consumption in local restaurants. BASE will install new low-flow spray valves in as many food service establishments as possible to achieve savings while eliminating CO2 from our atmosphere. Throughout Evanston and the North Shore. Must RSVP: 312496-6810. PFinnegan@eone.pro.

H a t h a Yo g a C l a s s – 9 a m . G e n t l e , b e ginning and intermediate level yoga classes offered in an intimate, serene studio. $112/8-wk session. LotusYoga, 150 E Cook Ave, Libertyville.

Register: 847-549-7443. WellBodyMind.com.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

Gluten-Free Monday – 10am-7pm. All gluten-free grocery items are 10% off all day long. Free. Earthly Goods Health Foods, 6951 Grand Ave, Gurnee. 847855-9677. MyEarthlyGoods.com.

847-858-3697 42

Chicago North & North Shore

tuesday Lincoln Square Chicago Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 26. 7am-1pm. Produce, plants, etc. City parking lot adjacent to Brown Line Station, 4700 N Western Ave, Chicago. 312-744-4306; 312-744-8523.

AHickey@CityOfChicago.org.

Hatha Yoga Class – 10am and 7pm. See Mon listing. LotusYoga, 150 E Cook Ave, Libertyville.

Register: 847-549-7443. WellBodyMind.com.

Shiatsu Thai Sessions –3:30-8pm. A combination of Asian massage technique and Chinese pressure points.

Great for relieving muscle tension and stress. Libertyville Massage Therapy Clinic, 128 Newberry Ave, Libertyville. 847-680-0077. LibertyvilleMassage.com

wednesday

sage.com.

Dunning-Eli/Wright College (Chicago) Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 13. 7am-2pm. Produce, plants, etc. 6701 W Forest Preserve Ave at Montrose, Chicago. 773-205-3801. KKirby@EliCheesecake.com.

Elk Grove Village Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept 29. 7am-1pm. 10th year providing farm fresh products to the community. 1000 Wellington Ave, Elk Grove Village. 847-437-8043. WebMaster@ ElkGroveParks.org.

Northbrook Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 13.

7am-1pm. Handicapped accessible; plenty of free parking. Locally grown produce, organics, Michigan fruits, artisan cheeses, cut flowers, honey, more.

Lunch available. Sponsored by Our Lady of the Brook Church, 3700 Dundee Rd, Northbrook. 847272-6359. Dudamann@Comcast.net.

Ravinia Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 20. 7am1pm. Produce, perennials, fruits from Michigan, baked goods, cheeses, flowers, coffee, mushrooms, olives, fresh bread, fish. Dean Ave, between St Johns & Roger Williams Ave, Highland Park. 847-4335542. Bricole@SBCGlobal.net.

Green Youth Farm’s North Chicago Farm Stand – Thru Oct 9. 9am-1pm. Local teens grow vegetables, fruits and herbs for the community. LINK/ SNAP & WIC/Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons accepted. Sponsored by Chicago Botanic Garden. 1215 Green Bay Rd, N Chicago.

224-612-2635; 847-242-6348. LErickson@ChicagoBotanic.org.

Hatha Yoga Class – 9am. See Mon listing. LotusYoga, 150 E Cook Ave, Libertyville. Register: 847-549-7443. WellBodyMind.com.

Andersonville Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 6.

3-8pm. Local goods, produce, free range meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, fresh baked goods, herbal vinegars, salsa, artisanal jams, more. Sponsored by Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.

1500 W Berwyn Ave between Clark and Ashland, Chicago. 773-728-2995; 773-728-6488.

Market@Andersonville.org.

Grayslake Farmers’ Market – Thru Dec 18.

3-7pm. Over 50 vendors, homegrown, homemade

www.NAChicagoNorth.com

products, wine, cooking demos, more. Artists, Munchkin (youth) market, special events. Downtown Grayslake, Slusser St at 149 Center St, Grayslake. 847-289-7138; 847-231-5682. MarketManager@GrayslakeFarmersMarket.com.

Thermal Palms Massage – 3:30-8pm. Experience deeply relaxing, penetrating heat therapy massaged into muscles for relief of muscle pain. Libertyville Massage Therapy Clinic, 128 Newberry Ave, Libertyville. 847-680-0077. LibertyvilleMassage.com.

Ridgeville Park District Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept 22. 4-7pm. Lyons Fruit Farm, Soap Sublime, Songbird Coffee Roasters, more. Live music. Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St, Evanston. 847-8695640. RidgevillePrograms@att.net.

thursday Dunning-Eli/Wright College (Chicago) Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 13. 7am-2pm. See Wed listing.

6701 W Forest Preserve Ave at Montrose, Chicago.

773-205-3801. KKirby@EliCheesecake.com.

Libertyville Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 21.

7am-1pm. Fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, meats, eggs, honey, kettle popcorn, plants, flowers, toffee, granola, dog treats, fresh squeezed lemonade, French crepes. Church between Milwaukee and Brainerd, 120 W Church St, Libertyville. 847-6800336; 847-680-0370. Manager@LibertyvilleFarmersMarket.org.

Sheridan, 40 E Center Ave, Lake Bluff. 847-2340774; 847-234-7254. BStanick@LakeBluff.org.

Gurnee Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 1. 8am-1pm.

Fruits, vegetables, flowers, breads, pastries, meat, eggs, take and go food, more. Free activities every Fri: music, cooking classes and demos, goodies and giveaways. Esper Petersen Park, Grand Ave and Kilbourne Rd, Gurnee. 847-599-3745; 847-623-8121.

Kristi@GurneeParkDistrict.com.

Hatha Yoga Class – 9am. See Mon listing. LotusYoga, 150 E Cook Ave, Libertyville. Register: 847-549-7443. WellBodyMind.com.

Shiatsu Thai Sessions – 3:30-8pm. See Tues listing.

Libertyville Massage Therapy Clinic, 128 Newberry Avenue, Libertyville. 847-680-0077. LibertyvilleMassage.com.

saturday Deerfield Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 16. 7am12:30pm. Fruit and vegetables from IL and MI, flowers, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, cheese, homemade salsas, jams, jellies, dog treats, specialty items. NW corner Robert York Ave and Deerfield Rd, Deerfield. 847-945-5000; 847-945-0214. FarmersMarket@Deerfield.IL.us.

Lincolnwood Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 14.

8am-1pm. Farm-grown and homemade products.

St. John Lutheran Church parking lot, 4707 W Pratt Ave, Lincolnwood. 847-677-9740; 847-673-4413.

PCrismond@LWD.org.

City of Zion Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept 30.

2-7pm. Shiloh Blvd and Sheridan Rd, Zion. 847746-4056; 847-746-7167. SonolitoB@Zion.IL.us.

Wauconda Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 7. 3-7pm.

Fresh produce, cheese, bread, flowers, arts, crafts, hot grilled food, live entertainment. West side of Main St in front of the Village Hall, 100 N Main St, Wauconda. 847-526-5580; 847-526-3059. Info@ WaucondaChamber.org.

Hatha Yoga Class – 7pm. See Mon listing. LotusYoga, 150 E Cook Ave, Libertyville. Register: 847-549-7443. WellBodyMind.com.

friday Lake Bluff Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 8. 7am12pm. Local produce, fresh flowers, baked goods.

No arts and crafts. Village Green at Center and

Arlington Heights Farmers’ Market – Oct 16.

7:30am-1:30pm. Fresh produce, flowers, cheeses, bakery goods, breads, jams, jellies. Food and related products only. N Arlington Heights Rd at E Eastman St, Arlington Heights. 847-421-1860. Claudia.

Starck@BairdWarner.com.

Evanston Farmers’ Market – Thru Nov 6.

7:30am-1pm. Organic fruit and vegetable farmers, mushroom growers, plant growers, cheese vendors, baked goods, organic meat. University at Oak Ave, Evanston. 847-448-8138; 847-448-8133. ZWebb@ CityOfEvanston.org.

Morton Grove Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 16.

7:30am-12:30pm. Producer-only produce, local baked goods, flowers, bedding plants, honey and more. Musical entertainment, community green groups, children’s activities. 8930 Waukegan Rd, Morton Grove. 847-583-1160. Manager@MGFarmersMarket.com.

Northfield Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 23.

7:30am-1pm. Corn roast benefitting local food pantry. Fresh produce, plants, cheese, baked goods.

6 Happ Rd, south of Winnetka Rd, across from New Trier H.S. Northfield Campus, Northfield. 847-4411848; 847-441-1849. Info@NorthfieldChamber.org.

Edgewater Green Market – Oct 30. 8am-1pm.

Farmers, experts and artisans sell produce, jams, fresh bread, flowers, cheese and more. Educational and entertaining programming for adults and kids. 6034 N Broadway St and Norwood, Chicago. 773-561-6000; 773-561-8584. JayDelaney@Edgewater.org.

Glenview Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 9. 8am12pm. Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, more.

Visit the farm for historic demos, story times for kids; visit cows, chickens, sheep, pigs and horses.

Across from Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Rd, Glenview. 847-657-1506; 847-724-7018. Todd.Price@ GlenviewParks.org.

Uptown Chicago Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 30.

8am-3pm. Produce, plants, etc. 1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago. 312-744-4306; 312-744-8523. AHickey@ CityOfChicago.org.

Barrington Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 21.

2-7pm. Fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, plants, organic produce and meat, fish, cheese, bread, pasta and sauce, jams, honey, baked goods, ornamentals, knives sharpened, lemonade, ready-to-eat BBQ, brick oven pizza. 100 N Cook St, Barrington. 847382-3829. MMyren@SBCGlobal.net.

and regional specialties. Blaine School parking lot, 1420 W Grace St, Chicago. 312-744-0100; 312-7448523. AHickey@CityOfChicago.org.

Northcenter Chicago Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 30. 7am-1pm. Produce, plants, etc. 4100 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago. 312-744-4306; 312-744-8523.

AHickey@CityOfChicago.org.

Olde Schaumburg Centre Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 29. 7am-1pm. Farm fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers, baked goods, meat, cheese and entertainment. Sponsored by Village of Schaumburg.

190 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg. 847-923-3855; 847-923-2335. MDooley@CI.Schaumburg.IL.us.

Palatine Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 30. 7am-1pm.

Fruits, vegetables, honey, flowers, cider, natural breads, mushrooms, berries, baked goods, French pastries, pottery, buffalo, cheese, special events, live music. Train Station, W Wood St at N Smith St, Palatine. 847-3581649; 847-359-9094. REDuer@aol.com.

Park Ridge Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 30. 7am1pm. Farmers from IL, WI and MI, mushrooms, flowers, baked goods, meat, cheese, soaps, honey, pickles, salsa, dog treats. 15 Prairie Ave, just south of Metra Train Station, Park Ridge. 847-318-5217; 847-318-1930. BBeil@Parkridge.us.

Immanuel Indoor Farmers’ Market – Begins Nov 20. 8am-1pm. Fresh produce, cheese, jams and jellies, meat products and flowers. 616 Lake St, Evanston. 847-864-4464; 847-864-4487. CADjuric@SBCGlobal.net.

Wilmette French Market – Thru Nov 6. 8am-1pm.

French market produce, flowers, cheese, meats, baked goods, botanical soap. Metra Parking Lot, Green Bay Rd at Central Ave, Wilmette. 312-5752086; 312-575-0295. Bensidoun@yahoo.com.

Green Youth Farm’s North Chicago Farm Stand – Thru Oct 9. 9am-1pm. See Wed listing. 1215 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago. 224-612-2635; 847-2426348. LErickson@ChicagoBotanic.org.

Grayslake Farmers’ Market – Thru Dec 18. 10am2pm. See Wed listing. Downtown Grayslake, Slusser Street at 149 Center St, Grayslake. 847-289-7138; 847-231-5682. MarketManager@GrayslakeFarm ersMarket.com.

Thermal Palms Massage – 3:30-8pm. See Wed listing. Libertyville Massage Therapy Clinic, 128 Newberry Avenue, Libertyville. 847-680-0077.

LibertyvilleMassage.com.

Southport Green Market – Thru Oct 9. 7am-1pm.

The freshest, locally grown or raised vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, eggs and dairy, artisan breads

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43

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email info@NAChicagoNorth.com to request our media kit.

ALLERGEN-FREE FOODS ZEMA’S MADHOUSE FOODS, INC. PO Box 823, Highland Park, IL 60035 847-910-4512 Info@ZemasMadhouseFoods.com

Old World whole-grain, gluten-free flatbreads and mixes. Deliciously safe for athletes, Celiacs, diabetics, candida-intolerant and ADHD. Natural and organic allergen-free ingredients. Follow us on Facebook.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS STAT SOLAIR SOLAR SOLUTIONS 815-653-7095 StatSolair.com

We can provide a Tu r n - Key Solar Energy System that uses a recycled and renewable heating source. Do you have your share of free heat?

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS, INC.

Paula O’Connell, ASID Allied 847-404-7766 Paula@EnvironmentallySustainableDesigns.com EnvironmentallySustainableDesigns.com Interior designer connecting with clients creating spaces, bringing beauty, wholeness, healing to your life. In-house consultations: sustainable materials, remodeling, feng shui, kitchen, bath, space planning, more.

FULL CIRCLE ARCHITECTS, LLC

85 Revere Dr, Ste B, Northbrook, IL 60062 847-564-0884 FullCircleArchitects.com A full-service architecture and interior design firm creating beautiful, healthy and energy efficient environments since 1989. LEED-accredited professionals putting our experience to work for you.

44

Chicago North & North Shore

GREEN LIVING DESIGNS

ENERGY HEALING BEATA ROUKIS

Reiki Master/Teacher, EFT Practitioner, Hypnotist S.B.H.T.C. 847-404-6417 Beatam06@sbcglobal.net Reiki4Light.com Get what you want from life. Let gifted healer clear emotional issues, restore/improve physical and mental wellness with alternative treatments, essential oils, homeopathy.

1930 First St, Highland Park, IL 60035 847-681-0126 GreenLivingDesigns.info

Creating healthy, green homes. We are a full-service design studio featuring eco-friendly construction practices and healthy materials, specializing in green flooring and custom cabinetry.

HEALING TOUCH THERAPY Marcia Bregman 847-831-3680 HealingTouchChicago.com

BODYWORK

Gifted energy healer to help you speed recovering from chronic and acute illness, surgery, injury, reduction of pain, management of stress. Guidance in self-healing, teacher.

NOVO MASSAGE

Linda Belles, LMT, NCTM 847-732-1517 NovoMassage@gmail.com Supporting natural health for adults and children suffering chronic pain or illness, trauma, depression, a n x i e t y, a u t i s m a n d m o r e .

Therapeutic massage, CranioSacral, Reiki. Safe, comfortable environment.

EARTH-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

Feng Shui Laurie Pawli

Certified Feng Shui Consultant The Feng Shui School of Chicago LauriePawli@Comcast.net CreateTheFeeling.com Create balance in your life with Feng Shui. Offering classes from basic Feng Shui to Certification Training. Call Laurie for classes, business and residential consultations.

LIVING GREEN NOW

425 Heuhl, Ste 19a, Northbrook, IL 60062 847-282-0031 LivingGreenNow.biz Living Green Now is an Earth-friendly products and services company. We help you save money, live healthier, and reduce your impact on the environment.

See ad page 17.

ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANER

GALLERY WISE WOMEN GALLERY AND GIFTS 91 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60013 WiseWomenGalleryAndGifts.com

Creating opportunity. We feature the work of local fine artists, craftsman and writers. A warm, community gathering place for classes and special

A SAFE HOME CLEANING SERVICE Rebecca Adams 773-465-2191 BekahAdams@aol.com ASafeHomeCleaningService.com

Free initial consultation.

Environmentally friendly products always used.

Specializing in residential and small businesses.

Licensed, bonded and insured.

Staff honest and reliable.

events.

GREEN RESIDENTIAL CLEANING FRESH TECH MAID SERVICES 847-459-1700 FreshTechMaids.com

Triple-certified, nontoxic house cleaning, conducted by the most trusted and well-trained technicians in our industry. We earn your trust one cleaning at a time… every time.

www.NAChicagoNorth.com

HEALTH PRODUCT DISTRIBUTOR SHARON M. WEINSTEIN

Core Wellness International 847-550-8474 SharonW@CoreLimited.com MyNikken.com/CoreWellness Core Wellness, an independent Nikken® distributorship, offers solutions for sleep, energy, the environment (air and water) and lifestyle. Free assessment of your home or office.

HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND WELLNESS CENTER FOR HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND WELLNESS Jerry Gore MD, Medical Director 240 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods/ Deerfied IL 60015 847-236-1701 Holistic-Medicine.com

Offering holistic medical care and wellness services: lab testing, physicals by MDs, nutritional counseling, natural hormone balancing, massage, myofascial naprapathic bodywork, chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology, psychotherapy, classes in yoga/meditation, community lectures.

MASSAGE THERAPY LIBERTYVILLE MASSAGE THERAPY CLINIC

128 Newberry Ave, Libertyville 847-680-0077 LibertyvilleMassage.com Over 25 years offering the highest quality of massage therapy, acupuncture and bodywork available. Our therapists have stateof-the-art training to relieve your muscle pain and stress. See ad page 15.

NUTRITIONIST NUTRITIONAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Reneé S. Barasch, LDHS 1779 Green Bay Rd, Ste 102, Highland Park 847-207-2034 DigestiveHealthSolutions.com Digestive problems? Headaches, allergies, fatigue? Let us help you naturally achieve nutritional balance, feel better and enhance the quality of your life. Certified digestive health specialist/enzyme nutritionist.

PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO THE WELLNESS SPOT

806 Central Ave, Unit 104, Highland Park, IL 60035 847-261-0144 MyWellnessSpot.com North Shore’s only luxury personal training studio/ wellness boutique. Our experts will design best-suited program to help achieve your goals. Yoga, Pilates, therapeutic massage, nutritional consultation, boot camps.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DR. LYNNE BELSKY

DR. LOUIS LUNA

Integrated Health and Wellness 4920 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 773-427-0820 IIHW.net Dr. Louis Luna is a chiropractic physician for IIHW specializing in integrated pain therapy, blending traditional medicine with holistic treatments over the last five years.

See ad page 10.

HEALING ARTS OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE Anatoliy Pak, L.Ac. 405 Lake Cook Rd, Ste A21, Deerfield, IL 60015 847-845-4090 OrientalMedicineArts.com

Healing Arts of Oriental Medicine is a wellness studio which restores one’s health and well-being with nurturing care in a welcoming and peaceful environment.

LivingWell MD 1535 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 306, Northbrook, IL 60062 847-418-2030 LivingWellMD.com Care for body, mind, and spirit with personalized, integrative medical care. Concierge physician dedicated to helping you stay healthy, prevent disease, and feel your best. See ad page 16.

THERMOGRAPHIC SCANNING THE LONGEVITY CENTER THERMOGRAPHY 847-305-0904 888-580-0040 LongevityThermography.com

We are a women-owned and -operated mobile thermography service offering quality thermal scans at numerous locations in Illinois since 2005. See ad page 9.

WELLNESS CENTER DR. ANTONIO BIFERO

Integrated Health and Wellness 4920 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 773-427-0820 IIHW.net Dr. Antonio Bifero leads IIHW with 15 years of experience in health care, and treats chronic patients with functional medicine, advanced chiropractic treatments, and acupuncture. See ad page 10.

INTEGRATIVE WELLNESS CLINIC 9631 Gross Point Rd, Ste 107, Skokie, IL 60076 224-534-7167 IntWellness.org

We e m p l o y h o l i s t i c a n d conventional medicine in diagnosis and treatment. Visit us and remember how life without pain feels. Enjoy freedom to really live again.

YOGA AVANI YOGA STUDIO

Adam Braun, Coordinator/Teacher 1501 Busch Pkwy, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 847-419-7105 ABraun@PowerWellness.com Bring harmony and balance into your life through the ancient practice of yoga.

Serene studio is home to a l l l eve l s a n d Ava n i instructors make yoga accessible yet challenging for students of all abilities. Come relax, renew… transform. See ad page 10.

FRONT ROOM YOGA

Louise Domerchie 847-249-3033 LDomerchie@yahoo.com Enhance posture, breathing, and tone your core. Learn how to move at work and at home to improve your health. Develop your personal yoga practice.

natural awakenings

October 2010

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backcoverartist Jensen’s Bridge

by Yelena Klairmont

H

ighland Park artist Yelena Klairmont says her work explores various viewpoints of the coexistence and interactions of humans with nature from the perspective of our contemporary world. Her paintings often focus on local scenes from the North Shore ravines of Lake Michigan, as well as areas along the Des Plaines River and throughout the Midwest. Deftly playing with light and color, Klairmont captures reflections and ripples, and brings botanicals to life.

In Jensen’s Bridge, fall leaves mingle with the stone bridge that was a design hallmark of landscape architect Jens Jensen. “My inspiration for this series of paintings was Jensen’s dedication and commitment to let parks and nature be part of urban society,” Klairmont explains. “He once said, about rapid urbanization and lack of green spaces (a phrase he coined) in early 20th century Chicago, ‘If people can’t get to nature, I will bring nature to people,’ referring to his campaign to create public parks and forest preserves in an urban setting.”

View the artist’s portfolio at YelenaKlairmont.com. Klairmont’s paintings are displayed in public buildings throughout the North Shore, and this past summer, her work was featured at The Art Center, in Highland Park.

YOGA (CONT.) SHANTY YOGA AND WELLNESS Lori Punko 847-775-9668 ShantyYogaWellness@gmail.com

Looking for a healthier more peaceful you? Reasonable rates on private and group instruction.

Experienced with MS, arthritis, joint replacements, back injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. Meditation classes, vegetarian/vegan diet transition, yoga and meditation retreats, Reiki treatments. Lifeforce nutritional products. See ad page 6.

STUDIO LOTUS

150 E Cook St, Libertyville, IL 60048 847-549-7443 WellBodyMind.com Lake County’s premier yoga center since 2001. Dedicated to teaching yoga art and science. Highly qualified, experienced teachers offering beginner/ intermediate classes in intimate, serene setting. See ad page 17.

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We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude . ~Cynthia Ozick

Jensen’s Bridge by Yelena Klairmont