Dave Martel! Graven, Green Your Home...this week at the branch...

Monday: Our second Monday event became a third Monday this month as last Monday was apparently some kind of holiday or something---Gee, thanks a lot. No, really, thanks! (wink...) Anyway, second Mondays (or thirds, if you must,) are a chance for the folks from Sustainable North Grenville and you to get together and talk, eat, have a beer or a coffee, maybe watch a film, maybe just hang out...and, most importantly, to put our heads together about ideas related to local sustainability. Last month we discussed preserving the harvest; the month before, we talked about clean water and watched 'Blue Gold', an interesting documentary on the subject that featured, among its interviewees, local boy Ryan Hreljac of 'Ryan's Well' fame, who also was in attendance! This week (tonight...) the subject is information about greening your home featuring Jonathan Ham from 'Green Home Inspections': Here's the lowdown:

Sustainable North Grenville presents:
The ecoENERGY Retrofit for Homes program is back, but only until 31 March 2012. Learn about the program that gives up to $5,000 in grants to homeowners who make home improvements that reduce environmental impact, and save participants an average of 20% on their energy costs.

Please join us at the branch restaurant on Monday, October 17th to learn about the ecoENERGY program and home energy efficiency. Starting at 7PM, expert Jonathan Ham of Green Home Inspections will describe the program as well as the benefits of energy efficiency, targets to aim for and where to prioritize. The presentation will be followed by a question period.

Jonathan is a true professional in the field of home energy audits, having been conducting them since 1993. His technical knowledge and education spans carpentry, indoor air quality, heating and cooling; he instructs in many of these areas at Algonquin College. Jonathan founded Green Home Inspections in 1998 and has since conducted 3,800 ecoENERGY audits, over 5,000 blower door tests and numerous infrared heat loss studies. His experience includes work on houses both new and century old. Ask him about your own energy situation or about the interesting projects that he has undertaken, such as an audit of The Wilson House near Meech Lake.

A light buffet, coffee and sweets by donation, as well as a cash bar are available beginning at 6:45PM. Admission is free.
For more information about the ecoENERGY for Homes program please visit:
http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/retrofithomes-renovationmaisons-eng.cfm
For more information about Green Home Inspections please visit:
http://www.greenhi.com/

Sustainable North Grenville www.sustainablenorthgrenville.com

Thursday: Matty McKechnie is back on Thursday, October 20—he’s been here twice before under the moniker of ‘Graven’ as an electric trio and an acoustic duo—Now he’s just Matty, and really, what else do you need? Matt is a songwriter’s songwriter—he has a knack for catching that turn of phrase right before it gets away—finding the moment that counts, reeling it in and making it stick. This will be show to listen to, to soak in and to enjoy—he’s got the Chef Bruce seal of approval. October 20, 9pm, $5

Friday: If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, then you will probably like Frank and Birdie; come to think of it, you will probably like them even if you don't like watery, fruity cocktails. They are just plain likeable...Friday, October 21st, 7pm, no cover...

Saturday: Special Thanks and a bit of excitement goes out this month to our pal, Montreal by way of Vankleek Hill’s Dave Martel, who has stepped up to fill in an unexpected, last minute vacancy in October’s calendar…And what a fill-in it is! Dave is an indie-folk god, just check out any of his videos online, or, better yet, buy one of his cds, they will get under your skin, snuggle in and stay there for years. His last couple of branch shows have been described as, ‘Phenomenal, I can’t believe I just saw that’ and ‘It’s like a full body buzz’! He is an incomparable talent and always a pleasure to bring back for our lucky, lucky ears. Thanks, Dave. October 22, 9pm, $10...On a special side note, Saturday's show will also feature an opening set with local gal and popular visitor to our open stages and Birthday Tribute Shows, Katherine Amanda Giles...