April 16, 2014

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Carrie McCausland, Media and Communications, cmccausland@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Tacoma is doing more around environmental and sustainable efforts than some may think and City’s TV Tacoma government access television station is determined to let people know about it.

On Saturday, April 19, in anticipation of Earth Day, the City of Tacoma is launching Urban Green, a new South Sound and Tacoma lifestyle program that explores sustainable living and environmental efforts. The program features:

• Interviews with regional and national experts on issues pertinent to our region
• Food/cooking segments with local guests
• EnviroChallenger tips for passing an environmental ethic on to the next generation
• Features on local efforts and regional opportunities
• Upcoming chances to learn more and/or get involved

Urban Green is hosted by Diane Wiatr, the City’s Active Transportation Coordinator and part of the Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability. Wiatr, who lives in Tacoma, brings to the set tremendous community involvement and more than 10 years of urban design and active transportation planning experience.

“Sustainability is one of Tacoma’s hidden successes and I’m proud to be a part of highlighting our community’s achievements,” said Wiatr.

In the inaugural edition of Urban Green Waiter interviews Futurewise’s Hilary Franz, a STAR steering committee board member about Tacoma’s four-star sustainability rating.And, Alina Mikolajczyk of Alina’s Soups at the Proctor Farmers Market, shares her recipe for healthy, local potato, kale, sausage soup. The program also features the recovery of the Foss Waterway, the Recycling Center services at the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center and a tip for getting kids excited about using reusable water bottles.

A new episode of Urban Green will air on TV Tacoma and the City’s web site every two months. TV Tacoma is located on Channel 12 for cable TV subscribers in the Tacoma City limits and Channel 21 for most cable TV subscribers in greater Pierce County. Air times are:

• Monday: 10 a.m., 7 p.m., 11 p.m.
• Tuesday: 10 a.m., 4 p.m., 9 p.m.
• Wednesday: 3 p.m.
• Thursday: 12 a.m. (Midnight), 8 a.m., 8 p.m.
• Friday: 1 p.m.
• Saturday: 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 8 p.m.
• Sunday:  4 a.m., 12 p.m. (Noon), 7 p.m.

Cable customers using Click! may also watch Urban Green anytime using on-demand local programming services. Or, watch it online beginning Saturday at cityoftacoma.org/UrbanGreen.

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