Amgen Tour Finale in the Conejo Valley

It's hard to believe, but a major sporting event is going to have its grand finale' in Thousand Oaks this weekend.

That's right, professional cyclists on the Amgen Tour of California will cross the finish line on Westlake Boulevard near the Hyatt on Sunday (May 23).Even if you're not a cycling enthusiast, don't miss this opportunity to watch the best of the best zoom past as they take on a tough mountain course.

Eateries in the Oaks Shopping Center will be opening early to accommodate spectators and other activities are planning throughout the weekend. Click here for details.

The King of Cycling, Lance Armstrong is out of the race after taking a tumble and requiring stitches on Thursday but chances are excellent he'll make some kind of appearance. 

Sunday Food Harvest Volunteers Needed

This weekend, May 1^st and 2^nd Food Forward will participate in Big Sunday with its Big Pick event.

Help harvest fruit trees in neighborhoods in the North San Fernando Valley to feed the hungry. There are multiple trees on multiple properties just ready to be harvested! EXTRA trees have come through so we need EXTRA help!

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 1 from 9am to noon in Granada Hills, and on Sunday from 9am to noon in Northridge. Please RSVP to marie@foodforward.org if you are free to help out! Let her know which day/location you will report to.

In addition to getting the warm and fuzzies, you'll also be eligible for donuts and coffee both days plus FREE Big Sunday t-shirts for all who help!

Read more about the massive amount of fresh fruits and veggies being offered to L.A. area food banks by Food Forward in this Los Angeles Times article.

Vote for Environmental High by Thursday

The students at Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale are asking for YOUR vote in Obama's Commencement Challenge.

You must vote by Thursday evening for your vote to count.

Environmental Charter is a college prep charter school in South Los Angeles. Of the five finalists in the Commencement Challenge it is the only West Coast school, and it is the only institution that focuses on sustainability in its curriculum.

Give the kids at high 5 by voting NOW at http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement.

Whole Child Whole Planet Earth Day Extravaganza

I spent a couple of hours this evening helping Kathy Arnos and her gang of volunteers set up for the Whole Child, Whole Planet Expo taking place on Saturday from 9:30a.m. to 6 p.m. The venue is truly beautiful -- the Highland Hall Waldorf  School in Northridge feels more like a summer camp than a primary school campus.

Beautiful venue, free admission, free childcare, workshops, lots of freebies and great giveaways, music and entertainment, kids crafts -- I can't imagine a better way to spend the day which promises to feature our best weather all week.

Earth Day Water Expo at Balboa Park

I'm really excited about the Earth Day Water Expo happening Thursday, April 22, at Balboa Park.

For one thing, it starts at 6 p.m. so those of us who work all day can still celebrate Earth Day.

For another, they are going to have a whole mess o' vendors there with water-saving devices, landscaping tips, plant consultations, and the like.

DWP reps will be there too and I'm very interested in learning more about the so-called "Cash for Grass" program. (Think front lawns, not 4/20 folks). It's also referred to as the SoCal Water Smart program or the LADWP/MWD Residential Water Conservation Rebate Program.

The Expo is free and with more than 20 valuable raffle prizes you could actually end up in the plus column. Of course you'll for sure at least learn one useful thing you can take home regardless.

Do Earth Day right and take the Orange Line to avoid parking hassles or ride your bike (make sure your lights are charged up). The Sports Center building is on the Burbank end of the park on the West side of Balboa.

Stop Phone Books Before They Are Delivered

After just receiving pounds of phone books delivered to my home and office -- phone books that will never be used -- I was pleased to receive this electronic news from Smart 2 Be Green, about how to stop them from coming in the first place.

Visit YellowPagesGoesGreen and Paperless Petition.

In the meantime, phone books can be recycled with all your other paper recycling. Or you can reuse them as these enterprising college men did, courtesy of College Humor.com.

Go Green Expo This Weekend

I'm looking forward to the Go Green Expo this weekend. Last year's event had something for everyone -- families, homeowners, renters, pet lovers, hard-core greenies and people just getting informed. I've been informed that Made in the Valley will have a number of its member companies exhibiting including spa treatments by Bee Gorgeous Organics, organic coffee tasting by Aha Chocolate and pastries from Divine Delights.

There's a whole raft of workshops, yoga sessions, a drum circle, film screenings and seminars. Also, for some reason, there are a lot of events about pets including a pet rescue hosted by Linda Blair. Check the schedule here.

Tickets are $10 for adults which covers both Saturday and Sunday. Kids under 12 are free, seniors and students with valid IDs get in for just $5. The event is at the Los Angeles Convention Center so you can take the Metro. If you drive down, expect to pay at least $12 to park. Saturday the hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday it's 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (But from past experience, some vendors start packing up around 3 p.m. on Sunday so don't wait until the last minute.

The Dreaded Affluenza Virus

Influenza dominates the news these days, but you're much more likely to be afflicted with affluenza this time of year.

That's right, affluenza -- a mental health disease that is known to affect mental processing and logic functions. It is particularly strong in the Northern Hemisphere between November 24 and December 25.

To find out if you are in danger, take the Affluenza Risk Assessment&nbsp

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