Sierra Club to celebrate open space in Lake Zurich

Aaron Mair, the first African-American to be elected national president of the Sierra Club, will be the featured speaker during the Open Space Celebration - Stop the Route 53 Tax Hike Sept. 19 at Heron Creek Forest Preserve, 22890 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich.

The free, family-friendly event, sponsored by Livable Lake County and the Sierra Club, runs 2-5 p.m.

Mair will discuss how smart, sustainable development can position communities to compete effectively in a 21st century economy, reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels, and reduce air and water pollution.

He will touch on forward-thinking alternatives to cars and smart public transit investments that can strengthen communities economically while making them healthier and more livable.

Mair, of Schenectady, New York, is an epidemiological-spatial analyst with the New York State Department of Health. He joined Sierra Club in 1999 after leading a decadelong battle to shut down a polluting solid waste incinerator in an inner-city community in Albany, New York.

Mair also was a key figure in leading the fight in the Clean Up the Hudson campaign, which resulted in a settlement to dredge toxic PCB sediments from the Upper Hudson River.

Throughout his tenure with the Sierra Club, Mair has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to grass-roots action, environmental justice, and transforming the culture of the Sierra Club to welcome all people, regardless of their race or socio-economic status.

The Open Space Celebration will highlight the open spaces that would be affected by the proposed Route 53 extension. The event will feature live music, educational activities for children, and a hike along the proposed tollway corridor.

For more information about the Open Space Celebration, call (708) 581-8653 or email livablelakecounty@gmail.com.

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