Cardinal Connection continues at NIC

North Idaho College's "Cardinal Connections" is this week at NIC.

This year's event is titled "Sustainability 101" and focuses on what the college and local community can do to move toward greater overall sustainability.

Today's and Wednesday's events are free and open to the public.

n Spokane Riverkeeper Rick Eichstadt will present the opening lecture in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center at 9 a.m. today, which is themed water sustainability. Eichstadt represents organizations working to protect and restore the Spokane River watershed.

The film "Blue Gold," which features water as the oil of today, will be shown at 11 a.m. in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center and again at 6 p.m. in Molstead Library Todd Hall. Water conservation displays from the Bureau of Land Management will be on display in the Edminster Student Union Building from 1 to 3 p.m. and students will hand out reusable water bottles during the "Return to the Tap" campaign.

A panel discussion on "Ensuring Our Local Waste and Water is Sustainable" will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in Molstead Library Todd Hall.

n Wednesday's theme will focus on food sustainability. Jennifer Hall, community food-builder at the Main Market Co-op in Spokane, will present from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Schuler Performing Arts Center.

A film screening on "Food, Inc." will be shown at 11 a.m. in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center and again at 6 p.m. in Molstead Library Todd Hall. The film covers the global issue of food production and safety.

NIC faculty, staff, students and community members can participate in the building of a community garden on campus from 1 to 3 p.m. while receiving tips on making a raised bed garden at home. The community garden will be located at the corner of River Avenue and Lincoln Way.

A panel discussion on "Promoting Local Food Sustainability" will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Molstead Library Todd Hall.