Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Annual Environmental Leadership Awards, presented to a Newton individual, a business and an organization who actively promote environmental improvement through their commitment or work for the environment. The awards were  presented on Monday evening, June 9 at the New Art Center, Newtonville, as part of our annual celebration and meeting to:

    * INDIVIDUAL -- Dirk Detlefsen, Countryside Elementary School fifth grade teacher

    * GROUP -- Newton/San Juan del Sur Sister City Project -- Margaret and David Gullette, coordinators (www.newtonsanjuan.org)

    * BUSINESS: Chapman Construction & Design, John C. Hall, President / Principal / LEED® AP (www.chap-con.com)

Appreciation awards were also presented to outgoing GDC president Ana Zarina Asuaje Solon and to Ed Cunningham, Vice President, for their leadership and accomplishments from 2006-2008.  To see photos and more about previous winners, visit the  Environmental Awards page on the Green Decade website.

Welcome to our new officers and board members, elected at the June 9 Annual Meeting at the New Art Center in Newtonville!

President Marcia Cooper was elected, along with two new vice-presidents and one new committee leader elected to the GDC Board of Directors at the June 9 Annual Meeting.  

Vice-President:  Lucia Dolan (GreenCAP/IPM Liason, School Outreach and Fundraising)
Vice-President:  Louise Bruyn (GDC founder and president emerita, Green News co-editor)

Faith and the Environment Committee: Robbie Durschlag, Chair

In addition, Sunwoo Kahng and Karen Albert, co-chairs of the new Organic Gardening Committee, have joined the Advisory Board.

More information and photos are available on the GDC website's Board of Directors page.

Host:  Beverly Droz, Green Decade
July 1-31

How parks and fields are maintained in Newton is the subject of the July Green Decade-produced Environment Show.  Since 1997 when Newton adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for its buildings and turf upkeep the city has had a policy of least use of pesticides and herbicides.  An IPM Advisory Council oversees the implementation of this policy. 

Host Beverly Droz is joined by two of the key figures in the city’s IPM campaign, Ellie Goldberg, one of the prime movers in having this policy established in Newton, and Ruthann Rudel, a scientist with the Silent Spring Institute.  More information about this show and resources are available at the Environment Show on the GDC website.
 
The Environment Show is broadcast on the NewTV Blue channel (Comcast Chan. 10, RCN Chan. 15, Verizon Chan. 34):
Mondays      3:00 p.m.
Tuesdays      1:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 11:30 a.m.
Thursdays:    12:00, 4:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays:    10:00 a.m.

Videos of previous Environment Show programs are now available for viewing online at the GDC website.  This monthly show is produced alternatively by the Green Decade and the Newton Conservators.

Tuesdays 1:30-6 pm at Cold Spring Park, Beacon St.
Fridays 1:30-6 pm at Post 440, California St., Nonantum
Sponsored by the Newton Parks & Recreation Department

Join us for another great season at the 29th Newton Farmers Market! The Green Decade will have our information and resource table under the red tent at both locations -- volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us, as always.  This year we will also feature our the popular "Magic Energy Bike" which demonstrates the difference in energy required to light up the old light bulbs vs the energy-efficient CFL bulbs.  Last year’s giant caterpillars were also a special attraction, so they will return as well!  Our friends from the Newton Angino Community Farm will also be at both markets this year, so stop by and see us both.

The Newton Farmers Markets are held twice weekly from July through October.  If you'd like to volunteer for a couple of hours at either location, please contact Margaret Ford, Community Outreach Coordinator, at mford@greendecade.org or 617-964-0606.

GreenCAP Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides:  Monday, July 7, 7:00 pm at NewTV.  This is a joint meeting with the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT).  Contact Lucia Dolan at  617-332-1893 or GreenCAP@greendecade.org 

Energy: Tuesday, July 8, 7:30pm at Louise Bruyn's house, 48 Glenwood Ave off Parker St.
Contact Katherine Gekas.

Organic Gardening & Landscape Committee:  Tuesday, July 22 at 7pm, at Maeve Ward's house, 22 Carver Rd. of Woodward St.  Contact Sunwoo Kahng for additional information or to coordinate rides.

NEWTON ORGANIC GARDEN & LANDSCAPE TOUR
Sunday, September 14, 2008 1-5 pm
Meet at Newton City Hall
$20 per person, $15 for Green Decade members
Sponsored by the Green Decade Coalition/Newton

Join us for an afternoon guided tour of 4-5 homes with organic gardens featuring ornamental and edible gardens -- even an organically maintained lawn or two! Each site will highlight a specific aspect of organic gardening, such as composting, watering techniques or plant selection. Learn more about organic gardening and tips for making your garden (or lawn) grow, with alternatives to invasive species and without chemical pesticides! The tour is limited to 25 people; we will meet at City Hall at 1:30 pm and car-pool to the gardens.

Can you recommend an organic garden for this tour or future tours?  Please send all nominations by July 12  to organicgardentour@greendecade.org so our committee can contact and visit all nominees by July 20. Questions/information: contact Sunwoo Kahng, tour co-chair.

In August, advance ticket purchase, more information & "sneak peeks" of the gardens will be available on our website.

Charles River Clean-up: Invasive Aquatic Plants
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)
Tuesday, July 15th, 5:30-8:00pm
Saturday, July 19th, 10:00am-2:00pm
Sunday, July 20th, 10:00am-2:00pm

Gather a group of friends or colleagues and sign up for one of the clean-up sessions! CRWA is working to remove as many water chestnut plants as possible.   Exotic water chestnuts are choking out oxygen, light, and creating a boating hazard in Newton and Waltham; volunteers will use canoes to reach the shallow waters and shorelines to pull the plants from the river
 
Since space is limited, please RSVP to Rebecca Scibek or Julie Wood at charles@crwa.org or 781-788-0007. For more information, please visit our website at www.charlesriver.org.

Dr. Bernard Lown, Prescription for Survival
Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 pm
Druker Auditorium, Newton Free Library
330 Homer St., Newton Centre
617-796-1360, Free to the public

In his new memoir, Prescription for Survival, Nobel Prize-winner Bernard Lown probes the past to help us understand what drove, and continues to drive, nuclear proliferation. Although this compelling story is concerned with weapons of almost unimaginable destructive capacity and a potential clash of superpowers, Lown writes, “At the heart of these cascading events is a human narrative.” Ultimately he offers us a blueprint showing how concerned citizens working together across national boundaries can end nuclear proliferation. The talk will be followed by a book signing with books provided by New England Mobile Book Fair. For more information call the Newton Free Library at 617-796-1360.

Farm Sprouts Programs for Kids and Parents
July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 22, Sept 5, Sept. 19
Newton Angino Community Farm
303 Nahanton St., Newton
This summer bring your family to the farm for a farm-based story and activity. These one hour sessions are for 3 to 5 year olds and a parent to enjoy the fun of the farm.

Time: All sessions will be from 10:30 – 11:30am
Limit: 10 pairs of child and adult
Cost: $2.00 per session.
Please register at education@newtoncommunityfarm.org

Additional information:  617/916-9655 or www.newtoncommunityfarm.org

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