1. RAISE YOUR CITIZENSHIP IQ -- PLAY THE LEGISLATION GAME

Monday, May 7th, 7:00-9:00 p.m Newton Senior Center, Newtonville Hosted by the Green Decade Coalition/Newton Learn how to plan an active role in making the policies and laws that affect you, your family and your community. The legislative process can be confusing. 6,000 bills are filed each session. How can you help a bill you care about get passed? The program, designed by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT), features the Legislation Game, a fun interactive activity that simulates the legislative process. You will meet expert advocates and learn how to work with your legislators, to write letters to newspaper editors, to use petitions, and to speak up at community meetings. Registration/information: contact Ellie Goldberg, 617 965-9637, ellie.goldberg@gmail.com or the Green Decade Coalition, contact@greendecade.org. For general inquiries, email info@healthytomorrow.org.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKER SERIES: THE CONQUEST OF GARBAGE

Heather Rogers, Filmmaker and Journalist Monday, May 21, 7 pm Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium Co-sponsored with the Newton Free Library Covering the history and politics of household garbage in the US, Heather Rogers will address the issue of why the US produces so much rubbish. With just 4 percent of the global population, the US consumes almost a third of the planet's resources and generates a third of all wastes created by OECD countries--the world's most developed nations. Looking at the environmental issue of trash through the lens of the market, she will point out that in today's prosperous economy, escalating piles of castoffs are no accident. Heather Rogers is the producer of the documentary film, Gone Tomorrow (2002) and author of Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage (2005). View the Environmental Speaker Series Calendar on the GDC website for upcoming dates and speakers. All ESS events are held at the Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium, at 7 pm, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month, January through June.  For more information about the series, contact 617-965-1995 or Environmental Speakers Series on our website.

3. MAY ENVIRONMENT SHOW: A CONVERSATION WITH ANN BERWICK

Throughout the month of May Host: Beverly Droz, Green Decade Guest:  Ann Berwick, State Undersecretary of Energy Environment Show host Beverly Droz, interviews Ann Berwick, recently appointed Undersecretary of Energy by Governor Deval Patrick, and member of the Green Decade?s Board of Directors.  Highlights include an update on the current administration?s plans and actions in three main areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy and distributed generation.  Ms. Berwick also shares her experiences in this new position and from her ongoing activity as an environmental consultant and a lawyer. More information about the April  program is available at greendecade.org/environmentTV. The Environment Show is broadcast on the NewTV Blue channel (Comcast Chan. 10, RCN Chan. 15): 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.

4. GDC?S ANNUAL PLANT & GARDEN SALE

Sale: Saturday, June 9,  10 am- 1 pm Plant donations: May 20-26 87 Derby Street, W. Newton Home of landscape designer and organic gardener Betsy Leavitt Spring is here and our Annual Plant & Garden Sale is coming up -- with great prices and free garden/ landscape consulting! Please donate your plants for this annual event -- annuals, perennials, ground cover, vines, seeds, tree & shrub seedlings, and decorative items such as flower pots or baskets. Please drop off donations the week of May 20-26 at 87 Derby Street, W. Newton ? earlier than previous years, but our experienced landscapers and gardeners know that re-potted plants need a couple of weeks to look good in their new pots for our sale! Place plants on the left side of the driveway (it is a shared drive). Tables will be set up to receive your donations. All plant donations must be labeled but do not have be in containers. Questions: 617-965-1995 or contact@greendecade.org

5. NEW ENGLAND WIND FUND: SOLAR POWER FOR ANOTHER NEWTON SCHOOL!

Good news: We reached our goal of 150 people in Newton donating to New England Wind by March 31 to earn a 2kW solar array for Newton middle school worth $20,000. Better news: If we can get 150 more Newton citizens or families to enroll at $5 per month, or make a one-time donation of $100 by April 30, 2007, we can get solar power for another Newton school! Call 617 524-3950 (weekdays 9-5pm) or donate online: http://www.newenglandwind.org/. Deadline is April 30 so sign up today!

6. FUNDRAISING RAFFLE: BICYCLE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRIZES!

The Green Decade will be holding a raffle to raise funds for our expanding programs. Top prizes include a bicycle from Harris Cyclery in West Newton, a $300 gift certificate from Whole Foods, and a month of free lawn mowing from Clean Air Lawn Care. Tickets are $10 or 3 for $20. Purchase tickets and find the complete list of environmentally friendly prizes on-line and at GDC booths at up-coming citywide events. For more information or to donate an item contact raffle@greendecade.org or 617-965-1995. Stay tuned ?

7. GREEN DECADE COMMITTEE MEETINGS: MAY & JUNE

GDC members and friends are welcome to join the following Green Decade committee meetings this month.  For more information visit the Volunteer (http://www.greendecade.org/volunteer.html) page on our website, or click on the committee name below: Energy: Tuesday, April 10, 7:30 pm. For directions, contact Katherine Gekas. High Performance Building Commission (Green Buildings): Thursday, April 5 at 8 am, City Hall - Room 222.

8.  OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS

Newton Conservators Nature Walks Sunday, May 6, 2-4 pm: Webster Woods (Octo Barnett) Sunday, May 13 (Mother?s Day), 8-10 am: Nahanton Park ? Spring Bird Walk (Cris Criscitiello) Sunday, May 27, 2:00 pm: Civil War Tour: Memorial Day Tour of Newton Cemetery (Peter Kastner) Join the Conservators for these and more spring walks!  Information: Guided Walks. Mother?s Day Lobby for Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals Thursday, May 10, 11-1 pm Great Hall in the State House Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is hosting a major lobby day to urge our elected officials to approve legislation, like the Safer Alternatives Bill, to replace toxic chemicals in products and production processes with safer alternatives. Participate in this event and help deliver thousands of Mother's Day cards to legislators and Governor Patrick, urging them to take swift action on toxic chemicals. For carpooling or more information contact Lucia at 617 332-1893 or info@greendecade.org. Not able to attend the lobby? Show your support by signing and sending a virtual card at http://www.healthytomorrow.org/MDLD_Card.htm . Clean Water Action & Clean Water Fund?s 13th Annual Benefit Party Sunday, May 20, 2-4 pm Doyle Conservation Center 464 Abbott Avenue, Leominster, MA Join us for interesting speakers, delicious food, celebration of victories, and a forecast of what is ahead in 2007! The Doyle Conservation Center is a state-of-the-art "green" facility and an inspiring example of using appropriate technology to reduce waste, resource depletion, and pollution. Built by The Trustees of Reservations, it is registered as a "gold" project by the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. To become a sponsor, purchase tickets, or to get more information, visit our website or call Becky Smith at 617-338-8131 x210. Newton Organic Gardening Group The Newton Organic Gardening Group, led by Paul Shoemaker, is looking for volunteers to help revitalize and maintain a demonstration organic garden at the Newton Community Services Center (NCSC).  The NCSC garden plot has been used in the past as a classroom for children and seniors. The Newton Organic Gardening Group´s goal is to demonstrate how it is possible to create and maintain a beautiful garden accessible to all without dangerous insecticides, weed killers, chemical fertilizers and damaging landscaping techniques. Green Decade's Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides (GreenCAP) encourages GDC members and friends to join and support the Newton Organic Gardening Group. For more information, contact Paul Shoemaker at gardening.meetup.com/130. Additonal information on organic gardening and lawn care: GreenCAP Resources page on the GDC website. NEW:  Natural Newton Blog Welcome to the Natural Newton weblog launched in April! The first issue includes news on bats, vernal pools, urban wilds, spring nature walks, and more.5 Newton environmentalists will recognize many of the contributors from the Newton Conservators, Newton Community Farm, Mass Wildlife, the Vernal Pool Association and others.

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