Tuesday June 3, 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
Newton Marriott Hotel
FREE Exhibits & Workshops
Awards luncheon with keynote speaker; $35 in advance
Co-sponsored by the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce and the Green Decade Coalition/Newton

This first of its kind event will showcase existing green businesses and educate the general business community about the benefits of using green business practices in their daily operations. You'll learn about carbon footprints, energy credits, solar and wind energy, biofuels, and much more at this exciting event. Find out from the experts which solutions can help your business and what it would cost to incorporate them.

The event includes a keynote luncheon session featuring a high profile speaker on the topic of corporate environmental responsibility. The exhibit hall will be open from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.

In addition, 3-4 breakout sessions will occur during the day with experts in the field speaking on practical ways to turn your business green while saving some green at the same time. For more information contact Tom O'Rourke at torourke@nnchamber.com or see the Newton TAB article of May 28!

Sunday June 8, 12:00-5:00 pm
Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands
Sponsored by the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council
           
Join the Green Decade crew for this annual Newton Highlands festival with activities, crafts, dog parade, food, music and of course, the Magic Energy Bike at our booth!  We will be there again this year -- volunteers always welcome to meet, greet, share environmental information and have fun.  If you’d like to help out for an hour or two, contact Margaret Ford at 617-964-0606 or mford@greendecade.org.

Monday June 9, 7:00 pm
New Art Center, Newtonville

The 2008 awards, celebration and annual meeting will be at a new site with a festive new program! All members -- new, old and lapsed -- are invited to join us for dessert and refreshments, election of board members and program, including the Annual Environmental Leadership Awards to an individual, a group and a business.  Photos of previous Leadership Award winners, further details and nomination forms are on our website.

In addition, there will be a multi-media celebration of the Green Decade's activities, people and influence in the Newton community for nearly 20 years, plus speakers and discussion!   To join our planning committee or to volunteer to bring dessert, fruit, cheese or other treats, contact Marcia Cooper at marciac@aol.com or 617-964-8567.

Newton Conservators Spring Lecture 2008 (Part 1)
Throughout the month of June

Newton's pure water originates in the Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts, yet the area around Quabbin is unfamiliar to most residents except for perhaps birding and fishing enthusiasts.  Allen Young, land protection advocate and author of North of Quabbin Revisited: A Guide to Nine Towns North of the Quabbin Reservoir, is the featured speaker for the Newton Conservators Spring Lecture.  He will talk about exciting and sometimes difficult land protection and recreational opportunities there, which has relevance for the people of Newton who may appreciate the concept of saving the rural parts of the Commonwealth that are under so much development pressure. (Part 2 to be shown in August.)
 
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.

EcoWater Walk/Race Off
Saturday, May 31, 2-4 pm
Cold Spring Park
Beacon Street between Walnut & Chestnut St.

Join members of GDC’s Students For A Greener World for an outdoor event at Cold Spring Park  to inform the public of the hazards of bottled water.  Newton North AP Biology students Carolyn Ranti and Danylko Villano have researched the issue in depth and will give a brief presentation of their research findings, followed by a pleasant walk on the running course through the woods to show their support. Afterwards, a race through the course will be held for the more exuberant, energetic, and youthful participants! Pledge to reduce your usage of bottled water and support the cause with the reusable, plastic Green Decade water bottle which will be given to all participants at this event.  The students will request donations, with all proceeds going to the Green Decade. For more information, visit: Upcoming Events; for registration or questions contact:  cranti@live.com

Organic Gardening & Landscape Committee:  Tuesday, June 10 at 7pm.   Sunwoo Kahng (bobergkahng@msn.com) for additional information or to coordinate rides.

Study Group: Lester Brown's Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization.
Tuesday, June 17 from 10 am-12 noon.  This is first session -- further dates to be decided by the group.  Room for a few more participants.  Call Louise Bruyn at 617-332-1764 to join and for location. 

The Schools Outreach Committee: Thursday, June 26 at 7 pm at the home of Bob Warren and Meg Wilcox at 53 Gay Street, Newtonville.  Call (617) 795-0028 for rsvp and directions.

Students for a Greener World:  No summer meetings scheduled but interested students can volunteer for Farmers Market and other Green Decade summer events.  Open to middle school and high school students:  contact Margaret Ford at mford@greendecade.org or 617-964-0606.

GreenCAP Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides: Monday, July 7, 7 pm.
Elizabeth Saunders from the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow Coalition will speak at the next GreenCAP meeting, Monday, July 7th, 7 to 9 pm at the NewTV Conference Room, 23 Needham St. The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) (www.healthytomorrow.org)  is a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. GreenCAP's meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more about toxic use reduction in Massachusetts, AHT, or GreenCAP..  For more information about the meeting call Lucia 617-332-1893 or greenCAP@greendecade.org.

The focus of the Solid Waste Commission (SWC) will shift more towards evaluating the City's recycling program, developing ideas and assisting with Implementation for improvements in the next two years, and crafting the proposal for the next recycling contract. The SWC will also help the City evaluate the pilot automated collection program, then develop the next trash collection and disposal contract. The Commission hopes to get input from the community on these topics as they move forward.

The SWC usually meets twice a month on Thursday mornings from 7:30-9 a.m. at City Hall. It is chaired by Alderwoman Sydra Schnipper; contact her at Sydra_Schnipper@verizon.net or 617-965-2331. Interested citizens can also fill out an application (from Mayor's office) requesting consideration for appointment to the SWC. Citizens are also welcome to attend meetings to get a sense of how the Commission functions and to hear about the topics under discussion.

Join the Green Decade, for as little as $25 for an individual/family membership!, $50 for a business membership or for students, only $10 for the year!   This year, new and renewing members will also receive a reusable shopping bag as our thank-you for joining the Green Decade!

Join or renew on-line and pay by credit card or download the membership form and mail with your check made out to GDC/N, to PO Box 590242, Newton, MA 02466.  Membership forms are also available in each issue of the Green News. For more information, contact 617-965-1995 or e-mail membership@greendecade.org.

As always, members receive discounts at GDC events and sponsoring businesses, plus the Green News newsletter, published 6 times each year and mailed to our members.  If you prefer to receive the Green News on-line, you will help save paper and postage costs. E-mail us at contact@greendecade.org and be sure to include your name and e-mail, along with Green News Online in the title.

Newton Community Farm Spring Festival
Saturday, June 7, 2-4pm
 
Celebrate spring at the Newton Community Farm’s annual Spring Festival! This year’s event includes
 
• Tours of the Farm
• Activities for Kids
• Seedlings for Sale
• Farm Stand Opening
• Snacks & Drinks
• Live Music
 
Newton Community Farm is located at the corner of Nahanton & Winchester Streets in Newton. For more information, visit us at newtoncommunityfarm.org or call 617-916-9655

13th Annual "Take A Hike for Humanity"
Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8
Blue Hill Reservation, Milton, MA
Sponsored by Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston
Benefits the Habitat Newton Build at 76 Webster Park
(next to the Dolan Pond Conservation Area) 

Register as an individual or as part of a team ($25 per hiker) for either day, then set a goal and start collecting pledges from friends, family members, neighbors, etc.  Walkers of all ages and ability levels - and their dogs - are welcome!  Registration forms are available on-line or call 617-423-2223 to request one.   All proceeds benefit the Newton Habitat project. When you register, make sure to specify that you are raising money for Habitat Greater Boston, as there are many other Habitat affiliates participating.

21st annual Bike-A-Thon and First Annual Green Roots Festival
Sunday, June 8, 12:00 - 5:30 pm
(Rain date June 22nd)
In the park in front of the Stoney Brook T station, Boylston St, Jamaica Plain
Sponsored by Bikes Not Bombs in Jamaica Plain/Roxbury

Bike-A-Thon riders can pre-register and choose from one of three routes: 15 , 25 or 62 mile rides.
Great options for everyone: families and children, new cyclists, daily commuters, fitness and distance trainers. Pre-registration required: online or call 617-522-0222.  Your ride will end at the Green Roots Festival with food music, children's activities, workshops on environmental issues, information booths by environmental groups, and keynote speakers, including Bill McKibben!

Newton Conservators Spring Walks
Sunday, June 1: 2 pm:  Sudbury and Cochituate Aqueduct Hike
Sunday, June 8:  To Be Announced
Sunday, June 15, 2 pm:  Cutler Park/ Millennium Park Hike
Sunday, June 22, 2 pm:  Charles River Lakes District
Sunday, June 29, 2 pm:  Lakes District Canoe Trip on the Charles
For more information contact the Newton Conservators Spring Walks.

This list is administered by the Green Decade Coalition/Newton for members and friends only and will not be distributed for any other purpose.  For additional information, please contact the GREEN DECADE COALITION/NEWTON at info@greendecade.org or call us at 617-965-1995.

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