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Mayor’s Message: Special Issue: Earth Day Actions

Posted on: April 22, 2019 - 10:18pm
Mayor
Dear Everyone,
 
Our community’s ideas for ways to celebrate Earth Day were fantastic! Thanks to everyone else contributed, and a special shout out to our very inspiring 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders, their teachers and Claudia Heitler for sending me their messages. All of the ideas we received have been included below, and some have been paraphrased or merged.
 
Overarching Principles
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  • Every day should be Earth Day!
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle every day!
  • Smile at the people you meet to combat “social pollution.”
 
At Home
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  • Use glass bottles/containers instead of plastic.
  • Recycle corks (you can drop them at Whole Foods).
  • Don’t use plastic bags - use reusable bags.
  • Get a food scraps recycling kit and start recycling your food waste.
  • Buy beeswax paper instead of plastic wrap.
  • Conserve water - don’t take really long showers.
  • Reduce the amount of energy you use for heating and cooling.
  • Don’t use the dryer all the time - dry your clothes on a line outside like your great-grandmothers!
  • Use less power – turn the lights off and unplug electronic stuff you aren’t using.
  • Donate gently used clothes and toys to someone who needs them or take them to a consignment shop.
  • Buy products in bulk and try to reduce use of packaging material.
  • Don't use as much paper or cardboard - read things online.
  • Switch to LED lights.
  • Use energy efficient appliances.
  • Recycle electronics.
  • Use rechargeable batteries.
  • Buy a hybrid or an electric car.
  • Install solar on your roof.
  • Install better insulation in your house.
  • On a rainy day, make art from old plastic bottles, soda cans and pens that don't work and give it to someone you love.
 
In the Garden
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  • Plant a tree.
  • Cut the vines that are strangling your trees and let them breathe!
  • Add native plants and trees to your garden.
  • Plant flowers that attract bees.
  • Plant seeds and see what grows.
  • Give your friends seedlings and cuttings to beautify their gardens.
  • Compost in your garden and use the rich soil to help your plants grow.
  • Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em (mow your leaves into the lawn – it turns into compost very quickly).
  • Use electric power tools in your garden instead of gas-powered ones.
 
In the Neighborhood
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  • Pick up trash everywhere!
  • Clear paths and passageways by trimming away the overgrowth to make sure they are walkable.
  • Daylight sidewalks by removing the dirt and muck on them so kids can walk to school (if you have a sidewalk near your house that needs daylighting but the task seems too daunting, let me know and we will rally people to help you).
  • Clear the storm drains around your home/garden.
  • Have a “green block party” where you can share information about composting, recycling, carpooling, etc. - you can swap plants, have a lemonade stand (with no straws!) and get to know people you don’t know.
  • Have a neighborhood camp out and watch the stars instead of watching TV.
  • Walk don’t drive – it is good exercise and you will meet people who live near by.
 
At School
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  • Walk to school.
  • Take lunch to school in reusable containers.
  • Use a water bottle.
  • Start a “fun clean up” project for kids and teachers to do together.
  • Reduce the trash.
  • Recycle paper and plastic.
  • Start a “No straws!” campaign.
  • Only use biodegradable cups.
  • Join the Environmental Club and plan Earth Day actions.
  • If you are a teenager remember “leave no trace” in the woods (you know where!).
 
In the Community
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  • Clean parks and public places.
  • Participate in the Arbor Day tree planting on April 23 and 25 at Sugar Pond at 3:15 pm – beautiful new trees will be planted and refreshments will be served.
  • Participate in the Village Clean-Up this weekend on April 27 & 28 – call the Recreation Department for ideas of where to focus and to pick up trash bags if you need them, and remember that pizza will be served.
  • Participate in the first Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival, at the pocket park at the corner of Villard Avenue and Broadway, on May 11th from 12:00-5:00 pm.  There will be performers, vendors and activities including the Art of Bonsai Cultivation.
  • Join a “Friends of ….” group to take care of a special park near you – there are  friends of groups for Quarry Park, Riverview Park, Zinsser Park, Hillside Park, Rowley’s Bridge Trail and Lefurgy Park to name a few (if you’re interested in joining a group let me know and I will connect you to the organizers).
  • Join the Vine Squad in the fall.
  • Clean up the Saw Mill River and work out a way to handle the trash in the Hudson River.
  • Make a community garden.
  • Add more trees to the Waterfront Park (make it very nature like).
  • Refuse straws if you are given one in a restaurant or take your own.
  • Lobby local shops to install bulk purchasing for cereal, nuts, trail mix, etc. and to sell beeswax paper instead of plastic wrap.
  • Carpool to the train and use the WAZE Carpool App to find other people who want to participate (anyone interested in trying an experiment to see if this idea might work in our community let me know).
  • Have an Earth Day Themed Friday Night Live next year where our stores can do things that celebrate Earth Day in fun ways!
 
Thanks to everyone who sent in ideas - in the spirit of “Every day is Earth Day” keep me posted on how many you are able to try out over the next few months!
 
Sincerely,
 
Nicola Armacost
Mayor