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Local Synergy Febuary 2010

Submitted by root on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 19:31
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Welcome to Febuary 2010 GrotonLocal Newsletter

Table of Contents

EDITOR'S NOTE

Greetings from Groton Local!  We had a great Quarterly meeting. 
You can read more about it below.   We are looking for exciting events
from Book discussions to volunteering events

 

- The Editors.

Upcoming Events

 

Sustainability Book Discussion -
Groton Local Energy Group is sponsoring a book discussion on Sunday,
February 7, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at the Groton Public Library (Sibley Hall), 99
Main Street, Groton, MA.  On review will be Sustainable Energy - Without
the Hot Air by David J.C. Mackay.  The author is a professor of physics at
the University of Cambridge in the UK and brings a physicist’s perspective
to understanding our energy systems – renewable and otherwise.  If you’d
like to know more about the book, you can download a 10-page synopsis from
the author's Web site ([ http://www.withouthotair.com/synopsis10.pdf
]http://www.withouthotair.com/synopsis10.pdf) or you can purchase it from
[ http://amazon.com/ ]Amazon.com.  For more information about the event,
please contact Yuval Gonen at [ mailto:energy@grotonlocal.org
]energy@grotonlocal.org or visit Groton Local’s website ([
http://www.grotonlocal.org/ ]http://www.grotonlocal.org/) and click on the
Feb. 7: Book Discussion link.

 

 

 

The Little Prince
By Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Adapted for stage by Sarah Sullivan

Two Performances: Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 4pm and 7pm
McBaine Studio Theatre (within the Campbell Performing Arts Center),
Groton School
Free Admission- Reservations a Must!

This winter, Groton School's Theatre Department will bring to life the
timeless tale of an aviator who, when stranded in the Sahara desert, meets
a young prince from another planet. This production, suitable for all
ages, will be presented in McBaine Studio Theater within the Campbell
Performing Arts Center, the school's primary theatre venue. Join the
Prince on his journey as he introduces us to a variety of crazy and
wonderful characters – each with a lesson to share.  Seating is limited in
this small theatre so reserve seats ahead of time. Tickets are available
through the Box Office, Mondays- Fridays 3:30-6pm and Saturdays 2-4 pm.
For more information, contact the Box Office at 978-448-7284 or Groton School Website

Someone to Read: Tutors Needed - Training on Saturdays in February

Make a difference – and a new friend -- become a volunteer tutor of
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). You don’t have to be
bilingual. If you have a high school diploma or a GED, you’re eligible for
the free Tutor Training Workshop in Adult Basic Literacy and ESOL at the
Groton Public Library. It’s a three-part program by Gloria Maybury,
Program Coordinator, Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area.
Trainees must attend all three sessions: Saturdays, Feb., 6, 13, and 20
from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm (snow date Feb 27) at the Groton Public Library.
Space is limited, please register at gpl.org/Calendar or call the library at 978-448-8000. 

 

Groton Garden Club is sponsoring its annual Trust Funds' Lecture Fund on
Sunday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at Lawrence Academy (specific venue, there,
TBD).  Dan Conlon will present "The Buzz on Bees."  He is the owner of
Warm Colors Apiary in Deerfield, MA
http://warmcolorsapiary.com/Default.asp
and a director of Massachusetts Eastern Apicultural Society. 
He is knowledgable (make that, passionate)
about all aspects of bees and honey-farming, including current research
about Colony Collapse issues.  What the "garden variety" homeowner and
family (think "citizen science") can do to nurture bees on their own
property will be covered, too.  His talk will dovetail nicely with the
annual "Bee School" series being offered by Al Horton, Dunstable honey
farmer, through Groton Grange (see bee-low for those details).  The public
(all ages) is welcome to this free lecture, and refreshments will be
served.
 

Become a Beekeeper and learn all about keeping Honeybees
Taught by experienced beekeepers, Al Horton and Carl Flowers (members,
Middlesex County Beekeepers Assoc.)

Where:   Groton #7 Grange Hall
               Champney St.
               Groton, Ma.

When: Thursday Evenings 6:30 to 8:00 pm
            2010 February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 8

Cost:  $70.00
           Includes textbook and 2010 membership to Middlesex County
Beekeepers Assoc.

Make check payable to: Groton #7 Grange

Mail To: Al Horton*
              30 Oak St.
              Dunstable, Ma. 01827

*Al and Carl are regulars at the Williams Barn Farmers Market in Groton
with their honey and related products; Carl owns Silveus Christmas Tree
Plantation, too

 You're invited!

Please join us on Saturday, March 6th at 11 AM at the Fowler Middle School in Maynard, MA for the regional meeting.

This is a great opportunity to meet new activists, catch up with old friends, and hear what others are up to and how we might collaborate and share information.

This meeting will take place just before the 2nd annual Maynard and Stow Energy and Sustainability Fair so after the meeting you can peruse the booths, take in a workshop or enjoy the company of your fellow activists. We still have room for more booths so if you or someone you know is interested in having a booth I've attached a reservation form. Please distribute widely.

Best wishes,
Tina Woolston
MaynardCAN!

 

Farm-to-School update

 
The Farm-to-School group confirmed their Breaking New Ground  program
to be Thursday, April, 29 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Groton School.  Panelists
will be Jed Coughlin, food service director at Groton School, Amy Gifford, expert
on school gardens projects and curriculum, Jane Hirschi, educational director of
City Sprouts, the Cambridge-based school garden project, Ann Cody from the state
Farm-to-School Program, and students from Project Sprout, the Great Barrington
high school community garden project recognized to be the first student-initiated,

student-run community garden in the country.

Additionally, the group has been working to complete their logo, and seek involvement
in upcoming events pertaining to agriculture, local gardens, and ways they can inspire and
continue creating change on a local level.

 

Quarterly Meeting Notes

It was a full house at Groton Local’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr.
potluck dinner on January 18.  The contributions of many organizations and
individuals (and of event chairman Tiffany Doggett, especially) made it a
true community celebration.  First Parish Church of Groton provided a
welcoming venue; attendees - delicious food; Groton Community Dinners -
tableware for dining; Jeremy Moisson, high school volunteer – energy and
helping hands.  John Wiesner, Larry Prestia, and Andy Peterson warmed the
wintry night with live music.  The trio also backed up Lauren and Gabby, a
Florence Roche School vocal duet, on two inspirational songs, “What Can
One Little Person Do” and “Oh, Freedom.”  Seven new members joined Groton
Local and five renewed that evening, thanks to friendly faces staffing the
welcome table, with dues going to further the organization’s work
promoting energy conservation, local food and economy, and sustainability
for future generations.

Besides the extraordinary meal, the evening’s highlight was hearing how so
many area organizations -- Groton Local, Groton-Dunstable Education
Foundation, Pages for Peace Project, Town of Groton Sustainabilty
Commission, Florence Roche Garden Project, Groton Community Dinners, and
PAVE (Providing Academic and Vocational Education, at GDRHS) – are
actively serving the town in so many ways: awarding grants, making
donations, providing dinners, working towards a better future and, most
importantly, building community.  Overheard during the dinner, "Groton
Local hosts the BEST potlucks!"  Don't we, though!?

Kids' Corner

By Maya Gonen

Hi, my name is Maya and I am here to talk to you about recycling.
 
Did you know that metal food and drink cans are usually made from aluminum or steel
and that only 60 percent of aluminum drink cans are recycled? Thirty-six billion aluminum
cans not recycled are thrown away into  land fills when it has a scrap value of more than
six hundred million dollars (some day we will have to go digging for those resources we buried). 
One way you can tell if the can is aluminum is if you hold a magnet up to the can, and  it will
slide right off. In France, most stores will just sell you  a drink in a glass bottle.

Guess what? Coffee (that strong drink some of your parents and teachers drink in the morning),
is usually served in Styrofoam containers.  BUT --- Syrofoam is not recyclable.  You can’t make it
into new Styrofoam, and it just winds up in our garbage landfills. So please ask them to use
reusable mugs with caps .

Did you know that  every year we make enough plastic film and shrink wrap to cover Texas! 
and Texas is 268,800 square miles!

With a little effort we can reduce the amount of garbage we produce. If all the glass bottles
and jars in the U.S, alone  were laid end to end,  it  all would reach the moon and back. 
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
Glass never wears out and can be reused over and over and over again. When you throw
batteries away you are making toxic landfill. Instead use rechargable batteries  and a charger
for your electronics. According to the the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans
throw away more than enough paper to build a twelve foot high wall that would stretch from
California to New York.  Next time you spill your milk, use a cloth towel to clean it up and save a tree.

So, what have you done this year to help the environment?
Joined a club or picked up litter?  Recycled your plastic bottles, or
bought an aluminum water bottle?  In Green Team  last year, we picked up over 100 pieces of litter
in a couple of days along the banks of James Brook.One a good way to help the environment is to
put something over your hands and pick up litter. One of my schoolmates who lives on my road
picks up litter on our way home.

So although I may only be a sixth grader, I can make a big difference  I know what I can do today
to help my town and the environment.  What have you done lately?

Groton Local Quarterly Meeting Thanks

It was a full house at Groton Local’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. potluck dinner on January 18.  T
he contributions of many organizations and individuals (especially Tiffany Doggett, event chairman)
made it, truly, a community celebration.  FirstParishChurch of Groton provided a welcoming venue;
attendees - delicious food; Groton Community Dinners - tableware for dining; Jeremy Moisson, high
school volunteer – energetic helping hands. John Wiesner, Larry Prestia, and Andy Peterson warmed
the wintry night with live music.  The trio also backed up Lauren and Gabby, a Florence Roche School
vocal duet, on two inspirational songs, “What Can One Little Person Do” and “Oh, Freedom.”
 
Besides the extraordinary meal, the evening’s highlight was hearing how so many area organizations
-- Groton Local, Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation, Pages for Peace Project, Town of Groton
Sustainabilty Commission, Florence Roche Garden Project, Groton Community Dinners, and PAVE
(Providing Academic and Vocational Education, at GDRHS) – are actively serving the town in so many
ways: awarding grants, making donations, providing dinners, working towards a better future and, most
importantly, building community.
 
Thanks to all!
Tucker Smith, for Groton Local