Hilltown Families 
Hilltown Community Celebration for Earth Day
2007 Earth Day Celebration in the Hilltowns
On Sunday, April 22nd, hilltown families are invited to gather at the Community House in Cummington for a day full of fun activities to celebrate Earth Day:
ACTIVITIES & DISPLAYS
- Pedal powered grain mill
- Bike Maintenance and Repair Clinic
- Music and speakers.
- Electric bike demonstration
- Seed and Perennial Exchange
- Children’s activities with Holiday Farm and the CFC
- Local, organic lunch for sale. Bring plates & utensils.
- Lots & loads & heaps of information from area groups and resources.
7:30 a.m.– Bird walk. Beginning at the Berkshire Trail Elementary School in Cummington. Bring binoculars and take a walk with Bob and Holly, two experienced and skilled birders.
8:30 a.m. – Roadside Clean-up. Meet at the Berkshire Trail Elementary School in Cummington. Bring gloves.
10:00 a.m. – Speaker. Eric Weiss from Hilltown Resource Management will speak on “Recycling and Trash Management.”
10:45 a.m. – Music. Eric Walker will grace us with one of his beautiful songs.
11:00 a.m. – Speaker. Chris Kilfoyle from Berkshire Photovoltaics will speak on “Photovoltaic Solar Energy.”
11:45 a.m. – Music. Cummington Family Center. Children’s Chorus.
Noon – Speaker. Jennifer Lee will offer a presentation on “Local Native American Lifestyle, Past and Present.”
12:45 p.m. – Music. Mary Wheelan, a local folk musician, will sing a few original songs for the earth.
1:00 p.m. – Speaker. Lynn Benanard from Co-op Power will speak on “Bio-diesel and Renewable Energy.”
1:30 p.m. – Music. Radio Free Earth performance with musicians Josh and Kim Wachtel.
2:00 p.m. – Speaker. Sal Peabody, will offer an “Introduction to Permaculture.”
2:45 p.m. – Music. Sarah Stockwell Arthen.
3:15 p.m. – Performance. Valerianna Claff will present Sacred Story and Sound.
The Cummington Community House is located at 33 Main Street in Cummington, MA. For more information contact Alice or Amy at the Old Creamery at 413-634-5560, or visit their web site: www.ourworldbydesign.com.
Improving School Environments Through Green Cleaning
As research mounts about the link between indoor air quality and health, and as more children enter school with respiratory problems, schools, districts, and even whole states are switching to more environmentally-friendly cleaning agents.
Source: Education World
Personal Emissions Calculator
“Use this online calculator to obtain an estimate of your personal greenhouse gas emissions or your family’s greenhouse gas emissions. Then move on to the next section of the calculator to explore actions you and/or your family can take to lower your emissions while reducing your energy and waste disposal costs.” Areas covered include transportation, home energy use, and waste and recycling. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (LII)
URL: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
Reduce.org
This site provides suggestions for reducing personal production of waste materials. “When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don’t have to worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later. Changing your habits is the key.” Topics include office paper, composting, purchasing decisions, junk mail, transportation, holiday activities, and more. From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (LII)
URL: http://www.reduce.org
Another great way to do your part on Earth Day is to check out greendimes.com. For 10 cents a day green dimes will stop your junk mail. With the money you give them to do so they will plant trees to replace the billions that have been cut down for junk mail. greendimes.com