Green News & Events, Week of June 27 – July 03, 2011
by Dan Rudt
Chesapeake Region Now Has an Online Searchable Native Plant Database – Sarah Morse of the Little Falls Watershed Alliance, writing about the new plant database, points out that, “Replacing portions of lawn areas and typical landscapes with native plants that suit local conditions reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizers and pesticides which wash into our streams, rivers and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.” The new plant database, developed jointly by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Image Matters LLC, will assist area property owners and landscapers in identifying plants that will thrive locally without those pesticides and fertilizers.
An Environmental “First” for Maryland Public Schools – The Maryland State Board of Education voted last week to add a new high school graduation requirement in environmental literacy for all Maryland public school students. Maryland will be the first state in the nation to enact such a requirement. According to My Green Guide Maryland, “public schools will be required to infuse core subjects with lessons about conservation, smart growth and the health of our natural world. Local school systems will have flexibility in how these programs take shape in each county, but all will align with standards set by the State.” The No Child Left Inside Coalition, closely aligned with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the state government’s Partnership for Children in Nature, all worked to make the new requirement a reality.
A New Tourist Attraction in Atlantic City: Wind Turbines – Jacqueline L. Urgo of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “Some casino hotel guests are so fascinated that they ask for rooms with a view of the five delicate fans…” There is so much interest in the 385 foot turbines that the Atlantic County Utilities Authority will offer twice-weekly tours of the facility during June, July and August. The turbines, along with a solar array, provide 65% of the electricity needed to power a wastewater treatment facility located on a coastal salt marsh. The facility treats 40 million gallons of wastewater a day. More information and a contact telephone are available at the Jersey Shore Guide.
Founder of Bkind Vending Profiled in Bethesda Magazine – The photo of Jason Schwartz is that of a man who takes his business seriously. He’s walking around Bethesda in a bee outfit and a wicker basket, presumably full of healthy snacks. Jason founded Bkind Vending last year to distribute a line of snacks he would be happy to buy for his own kids. Bkind is part of the Bethesda Green Business Incubator, which provides support to green, socially responsible companies. Read about Schwartz and Bkind on pages 46-47 of the July/August Bethesda Magazine.
Upcoming Green Events
Green Night at Big Train Baseball Wednesday, June 29, 6:30 pm. Treat yourself to an evening of fun, friends and green information. Game time is 7:30 at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Park, but come early and meet Bethesda Green staff and supporters, as well as Dartmouth College’s amazing Big Green Bus and our friends from Honest Tea.
BG 101 Thursday, June 30, 4 – 5:30 pm. Bethesda Green’s monthly orientation session. Learn about Bethesda Green history, programs, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Greening Condos Series, Session 5 Wednesday, July 6, 7 – 8:30 pm. The topic of this free Bethesda Green and ecobeco educational session for condo owners and residents, condo boards and property managers, is Eco-Friendly Exteriors – Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, Green Roofs, and eco-Landscaping. Seating is limited. More information and RSVP here.
Clean Water Innovations Trade Show Wednesday, July 13, 10 am – 3 pm. The Maryland Department of the Environment is hosting the 1st Annual Maryland Clean Water Innovations Trade show in Baltimore. This free event will provide a forum for professionals and stakeholders from around the State to display innovative storm water management and water quality management techniques, exchange information, and promote the protection of Maryland’s resources. Please R.S.V.P. by June 28.
Mid-Atlantic SPROG July 31-Aug 7. The Sierra Club Student Coalition annual summer training program for student environmental leaders is accepting applications. High school and college students will spend the week at the Hard Bargain Farm in Accokeek, Maryland, learning to organize and manage environmental campaigns. They will also meet like-minded students from around the mid-Atlantic area and most likely have a great deal of fun.
Just in time for Bike to Work Day, downtown Bethesda is moving to increase its bike parking spots by 50 percent. With the support of Honest Tea, Federal Realty Investment Trust and The Coca-Cola Company, Bethesda Green and Bethesda Urban Partnership are planning to unveil the first two of 10 new bike racks to be installed in the commercial district.
moment to chat at a recent 
