environment

In Massachusetts, we encourage our advocates to begin their organizing efforts at an early age.  The fifth grade students at Brickett School in Lynn were concerned about the affects of idling vehicles on people and the environment.  This is a great story about all the steps these students went through to research this issue and the professionals with whom they spoke to see what they could do to make a positive and lasting difference in their community.  [Itemlive.com]

The students, under the direction of their teacher Donna Whalen, took part in Disney's Planet Challenge, a nationwide environmental competition that urges students to develop ways to make a positive impact on their community and the planet.

Student Juliana Beratis told the councilors about their research, while Alexander Patten talked about McGee's role in their project. Students also warned what could happen if the issue of emissions isn't taken seriously, including an increase of greenhouse gases in the environment and possibly increased cases of asthma.

Maintaining clean water - one of the essential things we do through government.  A great example of what we value in government and how we do things better together than we can do by ourselves.

US Representative William R. Keating plans to rally with environmental advocates and residents at Veterans Memorial Park in Hyannis today to maintain funding and regulations for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. [Full Article: The Boston Globe]

Marlborough recommends the tax incentive proposal, amount not stated, for Vestas, the world's largest manufacturer of utility-scale wind turbines.  With this partial property tax exemption comes the promise of jobs and involvement in K-12 STEM education programs.

[Mark] Buschenfeldt said Vestas employs 22,000 employees across 65 countries and five continents and controls about 15 percent of the global wind technology market. He said the Marlborough facility would be used to research, develop and test generators used in Vestas turbines.  ..."Vestas is truly a global company," he said. "This is the future and I'm really pleased to have a headquarters here in Marlborough."  [Full Article: Wicked Local Hudson]

Hearings were held to consider broadening the kinds of beverages that have a deposit attached upon sale, and increasing the deposit by 5 cents.

Consumer and environmental groups said nearly 200 cities and towns have passed resolutions supporting expansion of the state’s bottle bill...and about 80 legislators are co-sponsors of such legislation. In a recent MassINC poll, 77 percent of the respondents favored wider use of bottle deposits, supporters of the proposal said. ...“I think there’s big momentum,” said Janet Domenitz, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, or MassPIRG. [Full Article: The MetroWest Daily News]

Budget cuts have forced many state parks and recreation programs to scale back or find creative ways to maintain services, even as cash-strapped families seek cheap ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer… Since 2009, Massachusetts has closed at least seven state parks and swimming areas, which may face further cuts in next year’s budget… But local town leaders said the parks and their programs remain important, offering residents affordable recreation, protecting the environment and open space, and adding economic value to a town or city. [Full Article: GateHouse News Service]

Investment in public structures - in this situation, public transportation - leads to sustainable, healthier communities and increased opportunities for jobs.  This is a great example of good government at work for the Commonwealth.

“Investing in our roads, bridges, and rail infrastructure provides communities with improved transportation that links commuters to businesses and neighborhoods and supports job creation and economic growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “This is a smart investment that will pay off for decades to come,” Governor Patrick.  [Full Article: Breaking Travel News]

Walking down my own block in Allston Sunday afternoon, I came upon discarded TVs, destroyed furniture, and broken beer bottles. I have seen many parts of Allston treated more as a temporary staging or dumping zone than as a neighborhood. That is why I was so happy to see this article on the newsstand at my local convenience store:

[Roughly a dozen volunteers] met with the Allston-Brighton North Neighbors’ Forum on Aug. 2 and 3 to plant trees and bushes along Everett Street between Lincoln and Adamson streets...

“This is a site that’s been pretty neglected,” said Mattison. “There are these sort of bands, these slivers and patches, of the neighborhood that have gone neglected for too long, and [it’s] too east to forget they are there.”

Check out the Globe story When towns talk trash, earth, taxpayers benefit.

It's the exception rather than the rule that public officials can save money and help the environment, too, but initiatives by several area communities acting together on solid waste service might do just that.