Green Fest in The Independent Press
The first Bloomfield Green Fest received a nice preview write-up last week in The Independent Press of Bloomfield. Staff Writer Michael W. Curley, Jr., captured the excitement we had going into the event, and we’re looking forward to seeing this week’s write-up. The article isn’t on their website any longer, but I’ve posted it after the jump.
First-ever Green Fest will join weekend Harvest event
By Michael W. Curley Jr. Staff Writer
In addition to the annual Harvest Fest this weekend, Bloomfield residents can visit Green Fest to learn about what the town has to offer in environmental businesses and organizations.
Green Fest will be held by the Greener Bloomfield organization, and will run concurrently with Harvest Fest, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.. It will be held in the plaza in front of the Bloomfield Public Library, across the street from the Green.
There are expected to be more than 20 exhibits at Green Fest, including local businesses that provide green goods and services, such as a company which does energy efficiency audits for homes, and remodeling with an emphasis on energy efficiency.
Local organizations featured at Green Fest will include the Greener Bloomfield organization, the Brookdale Park Conservancy, and the Friends of Clark’s Pond and Third River, which will be giving out information on their activities. In addition, the library will have a display showcasing its environmental literature.
“For people in our community who are thinking about energy efficiency and our environment, this is a great event to learn more, discover some simple steps they can take, and get involved in their community,” John Palomaki, a member of the Greener Bloomfield organization, said in a press release.
Palomaki said the organization was looking to get people to speak during the day, and that a representative of the United States Green Building Council in New Jersey would be speaking on Saturday about sustainability. Also during Green Fest will be composting demonstrations to show residents how to convert their organic waste into fertilizer.
This is particularly important, Palomaki said, because food products make up the majority of garbage that’s thrown out, and if residents compost, they’ll find the rest of their garbage, if they separate recyclables, will be reduced dramatically. “If everyone composted, it would bring down the costs of waste disposal,” he said, adding that there is a limited amount of space for landfills. At the Green Fest, there will be a sample composting bin. The covered bin allows heat to remain in and helps keep pests away and will be available for residents to order at Green Fest to be picked up at the Department of Public Works later.
On Sunday, Mercedes-Benz will be showcasing its Smart Car, and residents will be able to take the vehicle for a test drive in the library’s parking lot. The car is half the length of a normal car, Palomaki said, and it’s energy efficient. He added the company would soon be coming out with an electric version of the vehicle.
The organization began as a group of residents that wanted to ensure the Bloomfield Center redevelopment used as many energy efficient and environmentally sound methods as possible in its undertaking, and is co- sponsoring Green Fest with the Bloomfield Recycling Committee. The organization is looking to increase its membership, and bring more sustainability practices to the residents of Bloomfield, as well as the businesses and local government.
“Everyone can take simple steps such as recycling, making our homes and businesses more energy efficient, and protecting our parks and waterways,” Nick Joanow, a member of the Bloomfield Recycling Committee, said in the press release, “It’s good for our environment, and it’s good for our budgets.”
This will be the first year that Green Fest will come to Bloomfield, Palomaki said, and it was inspired in part by similar exhibitions in nearby towns, such as Summit, Maplewood and Glen Ridge. Palomaki said Bloomfield’s Green Fest was directly modeled after the one held in Glen Ridge, with Elizabeth Baker, a councilwoman from Glen Ridge, helping to organize it.
“It seems a good time to do it now,” Palomaki said, noting the group’s success in getting green guidelines into the redevelopment plan. Palomaki and the Greener Bloomfield organization also helped in implementing the paperless council meetings, eliminating the paper packets that used to be used in the meetings in favor of new laptops for the council members.
“With energy prices getting higher, and home-heating bills expected to get higher, it’s a good indicator that it’s time to do something like this, and help Bloomfield residents to save money,” Palomaki said, adding he hopes Green Fest becomes an annual event.
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Copyright (c)2008 Worrall Community Newspapers, Inc, Edition 09/18/2008
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