Mar
23
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Monday, 23 March 2009 |
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If you're used to visiting NNN and finding fresh posts every day, you might have noticed that it's been slow lately. We're working on a new design and we're also working to find a new partner to help with promotion and growing the site, and for now that's taking up all of our available NNN time! Our Community Calendar is still fresh every day, thanks to slews of contributors and Sue Korte's organizing skills. And soon we'll be re-launching with new features. So keep NNN in mind, we'll be back soon....! -- Mary Grady, NNN editor
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Feb
26
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Thursday, 26 February 2009 |
by Sue Korte
There's still room on Save the Bay's Seal Watch Tours this Saturday and Sunday. Bundle up -- it's cold out there on the water, but bracing! Go to the What Grows On In RI Calendar for details on those trips, and all of these events:
EARLY REGISTRATION for the Land & Water Conservation Summit ends on Friday Feb 27. If you haven't seen the list of nearly three dozen workshop offerings, check it out. Anyone who cares about Rhode Island's rivers, streams, and open spaces will find plenty of interest.
GARDEN LOVERS need to check through the Calendar for March and April, because some upcoming events require registration and advance planning. UConn offers a wonderful Home Garden Conference on March 13, and the URI Master Gardeners have scheduled The Spring 2009 Master Composter & Recycler Training Program, April 1-29, and the Spring Gardening School, April 6 through May 11. These things fill up, so check them out! Search the Calendar by CATEGORY=Garden.
TEACHERS take note! Several workshops for science educators are on tap, organized by Audubon, the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed Association, The Children's Garden Network, and RI Environmental Education Association (RIEEA). Go to What Grows On in RI and limit "INTENDED AUDIENCE" to Teachers. There are a few other things in there that might interest teachers, such as the RIEEA board meetings, which are open to Rhode Islanders who want to assure that No Child is Left Inside. Topics include building school gardens and using GPS in school projects.
A GREEN AUCTION is planned by RI PBS this year. Beginning March 1, the Calendar gives info about green donations they'd like.
Events are added to the Calendar every day. Take your pick of things of to do, and have a great time in the great outdoors!
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Feb
17
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009 |
 The House Environment Committee at the State House has just posted a hearing for Wednesday of next week, February 25, and our local eco-advocates are asking everyone to turn out for this if you can, or at least send an email to your local reps to let them know where you stand.
The hearing will include, among other issues, the incinerator ban bill. "It would be a big help to have a good turnout for this hearing to demonstrate that Rhode Islanders still don't want trash incineration," says Sheila Dormody, of Clean Water Action.
Some background from Sheila:
Clean Water Action strongly supports this bill because it would extend the current definition of an "incinerator" in RI law to clarify that the definition includes new incineration technologies that are about to come into the market that are being promoted as new sources of energy. So far, these new technologies are just as polluting as the traditional incinerators, which Rhode Island has banned for decades.
One of the major concerns that we have about these types of plants is that they release the exact same types of toxins into our communities as old-style incinerators do. The same amount of lead and mercury, which cause developmental problems; the same amount of small particulates that cause lung disease; and the same amount of dioxins that cause cancer will result from the incineration of trash, even with these new technologies. These are the very concerns that we had in the 1990s about bringing incinerators into our communities.
Also, building incinerators reduces the incentive for the state to promote recycling because the incinerators require a steady stream for fuel. This could put Rhode Island in the situation of seeking to bring in out-of-state trash, and bearing the brunt of the resulting pollution. Municipal waste incinerators have been very poor energy generators because the damp municipal trash takes almost as much energy to burn as it can generate.
For more details about the hearing, click on "More..."
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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 What will the new federal Stimulus Package do to help support green jobs and the growth of a green energy infrastructure right here in RI? We have all the details on this breaking news story, thanks to Chris Kearns, at Environment RI, and the staff of US Rep. Jim Langevin. Congressman Langevin has taken a lead role in advocating for green initiatives in the House, as a co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
Click on "More..." to get all the details. To learn more, including exactly how this will all trickle down to impact our local RI environment, be sure to attend the roundtable discussion about the package, coming up at Save The Bay on March 5. Click here for details about that event, which is free and open to all.
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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This via Annie Costner at Clean Water Action RI: The Providence City Council will present an ordinance this Thursday, February 19th, that would drastically reduce the amount of diesel pollution from public-works projects in the city. This is a truly forward-thinking ordinance that only exists in a handful of cities around the country. We need to demonstrate broad public support for the ordinance to pass! You all can help. Providence County is still in the worst 6% of the country for health risks due to diesel pollution, but we can change that!
We need 3 things:
1) Come to the meeting on the 19th, at Providence City Hall, 7PM.
 2) Write or call your Councilman to tell them local projects paid for with government money should be cleaner and not contribute to a major public health risk. If you live in Prov and don't know who represents you, Click here! If you know what Ward you are in, click on "More..." for a list of email addresses. 3) Make your voice heard in the local paper. Write a Letter to the Editor saying why you support legislation on any level that could protect the health of Rhode Islanders. Click on "More...." for helpful details and links.
Call CWA for more info, or to let them know you're coming to the meeting! (401) 331-6972.
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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It's school vacation week, and the sun is shining -- so far, at least -- and if you want to get those kids outdoors and active, there are lots of otpions.  Audubon of RI has special programs every day this week at the Ed Center in Bristol. For info, call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email
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The Roger Williams Park Botanical Center has special programs on Monday and Tuesday, but it's open all week. If the weather gets too chilly, here is a good option to be close to nature while staying dry and warm! The RWP Zoo also has special programs all week, find out more at their Web site, admission is half price all month long. Other ways to get outside -- try winter hiking at any of our state parks or wildlife refuges (note it's still hunting season though and some parks require orange vests). If it's not too windy, visit our beaches and explore RI's coastline. Outdoor skating rinks are open in downtown Prov and Newport. Save The Bay offers seal-watching boat trips from Newport, plus special harbor cruises, and their Exploration Center at First Beach is open all week. Yawgoo Valley has downhill skiing and tubing, always call ahead for current conditions and updates. And RI Families in Nature organizes monthly hikes. Check our awesome NNN Community Calendar for more events, for the whole family, every day, with tons of stuff for School Vacation Week. So, no excuses -- get outside!
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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 With the economic stimulus package now in play, there is likely to be (we hope!) increasing attention on building the green infrastructure of the future. And luckily, here in RI we have a head start on this with the growth of our local RI Green Building Council.
This group launched about a year or so ago, and under the dogged leadership of Connie McGreavy, has grown fast. The monthly networking meetings at New England Tech draw hundreds of folks from the building trades, designers, architects, enviros, students, local building officials, and more. They offer classes in LEED standards and implementation. Coming up Feb 26, a seminar at Bryant U will examine the latest in green building practices for homes, with a panel of experts. Check out their Web site for all the events and updates.
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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You have probably heard about the awesome Wintertime Farmers Market, held every Saturday in Pawtucket, just over the Prov line. Before you know it, it will be spring, and we'll have dozens of farms stands and markets all around the state to buy from. Meanwhile, here are some local food blogs you can peruse, this list came to us via the folks at Narragansett Creamery, our local cheesemakers:  * RI 100 Mile: Follow crafty cooks (and food system thinkers) Josh and Ingrid as they source ingredients from within 100 miles of Providence
* Last Night's Dinner: Relish delicious food photos and take in inspiring meal ideas from farmers' market regulars Jennifer and Mike
* Little Compton Mornings: Be tantalized and inspired by Jane as she cooks her way through local farms and pantries
* Dairy of a Localvore: Enjoy stories, recipes and fantastic photos from Elspeth in the Cape.
* The Providential Gardener: Stay in the loop with calendar listings of all local, sustainable + foodie events.
And of course, always check in with Natural News, local food news is always part of our mix!
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
 College students looking for a productive and fun way to spend their spring break might want to check out a special program offered on Prudence Island. The Research Reserve based there offers students a chance to stay on the Island and assist with valueable land conservation projects. Think globally and act locally this spring break! For more information, click here or contact Robin Weber at
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Feb
16
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Monday, 16 February 2009 |
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 After all those short, gray, snowy days we had in January, it's wonderful to see the sun again, and February is a great time to get outdoors and check out our local Rhode Island harbor seals. These winter visitors have been growing in numbers, and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and see them up close.
This Saturday, Feb. 21, the Sierra Club leads a hike out to Rome Point, near Wickford, to spot the seals from shore. Click here for info. Save The Bay is offering seal-watching trips all winter long from their base in Newport, at Bowen's Wharf. They'll take you out to a rocky area near Rose Island and the Newport Bridge where playful seals are reliably spotted. Click here for all the info. Audubon of RI offers all-day tours of Prudence Island that include a visit to one of the best haul-out spots in the Bay. Click on "More..." for more details and contact info.
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