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According to the Farmers' Almanac February 3rd marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Happy midwinter!

I hope that you are all safe and warm after cleaning up after last week's storm. The snow is a good reminder to help out Friends of Lexington Bikeways with a small donation to keep the bikeway plowed this winter and to help your community by shoveling out fire hydrants in your neighborhood. Lexington Zero Waste also highlights ways to help your community by composting, reducing waste and initiating a reusable container take out service pilot.

This issue can help you prepare for our Town Elections that take place on March 7th and Town Meeting that begins on March 28th. We highlight some notable forums on environmentally related topics to help you keep up to date. Citizens for Lexington Conservation will be coming out with their questions to prospective Town Meeting Members about an upcoming Warrant Article. The League of Women Voters of Lexington is having a forum on the Gas Powered Leaf Blower referendum question (as are others listed below). Keep yourself informed and get involved!

Lexington Living Landscapes is holding a wonderful event for any time of year on light pollution and the importance of darkness at night to all sorts of living things, including us! Don’t miss it.

To learn more about these and other events read on!

In This Issue – February 2022:

  • Learn About the Gas Leaf Blower Phaseout Bylaw, 2/1
  • Gas Powered Leaf Blower Referendum Discussion, 2/4
  • Winter Lexington Farmers' Market, 2/5 and 2/19
  • Homeowner's Guide to Electric Landscaping, 2/10
  • Climate "11th Hour Calling" Gathering, 2/11
  • Bringing Dark Night Skies Back to Lexington, 2/24
  • Gardeners and Climate Change, 2/9
  • Support a Zero Waste Resolution for Lexington
  • Warrant 40 Proposes Limits on New Home Sizes
  • Spring Pedestrian and Bike Safety Fair, 3/26
  • Help Keep Lexington Bikeways Plowed

Quiet Clean Lexington

Quiet Clesan Lexington

Public Forum: Everything You Need to Learn About the Gas Leaf Blower Phase-out Bylaw

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 7:30PM via Zoom
Register to get Zoom link
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A public forum moderated by Jay Kaufman with:
Dan Koretz, Article 10 proponent
Jamie Banks, Founder, Quiet Communities
Archana Dayalu, Environmental Scientist
George Carrette, local landscaper using only electric leaf blowers

League of Women Voters of Lexington

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First Friday Forum: On the Gas Powered Leaf Blowers Referendum Question

Friday, February 4, 2022, 9:30AM via Zoom
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The League of Women Voters of Lexington invite you to join us at our First Friday Forum on February 4th at 9:30AM by Zoom, for a forum on the referendum question limiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

At the annual Town Election on March 7, 2022, the following question will appear on the ballot: “Shall the town vote to approve the action of the representative town meeting whereby it was voted to amend Chapter 80 of the Code of Lexington, limiting the use of outdoor landscape maintenance equipment to specified days and hours and further to impose restrictions and eventual prohibitions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.”

In November 2021, Town Meeting voted to approve bylaw changes to define the hours when landscape maintenance equipment may be operated, establish seasonal limitations on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers (GLBs) until 2025, and prohibit the use of most GLBs by commercial landscaping contractors and the Town beginning in March 2025 and by residents in 2026. A group of voters petitioned to refer this matter to a referendum.

A Yes vote will keep the Town Meeting vote in place. A No vote will overturn the Town Meeting action.

Panelists will include representatives of the “Lexington Citizens for Choice” and the “Quiet Clean Lexington” campaign committees.

This program is the fifth in the 2021-2022 First Friday Forum series hosted by the League of Women Voters to promote awareness and understanding of public policy issues. There will be time for Q&A after the program. For more information about the webinar, assistance using Zoom, or other activities of the League, go to http://www.lwvlexington.org/FirstFriday.html.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization dedicated to the principles of self-government established in the Constitution of the United States. The League works to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. For more information, contact League convener Margaret Coppe at [email protected]. All League forums are free and open to the public.

Lexington Farmers' Market

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The Winter Market Is Back! Come See Us February 5th and 19th

After a year’s hiatus, the Small Yet Mighty Winter Market has returned, back home at the Waldorf School in Lexington! The new season comes with so much good news, including an exciting line-up of vendors featuring your favorites from the regular season. Masks will be required for all those attending the market including vendors and market staff, and capacity limits will be maintained, with a covered spot outdoors for those waiting for entrance.

The LFM will be open biweekly every other Saturday from 11 – 2 pm (February 5 & 19, March 5 & 19, April 2 & 16), and is located at the Waldorf School, 739 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington with free parking available.

The LFM is a producer-only market, ensuring that what you find is fresh and local, sustainably raised and carefully crafted by the farmers and vendors of the LFM. Each week, there will be up to ten farmers and vendors participating, with occasional guest vendors. The LFM accepts SNAP and HIP; the LFM’s SNAP program matches up to $15 weekly and HIP can be used at Farmer Dave’s for fruit and vegetable purchases.

In addition to free parking onsite, the Waldorf School is accessible on MBTA Bus Route 62 and 76. Visit www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org to read more about the Small Yet Mighty Winter Market. For the most up-to-date information, “like” us on Facebook (The Lexington Farmers’ Market) and for fun, follow us on Instagram (@lexingtonfarmersmarket). For questions, email [email protected]/

Check out our website for who will be at the market this season.


Mothers Out Front/Lexington

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Climate Coffee Break with Mothers Out Front:
A Homeowner's Guide to Electric Landscaping

Thursday, February 10, 2022, 12:00-12:30PM Virtual Event: Please REGISTER HERE
What does it take to convert to all-electric landscaping? Join us for a practical look at transitioning away from gas-powered landscaping with George Carrette, founder of EcoQuiet Lawn Care.

George will explain why he went all electric and offer tips on best practices, purchasing electric equipment, and how to offset the potentially higher cost. He’ll also share advice on how to talk to your landscaper about making the switch. And, Representative Michelle Ciccolo will speak about her new bill to help fund the transition for both municipalities and private companies, H.868.

RSVP: https://www.mothersoutfront.org/events/lexington-ma-20220210/

Climate Action Team of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

First Parish Climate

"11th Hour Calling" Bell Ringing and Talk

Friday, February 11, 2022, 11:00AM
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
The Climate Action Team of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Lexington, MA is again answering the 11th Hour Calling, an interfaith movement calling for people of all faiths to call attention to the urgency of climate justice action by gathering together and ringing church bells, striking Buddhist gongs and singing bowls, beating djembe, reciting the 99 names of Allah, singing or reciting sacred scriptures after a prayer/meditation/poetry gathering on the 11th hour of the 11 day of the month, for 11 minutes after a prayer/meditation/poetry gathering.

On Friday February 11th at 11:00 AM, we will be gathering outside the church on the historic Lexington Green, where another revolution began in April 1775. This month will feature a short talk from Fran Ludwig of the Catholic Community.

We plan to continue this action of ringing our church bell each month for freedom from fossil fuel, and cordially invite everyone concerned about the Climate Emergency to participate in person on the 11th.

Lexington Living Landscapes

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It's Nighttime - It's SUPPOSED to Be Dark!

with James Lowenthal
Thursday, February 24, 2022, 7:00PM
Virtual Event: Register here.
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Artificial light at night has become ubiquitous and harms virtually every kind of living creature that's been studied, from insects to migratory birds, mammals, fish, trees, crops, and even coral and plankton. Join us as James Lowenthal, Professor of Astronomy at Smith College, leads us on a multi-faceted virtual tour of the night-time environment and how important natural darkness at night is for all species, including humans -- and how beautiful and magical it is. Learn what we can do to bring back the stars while supporting the health of all ecosystems.
Presented in partnership with Cary Memorial Library. Co-sponsored by the town's Conservation Division. For more information and to register, click here

Lexington Field & Garden Club

Lex Field and Garden

Gardeners and Climate Change


Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 1:00PM
Virtual Event: Register here.
Gardeners and Climate
Hotter summers, warmer winters, stormier storms – Demetra Tseckares, with moderator Ashley Rooney, will describe how gardeners can adapt and survive climate change. Passionate about organic gardening, design, and habitat building. Demetra will help us learn how to design and adapt our gardens to this new world.
To sign up for this Cary Library Series event, register here.

Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative

Support a Zero Waste Resolution for Lexington

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Thanks to those who signed our petition in December, there will be an article in the 2022 Town Warrant for a Zero Waste Resolution (Article 27). LexZeroWaste’s Advocacy Working Group has been busy drafting the actual motion for the resolution to be voted on at the Spring Town Meeting. You can show your support for the Resolution by contacting Town Meeting Members in your precinct and asking them to vote in favor of the Resolution as we get closer to Annual Town Meeting.



LexSORT Community Composting Program Expands Collection Capacity

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Let your friends and neighbors know that if they’re not already composting, there’s more space available in the free LexSORT composting drop-off program.
Registered participants may also choose to receive a complimentary “starter kit” consisting of a kitchen compost collection bin and 5 BPI-certified compostable liner bags. For more details and to register to participate, visit the LexSORT webpage.

Since its launch in September 2021, LexSORT has doubled collection capacity and registered 280+ participants who have diverted over 6.5 tons of food waste from incineration.

We are grateful for generous financial support for LexSORT from the Community Endowment of Lexington, an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.




"ZeroToGo" to Reduce Takeout Waste with Tech-enabled Reusable/Returnable Containers

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We have some good news if you’ve made a resolution to do less takeout to reduce your plastic waste. If you participate in the “ZeroToGo” pilot program, not only will you be supporting two local restaurants, Dabin and Royal India Bistro, but you’ll also be getting your takeout food in stainless steel reusable/returnable containers with silicone tops.
We’re partnering with Boston-based USEFULL to provide a tech-enabled way for us to track containers and measure the environmental impact of this closed-loop reusable takeout system.

All 780+ containers have been ordered. As soon as the containers arrive from overseas, we will announce the pilot registration date first to LexZeroWaste members. Stay tuned!

Citizens for Lexington Conservation

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Look for Town Meeting Candidates' responses to Citizens for Lexington Conservation's Candidates' question about Warrant Article 40, which pertains to proposed changes in the allowable size of new one-and two-family homes dependent upon sustainability features incorporated in the construction.
Candidates' responses will be published in CLC's February newsletter and on its website in mid to late February.

Town of Lexington Transportation Services

Transportation
SAVE THE DATE!

Spring Pedestrian and Bike Safety Fair

Saturday, March 26, 2022, 1:00-4:00PM
Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Rd
$5 entry fee/$20 max per family
REGISTER ONLINE
Celebrate the arrival of SPRING and get ready to walk & bike more and do so safely! We will have free helmets and helmet fittings for youth up to age 16, courtesy of Boston Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Program. We'll also have bike lights and other sources of illumination and reflectivity so you can Be Safe & Seen whether walking or biking.

Meet with local experts from the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee, MassBike, Friends of Lexington Bikeways, Safe Routes to School, Lexington Transportation Services, Lexington Police, and ACROSS Lexington/Lexington Greenway Corridor Committee.

Get lots of great information, safety tips,safety resources, plus popcorn and more!

Advanced registration is required for all attendees so we have enough helmets and gear! $5 per person, capped at $20 per family.

This Fair is open to people of all ages & abilities. Come join our community of local pedestrian and bike enthusiasts!

Friends of Lexington Bikeways

Help FoLB Keep Lexington's Bikeways Plowed This Winter

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Winter is here!

Minuteman Bikeway users have come to count on the bikeway being plowed right after each snowstorm!

Walkers, joggers and bike riders use the bike path throughout the winter, and in Lexington the plowed path is made possible by tax-deductible donations from users and others who love the bikeway.
For information on how you can help, see details at the Friends of Lexington Bikeways website: https://www.bike-lexington.org.

Would you like to submit an environmental event or activity?
Email us at [email protected]

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