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There is nothing like May in Lexington. All our favorite organizations are active with offerings indoors and out, all over town, and in the town center. Walks, lectures, special events, local food, zero waste pilot projects, we have it all.
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The first event we profile, Earth Day in May, includes many of our Green Network organizations plus homeowners, and stores in town. Read on and learn about the event and read to the end of the newsletter to learn about all the other exciting things happening in May, capped by the return of the Farmers' Market May 31st.
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Spring has sprung, let’s get out and enjoy it!
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In This Issue – May 2022:
- "Earth Day in May" Event, Activities, 5/14
- LexFarm's Farm Stand Reopens May 6th
- "Walk/Bike to School" (5/4), "Bike to Work" (5/20) Events
- May Zero Waste Events: Arts and ZeroToGo Pilot
- Citizens for Lexington Conservation May Walks
- "Kill Your Lawn!" Presentation, 5/11
- "No Mow May" Challenge
- "Emergency Preparedness" Presentation, 5/6
- "Mental Health in Nature" (5/2), "Archeology & the Environment" (5/10)
- "11th Hour Calling" Event, 5/11
- Lex Field & Garden Club Plant Sale, 5/21
- Lex Farmers' Market Opening May 31st
- Diamond Places 2nd in National Recycling Competition
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Celebrate “Earth Day in May”! May 14th at the Lexington Visitors' Center (11:00AM-3:00PM) and All Around Town (10:00AM-5:00PM)
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...and introducing Energize Lexington, a website to guide homeowners to take action on climate change and biodiversity loss with steps to take, testimonials, and deep dive when needed.
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"Earth Day in May" will feature a central Earth Day Hub, at the Lexington Visitors' Center, from 11am-3pm, and open houses All Around Town at the homeowners' selected times between 10am-5pm.
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- "THE HUB" - located at the Lexington Visitors' Center - will feature Revision Energy’s Tiny Climate Classroom with examples of solar, battery storage, and heat pumps. There will be displays by Black Earth Composting,
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Lexington Farmers' Market, the Charles River Watershed Association, tips on reducing household waste, and kids' activities like face painting and book readings. The Town of Lexington will have representatives to update you on its sustainability efforts, aggregation of electricity, greener transportation and much more. To see an updated list of participants, click here.
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- "ALL AROUND TOWN” EVENTS feature open houses, stores and organizations focusing on sustainability throughout the day from 10-5. See what sustainable actions your neighbors are sharing with the community: solar, electric vehicles, battery storage, heat pumps, native gardening, induction cooktops and green construction.
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Visit them to learn more! Explore all that is being offered by visiting our interactive map. Click on each icon to see what is being displayed and where to find it. A few exciting stops stand out. Take a tour of LexFarm and learn all about local regenerative farming, visit the newly refurbished farm stand and say hello to the neighbor’s sheep and goats and chickens. On the way back to Lexington Center meet up with Lexington Living Landscapes on the Minuteman Bike Path to learn about efforts to reduce invasive knotweed and create a pollinator meadow full of native flowing plants. Check out two local businesses, Maxima Book Store and the newly opened Center Goods (a less waste environmentally conscious store in the heart of Lexington center). Also be sure to visit Cary Library and look for their collection of books on climate and the environment, an induction cooktop, a kill a watt meter and more. Our Library is a true treasure, a study in shared use that benefits the whole community.
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We look forward to seeing you at Earth Day in May, “All Around Town” and at “The Hub” in Lexington Center.
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Farm Stand Reopens on May 6th
We are open on Fridays and Saturdays during May.
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We will resume our Wednesday-Saturday schedule in June.
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Help Eradicate Invasive Garlic Mustard Plants at LexFarm
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Over the next several weeks, we are hosting crews to pull up this tenacious invasive species along the farm perimeter. This project is suitable for all ages, including high school students seeking community service hours and families with elementary school-aged children. Bring water, sun protection and work gloves (stinging nettles!).
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May 4th is National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
All are encouraged to walk/bike/scoot to school that day, and if people are seeking ways to connect with others at their school who are participating, they can reach out to us or use an interest form which can be found on our Safe Routes page.
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We have at least two official “Bike Trains” happening on May 4th! One will be heading to Hastings and the other to Diamond.
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Breakfast on the Bikeway
Friday, May 20, 2022, 6:30-9:30AM
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On the Bikeway Behind The Depot (Lexington Historical Society, 13 Depot Sq)
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Join us to celebrate National Bike to Work Day! Whether your commute takes you to/from Boston or maybe to/from your bed to a desk in your home, we welcome you to join us for a Breakfast on the Bikeway to celebrate active transportation and our glorious Minuteman Bikeway!
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Coffee, breakfast goodies, free bike maintenance checks, and more!
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Brought to you by the Friends of Lexington Bikeways and Lexington Transportation Services.
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For a listing of all the Bike and Walk activities in May, and there are a lot, go to our website!
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Zero Waste Resolution Adopted by Town Meeting
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Thanks to tremendous public support, on April 6, 2022 Lexington Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly (170 in favor, 4 against, and 8 abstaining) to adopt Article 27, a Zero Waste Resolution for Lexington. The resolution called for the Town of Lexington to (1) adopt Zero Waste Principles and (2) develop a Zero Waste plan as soon as possible.
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Co-chairs Hien Nguyen and Janet Kern would like to recognize and thank Advocacy Working Group members Mary Rose Scozzafava and Tina McBride for all their time and hard work supporting this effort.
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We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Town of Lexington to model zero waste practices and encourage the development of a zero waste plan per the resolution. If you are interested in joining in the continuing work of the Advocacy Group, please contact Hien or Janet.
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We invite students in grades K-12 to create an original piece of art from items that would normally be thrown away. Potential materials include items like candy or snack food wrappers, plastic straws, styrofoam, used milk/juice cartons, pet food bags, plastics that can't be recycled curbside (black plastics and #s 3, 6, and 7 plastics), etc.
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All entrants are encouraged to be creative and use as many non-recyclable, non-compostable waste items as possible!
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Extended Submission Deadline: 5pm, Thursday, May 12th
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For more information, click here.
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Earth Day Sculpture with the Munroe Center for the Arts
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As part of Earth Day awareness, we are asking community members to collect their black plastic waste -e.g. take-out containers, utensils, seedling and plant pots - and add them
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to the sculpture in front of the Munroe Center for the Arts between April 22nd – May 14th.
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The goal of this sculpture is to raise awareness and give an eye to the amount of non-recyclable black plastics currently used in our community.
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One sustainable solution to the problem of single-use black plastics is reuse. Read about our ZeroToGo reusable takeout pilot program below.
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Coming Soon: "ZeroToGo" Reusable Takeout Pilot Program
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After months of planning, we’re excited to announce the launch of our ZeroToGo reusable/returnable takeout pilot program with Royal India Bistro and Dabin in the coming weeks. All 780+ stainless steel containers with silicone lids have arrived and are ready to be tracked with the USEFULL app.
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Participation in this program is limited to 120 LexZeroWaste members who will be eligible to register for one of three four-week sessions. If you’re not yet a member and would like to participate in this ZeroToGo pilot program, please consider becoming a member.
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We will email LexZeroWaste members shortly to announce the date when registration will open; participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
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CLC SPRING 2022 WALKS
Birding Lower Vine Brook
Saturday, May 7, 2022, 8:00-10:00AM
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Lower Vine Brook can be a fantastic area to see a nice selection of warblers, beautiful small tropical birds that migrate north at this time of year. They will eventually reach the forests of northern New England and Canada to breed, but if weather and foliage are right, you may see a dozen species here in a single morning. Dress for the weather (boots if it’s wet) and bring binoculars and a bird ID book, or app. Children with adults are welcome. No dogs please. Rain or lightning will cancel the event; if conditions are uncertain, please call the walk leader. Meet at the entrance to Lower Vine Brook conservation area opposite 93 Vine St.
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Birding Paint Mine
Sunday, May 8, 2022, 7:00-9:00AM
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The Paint Mine conservation area between Grove St. and Turning Mill Rd. is comprised of nearly 50 acres and contains a variety of habitat types including forested land and boggy ponds, along with disturbed open land under power lines. This edge area can be a reliable stopping place for spring migrants, including the possibility of prairie warblers. Please join us in looking for warblers and other migrating and nesting birds.
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Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk along some moderately steep trails. Bring binoculars and a bird ID app if you have one. Heavy rain or lightning will cancel. Meet in the parking lot of Estabrook School, 117 Grove St.
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Spring 2022 Lexpress Walk Series #1
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 9:30AM-12:00PM
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Learn how to use Lexpress to expand Lexington’s walking opportunities. This 3+ mile/2.5 hour walk will traverse parts of 4 Lexington Conservation areas including Turning Mill, Willards Woods, Chiesa Farm and Parker Meadow. We will board the 9:30 am Lexpress bus at the Depot in Lexington Center, and return to this location at the end of our walk. Steady rain cancels. Registration is required – Lexington Community Center, 781-698-4840.
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Mindful Walk and Sit, Hayden Woods
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 9:00-10:30AM
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This walk combines a mindful meander with a meditative sit-spot in Hayden Woods. Hayden Woods are an interesting mix of dry and wet woodlands, including a vernal pool. A series of sensory activities along the way will cultivate a level of enhanced awareness and bring a sense of calm. The loop will end with a 10-to-15-minute silent seated meditation in the Valleyfield Play area. Wear comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather along with sturdy footwear. Foam blocks will be provided for sitting. More than light rain will cancel. Limit 12; registration is required. Email walk leader to register and to confirm meeting spot.
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ACROSS Lexington Route N Walk
Sunday, May 15, 2022, 2:00-4:00PM
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Explore Route N, the newest addition to the ACROSS Lexington Trail System. This three plus mile route connects Chiesa Farm with Willards Woods and Turning Mill Pond. The walk will include easy unpaved trails as well as paved streets and sidewalks. Some trails may be wet, so wear appropriate shoes. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the Diamond Middle School parking area off Hancock St.
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Wild Edibles of Lexington's Waysides
Monday, May 16, 2022, 6:00-8:00PM
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CLC is pleased to have Russ Cohen return for another walk to teach us about wild edible plants! Lexington is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, both native and non-native, including plants considered to be weedy or invasive. Some are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, on a two-hour ramble in and around Lincoln Park to learn about at least eighteen edible species. Russ will present information on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk on Worthen Road across from the Lexington High playing fields.
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Spring 2022 Lexpress Walk Series #2
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 9:30-11:30AM
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This week’s 2.5 mile/2-hour walk will wend its way along the Arlington Reservoir, and through Arlington’s Great Meadows, and Tower Park before ending at the Community Center. Meet your guide, Keith Ohmart, at the Community Center in time to catch the 9:36 am C Lexpress bus, or board in the Center at 9:30 am or along the route. Steady rain cancels. Registration is required. Call the Community Center at 781-698-4840.
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Peak Migration Birding at Dunback Meadow
Saturday, May 21, 2022, 7:00-9:00AM
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The Dunback Meadow property is Lexington’s largest town-owned piece of conservation land. With multiple habitat types, the trails provide the opportunity to look for a variety of migrants and breeding birds: warblers, flycatchers and many more. Meet at the Allen St. entrance opposite Pitcairn Place. Rain will cancel. Co-sponsored with the Menotomy Bird Club.
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Natural History at Paint Mine
Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:30-3:00PM
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The Paint Mine Conservation area is comprised of nearly 50 acres and includes a natural ochre deposit that provided pigment for paint in the 19th century. Explore this and other historic remnants along trails that weave through open areas and woods, where there are interesting former muskrat ponds. Join us in a quest for the orchid-like fringed polygala and other spring wildflowers. Heavy rain or lightning will cancel the walk. Meet in the parking lot of Estabrook School, 117 Grove St.
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Goat Open House at Chiesa Farm
Saturday, May 28, 2022, 12:00-2:00PM (Rain Date: Sunday, May 29, 2022, 12:00-2:00PM)
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Come and join the local Lexington goats for their daily pasture walk through the fields and woodlands at Chiesa Farm. Each season the land provides them with diverse plant life. The goats are very specific as to what they need to eat depending on many factors. We will have 2 Lexington herds, totaling twelve female dairy goats. Learn how the goats in town are working to keep invasive plants in check. All adults and children are welcome. No dogs please. Park at Diamond Middle School using the Hathaway/Sedge Road entrance. Follow the signed trail entrance and meet us in the pasture. Note rain date.
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Kill Your Lawn!
a presentation by Dan Jaffe Wilder, Director of Applied Ecology, Norcross Wildlife Foundation
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Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 7:00 - 8:30PM
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Virtual Event: Register here.
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Every house in America should be fronted with a non-native monoculture with the maintenance requirements of a golf course and the ecological value of a strip mine; a place where all flowers are called weeds and signs essentially saying “keep off” are the norm.
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Does that idea seem a bit odd to you? It’s time to take a second look at this idea we call lawn.
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Join Dan Jaffe Wilder, co-author of Native Plants for New England Gardens and Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation, to learn about the various options available to us, from whole lawn replacement to strategies for managing existing lawn in more ecologically beneficial ways. From well-known plants to brand new introductions, we will discuss various options that fit the needs of various lawn spaces.
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Dan Jaffe Wilder is an ecologist, horticulturist, and botanist with over fifteen years of experience working with native plants and their associated ecology. His work has ranged from classrooms to nurseries to botanical gardens to wildlife refuges, specializing in native plant ecology, propagation, wildlife habitat construction, and native edible landscapes. Dan is currently the Director of Applied Ecology for the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, whose mission is to protect, enhance, and expand wildlife through conservation, education, and support.
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Join us for a fascinating evening. Hosted in partnership with Cary Memorial Library. Co-sponsored by the Lexington Conservation Division.
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Gardeners around the country are accepting the challenge of leaving all or a portion of their lawns unmown for the month of May. The movement began in the United Kingdom, but is rapidly spreading in the U.S. (just Google it!).
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What happens when you don't mow in May? Non-grass plants in your lawn like clover, violets, and dandelions have a chance to flower, providing early season food for bees and other pollinators emerging from winter hibernation.
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Researchers in Appleton Wisconsin, which embraced No Mow May as a city, found that participating yards had three times the number of bee species and five times the number of bees as regularly mown nearby parks.
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You don’t have to leave your entire yard unmown; just try a patch. Maybe an area in the back yard rather than the front, or just a portion where the kids don’t play. Try a patch with “weeds” that might flower, rather than a section that’s uniformly turf grass. Look on it as an experiment; it might inspire you to do more next year, or to think about ditching that part of your lawn in favor of native groundcovers or a perennial meadow.
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Please join us: tell us about your participation by filling out our Google form. We will add a dot on a Lexington map (without identifying information) to show your participation. Let's fill the map!
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Read more about No Mow May on the Lexington Living Landscapes website.
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First Friday Forum: Emergency Preparedness in Times of Climate Change
The League of Women Voters of Lexington invites you to join us at our First Friday on May 6, 2022, at 9:30AM by Zoom. The topic is an update on Emergency Preparedness in Lexington in Times of Climate Change with Fire Chief Derek Sencabaugh and IT Director Dorinda Goodman.
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More severe weather over the past years has resulted in damage to persons and property that has not been seen in the past. Now more than ever we need an up-to-date emergency warning system in place. For this, increasing reliance on digital communication requires the town to keep ahead of the technology changes needed to maintain emergency alerts to both first responders and to citizens.
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Chief Derek Sencabaugh has been on the Lexington Fire Department since 1995 and was appointed Fire Chief in 2019. The Fire Department’s mission is to protect the lives and property of the community from emergencies involving fire, medical issues, hazardous materials and environmental causes.
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This is achieved through public information and education, fire code management and emergency response.
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Dorinda Goodman is the Director of IT for the Town of Lexington, MA. In this capacity, she manages Municipal technology, cybersecurity and operations and oversees core Town wide applications and services such as the Town financial systems, document management systems and core network infrastructure.
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This program is the eighth 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. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82049379099
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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.
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Dr. Kathleen Wolf Discusses the Mental Health Benefits of Being in Nature
Monday, May 2, 2022, 7:00-8:00PM Virtual event - Register Here
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We're kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) with this fascinating and important conversation. Metro nature - including trees, parks, gardens, and natural areas - enhance quality of life in cities and towns. The experience of nature improves human health and well-being in many ways. Nearly 40 years of scientific studies tell us how. Join Dr. Kathleen Wolf, a research social scientist out of the University of Washington, as we discuss the mental health benefits we might experience if we spend more time in our green spaces.
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About Dr. Wolf: As a social scientist she investigates people's perceptions and behaviors with regard to urban landscapes. Based on professional experiences early in Dr. Wolf's career - as an urban forester in South Florida and a landscape architect in the Midwest - Dr. Wolf became interested in the interactions between human and ecological systems. Dr. Wolf's work is based on the principles of environmental psychology, and studies explore the human dimensions of open space, urban forestry and natural systems:
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- Nearby nature and human health benefits
- Public preferences and perceptions regarding urban public landscapes
- Developmental benefits associated with youth participation in urban greening work
This program is in partnership with Ashland Public Library.
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How Archeology Helps Us Understand Modern Environmental Challenges
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 7:00-8:00PM Large Meeting Rm - Cary Memorial Library (1874 Mass Ave, Lexington)
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Join us as Josh Robinson, a lecturer at Boston University, leads us on a talk about how archaeology has influenced and informed our modern approach to climate change.
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Human activity over the last 200 years has unquestionably altered our ecosystems and climates, but how do we frame modern environmental challenges in the context of a long human history? Indigenous populations around the world have been altering their habitats through hunting and fishing for thousands of years, shaping their terrestrial and marine landscapes.
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Sometimes in ways that we may consider sustainable, and sometimes not. Studying the artifacts and remains from archaeological sites provides a unique perspective on our modern environmental challenges. Extending our understanding of how humans have utilized their surroundings deeper into the past helps us determine more effectively what actions may need to be taken and which policies to implement as we struggle with collapsing fisheries, global wildfires, and other results of human caused climate change here in the 21st century.
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Josh Robinson is an archaeologist with research interests in the paleoecological context of Plio-Pleistocene biological and behavioral adaptations of the human lineage. His primary research is focused on understanding the Middle to the Later Stone Age transition in sub-Saharan Africa through the reconstruction of social and exchange networks. The Middle and Later Stone Ages are a critical period of human evolution where various populations of Homo sapiens, as well as other transitional or archaic hominins, likely exchanged genes, ideas, and technology. Robinson has conducted fieldwork and museum research across eastern and southern Africa, including in Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, and South Africa.
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This program is made possible by the generous donors to the Cary Library Foundation.
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"11th Hour Calling" Bell Ringing and Talk
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 11:00AM First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
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The Climate Action Team of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Lexington 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.
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We invite you to join us on Wednesday, May 11th at 11 am in front of First Parish Church on the Green in Lexington. After we ring out an 11th hour climate emergency warning we will feature music by First Parish singers, another inspiring poem, and brief comments by Mark Fortin outlining how we lavishly support fossil fuels far beyond paying at the pump.
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Lexington Field & Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday, May 21, 2022, 7:30AM-12:00PM Location: Lexington DPW (201 Bedford St., Lexington)
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Perennials are the foundation of most gardens, and that is what the Lexington Field & Garden Club sells at its May 21st plant sale at the Lexington DPW (201 Bedford St).
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Members divide their perennials that have grown reliably and abundantly in their gardens, and they are transplanted by skilled potters for this sale. Here, you will find perennials from A to Z, dahlias and cannas leafed out and ready to bloom by July, used tools and sculptures, and a tool sharpener.
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The only problem is that the sale begins at 7: 30AM and ends at noon! So put on your alarm that morning. :-)
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Opening Tuesday, May 31st, 2:00-6:30PM! Worthen Road Practice Field (near the LHS Field House)
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Mark it on your calendars: Opening Day for the Lexington Farmers' Market 18th season is Tuesday, May 31! Starting up right after Memorial Day weekend, the LFM will be returning to the Worthen Road Practice Field for the second year with more great farmers and specialty food producers. This year, the LFM is looking forward to welcoming Farmer Dave's from Dracut; while new to the summer market, Farmer Dave's has attended the winter market for three years with their broad variety of produce and items baked and crafted from produce grown on the farm.
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Also new this year to the market will be prepared Mexican food, a food truck serving hummus and tabouli bowls, West African ginger drinks, cold brew and lemonade, Western Indian vegetarian food, seasonal jams, donuts and even knife sharpening starting in July.
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With a commitment to locally grown, locally produced and locally created food, the LFM is proud to be at the heart of the local food movement in our community. The official list of participants will be posted in the weeks to come, so keep an eye on the LFM website www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org
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We look forward to seeing you on Opening Day!
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Diamond Middle School Places 2nd Nationally in Trex Competition!
Congratulations to the Diamond Middle School Community! From November 2021 through April 15, 2022 the Diamond Middle School students, families and staff all worked to collect their plastic film in bins at the school. Volunteers weighed the totals and reported to Trex monthly. The final total collected by Diamond was 1,010 pounds of plastic film! First place went to Purcellville, Virginia with 1,710 pounds.
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Nationally, the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge for the 2021-2022 school year reported a total of 323,586 pounds of plastic film collected! There were 686 schools registered across the US with a total of 530 schools actively reporting.
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Here is more information about the competition:
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Would you like to submit an environmental event or activity?
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Please forward to your network!
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