The Locust Point Civic Association is inviting Bronxites to learn how to give back to Mother Nature and go green!
For the past two years, the Locust Point Civic Association has been working on greening their civic building with the help of Senator Jeff Klein through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
“The agency comes in and works with citizens on how they can reduce energy consumption,” said Chrys Napolitano, vice president of the association.“Using that information we were able to make some changes to the civic house to make it green.”
In order to encourage others to take their lead and become more environmentally friendly, the Locust Point Civic Association will host a free Earth Day celebration, sponsored by Klein, on Saturday, April 24.
“This year, I am honored to celebrate Earth Day with the Locust Point community, a day focused on taking care of our most valuable resource, the earth,” Klein said.“Using a grant that I secured, the Locust Point Civic Association will soon renovate its clubhouse, installing a boiler, lights and other appliances which are more environmentally friendly. I hope this Earth Day celebration will encourage more residents to show the same dedication to keeping our earth healthy and beautiful.”
Kids will learn the importance of going green and environmental awareness through fun games and crafts including a recycling relay race, Earth Day scavenger hunt, and poster contest.
For the adults, information will be distributed with tips and advise on conserving energy, global warming, going green, and healthy eating and living, including information on the Community Supporter Agriculture, which allows a family to buy a share in a farmer’s field to receive all organic locally grown produce.
“It’s a great way to eat seasonally and locally,” said Napolitano.“We will have samples at the celebration of different kinds of locally-grown foods.”
According to Napolitano, other agencies distributing information will be the Department of Sanitation, Con Edison, the Environmental Protection Agency, NYSERDA and the Department of City Planning.
Additionally, the Locust Point Garden Club, run by Valerie Wilson, has donated lily bulbs to plant in front of the civic house.Guests who wish to participate in the planting are asking to come with their gardening shovels to help plant the lily garden.The New York Restoration Project will also be providing trees to be planted that day.
“As a community volunteer, I made efforts to educate people about being energy efficient and luckily I have people at the association who feel the same way,” said Napolitano.“We all share the same beliefs and very interested in making the community greener and cleaner, especially since we are a waterfront community.We feel as organizers it is an important issue to make people aware of.”
To commemorate the event, the civic building will be decorated with vintage photos dating back to the 1940s, and a new photo from the 1920s, recently digitally remastered by the civic association’s president Jerry Landi, will be unveiled.
“This is just a great opportunity to come down and get information about Earth Day and all Earth Day type issues,” said Napolitano.“People can meet neighbors, connect with the community and enjoy the day.”
