News
TCEC members receive the Eco-Logic Newsletter, which is published monthly except for July/August and November/December issues. Each issue is full of local environmental news, events and activities, and ways you can get involved in environmental issues. Review a sample (past) issue.
Online, we feature the Closer Look column, written for our newsletter by TCEC Publications Chairperson, Donna Olsen.
Closer Look — May 2019
An Earth Day 2019 Recap
Swarms of visitors buzzed happily about the bright and colorful TCEC booths at both Earth Day events this year .… everyone eager to hear about what TCEC has done, does and will continue to do for the tri-city area. Attendees told stories of what they have already achieved at home; new learnings were shared, ideas exchanged, and promises were made to pay it forward and educate. Many posed in front our popular selfie banner with their hand written commitment card proudly professing to do more to help the environment. During the Washington Hospital event we got strong green commitments from the Fremont City Council and City Staff; others promised to save water, go solar, stop taking single use plastic straws and bags, stop wasting food and installing a laundry to landscape water recycle system.
“Let’s Go Green” Earth Day at Washington Hospital, as noted, was a successful event. The attendance was over 1009; booths numbered 53. One of the important parts of this event is the collection of eye glasses, medications, mercury thermometers, and sharps. In addition, the popular bicycle rodeo was back with 58 attendees, and 153 people took the Pollution Prevention Pledge (USD). The ecology center’s booth was busy. There was lots of interest in compostable servingware. And organic produce seeds were passed out in abundance. Also 6 new members signed up.
LEAF’s Earth Day venue was in the garden with appropriate theme of all things pollinators, everyone was talking about butterflies and bees, plants for butterflies, making room in the garden for bees, giving native bees favorable nesting sites and other big commitments such as planting trees, getting more involved in local issues, teaching youngsters how to be responsible. Hundreds of butterflies made from painted clothes pegs and colorful fabric flew to new homes from TCEC’s booth to remind our visitors of the great day and their promises to protect the environment. Statistics from Elaine Owyang: LEAF welcomed 998 guests to the event; there were 28 booths, 13 musical acts and lots of seeds and seedlings given away!
When a single bee finds a great resource, like masses of new flowers with nectar, she goes back to the hive and enthusiastically tells a hundred other bees, those 100 bees check it out and come back and pass on the good news to another hundred each, very quickly the entire colony has gotten the message and will harvest the food to keep them alive. Earth Day for TCEC is just like listening to the bees, the buzz is to be eco friendly, refuse, reduce, reuse, the buzz is being heard.
Irvington HS’s Beeyond Group Has Been Busy
Here’s a message from Chandu Garapaty of Honey, Natives, and Beeyond, “We just wanted to provide you an update on what our organization is doing through our newsletter, which you can find here: bit.ly/hnbnewsletters2019.”
First of all, we recently met with Amanda Martin, constituent services representative of Congressman Eric Swalwell as part of our bee letters project! The bee letters were paper bees made by kids who wrote letters to legislators and farmers about the importance of bees on the back. Next, we attended the LEAF Earth Day Event! Our booth helped kids make paper bees. And although this project is targeted to middle schoolers, it was open to all. Lots of fun.
We are also planning on expanding our Officer Team. Students who volunteer with us could potentially apply to become officers in the future, so look out for upcoming service opportunities with us! In addition, we’ve been working with Ms. Kathy Laidlaw to practice our powerpoint in preparation for meeting with local legislators.
Fremont’s Stivers Lagoon Damaged
According to Joyce Blueford of Math/Science Nucleus, the City of Fremont has cut down many trees in Stivers Lagoon…under the veil of stopping the homeless…and in doing so has not only destroyed trees, but has ripped up the trail that Math Science and the city built 25 years ago for field trips for elementary students. Said Joyce, “It is getting increasingly hard to monitor what is going on and the impact on Fremont’s open space areas.” Further, the Lagoon is a wetland and there are laws protecting them. Joyce has voiced a complaint with the city. A stakeholders meeting will be held at City Hall on May 15. More news next month.
NOTE: Stivers Lagoon is located at the south end of Central Park, not too far away from the Water Park. In 1972, the ecology center, along with the Candlelighters and the City Beautiful Committee funded the gazebo at the entrance to Stivers Lagoon.
Post Office Honoring Scenic Rivers
The US Postal Service is honoring Wild and Scenic Rivers on Forever stamps to be issued this year. Featured rivers include Michigan’s Ontanagon, Alaska’s Tlikakila and California’s Merced. You may have to go on line to purchase them. Source: American Rivers
Delta Twin Tunnels Take New Course
Gerry Brown’s “WaterFix” solution to the state’s water problems has died. In case you have forgotten…the twin tunnel effort involved digging the equivalent of a 10-lane highway 150 feet underground. It didn’t pencil out, improve the health of the Bay or provide the state any water. Well, it’s gone.
On May 2, Gov. Gavin Newsom changed all of that. He will embrace a more-sustainable water policy that emphasizes conservation, creates a new supply of renewable water, fixes the delta levees and explores the merits of a cheaper single Delta tunnel. However, it won’t hurt to keep an eye on all of this! Source: Bay Area News Group & CEC Editor
New Garbage, Recycling, and Organics Carts Coming Soon
Fremont will be getting a fresh look starting in Spring 2019, when new garbage, recycling, and organics carts arrive throughout the city. New carts will replace older carts that are faded and worn out. The new carts also meet the updated standard color theme: black for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for organics/compost. New carts will be the same size as your current garbage, recycling and organics carts. Each neighborhood will be notified in advance about when cart delivery will take place.
It’s TCEC Picnic Time…
WHEN: Sunday, June 23, 2019, 11am to 4pm
WHERE: in Central Park in Fremont, “Redwood 1”Picnic site , (Located between the community center and playground near Paseo Padre Pkwy.)
FOOD: This will be a BBQ with TCEC providing the hot dogs, veggie burgers and hamburgers. Picnickers will provide one side dish (salad, chips, etc.) plus drinks to share. Everyone should bring their own reusable or biocompostable plates, utensils, cups and napkins. If this is not possible, let us know. We will adjust. We will provide recycling bins.
ACTIVITIES: There will be games for all, including children. Suggestions so far have been trivia games, soccer, walks, sack race, just chatting and more. Your suggestions are welcome!
WHO IS ATTENDING? Of course, TCEC members, family and friends. Bring a possible new member.
RSVP: Caroline Harris at caroline.harris@earthlink.net. Or 440-0109
Between now and then… there may be additions or changes to the information above. That will be in June edition of the Eco-Logic. Until then… Mark your Calendar!