Port Goes Green, Now It's Time to Learn About It

Port Washington students, families and residents can come out and learn about all the green happenings in the area at the Port Goes Green Expo event set for Thursday evening at Daly Elementary School.

Residents will have the opportunity to visit with local organizations, groups and individuals and learn about the ongoing initiatives to make Port Washington a greener, healthier place.

"There are so many people in this community who have made a difference," said Lisa Epstein, a parent volunteer and member of Daly's compact committee which is co-hosting the event along with Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington." We wanted to celebrate and highlight what they've done."

The event will include representatives from Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, Grassroots Environmental Education, Friends of the Sands Point Preserve, Port Washington Green Organization, the Town of North Hempstead, and the U.S. Geological Survey, which is a company working on an aquifer project to study the impact of development on Port Washington drinking water.

These exhibitors will each have a booth set up like a science fair, with display boards and photographs. "We wanted to encourage students to become more active in the community," Epstein said. "We want them to understand all of the efforts going on in our own community to make the world healthier and greener. We want to inspire people to get involved in anything from family clean-up days to local events."

Patti Wood, executive director of the Grassroots Environmental Education organization, which started the town's farmers market that takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Town Dock from June through October, and the Dodge Farm Project, which is located on Harbor Road at the head of Mill Pond, said the expo should help educate residents on the green ongoings in Port.

"This will be an opportunity for residents to learn about some of the programs being done in this community that support a sustainable agricultural community," Wood said. "The Dodge Farm Project grows organic vegetable for a local food distribution center, Our Lady of Fatima. We grow the food so that economically disadvantaged families have access to vegetables and fruit."

Wood added that the group is always looking for volunteers. "This is a great opportunity for high school students who are looking for a community service project," Wood said. "They would get to understand organic farming, compost, soil and biology. They can get their hands dirty and understand where food comes from. Most kids don't even know there is a community in Port Washington that can't afford food."

Representatives from Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington will be on hand to discuss its Clean Green Zone, an eight-block radius on Main Street that it has been instrumental in cleaning up. They are hoping this year to double the size of the project.

Mindy Germain, executive director of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, explained that the children in attendance will be given a booklet with questions to ask the presenters.

"There are so many exciting booths," Germain said. "We hope to get children more aware of the gems we have in this community. We are so lucky to live in Port Washington. We can all learn to nurture planet Port Washington."

The Port Goes Green Expo event will take place on Thursday, May 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Daly Elementary School gymnasium. For more information, contact Lisa Epstein at lbmathome@aol.com or Mindy Germain at mgermain@pwresidents.org.