Newburyport High School Principal Andy Wulf speaks Saturday during the dedication of the new Tree Walk at Indian Hill Reservoir in West Newbury. The informational walk, featuring a series of plaques teaching walkers about the trees they find along the path, was created by NHS students Nicolas Forestell and Jackson Darling (background, left) as part of a youth internship program with the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, or ACES. About 20 people attended the event. Listening at right is David Moody of West Newbury.

‍

Newburyport is an "artsy" city, so it seems a good way to start by speaking of it using colors.

The through lines of the economic prosperity of the city and the region are threads of green and threads of blue. We'll let the green represent the natural world on land and the blue represent our waters.

Together, they are what makes up our Earth’s surface – 71% water and 29% land. Ecotourism, a term that includes a very significant portion of the visiting and spending, is so big here because of where we are at the intersection of two beautiful ecosystems.

"a world-class environmental epicenter of ecosystems"

Newburyport is a world-class environmental epicenter of ecosystems. It’s a place where the lines of continental bird migrations cross the exit point of North American weather systems.

It’s on the Atlantic and the Gulf of Maine, sitting on the rim of the Gulf Stream, which brings migrating humpback whales and great white sharks off shore. Our ocean edge is rippled in shades of blue. It's where Newbury's "First Settlers" arrived and began farming and fishing.

As the Merrimack River runs through its valley past Lawrence, Haverhill and Amesbury, it picks up speed as it heads out to sea past Salisbury and Plum Island.

It brings with it New Hampshire's mountain silt. Some of it goes into the Great Salt Marsh. Most of it continually replenishes our beaches. The marsh is a nursery of the sea and one of the most productive ecosystems of Earth.

It’s a cradle of water and grasses that host many of the fish babies that we think of as quintessentially New England's. It sequesters carbon and stabilizes the land's edge. Their green and blue ribbons, swirled together by the changing tides in the Merrimack bring boaters, fishermen and day-trippers to its shores and to Market Square.

Most of the vitality of public life in Newburyport is connected to green and blue

Most of the vitality of public life in Newburyport is connected to this weave of two threads of green and blue. All the marinas, restaurants and shops are part of the weave. It's an ecosystem of really enormous complexity with glacial soils and farm fields, forests that once supplied ship masts for the British Empire and our early Navy as well.

Later on, those same upriver forests enabled building the great clipper ship fleets that created the China trade and the grand mansions of High Street in Newburyport. Our maritime heritage reflects both green forests with the blue ocean nearby.

Our tour brochures speak proudly of our history, as do the plaques around town that tell us George Washington dined at the library and that the first company of Marines was organized here before the Revolutionary War.

Clearly, our history has always been front and center to our city's self-image. But our history stands not just in a particularly special time but in a particularly special place.

ACES chose its colors for a reason

The fast-growing environment and climate alliance "ACES" was started here in Newburyport. Its colors are green and blue for a reason.

Its 30-plus allies have come together to think globally, work locally, and act personally in recognition of the responsibility of stewardship we all have for these beautiful and valuable gifts.

This kind of stewardship is open for every type of citizen involvement locally, not just the environment. It could be for the arts such as with the Firehouse or the Newburyport Art Association or history related such as with the Custom House Maritime Museum. We'll use different colors for that discussion.

"Greater Newburyport is a place woven of green and blue gifts"

We live in a unique place. It’s one that deserves worldwide recognition for its beautiful and abundant confluence of ecosystems. Greater Newburyport is a place woven of green and blue gifts of nature. Let’s work together to protect it and prosper from it.

Ron Martino is on Twitter as “GreenTalkDaily” @ronmartino4.

This column was coordinated by ACES Youth Corps member Caleb Bradshaw. To share any comments or questions, send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, go to www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

WEST NEWBURY —

The Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards invites the public to join the launch of the Indian Hill Reservoir Tree Walk on Saturday, May 22nd at 9 a.m.

The event starts at the beginning of the reservoir access trail off Moulton Street.

The Tree Walk was developed to honor the importance of trees through an education plaque program.

Newburyport High School students Nicolas Forestall and Jackson Darling created plaques for each tree, detailing the specific species, as part of an internship project with Maple Crest Farm.

This stewardship-based internship program is part of a youth leadership initiative of the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, also known as ACES.

The program is designed to provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students interested in addressing climate and environmental challenges.

The project began with the students researching the trees around the Indian Hill Reservoir access road and writing descriptions for prominent trees. These descriptions inspired the creation of 16 durable composite plaques, which were produced for 16 trees by SpeedPro of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Parking is available on Moulton Street adjacent to the entrance to the access trail and at Maple Crest Farm, 102 Moulton St.

For those who arrive at the farm at 8:30 a.m., there will be coffee. Contact John Elwell with any questions at 508-641-5955 or johnelwell@verizon.net.

The rain date is Sunday.

‍

Samson LeBlanc – Sophomore at UMass-Lowell

The restoration and preservation of our environment are essential for our survival, but this should not be the reason we save our environment. It should be because we care about one another as well as all species. Seeing the things that nature is capable of and what it provides for us is truly outstanding. You can simply look to the rivers and oceans, which hold a whole world beneath us that we almost never see. The idea of preserving these species and their environments should push us to become motivated to make needed changes. But with global warming changing the weather, we are experiencing more and more natural disasters, with many more on the horizon. Our effort to save the environment should include preserving these biomes and habitats before we start to suffer the way that they are currently experiencing. Change needs to happen, and we can come out of this saving not only us, but our planet if we are strong enough.

Will Roelofs – Pingree School Freshman

Being able to escape to the outdoors is something that many people take for granted, including me. Here in Newburyport, we are fortunate enough to have a variety of places to go and that is something that I love to take advantage of. Whether it's going for a quick bike ride to Maudslay or taking a swim at the beach, I always have options. Not to mention the fact that we live just one or two hours away from the amazing mountains up north, where I love to ski, hike, bike, and camp. That being said, there are many people who are losing their access to nature because of land development, climate change, and COVID-19. It is important to take a step back and appreciate where we live and the access we have because we need to do our part in ensuring other people can enjoy the outdoors as much as we do.

Charlotte Gretz – Newburyport High School Senior

The discussion of climate change in mainstream media often comes in the form of a nature documentary, such as campaigns to save the turtles, or an article about how sustainability opens up job opportunities. While relevant, these topics just touch on the basic consequences of climate change. It’s actually a multifaceted issue and one of the facets often overlooked is its link to racial justice. People of color are disproportionately affected by environmental issues. Black and Hispanic communities are more susceptible to high concentrations of air pollution that they aren’t at fault for. Many of the poorest areas in the U.S. are populated by people of color and those are the areas whose economy will be hit hardest by the damages of climate change. Climate activism has been a movement dominated by white people, but in order to tackle environmental damage, we need to address the deep-rooted racism woven into it.

This column was coordinated by ACES Youth Corps member Caleb Bradshaw. To share comments or questions, send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, please view https://www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

A shout-out to city youths and the organizations that guide them

I'd like to give a shout-out to Newburyport Youth Services, the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewardship (ACES), the district's school staff and administrators, and the city and local businesses at large for giving young people in our community opportunities to share their talents and passions, express and raise their voices, and offer opportunities for them to engage as active citizens.

We must "continue to print articles where students' voices are heard."

I also want to thank The Daily News and encourage them to continue to print articles where students' voices are heard. I've enjoyed and learned from reading student opinion columns about climate change and suggestions for all community members to help save the planet that these young people live in and care about.

I've been inspired seeing student artwork hanging in downtown shops. Our city's youth have a lot of important things to say and I am encouraged to hear that we as a community are listening. - Sharon Kennedy

Kylie Woekel, NHS, Senior 

COVID-19 has both positive and negative effects on climate change.

The positive effects include less air pollution due to less transportation and international travel. Also, more European countries such as Germany and France are investing in electric vehicles which will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Perhaps the most significant negative effects is more plastic being used: in masks, gloves, disposable shopping bags and plexiglass dividers in stores. There are masks and gloves found on the street and in the ocean. It was estimated in March that by 2021 there will be over 1 billion masks that have entered the ocean. It takes about 450 years for a face mask to fully dissolve. Even with all the benefits of the reduced transportation and increase of electric vehicles, COVID causes more negative climate change impacts than positive ones. Just last March was recorded as the second warmest March in history.  

Josie Palma NHS, Freshman

All over the world, currents are pulling together trash floating in the ocean to create huge patches of trash.

Hearing about the trash and debris in our oceans for the first time made me realize how big of an impact everyone has on the earth. Every plastic water bottle I’ve finished, every straw I’ve used, all the plastic wrappers I’ve thrown away could have contributed to these piles. In that manner, I could be putting the lives of marine animals at risk. The ocean has always been special to me, as it’s a place I can relax and spend time with my family and friends. Realizing with more clarity that I could be part of the problem of pollution in the ocean, has made me commit to be a greater part of the solution.

Audrey Cooper, NHS, Junior 

What if someone filled your house with trash?

Wouldn’t this make you angry and confused? Well this is what thousands of marine animals go through every day. Humans are merely just visitors of the ocean, and we repay the animals by trashing their home? Haven't your parents taught you better? Traveling to beaches around the world and living in a beachy town has taught me to love the ocean and inspired me to help spread the word on keeping trash away from the environment. According to Ocean Conservation, an advocacy group for cleaner waters, “a million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments.” If we keep up at this rate, the Ocean Conservation argues that “By 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean’s fish.”  If we all work together to recycle, stop littering, and clean the already polluted beaches, then we can prevent a permanent world altering disaster.

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Caleb Bradshaw. To share any comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

‍

Overview of Career Exploration Opportunities

Goal: To contribute to the growth and success of the organization by serving on a team of leaders supporting selected stewardship initiatives as a relevant and meaningful, learning experience.

‍Scope: Through participation with a school’s internship program, we interview and select motivated, positive students who are interested in a variety of applied learning experiences. We expect that the overall experience will contribute building blocks to a student’s envisioned career track. The work encompasses a variety of activities in working with and/or supporting other team members that relate to a student’s learning experience objectives. This could include working with an ACES initiative team; such as Waste Reduction, or on a specific project; such as, the Environmental Stewardship Internship program with multiple schools.

Responsibilities: The specific responsibilities and project will depend upon the student’s interests and focus.

Fields of Study/Projects: The nature of the project will be designed around the organizations needs and the student’s pursuits – whether he/she be exploring a sustainability leadership, environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental history, business management, administrative services, accounting, or marketing/communications career track.

Qualifications:

• A positive attitude toward life and learning and a personal interest in being an environmental steward.
• An interest in understanding more about the work associated with a specific career track and the skills to make a contribution given the priorities and activities of the organization or one of its Allies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and a high degree of comfort with the world of social media.
• Strong computer skills using Microsoft’s Office Suite and Google’s G Suite supported systems. Specific software competency related to one’s career track may include Photoshop, Sketch Up, Illustrator or Quick books.
• Proven competency in writing reports and developing presentations.
• An interest in details and accuracy as well as being orderly and organized.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain open communications, a close working relationship with and the confidence of a variety of individual personalities.
• Ability to manage time and accomplish tasks as agreed.
  

Contact Art Currier or Alex Fincher at acesnewburyport@gmail.com to set a time for a conversation about any questions, your interests, the current initiatives and what internship experiences could be meaningful for you or a student.

Riley McLoy, Newburyport High School freshman

Everything that I love to do takes place outdoors, from playing sports and going skiing to relaxing on the beach and traveling. Being active outside allows for a release from the stress of school, and gives a break from technology. It's really easy to glance at your phone, and then realize you have been looking at it for an hour. Especially with COVID-19, people are inside more than ever with ever more temptation to get lost in these distractions. We are having fewer breaks from stress and social media. But even though restrictions make it hard to be active, it's really important that we get outdoors for our mental health and overall happiness. That is why it is essential that we take care of our environment, because if we don't, we will lose all of the amazing opportunities it gives us.

Caleb Bradshaw, Newburyport High School freshman

For me, being outdoors is a huge part of my life. It is in most of the sports and passions I pursue. Fortunately, everything that I need is right out my back door, making it easy to try new things and embrace being outside. But what if you don’t have easy access to a town park? Or a local trail system? Finding a place to go can be hard for people looking to get away from society and into the outdoors. In the past year, COVID-19 has shed some light on the ways we view outdoor recreation. Health officials are advising against traveling far for outdoor activities, so people have come up with simple and easy ways of getting out of the house to take in some fresh air. Walking, running, cycling and hiking are all great ways of getting outdoors at a time when people need it the most.

Lucas Daignault, Newburyport High School junior

As we enter into a necessary “green reset,” it is imperative that youth begin to take ownership of the movement so that they can continue it. Schools are where the spirit of the green reset can and must be fostered. Many actions can be taken in order to encourage stewardship; for instance, local field studies, the connection of sciences with other classes, the promotion of these issues by parents and other adults, and the promotion of jobs and internships with organizations hoping to further the cause of environmentalism. The local field studies, in my opinion, are by far the most important piece. Students are more likely to pick up on and get involved in an issue that they can organically discover as opposed to one learned in a classroom. Having students naturally pick up on the importance and urgency of the task at hand would go a great way to the eventual passing of the torch.

This column was coordinated by ACES Youth Corps member Caleb Bradshaw. To share comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, visit https://www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

Sam Cooper, Newburyport High School senior

It’s 2016 and a nor’easter spawns off Virginia, trekking toward Massachusetts. My sister and I were exuberant, acting like reporters and imitating our favorite weatherman, Al Roker. We watched as he weathered major gusts — his rain slicker flapping like wings.

Meteorology immersed me into a world of mathematics and models, a world I found energizing yet frightening. A study cited in The Washington Post found “a global increase of 8% per decade in the likelihood of a tropical cyclone becoming a Category 3 or greater.” Newburyport has already lost homes and property to storm surge, and it devastates me to think this could become more commonplace. The beaches I played at, the parks and shops I went to with my family, and the beautiful city I hope to show my children, all could be lost.

But through ACES, I have a chance to prevent this from happening, and I will continue to use it.

Sophia Franco, Newburyport High School freshman

A healthy environment helps us in ways that aren’t always evident, but in its absence, humans would not exist as they do today. We rely on our planet for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It is vital to understand the importance of our environment, because despite what some may think, one small action can have a great influence. It may be hard to comprehend how picking up one piece of trash, or recycling one plastic bottle can change the world, but if every person did a single thing to help the planet each day, imagine the impact it would have. So the next time you see a wrapper flying in the wind, instead of looking away, run to catch it. We need to protect the Earth, not only for our futures, but for generations to come.

Andres Liang, Emmanuel College senior

Contributing to helping the planet stay healthy while contributing to our society isn’t difficult. What motivated me to be interested in the environment and the importance of taking care of it was a sense of empathy and consideration toward our Earth. Thinking long term, this is especially important so future generations can enjoy the planet’s natural resources and admire their magnificence. In a macro sense, the big picture reflects the modern paraphrase “As above, so below” from the Emerald Tablet. This ancient text still makes sense today. We cannot expect our minds to be healthy and in peace if our temples (bodies) are not being taken care of. Hence, there would be a conflict to wish for a good life for our descendants if they will live in an unsafe world full of pollutants and toxins in the environment as a result of our present actions. Everyone making some contribution to our health and that of our planet can have a huge impact on the future.

This column was coordinated by ACES Youth Corps member Caleb Bradshaw. To share comments or questions, send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, go to www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

A "Green Reset"

Post-COVID, post-election, with a battered economy and in the face of looming climate disaster, motivation is high worldwide for more dramatic climate action. A “green reset” is happening at every level and in every corner of the political, business and nonprofit ecosystem as it regards climate. And it’s a really needed one. In general, the U.S. and other countries can do this by leveraging the pent-up demand for upgraded and new forms of infrastructure and the jobs that they generate. Building that new infrastructure will be a great investment opportunity and it will generate good, new jobs. Jobs that may require new job skills. A big investment in much-needed new infrastructure, designed with green needs in mind, will energize community colleges and high schools to work with employers and business groups along with trade unions to invent new forms of apprenticeships for young America. Working to alter the course of climate degradation isn’t harmful to our economy. Rather, it’s the way forward to better jobs and a better economy. New investments in our economy can have a big payback both financially and in terms of climate.

Local changes are already occurring

Locally, Newburyport has climate and environmental challenges of its own. Consider rising seas, a river that floods when moderately big storms hit. Consider the vulnerability of Plum Island and our sewer and water systems. Fortunately, our city leaders have worked to address some of these issues with upgraded sewer systems on Plum Island and coastal armoring underway at our wastewater treatment plant.The mayor and City Council have reduced streetlight electricity costs, purchased solar power at greatly reduced rates, encouraged the community to adopt renewable energy and recycle and compost, upgraded storm drains, banned the use of disposal plastic shopping bags, fixed sidewalks, and built biking and walking paths. But there is a lot more to do. Small things like forming rain gardens in the new waterfront park spaces to buffer storm surge overflow. Bigger things like preventing saltwater intrusion into the Artichoke Reservoir. Intergovernmental things like working with the state and the Merrimack Valley Region Transit Authority to plan for “last mile” circulating minibus bus routes throughout the city usable by schoolchildren and home office workers alike. We need negotiations with business like pressing utilities to fix the gas leaks all over the city. They may not be explosive, like in Lawrence, but they certainly add to global warming and affect the air we breathe.

The city has many opportunities

The city has many opportunities — working with building and mall owners to provide bicycle racks and bus stop wind shelters. And why not make space for community gardening, maybe along the entry to the Senior Center? As a new generation of aspiring politicians emerge on the local scene, we might ask them what they see they can do to create this needed “green reset.” How can they help make every neighborhood safe for biking and walking? How can they encourage and zone for walkable destinations like corner stores, coffee shops, meeting places and lunching in the neighborhoods as many more people telework and are in town during the day? As a new generation of Newburyport youths emerge to lead in their own right, what are the things they might do to encourage their peers and parents to address climate change? What are the new green jobs they might aspire to pursue? How can the community arrange apprenticeships and internships to help them get started? How can we, as a community, support them? Please watch for future ACES columns that will present their perspectives. Let’s encourage our local political, business and education leaders to see their roles in a wide-angle way, through a wider aperture that takes climate and the environment into serious consideration. Let’s push the big green reset button now for Newburyport.

As President Joe Biden has written:

“The undeniable reality of climate change is exacting an incalculable toll on lives and livelihoods in every community across the country. It is a challenge that requires us to act immediately.”

Ron Martino is an ACES adviser and lives in Newburyport.

This column was coordinated by Aces Youth Corps member Caleb Bradshaw. To share any comments or questions, send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, visit www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

One year ago, we considered a new and unusual trend toward light enrollment in our outdoor education programs. We asked ourselves, “Are we no longer as relevant as soccer to local families?” While attendance had always been strong since our founding year in 2007, in late 2019 we noticed some road bumps and contemplated what we could do differently in the new year.

Never could we have foreseen the demand for outdoor education

Never could we have foreseen, as spring 2020 arrived, the groundswell of demand for outdoor education that would surge by summer, not only in Newburyport but also across the county, state, and country. While 90% of summer programs across New England closed because of COVID-19, we persevered. We endeavored to make sure that local youth, as in so many summers past, could continue to grow strong by nature, outdoors with their friends at Merrohawke, both in the forest and upon the sea at Boat Camp.

Following the best available health and safety guidance, and despite absorbing increased COVID-19 costs and sacrificing significant lost revenue, we ran at half capacity and served as many children and families as we could.

Parents shed tears of gratitude at drop-off that we had found a way to keep some kind of normalcy in their child’s summer by staying open. Yet hundreds of children were left on waitlists.

Waitlists are building again

This year, with waitlists again building, we continue striving to meet the unprecedented and overwhelming demand for outdoor education programs. We will do all that we can to ensure that, during these most tumultuous times, children can experience the immeasurable health benefits of spending time outdoors, together with families and apart with peers. Never before has the value of spending time in nature been so relevant.

As author David Sobel writes, “If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it." Time in nature, now more than ever, fosters love and future stewardship, of the earth.

We remain deeply committed to making sure as many children as possible, as safely as possible, have an opportunity to grow strong by nature at Merrohawke, now and in the years ahead.

At Merrohawke, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, youth grow strong by nature through experiential learning on land, river and sea. Learn more at www.merrohawke.org

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Caleb Bradshaw. If you have comments or questions, email acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES: https://www.aces-alliance.org.

‍

Storm Surge

Storm Surge, a community volunteer group working on local resilience to climate change impacts, has just released three narrated multimedia presentations for middle and high school students.

The presentations and adapting to change

These presentations were created with input from Newburyport schools and include a 10th-grade level introduction to climate change and a two-part program for seventh-grade students on the Great Marsh. Each presentation provides opportunity for class discussion and comes with supplemental material for teachers.

Storm Surge received a grant from New England Biolabs in late 2019 to create educational presentations for Newburyport schools about local climate change impacts.

The presentations were to address the causes of climate change and its impacts on coastal communities. When COVID-19 struck last March, closing schools and making in-person meetings impossible, Storm Surge needed to rethink how to present the information to Newburyport students.

Rather than the in-school presentations originally envisioned in the grant proposal, narrated multimedia presentations were created that could be used by teachers working with students in the classroom or remotely.

As a result, these presentations can be shown to smaller groups of students and can be shared with other school districts, homeschoolers and curious adults.

How it is seen in the classroom and at home

The presentations address climate change issues at the local level. The first, for high school students, presents the causes of climate change due to rising greenhouse gases and rising sea levels and investigates Newburyport's historical role in the burning of fossil fuel. It discusses why climate change is still an issue for political debate.

The others for seventh-graders form a two-part series on the Great Marsh, the green infrastructure that buffers our communities against storm surge and sea level rise.

Together, they present the history of the Great Marsh and the challenges it is facing now, raising and responding to questions about why we should all care about the Great Marsh and what can be done to protect it.

A slide for the middle school presentation about the Great Marsh and its carbon trapping power.

Storm Surge is looking forward to developing another presentation on Newburyport coastal geology for high school and middle school students in 2021 thanks to an additional grant from New England Biolabs.

For more information about Storm Surge visits https://storm-surge.org

To view these and other Storm Surge educational resources, click here: https://storm-surge.org/education-resources/

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Caleb Bradshaw. To share any comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

‍

‍

Making Trails through a Pandemic

“The pandemic can’t stop us,” says the December newsletter of the Coastal Trails Coalition. Last spring, our CTC Board pivoted to virtual meetings to help ensure that local trails continue to provide opportunities for enjoying nature, exercise and fresh air, and safe places to bike or walk with family and socially distance with friends. This year finds even more trails and connections, such as between Salisbury’s Ghost Trail and Elm Street in Amesbury. The other works underway are too many to list here, so please visit coastaltrails.org where you may sign up for the newsletter.

After granting funds to assist with Newburyport’s Harborfront path between Joppa Flats and the boardwalk downtown, the next big project for the CTC is the missing link through Newbury connecting to Georgetown trails.

Overcoming Challenges

Some people say the Newbury trail is a pipe dream, but I’ve been on the Coalition board long enough to remember when the Garrison trail on the I-95 Whitter Bridge was a pipe dream, and more recently so was the Salisbury trail all the way to New Hampshire.

In fact, Salisbury’s progress was recently acknowledged by the East Coast Greenway, the alliance that oversees the national route from Maine to Florida. On greenway.org they wrote: “The strategy and persistence shown by the local advocates to make this work is remarkable.”

I would like to applaud Jerry Klima, our intrepid CTC leader, as well as governments from top down to local towns, and citizens who have contributed in ways large and small with donations, volunteering, or cheering us on.

**BREAKING NEWS** The Coastal Trails Coalition has donated another grant of $10,000 for ongoing work on the Newbury trail.

Together we are stronger in so many ways. Thank you all, especially in these challenging times, for supporting the goal of building pathways to connect communities.

To contact the Coastal Trails Coalition board, write to info@coastaltrails.org. To learn more, volunteer or make a donation, visit coastaltrails.org. See you on the trails!

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Caleb Bradshaw. To share any comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

Support from the community

Friends of Newburyport Trees (FoNT) needs support from the community to address the impact of the current pandemic on our neighborhood trees. Trees that contribute to the health of our local environment. Many activities we had planned in April around Earth Day and Arbor Day had to be cancelled. We are trying our best to keep working until next spring’s planting season.

Helping the trees and FoNT

Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a stop to all our outreach efforts with the Newburyport community. Our main project each spring in conjunction with the Tree Commission is pruning and mulching of trees that have been planted over the past few years. It is important for young trees to be limbed up out of the way of pedestrians and street traffic, and to correct any tree imperfections – broken branches, water sprouts (branches which grow straight up), rubbing and crossing branches.

It is harder to raise funds when we are not visibly undertaking tree work in the community. So we held a mini Arbor Day celebration on Oct. 3 with a small tree planting at the Library and a book display on trees in order to remind the community that FoNT is active, thinking about the future, and needs support.

Our popular Guide to Newburyport Trees is available for purchase for $20. All funds donated to FoNT are tax deductible and help grow and maintain Newburyport’s healthy urban forest. Learn more at www.FoNTrees.org.

Jean Berger is as Massachusetts certified arborist and FoNT Board member. Reach her by email at Greenjeans33@comcast.net.

To learn more about ACES and its stewardship Initiatives:  https://www.aces-alliance.org

The PDF below provides a overview to what ACES is, who we are, and what we are striving to achieve.

About Tinkerhaus

Tinkerhaus is a 2-year-old nonprofit shared work and education space in Newburyport with a woodworking shop, sewing studio and art classroom, as well as two private workrooms and a group meeting area. We are able to operate through memberships, frequent classes and continuous fundraising. It has been an adventure trying to survive the pandemic.

Facing the Pandemic

When the pandemic arrived, Tinkerhaus donated our N95s and 3-D filament for face shields and delivered sewing machines to members’ homes, repurposing baskets of quilting fabric scraps to make masks for local charities.

We posted a daily art challenge to keep up the morale of families and assembled craft kits from woodshop scraps and repurposed class materials packaged in takeout containers donated by local businesses. We also donated sheets of poster paper for front-line worker encouragement signs.

With the future of school and work so uncertain, we swerved to provide for the emerging needs of our community with new scheduling protocols so people could use our facilities individually.

Our woodshop saw production of desks and work tables for remote workers and our smaller spaces have hosted college students who are cut off from campus resources.

Other Additions

Other additions include free outdoor kid classes and opening our space to the Maudslay outdoor sculpture show to produce sign holders they need for the “new normal.” Sharing our kit-making skills with local organizations has helped them adapt.

Despite the loss of revenue from class fees and event charges, our commitment to sustainability and to serving the community remains strong.

We will be offering very small indoor classes as the weather gets colder, as well as some online and online Zoom instruction. However, we are in need of additional teachers since most of our instructors are also school teachers and parents of remote learners.

If you have any maker skills you are willing to share, in person or virtually, please be in touch and contact us at www.tinkerhaus.org.

To learn more about ACES and our stewardship initiatives, please view our website — https://www.aces-alliance.org.

Mary MacDonald is the owner of Tinkerhaus in Newburyport and can be reached at mary@tinkerhaus.org.

It’s hard to gain public attention and support for a very important long-term issue like nuclear safety—especially with COVID-19 and all the other headline grabbing issues unfolding in our world.

What is C-10

When people are focused on immediate issues related to their health, livelihood and well-being, they don’t have much bandwidth to think about degraded concrete at the nuclear plant a few miles away, or what would happen if something went terribly wrong at Seabrook Station.

We want to remind readers that the C-10 Research and Education Foundation is keeping tabs on safety and security concerns at the atomic reactor in our midst, and speaking out to protect public safety and environmental health in our special part of the world.

What it means to be without C-10

‍Without the important work that we’ve been doing for the last three decades, would you feel safe? C-10 stands for “citizens within the 10-mile radius” — the emergency planning zone that includes 23 cities and towns surrounding the Seabrook nuclear plant. Without us, there would be:

No real-time scientific monitoring of radiation in the communities surrounding the Seabrook nuclear power plant.

No one sounding alarms as the concrete in Seabrook’s containment structures deteriorates from an irreversible condition called alkali-silica reaction (ASR).

No one challenging Seabrook’s management of its degraded concrete, or compelling an in-depth hearing before a panel of judges here in Newburyport.

No group engaging a prominent environmental and nuclear safety attorney, Diane Curran, to argue its case and push for stronger regulations.

No world-leading ASR expert, Dr. Victor Saouma, who was so impressed by C-10 that he has donated hundreds of hours of his time to work with us, pro bono.

No carefully considered 200-page ruling from the Atomic Safety Licensing Board, ordering Seabrook to improve the ways it monitors and manages the concrete.

No independent voice making sure that Seabrook and the NRC do what they need to do to keep us safe.

No group shining a light on these issues and educating both the public and our elected officials.

No group working so hard to keep you safe.

Living through the pandemic, many of us have a new appreciation of the government's role in keeping us safe. But we’ve also seen the importance of independent watchdogs to make sure they do their job.

Now that you’ve thought about a community without C-10, are you willing to help ensure that we continue to exist, for as long as Seabrook is operating, and beyond? Please join us and make a contribution at www.c-10.org. We’re not done yet, and we need your support.

Natalie Hildt Treat is executive director of C-10 and can be reached at natalie@c-10.org; Karen Clagett is a member of the  C-10 Board of Directors.

To learn more about ACES and its stewardship Initiatives: https://www.aces-alliance.org

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an uptick in the number of bicyclists out on our roads, paths and trails."

Massachusetts has seen more than 130% increase in ridership.

Some trails across Massachusetts have seen more than 130% increase of ridership. Many of these riders are relatively new to navigating on two wheels, so we are working to help educate all riders on the rules and responsibilities that come with bicycling, and on how to keep safe when riding.

New restrictions and changes on the roads have made it more safe for bicyclists.

We are also helping educate drivers for what to expect with more bicyclists on the roads, as well as new laws in place, including lower local speed limits, hands-free cell phone use when driving, and expanded sidewalk and "healthy streets" space that have converted some roadways and parking lanes to provide more space for people.

Drivers are encouraged to keep up with any new changes.

With all these changes, we encourage people to keep up with the additional changes to local infrastructure, and to be aware of the increase in biking traffic.

Biking not only benefits the environment but benefits you too.

We want to encourage people to get out on a bicycle, as it is one of the best ways to exercise and socialize while being physically distant, and of course riding a bike is the most environmentally sustainable way to get around town. Biking is good for your health, both mind and body. And of course, it's fun!

For more about the coalition, go to https://www.massbike.org. To learn more about ACES and our Stewardship Initiatives, go to https://www.aces-alliance.org.

Almost in foresight two years ago, seeing that people were using our parks and rail trails in increasing numbers, the Women in Action Huddle of Greater Newburyport partnered with Friends of Newburyport Trees (FoNT) to create and maintain an “indigenous edible avenue” on the March’s Hill section of the Clipper City Rail Trail that the Parks Department and Director Lise Reid so generously gave us.

It has been an exciting project during this time of forced physical distancing.

To see its enormous positive impact, against a backdrop of masks and sanitizing lotion, is gratifying.

This year found our blueberry, cranberry, rose hips, and strawberries, among other indigenous plants, maturing nicely on this once-wild plot on the rail trail. Through the hard work of a dedicated group of volunteers, the site has been tamed slightly, added to, frequently watered, weeded, and otherwise maintained.

Every volunteer session sees numerous families and individuals stopping to pick, talk, or praise. One day while I was weeding, a woman walked by and actually gave me a blessing, which stayed with me all day!

We see moms and dads explaining the plants and kids gleefully eating off the bushes and trees.

The edible avenue provides an opportunity not only for environmental education but also for much-needed social interaction, both with people and with our environment.

Kudos to our mentor Jane Niebling of FoNT, our designer Jean Berger of Green Jeans Landscape, and our volunteers Melissa Shea Mills, Deb Mass, Alice Mullen, Beth Blanchard, and artist Eva Maria Lee, who is creating a beautiful site map for us. Our official city sign is in the works and you will find brochures on the blue library bench next to the trail.

Many folks come when they can to help. Even though the growing season is winding down, we’d love to see you on the trail. We volunteer on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Walk toward Low Street from the March’s Hill entrance of the rail trail. You can’t miss it.

Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/groups/419447658432183.

‍

"As I contemplated writing this article, it struck me that combatting COVID-19 is similar to addressing climate change. We need to take firm, consistent actions to create safety for all."

John Elwell, owner of Maple Crest Farm in West Newbury.

We only had one family at a time come to pick

During our Maple Crest Farm pick-your-own blueberry season this year, we only had one family at a time come to pick. Folks had to call to schedule an appointment in advance and wear masks at all times. Clearly, this limited the number of sales, but more importantly, we kept everyone safe. In addition, I staggered the work times of my youth workers, so they were not usually at the farm at the same time.

We need to take a similar approach with climate change.

If we are to protect our world for current and future generations, we have to make purposeful changes in our lifestyles. We are losing our farmlands. Many are being bought up, especially in our area, for housing developments. Currently, only 3% – yes 3% – of the earth’s surface can grow food crops. With global warming and rising oceans, we will lose even more farmlands. Some reports forecast that the land available to grow crops will be 2% in the next 50 years. This summer alone has been so dry that our strawberries suffered greatly from the lack of rain despite our irrigating efforts.

Farming also helps the climate by growing crops which convert carbon into oxygen which we need for our health and sustainability.

We plant over 1,000 Christmas tree seedlings each year, which take 10 years or more to be marketable. But while they are growing, they are producing oxygen for our wellbeing. Research says that 7 to 10 trees will provide enough oxygen for a person to breathe for a year. Growing crops locally especially helps the environment in multiple ways. It preserves and restores the soil. Local farms reduce the amount of carbon monoxide that is put into the air from transporting crops across the country. ACES is an organization that will help to protect and improve our environment so that farms and humans can survive.

Please come see us: https://www.maplecrestfarm.biz/index.html

John Elwell is owner of Maple Crest Farm in West Newbury. He can be contacted at johnelwell@verizon.net.

Contact ACES website to become involved.

‍

‍

“One of our most significant challenges for society and our community is disposing of the ever-increasing volume of waste of all forms. Organic waste from the production of foods, from our tables and kitchens adds to the weight of our trash and disposal costs. Composting reduces costs and positively impacts our carbon footprint as it reduces methane emissions and enhances soils, water retention and provides carbon sequestration”

- Molly Ettenborough, Recycling and Energy Manager, Newburyport.

To access the complete guide/presentation, please click on "Download."

“One of our most significant challenges for society and our community is disposing of the ever-increasing volume of waste of all forms”

Newburyport’s Energy and Recycling Manager, Molly Ettenborough.

Waste disposal presents an increasing problem for municipalities across Massachusetts. Landfills are full and closing, incinerators are near 100% capacity, and a degree of Massachusetts waste is being shipped out of state which is costly. Present methods are inadequate to meet the daunting future challenges. Because this is a problem that affects current and future generations, we need to address it now. 

The Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards (ACES) has developed a plan to support Newburyport’s Toward Zero Waste Program by highlighting practical solutions to meet this challenge.

Presently, 25% - 50% of waste that ends at our landfills shouldn’t even be there - organic, decomposable waste that takes up space and if improperly disposed of, produces toxic methane and higher disposal costs.  Each of us can be part of the solution. We can significantly reduce this problem by composting all organic waste - the food scraps from our tables, the filters from our coffee, and leaves from our backyard. 

Currently, 600 Newburyport households use Black Earth, a company that picks up your compost “curbside”.

The cost for this weekly pickup program is only $1.89/week. Most people use a 13 gallon latchable bin (13" w x 13" l x 27" h) with locking lid and wheels available from Black Earth for $24.00 with biodegradable bag inserts. People simply place their organic items in the bin and place the bin on the curb weekly. In addition, a number of residents also drop off compostable waste at a designated location in Newburyport free of charge, and about 100 Earth Machines (composting bins) have been and can be purchased at a discount from the City. 

A recent survey of Newburyport residents indicates there is an opportunity to increase awareness about composting and the number of composters citywide. Survey results also show a willingness among some non-composters to pay for a curbside composting service.

ACES BOD member and project co-leader Sarah Hall, suggests that “by working with the population of composters across the City we can increase composting more widely. We have launched an awareness and education campaign about the benefits for Newburyport residents, as well as businesses and nonprofits connected to the City’s waste disposal contract. Our desire is to maximize participation in the “COMPOST for a Healthier Newburyport program”. 

The ACES plan has two phases in its initiative to increase composting in the city.

The phase 1 goal is for at least 900 residential households, nonprofits, and businesses participating in the City waste disposal contract to regularly practice composting - an increase of about 50% - by June 2021.

The goals of phase 2 will reflect lessons learned and be based on the collaboration of the Mayor's office with the City Council and relevant City departments to develop appropriate policies for composting at the residential, non-profit and commercial entity levels.

Molly urges our participation, “We thank the current residents who are already composting and encourage all others to review this guide and make a decision to participate in the ‘COMPOST for a Healthier Newburyport’ program in the way that works best for you and your family”. With just a few minutes every day, composting your organic waste can benefit not only your city and state, but also the entire world. 

‍

Should anyone have any questions or want to help promote this program, contact Sam Cooper at samcooper821@gmail.com or acesnewburyport@gmail.com

The organization has had the good fortune of having 8 interns working on a variety of projects this year.  ACES President, Art Currier notes: “It has been a joy to have worked with our inspired interns - they have made a significant contribution to the effective development and execution of each project. Their stewardship and understanding of the fact that the well-being of future generations is at the heart of the need for broad based stewardship – locally, nationally and globally – allows them to play a key role in the launch of this leadership program.”

 The students who have played a key role in the formation of the Youth Corps include recent Newburyport High School graduates and interns Alyssa Keith, who will attend Babson College, Cami Loignon headed to Concordia University, and Eleni Protopapas going to UMass –Lowell. Other leaders are 2019 NHS graduate, Samson Leblanc, now attending UMass - Lowell and rising seniors Sam Cooper and Summer Noonan who will leverage their experience with multiple projects. Emmanuel College students, Andres Liang and Deanna Ruggerio, Roger Williams College graduate, Philip Parry of Merrimac and Waring School sophomore Camille Gimbrere have been working on fundraising, website, social media, database, and administrative systems plans and projects to contribute to the evolution of the corps. 

 ACES BOD Members Susan Mailhoit and Patrick McCormick are serving as the sponsors of this important program. Their goal is to ensure that our project teams are composed of the optimum numbers of youth corps members and advisors/mentors so each project’s results achieve objectives.

‍

 Individuals interested in connecting with the corps, either as a student member or an advisor/mentor, can send an email message to acesnewburyport@gmail.com with ACES Youth Corps in the subject line.

The Survey was developed by ACES interns and co-coordinators Sam Cooper and Summer Noonan. A link to the survey was shared with residents based social media posts, an article in The Daily News of Newburyport, and emails to tenants, friends,and interested parties It was open from May 10 - June 10, 2020. The analysis of the responses was then performed by Sam Cooper with the support of Carol Meinhart, and Stacey Macmillan

To access the survey results' presentation please click on "Download"

As municipalities are facing rapidly rising and uncontrolled costs for disposal, collection and hauling of waste and landfills are full and closing, and incinerators are near 100% capacity, pro-active action is needed.

An educational campaign, designed to increase awareness of the benefits of composting and promoting the importance of becoming a composter, it will share insights on:

• The degree of on-going composting in Newburyport
• The financial benefits of composting
• The environmental benefits of composting
• The various ways in which residents and organizations can compost
• The practicalities and logistics of composting, including dispelling any myths
• The City’s commitment to overall waste reduction

If you would like to be a part of this team effort to increase composting, please send a note expressing your interest to acesnewburyport@gmail.com with COMPOST TEAM in the subject line.

We are seeking volunteers to help make the campaign come alive via support in such areas as:

• Marketing/Communications - the writing of a variety of documents associated with the overall educational messaging and posting messages via social media and websites
• ‍Publicity –Developing press releases and backgrounders for use with the media and interacting with media contacts‍
• Volunteer Outreach –Helping to connect with and engage other volunteers to work with team member to share the benefits of composting.‍
• Connections with churches and non-profits - Members of churches and/or non-profit organizations located in downtown who can help with outreach to these organizations.

If you would like to be a part of this team effort to increase composting, please send a note expressing your interest to acesnewburyport@gmail.com with COMPOST TEAM in the subject line.

‍

‍

We are looking for individuals with a passion for and experience in social media, public relations, email marketing, blogging, website editing including SEO, and other outreach to join the ACES volunteer team.

‍

The well-being of our environment and the lives of future generations are at risk. Make a difference!  Whatever time an individual can devote to their area of interest is much appreciated. We would welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you, or please pass this along to a friend so that they might reach out to us at acesnewburyport@gmail.com. 

‍

ACES is a 501(C) (3) devoted to fostering stewardship for our planet's well-being now and for future generations. Based in Newburyport, MA, we serve the surrounding area and, ultimately, our globe. We are building an alliance of collaborating organizations, businesses, governmental and educational institutions, and individuals committed to contribute to this end. Our four active initiatives will make a positive impact through collaboration among the alliance members.

‍

‍

The theme is “Why Soil Loves Compost” and, while COVID-19 has eliminated group events, the foundation is using a variety of communication efforts to promote this theme and the value of composting for gardens, communities and the health of the environment, according to a press release.

Newburyport’s Energy and Recycling manager, Molly Ettenborough, said in the release, “Composting is good for our community on a number of levels as it reduces the amount of trash and the ancillary costs associated with waste disposal.

“Additionally, it enriches and maintains moisture in our soils, reduces the need for fertilizers that subsequently enter our water system, encourages the production of beneficial bacteria, and lowers our carbon footprint,” she said.

In addition to improving the health of soil, other key benefits of compost and organics recycling noted by the foundation include: Reduced pesticide and chemical use; a reduction in soil-borne and other plant diseases; reduced methane emissions from landfills; and compost offers a significant answer to climate change mitigation.

In many Essex County communities, there are programs that honor the overall benefits of composting on a local level.

Residents are given the opportunity to build or purchase backyard composting bins and some communities have compost drop-off stations. There is also a curbside pickup service program provided by such firms as Black-Earth Compost at https://blackearthcompost.com/.

To reinforce the overall need to reduce waste and to support community efforts such as Newburyport’s “Toward Zero Waste” initiative, a team of stewards is working to develop a plan and program to maximize participation in composting practices and programs.

Anyone who wants to participate in this project can contact Sarah Hall at Sarahhall7777@gmail.com or acesnewburyport@gmail.com.

‍

If you’ve ever thought about composting, now would be a great time to start. With whole families living and eating at home full time, we are bound to generate significantly more waste than when we were all spending our days at school and work.

We’re also no longer eating in restaurants or traveling. This all adds up to more waste, about half of which is food waste by weight.

Why compost? Our city’s waste goes to an incinerator, and the greater the amount of trash we burn, the more energy is needed. Damp organic waste is harder to burn efficiently, requiring the incinerator to run even longer at higher temperatures.

By removing food scraps from the waste stream, we can help the planet and mitigate the effects of climate change. What’s more, everything that we throw in the compost bin will get turned into fertile soil that will improve planting and farming efforts, making composting a real win/win!

Newburyport residents have three composting options. If you want to do your own composting in your backyard, you can purchase an Earth Machine composter from City Hall for $25.

Another option is to drop off your food waste in a paper or certified compostable bag at the bin at the wastewater treatment plant on Water Street. The third option is to sign up for Black Earth’s weekly curbside pickup for $1.89 per week.

If you’ve ever tried backyard composting, you may have been turned off by the smell and the mess. In this case, I highly recommend signing up for Black Earth’s weekly pickup service online at www.blackearthcomposting.com.

Because they’re a professional facility, you can compost even more than you could in your backyard, including meat, bones, paper towels, coffee filters and oily pizza boxes.

Black Earth uses all composted material to create nutrient-rich soil, great for gardening and planting projects. When you sign up, you can choose to have bags of this soil delivered to your home at no additional cost.

This would allow you to go a step further by ordering some seeds and creating a garden in your backyard. Alternatively, you can opt to have your share of the soil donated to local community garden efforts.

If you have children at Molin/Nock or Newburyport High School, they have some experience with composting in the school cafeteria. Plans are in the works to expand composting to Bresnahan in the fall.

Ask your kids what they’ve learned about composting and get them involved in this easy and effective way to reduce waste and promote environmental stewardship at home.

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Eleni Protopapas. To share any comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

‍

Sarah Hall is a member of the city’s Waste Stream Task Force and secretary of the ACES board of directors.

‍

Caleb Bradshaw, Nock Middle School, eighth grade

The celebration of Earth Day is in some ways similar to that of New Year’s Day. It is a way for people to reflect on their environmental habits from the past year and potentially improve upon them in the upcoming year.

The first time I heard about Earth Day was through social media. Social networking is such a powerful tool for addressing environmental issues.

Reaching out to younger generations like my own through social media can bring awareness to topics like climate change. It is important to realize that the Earth is something that we should take care of and protect. People might not realize it, but the future of our world and its health is up to us.

School systems need to be leaders in teaching kids what it means to be environmentally responsible. They have come up with great ways of exposing kids to more environmentally sustainable habits, such as Ride Your Bike or Walk to School Day, recycling, and more recently, composting.

Extending Earth Day over the full month of April is intended to expand our environmental awareness. Earth Month will provide ample time for all generations to practice sustainable living. It will also allow people to teach others how to conserve more efficiently so future generations can live on a happy and healthy Earth.

Olivia Skibbee, Newburyport High School, 10th grade

As time goes on, the treatment of our environment needs change. The impact that humans have brought upon the Earth needs to be recognized as much as possible before it’s too late for us to do anything about it. Earth Day and Month provide social awareness and environmental knowledge of how we can protect our planet, even in the simplest of ways.

There are countless issues globally that need our attention. Climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, natural resource depletion, etc., cause significant environmental degradation.

Future generations cannot survive without bringing the consciousness of protecting the environment into their daily lives. Earth Day/Month is a way to recognize the hard work of older generations and keep the actions humanity needs to take from being forgotten. Even though Earth Day and Earth Month only come around once a year, that should be enough to remind people how important it is to take care of the place where we live every day.

I know technology has definitely had a huge impact on the well-being of our environment and will continue to do so, not always in the best ways. Technology has caused many disturbances in the environment, such as ecological disruption, global warming, water contamination, etc. It does also offer some benefits, such as finding ways to save water and energy, more efficient health technologies which can save wildlife and more.

However, I think that technology has done more harm than good to the environment, which will most likely get worse unless we do something about it and educate the future generations using Earth Day and Earth Month as a perfect time.

‍

This column was coordinated by ACES YOUTH CORPS member, Eleni Protopapas. To share any comments or questions, please send an email to acesnewburyport@gmail.com. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

‍