News and Insights

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

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.

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"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.

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“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. 

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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.

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 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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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A researcher puts a frog into a pot of boiling water and it hops right out. But if she drops that frog into a pot of tepid water and gradually raises the heat, the frog will stay put until it’s too late.

While factually dubious, the story is a metaphor for how we tend to deal with threatening change. An immediate, pervasive threat, like the coronavirus, grabs our attention, compelling us to respond, while an equally global, dire danger like the ecological crisis is something we feel we can put on the “back burner.”

Of course, for the present our focus needs to be on keeping everyone safe by following best practices. We keep informed, listen to CDC guidelines and comply with sensible government directives. And in navigating our way through coronavirus, we may discover connections that can help us change the course of global warming.

Extinction Rebellion (XR), an international movement to safeguard life on earth, draws parallels, noting “Both [the coronavirus and ecological crisis] reveal our global interconnectedness and vulnerability. Both require truth-telling and cooperation to reduce suffering and save lives.” XR’s foundational demands and principles point to these areas of intersection.

In times of a national emergency, we need facts. Only then can we break through the fog of denial that permeates human nature. We saw this as most countries initially downplayed the contagion but soon came to their senses. Monica Maggioni, journalist and executive with Italian Public Television, explained, “For many Italians, the normal warnings about this virus were simply not enough to change behavior. Denial comes too easily, perhaps. It was more convenient to… pretend that the news was unreal.”

How similar this sounds to our approach to global warming! When wildfires, floods, droughts and food scarcities happen elsewhere, it’s too easy to see them as unrelated misfortunes that do not impact us. When our government and media treat them the same way, our potential to respond remains untapped. But temperatures continue to rise, ice caps continue to melt and species continue to go extinct.

The scientific community has convinced us to face coronavirus even when we are not sick. We are taking their advice to slow down the rate of infection. This is not so with global warming. For decades our governments have ignored scientists’ warnings that we are tumbling toward an uninhabitable planet. Just as with COVID-19, we need to heed the science, tell the truth and act now. Only then can we mobilize the resources to turn away from fossil fuels, and to develop sustainable, cost-effective energy sources. The good news is that solutions already exist; they have been developed by applied scientists and entrepreneurs around the world. The way lies before us. We need only the will to act.

The twin emergencies of pandemic and global warming remind us that life is precarious and precious. If we plow through in emergency mode, we risk forgetting what it is we defend. Extinction Rebellion urges us toward a regenerative culture, which is “healthy, resilient and adaptable,” caring for the planet and for life, reminding us of what we value.

We can emerge from the coronavirus crisis even stronger than before. The invitation then will be to apply the lessons learned to tackle the climate crisis. Let’s not be like those frogs waiting until it’s too late to act.

For more on Extinction Rebellion go to xrmass.org. Nancy Ledoux can be contacted at nancyledoux@comcast.net.

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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

Sam Cooper — NHS junior

Earth and its ecosystems have always been our home. As we all know, life would be impossible without its habitat and resources. In order to achieve a balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, we promote harmony with nature and the Earth on April 22 each year.

Not only does Earth Day symbolize what we cherish most within our serene planet, but also it reminds us of what we have lost and must continue to fight for.

Although a single day of the 365 in a year, Earth Day reminds us about and motivates us toward crucial actions that must be taken for a healthy and safe future.

On the special date, various suggestions during meetings and conversations are brought to light about recycling, energy conservation, increasing plant and tree growth, safe water, respecting nature, reducing toxins in the air, and so much more.

It is crucial that Earth Day be recognized for many years to come so future generations are educated about our strong, yet so fragile planet. While many understand and care about the environment, there are others who need educating and convincing to promote a healthy planet.

Sophie Burns — NHS sophomore

We all know how beautiful Newburyport looks when you’re just coming over the Route 1 bridge from Salisbury, especially just as the sun is setting. You see clean water, and people enjoying the fresh air. How grateful we should be to have this space on Earth that we call home. We should celebrate it.

Earth Month inspires people to reflect on their place in the wider world. Earth Month inspires me to make changes. For instance, I’ve helped my family become more a part of the “zero waste” community by composting. We’re now putting less food waste into the local landfill.

Earth Month gives people an excuse to express their love and support for the planet.

Posters promoting the well-being of the Earth are everywhere with facts about climate change, positive changes people can make, and how to get involved.

We’re all part of a much bigger ecosystem and are so lucky to have these resources to sustain and maybe even improve life for future generations. That is why we should celebrate this Earth.

Lexi Klapes — Nock Middle School, Grade 8

Earth Month is very important to celebrate. It is a great way to teach others about the importance of the environment and the effect we have on it.

Kids, especially the younger ones, might not know a lot about how to keep a cleaner environment.

Especially when I was younger, we didn’t really learn a lot about the importance of ways to make the world better, and how to fight climate change. We weren’t taught what we could do about it. We didn’t really know if we could do anything.

Earth Month is a whole month dedicated to learning about the world we live in and what we can do to help it rather than hurt it. It’s the perfect time to get kids involved, or at least informed, about the climate and what we’re doing to damage it.

Earth Month could even inspire kids to make a change in their community. If they know the damage, they can try to fight the problem. And that shapes a better future for the planet and all of us living on it.

To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, go to: https://www.aces-alliance.org.

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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

Art Currier – ACES

I remember the first Earth Day celebrations in 1970 – March 21 and on April 22. The later was actually a “teach in” and gained significant visibility and momentum.

Environmental activist Sen. Gaylord Nelson wanted the world to become more aware of the multitude of environmental challenges we faced. Each of us now has the opportunity to help the well-being of our future generations by being proactive in honoring a very relevant axiom: “Think globally, work locally, act personally.”

The following are the perspectives of three very passionate ACES interns who are fostering environmental stewardship every day for the benefit of all.

Alyssa Keith – NHS senior

Most people agree that systemic change in the sustainability of our lives is needed for environmental progress. In a society that celebrates technology and the ease of putting eggs into plastic bags, it’s easy to forget that everyday routines will forever be burdening the Earth.

I’m proud Newburyport has taken the step to ban plastic bags along with adopting a plethora of other sustainable practices. While this holds true for my community, we need to ensure that others follow our lead. With April being Earth Month, we can keep encouraging members of our communities and others on a global scale to do the same.

In the past, Earth Day typically has been celebrated over social media by people emptying their camera rolls of aesthetically pleasing landscapes like the beach or vibrant sunset. I think that Earth Month provides a longer period of time for people who would grow by engaging with the environment – participating in actionable activities like beach cleanups.

By making this event more than one day, new relationships will be fostered among people and our planet. My hope is that we can foster more individuals continuing to support and devote time to a cleaner Earth. We want that future generations become intrinsically motivated to help our Earth.

Refraining from plastic or cutting down on red meats can become normalized. I see Earth Month as the New Year’s resolutions for climate activists. It’s the perfect opportunity to kick off a lifelong pursuit to eat less red meat, ride your bike instead of driving to work if possible, and hopefully progress into a more sustainable lifestyle.

Cami Loignon — NHS senior

When I’m reminded of the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” I tend to think about the type of impact Earth Day makes on our lives, kind of like the rumble of a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms are usually brief, but they are loud and leave behind significant changes to our environment.

Similarly, Earth Day brings about a platform where our voices can be amplified on why we want to protect the health of our planet, resonating with the world. A large, collective team can be heard over one individual. In fact, Earth Day emerged in the 1970s, protesting against pollution from spilling oil, polluting the water and spewing smoke into the air.

Following the adrenaline and intensity of social movements in the ‘60s, people began to fight for environmental policy. Early on, people noticed the negative impacts of the industrial revolution and they were angry. Sound familiar?

Greta Thunberg has led millions of people to strike for environmental change. However, the oil industry continues to monopolize the global economy, overriding many environmental policies. Earth Day inspires us to continue to fight – it gives us a voice. If we’re loud enough, perhaps we can pave a road to help the generations to come.

Eleni Protopapas — NHS senior

I believe Earth Month and Earth Day celebrations are important for the well-being of future generations because it exposes them to environmental issues at a young age. I remember in elementary school, Earth Day would be celebrated by the teachers reading children’s books to my classmates, followed by brief assemblies explaining how and what to recycle.

Even minute events like these educated my peers and me on environmental values that were seldom being taught elsewhere. As a senior, I am now able to see growth in our community by witnessing a new generation of students become more educated on how to care for the environment.

I am always thrilled to see elementary-aged children educating their parents by recycling their plastic bottles and picking up litter. By continuing this part of elementary education throughout Earth Month, future generations will be increasingly mindful of pollution, eventually promoting the well-being of our society.

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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

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In today’s world, plastic bags have become ubiquitous because of their low costs, durability, and convenience. For many, plastic bags are considered a necessity when buying groceries or other goods. Unfortunately, plastic bags have been damaging our planet for the past 50 years. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimated the United States uses 100 billion plastic retail bags each year. While our environment continues to suffer from increased production and disposal of plastic bags, some communities have taken action.

Sheila Taintor of Storm Surge explains, “If you apply that to Newburyport, that’s about 4.5 million a year and these bags are aerodynamic. They escape into the environment in a second.”

Newburyport banned plastic bags after the law was signed on Oct. 1, 2014, and became the first city in the commonwealth to do so. This leadership move for the community has resulted in a significant reduction in this form of litter with more citizens using attractive, reusable bags.

However, the nation continues to be plagued by plastic pollution, exacerbated by plastic bags. In his web blog, ecologist David Suzuki explains that “besides accumulating in the ocean, they [plastic bags] litter the streets and natural areas, often clogging drainage systems and contributing to flooding.” Not only do bags accumulate in oceans and harm wildlife, but also they can damage our infrastructure when in large quantities. This is a major issue in more susceptible areas with fragile ecosystems and weaker infrastructure. Plastic bags must be banned in communities around the nation so areas that run a higher risk of being impacted by litter and waste are safer.

Globally, plastic bags constitute the fourth largest volume of material that accumulates in our oceans. According to the Oceans Conservancy 2011 Coastal Cleanup, 969,244 plastic bags were found on the Pacific coast alone (Ocean Litter). In addition, “at least 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year. That’s similar to emptying a garbage truck of plastic into an ocean every minute,” according to the United Nations. These extreme numbers clearly show the dire need for action on limiting plastic bags.

Plastic bags take a considerable amount of time to decompose once littered in the environment. The article Paper Versus Plastic explains that “light breaks plastic down so it photodegrades rather than biodegrade. Estimates say that this process can take up to 500 or even 1,000 years” (McGrath). So plastic bags may be useful for the time being, but they are disposed of, rarely used again, and take hundreds of years to decompose. Their inability to biodegrade proves another reason single-use plastic bags should be eliminated.

All plastic contributes to the CO2 emissions challenge as plastic is a petroleum product. Therefore, we will be wise to eliminate single-use plastic bottles and packaging as well as plastic bags. Because of the nation’s increase in plastic bag, bottle, and packaging production, our earth is harmed and we are setting up future generations for the worst.

While some may argue that plastic bags offer efficiency, most agree that plastic bags are detrimental to many forms of life. Plastic bags damage ecosystems and areas where infrastructure isn’t advanced. In addition, they take many hundreds of years to decompose. Lastly, the production of plastic bags depletes the availability of crucial fossil fuels.

In order to promote the general welfare and safety for our future generations, the banning of plastic bags is a responsible, proactive step, as proven by the evidence above. I believe human beings should demonstrate enough care for future generations to take actions that will make a difference and not let laziness result in another ecosystem’s problem. Likewise, I hope everyone will request that every Massachusetts state representative support the passage of the bill that has been passed by the state Senate, so we can join the eight states that have banned single-use plastic bags and the more than 100 Massachusetts communities that have already instituted bans.

Sam Cooper is the president of the junior class at Newburyport High School, vice president of the Interact Club, a member of the Environmental Club and an intern for ACES. He can be reached at samcooper821@gmail.com.

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This column was coordinated by ACES Intern and NHS Senior, Eleni Protopapas, who can be reached at eleniprotopapas@gmail.com to share any comments or questions. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

Fifty years ago, the world was home to 2.7 billion people. We are now approaching 8 billion people – almost triple in our lifetime. How could that kind of growth, those kinds of numbers, not make an impact on our planet? Global warming, indeed!

But rather than sign up for the passenger list for Elon Musk’s Mars colonization mission, maybe we need to look at how we can utilize our current resources better.

In the Newburyport area, we are lucky. We are leaders at saving the planet. Let’s look at it from a micro, mini and macro perspective.

At a micro level, we excel at residents recycling – look at those containers chock full on garbage day – and the use of the compost program, even though it costs extra.

Another piece of evidence: Crowds every first Saturday at the recycle center swapping items, bringing in electronics, Styrofoam, used oil and metal. The success of the Repair Café at the Senior Community Center is another data point. Newburyporters are getting very good at the six R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose, recycle. But we can get better.

Now, let’s turn to examples at the mini level of environmental action. What other small cities have this many options for ridesharing or commuting?

The bus options at the Park & Ride (thanks, C&J!), the local MVRTA bus routes, even the fact that we are at the “rail’s end” and can take advantage of a train to Boston and beyond. Why drive when you can ride? And many locals do ride – especially their bikes on our local bike trails. Check off another one for carbon footprint reduction.

What we often ignore is the macro level contribution we make: our homes. We’ve had an unprecedented growth in solar rooftops. A large part of our housing stock is 1850 and earlier.

Both of those facts put us in an enviable position when it comes to our contribution to the environment. How many trees have we saved by avoiding new construction?

Maybe, that’s a new set of R’s: rent, resell, rehabilitate. Energy awareness programs have made many of our 200-plus-year-old homes as tight as 20-year-old homes.

We tend to live on smaller plots of land. We inhabit an unprecedented number of half houses and have converted many larger homes into condos. Homes have been on their lots forever, built using local materials. I think we don’t give ourselves enough credit.

The Dallas suburbs we are not, and it has paid off, not only environmental dividends, but destination dividends as well – Newburyport history, and our historic homes, make this the place to visit.

Let’s not take all that for granted. Every horsehair plaster wall we tear down, every early growth woodwork we throw out adds to waste and contributes to climate change.

But we Newburyporters are a frugal bunch. If you are like me, gutting a room – or a home – is a last resort. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Add housing preservation to the environmental awareness list.

Recently, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, an investment management firm, said that climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects.

Homeowners, like companies, have a vested interest in climate change and what it does to our pocketbooks in the next 30 years.

Says Larry: What will happen to the 30-year mortgage – a key building block of finance – if lenders can’t estimate the impact of climate risk over such a long timeline, and if there is no viable market for flood or fire insurance in impacted areas?

While government must lead the way in this climate transition, companies and investors also have a meaningful role to play. But when it comes to climate change, it’s the decision we make as individuals, whether at the micro, mini or macro level, that ultimately will make a difference.

Let’s continue to treat our old Newburyport homes like the climate assets they are by minimizing wholesale reconstruction, interior gutting or tear-downs. Not just for history’s sake – but for the climate’s sake as well.

Jack Santos, a 12-year resident of Newburyport, is a research vice president and chief of research for enterprise architecture and technology innovation with Gartner Inc. He is also an ACES adviser contributing to the development of IT and overall systems. He can be reached at iam@jacksantos.com.

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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

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You have a love of the natural world and a desire to keep it nice. Lately, you’ve been anxious about how urgent our climate crisis has become. Even if you can’t participate with Greta Thunberg in a public march or testify at the Statehouse for a particular piece of legislation, you still can do something about the environment.

As an individual with lots of friends online, you can use your social media voice on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to advocate for climate and the environment. You can also check out ACES, the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, focused on supporting a wide range of existing organizations to multiply their local impact with partnering efforts.

Here’s my experience trying to do what I’m suggesting you might like to try. Since becoming active on ACES’ marketing and communications team, I decided to learn about Twitter as a way that I might personally help the cause. So in October 2018, impressed by the power of Twitter in the public discourse, I decided to begin tweeting as myself, not as ACES, but congruent with their ideals.

Here’s a little bit about the things I’ve learned and what I think it has accomplished. First, I opened a Twitter account by going online and signing up. It began pretty awkwardly as I learned to compose and send tweets, follow others who tweeted topics I was interested in and began liking and retweeting others’ good content.

I slowly learned the value of using a hashtag word such a #climate to reach others who look for their hashtags of interest. Similarly, I learned you can copy your tweet specifically to another person by using their easy-to-find Twitter handle.

For example, @GinaNRDC is Gina McCarty, who is the former head of the EPA, now heading up the National Resources Defense Council. Or  @DianaDiZoglio is the Twitter handle of Greater Newburyport’s state senator.

Soon, I discovered Twitter’s analytics pages and began doing more of what worked to attract readers and less of what fell flat. As I learned more, my content began to change as I developed more interesting sources.

On a typical day, I like to read morning stories in a few different news or magazine sources, or do a quick search for climate ideas or art that is topical and timely.

Then, I write several tweets relating it, if possible, to local or state climate issues. I strive to have a bigger-picture issue related locally and to include a photo or graphics as eye catchers. Often, I’ll retweet someone else’s good ideas.

Today, my profile has evolved to “GreenTalkDaily Leaning Forward on Climate & Environment – News, Ideas & Culture”

After a year, I’m following 1,144 other tweeters. I’m followed by 420 people or groups. Most are individuals like me but some are prominent, including one international climate agency, as well as several scientists, people in the media and experts with much bigger followings.

Now, I’m averaging 2,200 readers a day with high-water marks above 10,000 on a given day. It’s not a viral thing yet and it’s hard to know definitely, but I hope readers find something useful or motivational in their own efforts at helping climate.

My goal for the first year was to learn how to use this tool effectively and maybe to find a voice or theme that could help move forward my climate concerns. I think it’s been working so far.

It may be an idea you’d like to consider, not just on Twitter but on whatever social platforms or letters to the editor you prefer.

If you want to help the environment, why not specifically resolve in 2020 to communicate about it? Start a podcast like Dyke Hendrickson’s “Life Along the Merrimack.”

Post on Facebook or Instagram, cross-post some ideas to friends. You can be and maybe are already active on social media. Why not establish or expand your personal brand as a climate communicator? Your voice can make a difference.

Meanwhile, check out Twitter for a few ideas, and join the ACES Facebook group, www.aces-alliance.org, or take a few nature photos to post on Instagram. Begin your own climate and environmental storytelling and help rescue the future.

Ron Martino lives in Newburyport and is online at GreenTalkDaily@ronmartino4.

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

A commitment to environmental stewardship, on a local and global level, is at the core of the Montessori Method represented by the River Valley Charter School, a local public Montessori school serving students in grades K-8. Since the school’s doors opened 20 years ago, the students, teachers, and the greater school community have worked to foster change and awareness of the environment by educating the school community and taking action to leave the world better than they found it.

River Valley teachers, students, and families work hard to live the axiom “Think Globally, Work Locally, and Act Personally!” Three groups exemplify this commitment: the middle school’s Environmental Coalition, a group of elementary students who are specifically focused on the climate crisis; River Valley’s staff and administration; and the Board of Trustees, who work to ensure the school operates with an eye toward environmental and sustainability efforts.

River Valley middle school students, with the support of two teachers, began an Environmental Coalition at the beginning of this school year. Their goal was to raise awareness and educate the school community about environmental issues while also affecting change throughout the school and beyond. During its first few months, the coalition participated in the local rally of the global climate strike. Next, they identified the goal of a “zero waste lunch.” Members of the coalition educated younger students on how to pack their lunches in reusable packaging, teaching them about sustainability. The long-term goal is to eliminate waste from school lunches completely. Looking forward, the coalition plans to work collaboratively with the Newburyport Tree Commission to plant trees around the city this spring. The Environmental Coalition provides an inspiring model of the impact student-led actions can make.

River Valley’s upper elementary students also began an environmental group to coordinate recycling and a composting program that both staff and grade K-8 students participate in. Students use the nutrient-rich compost to support school-based gardening. Another initiative among the grade 4-6 students is an ongoing, school wide cleanup of school grounds during recess. Students walk around the building, and sometimes along Perry Way, picking up trash to help beautify their surroundings. Such actions are crucial for students to build life-long habits which can have a far-reaching environmental impact.

River Valley Charter School staff, administration, and trustees model environmental stewardship as well. Faculty’s professional development activities includes an Environmental Project Group. About once a month, teachers get together to brainstorm ways the school can further its commitment to environmental stewardship. One example of this work was the elimination of plastic-based scotch tape from the engineering program, switching to cellulose-based Sellotape instead. The school has moved away from single-use food ware including paper plates, plastic-ware and paper napkins. Every staff member was welcomed back at the beginning of the year with a cloth napkin to use instead of paper. (The school has a washing machine onsite to clean them).

Another professional development activity included taking staff on an outing aboard the local public bus system so teachers would learn about, and consider, public bus transport for field trips. Administration has worked to eliminate as much paper-based communication as possible, using electronic and cloud-based communication and registration when possible. Lastly, the RVCS Board of Trustees invested in the environmental future, approving the installation of 359 solar panels on the roof of the school in 2018. These provide 130,000 kilowatts of energy each year!

These actions, and many more, demonstrate that the students, staff, and school community at River Valley Charter School are fully engaged in making an impact on the world, globally, locally, and personally. River Valley’s efforts and actions codify school’s commitment to both leading and creating leaders who will ensure environmental stewardship is at the forefront of everything we do.

For more information, contact school director Jonnie Lyn Evans at jlevans@rivervalleycharter.org or visit the website: https://www.rivervalleycharter.org/

Dan Bouchard is assistant director of River Valley Charter School in Newburyport.

This column was coordinated by ACES Intern and NHS Senior, Eleni Protopapas, who can be reached at eleniprotopapas@gmail.com to share any comments or questions. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

Every day in Newburyport, excited students use newfound STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills and knowledge to design and conduct science experiments, and to engineer solutions to real world problems.

They design water purification systems, use coding to program robots, plant and maintain gardens, and model erosion mitigation and habitat restoration at Plum Island. Each of our students, starting in preschool, uses the tools of math and science to experience problem-based learning, which increases teacher and student STEM knowledge, skills, and engagement.

Combining and using classroom learning, connecting with local scientists and climate experts, and collaborating and communicating with peers become our best hope to combat critical environmental threats facing all of us today and in the future. Our kids truly embrace the ACES purpose “to positively impact our environment’s health and our planet’s climate” through their interdisciplinary learning.

Six years ago, the Newburyport Public School leadership team decided to make a serious commitment to STEM education in our schools. Since then, the opportunities for all students, especially our youngest scientists and engineers, have grown tremendously.

Using a myriad of funding sources including the school budget, the Newburyport Education Foundation, and other grants and local funders, NPS has created STEM programming at every school available to every student, and adopted hands-on, standards-based materials K-12.

The largest impact has been on elementary students who now have high-quality integrated science and STEM courses, resulting in a “pipeline” of kids going into middle school with strong backgrounds in the applied science, technology and engineering competencies necessary for success in school and beyond.

Research shows that effective teaching in elementary school is a make-or-break factor for future STEM success, and therefore significant resources have been provided to support teacher professional learning.

A key component to our STEM units and modules is an intentional focus on global and local energy and sustainability issues. For instance, in a kindergarten STEMscopes module titled “Reducing Human Impact,” students are asked to sort types of pollution into threats to land, water or air. They are presented with a picture card and tasked with identifying the type of pollution depicted and then, with a partner, which part of the environment is most polluted by the effects of the item.

An answer may be as simple as, “I think this kind of pollution is smoke from a factory, and I think it pollutes air.” A follow-up question may ask, “What are some things people can do to help prevent pollution?” Even small children will say, “Throw litter in trash cans; don’t burn things like piles of leaves or trash; don’t throw things that don’t belong into lakes and oceans.”

Today, environmental education is a consistent focus through the elementary grades, becoming more sophisticated as students consider how to mitigate threats to our local and global environments through middle and high school.

This important and intentional educational pathway meets the NPS goals of insuring student acquisition of 21st century skills and competencies; developing positive STEM interest, engagement, attitude and behavior; and providing an increased knowledge and awareness of STEM college and career options.

These experiences also align to the ACES goal to define, monitor and promote relevant assets (programs, products and services) that contribute to the area’s overall foundation for climate and environmental stewardship initiatives.

Imagine how the culture of the school and community will change when every one of our K-12 students has been encouraged to “Think globally, work locally, and act personally” throughout their time in the Newburyport Public Schools!

Elizabeth F. Kinzly, Ed.D., is the PK-8 STEM coordinator for Newburyport Public Schools

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This column was coordinated by ACES Intern and NHS Senior, Eleni Protopapas, who can be reached at eleniprotopapas@gmail.com to share any comments or questions. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as it celebrates what is most important to me: family, friends, and good food. When asked to write this column with the theme of “Fostering Environmental Stewardship,” I immediately thought of gratitude. I have been the wildlife biologist at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for 17 years. The refuge and the US. Fish and Wildlife Service (our parent agency) have a small staff with lofty goals. Our mission is to preserve America’s diversity of wildlife for the enjoyment of current and future generations. To meet this mission, we rely heavily on volunteers, partners, and community members.

Each year, an average of 160 people donate over 5,000 hours volunteering at the refuge. As a mom to two kids, I know how precious free time can be. What makes these volunteers donate their valuable time? I’ve heard many answers: caring about community, helping wildlife or the planet, being outdoors, being active, having fun, learning new things, connecting with people, and helping out the refuge staff. The enthusiasm, joy, and wonder of these volunteers remind me how lucky I am to have my job.

A colleague recently told me that she may be suffering from climate trauma. Indeed, the news from climate scientists can be scary and disheartening. However, I am optimistic about the future of the refuge and local communities in the face of climate change. I have observed first-hand how resilient nature can be. Big storms bring dramatic change that can be alarming, like erosion and big tidal surges. But these large events also make natural places more resilient. Last year, Winter Storm Grayson deposited about 10 years’ worth of sediment on top of salt marshes from Boston to Maine. This built critical elevation that will help the marsh keep up with sea level rise, protecting adjacent homes and communities.

More than appreciating nature’s resilience, taking proactive actions to mitigate climate impacts contributes to my optimism. Working with partners, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has developed several techniques that will restore the ebb and flow of water on the marsh, helping it adapt to the coming changes.

Additionally, many community members have taken individual actions that will help the marsh and the communities be more resilient. For 13 years, hundreds of volunteers braved heat and greenheads to pull perennial pepper weed, an invasive plant that has invaded our salt marshes. Many mention that they are thrilled to be able to do something about invasive plants after years of watching them take over their favorite places. Their collective efforts have made a difference, as they have eradicated this invasive plant from more than 100 locations.

In many towns, ongoing debates continue about how best to make the local roads and other infrastructure more resilient to climate change. Town officials and community members are wrestling with how to balance costs, short and long-term impacts of various mitigation strategies, and impacts to residents. They have also taken time to learn the latest science to understand how these mitigation actions will affect long-term viability of town infrastructures and natural communities.

Many local residents have planted native plants, installed rain barrels and rain gardens, used green lawn care practices, and done what they can in their own yards. These actions, although individually small, collectively have a huge impact on how our communities will fare in the coming storms. The ability of water to infiltrate the ground more quickly means reduced flooding in our towns and less runoff in our rivers. Planting native shrubs, trees, and flowers provides important food and shelter for insects, birds, and other wildlife.

This Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for many things in my life, including the fact that I can work to mitigate climate impacts and still be optimistic about the future. For that, I would like to thank all the volunteers, partners, and community members that chose to use their valuable time to make a difference in their own way.

The refuge works as part of the Great Marsh Coalition to increase awareness and appreciation of the local salt marshes and to promote community stewardship of the Great Marsh. If you are interested in getting involved, visit http://greatmarsh.org or https://parkerriver.org.

Nancy Pau is a wildlife biologist at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island.

This column was coordinated by ACES Intern and NHS Senior, Eleni Protopapas, who can be reached at eleniprotopapas@gmail.com to share any comments or questions. To learn more about ACES and our Youth Leadership Initiative, please view our WEBSITE –  https://www.aces-alliance.org

The ALLIANCE OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, Inc. (ACES) is a 501C3 corporation devoted to fostering environmental stewardship by building an alliance of collaborating organizations, businesses, NGOs, governmental bodies, educational institutions and individuals committed to contributing to the well-being of future generations.

Our Purpose is to foster stewardship and motivate action that positively impacts our environment’s health and the planet’s climate.

Our Values

‍We are committed to collaboration, efficiency, integrity, innovation, learning, sustainability, and respect for science, as well as for each other.

Our Approach

‍ACES selects important initiatives needing multiple ally support. We operate with a respectful, collaborative and dialogue-based approach to planning and operations. Supported by a minimal volunteer staff, project/task teams develop plans and collect data and information that can be shared with participating parties. We value protecting the assets of the community, including all forms of infrastructure and natural resources that can be impacted by global warming and environmental degradation.

Our Vision for 2021

‍Our initiatives are addressing climate change, environmental and economic health related concerns. ACES provides networking opportunities, helps identify shared interests/initiatives, and offers organizational development, marketing, communications, best practices and financial support. The leadership team is a multi-aged group of individuals committed to improving the legacy of the planet for the well-being of our youth and future generations. This is all about their future quality of life.

Our Overarching Goal for the Next 3 Years‍

Guided by a leadership team and supported by an engaged board and advisors, the organization will employ best practices to:

• Establish an organization of inspired stewards with the capacity, structure and processes to gather, organize, and share resources needed develop and coordinate initiatives which enhance the health of our environment.
  

• Work collaboratively “in-service” to a network of ever-growing allies toward achieving their specific goals and objectives.
  

• Define, monitor and promote relevant assets (knowledge, programs, products and services) that support the area’s overall foundation for climate and environmental stewardship initiatives.
  

• Contribute to building community resiliency in the face of climate change (Medium Term Adaptation and Mitigation)
• Contribute to slowing the rate of global warming and lowering our carbon footprint (Long Term Mitigation Effect).

People and Structure

‍Individuals involved with ACES are committed to its expressed purpose of impacting climate change and promoting environmental well-being. Supporters are pro-active about making a meaningful contribution in an area of personal interest, willingly sharing their passion and knowledge with others.

Their professional and personal backgrounds vary, but they are united in their interest to ensure the realization of ACES’ purpose. A supportive and inspiring culture honors the power of collaboration and the passions, interests and contributions of each individual. We are committed to working with and supporting youth to develop an ever growing number of environmental stewards.

Scope

‍Long-term success will be measured by our contribution to enhancing our quality of life and the achievement of the above goals. Ultimately, we will serve as a model for establishing collaborative approaches to stewardship beyond the Greater Newburyport base.

Current 2019 initiatives include working on

1. ‍Spring and Fall Cleanup Campaigns
2. The Healthy Merrimack River Initiative
3. Nurturing Environmental Stewardship and Mindfulness, initially among youth
4. “Fostering Environmental Stewardship” – a guest opinion column series in collaboration with the Newburyport Daily News.

If you or your organization is interested in learning more about working together toward advancing environmental stewardship, please contact Art Currier at artcurrier40@gmail.com / call 508-243-5273 or reach us on this website.

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Purpose of Study

The Merrimack River has always been a place that enabled commerce, travel and recreation for the people and communities lucky enough to access it. But that access has come at a price as population density continues to rise, and industries, shopping malls and office space continue to expand. The result is that the Merrimack again appears threatened by pollution.

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Our changing climate is causing a higher frequency of extreme weather events such as storms, hurricanes, heat waves, and floods – all of which can have serious impacts on the employees, operations, and finances of local businesses.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges businesses around the world will need to tackle in the coming years. It is also however, one of the greatest economic opportunities of our time. Taking action on climate change pushes us to reimagine a more sustainable world where striving for a better way to do business becomes the norm.

Our mission at the Climate Action Business Association (CABA) is to help address the climate crisis by organizing local business leaders to be more effective advocates for and stewards of climate action within their businesses and communities, as well as at the state, national, and even international levels.

CABA is a project of Climate XChange, our parent organization, that focuses on research, media, and advocacy for smart and ambitious climate policy. Through this partnership we are able to provide businesses with the resources needed to better understand how policies and business decisions can lead to a sustainable future. We equip business leaders with science-based research and innovative tools to take action on the climate crisis through adaptation and mitigation avenues, and provide avenues for stakeholders to leverage their voice as influencers in their community.

Our Businesses Acting Rising Seas (BARS) campaign is an award-winning program that educates local businesses about the impacts of climate change and prepares them for impending natural disasters. We have engaged with 900-plus businesses in more than 20 communities through this program along the coast in Massachusetts, including Newburyport. The campaign provides resources and critical data to local businesses, and it gives them the tools necessary to be resilient and protected in the face of rising seas and extreme weather. CABA’s Small Business Resilience Guide offers small businesses ways to protect themselves and steps to become more resilient to these global challenges.

The Newburyport Small Business Resilience Guide is available on our website at https://cabaus.org/businesses-acting-on-rising-seas/

In addition to building resilient local business communities, we deploy trained teams to talk to local businesses about how they are preparing for climate change impacts and together we explored the resources and tools businesses need to better adapt and become more resilient. We have used this research to develop a comprehensive report to get to the heart of this issue and offer solutions to take action and prepare. You can download the report at: https://cabaus.org/businesses-acting-on-rising-seas/

In striving toward a more secure and resilient future, we must acknowledge the vulnerabilities of our local businesses when it comes to climate impacts. Our communities are at the foundation of our economic vitality and can be the key to increased resilience in the face of climate change.

CABA’s programming and engagement is made possible through donations and contributions to our Tesla Carbon Raffle. If you are interested in learning more about our work and becoming involved visit https://climate-xchange.org/donate/#For-businesses or at https://carbonraffle.org.

Kristin Kelleher, the programs director of the Climate Action Business Association, grew up in Newbury. She can be reached at Kristin.Kelleher@cabaus.org.

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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

Just two years ago, Newburyport’s Environmental Club had four active members. However, at our past meeting, on Sept. 17, a group of 30 students sat down to discuss issues plaguing the high school and our community.

Why the sudden resurgence and gain in members?

Our generation is recognizing the urgency to act in protecting our planet, even if that means starting with our own small school. Environmental Club (E-Club) began with the intent of fostering a deeper understanding of how we can be conscious consumers, media users and stewards of the environment.

Over the past years, our club has collected batteries, markers, started composting at the high school and most importantly, installed five water bottle filling stations around the school.

These fillers eliminate the need for students to purchase the infamous Dasani single-use plastic bottles. E-Club President Noah Keller says, “There is an epidemic at our school of students mindlessly punching in their lunch combination to buy bottled water daily.”

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These fillers create a win-win-win. Students win because they don’t have to wait until lunch to quench their thirst; parents win because they aren’t wasting money; and most importantly, the Earth wins because plastic is avoided.

In order to achieve these accomplishments, a dedicated group of students has made a commitment. Despite the stereotypical tree-hugging, plant-eating, plastic-loathing climate crusaders our peers might think we are, NHS’ Environmental Club consists of a diverse group of students with varying levels of stewardship.

Most of us don’t really care if people eat red meat or sometimes forget to compost. The club exists primarily to educate others! For example, one of our first activities will be to design homemade compost bins along with a guide to hand out to classmates. This activity aligns nicely with our club’s goal to emphasize the importance of enjoying our Earth.

It’s no secret that the rise of media and popularity of smartphones has enabled students to access news stories with a few clicks. While the accessibility of these stories may seem like a blessing, these posts have caused additional stress.

Waking up and scrolling past a story of the Amazon rainforest burning, to a colorless coral reef, to a skeletal polar bear makes me feel like it is my responsibility to fix climate change, bring color back to the reefs and nourish polar bears back to health.

However, the Environmental Club has taught me that it’s equally important to engage in introspective practices of meditation, swimming or even napping in the grass.

Grounding ourselves and learning to appreciate nature can help remind us of why we fight for our political leaders to accept the era of the Green New Deal.

In fact, just this past Friday, some members of the Environmental Club left school to attend the Climate Strike in Boston. We marched in the streets with peers holding signs that read, “We’re skipping our lessons to teach you one” and “Denial is not policy.”

The day concluded with us entering the Statehouse to demand the declaration of a climate emergency and for the state to stop using fossil fuels and building fossil fuel infrastructure. E-Club member Cami Loignon-Gagnon pointed out after the march “the turnout of this Climate Strike was incredible compared to the one last spring. It’s time for our leaders to do their part.”

Although Newburyport High School’s environmental policies may not be on the news (yet!), we maintain our efforts to make change within our own community in order to progress nationally. The Environmental Club has plans to do just that.

Full article: https://www.newburyportnews.com/opinion/columns/commentary-environmental-club----stewards-in-action/article_e8db3b99-15a3-5f2c-9d3e-b62be5ecf80a.html

In our history, local food drives – the collection of nonperishables purchased by community members – were a vital part of filling the shelves in Our Neighbors’ Table’s food pantries. Early partnerships with local stores like Stop & Shop and Vermette’s yielded a trunk full of surplus bread or desserts. But for most of our 27 years, most of our food came either from food drives, direct purchases or from a food bank. Today, things look a little different. More than 25% of the food that stocks our markets is “rescued” from local retailers and wholesalers, redirected from landfills to our shelves and ultimately to neighbors who can really use it.

Our Neighbors’ Table (ONT), based in Amesbury, has been providing dignified food assistance to northeastern Essex County since 1992. In 2016, we turned the traditional food pantry model on its head, replacing it with a one-of-a-kind grocery market that guests and community members have likened to Stop & Shop or Whole Foods. In 2018, more than 4,000 people living in Greater Newburyport shopped for groceries in our markets, now located in Amesbury, Newburyport and Merrimac. In 2018 we declared Amesbury a “Food-Secure City” and now set our sights on doing the same in Salisbury, Merrimac and Newburyport by the end of 2020.

While serving our neighbors in need is our primary mission, “rescuing” food and being good stewards of our land have also become important parts of our operation. Here are just a few of the ways ONT is lessening the impact of waste on our environment:

Keeping food out of landfills. Every year, the American food system throws out billions of pounds of perfectly good food. This food is rejected because of packaging, restrictive guidelines and because we’ve been trained to only take a perfectly red apple. Since Jan. 1, ONT has already diverted 250,000 pounds of high quality, wholesome food (mostly meats, vegetables, and other valuable perishables) from the landfill to our market shelves.

Minimizing our own waste. ONT partners with local pig farmers for food waste and recycles its paper, metal and plastic waste. We are selective about the food donations we accept and work to educate our volunteers, donors and guests on the truth about “ugly” fruits and vegetables. We hope this will foster their own smarter shopping as well.

Minimizing household waste. Traditional food pantries often ration and pre-determine the selection of foods. This approach actually encourages shoppers to stockpile from week to week until they have enough of an item to have enough to feed a family. At ONT, shoppers are welcomed to take what and how much they need and can trust that the food supply is consistent and accessible every week. As a result, guests have reduced the amount of food they take each week by more than 10% and, most importantly, they use everything they take.

Providing incentives for re-usable bags. Like everyone else, we also hate plastic shopping bags. But not everyone can afford re-usable bags – and sometimes we just forget them at home! We’ve distributed thousands of re-usable bags and use fun incentives like gift card raffles to encourage our shoppers to bring them each week. We’re a long way from the finish line, but I’d guess we’ve since cut our use of plastic bags by more than 50%.

There’s still a long way to go for the mainstream food industry, from restaurants to grocery store patrons, to become better shoppers and reduce waste in our food supply chain. For now, ONT has been able to put that surplus and rejected food to good use. I’d also like to think we can serve as a model for us all to change the way we take food for granted and lessen our own footprints in the vast land of food waste.

Lyndsey Haight is executive director of Our Neighbors’ Table. On the web at ourneighborstable.org.

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

In the beginning, covering most of our planet, there were trees. We have to believe, and I think most of us do, that the Earth knew what it was doing.

Trees provide food, shelter, clean air, healthy soil, beauty – a healthy planet and a healthier us. As we learn more and more about trees, the list of benefits grows longer and longer.

Newburyport’s Tree Commission, founded in 2002, had been furiously planting street trees for several years when we started to talk about ways to make the commission’s mission more understood. Fortunately, we had already established a nonprofit, though it had been dormant for some years.

In 2015, The Friends of Newburyport Trees perked up, created a board, a post office box, a logo, a brochure and a website, and we were in business.

Now, we could do more to help publicize the work of the Tree Commission. We had all had the experience, when out pruning and mulching our young trees, or placing or removing the Treegator watering bags, of being approached by citizens expressing their enthusiasm and support for what we do and even offering to make donations. It was clear that many people wanted to be more involved in our efforts.

It’s expensive to purchase, plant and care for a tree – about $650! Now, as a nonprofit, we could accept these much-needed donations.

We’ve developed other projects to encourage awareness and participation:

Adopt a tree – By donating the cost of a new tree, residents who want a street tree planted in front of their house can hasten the process.

The Recognition Tree – A donation purchases a stainless steel “leaf” hung on a bas-relief sculpture installed on the Clipper City Rail Trail. The leaf is engraved to honor or acknowledge a person or organization.

Edible Avenue – A large site on the rail trail is being planted with native species, all of which offer some edible part – a flower, a root, a leaf, a nut, a fruit. These plants are for anyone to enjoy. We look forward to conducting tours of the area for students and others.

A Tree Commission intern, with TC and FoNT volunteers, created a “Guide to Newburyport Trees” – a color field guide to trees commonly planted as street trees.

The Tree Commission has planted and cared for well over 1,000 trees. FoNT and scores of residents have helped make Newburyport considerably leafier than it was 17 years ago.

This fall, in the Tree Commission’s biannual planting, 47 more trees will be going in. We are very pleased with what we have accomplished with the help of the city, the DPW, the Community Preservation Committee, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and you.

We all benefit from our healthier and more abundant urban tree canopy.

Jane Niebling is a member of the Newburyport Tree Commission. For more about Friends of Newburyport Trees, go to www.fontrees.org.

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