Environmental Happenings

New store hours at F.W. Horch in Brunswick:
Mon 9:30-4, T-F 9:30-7, Sat: 9:30-6, Sun Closed.

Events in Maine

TODAY Thursday, April 2 - Carbon Nation: Maine’s Role in Solving the Climate Crisis, 6:00 pm, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland. Join Conservation Law Foundation and the League of Young Voters for a sneak peek of the upcoming documentary Carbon Nation. This distinctive film strives to find global warming solutions on the local level rather than focusing on the vast problem. Come be a part of the solution and learn about local and state actions Maine can take to address the crucial challenge of climate change. To watch a clip of the documentary, see www.carbonnation.tv

TODAY Thursday, April 2 - Community-Based Lobster Science, 7:00 pm, Bath City Hall. Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB) for the seventh presentation in this season’s Winter Speaker Series. This evening's presentation features Diane Cowan, Director of The Lobster Conservancy. To receive more information on FOMB’s programs call Misty Gorski, Executive Coordinator, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, at 582-5608 or fomb@gwi.net. Full speaker schedule and biographies are available on the web at www.friendsofmerrymeetingbay.org.

Friday, April 3 - Town Hall Meeting on the Economy, Health Care, War, and the Environment, 6:30 pm, Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland. Sponsored by fifty grassroots organizations, this Town Hall is a chance for citizens to share our vision for what our elected officials and our nation should be doing to deal with our multiple crises at this important time. Democracy only works if the people build it. More information available on the Peace Action Maine web site.

Sunday, April 5 - Japanese and Siberian Irises, 1:00 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Brunswick Park and Gardens is hosting a garden talk by Sharon Whitney of Eartheart Gardens of Harpswell. Sharon will show slides and discuss the culture of Japanese and Siberian irises. Much of Sharon’s experience comes from her years of association with famed iris breeder D r. Currier McEwen who developed more than a hundred new varieties of irises during his career. Talk is free and open to the public. For more information call 833-5125.

Thursday, April 9 - Gardeners of the Spirit, 7 pm, F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies, Brunswick. Filmmaker Eric Herter will show and discuss his inspirational documentary film, "Gardeners of the Spirit." The film covers the works of 'gardeners of the spirit' across the US, as they build community through the collaborative creation of peaceful, beautiful green sanctuaries in cities, schools, hospitals and prisons. Seating is limited, so please reserve a space by calling us at 729-4050.

Thursday, April 16 - Solar Energy Open House, 6-7:30 pm, 8 Abby Lane, Richmond. How might a solar energy system work in your home? What type of performance can you expect here in Maine? How much does a system cost and what's the payback? Join ReVision Energy to find out the answers to these questions and more! Call Jen at 221-6342 if you have any questions or want to know more about this event.

Sunday, May 3 - Native Orchids, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Save the date for this next Brunswick Park and Gardens presentation: Jeff Deetz, an orchid expert from Massachusetts, will discuss native orchids.

Thursday, May 7 - Legal Advocacy: Fighting for Environmental Justice, 7:00 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Featuring David Nicholas, Attorney-at-Law, this event is part of a series sponsored by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay with support and valuable door prizes from Patagonia Outlet in Freeport. Free and open to the public.

News and Views

For the first time since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a "victory garden," a working garden at the White House will provide fresh produce for the presidential kitchen. On March 20, Michelle Obama helped break ground on the new garden which will grow butterhead and red leaf lettuce, spinach, broccoli, onions, carrots and peas, plus a range of herbs. The first family is in good company: seed companies are reporting record sales to home gardeners this year.