Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Environmental Happenings

F.W. Horch hours: Mon by appointment, Tue-Sat 9:30-6, Sun Closed.
 
Global News
 
Federal officials have reopened more than 5,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico to fishing, now that a temporary cap is in place over the damaged oil well from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. More than one quarter of United States waters in the Gulf remain closed to fishing. Officials estimate that at least 200 million gallons of oil flowed into the ocean between April and July. Scientists are now investigating the effects of this unprecedented event, with particular concern about the widespread use of chemical dispersants that were used to keep the oil suspended in the water.
 
State News
 
Maine homeowners can get up to $5,500 for energy efficiency projects with new state and federal incentives. According to Efficiency Maine, "Homeowners simply need to sign up by August 31, 2010 and submit their Rebate Reservation Form by September 30, 2010 to be eligible." For more information, visit Efficiency Maine.
 
Local Events

Thursday, August 12 - Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine, 7 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick.  Bode von Franken is the artist also known as Robert Van Vranken. He now lives off grid in Brunswick, due to a series of unintentional events. Join Bode to explore the journey from the familiar life connected to the electricity grid to the unexpected freedom of living off grid. For more information, please call 729-4050. Free and open to the public.

Monday, August 16 - Image Gazer Film Festival, 12:00-1:30 pm, Ellsworth Grand Auditorium.  See the Natural Resources Council of Maine's documentary film, "Protecting the Nature of Maine," being shown as part of the Image Gazer Film Festival. The film will be shown from  along with another film, "Planting Hope." A one-day pass to view all movies is $10, a three-day pass is $25.  For more information, visit www.imagegazer.org.

Tuesday, August 17 - Product Stewardship State Legislative Forum, 2:15-5:15 pm, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Spring Street, Portland.  Join legislators, government, business representatives, solid waste officials, and environmental advocates to learn how business and states are turning today’s trash into tomorrow’s products at The Product Stewardship State Legislative Forum.  This forum is taking place in conjunction with the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference. Free and open to the public, this event is sponsored by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Council of State Governments, and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.  For more information, contact Matt Prindiville at mprindiville@nrcm.org or 430-0144.  Register online today.

Saturday, August 28 - Phragmites Removal Project, 10 am – 2 pm, Abagadasset River, Bowdoinham.  Join Friends of Merrymeeting Bay to continue their effort (started last summer) eradicating a discrete and isolated stand of Phragmites located on the Abagadasset River. Cut and bag the seed heads, then squirt a dose of herbicide down each hollow stem. This method is labor intensive but is effective and selective - the herbicide is only applied directly to individual plants. An experienced, licensed applicator will be present to assist.  If you would like to take part in this rewarding opportunity to kill invasive plants and help protect the natural communities within Merrymeeting Bay please sign up with Misty Gorski at 737-8508 or fomb@suscom-maine.net.  For more information, visit Friends of Merrymeeting Bay online.

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Local permaculture groups in Brunswick and Portland have several events planned. You can learn more about these groups and their events using the Meetup web service.  Check them out at
A transition town group is active in the greater Brunswick area. Find out more about them and their events at
For more news about Maine's environment, check out Maine Environmental News

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine

We will host a talk by Bode von Franken titled "Pulling the Plug: Rethinking Energy in Maine," on Thursday, August 12, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

Bode von Franken is the artist also known as Robert Van Vranken. He now lives off grid in Brunswick, due to a series of unintentional events.

"I slowly stumbled into being completely off the grid," says von Franken. "One disaster led to another, and now we're completely free."

Von Franken's talk will explore the journey from the familiar life connected to the electricity grid to the unexpected freedom of living off grid. He will share his personal experiences during his journey to energy self-sufficiency on Pennellville Road in Brunswick.

Von Franken is best known as the artist Robert Van Vranken. His visual work, shown in New York at OK Harris Works of Art and in San Francisco at Jenkins-Johnson Gallery, has been described as "intellectually stimulating paintings of mysterious architectural spaces." A native of New York State, Van Vranken graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine and received an M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute. He has received many awards, including residencies at the Djerassi Foundation and the MacDowell Colony. More information about him and his work is available online at www.rvvart.com.

This talk is part of the F.W. Horch series on sustainable living. Each monthly talk is held on the second Thursday of the month at the F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies store, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Space is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

Hope you can join us!