Event series focuses on environmental issues
by ANDREA KIMBRIEL Reporter

Julie Dawson has organized the Williamsville Green Event series in the Meeting House. She wants the series to encourage residents to protect the environment. Photo by John Rusac

Attendance at the second Green Event series held at the Village Meeting House in Williamsville was about double that of the first. Now organizers are hoping for an even more enthusiastic turnout for the third and final event of the series.

"The audience participation was fabulous - absolutely fabulous. I think it can only continue to grow," said Julie Dawson, who spearheaded the organization of the series.

The events have featured speakers, films on environmental issues and opportunity for discussion.

The final event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Village Meeting House, 5658 Main St., Williamsville.

Films featured previously include "An Inconvenient Truth," and "The Garbage Revolution." The upcoming meeting will feature a screening of Leonardo Di- Caprio's documentary "The 11th Hour."

"I think it's so much more absorbing for people to have a visual aid," Dawson said. "The movies - some can be a little disturbing, but it's reality."

The speaker will be Kevin B. Lee, recycling/last use resource manager.

"He's very community-minded," she said. "Kevin is quite the expert in composting."

Past speakers have included Gary Carrel, Erie County recycling coordinator with the Environmental Compliance Services Department and Walter Simpson, energy officer and director of the University at Buffalo Green Office, and Nan Simpson, a registered nurse and health wellness educator.

Dawson said making strides to protect the environment is easy. The hard part is convincing people to alter their habits.

"Change is hard, but five/10 years down the road, you're going to find yourself saying, 'I can't believe I threw that away,'" she said.

One way Dawson has adjusted her own lifestyle is by taking public transportation or walking as much as possible. She gave other practical suggestions, including unplugging electronics from outlets when not in use, carrying tote bags instead of getting plastic bags when shopping and turning thermostats down a few degrees.

Dawson calls the series her "baby." It started when she and other volunteers at the Williamsville Farmer's Market wanted to do something together during the winter. Dawson had the idea and "it just grew and grew, no pun intended," she said.

The series has received assistance from the Village of Williamsville Environmental Advisory Council. On April 26, the event will be held in conjunction with the EAC-sponsored Earth Day. Earth Day, also sponsored by the Williamsville Tree Board, will include a sapling giveaway and tree planting and pruning demonstrations. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Ed Young's TrueValue Hardware, 5641 Main St., intersection of Mill St., Williamsville.

The series has also been supported by the Meeting House, Lynn and Phil Schwab, the coordinators of the Williamsville Farmer's Market and others, said Dawson.

"It's so nice to have all of these entities come together," she said.

Lynn Schwab said the farmer's market is an important component in living "green."

"Locally grown food does not travel far from farm to market. Traveling time is minimal, which reduces the use of fossil fuel, saving energy and reducing pollution," she said.

Dawson said she would like to see something similar to the Massachusetts Avenue Project in Buffalo developed in Williamsville. She envisions a program that could provide access to fresh food, community-supported agriculture, job training and food to donate to nonprofit organizations.

Dawson is hoping to receive feedback from participants concerning the future of the series. She wants to base events on what she hears from the public.

Visit the village Web site www. village. williamsville. ny. us