For Immediate Release                                        

February 14, 2011

 

Clarkstown Environmental Summit Promises Innovative

Perspective on Critical Issues Facing Residents

Conservation, recycling, sustainable living and development among many other topics to be discussed at County’s First Event of its Kind

 

(New City, NY) – The Town of Clarkstown continues promoting environmental awareness by hosting Rockland County’s first Environmental Summit at Clarkstown South High School, 31 Demarest Mill Road in West Nyack on March 5, 2011 from 9:30am to 4:15pm. 

 

The groundbreaking Summit is a free event, open to the public, offering a full day of workshops, exhibits, demonstrations, a free eco-mini camp for children run by Clarkstown’s Parks and Recreation Department (grades K-5) and a youth summit (grades 6-12).  With a roster of speakers representing some of the best minds on environmental policy, the Summit will provide attendees with a better understanding of global and local environmental issues, information about local green resources, and specific action steps for what we can do within our community to promote environmental awareness, sustainability and conservation.

 

“The Town of Clarkstown continues leading municipalities throughout the County in fostering environmental awareness,” said Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack. "This event will highlight the many greening initiatives of the Town of Clarkstown, as well as provide residents with concrete measures to make environmentally conscious decisions."

 

An expo of approximately 50 booths will provide a hands-on opportunity to experience the work of non-profits, businesses, student and community organizations that are advancing the environmental cause.  Throughout the day, the Summit will promote ongoing, individual and collaborative actions to create a more sustainable Clarkstown.   

 

“I am very excited that Clarkstown is hosting the County’s first environmental summit,” said Councilwoman Shirley Lasker, who organized and initiated the event. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to join with others in their community to learn and discuss a variety of issues concerning our environment. There will be workshops on topics ranging from climate change to how to make your house more energy efficient and government incentives and grants aimed at reducing your carbon footprint.” 

 

The Summit will address issues such as energy and water conservation, local food supply, recycling, green building, green careers, gardening and landscaping, biodiversity and local ecology. The goal of the summit is also to develop summit outcomes elicited through resident responses and surveys that will result in a Climate Action Plan to reduce Clarkstown’s emissions by 20% by the year 2020.

 

The keynote speaker is Professor Karl Coplan, Co-Director of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic for over 15 years, in addition to a featured address from author, professor, and food-nutrition-gardening expert Joan Gussow.

 

There will also be organic and vegetarian food vendors on site for breakfast and lunch.  The vendors include: Pie Lady and Son, True Food, Nyack Main Essentials, and Food Evolution.  Menus are available on our website.

 

A mobile shred truck will also be available for residents to bring documents for secure shredding and recycling between 10 am and 1pm.

 

The Town’s partners in organizing this event include the Clarkstown Central School District, Cablevision, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Keep Rockland Beautiful, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Rockland BOCES, Rockland Farm Alliance, Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, Allbright Electric, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and Hands to Mouth Garden Initiative.

 

Residents can pre-register on the Town’s website www.town.clarkstown.ny.us. Look for Environmental Summit on the bottom of the home page.  The first 100 pre-registered participants to check in at the event will receive an environmental gift bag.  Onsite registration for the event starts at 8:30am.  The town is also looking for volunteers to help on the day of the event.  Anyone interested in sponsoring or making donations can do so through the website.

 

The event sponsors include: Town of Clarkstown, Clarkstown Central School District, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Hudson Baylor Corporation, Starbucks New City, Culligan of New City, Rockland BOCES, Bee Alive, and Weleda.

 

For more information about this event please visit our website at www.town.clarkstown.ny.us, email esummit@clarkstown.org or call 845-639-5759.

 

 

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