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SBN Newsletter
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February, 2011
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Dear SBN Members and Friends,
Welcome to our first Newsletter that features SBN's new logo! The SBN Board and staff spent many weeks discussing and evaluating a variety of designs with the help of Olga Vanegas of Intercreativa. We're proud to display our new look! We feel it calls attention to our main message of building economies that are local, green, and fair and we hope you agree. In 2010, SBN programs experienced many breakthroughs including the first Boston Local Food Festival, the growth of the Sustainable Business Leader Program, and Cambridge becoming the nation's first Local Economy Community. The SBN Board and staff are in the process of making plans for 2011 that will strengthen and grow our programs as we work to support locally owned and independent businesses and build an economy that is local, green, and fair. Sustainably yours, Laury Hammel Executive Director
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SBN On Tour: Taza Chocolate - TODAY!
Tuesday, February 8th from 6:30-8pm
 | | Alex, co-founder of Taza Chocolate checks on the roasted beans |
To purchase tickets please click here:
$15 for SBN Members $25 for general public
SBN On Tour Details What: Talk and Tour by co-founder Alex Whitmore. Great Valentines Day shopping!
Featured Entrepreneurs: Alex Whitmore and Larry Slotnick When: Tuesday, February 8, 2011 6:30 - 8 pm Where: Taza Chocolate Factory Store,
561 Windsor Street,
Somerville, MA 02143
Public Transportation: Taza is easily accessible by bus, for more details please click here. Parking: Available in the lot diagonally across from the Taza factory. Refreshments: Wine, soft drinks and lots of chocolate! For questions/comments please email adritha@sbnboston.org |
Channel Cafe Brings its Art to the First ALLocal Dinner of 2011!Despite finding themselves in the midst of one of the snowiest January's Boston has ever experienced, owner Joyce Parlapiano and Chef Tammie Watson of Channel Café were able to craft a farm fresh, local meal composed of such vernal delights as pea greens, micro lettuce, tomatoes, chamomile honey and sweet, tender scallops. Warmed by the good company of almost 50 attendees, and the availability of local Rapscallion brews (Honey or American Larger, take your pick), the first ALLocal Dinner of 2011 was a deliciously astounding success. It showcased the often unappreciated diversity of the New England region via creative parings and unique flavor combinations.  | | Diners enjoying local fare at Channel Cafe |
Chef Tammie exhibited her masterful skill with flavor offering two delicious entrees, raved about by the guests. In a brilliantly colorful plating of greens and pinks, Channel Café served up a dish of beet-soaked scallops, resting in a blend of arugula-ginger coulis, corn fondue and rutabaga-beet crisp. Vegans dined on an equally mouth-watering New England combination of winter rye, butternut squash, dinosaur kale and corn fondue. Dessert was sweet apple crisp paired with an unusual tasting of coffee caviar and dark, bitter chocolate. Says Chef Tammie, "Being limited to just using things from New England was definitely a challenge. But it was interesting. My philosophy of food is to keep it simple and a lot of different flavors in one dish. When you see the plate, you see color and texture, but the scallops look like scallops and potatoes look like potatoes. When I make a menu I make something personal, something that I would like to eat, but something that you won't walk into another restaurant and find." Paired with the talents of this brilliant chef and under the new ownership of Joyce Parlapiano, Channel Café was a nonpareil find. Bringing its artful attitude to local fare, the SBN raised the bar for its guests and ALLocal Diners for the rest of the year. The SBN Local Food Committee would like to thank the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for their continued support.
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The 2nd Annual Leadership for Change Sustainability Symposium
Friday, February 11, 2011
from 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Boston College- Murray Room in Yawkey Athletic Center
The 2nd Annual Leadership for Change Sustainability Symposium will focus on
Sustainability: Through the Lens of Water.
Fee: $50 (includes luncheon), 30% discount for SBN Members.
RSVP to lc@bc.edu or 617-552-2044
For more information please click here.
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 The Sustainable Business Leader Program Continues to Gain Traction!
The nation's fastest-growing local business certification program the Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) recently enrolled its 90th business! On the heals of this great achievement SBLP is excited to be branching out in to two new program areas, focusing on new business build-outs and community organizations. Coming soon to Central Square, Cambridge--Veggie Galaxy (not to be confused with its sister restaurant Veggie Planet). This will be one of the first (if not the first) "vegetarian diners" in New England and will feature sure-to-be-delicious-and-nutritious meals quite similar to dishes served at a standard community diner but will be meatless. SBN is enthusiastic about working with this innovative new restaurant during their build-out phase, that will ensure they are as green as can be from the day the doors open. Leading the way for the SBLP's newly developed customized program for houses of worship, is First Church in Cambridge. Celebrating their 375th year of operation this year, this group is proving that old doesn't necessarily mean antiquated as they strive for energy efficiency and environmental excellence. Focusing on the unique needs of such establishments, the Sustainable Community Leader Program helps houses of worship wade through the seemingly unnavigable sea of LED lighting options and other 'green' opportunities, as well as helping to locate financing opportunities, among other challenges. SBLP is also excited to welcome recently enrolled businesses and organizations, including Wediko Children's Services, Sudo Shoes, Rostam Capital and Blue Tierra Chocolate Cafe. These pioneering business leaders have jumped right in and are quickly making progress towards greening their business operations and practices. Do you have a favorite local business that you would like to see become 'greener'? Do you know of a pretty green business that you feel should be formally recognized for their sustainability efforts? Please let us know! For more information on the SBLP please visit www.sustainablebusinessleader.org. |
 Free Energy-Efficiency Seminar for Restaurants
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 9:45am-11:30am
at TARANTA RESTAURANT (210 Hanover Street, Boston)
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the MRA Green Team Task Force invite you to attend this free energy-efficiency seminar for restaurants.
Courtesy of a generous sponsorship by MassSave in conjunction with Renew Boston and the Sustainable Business Network, this restaurant-specific seminar is provided free to the Massachusetts restaurant community.
Learn from experts in the field on how you can reduce energy costs and increase your profits. Seating is limited, please register here:
https://www.marestaurantassoc.org:442/events_energy_efficient_seminar_feb2011.htm
(Make sure you mention SBN during registration)
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| Buy Local and Shop Local
Neighborhood Meat Market in Egleston Square Now Selling Local Pork
Plaza Meat Market 207 Boylston st. (one block from Stony Brook T, and near the 42 bus)
Plaza Meat Market will begin carrying local pork from February 4th 2011. A whole pig will arrive every other Friday beginning on Friday, February 4th. Every cut of pork, offal, and bones will be available. Come on the weekend for fresh, local pork! Frozen cuts available throughout the week as well. Prices on the local pork will be the best in the city, as Plaza Meat Market is buying the animals whole, which significantly drops their cost.
Plaza Meat Market will also begin selling local butter, eggs, and milk. With community support, this neighborhood shop will carry more and more local products!
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Cambridge Local First and Somerville Local First Join Forc es! Two of the nation's most prominent local business networks have collaborated to create a coupon book that introduces residents to over 90 businesses. This coupon book offers terrific discounts to many of the area's top local businesses.
The Cambridge/Somerville Coupon Books went on sale on February 4th. For only $10 you can take advantage of a number of great offers with a total value of over $1000 in savings. All the proceeds of coupon books sold go to support the work of Cambridge Local First and Somerville Local First. To get your coupon book in Cambridge click here, for Somerville locations click here. |
New Cambridge Local First Website
Cambridge Local First launched its new web site and online directory on January 4. It is easier to navigate, more attractive, and offers much more information about Cambridge Local First and the Local First movement. Please check it out at http://cambridgelocalfirst.org/. Thanks to Somerville Local First member Andy Pyman and his company Truly Good Design for their hard work on putting together this great site. |
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Cambridge Businesses Raise Over $10,000 for Food for Free!
Cambridge Local First (CLF) has started off the new year with some exciting news. The 4th annual "Think Local Thank Local" campaign to support Cambridge folks in need exceeded all expectations. The participating CLF businesses and their customers responded to the increasing needs of their neighbors by donating a percentage of their revenues during the week after Thanksgiving to Food For Free. We're thrilled to announce that CLF members raised over $10,000 for this important Cambridge nonprofit.
 | | Rachel Solem, Co-chair of CLF and owner of Irving House and Janneke House, Executive Director of CLF hand over a check to David Leslie, Executive Director of Food For Free |
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