Annapolis Green Newsletter
                May 21, 2014                                                                             Vol. 5  No. 14
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In This Issue
Check Out Our Email Sponsor
Support Annapolis Green
Mark Your Calendar
Annapolis in Bloom
Recycling Law Passes
Do Good Have Fun
It's All About Our Rivers
Support Annapolis Green
Be a Founding One Hundred Member or a Friend of Annapolis Green
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Want to join in and make your mark on sustainability in the Annapolis area? Consider becoming one of our Founding One Hundred. Join the list below.  
  1. Charlie Birney
  2. Infrared Tools Energy Services*
  3. Gene Singleton & Maureen McEnerney
  4. Keith & Helen Drewett*
  5. Doug Lashley / GreenVest
  6. Elvia Thompson
  7. Lynne & Mark Forsman
  8. Ralph Gleason
  9. Shelley & Eric Rubin
  10. Boatyard Bar & Grill
  11. John Nicklin   
  12. Cohen Community Fund
  13. Towne Park
  14. Eastport Civic Association
  15. Galway Bay Irish Pub
  16. The Brick Companies
  17. Delegate Steve Schuh
  18. Severn Savings Bank
  19. Paul Murphy
  20. Hannah Studios, Inc.
  21. Joe Budge & Sharon Kennedy*
  22. PNC Wealth Management
  23. K&B True Value
  24. Betty & Jim Davis
  25. Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company
  26. Clean Currents
  27. John H. Stevens  
  28. EP Henry
  29. MOM's Organic Market

*multiple donations 

 
For Your Calendar

Find out what's going on in the environmental world. Check our calendar for the latest. 

 

Annapolis in Bloom

 

Annapolis has bloomed! The handing baskets and potted plants are in and the beautification of our downtown area was marked with a ceremony yesterday.  

 

But fundraising goes on -- we need to raise more money to cover the cost of maintaining the flowers you see in downtown Annapolis, Maryland Avenue, Francis Street, West Street, and on the Spa Creek Bridge.  The MainStreets Annapolis Partnership is heading up the crowdfunding effort for the flowers, which are provided, at-cost, by Homestead Gardens. The effort was kicked off at Green Drinks in March.  Get your name on the list of people who are making Annapolis Green, Clean and Beautiful! Every contribution helps. Read more.  

Top of the Line 

green drinks annapolis 

We're headed north to Severna Park

Join us Tuesday, May 27
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
for Green Drinks at 
 
  
760 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park 

  

Event Sponsor 
 
Theme: It's All About Our Rivers

Learn about how saving the Chesapeake Bay starts in the rivers and streams closest to our homes. Saving the Bay is daunting but protecting our rivers and streams... that's more manageable. There are terrific organizations working hard in all four rivers closest to the Annapolis area. Come to Green Drinks and learn about
  • Magothy River Association
  • Severn River Association  
  • Severn Riverkeeper Program
  • South River Federation 
  • West/Rhode Riverkeeper Program

Scroll down for more information on these organizations.   

 

Event Sponsor: Get to Know Them & Say Thanks! 

 

This edition of Green Drinks is sponsored by the

Chesapeake Conservancy. The  Conservancy's mission is to strengthen the connection between people and the watershed, conserve the landscapes and special places that sustain the Chesapeake's unique natural and cultural resources, and encourage the exploration and celebration of the Chesapeake as a national treasure.

Find out more at the Conservancy's website and listen tonight at 6 p.m. to an interview with Executive Director Joel Dunn on Living Green in Annapolis on WNAV, 1430AM, 99.9FM or streaming live on wnav.com. 
 

Event Host: Caf� Mezzanote 

  
Green Drinks' host, Caf� Mezzanotte, has embarked on a Green journey. Owner Tommie Koukoulis will make a big  announcement about this at Green Drinks! Read more about "The Mezz"

Special "Stay for Dinner" deal at The Mezz:
Stay for a wonderful Italian dinner after Green Drinks and receive a 15% discount. Just mention Green Drinks to your server. Delizioso!

 

 

We know connections and business deals are being made at Green Drinks as well as many friendships. But we need to hear your stories and testimonials. Please take a moment to let us know how attending Green Drinks has affected you!  Send us an email. 

  

   

Lynne and Elvia 

News
 
Recycling to be Required at Large Public Events in Maryland

On May 5th, Governor Martin O'Malley signed legislation requiring public events in Maryland to provide recycling.

SB781, drafted by Senator Karen Montgomery (D-Montgomery County), requires organizers of all special events on public property, attended by 200 or more people and providing food or drink, to have recycling containers located next to each provided trash can. Event organizers also must demonstrate a plan for collecting and recycling the material. The law takes effect October 1, 2014.  

 

Annapolis Green and the Trash Free Maryland Alliance provided testimony for this bill and worked to promote its passage.    

 

Annapolis Green has, for the past two years, helped planners of special events - from boat shows to regattas to garden parties and crab feasts - reduce their waste by recycling and composting through our Responsible Events and Festivals (REF) program. REF includes not only providing the use of Annapolis Green's distinctive "eco-stations" for special event use, but also providing tools for planners to use to educate event goers, exhibitors, volunteers and staff about the effort and its importance... and to brag about their good work.  

 

We're delighted to see this bill pass. As written it applies to Maryland Counties. We have asked Annapolis Alderman Jared LIttmann head of the Environmental Matters Committee, see what he can do to have the City of Annapolis voluntarily comply. For the moment, it looks like this will be accomplished through the Special Events permitting process. We hope it will be codified into law in the near future.    

 

We commend the foresight of Senator Karen Montgomery in sponsoring the bill and the hard work of Trash Free Maryland to see it signed into law. Read more. 

 

 

Supporters of SB781 at the bill signing, including Senator Karen Montgomery, second from left, and Elvia Thompson of Annapolis Green, second from right, back row. Photo via Creative Commons license, courtesy of Executive Office of the Governor.   
Do Good. Have Fun.
with Annapolis Green 
Save the Date: Saturday, July 26

In a few days we'll send a special email blast out about an exciting initiative sponsored by Bud Light, with Keep America Beautiful, called "Do Good. Have Fun."

In more than 60 locations across the country this summer, young people will join together to do some good work for the community and have fun too! Annapolis Green, as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, has organized a clean-up, spruce-up of the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park on Back Creek. It will be  followed up by a big party at Port Annapolis, right next door, courtesy of Bud Light.

More details will be coming to you in the next few days, but in the meantime, click here to register to Do Good and Have Fun! 
   
It's All About Our Rivers

green drinks annapolisAt Green Drinks on May 27, learn about how saving the Chesapeake Bay starts in the rivers and streams closest to our homes. Saving the Bay is daunting but protecting our rivers and streams... that's more manageable. There are terrific organizations working hard in all four rivers closest to the Annapolis area. Come to Green Drinks and learn about:

  

Magothy River Association - Green Drinks will be held in the watershed of the Magothy River. The Magothy River Association is an all-volunteer group representing about 46 communities along the Magothy River Watershed. It devotes its efforts to projects that protect the welfare of the river and its inhabitants, such as: 
+ maintaining an oyster nursery at Downs Park 
+ restoring an oyster bar 
+ monitoring water quality 
+ helping to restore seagrasses 

  

Severn River Association - Founded in 1911, it is the oldest river conservation organization in the country. The Severn River Association is an all-volunteer organization that  protects and restores the river's 81-square-mile watershed. The association offers monthly talks for the general public about the sources and solutions of water pollution, monitors water quality, and is active in growing oysters to plant on a historic oyster reef. 
Website: www.severnriver.org  

  

Severn Riverkeeper Program - Its mission is to protect and restore the Severn River for current and future generations by reducing pollution, muddy runoff, contamination, and loss of habitat so that the Severn is removed from EPA's "impaired waterways" list and is once again safe and swimmable. Activities include water quality monitoring, seeking funding for and construction of restoration projects to reduce runoff, patrolling for critical area violations and legally challenging developers and regulators when merited, and educating residents, policy makers and regulators about problems facing the river.
Website: www.severnriverkeeper.org 

  

  

South River Federation - Its mission is to protect, preserve, restore and celebrate the South River and its interdependent living community. Its programs are community based and rooted in science with hands-on restoration work and thoughtful advocacy. The Federation:
+ monitors erosion and run-off problems at construction sites to stop pollution from entering creeks

+ coordinates citizen efforts and restoration partner resources to plant millions of oysters that help filter and clean the River

+ organizes volunteers to remove tons of trash from creeks and streams
Website: www.southriverfederation.net   

  

West/Rhode Riverkeeper Program - Founded in 2005, the West/Rhode Riverkeeper Program works to protect families and communities by stopping pollution.  Programs strive for healthy and safe rivers and streams. The organization works together with communities to enforce environmental law, promote restoration, and advocate for better environmental policy. It also supports a pumpout boat and provides access to the water with free community kayaking in the summer months.
Website: www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org 
spOur Email Sponsors 
K&B True Value

   

 

 

K&B True Value is your hardware store and more. There are literally thousands of Green Options products in stock to help you live your life in a more Earth friendly manner. And now, K&B delivers!    

 

Visit K&B True Value online, on Facebook and in person at 912 Forest Drive, Annapolis. Phone: (410) 268-3939. 

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Want to sponsor our email blasts? Just $50/month to reach over 3000 email addresses.
Contact us for information.
 
 
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The Line
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