Enlighten us, but make it quick! That's the theme for tonight's Ignite lectures, but could apply to all of the activities in this month's newsletter. Be inspired, informed and engaged, right here on the Island.

As always, if you have a sustainability issue that inspires or interests you, please let us know. Sharing our ideas strengthens relationships, weaves a community together and becomes the heart of sustainability. You can contact us by email or by phone at 206/842-4439. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tonight's "Ignite Bainbridge" offers inspiration and information

The third annual Ignite Bainbridge is TONIGHT, Tuesday, May 6th at 6pm in the Bainbridge Pavilion! "Enlighten us, but make it quick," is the motto of the international "Ignite" format, which is defined as a 5-minute talk accompanied by 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds... ready or not.

Ignite Bainbridge offers a parade of such talks, and this year will spotlight the new Bainbridge Community Broadcasting, an Internet radio station sponsored by Sustainable Bainbridge, in a synergy that supports community and ideas. $5 tickets are available at the door. The show starts at 7pm, but use your ticket for free appetizers and drinks ahead of the presentations, starting at 6pm upstairs at OfficeXpats. More info at www.ignitebainbridge.com.

Today's the day for the Kitsap Great Give!

Sustainable Bainbridge is participating in the Kitsap Community Foundation's Kitsap Great Give today.

What does this mean to you? Its an opportunity to help fund some of Sustainable Bainbridge's initiatives, such as Bainbridge Community Broadcasting, Sound Food and Zero Waste, and have your donations go further with incentive pools and prizes. For example, $100 donated by you today could become $115 to $140. You'll be able to donate all day today (and watch as the giving total grows!) at this website: http://kitsapgreatgive.org/

Friday's BASE Lecture:

Business Solutions to Poverty

with Mal Warwick,

renowned serial entrepreneur

Learn about innovative products and services designed to address some of the endemic problems of poverty and how businesses are creatively working to provide ethical and effective business practices in the third world.

Friday, May 9th, 2014

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Bainbridge Public Library

Enjoy refreshments with Mal after the talk.

RSVP for this FREE event: bi-poverty.eventbrite.com

Beach Naturalists explore the life beneath the ferries.

Join the Bainbridge Beach Naturalists for an exploration of a beach you may have seen frequently, and haven't yet visited. On Saturday, May 17 from 12:30 noon to 2:3 Beach Naturalists logo

0 p.m. we will be at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal beach. This beach has a surprising amount of interesting sea life in spite of, or maybe because of the churning waters from the ferries.

Parking is available along Brien and Bjune, walk through Waterfront Park and cross the footbridge over the Ravine Creek, cross Harborview Drive and then follow the footpath alongside the condos to the beach. Wear boots you can wade in, and come prepared to be surprised at what we find. Please do not bring dogs on the beach exploration.

Car Seat Recycling event May 17
Got a car seat your family has outgrown? Wondering how to pass it on or recycle it instead of adding to the landfill? The Rotary Auction will NOT be accepting car seats this year- but we have another option for you! Bainbridge Island Zero Waste and Smallwood Construction are partnering with Seattle's WestSide Baby to collect car seats. Seats that are 6 years old or more will be disassembled and recycled; newer seats in good condition will pass a comprehensive safety check and be redistributed to low-income familes. This is a great way to make sure your old car seat is recycled or upcycled! $6 donation happily accepted to defray costs of transport and processing. More information about car seat recycling is available here: http://www.coolmom.org/programs/car-seat-recycling

Saturday May 17
9 am to Noon
First Baptist Church, corner of 305 and Madison Ave.

Bring the family to the Weed Warriors "Easy Weed Pull" May 31

Join Weed Warriors at family-friendly Gideon Park on Saturday May 31 from 1 pm to 3 pm. Ten students from Odyssey, along with their teachers and volunteers, have been working weekly at Gideon for months and it looks terrific. Let's support them and make this sweet little park perfect!

There's plenty of parking and we will have extra tools and gloves. This is a child-friendly event. For more information contact Jeannette Franks or call 206-755-8461.

Looking for local food? Look for the Island Food Circle!
Island residents will now be able to find restaurants and retailers that offer locally-sourced food. Any business displaying the Island Food Circle decal is a consistent and significant supporter of regional food and farming.

The Island Food Circle campaign is a project of Sound Food, which was founded in 2007 as an initiative of Sustainable Bainbridge. Sound Food's mission is to help Island residents find and use local food. The Island Fo

od Circle project was created in partnership with area farmers who nominate members based on purchasing history. Each member business has a track record of making local food a significant part of their product offering. Participating businesses are listed on brochures being distributed throughout the Island that lists "Where to Eat" and "Where to Buy" local food, and on the Sound Food website. The online Island Food Circle Guide lists sources for every category of food including eggs, fish, meat, and dairy, as well as restaurants, farms, and retail outlets that offer local food.

Sustainable Bainbridge board member receives national recognition

Every year Unity College, which bills itself as America's

Sustainable Bainbridge board member Lara Hanson speaks at Unity College event

Environmental College, highlights the achievement of women in science through their Women's Environmental Leadership (WE LEAD) program. In addition to their two student leaders Marina Theberge and Rebecca Zerlin, Sustainable Bainbridge board member Lara Hansen received their Women's Environmental Award for her work on climate change adaptation in her day job with EcoAdapt. For Earth Day, Lara traveled to Unity's campus in Maine, where she gave the Lapping Lecture, talked with student groups, and received their Women's Environmental Award. It was a great honor and we should all be on the lookout for Unity graduates helping us develop plans that make us prepare for, respond to and stop climate change.

Lara is keenly interested in getting the Bainbridge Island community motivated by creating a Climate Action Plan that includes both mitigation (greenhouse gas emissions reductions) and adaptation (making more durable decisions for our community in the face of climate change).

From the Sustainable Bainbridge Board

It's never too late to include us in your giving through One Call for All. Responding to the red envelope is a great way to support our community organizations.

We'd love to talk with you about our programs and plans.