By:Patrick Gallagher
We had a cold but successful and fun outdoor event in Warwick today.
Cheryl Rogowski a nationally recognized CSA farmer and organizer set up her local produce farm stand.
Kim Bulkley was there with wonderful cloth shopping bags as an alternative to plastic.
Sustainable Warwick had a renewable energy switching station to help people switch from carbon intensive energy providers to alternative energy sources.
Three terrific bands braved the cold and played for more than three hours with green fingers and blue toes.
They were Rebel Red, Orchard St Band, and Ken Bowles Blues
Sara Hambleton of Solarias solar, Buddy Damaiani of Damiani and Sun solar and Patrick Gallagher of Gallagher Solar Hot Water spoke to the crowd at stands and offered solar education and advice.
The Glover Family gracefully handled the GREEN FINGER portion of our operation.
Orange County Peace and Justice provided two STEP IT UP banners from the previos event that we used in our photo and throughout the day.
The photo was a big success and was written up in advance as a historic photo that captures a moment of carbon emmissions awareness in Warwick, NY at the turn of the 21st century.
Our twon Supervisor Mike Sweeton spoke briefly and succinctly about Warwicks committment to alternative energy and sustainability. His oponent in the upcoming election Penny Steyer spoke also as did Bob McGrath of Sustainable Warwick.
Orange Environment came and spent the whole cold day doing environmental outreach and education to the community with dedicated veterans John Gebhards, Kathy Skafidas, and Mike Edelstein braving the cold to reduce emmissions as they have done year after year. The Shaklee Girls led by the charming Sharlene offered wonderful household products from a climate neutral company.
Baby Grand Bookstore offered a wide selection of environmental and sustainable oriented titles.
We owe the ability to run this event to Karen Thomas and Steve Regan of the Warwick Valley Community Center and appreciate the help and support from our community newspapers, the Warwick Dispatch, Warwick Advertiser and the Times Herald Record in Middletown.
We will post more and photos ASAP.
Congratulations to all the organizers at Step It Up HQ and thanks Bill McKibben we will see you at Ramapo College at the end of the month.
Our Group Photo of the event was taken by local poet and photograper Fred Buell
Fred had the whole group smiling and laughing as he shot a beautiful panoramic of the SIU crowd.
