Currently viewing the tag: "Environment"

Richard D. L. Fulton

The Thurmont Green Team held its annual Green Fest on April 9, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., at the Thurmont Regional Library, following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

The event was co-sponsored by the Town of Thurmont, the Green Team, and the Thurmont Regional Library. More than 600 individuals were estimated by event organizers to have attended the event, despite the potential forecast for rain, according to Green Team Chairwoman Cindy Poole.

Mayor John Kinnaird, Town Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick, and Cindy Poole, among others, provided opening comments to the event. Kinnaird expressed his wishes that more individuals and businesses would find ways to incorporate recyclables into their crafts and products. More than 30 organizations provided displays, demonstrations, and activities geared to educate the public, regarding products utilizing recyclables and repurposing non-recyclables and the best sustainability practices regarding the environment.

Display and demonstration highlights included electric vehicles and information provided by Criswell Chevrolet. Displays were provided by the Sierra Club, Frederick County Master Gardeners, Catoctin Forest Alliance, Baywise, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Frederick County Office of Recycling & Composting, Frederick County Beekeeping Association, Frederick County Forestry Board, Maryland Department of Natural Resources “Scales & Tales,” and Mystic Meadows Sanctuary.

Activities and programs that were offered included tree planting demonstrations, paper fish crafts, electronic recycling drop-off (more than 2,000 pounds of electronic equipment was accepted), chalk-drawing, and beekeeping instructions, along with seed, gray dogwood, and button bush giveaways. Food and beverages were made available at the Thurmont Lions Club food trailer.

A decorated rain barrel, donated by the county Master Gardeners for the event’s raffle giveaways, was won by Alison Wogatske, while gift bags containing “nature-themed” gifts were won by Hannah Buckley, Jeremiah Mathews, Dana Crum, and Bob Allen.

Also featured, were programs and nature trail activities in the recently completed Library Nature Trail (also known as the Library Loop Nature Trail), a project which was established by the library and runs from the library grounds to the Thurmont Trolley Trail.

The trail features educational mini-wayside markers, each containing nature-themed information, photographs, and illustrations. In addition to the site being made available for the trail by the library, the Eagle Scouts and Class of 1961 donated towards the completion of the trail, with trail assistance provided by Frederick County Public School SUCCESS students, according to Catoctin Forest Alliance President Jim Robbins. Robbins told The Catoctin Banner that the trial, initially established in 2018, was dedicated in November 2021, and that the mini-wayside markers were actually completed “a couple of weeks ago.”

The Thurmont Green Team is managed by the Town of Thurmont via their Main Street program.  Team members include Cindy Poole, Anita Phillips, Christine Maccabee, Bobby Myers, Sabrina Massett, Amie McDaniels, Jim Robbins, Marilyn Worsham, Thurmont Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder, and Thurmont CAO Jim Humerick.

To volunteer assistance in Green Team efforts, contact the organization by email at ThurmontGreenTeam@gmail.com.

Emily Ramsey and Renee Delauter greet attendees at the Thurmont Green Team Green Fest, held April 9 at the Thurmont Regional Library.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird and Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick provide opening remarks at Green Fest.

Green Team Chairwoman Cindy Poole stands with a rain barrel door prize, donated by the county Master Gardeners, at Green Fest.

Thurmont Green Team member Marilyn Worsham stands at the organization’s informational display inside the Thurmont Regional Library.

In addition to providing exceptional healthcare to the area’s cat and dog population, the owners of Catoctin Veterinary Clinic are committed to being good neighbors to the surrounding Thurmont community. With the recent energizing of their 35.6-kW roof-mounted solar system, the clinic took a big step in furthering that commitment.

The 89 solar panels (pictured above) will produce enough clean energy to offset 35 tons of CO2 or save 815 trees each year. “We are concerned about the environment and the carbon footprint we make with our business,” stated Dr. Jonathan Bramson, co-owner of the clinic. “It’s about caring for the pets, our pet parents, our community, and the environment. Going solar grows out of that.”

With a high reliance on electricity to keep the clinic functioning, Dr. Bramson is also looking forward to having lower energy costs. “We use a lot of electricity, with four heat pumps and our equipment,” stated Dr. Bramson. “We look forward to having lower energy costs while using renewable energy.”

When asked what he would say to other business owners that are considering investing in solar energy, Dr. Bramson said, “Consider it, look at the economics, and go for it!”

PDG Susan Bonura, District 22 W

The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization, with more than 1.4 million men and women members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas worldwide. LCIF helps Lions improve peoples’ lives around the world, from combating vision problems to responding to major catastrophes to providing valuable life skills to youth, and much more.

In 2018, LCIF launched a comprehensive fundraising campaign at the annual Lions Clubs International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The most ambitious fundraising effort in LCIF history, Campaign 100: LCIF Empowering ServiceSM will span three years, with a goal of raising $300 million by June 30, 2021. Campaign 100 will empower Lions to serve 200-plus million people each year.

Campaign 100 will expand Lions’ commitment to communities, with a focus on vision, youth disaster relief, humanitarian causes, diabetes, hunger, childhood cancer, and the environment.

•   Vision — LCIF leads the global charge to reduce preventable blindness and visual impairment, to eradicate blindness caused by infectious disease, and to improve the quality of life for those who are blind or visually impaired.

•  Youth — LCIF serves youth through inclusive social and recreational opportunities, positive youth development, improved access to quality education, and vital health services.

•  Disaster Relief — LCIF engages in disaster relief efforts and prepares for, and responds to, natural disasters whenever and wherever they strike.

•  Humanitarian Causes — LCIF sponsors and delivers programs that address the needs of at-risk and vulnerable populations such as the disabled, the elderly, orphans, and others disproportionately impacted by social and economic factors.

•  Diabetes — This campaign allows Lions to respond to the global epidemic of diabetes, by increasing public awareness, sponsoring diabetes screenings, emphasizing healthy lifestyles, and other comprehensive health initiatives designed to improve quality of life for those living with this disease.

•  Hunger — LCIF works toward a world in which no one goes hungry, expanding resources and infrastructure needed to address food shortages worldwide.

•  Childhood Cancer — LCIF helps strengthen medical and social services, increasing the  life expectancy of children living with cancer and enhancing the quality of life for them and their families.

•  Environment — LCIF protects the environmental health of our global communities, generating long-term, positive ecological impact.

A $100 donation provides immediate relief to four people in the wake of a natural disaster; provides the measles vaccination to 100 children; provides diabetes screenings for 18 at-risk individuals; gives access to clean water for 14 people; feeds 14 disabled, elderly, or low-income people; or, funds two cataract surgeries. One hundred percent of your donation to the Lions Clubs International Foundation goes toward one of the following two global funds: the Empowering Service Fund, supporting all LCIF causes, or the Disaster Relief Fund, reserved for disaster relief. Visit www.lionsclubs.org/en/donate to donate and make a difference in the lives of millions