WESTFORD — Emily Teller, a member of Westford Climate Action’s Steering Committee, has shared a press release with WestfordCAT.
Westford Climate Action in partnership with many other organizations has a full week planned to celebrate our planet and work for positive climate change. Join us!!
Children and Teen Events:
All week: Children can make posters at home about Earth Day and bring them to the Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 22, or make them at the Common on Earth Day, to be eligible for a free drawing for prizes.
Terrific Turbines with Katharine Hinkle, Two sessions: Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. A major threat to the health of the Earth is greenhouse gas pollution. Did you know that the town of Westford is working towards reducing our greenhouse gas pollution to zero by the year 2050? One of the many ways that we can do this is by getting the electricity that we use every day from renewable sources that produce no greenhouse gases. Wind power is an important part of that plan. Children ages 8 to 12 are invited to learn about wind power with Katharine Hinkle, a member of Westford’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee. This is a make-and-take event. Learn about how wind turbines generate electricity and make a working turbine that will power an LED light. Please register for one session only.
WBZ-TV Meteorologist Sarah Wroblewski: Tuesday, April 19 at 11 a.m. For school-aged children. Sarah will be Zooming in to tell us about her career as a meteorologist, how meteorologists make a forecast and tell us all about weather and the difference between weather and climate, clouds, and extreme weather. Q&A if time allows – she must be on air at noon! Please register through the Library Events Calendar to receive the Zoom invitation.
Turn Pizza Boxes into Pizza: Tuesday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. For school-aged children. Mushrooms are for more than eating! Explore the curious world of fungi with Farmer Elizabeth Almeida from Fat Moon Mushrooms. Learn about the lifecycle of mushrooms and see how they can solve our waste problem by turning pizza boxes into pizza. Attendees will take home their very own mycelium starter to begin decomposing pizza (and shipping) boxes. Please note that this program takes place outside and in-person so dress for the spring weather! Space is limited so please register children only (grades K and up) – adults of course can stay to watch and help your child. Please register through the Library Events Calendar.
Teen & Tween Blackout Poetry: Thursday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. Create unique and artistic poems using a sharpie and an old book or newspaper! Snacks will be provided. Email jdyment@westfordma.gov if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Please register through the Library Events Calendar.
Adult Virtual Mushroom Program: Thursday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. In this 90-minute Zoom class, Elizabeth Almeida, owner/farmer at Fat Moon Farm, covers everything from the lifecycle of mushrooms to the latest research on their nutritional and environmental benefits. Stop by the library this spring to see an Oyster mushroom “grow kit” from Fat Moon in action! Registration is required: Register Please consult the library website and social media for any changes to this program resulting from Covid impacts. Questions? Email sregan@westfordma.gov
Westford’s Earth Day Festival: Friday, April 22 from 3-5:30 p.m. on the Town Common.
Come join us for music, face painting, poster-making starting at 2:30, and see a display of Native American artifacts from the Westford Museum. Check out a Tesla. Pet a lamb, baby goat, a piglet, chicks, duckling, and baby bunny. A knowledgeable farmer will introduce the animals and help children feed, brush, and hold them.
Tree seedlings will be given away and free drawings will be held for a composter and rain barrel. Come talk with experts on alternative energy, sustainability, heat pumps, recycling, solar energy, and Mass Save rebates. Speakers will also provide updates on the State’s and Town’s climate goals.
Our final Saturday walk is at the Frances Hill Wildlife Sanctuary on April 23 at 9 a.m. (rain date April 24, 9 a.m.) Sponsored by the Westford Conservation Trust, Marian Harman will lead a nature walk, moving very slowly to identify wild plants and birds. The walk will be easy, but not entirely flat. Some areas may be wet. Bring binoculars if you have them. No dogs please. Meet at the Frances Hill Wildlife Sanctuary sign across from 120 Lowell Rd. A map and write-up of the area can be found on the Westford Conservation Trust website WCTFrancesHillWalk Walk is free of charge; no sign-up required. For more information, call Marian at 603-533-4095.
For more information on all of Westford Climate Action’s events this week, please visit westfordclimateaction.org/events/
The Healthy Westford Committee encourages residents and workers to do a small task to help the earth and our lovely town to recover from the accumulated litter formerly hidden by snow. HWC is encouraging folks to walk around their neighborhood or business grounds anytime close to Saturday, April 30 and pick up litter. Please dispose of properly by recycling or in the trash.
Organizations co-sponsoring Earth Month with WCA include Westford’s Clean Energy and Sustainability Committee, Recycling Commission, First Parish Church United, J.V. Fletcher Library, Indivisible Westford, League of Women Voters of Westford, Mass Heat Smart Alliance, MassSave, Sustainable Westford, Westford Conservation Trust, Westford Museum and the Westford Boy Scouts. The Earth Day Festival is being partially funded by a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant to Sustainable Westford in collaboration with Westford Climate Action.
Westford Climate Action is a grassroots organization of town residents who are concerned about the climate crisis. Our mission is to drive climate action. We promote sustainability and advocate on a local level for actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard the health of our community for future generations.
