Sustainable Norcross, Inc.

Vote for a Hero

2011-11-05T18:19:00.000-04:00

You don't have to save a person from a burning building to be a hero. At least, not according to the Cox Conserves Heroes program. This is the third year the communications conglomerate has searched its service areas for unsung heroes who volunteer to “help create, preserve or enhance outdoor places for everyone to enjoy”. In the Atlanta viewing area, the program is co-sponsored by WSB-TV and The Trust for Public Land. Five finalists have been selected from the nominations received from the public. Those five volunteers are now vying for the top prize of $5,000 via online voting. The four other finalists will receive $1,250 each. All prize money goes to the environmental non-profit chosen by each of the five finalists. One of the finalists is Connie Weathers. Connie founded Sustainable Norcross, Inc. a non-profit environmental advisory and action group focused on innovative solutions and education regarding Trees and Greenspace, Land Use, Green Building, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Transportation and Air Quality, Water, Energy, and Green Power.Vote NOW for Connie and Sustainable Norcross.

Closing the Loop

2011-10-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

We came full circle Wednesday, thanks to students and staff from Wesleyan High School and a bunch of other folks along the way. Volunteers from the school were at Norcross Community Garden as part of their annual Serve-His Day.

Twelve students and two staff spent the school day in a variety of chores to benefit the recently relocated community garden. They removed kudzu and other weeds and invasive plants in and around the beds, harvested produce from existing beds that are dedicated to charity, planted cold hardy seeds and plants and cover crops, installed hoops that will be draped with special landscape fabric when the weather turns cold that will aid in year round organic food production, and distributed donated wood chips for mulch. While this was the first visit by this group of students to Norcross Community Garden, it is not the first from Wesleyan High. A group of seniors assisted with site preparations for new raised beds in early April.

Since then a Norcross High Boy Scout, Kam Hopper, completed his Eagle Scout project of building and installing seven raised cedar garden beds. These joined four existing beds that were installed several years ago by Comcast Cares, an annual employee volunteer event of the cable company. Of the combined eleven beds, some are rented to private individuals in the greater Norcross area, some were planted by two different Peachtree Corners Girl Scout troops and tended by a variety of other volunteers, some were planted by additional volunteers and managed by the Board of Directors of Norcross Community Garden.

Wesleyan High volunteers were there from the beginning and back this week to harvest fresh produce donated to those in need and to enhance the garden completing the first cycle and closing the loop. A few beds are available for rent now for individuals who want to plant a row for themselves or a food bank or for sponsorship with volunteers doing the planting and tending. Contact us today. Stay in the loop with the blog or Facebook page. May the circle be unbroken.

Help Summerour Middle Celebrate International Walk to School Day

2011-10-11T15:56:00.001-04:00

Summerour Middle School will hold it's second walk and bike to school day since the Kick Off of its Safe Routes to School Program in May 2011. This will be their first time participating in the International Walk to School event. Volunteers are needed to escort 6 - 8th grade students as they walk or bike to school the morning of Wednesday October 19. Groups will form at the normal bus stops near the school at targeted apartment and residential neighborhoods along busy Beaver Ruin Rd and Mitchell Rd. They will proceed together forming a walking school bus.

Bikers are also welcomed. Volunteer now.

Saturday October 15 - A Big Day in Norcross

2011-10-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

There’s something for everyone in Norcross most any time, but especially Saturday October 15. The semi-annual mega recycling event sponsored by the City of Norcross will be held at various locations at or near City Hall starting at 9 AM. Each featured location and activity has proven extremely popular, drawing participants from over 20 communities. The only one not open to the public is the bulky item clean up for things like old refrigerators and sofas plus the usual materials accepted for recycling and yard waste. This service is funded by city taxpayers and therefore is open only to them. Paper shredding,

electronics recycling and

paint recycling

are all available to the general public. Please remember to bring non-perishable food products to donate to the food pantry. Oh, and remember to bring books to donate to Better World Books in the big green bin located on the north side of the new police parking lot.

This is the same spot as the paint recycling. Proceeds benefit literacy and education locally and globally. Books unfit for reuse will be recycled. This is a permanent collection site. Sustainable Norcross started recruiting volunteers to assist city staff and community service workers at these recycling events 3 years ago. Some of them still volunteer today. Contact Code Enforcement Supervisor Phil Robertson directly to volunteer. Paint Recycling, added this Spring, is back due to popular demand. Sustainable Norcross introduced the vendor, Williams Upcycling, to Ms. Robertson after observing a successful event in Roswell. They worked out the details and offered the service to gauge interest. About 2,700 containers of paint products were collected. While the small fee per paint container benefits the local community food pantry, some of the paint comes back to Sustainable Norcross to use in community service projects. While all this is happening around Lawrenceville St, a few blocks away a team of volunteers will be conducting the annual Rivers Alive clean up on a local stream. This year the city owned stream will be accessed from Everglades Trail just south of the Shell Station at the intersection with Mitchell Rd. Volunteers will serve from 9 AM until noon. For more info, contact riversalivenorcross@hotmail.com.

This is the 4th year that Sustainable Norcross has sponsored this event, part of the statewide campaign to remove litter and invasive plants from our waterways. Chair Betsy Hixson has participated in these events along with her husband Ken over the years since moving to Norcross. In the early days they were organized by the city. Now the city is a partner with volunteers taking the lead. The Public Works, Utilities and Parks Department assists with removal and disposal of the litter that cannot be recycled and the yard waste that includes kudzu, privet, English ivy and other non-native species that choke out beneficial plants. Sustainable Norcross Commission member Brian Mock and Hampton Inn Northlake are providing refreshments. You can free up space in your basement or attic, get your daily exercise, visit with friends and family and serve your community at these Norcross events Saturday October 15. Will we see you there? PS Have you voted for Connie Weathers and Sustainable Norcross in Cox Conserves Heroes contest. Help win $5,000 for our service projects. Thanks.

City Lights

2011-09-28T18:16:00.001-04:00

While some people are thinking about city lite and wondering how much more its going to cost them, the taxpayers of Norcross are looking at their city lights and counting the savings. In fall 2009 the city replaced incadescent mini lights in the downtown streetscape trees with 400 strands of LED mini lights; all of them controlled with photocells for dusk to dawn operation. This has resulted in an annual savings of 54,000 kWh annually, equating to $6,100 annually. The commercial grade lights also have a longer life than the previous tree lights.

Additionally since 2009 the city Christmas tree has been lit with C9 LED lights with the savings over incadescent C9 lights 2,900 kWh or $330 each year. LED spotlights controlled by photo cells are used for up lighting trees in Webb Park and for landscape lighting at the city Welcome Center. The annual reduction from incandescent spots is 2,300 kWh, a savings of $270 per year. The total annual savings for these LED light installations is $6,700. The city continues its efficency efforts with the new LED outdoor decorative lighing and spotlights in conjunction with new signage for the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center pending final approval and installation. Gwinnett County Department of Transportation, who manages all traffic signal lights in the county on behalf of city, county and state roads, has been converting to LED lights in their effort at cost savings and improved efficiency. This project has been ongoing and will continue until all traffic signals have been converted. A federal grant has funded a large part of this improvement. Take a look around and see Norcross through the eyes of our visitors who will be flooding in for Art Fest this weekend. It might be an enlightening experience. Although these visitors don't seem too excited.

Top photo by Chuck Cimarik, bottom photo by Mike Weathers

Spreading the Word

2011-09-28T09:36:00.000-04:00

Regular communication with city leaders is an important factor in the success of the ARC Green Communities certification program. It's also a goal of the Sustainable Norcross Commission. This staff meeting of City Manager Rudolph Smith included an update regarding the measures adopted this year by the city and reinforcement of those previously adopted. The City of Norcross currently is certifed as a Green Community at the Silver level by the ARC joining Cobb County and Roswell as the only communities among the 10 county metro area with that designation.

Since receiving that honor in December 2010 they have been Going for the Gold. The Green Communities Program includes a manual with 65 potential measures that a jurisdiction can adopt as it pursues sustainability. These measures are in 10 categories: Green Building, Energy Efficiency, Green Power, Water Use Reduction and Efficiency, Trees and Green Space, Transportation and Air Quality, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Land Use, Education and Innovation. Each measure is worth 5 or 10 points depending on the level of difficulty and impact. They fall into either Government or Community as the targeted audience with the government leading by example while also offering opportunities for the community to participate. Think the upcoming semi annual city sponsored community recycling day as one example and the recently adopted solar and water conservation incentives another for the community. Conducting energy audits on city owned properties and adopting a No Net Loss of Trees policy for city owned properties are examples of those targeting the city. The City of Norcross has implemented measures in all categories. They have attempted 100% of those in the categories of Land Use, Education and Innovation. The area with the least points attempted is Green Power. They have adopted 51 measures. Of the 14 not adopted, the city has worked on at least 3 that are still being pursued. The City earned the minimum 230 points for its Silver designation and must have a cumulative total of at least 280 for the Gold. This week they are submitting 10 measures for 70 potential points. An ARC committee of experts will review the city's application, conduct a site visit and make a determination with recognition expected in December. Thanks to the teamwork of elected officials, city staff, the city's volunteer advisory boards and others Norcross is becoming a leader and a greener, more sustainable community.

Got A Load of That

2011-09-28T00:37:00.000-04:00

Thanks to James Williams of Williams Upcycling , Sustainable Norcross now has a supply of paint to use for community service projects. Not just any paint, but recycled paint salvaged from the landfill and ready to be repurposed. This paint was collected at an event like the one scheduled for Saturday October 15 from 9 AM - 1 PM sponsored by the City of Norcross. The first time the city offered this service along with their semi annual mega recycling event was in April 2011. Over 2,700 cans of paint were turned in for reuse or proper disposal. Reuse has included some of the paint for the walls of The Nest, a new artist incubator in the former parsonage on the campus of Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center (NCACC). A project planned for Friday September 30 as part of Gwinnett Great Days of Service is to paint donated windows removed from a local home. Later the windows will be turned in to a cold frame lid and a small standing greenhouse cabinet.

Both will be used by the newly relocated Norcross Community Garden that is also on the NCACC campus.

Got paint? Need to find a new home for it before the holidays? Participate in the city's Paint Renew Recycling Program and give your old paint new life. James, get a load of that!

Get a Load of This

2011-09-26T17:10:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine that this

would all fit in this?

Well, thanks to the expert packing of Patty Russart, Executive Director of Atlanta Community Tool Bank, it did.

Then Patty fired up the electronics and printed a receipt for the tools that Sustainable Norcross has on loan for a workday at Norcross Community Garden Friday September 30. Rental value of these tools is $72.59; replacement value $2,417.39. Thanks to the Tool Bank and Gwinnett Great Days of Service (GGDoS), affiliated with Hands on Atlanta (HOA) and their generous sponsors, the rental is free to non-profits. This is the first year that Sustainable Norcross has participated, but it won’t be the last. In addition to free rental of the equipment, there are other benefits to this new partnership. The established organization of Gwinnett Great Days of Service provides assistance with publicity and recruitment of volunteers, supplies t-shirts for participants and some funds towards project materials in the form of Home Depot gift cards. The newly relocated and renamed Norcross Community Garden will benefit from some sprucing up. Plans include removal of weeds and invasive plants, spreading of wood chips from Arbor-Nomics Tree Service for mulch and weed supression around the beds, repositioning of 4 original beds, weeding and tending existing beds, planting fall crops in beds dedicated for donation to an area food bank, prepping windows donated from a local homeowner to repurpose in to a cold frame and small standing greenhouse, creation of a compost bin from wood pallets donated by Eaton Tile Co. of Norcross. A special feature will be a demonstration by Community Garden Whisperer Pattie Baker of how to create beds for winter crops using covered hoops. Volunteers will then install four. Other special guests may include Fred Conrad, Ex Dir of Atlanta Community Food Bank and representatives of Gwinnett Great Days of Service or Hands on Atlanta. Conrad is sending a team of volunteers with some supplies including water, snacks and fall veggie plants. This is the second time they have worked with Sustainable Norcross at the garden. They are supporting another garden work day, the second one with Wesleyan High School, in October. Additional volunteers signed up include a team from the Green Sustainable Club of Gwinnett Technical College led by Cris Perkins, Director of Institutional Advancement. The school is a repeat participant with GGDoS. Norcross Community Garden regulars Betsy Hixson, Kelli Persons and Connie Weathers are team leaders. Contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com to add your support. If you cannot attend, please consider donating items from the wish list or sponsoring a bed. A contribution of $150 covers cultivation of one 4 X 8 foot raised cedar bed for a year tended by volunteers. Smaller donations will purchase seeds, plants, organic soil amendments and other supplies. Beds are also available for Do It Yourself gardening now through January 31, 2012 for $25. A 12 month rental starting February 1, 2012 is $50 plus a small registration fee. The garden is for year-round, organic food production for personal use or donation in the Plant a Row for the Hungry program. Community gardens take underutilized land and provide a catalyst for neighborhood and community development while providing food and stimulating a healthy lifestyle. Come grow with us.

Last Chance Sale

2011-06-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

Attend the Last Chance Sale Saturday June 18 from 10 AM - Noon at 155 N Cemetery St. Most items on the catalog are availble plus a few others, even the kitchen sink.

Come see for yourself and take home a little piece of history. Demolition is scheduled to begin Monday and everything will be gone!

Help find a new home for these treasures. Need a little inspiration? See these great DIY projects reusing materials similar to those available at the Last Chance Sale.

See photos of some of the items on our Facebook page.

Pre-Demolition Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party Photo Album

2011-06-17T11:56:00.002-04:00

Check the Sustainable Norcross Facebook page for an album of photos courtesy of Tina Marie DeVincenzo of Photography by Tina Marie. Thanks to Tina and all who made the event a success!

Going, Going...Gone

2011-06-02T11:25:00.000-04:00

This charming stone shed has been an icon at Cemetery and Bostic Streets since about the 1960's. It's said the original owner of the c1900 Queen Anne cottage residence on the same lot had it built for a garden shed or greenhouse. Apparently the lady of the house had a green thumb and lovingly created a period appropriate structure. And many came to love it.

When the current owner, the city, decided to clear the lot to make way for redevelopment, members of the public started making plans to save it. Upon close inspection and with the advice of professionals, it was determined the shed could not be economically relocated. The stones were actually a veneer with much concrete mortar that was very brittle, it was built on concrete footings over an earthen floor and lined with old "barn" wood.

What to do, what to do? It would be a shame to reduce it to a pile of rubble and throw it in a landfill. First, it was offered to the public, along with the house, to be moved. There were no takers. At the urging of Sustainable Norcross to find a more environmentally friendly solution, the city contracted with The Deconstructed House to un-build the shed by hand in order to salvage the parts.

The weathered tin roofing with decorative ornament and interior barn wood are now for sale at the Pre-Demolition Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party Saturday June 4 from 10 AM - Noon. There are 7 pieces of tin 8 feet by 2 feet, 8 pieces 10 feet by 2 feet, 5 pieces 20 inches by 2 feet, some ridge pieces and the decoration. A nice stack of weathered barn wood includes a variety of widths and lenghts, mostly de-nailed. Arrive early for best selection. Also for sale are heart pine wood floors, doors (including the stone shed door), a fireplace mantle, antique doorknobs, new kitchen cabinets and more. Bring cash or check payable to City of Norcross. Proceeds go towards project expenses.

Oh, and remember the party aspect of the salvage sale for a unique, fun Saturday outing. See earlier blog post and here. After the sale, stroll to Historic Downtown to the shops and restaurants.

The house and remaining outbuildings are going next, including the adjacent house on the opposite corner of Bostic and Cemetery St. Expect demolition by the end of June. Additional select items will be recycled or repurposed in order to reduce the volume sent to the landfill. All this is in keeping with the City of Norcross designation by the Atlanta Regional Commission as a Silver Level Green Community.

See you Saturday!

For Sale at the Pre-Demolition Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party June 4 10 AM - Noon

2011-05-30T13:15:00.000-04:00

Pre-Demolition Salvage, Pickin' and Porch Party

2011-05-23T16:01:00.001-04:00

Sustainable Norcross, The City of Norcross and The Deconstructed House host a Pre-Demolition Salvage, Pickin' and Porch Party on Saturday, June 4th, 2011 from 10am-12pm.

LOCATION is 155 North Cemetery St. at intersection with Bostic St., Norcross, 30071, conveniently located one block west of Buford Hwy. and two blocks east of historic downtown Norcross.

FREE ADMISSION. Join us for live old timey music,

artwork featuring salvaged building materials from Recentered Pieces,

memory quilts from repurposed favorite t-shirts or ties by Gail's Quilting Services

sustainable networking, and opportunity to purchase architectural salvage, fixtures, heart pine flooring and more from 1900 - 1930 period houses scheduled for demolition. Payment accepted by cash or check payable to City of Norcross.

TREATS available for purchase from Wholly Pops, a provider of refreshing local, seasonal and organic frozen fruit popsicles.

ENJOY costumed characters and storytelling about the old ball field and adjacent properties by Norcross Ghost Tour.

SPONSORS
Sustainable Norcross, an organization dedicated to the greening of communities, provides community-based opportunities to engage in supporting sustainable practices.

City of Norcross, certified by the Atlanta Regional Commission as a silver level Green Community, was chartered in 1870. It was created as a railroad town and summer retreat for Atlantans because of its “high altitude, balmy breezes, pure water and mild seasons”. This forward thinking community is protecting its historic claim to fame while simultaneously becoming the place to imagine for a creative and diverse population.

The Deconstructed House was founded to divert re-usable building products and architectural salvage from landfills.

Contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com 770-246-0083.

Imagine! Fun Stuff in Norcross

2011-05-16T12:47:00.001-04:00

Wow, the busy season is off with a bang and there are plenty of ways to get involved. If you cannot volunteer in person, we have an ongoing need for funds, supplies and materials, assistance with writing, publicity, social media, planning and execution. For more details about any of the following Green Community activities sponsored by Sustainable Norcross in conjunction with the city, contact 770-246-0083 or sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.

Friday May 20 – 8 AM – 9:30 AM – Walk to School with select students of Summerour Middle School. Be part of the Kick Off of Safe Routes to School. Donate small incentives to give away to 6 – 8 grade students.

Saturday May 21 – 8 AM – 11 AM – Assist with Bike Rodeo for designated students of Norcross Elementary and Summerour Middle Schools led by Norcross PD. Donate small incentives to give away to 5 – 8 grade students.

Saturday May 28 – 9 AM – Install donated wood raised garden beds at new location of the Community Garden at Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center (NCACC). Bring your own shovel and work gloves to help spread the love…and dirt in this Eagle Scout project. Beds will soon be available to rent. Volunteer to be on the garden governing board to decide when, how much, etc.

Saturday May 28 – 9 AM and Ongoing through the summer – Weed, water and plant additional donated seedlings at 4 existing beds at new NCACC Community Garden. Produce goes to charity. These are different from the new beds being installed same day. Donate hose, pistol grip nozzle, hose reel, garden tools, wheel barrow or garden cart, paper yard debris bags, money for supplies, etc.

Saturday May 28 – 1 PM – 3 PM
Tuesday May 31 – 9 AM – 3 PM
Wednesday June 1 - 9 AM – 3 PM
Hand deconstruct and salvage materials from 2 city owned properties scheduled for demolition. Prepare best items for sale at the Pre-Demolition, Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party on Saturday June 4 from 10 AM – noon. Other materials will be recycled or repurposed. Some may be used in a public art creation. Be a part of this innovative community project. Bring work gloves, hand tools, cleaning supplies.

Saturday June 4 – 10 AM – Noon – Help with this fun event and sale of salvaged materials from 2 early 1900’s houses and out buildings, 1960’s office building and other goodies owned by the city. Bid on a piece of Norcross history. Proceeds from the Pre-Demolition, Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party used to offset costs of the project.

Saturday June 11 - 10 AM Water Saver Rain Barrel Class at NCACC - see right sidebar.

Imagine yourself an active part of the greater Norcross community. And smile…you may be on camera.

Let's Hear It For The Girl Scouts! And...You?

2011-05-09T15:14:00.006-04:00

Friday nine second grade Girl Scouts from Simpson Elementary School planted veggies at the Norcross Community Garden. The area was a buzz with activity as girls excitedly set to work clearing out the weeds and winter cover crops and got down to business. In no time squash, tomatoes, peppers and basil had been planted, watered, mulched and were happily basking in the late afternoon sun. The plants had even been sung to as the girls spontaneously broke into song a few times between planting tips offered by leader Jennifer Bonacci.

Saturday the happy scene repeated itself when Girl Scout Troop 3317 tackled the remaining two beds. The eight first graders, also from Simpson, chose sweet potatoes, onions, 2 types of tomatoes, strawberries, and beans that they started from seeds.

Leader Anila Ballerstedt organized this service project after meeting Connie Weathers of Sustainable Norcross while picking up at the Peachtree Corners CSA sponsored by Sustainable Peachtree Corners co-founder Robin Montri. Talk about perfect timing.

According to Laura Laszlo, founder of Norcross Charity Garden, they lost their space after two years of operation and were at a loss how to carry on. Relocating to the campus of Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center was a natural.

Originally a project of Comcast Cares in 2009, employee volunteers had installed and planted four wooden raised garden beds beside the Latin American Association. Last summer Pattie Baker, a/k/a Sustainable Pattie, founding member of Dunwoody Community Garden, visited the site and saw the beds languishing. Pattie promptly recruited fellow volunteer Bob Lundsten to help plant and water the beds, keeping the veggies and the concept of a community garden alive.

Now Peachtree Corners Girl Scouts have breathed life back into the little garden. But they will not be tending the beds over the summer. That’s where YOU come in.

Ideally a community garden would have a small group of volunteers to manage the process, make a few decisions about how the garden will function and dig in to make it happen. That group could include you. Lend a hand to weed, water and watch veggies grow. Gardening is great exercise and can be a fun social outing to boot.

Not the play-in-the-dirt kind of person? First, you do not need a green thumb to be a successful gardener. Come join the fun and learn by doing. Seven to nine year old Girl Scouts can do it, and so can you.

Still not convinced to get your hands dirty? You can always donate money or materials. Here’s a partial wish list: 100 foot garden hose, pistol grip nozzle that shuts off when not squeezed, hose reel, watering cans, hand tools, work gloves, garden cart, paper lawn debris bags, gift cards to garden or home stores, seeds, plants, …oh, and did I mention money? Or writing an application for a grant?

Girl Scouts have blazed the trail for us. Now who will step forward to guide us on the journey?

New Community Garden is Eagle Scout Project That Attracts A Village of Volunteers

2011-04-12T16:24:00.011-04:00

Local Boy Scout Kam and his dad Jeff lay out the location of new raised wood garden beds Kam will make and install as part of his Eagle Scout project. At a recent work session volunteers from Wesleyan High School coordinated by Atlanta Community Food Bank and Sustainable Norcross assisted in clearing the area. After a good morning of old fashioned work, the bed locations are taking shape and the area has been cleared of a truck load of weeds and undergrowth.
Thanks to these volunteers for getting the community garden project off to a great start! If you would like to assist in the next work days, rent a raised garden bed to "farm" or be on the Community Garden committee contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.

What IS…

2011-02-24T13:59:00.006-05:00

a group that:

has a Georgia Tech electrical engineer, a designer and charitable foundation board member, an environmental consultant, a retired EPA manager, and a Georgia Master Naturalist?

is only 2 1/4 years old?

is made up of volunteers appointed by their city’s elected leaders?

partners with others in the community to achieve common goals?

was nominated as Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Best Green Government for 2010?

has been instrumental in achieving Green Communities certification at the Silver Level by the Atlanta Regional Commission and is currently Going for the Gold?

and is being honored by The Civic League for Regional Atlanta with their Regional Excellence Award at their What’s Right With the Region celebration?

It is the Sustainable Norcross Commission, of course. This five member citizen panel advises the City of Norcross on environmental and sustainability topics. Their primary objective is the development of a measured sustainable city plan and regular communication with the city leadership. Goals are in areas ranging from water and energy conservation, transportation and air quality to green building and land use. Heavy emphasis is on education and volunteerism.

Although a customized sustainability plan created for the city is a long term objective, the group embraced the turnkey program of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) when it was first introduced in December 2008. This was only a month after the group was officially created by the city and only six months after the first public meeting to gauge interest in creating a group.

The program offered by the ARC includes a manual and other support to assist governments in the 10 county metro area in reducing their overall environmental impact. The governments in the program are leading the way to sustainable living.

And the folks advising the local government leaders are the hard working volunteers of the Sustainable Norcross Commission:
Chuck Cimarik
Kathy Nau
Heather Royston
Jim Scarbrough
Connie Weathers

Its Stream Clean Up Time

2010-10-10T18:35:00.002-04:00

The annual Rivers Alive Stream Clean Up in cooperation with the City of Norcross is this Saturday October 16 from 9 AM to noon at the city-owned property on Mitchell St. Look for the signs at the gated entrance just east of the Shell gas station.

This event is part of the state wide annual water way clean up which helps keep our water supply clean and free flowing.

All participants must sign a release. Youth under age 18 must have the release signed by a parent or guardian.

Dress to get dirty. Wear sturdy close-toed shoes that you can get wet if you do not have wading boots.

Volunteers will collect litter and trash and remove invasive plants such as kudzu, English ivy, and Chinese privet.

Special t-shirts are available for volunteers. A credit on City of Norcross storm water utility fee may also be available for qualifying participants.

For more information contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.

Heart Healthy Eating

2010-07-06T00:08:00.005-04:00

It's time for the Whistle Stop Farmers Market and plenty of fresh, local produce and other goodies. The market runs every Tuesday from 4 - 8 PM from June through October in Norcross between Thrasher Park and the railroad. In addition the CSA I participate in, Buffalo Lick Farm & Nursery is there with my prepaid bag of the fresh crop of the week ready for me to pick up.

Here is one of my faves - a mix of veggies oven roasted at 425 F until tender with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. After serving with some lean baked, grilled or broiled meat I use the leftovers in spaghetti with (or without) meat sauce. A new version involves quinoa.

See you at the market!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

2010-05-14T12:38:00.002-04:00

The application for Green Communities certification of City of Norcross is in the hands of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Sustainable Norcross Commission has been working closely with City leaders (staff, elected and volunteer) over the past 18 months to meet the deadline. A team of subject matter experts will review the submission for the next three months and also conduct a site visit. They will evaluate whether the City will be awarded Green Communities certification for its efforts to lead the city by example towards a more sustainable, environmentally responsible way of living and doing business.

The City chose from over 60 recommended initiatives in the following areas:
• Green Building
• Energy Efficiency
• Green Power
• Water Use Reduction and Efficiency
• Trees and Greenspace • Transportation
• Recycling and Waste Reduction
• Land Use
• Education
• Innovation

Each initiative is worth 5 or 10 points with NO partial credit available. Awards are at 3 levels:
• Level 1 - Bronze: 175 – 229 points
• Level 2 - Silver: 230 – 279 points
• Level 3 - Gold: 280 – 400 points

The ARC will notify the city in the Fall. Already the community is benefiting from the implementation of the initiatives. Additional ones are in the works, such as the upcoming process which will include public input to create the first citywide, comprehensive master plan for parks, green spaces and trails. This project championed by the Parks and Green Space Commission in conjunction with the City.

Read more about the ARC Green Communities Program, view the manual. And watch for more info about the Norcross specific aspects of the program or contact us.

For now, way to go Norcross, truly a place to imagine.

Green Your Thumb: Promote Biodiversity

2010-05-06T15:26:00.000-04:00

Green Your Thumb: Promote Biodiversity

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

2010-04-25T10:28:00.003-04:00

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) is the statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program. The goals of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream are to (1) increase public awareness of the state’s nonpoint source pollution and water quality issues, (2) provide citizens with the tools and training to evaluate and protect their local waterways, (3) encourage partnerships between citizens and their local government, and (4) collect usable baseline water quality data.

So the goals are to increase awareness of folks like you and me about the quality of our water and to empower us to work together to identify and correct water pollution and other problems. Volunteers can get the training and tools to collect and regularly report data on “their” adopted water. By tracking this info over time, everyday citizens can spot changes and trends that might indicate a problem that can be addressed.

Norcross has a new AAS program that tests water samples in the creek that runs along Longview Drive on the city-owned Ruby Fickling property. The thunderstorm on Saturday delayed the start and then required a quick relocation to finish the chemical tests, but the volunteers got it done. Thanks go to Keisha who started Norcross Adopt-A-Stream, Lynn from Gwinnett Sierra Club who lent an experienced hand, Brian and Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center who lent the test kit and City of Norcross for providing the location and support.

The test site is the same location as the November 2009 Rivers Alive Stream Clean Up. It is an unnamed tributary of Crooked Creek that flows under Holcomb Bridge and continues on to the Chattahoochee. See photos on the side bar.

Join us to assist or stop by to observe. The monthly testing is done the fourth or last Saturday of every month at 10 AM. Contact us to confirm.

Up, Up and Away!

2010-04-24T11:31:00.001-04:00

City Manager Rudolph Smith got in the spirit of Georgia Cities Day April 23 with electric department staffer at the controls. Nearly 900 students from Norcross Elementary School walked to City Hall and learned about some of the governmental services.

They started at the new Welcome Center,saw the vintage fire truck at the Fire Museum, continued to City Hall where they went through the metal detector and attended court and heard from the community police officer. They received goodie bags from Public Works and learned about recycling and resource conservation among other things. Students paused to cheer on teachers and other adults with shouts of "higher, higher" as the brave souls rode the utility cherry picker. Next they heard more from the police and watched a K-9 demo. The Gwinnett Braves mascot was on hand along with Buster the Brown Thrasher anti-littering mascot. Kids went through the fire safety house then relaxed with cookies and punch while hearing a story. Then it was back to school.

What a great field trip on a lovely day in Norcross showcasing team work and out government in action.

April 17 – A Grand Day in Norcross

2010-04-18T11:26:00.001-04:00

And what a day it was!

It started early with the Corners to Crossing Race with volunteers taking their places by 6:30 AM. After the awards ceremony in Thrasher Park it was on to Webb Park for music and children’s activities “at the beach” during Spring Break in Norcross. Mayor Bucky said “we brought the beach to Norcross” for the day, even better than going to the beach. The new splash fountain was a big hit!

Then it was time to slip away for the official ribbon cutting at the Welcome Center before zipping back up to Webb Park to continue the fun. Volley ball playing, Frisbee throwing, dog romping, beach blanket lounging, bike riding, refreshment enjoying, sun worshiping, music playing day at the beach.

And it all ended with the Grand Opening and a nice ceremony honoring the namesake of the park, Mayor Emeritus Lillian Webb. Special guests were the members and families of the town’s baseball teams who played on that hallowed ground back in the day. Then live beach music rocked our world for a fine end to a grand day in Norcross.

Thanks to all the folks who made this happen. It was years in the making!

“A Celebration in a Field of Dreams Where Community Vision Shows that All Things are Possible”

Corners to Crossing

2010-04-18T09:59:00.000-04:00

No doubt you’ve heard about the very successful Corners to Crossing Race held yearly on a route connecting Peachtree Corners to the railroad crossing in Norcross. Saturday April 17 was the third annual running of this popular event. It is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race and helps raise money for several important community groups.

What you probably don’t know is the housekeeping details. After all, they are not exciting, just required. While it may be necessary to see to the needs of the runners i.e. keep them hydrated, rewarded and celebrated, it is optional what to do with the stuff after all is said and done. Stuff like cardboard, plastic bags, shrink wrap, empty water bottles, banana and orange peels - just to mention a few.

Well, our community volunteers have gotten in to the habit of recycling, even when away from home. Some of them separated these items and held them aside. And nearly 40 pounds of cardboard, a huge "bag of bags" containing plastic bags and shrink wrap, empty plastic bottles and a bushel of banana and orange peels were diverted from landfills. Everything but the food scraps and plastic wrap was picked up by our local recycler. The fruit peels were put in the compost bin at Norcross Charity Garden, our city’s first Community Garden. In about 3 months they will be naturally turned in to compost ready to enrich the soil in time for the fall planting. The plastic wrap and bags were recycled at a local grocery store.

And all this was just a portion of what was produced by one event.

Next year I bet we can do even better.

Oh, and next month is the Classic Car Show. Now what will we do about recycling at this great annual event? Let’s talk.

4 in 1 Results - Guest Post By Phil Robertson, Norcross Code Enforcement Supervisor

2010-04-11T10:56:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,

Attached you will find all the final totals for our recent Clean-Up Day, Recycle Event and Canned Food Drive held on April 10th. All four events had a great turn out and I want to thank all the staff, volunteers and participants – without all of you the success of these events would not be possible. The participants were very enthusiastic and appreciative that the City of Norcross offered these services and that we are environmentally aware.

We surpassed all previous records to date of our Recycle and Clean-Up Events. Our next events will be:

· For 2010: The Fall Event will be held on Saturday, October 9th.

· For 2011: The Spring Event will be held on Saturday, April 9th.

Again, thank you everyone for your support!

Regards,
Philomena M. Robertson
Code Enforcement Supervisor
City of Norcross

Electronics Recycled:
• 11,661 lbs of metal, plastic, glass computer housing and peripheral equipment.
• One Hundred fifty-three (153) participants
Shredded Papers Recycled:
• 9,372 lbs of sensitive and confidential records.
• One Hundred-twenty seventy-seven (177) participants
Clean-Up Event:
• 23.45 tons of bulky items, trash, old appliances/furniture, yard debris.
• 1.82 tons of “curbside” recyclables
• One Hundred twenty-one (121) participants
Participating Cities (33):
• Alpharetta
• Atlanta
• Berkeley Lake
• Buckhead
• Buford
• Chamblee
• Dawsonville
• Decatur
• Duluth
• Dunwoody
• Fairburn
• Flowery Branch
• Grayson
• Jefferson
• Johns Creek
• Jonesboro
• Lawrenceville
• Lilburn
• Lithonia
• Loganville
• Marietta
• Norcross (city)
• Norcross (county)
• Peachtree Corners
• Roswell
• Sandy Springs
• Snellville
• Stone Mountain
• Sugar Hill
• Suwanee
• Tucker
• Winder
• Woodstock

Added Activity to Recycle/Clean-up Day Events:
We also collected on the same day, non-perishable food items for our local food bank. Participants did not need to make a donation in order to participate in the Clean-up/Recycle Events but it was greatly appreciated. Donations of these items will be given to members of our community in need. We collected over 500 non-perishable/canned goods and monetary donation of $320.00.

Upcoming Event Dates:
• For 2010: The Fall Event will be held on Saturday, October 9th.
• For 2011: The Spring Event will be held on Saturday, April 9th.

Editor's Note: Sustainable Norcross provides volunteers to assist. Mark your calendars and plan to join us as a volunteer as well as a participant.

Harvesting rainwater to ease Atlanta’s water woes | ajc.com

2010-04-07T23:37:00.001-04:00

Harvesting rainwater to ease Atlanta’s water woes | ajc.com

Posted using ShareThis

Norcross residents to grow garden for homeless | ajc.com

2010-04-06T23:25:00.001-04:00

Norcross residents to grow garden for homeless | ajc.com

Posted using ShareThis

Spring is For Questioning

2010-04-06T14:52:00.004-04:00

Inquiring minds want to know. What will you do to conserve water?

Without water conservation, Georgia will not be able to meet its future water demands. And the present is not looking too secure either.

As water resource management becomes more complex, Georgians (and the judicial system) are calling for comprehensive water resource plans and policies, as well as more aggressive water conservation. Our current source of drinking water is in doubt and new sources are decades and millions, perhaps billions of dollars away. So in my book conservation is the common sense, affordable tool to ensure water is available when and where we need it. And it is within the control of each Georgian. But how, exactly?

Enter Conserve Water Georgia, a water conservation clearinghouse with timely tips and tools for individuals, students and teachers, business and industry representatives and community leaders. This is a wonderful service of the Watershed Protection Branch of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. There are a variety of topics and the website is constantly being updated to reflect the current threat level (seriousness) of water availability issues.

While we have had record breaking rainfall since the end last summer of the record breaking drought in Georgia, we need to actively maintain our conservation habits. And expand upon them.

And now that planting season is upon us, I’ve been looking at ways to Save Water Outdoors. Did you know that the average household uses about 80-100 qallons of water a day per person? Of that about 30 percent is outdoor water use. And this is the season when that begins to peak.

So here are tips from Conserve Water Georgia for

Saving Water Outdoors

• Water efficiently.
• Put the “right” plants in the “right” places.
• Add organic matter to the soil.
• Mulch.
• Harvest water from alternative sources and use it to irrigate plants.
• Know the rules.

And this Saturday April 10 you can make your very own water harvesting source. Join Sustainable Norcross at 3 PM for the first Rain Barrel and Water Conservation Class of the season. Look for the white tent between the Welcome Center and Fire Museum Parking Lot on Lawrenceville Street near the intersection with Mitchell.

Price is $50 for the class where you will assemble your own 55 gallon food grade recycled plastic drum from materials provided. You’ll also learn about a potential credit on your Storm Water Utility Fee. Additional kits available for $50 each.

Or order a rain barrel assembled and ready for you to install for $60 each.

At the rate of 1 inch of rainfall producing .6 gallons of harvestable water per square foot of roof area (that’s 600 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft of roof during a 1 inch rain), you’ll want several. Let our instructors show you how to daisy chain them to increase storage capacity. And ask them about reusing HVAC condensate too.

Sign up NOW or call 404-229-7077.

This class made possible through the cooperation of City of Norcross, Coca Cola, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Sustainable Norcross.

Earth Hour at Zapata

2010-03-27T22:18:00.003-04:00

Tonight the Earth Hour Celebration at Zapata was a smashing success. Volunteer organizer of the event, Yazkin brought in over 40 guests who enjoyed a wonderful dinner by candlelight. The place was packed inside and on the patio. At the stroke of 8:30 all but essential electric lights were turned off. It was a great opportunity to hold hands with your honey while dining by the glow of paper lantern covered votives.

Educational materials on a variety of environmental and sustainability topics were available along with collection containers for aluminum cans for recycling.

I bet this is the first of several eco-economic promotions in our fair city.

Thanks to Yazkin for such a creative take on Earth Hour, Tixie for helping get the word out and Phil and Connie for assisting with educational content. Here's Yazkin at the info table.

Tonight, Be a Part of a Worldwide Event While Dining by Candlelight – Really!

2010-03-27T12:46:00.002-04:00

Zapata Restaurant in Downtown Historic Norcross is planning to turn off all non-essential lighting tonight for Earth Hour, starting at 8:30 p.m. local time. Earth Hour is an event in which millions of Americans will turn out their lights for one hour in support of action on climate change and toward creating a cleaner, safer and more secure future.

According to an article in the Friday, March 26th issue of The Gwinnett Forum, (gwinnettforum.com) the year 2010 marks the third year of the event, which attracted more than 80 million participants in the U.S. last year, and nearly a billion people around the world, as lights dimmed on such global icons as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney's Opera House, the Great Pyramids of Gaza and New York's Empire State Building. Notable U.S. landmarks will turn off non-essential lighting for the hour, in what is expected to be the largest-ever call to action on climate change. This includes Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, St. Louis' Gateway Arch, Sea World in Orlando, the strip in Las Vegas, New York's Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Washington D.C.'s National Cathedral, California's Santa Monica Pier and the Space Needle in Seattle. It is expected to be the largest-ever call to action on climate change. According to resident DeeAnn Morton who experienced this event in a Decatur restaurant last year, “It’s really a lot of fun – it’s a neat experience at the restaurant, and then to know you’re part of something that is happening all over the world at that very moment.”

Zapata will be offering candlelight dining tonight; in addition, customers can recycle aluminum cans on site (courtesy of Sustainable Norcross), and enjoy sustainability educational information offered by Yazkin Lopez, the Sustainable Norcross volunteer who organized tonight’s event at Zapata. And then at 8:30, it’s lights out worldwide for an hour! The perfect setting for a delicious candlelight dinner.

Zapata Mexican Restaurant is located at 15 Jones Street in Norcross, 770-248-0052
For a peek at their menu, visit www.zapata-atl.com.

Thanks to Tixie Fowler for this guest blog.

Time for Spring Cleaning

2010-03-25T14:21:00.002-04:00

And what better way to dispose of unwanted items than to recycle them? Where you ask? Well right here in Norcross.

Saturday April 10 is the semi-annual Clean Up Day sponsored by Norcross City Code Enforcement Department. Supervisor Phil and team have a great day planned with not just 1, but 4 ways to particpate.

1- Community Clean Up for bulky household items for Norcross residents only

2- Electronics Recycling open to the public and free except for console and projection TV's for $10 fee each

3- Shredding Event for your sensitive and confidentail outdated papers free to the public

4- Canned Food Drive - Last but not least,recycle non-perishable food items from your pantry to local food banks. Not required for participation in the other events, but most appreciated.

Come participate in the Great American Cleanup in Norcross Saturday April 10. Details available by clicking on each numbered item. To volunteer email sustainablenorcross@gmail.com today.

How Do You Turn Snowmen Into Rain Barrels?

2010-01-05T19:23:00.002-05:00

Volunteers from Sustainable Norcross can show you how.
Assemble your own rain barrel or order ready to install.
Classes are forming now.
Contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.
Let it snow!

What We've Been Up To

2009-11-22T17:37:00.006-05:00

It was a beautiful morning for a stream clean up. About 15 people joined Mayor Bucky and Sustainable Norcross founder Connie to clean up in and along the stream on the city owned Fickling green space that includes Ruby Pond. They picked up litter and removed invasive plants on the 5.5 acre property and adjacent tributaries as part of the annual Rivers Alive statewide waterway clean up.

Fantastic weather continued and the freshly spiffed up town center Sparkled. Fourth grade Girl Scout Troop from Simpson Elementary School placed recycle containers in historic downtown Norcross on Friday before the kick off to the holiday shopping season. Then they walked to 3 of the houses on the Holiday Tour of Homes collecting litter prior to the annual event coming Saturday December 5. The service project was part of the scouts observance of national America Recycles Day and work towards their Bronze award.

See more photos in the side bar.

Energy Efficiency Puts Money in Our Pockets

2009-11-19T13:39:00.005-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Upcoming Walton EMC Energy Seminars Put Money in Your Pocket

Contact Jennifer Broun, 770/266-2572

MONROE, Ga. - There is no better time to have a few extra dollars in your pocket than the approaching holiday season. If you learn how to lower energy use around your home, you'll have extra money all year long.

Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is hosting a home energy seminar in the local area. Experts will show consumers how to save money and energy on heating and cooling (the largest part of an energy bill), water heating, lighting and other energy uses.

"Our energy experts have the practical knowledge to teach you easy ways to reduce your power bill," says Walton EMC's Jennifer Broun, youth and community representative. "Not only will these measures save money; they'll also make your home more comfortable."

Programs begin at 7 p.m. and run approximately 1-1/2 hours. Admission is free, but registration is required. To register or receive more information, call 770/267-5551or email Jbroun@waltonemc.com.Seminar date and location is November 24-Brookwood High School, Snellville.

Each participant will receive a gift and be entered to win door prizes. Civic and religious organizations are welcome to attend as a group. The group with the most members present at each program will receive $100 to use toward charitable activities.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 118,000 accounts over its ten-county service area between Atlanta and Athens.

Join others from Sustainable Norcross Tuesday November 24 at Brookwood High School, Snellville at 7 PM. RSVP. Attend, learn how to save and help earn a chance at $100 towards Sustainable Norcross volunteer activities.

4 in 1 Results - Guest Post By Phil Robertson, Norcross Code Enforcement Supervisor

2009-11-04T11:09:00.003-05:00

Below you will find all the final totals for our recent Clean-Up Day, Recycle and Shredding Events and Canned Food Drive held on October 24th. All four events had a great turn out and I want to thank all the staff, volunteers and participants – without all of you the success of these events would not be possible. The participants were very enthusiastic and appreciative that the City of Norcross offered these services and that we are environmentally aware.

Again, thank you everyone for your support!

Regards,

Philomena M. Robertson
City of Norcross Code Enforcement Supervisor

Electronics Recycled:
• 10,951 lbs of metal, plastic, glass computer housing and peripheral equipment.
• Eighty-two (82) participants

Shredded Papers Recycled:
• 8,080 lbs of sensitive and confidential records.
• One Hundred-twenty seven (127) participants

Clean-Up Event:
• 12.67 tons of bulky items, trash, old appliances/furniture, yard debris.
• One Hundred-five (105) participants logged – not the complete count

Participating Cities (21):
• Alpharetta
• Berkeley Lake
• Buford
• Decatur
• Duluth
• Dunwoody
• Flowery Branch
• Grayson
• Johns Creek
• Lawrenceville
• Lilburn
• Loganville
• Norcross (city)
• Norcross (county)
• Peachtree Corners
• Roswell
• Sandy Springs
• Snellville
• Sugar Hill
• Suwanee
• Tucker

Added Activity to Recycle/Clean-up Day Events:
We also collected on the same day, non-perishable food items for our local food bank. Participants did not need to make a donation in order to participate in the Clean-up/Recycle Events but it was greatly appreciated. Donations of these items will be given to members of our community in need. We collected a total of 771 non-perishable food items.

Upcoming Event Dates:For 2010, the Spring Event will be held on Saturday, April 10th and the Fall Event will be held on Saturday, October 9th.

Join Us For Art Fest

2009-09-28T14:13:00.007-04:00

As October rolls in to town, so does Art Fest and hopefully so do you. This year you may need to take a slightly different route due to the wash out of Holcomb Bridge Road (see map and directions below). But a foot or so of rain cannot dampen the volunteer spirit and community pride that brings folks together, especially for the premier event of the year, Art Fest.

Join your neighbors and make new friends by volunteering with Sustainable Norcross. Choices include:

Friday October 2, 5 – 7 PM – Assist in setting up the Art Fest Hospitality Suite recycling stations.

Saturday October 3, 7 AM - Set up informational tent for Sustainable Norcross at Art Fest at Thrasher Park, place recycle containers throughout venue.

10 AM – 6 PM Man informational tent (chat with public about Sustainable Norcross, hand out info), refresh recycle containers prior to free concert at 7:30 PM (collect full bags, replace with fresh bags, and tally contents).

Sunday October 4, 9 AM – Art Fest - Refresh recycle containers after concert from previous night.

11 AM – 5 PM - Man informational tent for Sustainable Norcross

5 PM - about 7 PM - Pack up tent, etc., collect all recycle containers, tally and store.

Sign up NOW sustainablenorcross@gmail.com

Click on article below to enlarge for details of detour around Holcomb Bridge Road to Art Fest in Historic Downtown Norcross.

How To Get To Historic Downtown Norcross

2009-09-28T13:47:00.004-04:00

A Barrel of …

2009-09-14T12:24:00.004-04:00

Raindrops. Just like pennies make dollars, raindrops make gallons – gallons of precious, life giving water. Free from Mother Nature. If only I could collect the raindrops and save them until I need them.

Raindrops that fall on my house produce 600 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of roof during a 1 inch rain. While I may not be able to harvest it all, I surely would like to capture enough to water my container plants, window boxes and shrubs. I could really put those raindrops to good use, save on my water bill, maybe get a credit on my storm water utility fee and protect the environment while I’m at it. Well that’s worth looking in to.

And thus began a quest to find affordable, practical rain barrels for my personal home use. What I found is an idea worth sharing. In fact we will be doing just that with a class at 9:30 AM Saturday September 19. We will show you how to make your very own rain barrel and by so doing will help to achieve several of the goals of Sustainable Norcross: Water Conservation, Education and Volunteerism.

If you miss this class or you are not a Do-It-Yourself kind of person, no worries. Put your name on the list here to be notified of the next class. Or order your completed rain barrel here. You can pick up your rain barrel(s) at the Sustainable Norcross tent at The Whistle Stop Farmers Market any Tuesday through October from 4 – 8 PM. Purchase several for yourself. (I have four linked together off one down spout.) And it is not too early to be thinking about gift ideas.

It is taking a village to make this possible. Well, a small army anyway. Thanks to each and every one of you for being our partner:

The Coca-Cola Company Live Positively Community Water Partnership
Bonny Putney, The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR)
Kevin Smith, Keep Forsyth County Beautiful
Karen Alexander, Raindrops Rain Barrels
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
Barbara and Jim Renz
Ernie Jones
City of Norcross
Lowe’s

Sign up now for Sustainable Norcross Rain Barrel ClassSaturday

September 19
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Lawrenceville St at Mitchell Rd beside the Fire Truck Museum

Cost $50 per barrel – Assemble your own from materials provided

OR

Order a completed rain barrel ready to install - $60 each

Join us for a barrel of fun and take home a barrel for your rain drops.

The Take

2009-09-13T23:56:00.004-04:00

This was a twofer week. The City of Norcross had two fun, free, back–to-back city wide events. Both were well attended, assisted in part by marvelous fall weather, but mostly because of their first class content. Where else can you go on a Friday night with your honey, spread a blanket under the stars and enjoy music, a refreshing beverage or two and a little alfresco dining?

And this was followed on Saturday with an international event right up the street. Locals and visitors to historic downtown got to view some classy and classic British motor vehicles, chat up their proud owners, get a spot of tea while strolling (and shopping) and catch a bite. Kudos all around, thanks to the staff and volunteers who make these magic moments for all of us to enjoy.

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, whether it is an annual affair or a routine event. It takes the coordinated effort of many to see after all the details that ensure an enjoyable experience. And if you never really thought about it, that is in part because folks have done such a good job that you don’t have to.

But if you did stop to think about it, would you wonder what’s up with those blue contraptions with clear plastic bags and dangling signs scattered around at every event? How do they get there, what goes in them, what comes out, what happens to the contents? Inquisitive minds want to know.

All together now: “Away From Home Special Events Recycling Grant”. The turn key kit came from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs as a grant to the City via an application prepared by Sustainable Norcross. The containers and trailer to transport them are for use at public events so folks can continue their recycling habit while away from home. Volunteers managed by Sustainable Norcross place the containers at the events, retrieve them and report the contents which are then recycled with the city waste vendor, Advanced Disposal.

So what was the take this week end? The 12 recycle containers netted about 87 pounds of beverage containers. About 53 pounds were glass with the balance aluminum and plastic. There were about seven additional pounds of cardboard. Eleven different volunteers (see September 13th posting) participated at three different times over the weekend to ensure the valuable recyclables stayed out of the land fill.

This would not be possible without each of you pitching in. Thanks for tossing your empties in the recycle containers and your garbage and food scraps in the trash. It takes all of us.

If you would like to do more than Pitch In, volunteer today.

Interact Caught in the Act

2009-09-13T14:20:00.006-04:00

Current (and future) members of Norcross High School Interact Club are caught in the act recently on Fall Planting Day at Norcross Charity Garden (see their Facebook page). They joined garden founder, Laura Laszlo and adult volunteers to harvest tomatoes, peppers, squash and pumpkins, then remove spent plants and weeds and finally, prepare and sow new beds. All produce is donated weekly to a local charity for homeless families who prepare and eat the fresh vegetables.

Norcross High School Interact Club President is Ezra Mohd Zaid and faculty sponsor is physics teacher, Mr. Robert Katz. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 to 18 and their call to action is “Lead, Connect, Serve”. Locally the club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree Corners that meets weekly in Norcross. Over the past year the Interact Club and Sustainable Norcross have worked together on several environmental initiatives that benefit the community while maintaining separate active schedules.

Seven Interact Club members distributed the special Away From Home Event Recycle containers for the Concert in the Park on Friday. A dedicated group met at 7 AM Saturday and re-located the recycle containers managed by Sustainable Norcross to historic downtown for the British Car Fayre. After the popular event another team retrieved the containers, collected data on “the take” and stored the units for the next city wide free activity.

That is The Whistle Stop Farmers Market on Tuesday from 4 – 8 PM. The festive fresh market continues through October on the street between Thrasher Park and the railroad. The Interact Club hopes to provide volunteer assistance to market vendors for unloading, setting up and packing up along with the ongoing market recycling project. And they are discussing additional volunteer opportunities in partnership with Sustainable Norcross.

Don’t let these dedicated community service oriented young people have all the fun! Join Norcross High School Interact Club and Sustainable Norcross in one of the many local volunteer opportunities this year. Imagine yourself interacting for the good of our community.

Calling All Volunteers

2009-06-22T13:02:00.003-04:00

Summer volunteer opportunities abound. Are you looking for a family oriented activity that is free, close to home and fulfilling? Sustainable Norcross has quite a line up for you. It coincides with the fabulous calendar of activities sponsored by the City of Norcross.
The next opportunity is 2 PM tomorrow at Thrasher Park to set up recycle containers for the wildly popular and still new Whistle Stop Farmers Market. Help us collect the recycling containers after market at 8 PM. This is an ongoing volunteer opportunity every Tuesday. You can be a volunteer and still enjoy the market from 4 to 8 PM (or sell out). And be sure to drop by the pavilion tomorrow to see our rain barrel prototype. Sign up for our rain barrel class or place an advanced order to purchase a completed rain barrel. Sign up too for the Sustainable Norcross outing to the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.
Next is the chance to set out and pick up the special event recycle containers at the first ever Cycle Show on Sunday June 28 from 1 – 7 PM in historic downtown. Meet us at 45 South Café at 10 AM and 7 PM to help and check out the cool motorcycles in between.
Kick off your Independence Day celebration at 10 AM Friday July 3 by helping set up the recycle containers at the new Lillian Webb Park at the top of the hill at Jones St. and throughout downtown for the day long celebrations. Retrieve recycle containers about 10 or 11 PM just after the fireworks. The official ribbon cutting ceremony at Lillian Webb Park is at the Gateway Plaza at 11:30 AM and city festivities start at 2 PM including live music, street artists and vendors, games and rides for the kids, plus an evening concert by our own Skin Alley Kats at the new Lillian Webb Park, and of course a grand fireworks finale.
Next the Summer Concert Series continues Friday July 17 with free music in Thrasher Park 7:30 – 9:30 PM. Help set up recycling at 4 PM and retrieve at 9:30 PM. Join volunteers for the rest of the concert schedule: July 31, August 14 and 28, September 11 and October 3.
Saturday July 25 is the Bike Fest with all day family oriented activities. We will put out recycle containers and set up an informational tent about 7 AM and clean up about 9 PM. Join us in the parade about 9 AM then help us man the tent with educational information about bike and pedestrian safety info, clean air, anti idling, etc. until noon.
Watch for classes to become certified as an Adopt-A-Stream volunteer and join us soon in a stream clean up on a city owned property.
Imagine spending some of your summer volunteering with Sustainable Norcross and enjoying all the good things going on right here at home.

Don’t Be A Litter Bug…

2009-06-14T15:16:00.002-04:00

But help us make them. Yep, that’s the plan according to Whistle Stop Farmers Market Children’s Activities volunteer Alice Hinterschied. The pavilion in newly renovated Thrasher Park will be transformed into The Kids Corner during many of the weekly markets. Look for face painters, temporary tattoos, a petting zoo and other kid friendly activities scattered throughout the market season that runs every Tuesday from 4 until 8 PM (or sell out), through October.

The featured activity for July 28 is the making of Litter Bugs that the kiddos can take home to remind them NOT to be a Litter Bug. Jane Cunningham will be showing the young crafters how to create their own litter bugs assuming YOU help us collect enough body parts, a/k/a craft supplies. This is what we need:

Egg cartons, especially paper ones
Empty paper towel tubes
Colored tissue paper
Ribbon or sting, small or large pieces
Shredded paper, especially colored paper
Plastic wrap, especially colored
Aluminum foil, clean please
Disposable bowls (paper, aluminum or Styrofoam also clean please)
Aluminum pie pans, clean please
Cupcake papers, never used please
Coffee filters, washed and dried please

All you pack rats, recyclers, “save it for a rainy day” folks, now is your chance to repurpose those scraps and items that were just too good to throw away.

Share your stash so kids can learn about recycling and anti-littering. Simply bring your “trash” to the Sustainable Norcross tent and we will ensure it becomes part of someone’s “treasure”. Stop by with yours weekly starting Tuesday and we should have enough by Litter Bug day.

And speaking of reusing, several of the vendors have asked you bring your own containers to carry your purchases away. Previously used egg cartons are perfect for, well… eggs. Bring your reusable shopping bags or buy the special Whistle Stop Farmers Market bags at the information tent. Bring back the cardboard boxes and little baskets to the strawberry man. Use those adorable baskets you have scattered on display throughout your home.

As for not littering, please remember to use the special “Away From Home Event Recycling” containers scattered throughout the market for aluminum, plastic, cardboard, glass and paper so long as they are NOT contaminated with food or other messy stuff. Place food and other organics in the specially marked container to be composted. Please put extinguished cigarette butts in the trash instead of littering our park and streets. Be a responsible pet owner and use the newly installed pet pick up stations. And put trash in its place.

Help us Make a Litter Bug, don’t Be a Litter Bug.

Video of Grand Opening of Thrasher Park and The Whistle Stop Farmers Market

2009-06-10T17:32:00.003-04:00

Thank you,Keith for this video and all the encouragement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUykow0il9Y

Team Work or “The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.”

2009-06-07T17:45:00.001-04:00

These thoughts come to mind as we prepare for two wonderful grand openings at one location in our community that I hope you will attend on Tuesday June 9.

The newly refurbished Thrasher Park will be officially opened with a ceremony at 6:30 PM Tuesday June 9. It has been nearly 3 years in the making with planning, public input, construction and landscaping. Come see what YOU made with your SPLOST tax dollars, thanks to the leadership of the Mayor and City Council, staff and Public Works and Utilities Director Craig Mims and his citizen advisory group, the Parks and Green Space Commission. This city oasis was designed by, Sean J. Murphy, RLA, LEED AP, certified arborist and Director of Land Planning and Landscape Architecture for Southeastern Engineering, Inc. And there are teams of other folks too numerous to mention, who made this happen.

This is the first city owned property where the “no net loss of trees” policy, “low flow plumbing”, “bike racks at public facilities” “drought tolerant landscape practices” and the innovative “Away From Home Special Events Recycling Grant” have been implemented as part of the city effort to achieve Green Community certification by the Atlanta Regional Commission. This and other green initiatives are being championed by the Sustainable Norcross Commission, citizen advisors to the city in partnership with the Tree Board and Parks and Green Space Commission.

And that leads us to the fabulous Whistle Stop Farmers Market open 4 – 8 PM (or until sell out) each Tuesday through October. By supporting and designating a space for the market, the City earns yet another initiative toward Green Community status. This is a team effort by energetic volunteers led by Tixie Fowler and fully supported by the volunteers of Sustainable Norcross and Sustainable Peachtree Corners. Besides being a place to purchase seasonal fresh locally grown food, specialty items, plants, etc. this is the place to be for fun activities, demonstrations and visiting with your neighbors.

And speaking of neighbors, join us Tuesday 4:30 - 6:30 for the Ice Cream Social sponsored by Norcross Neighbors and Mojitos. Enjoy music from neighbor and Mayor Bucky Johnson and the Jazz Lites starting at 5:30.

Remember to arrive early for the best selection, but plan to stay for a fun packed experience.

Come celebrate Team Work and Volunteerism in Norcross, a place to imagine where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Please excuse anyone left out. With such a great list of partners it is bound to happen, but rest assured it is not intentional.

To recap:

4:00 - 8:00 - WHISTLE STOP FARMERS MARKET

4:30 - 6:30 - ICE CREAM SOCIAL

5:30 - LIVE MUSIC Mayor Bucky Johnson and the Jazz Lites

6:30 - REOPENING CEREMONY

The Results Are In

2009-06-07T16:30:00.007-04:00

And we like them!

The City recently held a Three in One Recycling Day and it was an overwhelming success thanks to people like YOU.

City of Norcross Code Enforcement Supervisor Phil Robertson and team really did it up right. 81 participants of Electronics Recycling kept 7,510 pounds of old computers, fax machines, printers, phones, etc. out of the landfill.

The City Wide Neighborhood Clean Up Day netted 17.56 TONS of bulky items such as old furniture and trash, yard debris and 1,800 pounds of regular household recyclables. Over 90 Norcross residents participated, some making more than 1 trip.

This was the first offering of the Shred It Event and it was wildly popular, filling up the entire huge truck with 8,865 pounds of shredded personal paper documents from over 120 participants. We knew we had a hit on our hands when 8 vehicles lined up 30 minutes prior to the official start time. There was no more room in the truck by an hour before quitting time. Plans are to add a second truck to the next Shred It event scheduled for October 24.

Thank you for your generous support of our local food pantry at Cooperative Ministy by donating 4 large boxes of non-perishable edibles.

10 volunteers, most from Sustainable Norcross, joined 6 community service workers and 6 city employees to provide this service for the community. The E-cyle and Shred It Events were open to the public and attracted people from 24 cities including Cumming, Duluth, Peachtree Corners and the greater Norcross area and as far away as Flowery Branch.

Seizing Opportunities and Fulfilling the Promise

2009-06-07T15:31:00.004-04:00

Yes, I’ve been neglecting the blog. So sorry, but I have been out seizing opportunities and fulfilling the promise of spring. I had no idea there would be so many…

So even though the heat of summer is upon us, let’s pause and reflect on our recently departed spring.

Sustainable Norcross and Sustainable Peachtree Corners cemented their relationship with planning meetings almost weekly right up until the start of the late Spring CSA season on May 27. They participated in the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center Lunch and Learn for home schoolers in March. Cross promotion that has brought new faces to the table is another product of their collaboration. This includes brand new community gardens. Founders of the two groups serve on the Whistle Stop Farmers Market planning committee and share a tent at the market. Look for “the Sustainables” most weeks and especially on June 23 with a rain barrel and water conservation display.

Sustainable Norcross Commission has been working with the City and County to achieve points towards Green Community certification by the Atlanta Regional Commission. They also field questions and supply educational information as requested. These joint efforts were the subject of an article, “Norcross Is Greening Up” in the Georgia Sierra Club magazine by Greater Gwinnett Chapter President Tom Morrissey. The group also submits an article for the city monthly newsletter.

Sustainable Norcross became a Georgia non-profit corporation and opened a bank account. These are steps towards becoming an IRS tax exempt 501 (c) 3 organization. Thanks to Kim Civins and Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein for their pro bono assistance. And yes, we accept financial contributions.

In March Sustainable Norcross held an Open House to introduce many of their initiatives. The Away From Home Event Recycling kit was especially featured and is available to qualified community groups to use at their events.

Sustainable Norcross volunteers manage the kit at city sponsored events. Have you noticed how many of those there are? The City has a great line up. Contact us to volunteer for this important ongoing project.

A meeting of Sustainable Norcross Inc. was presented by a Chamblee Community Wildlife Habitat volunteer leader who informed members on how to get their own Backyard Wildlife Habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.

Volunteers from Sustainable Norcross recently assisted the City with the very successful Three in One Recycling Events for electronics, paper shredding and bulky items. Other partnerships are developing to achieve common goals.

A field trip to Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center is in the works. A class to make your own rain barrel is also in the planning stages. Adopt–A-Stream Training is coming up. All are outgrowths of interest expressed by participants like you.

Join us now. Seize the opportunities. Fulfill the promise of summer.

After The Cold Dark Winter Comes The Tantalizing Promise of Spring

2009-03-08T16:44:00.008-04:00

My chocolate lab Bosco and I were out digging in the dirt today. Both of us were loving it after experiencing cabin fever from the recent cold, wintry, snowy, slushy days. Yes, they had a beauty and special-ness of their own, but I really like Spring. It is my favorite time of the year. Even if this turns out to be just a tease, and we revert to more cold weather before Spring is here to transition us to Summer, I will seize the opportunity these spring-like days bring.

What about you? There are many opportunities to seize. Opportunities to do something different. Opportunities to start afresh, change course, learn a new way. Opportunities to make a difference, do something worthwhile, be a part of your community. Sustainable Norcross and sibling organizations offer many such opportunities close to home.

Friday March 13 from 11 – 1 attend the Lunch and Learn “Food for Thought” at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC). Find out what Sustainable Norcross, The Whistle Stop Farmer’s Market and Sustainable Peachtree Corners are up to.

Join your neighbors and friends at the Sustainable Norcross Open House on Monday March 23 from 7 – 9 PM at Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center Ballroom (NCACC). Learn how your organization can borrow the new Away From Home Event Recycling bins to prevent waste from going to landfills. Find out about sustainable initiatives you can implement at home, work and play. Discover what your City is doing to become a certified Green Community. Volunteer for service projects that enhance our environment. Explore topics you’d like to know more about or share your expertise.

Sign up now for The Sustainable Pantry class at Dunwoody Nature Center on Saturday March 28 from 10-12 taught by Sustainable Peachtree Corners Founder Robin Fosdick.

For just one hour on Saturday March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM participate in Earth Hour. Turn off all possible lights to save energy and demonstrate what one small action by many people working together can do to help save the planet.

Monday March 30 from 10:45 – 12 Save Money and Go Green at the local YMCA as the Sustainable U series continues, presented by Sustainable Peachtree Corners.

Saturday April 18 assist with recycling at the Corners to Crossing Road Race, Musicfest and Street Dance. To volunteer contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.

Friday April 24 help Sustainable Norcross provide a display and event recycling at City Hall as the city participates in Georgia Cities Week and Earth Day activities.

Attend Sustainable Norcross Open House at NCACC on Monday April 27, 7 - 9 PM featuring Event Recycling and other sustainable actions and activities just for you.

So many opportunities. And this just gets us through April and the promise of Spring.

You Are Invited

2009-03-01T19:36:00.002-05:00

Yep, it’s time for our Open House/Birthday Bash/New Year/Coming - Out Party, as promised.

Please join us on Monday March 23 at Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center (NCACC) in the ballroom from 7 – 9 PM. Help Sustainable Norcross celebrate our first, and very active, year of working together “preserving our future by living smarter today”.

We especially hope to see those of you who plan events for your civic group, school, house of worship, youth, community or other local organization. Learn how to reserve and use the special equipment available from the City through the Away From Home Event Recycling Grant award. Be part of the solution that offers a convenient way to continue your participants’ recycling habit while away from home. Keep pounds of materials out of the landfills and in to new products that we use everyday. Do more than imagine Norcross a sustainable city, help make it happen! Come see how.

Recycling is not the only path to the triple bottom line benefits that occur when concern for people, planet and profit intersects. Although the topic of recycling and waste reduction is one of the top two areas of interest identified by early participants in Sustainable Norcross. And because of that, at the Open House we will be showcasing some additional ways to reduce waste and increase recycling. But we will also be giving sneak previews of other initiatives.

The other area in the top two is your interest in our food supply. Having a safe, local, ever renewing, fresh, convenient supply of healthy food choices is right up there on your list. And with recent food supply contamination issues again in the news, it’s a great time to join us as we explore alternatives.

And even though you don’t eat grass (directly) (I hope), come find out about the 1000 Healthy Lawns Challenge with our sibling organization Sustainable Peachtree Corners. Together we can have a huge impact on the air we breathe, the drinking water supply, the indirect food chain and our personal indoor and outdoor environments by reducing our pesticide use. Come see how lady bugs are leading the way.

Learn what’s on tap. Help prepare for upcoming City sponsored events. Be a part of the partnership to become certified by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) as a Green Community. Come make a difference. And par-dee with us.

Oh, and do remember to donate your unopened party paper goods for us to use at this and future Sustainable Norcross events. See the January 30 posting on this blog. Contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com for drop off locations.

Par-dee Par-dee. Par-dee!

Happy Birthday to My Second Born!

2009-02-20T06:58:00.005-05:00

Three short weeks after my son’s birthday, and it is time to celebrate my daughter’s anniversary of arrival. No, it was not the shortest pregnancy on record. Their births are three years PLUS three weeks apart. And even though they are siblings they are very different people.

There is the obvious: one is male, the other female. But they are different in many other ways. He takes after my side of the family in appearance while she favors her dad’s family. She is the indoors type, he’s the outdoors type. He is married with three kids, she is a career woman. Like all siblings, they are first and foremost, individuals.

Just like Sustainable Norcross Inc. and Sustainable Norcross Commission. Both are branches of the same family tree. The Triple Bottom Line tenets of Sustainability are in the DNA of each. Both are grassroots organizations made up of volunteers just like you. They are both new with less than a year in their timelines, yet each has some noteworthy milestones. Their lives intertwine and intersect just like in any family. But first and foremost, they are individuals.

Sustainable Norcross Inc. is the first born. We kicked around other names. “Imagine Norcross Going Green” to coincide with the city’s new marketing campaign, “Norcross a Place to Imagine”. Or “Norcross Green Guild” with a nod to the Green Guild at Vickery, the EarthCraft Homes development by Hedgewood Properties in Cumming.

But somehow the other names just did not fit for us. Heather Royston suggested a substitute for green which has turned out to be the word on everyone’s lips. Sustainable. Sustainable Norcross. Imagine Norcross a Sustainable City. By George, I think we’ve got something!

Well what in the Sam Hill is “Sustainable”? Quick, tell me in 25 words or less. This Native American Proverb sums it up pretty well: “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children.” Huh? That didn’t help? Sustain-ability: meeting the needs of the present without depleting or harming resources for future generations. Being able to maintain indefinitely, for example, by regenerating more than we consume.

Our volunteers brainstormed what “sustainability” means to them. Words like future, smart, living, preservation, conservation, replacement, consumption, independence, reuse were listed. And voila, we had our mission statement and tag line: “preserving our future by living smarter today”.

So how did all of this spawn two offspring? We believe strongly that we need to lead by example. We, the people, as individuals and collectively. But how? I have these rain barrels, but how exactly do I connect them to my downspouts to capture life sustaining water for my vegetables and landscape? Want to come over and see my backyard wildlife habitat? Well maybe we can exchange information and expertise. Share. Learn. Inspire. Do.

Well, that is what Sustainable Norcross Inc. is all about. The volunteers, regular meetings, informative programs, traditional civic organization stuff. And everyone is invited. See the calendar for upcoming opportunities. www.sustainablenorcross.org

What about the city? Shouldn’t it lead by example? Surely it is in a unique position to show us how it is done. Make it possible to recycle when we are away from home as naturally as we do at home, whether we are employees of the city or attendees at city sponsored events. Install low flow toilets when new or replacement fixtures are called for in city buildings. After all, we taxpayers pay for the fixtures and the water consumed by them.

How do we help that happen, communicate what you are telling us, get answers to your questions, share information we have learned but might not be top of mind of city leaders and staff? Enter the five member Sustainable Norcross Commission appointed by the Mayor and City Council in November 2008. Their purpose is to advise the City regarding sustainability and environmental matters through development of a measured sustainable city plan and regular communication. http://www.norcrossga.net/boards-profile.php?ID=15

Siblings: offspring with the same origins, but each unique and distinctly individual and equally treasured.

Happy Birthday, Wendy!

Part 2 - You Gotta Look Where You’ve Been to Know Where You’re Going

2009-01-31T12:57:00.007-05:00

After our long look back a day or so ago, it’s time to peer through the windshield, crank up the ole GPS and try to figure our where we are going and especially how we are gonna get there.

During our organizational meetings last year we mainly tackled some of the basic housekeeping details such as who, what, when, where, how and why. We did a pretty thorough job on the who, what and why. When is often a result of what. And…Who’s on first?

Back up a minute. Let’s try that again in plain English. Sustainable Norcross members participated in several brainstorming sessions sharing what is important to them; things they would like to learn about and do, expertise they are willing to share. All of that was distilled into the Goals of the organization, using categories found in the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Green Communities Certification Check List http://www.atlantaregional.com/documents/env_green_comm_checklist_102208.xls the City of Norcross 2030 Comprehensive Plan http://www.norcrossga.net/page.php?page_ID=1186086012 and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Quality Community Objectives. http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/PlanningQualityGrowth/programs/downloads/PQGAssessment.pdf That is our “What”.

We will focus our attention and efforts in the resulting areas. To figure out exactly what and how, we will use some guidelines.

So Guideline #1: Stick to our knitting! Things that the group decides to tackle must fit in one of these categories. Don’t worry, they are very inclusive.

Which leads me to Guideline #2: Narrow down. We have wonderfully creative and diverse people involved. No doubt if turned loose we will come up with a million and one exciting and productive things to do in these categories. But to actually stand a chance of getting somewhere that we want to be and to maintain our sanity during the trip, we must choose wisely.

Guideline #3: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Let’s not waste our energy and other precious resources creating from scratch something that already exists. Lucky for us that tool is available. It is a road map. A play book. A manual. (See http://www.atlantaregional.com/documents/env_green_comm_manual_010709.pdf) It guides us straight to certification as a Green Community. This coveted designation is becoming a recognized measure of success among municipalities specifically in the 10 county metropolitan Atlanta area. Although similar programs are popping up all over the country. And this is year one for the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) award. We could be among the first at the award ceremony in the fall.

Guideline # 4: Pick low hanging fruit. Based on my height, I am hard pressed to pick anything but. So we will be concentrating on the quick successes, the easy wins – those checklist items that we can reasonably accomplish and document by June 30. I know, I know, that is only five months away. But don’t you get more done when you have a deadline?

Guideline #5: Divide and conquer. We have divided the 10 categories among the 5 Sustainable Norcross Commission members. Each has been challenged to become the Champion of their categories. That means they will be the drivers of activity, the conduit of information between the interested parties related to that topic. It does not mean they have all the fun; just that they become the funnel.

The “Funnels” stack up like this:

Trees and Green Space, Recycling and Waste Reduction – Kathy Nau

Green Building, Energy Efficiency – Heather Royston

Green Power, Land Use – Chuck Cimarik

Water Use Reduction and Efficiency, Education – Jim Scarbrough

Transportation and Air Quality, Innovation – Connie Weathers

Guideline #6: It Takes A Village. Not just to raise a child, but to grow an organization. Each and every one is important and necessary for the success of our endeavor.

Exactly which endeavor was that again? This journey that we all started together on June 1, 2008. The drive toward preserving our future by living smarter today.

Load up!

Watch for details of our first general meeting (par-dee) in 2009.

Speaking of Birthday Bashes…

2009-01-30T14:22:00.004-05:00

What do you do with those leftover party things? You know, the extra napkins, plates, cups, silly hats, party favors, etc?

Well, I keep them. You never know when they might come in handy. Waste not; want not. Never mind that there are not enough to actually use for the next similar social gathering. And more than likely I won’t be able to find more just like them to purchase enough to cover the guest list. Or gasp, what if someone notices that I am using the same theme or color scheme as last year?

And I’m not just talking about birthday stuff. Around here at our ages, we try to let those days just slid on by with as little attention drawn to them as possible. I mean all those special occasion paper goods. The Halloween napkins, New Year’s hats and noise makers, Super Bowl XXVIII plates, Star Wars stuff. You get the picture. Are you tired of holding on to them? But they are too good to throw out? And besides you can’t throw them out cuz your new year’s resolution is to contribute less to landfills.

Boy, do we have an opportunity for you! Sustainable Norcross is planning an “open house/birthday bash/new year/coming out party”. Being a non-profit grassroots organization, and a new one at that, we have nothing, zero, Nada. In the way of material possessions and money to acquire them, that is. We are rich in other ways. And you have all those perfectly good party things just looking for a good time.

So how about you donate your unused party stuff to us? And we will be sure to say “Thanks” to YOU at our upcoming social. The items must still be sealed in original packaging for us to use. No product recalls or health scares for us. And won’t you feel good knowing you found a good use for all that stuff you have squirreled away?

Now, we could go with an eco-friendly party like room mom Robin Fosdick did at her daughter’s fall school event. She challenged herself to plan and recruit other parents to help her provide a zero-waste party. And they came pretty darn close with almost nothing sent to the landfill! Wow! http://www.sustainablepeachtreecorners.com/2008/10/whats-in-box.html Or we could buy biodegradables, non-toxic inks, locally produced, etc. But we have no money. L :(

This is a different kind of challenge that may actually be new to some: Use what you’ve got. Make do with less. Let go of things cluttering up your space. Look at things in a new light. Rethink. Repurpose. Reuse. Reduce. And then Recycle.

If you have some party items that you wish to contribute just email sustainablenorcross@gmail.com. We’ll figure out a way to get them from you. Maybe even set up a drop off point to make it convenient for everyone.

Remember the items must be unused and still sealed in original packaging.

Then watch for your invitation. We’re having a par-dee!

You Gotta Look Where You’ve Been to Know Where You’re Going

2009-01-28T17:43:00.002-05:00

Well, not technically. Especially nowadays when you just set your GPS to start from wherever you are and move forward. But it does help every now and again to look at where you have been in order to better chart where you want to be and how to get there. And what better time than January? A new year, fresh opportunities, renewed optimism that all things are possible…

Oops, STOP RIGHT THERE. That’s one of my weaknesses. My eyes are bigger than my stomach. I tend to take on more than I can shake a stick at. Some of you know what I mean. Meryl Wilkerson, are you reading this? Can you believe I am actually admitting it?

So I need your help. Yes, YOU. Let me lay out where we’ve been and YOU help figure out where we are going and how we can get there. You can be my GPS, Global Positioning System for Sustainable Norcross, that is.

So far (since June 1, 2008 I might add) you have:

*Chosen a name

*Crafted a mission statement and objective

*Decided on goals

*Selected a custom designed logo (Thanks millions, Mike Lorey!)

*Applied for and earned the Away From Home Event Recycling grant for the city July through September (Thank you to former City Manager Warren Hutmacher for allowing us to imagine Norcross a recycle city, and Joe Dunlop of Georgia Department of Community Affairs for helping us navigate the process and having a grant to shoot for.)

*Recruited Julie Foster in July as Sustainable Norcross liaison to Tixie Fowler’s local and organic farmers’ market team. They are “The Incredibles”!

*Conducted beta tests and dress rehearsals of Event Recycling at the City’s July 3 Celebration (appreciate your assistance Craig Mims, John Davis, Jennifer Francis and City Pubic Works Department), September 5 Concert in the Park (fabulous Rip Robertson, just fabulous), September 6 British Car Fayre (Edna Berkshire thanks for welcoming us) and first annual Hopewell Healthy Living 5K on September 27 (Paisha Girtmon and Dr. Ben Pennington, you put on a quality event)

*Presented programs to Norcross Garden Club’s morning and evening groups in September (Carol Edwards and Amanda Gainer, thanks for inviting us. The gasoline money went to defray SN expenses.)

*Printed business cards in time for mingling at Norcross Business Association September meeting. (Chuck Paul, thanks for letting us visit.)

*Introduced our website (Way to go Amanda Gainer! Nearly 500 hits and they are not all from me, really.)

*Rolled out Event Recycling at the premier annual event, Norcross Art Fest held October 4 and 5 (Art Fest Organizers, thanks for having faith in us. Alice Hinterschied, the Hospitality Suite rocked! Robert Katz, volunteer wrangler at Norcross High is also the GC&B contact, Interact Sponsor and yes, most importantly, teacher. And you SN volunteers who made all this happen, you are awesome!)

*Participated at Art Fest with an informational booth and celebration of Recycling and Waste Reduction, including an official City proclamation (Thank you, Mayor Bucky Johnson. Hey Buster, the Brown Thrasher a/k/a Anthony Kontaxis, have you recovered yet? Art “Captain Recycle II” Geist, you are a hoot!)

*Designed our first T-shirt for active volunteers, underwritten by Advanced Disposal and the original caped crusader, Captain Recycle Steve Edwards.

*Supplied volunteers to assist in the city sponsored Electronics Recycling Day October 11 (Phil Robertson you read our minds by adding this for our citizens.)

*Conducted Rivers Alive Stream Clean Up on October 18 at city owned Johnson-Dean Park (Andrea Ward, I couldn’t have survived without you! Kyle Evens, Webelos Scouts and dads of Alpharetta and Milton, thanks for reminding us that Community is bigger than our city limits.)

*Spun off a group of volunteers to work on a sustainability advisory panel to the city which achieved official city designation November 2 as Sustainable Norcross Commission (Thumbs up Chuck Cimarik, Kathy Nau, Heather Royston, Jim Scarbrough and Connie Weathers.)

*Started accepting donations in October of aluminum cans and other metals which are recycled for cash to fund organizational expenses. (To Power Engineering’s Belinda Fleming, our inaugural and monthly donor, thanks. What a great idea!)

*Started accepting donations in January of used ink and toner cartridges to recycle and credit toward SN purchases at Office Depot. (First contributor and SN volunteer Andrew Hixson of Streetsmart, a division of RBC knows one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.)

*Received first official cash donation in December in honor of active member Bill Posey. (Generosity squared.)

*Joined Sustainable Peachtree Corners in January in the 1000 Healthy Lawns Challenge. (Robin Fosdick, Judy Knight and Karen Ford, don’t show us up too bad.)

*Debuted blog on January 27 (Will wonders never cease?)

*And today January 29 announced the 2008 Volunteers of the Year: Barbara and Jim Rentz. Otherwise we’d have to list you in nearly every bullet above. Can we clone you?

And I am surely forgetting something and more importantly some-body. Please forgive me. Although I’m saving a few of you for future postings.

Collectively YOU are a mighty force of energy to be channeled for the good.

What I see in the rearview mirror looks pretty darn impressive!

Let’s talk about where we are going next time.

Happy Birthday!

2009-01-28T08:30:00.001-05:00

January 28, 19 something, something did not begin like any other day. My water broke and we were on the way to the hospital for the birth of our first child. Thus started the amazing journey of parenthood - an odd mix of joy and pain, discovery, new beginnings and a whole new world of possibilities.

Today on my son’s birthday I cannot help but think of the parents, OK the mother especially, of the octuplets. Can you even imagine? Think of how many people will become an integral part of the lives of these 8 kids and their parents in the coming years. It took a team of 46, well 48 if you count the parents, just to bring them in to the world. Nannies and neighbors, teachers, soccer coaches, ballet instructors, Scout leaders, preachers, politicians, public safety personnel, bus drivers, well the list is endless of who will be needed to help raise these kids. It really takes a village but the outcome is worth it.

All this birthin’ babies stuff has me musing about how similar the experience is to bringing a new organization like Sustainable Norcross in to the world. I cannot really say when the idea was conceived, but the organizational meeting was held June 1, 2008, a birthday of sorts. 16 people were in attendance and many more sent well wishes. Since that time our baby has grown like Topsy.

In less than eight short months all these wonderful people have pitched in to give our baby a name, the sound foundation of a mission, goals and priorities, and then has quickly gotten down to business. We discovered the top two areas of interest among the participants are recycling/waste reduction and improving the local food supply. Sustainable Norcross earned a grant for the city that includes special recycling containers and a trailer to transport them to events. Volunteers successfully implemented their use at the fabulous Art Fest in October.

Sustainable Norcross devotees have actively participated in the planning of the Whistle Stop Farmers’ Market that is coming to town June 2 and each Tuesday through out the summer and early fall. There is lots of excitement about this first for Norcross and you will be hearing more about it as the time nears.

Early on we realized that we were not alone. Unbeknownst to us at the time we selected our name, other little Sustainables were being christened: Sustainable Dunwoody http://www.sustainabledunwoody.com/, Sustainable Peachtree Corners http://www.sustainablepeachtreecorners.com/ and Sustainable Alpharetta http://www.sustainablealpharetta.com/. All parented by truly amazing people.

Godmother to us all is Pattie Baker. She got the whole blog ball rolling and has molded us in to a loose family called the Sustainable North Atlanta Alliance http://sustainablenorthatlantaalliance.tumblr.com/. Thanks to my neighbor and former Peachtree Corners resident Julie Foster, we discovered triplets, Robin Fosdick, Judy Knight and Karen Ford. Well OK, they are not really birth triplets, rather co-creators of Sustainable Peachtree Corners. Incidentally Karen really is the mother of triplets. And where would we be without Logo Man, Mike Lorey, graphic artist, masters degree student, gardener, husband, oh and in his spare time Sustainable Alpharetta blogger. We have him to thank for taking our multiple goals and creating the great logo for Sustainable Norcross.

By November Sustainable Norcross Commission was officially named as a citizen advisory board to the Norcross City Council. These five folks have been busy, so stay tuned.

And I’m not even getting in to the Hopewell Healthy Living Run, Rivers Alive Stream Clean Up, Electronics Recycling Day, informational booth at Art Fest, meetings, well, you get the idea.

So I’m thinking it is time to celebrate our new beginnings and milestones with an open house. Get all our volunteers and supporters back together after our holiday break. Yeah, after a busy but satisfying fall we all needed some time off. It is time to talk over our aspirations for our baby and get our eyes back on the prize. Our toddler is ready for a Birthday Bash!

Watch the calendar at www.sustainablenorcross.org for details.

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Mike!

2009-01-27T18:03:00.000-05:00

Begin at the Beginning…Or Not!

Frankly, I don’t know where to begin. This is my first blog, but my grandchildren and others are dragging me kicking and screaming into the 21st century. “You can do it! It’s easy. Just say what comes in to your head. Keep it real.” Uh oh, they have no idea what they are in for.

So I’ve finally summoned the courage (or taken leave of my senses) enough to give it a whirl and start a blog about our new grassroots group Sustainable Norcross. Hummm, now where to begin?

My late mother would advise, “Just begin at the beginning.” My late father, being a sometimes journalist would say “Get to the Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why of the matter.” My creative sister would jump right in the middle and talk about the relationships and off beat stuff. She’s the one who travels and never visits the tourist highlights but gets holiday cards from all over. My fiscally conservative accountant brother would counsel that the numbers tell the story. But me, what do I say? Surely I have a little bit of all my family in me.

Well, I say my favorite dining venue is the covered dish supper. You may call it a pot luck dinner or something else. But I cannot resist a little taste of everything, especially when each cook has prepared their specialty to share. And based on my age, and the sage advice of those who arrived ahead of me, I may even go for the dessert first!

So let me share something sweet with you. This whole sustainable city thing is really taking off! I have been pleasantly surprised at the number and quality of volunteers who have given so much, the service projects completed and the warm reception of our municipal government, neighbors and even strangers. It is thrilling and down right inspirational to discover so many like minded people, capable and energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, generous and focused; people who get things done and share the vision of preserving our future by living smarter today. People like you.

And it has all happened in really short order. But rest assured there is plenty more on the menu. Join me here from time to time or check out www.sustainablenorcross.org. Together these e-tools will give you a good glimpse into our sweet beginnings and the flavor of things to come.