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VOLUME II, Issue 23
http://www.GreenForNewEngland.org

December 5, 2001
    1 – Toy Story
    2 – No U-Turns
    3 – Steady Progress
    4 – Focusing on Community
    5 – It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like…Summer
    6 – New and Familiar Faces

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1 - Toy Story
If you have not already rushed out and bought this year's "must-have" toy, then read on. US PIRG and MASSPIRG recently released their 16th annual "Trouble in Toyland" report that warns shoppers about hidden toy dangers. The annual report has resulted in over 100 recalls and other enforcement actions in the last 15 years. This year's survey notes some signs of improvement, but in 2000 alone an estimated 191,000 people went to the emergency room for toy-related injuries. One of the main safety concerns this year continues to be toxic substances. Chemicals such as phthalates are present in plastic, acting as a softener, and can leach out when chewed on by children. These chemicals are linked to kidney and liver damage in infants. Internet shoppers should beware as well. Out of 44 online toy retailers, the survey found that none post the Consumer Product Safety Commission's statutory warnings and only three included any safety labeling. For updated information and to view the report, visit www.toysafety.net.

2 - Wrong Turn at Albuquerque
Have you ever driven around Massachusetts - Boston in particular - and thought to yourself, "Who the $#@% designed these streets?!" Join the club. Well, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, has been working on a project to improve road design in Massachusetts. Their research has found that the Massachusetts Highway Design Manual is harmful to the environment, historical areas, and the lives of many who live along these roads. As a result of these preliminary findings, the Massachusetts Highway Commissioner has put together a Design Issues Working Group made up of municipal officials, engineers, planners, and environmentalists to analyze the current design standards. For updates on this project, visit www.maccweb.org or call 617-489-3930.

3 - Steady Progress
The Farmington Valley Biodiversity Plan project was set in motion. The project's goal is to accumulate biological information for the Farmington River Valley, an essential element in issues of open space conservation and land use planning. The Plan is broken down into three phases, the first of which is to have computer-based inventories of the Valley's natural resource inventories. This phase is currently winding down, with zoning and land parcel information being digitized and mapped. The result will be a unique seven-town map to assist with, among other things, water resource protection. Phase II is scheduled to begin this spring and will include information gathering on the overall health of the watershed ecosystem. Following its completion, Phase III will seek to make this dataset available for public use and education. For more information and updates on this project, visit the Farmington River Watershed Association's website at www.frwa.org or call 860-658-4442.

4 - Focusing on Community
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) recently received the 2001 Leadership IS Award from Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and companies seeking to strengthen community initiative and action. The award honors outstanding organizations for their leadership in developing future leaders as they work to build a better community. Moreover, the Annie E. Casey Foundation designated DSNI as one of five sites for the foundation's Rebuilding Communities Initiative. The project seeks to demonstrate that troubled, low-income communities can become safe, supportive environments where children and families can thrive. Dudley Street is located in Roxbury, MA, and is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Greater Boston. Other Rebuilding Communities are located in Denver, Washington DC, Detroit, and Philadelphia. For more information on this and other DSNI projects, visit www.dsni.org.

5 - It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like…Summer
It seems we have all received an early holiday gift: unseasonably warm weather. It may not feel like December, but that is what the calendar says. Therefore, in preparing for your outdoor excursion into the White Mountains, be sure to check first with the Appalachian Mountain Club before setting out. AMC's New Hampshire chapter will provide you with weather information on the higher summits, condition at the Mount Washington Observatory, avalanche warnings, and streamflow and trail conditions. Everything you need to have a safe and enjoyable trip is available at www.amc-nh.org/wx-info.html. AMC can also help your with Christmas shopping. Their annual trail sign auction is going on right now. The old signs, removed due to their age or out-of-date information, have guided thousands of hikers over the years and are a true collector's item. Better hurry, though, the auction closes on December 14 at 5 PM! To get in on the fun, visit the newly revamped www.outdoors.org.

6 - New and Familiar Faces
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association recently welcomed their new Executive Director, Adam Moore. Adam was previously Land Superintendent for the Martha' s Vineyard land bank commission where he managed habitat protection and recreation for the properties. Before his post on the Vineyard, Adam was business manager and a forester for Connwood Foresters, a forestry consulting firm and the nation's oldest landowners cooperative. Welcome aboard Adam! At the other end of the spectrum, Charles River Watershed Association recently celebrated Bob Zimmerman’s 10th year as Executive Director. Under Bob's tenure, CRWA has become the largest watershed association in the country complete with its own water quality lab and computer modeling expertise. One of the most remarkable of CRWA's accomplishments with Bob at the helm has been their monthly water quality-sampling program. Since the sampling program began in 1995, the river meets acceptable boating standards 84% of the time, up from only 34%, and is acceptable for swimming 66% of the time, up from 19%. Congratulations Bob and keep up the great work!

Speak Up (We Can't Hear You)
Is environmental philanthropy still important given the recent tragic events and our country's economic slowdown? We would like to know what role nature and a safe environment plays in your life. Please consider sharing your thoughts with us about the environment’s place among today’s priorities, and especially what it means to you. A selection of submitted ideas will appear in an upcoming newsletter. You can e-mail your response to us at info@GreenForNewEngland.org.

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