Green Hudson October Newsletter
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| Hurricanes Helene and Milton ... |
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| Our hearts go out to those affected by the devastation experienced caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, making landfall in Florida within 2 weeks of each other. While the immediate priority is to support relief efforts of all kinds, these latest U.S. climate disasters remind us that the world is dealing with more frequent disasters like heat waves, wildfires and floods. It is abundantly clear, and scientifically proven, that climate change is a catalyst to more frequent and more severe disasters.
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| Electrek reports that “Climate change made Helene 200x more likely to happen, but only 3% of TV news are saying so.” Local media outlets, including weather forecasters, need to make it clear that (a) climate change is the cause of these ever-increasing, ever-worsening storms, heat waves, and wildfires and (b) our fossil fuel dependency is the principal culprit accelerating climate change. |
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| Milton, fueled by near record-warm waters from a waning El Niño and climate change, jumped from a Category 1 to a Category 5 with 180 mph winds in just 24 hours—one of the most rapid intensifications in history. Although rated as a Category 3 when it made land fall, it went on to do serious damage with as much as 18" of rain falling in few hours and the formation of over 19 tornadoes that touched down. |
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| September's Climate Cafe Featured Senator Eldridge |
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| Jeanette Millard gave a welcoming message to the many attendees followed by an introduction of Senator Jaimie Eldridge—who kicked off the 2024-25 Green
Hudson Climate Cafes.
Senator Eldridge provided an update on climate legislation |
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| in the current session—what has passed, what has been passed over and what is still under
discussion for possible ratification. This was followed by an active Q&As period. You can view the video of the presentation here. |
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| EV Charging in Massachusetts |
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| Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is hosting a series of Open Houses across the Commonwealth to provide an update on its Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plan as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. At each event, MassDOT will provide information on the status of the Program, electric vehicle charging station site selection, future construction operations, and next steps. Click here for dates and locations and to sign up for regular updates from MassDOT. |
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| Climate & Energy Committee Our team is continuing to look for locations to site EV charging stations near downtown; also, we will begin planning activities for Earth Day '25. If you are interested, please reach out to Brian White at [email protected]. |
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| For more Climate & Energy Committee information or to join this committee, contact Brian. |
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| Education & Outreach Committee
The Education and Outreach committee introduced State Senator Jamie Eldridge at September's Climate Cafe. He gave us a legislative update on climate and energy concerns, and is hoping that the Conference Committee approves the climate omnibus bill in short order. The recording of Senator Eldridge's Climate Cafe discussion can be found here.
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| October's Climate Cafe, on October 22nd, promises to be interesting. Students from Hudson High School's UNESCO program (a national competitive program where the students have chosen Climate Action as their project) and from the Environmental Club will bring their thoughts about today's climate change crisis, and what they see as necessary actions.
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| Come support the students and listen to what our future leaders are experiencing today, what they are choosing to focus on and what they'd like the adults in our community to undertake in response.
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| The education and outreach committee is putting together the year's Climate Cafe program. If you have any suggestions for topics and/or speakers, please contact Jeanette at [email protected]. |
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| Plastics Reduction Committee
Thanks to everyone who signed our Plastic Reduction Petition. However, Green Hudson has decided to take some time for an even-more ambitious approach over the next seven months to increase the likelihood of getting the votes needed to pass it into a by-law. (Unfortunately, the article will appear in the printed Town Warrant but we will ask for it to be "passed over" at the Town Meeting.)
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| Our plan over the next seven months is to reach out to all relevant Town Commissions, residents, and to the business community. We are planning a Forum in January bringing in wide variety of folks, including those from neighboring towns that have passed similar plastic reduction initiatives, business owners from Hudson who have made the changes on their own, as well as other concerned Hudson business owners. We hope you will plan to attend. Keep your eyes peeled for the date.
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| In other news, there are now 11 states that have passed bans on single-use plastic bags. California has just joined the ranks. Senator Eldridge is hopeful that a ban on single-use plastic bags in MA will be taken up again before too long. We'll continue working to keep the pressure on during the months ahead.
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| Also in the news, the state of CA is suing Exxon Mobil for knowingly misleading the public about the limits of plastic recycling and putting the burden of its plastic production on the state and individual citizens. Our hope is that other states, such as ours, will join the suit. Please contact Attorney General Andrea Campbell to ask her to join the suit: 617-727-2200.
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| If you would like to join our efforts to reduce single-use plastic in Hudson, please get in touch with Elisa Pearmain: [email protected]. |
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| The MA legislative climate bill remains bogged down in its conference committee. Could some promising negotiations be happening? Maybe, but the veil of secrecy over conference committee deliberations means we can only speculate. The legislative leadership has indicated they will meet in a formal session sometime before the end of the year to take up an Economic Development Bill and the climate bill could come to a vote then if it is reported out favorably from the conference committee.
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| In the meantime Governor Healey has attached her version of a narrow siting and permitting bill to a must-pass supplemental budget bill, likely signaling her support for the House version of the climate bill. |
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| Once the climate bill is sent back to the House and Senate, Green Hudson will send out a special request to you about contacting appropriate committee chairs and Representative Kate Hogan and Senator Jaimie Eldridge urging their approval. |
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| Danforth Invasive Pulls
for October |
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Pulls are scheduled for Saturdays: the 12th, 19th, and 26th, from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Please see the signup sheet below. October will likely be the last month we do official pulls for the year, although we may have some spontaneous pulls if the weather is nice |
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| in November. We will most likely resume regular pulls in April or when leaf out starts. |
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| Remember to wear long pants, closed-toed shoes and long sleeves. We will provide gloves and tools but feel free to bring your own. We will train you if this is your first time. We are meeting at the main Danforth Parking lot off Lincoln Street.
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| We are making great progress at Danforth. Significant regions of the forest have been cleared. Thank you everyone for your time and effort in restoring Danforth!
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| The National Wildlife Federation Has Declared October as
"Leave the Leaves" Month |
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| Rather than spending time raking and bagging leaves, acorns, pine cones and needles, there’s a new way of thinking when it comes to this fall activity: don’t do it! |
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| It’s good for the birds and other wildlife (not to mention your back). Here are a few good reasons to "Leave the Leaves": |
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| - Fallen leaves serve as an overwinter habitat for lizards, birds, turtles, frogs and insects. In turn, these living creatures help keep pests down and increase pollination.
- Leaves create a natural mulch that helps to suppress weeds while fertilizing the soil as they break down.
- Most butterflies and moths overwinter in the landscape as an egg, caterpillar, pupa or adult. These butterflies use leaf litter for winter cover.
- At the end of summer, mated queen bumble bees burrow an inch or two into the earth to hibernate for winter. An extra thick layer of leaves is welcome protection from the elements.
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| Ideally, you would “leave the leaves” permanently. But if you do decide to clean up your yard and garden and remove the leaves and yard waste, make sure you wait until late in the season so as not to destroy all the life you’ve worked (by not raking) to protect. |
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| Tips for Preparing for the Big Night (and also to help the climate) |
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| ● Avoid purchasing plastic costumes (they’re made from fossil fuels). Be creative and use or make fabric elements (preferably from natural fibers like cotton). Be sure the costume won't cause safety hazards (like tripping) and check that all accessories are fire-resistant.
● Opt for nontoxic Halloween makeup over masks (masks can obscure a child's vision); always test makeup in a small area first to see if any irritation develops; and remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation. ● Cotton pillow cases make great treat collectors (decorated with nontoxic permanent markers). ● A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
● If children are allowed out after dark, be sure they carry a flashlight (not a glow stick).
● For your older children going out alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you; be sure they’re in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends; and agree on a specific time they should return home.
● Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home, and take care to avoid any food allergies. And enjoy the fun evening! |
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| Green Hudson's Next Meeting |
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| Our next meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20th,
at the Avidia Bank’s Community Room, located at 17 Pope St., Hudson (rear parking lot, side of building near the drive thru). We urge any and all members to join us. Agenda and zoom invites are sent out one week before meetings.
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| Recycling Volunteers Needed! Have fun! Meet your neighbors and
make new friends while helping the planet. Recycling volunteers needed Saturdays. For more information: contact [email protected] |
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| You are invited Do you have suggestions for articles, resources of note, inspirations, relevant books to recommend, etc.? Send to [email protected] with the subject line "Green Hudson". Share Green Hudson’s Newsletter If you found something of value in this newsletter, please forward it to others who might be interested. And, if you’re reading someone else’s copy and would like to receive your own newsletter each month, please subscribe by emailing [email protected]. For more information on Green Hudson or to read earlier Newsletters ... visit our website at www.greenhudson.org. |
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