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SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE NEWSLETTER
MAY 2023
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Coming off the heals of Town Meeting and moving into the spring, Lexington is bustling with sustainability news and ways to get involved. Whether you are excited by the prospect of a no-cost curbside composting service or looking for events that will inspire new sustainable habits or actions, there is something you can take away in this month's newsletter.
What's Included?
- State Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Pilot Update
- Police Station Solar Update
- Curbside Compost Pilot Launch Event
- Zero Waste Plan Draft and Public Meeting
- Mode Shift May Challenge
- ZeroToGo Reusable Takeout Container Pilot
- Earth Day in May Panel: "Take One Step"
- Native Plant Sale
- Carbon Countdown with MA Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and Senator Mike Barrett
- Sustainability Workshop (Grades 4-6)
- Gardening with Native Plants: How and Why?
- ACROSS Lexington Spring Walks
- Bike Events
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Lexington Looks Toward Participation in State Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Pilot | |
On April 24, Lexington Town Meeting voted in favor of Article 27, which advances Lexington's application for participation in a State demonstration pilot that will allow 10 communities to regulate fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations. Moving away from heating and cooling our buildings with fossil fuels is a major step towards meeting our local and state climate goals.
Article 27 made minor changes to the Town's previously passed fossil fuel bylaw to ensure alignment with the pilot program regulations. The Town will submit a formal application to participate in the pilot later this year.
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Town Meeting Votes to Fund Police Station Solar | On April 26, Lexington Town Meeting voted to appropriate $3.4 million to fund solar panels at the new police station. While the exact design is still to be confirmed with collaboration from Town committees, neighbors of the project, and other stakeholders, the goal is to achieve a net zero police station. | | |
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Curbside Compost Pilot Launch Event | |
Lexington is poised to launch a curbside composting pilot program that will allow 2,000 Lexington households to sign up for curbside pickup of food waste and other compostable items at no cost. With compostable waste making up 35% of Lexington’s waste stream, this pilot is a critical step in reducing waste in our community.
Join us for the official launch event where you will hear more about the pilot program (including how to sign up) and learn about composting best practices and the many benefits of composting.
Tuesday, May 16
6:00 PM
Town Offices
Select Board Meeting Room
(Virtual Option Available)
The Zoom link to participate virtually is available at the page linked below.
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Public Meeting for Draft Zero Waste Plan | |
Following a Zero Waste Resolution passed at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, Lexington is developing a Zero Waste Plan. The preliminary draft plan identifies the policies and programs that Lexington can pursue to reduce waste, and increase recycling and composting.
Please join us for a hybrid public meeting to ensure that the strategies reflect the goals and vision of our community. The Zero Waste Plan team will present on our current waste data and the proposed actions that would allow us to increase our diversion rate to 90% by 2050. After the presentation, join small breakout groups to discuss the plan in more detail and provide input.
Wednesday, May 24
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Cary Hall (Estabrook Hall)
If you would prefer to participate over Zoom, please register below. No registration required to attend in person.
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Shift Away from Car-Use with the Mode Shift May Challenge | |
Lexington is excited to be partnering with the 128 Business Council for this year's Mode Shift May Challenge.
Shifting to biking, walking, or public transit requires planning ahead. Let us help you do the planning necessary to actually start changing your daily habits!
Participants in the Mode Shift Challenge program this May can win prizes by shifting trips from car to biking, walking, or public transit.
The Town of Lexington is a special sponsor of the Mode Shift Challenge this year, which means that any participants who live or work in Lexington are eligible for special raffle prizes!
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ZeroToGo Reusable Takeout Pilot is Still Accepting Participants | |
LexZeroWaste has just completed the first two sessions of its pilot program for reusable takeout containers called ZeroToGo. There is still space for new participants to join the third 4-week session which starts Monday, May 15.
Every container that is reused through the program adds to the collective reduction of plastic, water, and the release of pollutants associated with single-use take-out containers. As of today, the program has eliminated the use of 513 plastic containers.
Participation in the pilot program is limited to LexZeroWaste members, and ZeroToGo orders may be placed at Royal India Bistro Monday through Thursday only. If you’re not yet a LexZeroWaste member and would like to participate in the ZeroToGo pilot program, you can sign up to become a member here.
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Co-hosted by Cary Library, Lexington Climate Action Network (LexCAN), and Town of Lexington Sustainability.
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Earth Day in May: "Take One Step" | |
Join us for an “Earth Day in May” learning session focused on taking action! You will come away with the tools you need to “Take One Step Now” for a more sustainable future. Hear from a panel of Lexington residents who have taken steps, as they share their experiences with:
- Home weatherization and heat pump installation
- Innovative waste reduction strategies
- Solar and battery storage installation
- Electric vehicle purchase and use
- Natural landscaping practices
After the panel discussion, panelists and other community leaders in sustainability will be available at the tables to talk with you and share resources. From home electrification or biking to work to composting and buying local food, there will be something for everyone!
Thursday, May 11
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Cary Library
Panel discussion will start at 6:30 PM in the Living Room. Tables will be open from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Large Meeting Room.
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Holly Samuels, who launched the town's Native Plant Nursery, is bringing more than 200 plants grown from seed to the upcoming Native Plant Sale. The plants include Echinacea pallida (Pale Coneflower), Allium cerium (Nodding Onion), Pycnanthemum incanum (Hoary Mt. Mint), Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm), Penstemon hirsutis (Hairy Beardtongue), and more.
Saturday, May 13
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Public Safety Building
201 Bedford St.
This sale is a collaboration of the Town's Conservation Division and Lexington Living Landscapes.
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Sustainable Middlesex Hosts Carbon Countdown 2023 | |
Learn from the experts and explore climate actions in Massachusetts, from local initiatives to statewide legislation. This is a two-part, virtual event.
Part 1: Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer
Hear Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer speak about a vision for an equitable and sustainable future. Chief Hoffer's talk will be followed by introductions to four local community-driven initiatives.
Thursday, May 16
7:00 PM
Virtual
Part 2: Senator Mike Barrett
Hear State Senator Mike Barrett speak about connecting citizen activists to the legislative process, as well as connecting the Executive Branch work to the work of the Legislature. Senator Barrett's talk will be followed by workshops based on community-driven initiatives.
Saturday, May 20
9:30 - 11:00 AM
Virtual
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Go Green Sustainability Workshop (Grades 4-6) | |
Join Lexington Sustainable Youth (SustainabLY) for a fun exploration of sustainability! Through building challenges, Kahoot games, and more, participants will learn about sustainability in an interesting and informative way. Whether you know a lot or a little about this important topic, there is something for you! GO GREEN your way with different stations and activities. Grades 4-6.
Thursday, May 18
4:00 - 5:30 PM
Cary Library
Large Meeting Room
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Co-hosted by Cary Library and Lexington Living Landscapes. | |
Gardening with Native Plants: Why and How | |
Join Amy Meltzer for a talk focused on the current biodiversity crisis, the evolutionary history among native plants, insects, birds and fungi, and how these interdependent relationships among diverse species are necessary for their survival. She will show how growing native plants and using ecological landscape practices can simultaneously reverse biodiversity loss, increase resilience in our landscapes, and slow climate change - all while creating a beautiful garden!
Cambridge resident Amy Meltzer is on the Research Team and the Natural Solutions working group of Elders Climate Action and the Steering Committee of the Mass Pollinator Network, and is an active member of Grow Native Massachusetts. She has been researching and gardening with native plants for over ten years.
Thursday, May 18
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Virtual
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ACROSS Lexington Spring Walks | |
Explore Lexington as you might not know it! This spring, the Greenways Corridor Committee (GCC) will feature a series of walks along its extensive ACROSS Lexington trail system. Longtime GCC member Bob Hausslein (rhausslein@rcn.com) will lead the leisurely walks.
Session 2 - Sunday, May 14th: 2:00 - 3:30 pm
This 2.8 mile loop along Route G takes you to the northern reaches of Lexington along the Vine Brook Bike Path and the Lower Vine Brook conservation area. Meet at the far end of Rolfe Rd at the entrance to Shaker Glen. Park on Rolfe Rd facing Woburn St.
Session 3 - Sunday, May 28th: 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Amble through Willard Woods, Chiesa Farm, and Parker meadow on a 5.2 mile walk along Route A. Meet at the Lexington Depot under the Bikeway overhang. Use public parking.
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Need some inspiration to get biking this spring? Join one of the many bike events offered this month. You can learn new skills and build community through getting out of your car and opting for a bike.
- May 1: Mode Shift May Challenge Launches
- May 3: Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
- May 5: Learn to Use a Bus Bike Rack
- May 6: Basic Bike Skills
- May 7: Annual Bikeway Cleanup
- May 15: Basic Bike Skills
- May 19: Breakfast on the Bikeway
- May 20: Bike Rodeo (K-8)
- May 22: Spring Bike Tune-up Class
- May 22: Bicycle Flat Tire Clinic
- May 23: Car-Free Campus Day
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