{news} Duffee and Green Faire in Norwalk Hour

[David Bedell]

http://www.thehour.com/story/421410

An education in green

NORWALK
BY CHRIS BOSAK
Hour Staff Writer


Thinking green is not just for Earth Day, so celebrations of the
environmentally friendly movement shouldn't be limited to Earth Day either.

That's why Daphne Dixon of Conscious Decisions decided to organize the first
Green Faire, a family-friendly event that will include more than 40
exhibitors, live music, children's activities and, according to Dixon, "an
opportunity for people of Fairfield County to come together and learn how to
live green and responsible lives."

The Green Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, at
Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford. Admission is free and the event
will go on rain or shine.

Several vendors and other interested parties, including U.S. House District
4 Green Party candidate Richard Duffee, attended a press conference
promoting the event on Tuesday held at The Aquarium, a new environmental
action and educational center on 10 Knight Street in Norwalk. The Aquarium
also serves as Fairfield County campaign headquarters for the Green Party.

"The more of these types of events we have in the area, the better," Frank
Grazynski of Earthplace said. "People need to not just talk the talk, but
walk the walk."

Grazynski will represent both Earthplace and the Green Energy Task Force of
Westport at the Green Faire.

"We'll be taking pledges from people to reduce their carbon footprint," he
said.

Duffee will give a talk at the event and also be available to answer
questions about the environment.

There will also be guided nature walks, seminars, demonstrations, children's
book readings, blood pressure screenings, and live performances from
Bridgeport-based band Caravan of Thieves. In addition, Conscious Decisions
will announce the winners of the first Green Coast Awards, which honors
green and responsible businesses in Fairfield County .

"It's an opportunity for people to talk to experts who are making a positive
difference and improving communities, businesses, and the global
environment," Dixon said.

The Green Faire also serves as a launch party of sorts for Conscious
Decisions, a community education and outreach organization that stresses
making responsible decisions.

Louisa Volpe, whose son Brian passed away due to a rare medical condition,
will exhibit at the fair as a nutraceutical consultant. Volpe markets and
sells nutritional supplements that do not include artificial sweeteners,
preservatives or colors. She also sells environmentally safe cleaning
products, as well as supplements for children and pets.

Other vendors at the press conference who have committed to participate in
the Green Faire include: Bill Thomas of Norwalk-based
www.AlwaysBuildGreen.com ; Rosie Haas of Natural Neighborhood; Dan
Delventhal of www.mowgreen.us ; Jeanine Behr Getz of Kids Think Big; Debbie
Miron, an independent distributor of Shaklee environmentally friendly
cleaning and health care products.

Thomas will discuss renewable energy and green building. He will also talk
for the first time about new construction technology for which he has
licensed rights that utilizes aluminum instead of wood for internal wall
construction. The houses, one of which will be constructed in Fairfield
County this year, are wireless, independent of fossil fuels and resistant to
fire, hurricane, earthquake and insect damage. Construction costs, Thomas
said, are comparable to traditional modes of building.

Among the products Haas will display for Norwalk-based Natural Neighborhood
are Sigg bottles, reusable drinking bottles made of recycled aluminum.
Delventhal will demonstrate the concept behind Mowgreen.us, a lawn service
that utilizes manually powered mowers and old-fashioned rakes.

Getz will read from her new children's book about "simple ways that children
can get green."

Gail Merrill, co-founder of www.MothersMilkProject.org , will be on hand to
discuss her organization. She and her partner with the project, Nancy
Burton, each lost their mothers to cancer. Merrill, a New Canaan resident,
herself is a survivor of cancer. MothersMilkProject.org encourages mothers
who live within a 50-mile radius of Indian Point nuclear power plant to
donate a sample of their breast milk for a study. The milk will be screened
confidentially for traces of the radioactive element strontium-90, which
causes birth defects, bone cancer and leukemia and other types of cancer.

"So many people have died of cancer," she said. "This has to stop and the
politicians won't help us."

The event will also include booths from environmental organizations such as
Sierra Club and Connecticut Audubon Society.

Festivities will start with a blessing of the Earth by several spiritual
leaders.


On the Web:
http://www.consciousdecisionsmag.com