March 2010 Edition

As I write this in the wee hours, fresh from the BSBPA Annual Community Meeting and Mixer, I find it very easy to focus on the “Green” theme of March associated with St. Patty’s Day and the coming of Spring time.

You see, the featured speaker this year was Karen Totino, long time resident and newer business owner of Green Conscience Home and Garden, who provided a darn interesting presentation about “Goin’ Green”, some of the items from her retail store and ways (and why) we should remember why becoming a sustainable community really matters.

What really impressed me, as always does with people of strong convictions that are homegrown, was how she started in her business when out for a walk with her children. I’m certain all in attendance would agree that her eyes sparkled with what I bet was the same enthusiasm, as that first moment, when she had her “light bulb moment” (I imagined an energy saving one floating above her head).

Karen spoke of flooring and clay wall treatments that absorb the floating dust we see in our homes on bright, sunny days and even contributed door prizes: plant potters that appear to be plastic however, are compostable in your garden once you tire of using them. She reminded us all of the receptacles, at all of our school locations, at no cost to the schools and free for us to use, that are placed for our newspapers, magazines, phone books, etc. that actually provide funds back to our school district.

In a few short moments, Karen provided inspiration and a proactive presentation that was a fun and fitting kick-off to the Spring renewal time in our community, that we all tend to look forward to, after a grey, snowy winter.

And she exemplified another shining example of a resident, a volunteer and a small business owner wrapped into one package that makes up the fabric of Our Towne.

C’mon Spring!
Angela McFarland
Publisher