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Return to 'About SPG'
SPG continues to work at finding more ways for Pacific Grove to transition to more sustainable practices.
What we did in 2012
SPG Activities
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The January Program
involved a panel of people involved in "The Greening of PG".
Since SPG's Green Business presentation last year,
two more PG enterprises have become Certified Green Businesses,
and three others deserve recognition of their green practices.
We heard from our 5 panelists' inspiring achievements.
Frank O'Dowd, Director of Housekeeping,
Canterbury Woods.
Tony Tersol, owner,
Applied Solar Energy.
Hector Chavez, owner,
Winning Wheels bike shop.
Linda Williams, Principal,
Robert Down Elementary School.
Michael Reid, Associate Rector and Green Team leader,
St Mary's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
The panel presentation was followed by Q&A and an opportunity to share ideas.
( Click for picture of January panel, left side.)
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At the Febuary Program
topic was "Food for Thought and Vice Versa".
We had a panel of people who bring food to our tables, while being mindful of our health, their animals'
well being, and the future of the land, the sea, the planet. It's local, it's
delicious, it's the thoughtful way to eat.
On the panel were:
Tom Broz,
Live Earth Farm (CSA)
( a CSA means
Community Supported Agriculture)
Jordan Champagne,
Happy Girl Kitchen
Oren Frey,
Local Catch Monterey Bay (CFA)
( see also
Community Supported Fishery)
Chris Harrold
( This is a link to a story about Harrold-Berta Cattle)
( see also
eatwild.com for grass fed animal info.)
Mark Shelley.
Tassajara Natural Meats
The panel presentation was followed by Q&A and an opportunity to share ideas.
( Click for picture of Febuary panel, right side.)
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SPG 2012 Programs
January 11, program
topic was "The Greening of PG" with a panel of 6 presenters.
(Attending 33)
February 8, program
topic was "Food for Thought and Vice Versa"
with a panel of 5 presenters.
(Attending 41)
March 14
"No" to oil dependence
"Yes" to local resilience
Don Prescott, CCA expert and advocate,
April 11 no program ( GODays parade and SPG table.)
May 9
Our Water.
Solutions out there?
Rachel Martinez from the Water Management District
and
Karen Harris from the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency
June 13
Expanding Our Community Infrastructure
To Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle
with:
William Merry, General Manager,
Waste Management District
July 11 Potluck picnic at Elmarie Dyke Open Space.
August 18
SPG visited "Live Earth Farm" in Corralitos.
September 12
Five Rs for the Road to Resilience:
Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle Rot
with:
Abbie Beane, The Offset Project.
October 10
Turtles, Totes, Tourists, and our Town
How a Bag-Ban will Benefit our Businesses and our Bay
Wallace J. Nichols and
Laura Kasa
November 14
Why Wild Fort Ord?
Prof. Bill Weigle
December 12
SPG Holiday Party
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At the March Program
"NO" to Oil Dependence
"YES" to Local Resilience
Heard about how local governments
can buy energy independent of PG&E
This was an introduction to;
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) ,
created by State Law AB117
This law empowers counties and their cities to form an aggregate to buy energy independent of PG&E
and run it through existing infrastructure.
Many California communities are actively organizing CCAs.
Marin County is already enjoying the benefits:
Energy greener than PG&E's current mix
Promotion of local green energy production
Competitive rates.
Our speaker ,
Don Prescott, CCA expert and advocate, explained the ins and outs of how our local government can form its own CCA.
(Here is flyer for this program.)
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In April, SPG
joined the rest of PG for
Pacific Grove's Good Old Days.
Saturday April 14th, we walked or biked in the Parade,
On Saturday and Sunday, April 14 &15th,
we tabled all day on Lighthouse.
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At the May Program
The topic was
Our Water.
Solutions out there?
Speakers were:
Rachel Martinez from the Water Management District
and
Karen Harris from the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency
After years of illegal diversions from the Carmel River, the State has ruled that an alternative source
of water for the Peninsula must be found by the end of 2016. At the program the speakers
will discuss the role of local agencies in finding water solutions for our community and
how citizens can get involved.
Here is more
Information.
Topic of the June 13th program
Expanding Our Community Infrastructure
To Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle
Speaker was:
William Merry, General Manager, Waste Management District
William Merry discussed the Model Franchise Agreement that is available to cities to update their existing
franchise agreements, and he discussed planned upgrades to our Materials Recovery Facility to
perform more recycling and diversion from the mixed waste we receive.
Here is more
Information.
Next SPG gathering is our annual Summer Picnic Potluck
on Wednesday July 11th,
6 PM at Elmarie Dyke park,
just uphill from Chautauqua Hall, 16th St. & Central Ave.
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Meet your fellow SPGers
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Families welcome
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Enjoy beautiful, cozy Elmarie Dyke Open Space
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Get to sample yummy dishes
Please bring
. . . . . a dish to share
. . . . . your dinner ware
Thank you for making this picnic a zero waste event.
(Here is a map to Elmarie Dyke Open Space.)
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Five Rs for the Road to Resilience:
Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle Rot
("Rot" as in composting :) )
Advocates for Zero Waste will fill us in on their latest local projects!
Joe Cadelago, Waste Management. WM is launching a new program for recycling food waste from businesses such as restaurants & hotels. The food will be turned into high-grade compost and/or energy.
Abbie Beane, The Offset Project. TOP works with local businesses and special events to provide them with zero-waste management and help them reduce their carbon footprint.
Flyer for September program.
Turtles, Totes, Tourists, and our Town
How a Bag-Ban will Benefit our Businesses and our Bay
OR
Why P.G. should not stand for "Plastic Garbage"!
Two outstanding and dynamic speakers will help us make the marine connection:
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Wallace J. Nichols speaks for sea turtles and ocean conservation.
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Laura Kasa of Save Our Shores has banded together >100 organizations and businesses to reduce plastic debris and other marine pollution.
SPG programs are free and open to the public.
Why Wild Fort Ord?
Why is it important to keep much of the old Fort Ord land wild? Come hear Prof. Bill Weigle
describe what could happen to Fort Ord and what we must do to keep it as wild as we need it to be.
Regular SPG November program on Nov. 14, 7 pm at the Museum
SPG programs are free and open to the public.
Flyer for November program.
SPG Holiday Party
On December 12th, 7 pm at the Museum
Sustainable Pacific Grove will hold our usual December party.
SPG Holiday Party Information
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