Looking for something fun to do this weekend? You won’t want to miss Aurora’s second annual Green Fest at the Prisco Center on Illinois Avenue. It will be a family event with speakers, demonstrations, kids’ activities, live music, art exhibits, food by Reuland’s and more. It is the perfect opportunity to learn about ways you can be kinder to the planet while also lowering your bills.
Mavis Bates has been part of the Aurora community for 35 years and is always looking for ways to make Aurora an even better place to live. A few years back she attended a Green Fest in Elgin and said, “Why can’t we do this?” After talking with State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, Mavis decided the one hole in the sustainability plan for the city was hands-on education in this area for our citizens, so she put together an independent nonprofit citizens group to focus on teaching the community about sustainability, while having fun in the process.
“People wonder,” Bates said, “what do words like ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ mean anymore when they’ve become so cliché? They mean food, shelter, transportation, even spirituality. Sustainability touches nearly every aspect of our lives; and with people struggling financially, conservation is no longer just about sustainability for our earth, but the sustainability of our family budgets as well.”
Striving for higher efficiency with gas, water, electricity — all of the things we use — not only preserves the planet for future generations, but also puts more money back into our pockets. Bates also was quick to point out that love of nature is its own reward, as it contributes to our mental health.
Bates’ passion for loving our Earth — while building our country and community — is truly inspirational. “Green energy is a matter of national security,” she said. “We have to stop relying on other countries to provide us with energy sources that are going to run out anyway.” She noted the recent report that Japan is abandoning nuclear power in favor of wind and solar energies following their nuclear horrors after the tsunami. I added that Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel had made a similar decision, simply because clean renewable energies are the future and Germany would rather lead than follow. Bates and I both hope America will not wait long to stop investing in dirty, dying energy forms and embrace the future, as well.
When you come to Green Fest, be sure to bring the things that are sometimes difficult to recycle — batteries (even car batteries), electronics, plastic foam and old medicines. The festival will offer safe recycling — as Bates told me, for example, that many people flush old medications down the toilet, never thinking about the impact on the water system. There is so much to learn, and the Green Fest can help you do it. There will be presentations about alternative energies for home and business; how to save on utility bills; hydroponics (growing stuff indoors); vermiculture (worm composting); geothermal, solar, and wind energy sources; solar cooking; and even fishing!
There will be vendors selling helpful things such as rain barrels, and beautiful things such as jewelry made from reclaimed silver and used wine bottles. There also will be a bike rendezvous for a trip to Devil’s Cave.
You can find details about all of it on the Green Fest website, www.auroragreenlights.org.
“I wish I did not have to be on the committee the day of the event,” Bates said wistfully. “I want to listen to all the speakers and see all the exhibits.” But Bates will be trouble-shooting every problem big and small Saturday. Last year she had her hands full with high winds and rain that drove the festival indoors. “At least I guarantee better weather this year,” she laughed.
The Green Fest will even have a shuttle to take you to other great Aurora events: the Aurora Paddle Sports Fest, Art in the Park, the Louche Puce Vintage Flee Market, and the Aurora Farmers Market, so you don’t even have to make tough choices about which events to attend.
The Prisco Center will be the place to start an exciting day Saturday. See you there!
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