Mamie Ney, South Berwick’s new library director, and Don Markley, a York Woods Road resident (who happens to be married to me) took up the Conservation Committee’s Earth Day challenge to clean up the town’s roadsides. Here is their haul from the vicinity of the intersection of Route 91 and Witchtrot Road after just one hour of work. People do throw an amazing array of things on our roads: bottles, cans, stuffed animals, shovels, bags, CDs, buckets, coolers, cigarette packages, clothing, and many unidentified disgusting things.

Well Water Testing for South Berwick Residents deadline April 12
The South Berwick Conservation Commission is sponsoring well water testing for South Berwick residents. The testing will be performed by Demers Lab in Sanford . The basic complete testing for $50.00 includes the following: total coliform and E-coli, nitrate, chloride, hardness, pH, iron, manganese, sodium, color, odor and turbidity. Add a test for arsenic for $15.00.  Pick up kits and directions at town hall and drop off at town hall Saturday morning April 12 from 9 am -12 noon.  For more information, call 384-3300 ext 336 (conservation commission voice mail) or email prnel@comcast.net with the subject “well water test.”

Earth Day 2008: Compost Bin Sale ends April 11
South Berwick residents can get a home compost bin and how-to-guide for only $40.00, a 50% saving on the $80 retail value. The bin is made of 100% recycled plastic, has a ten year warrantee, and is large enough for a family of five.  Contact Gary Boucher at 603-978-1669 to order your bin. You can also place your order in person at the transfer station during their regular hours. The bins will be sold until April 11. Find out more information at the transfer station pages on the town web site.

Tonight, between 8 and 9 PM millions of people, businesses, governments and civic groups all around the globe will join together to turn off the lights for one hour to show commitment to finding climate change solutions. More than 35 US cities will participate, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco.

Earth Hour, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, is designed to heighten awareness about climate change and to inspire people to take practical actions to reduce our carbon footprints. Individuals are encouraged to participate by turning out their lights and by replacing a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb.

I will be participating because I’m concerned about climate change but also because I’m interested in reducing my own energy use for practical reasons. In January my electric bill hit its all time high of $125. We swapped compact fluorescent light bulbs for traditional bulbs in four of our most used lights. I also started turning off my computer and printer at the surge protector since I learned that it sucks electricity even when it is off. This month my electric bill was $85 and I used 249 fewer kilowatt hours than last year the same month. I’ll be doing more of these measures–it feels good to be doing something good for the environment and saving money.

Find out more information about Earth Hour.

South Berwick Conservation Commission is sponsoring an Earth Day Adopt a Road Clean Up. Earth Day is April 22. On Saturday, April, 19th clean up your neighborhood. Pick a road to do a roadside clean up with your friends and family, your neighbors or community group. Saturday hours at the So Berwick Transfer Station are 7 AM- 6 PM. Remember to wear gloves.

For more information and to sign up call 384-3300 ext 336 (conservation commission voice mail) or email prnel@comcast.net

The South Berwick Conservation Commission is sponsoring well water testing for South Berwick residents. The testing will be performed by Demers Lab in Sanford . The basic complete testing for $50.00 includes the following: total coliform and E-coli, nitrate, chloride, hardness, pH, iron, manganese, sodium, color, odor and turbidity. You can

add a test for arsenic for $15.00.

Pick up kits and directions anytime after April 1st at town hall and drop off at town hall Saturday morning April 12 from 9 am -12 noon.

For more information, call 384-3300 ext 336 (conservation commission voice mail) or email prnel@comcast.net with the subject “well water test.”