Go Green Northfield, formed last December by residents interested in advancing “green” issues in the village, has scheduled two initial events, both of them set in the Northfield Community Center, 401 Wagner Road.
The first, billed as a kick-off for the organization and a chance for a community conversation on green matters, begins at 7 p.m. April 26, with presentations about municipal and school “green” projects by officials from the village and Sunset Ridge School District 29, Go Green Northfield member Sandy Ritterson said.
The second is a free May 3 screening of “Before the Flood,” a documentary about climate change, presented by National Geographic from director Fisher Stevens and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, scheduled for 7 p.m. May 3, also at the community center, Ritterson said. The film presentation is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth, and by the members of two Northfield gardening organizations: the Northfielders’ Garden Club and the Country Gardeners of Northfield, Ritterson said.
“These are our first endeavors,” Ritterson said. “With the April 26 meeting, we’ve reached out to residents and to specific groups and invited the community to hear about ‘green’ initiatives here in Northfield. With the film, we think it’s a great chance to see an important film.”
The April 26 meeting will include a presentation by Melissa DeFeo, assistant to the village manager, on Northfield’s green initiatives, Ritterson said. Edward Stange, superintendent of Sunset Ridge School District 29, will talk about the new Sunset Ridge School construction project and its LEEDS certified green aspects, Ritterson said.
The new school, serving students in grades four through eight, is scheduled to be ready for the start of the 2017-2018 school year, according to the district’s website.
“After that, the discussion is a chance for people and community groups who share the same interests and concerns to partner up with each other and share what they’d like to see happen in the village,” Ritterson said.
Patricia Balsamo, of the League of Women Voters, said her group is “very excited” to join with Go Green Northfield and the two gardening groups to present “Before the Flood” on May 3. The film follows DiCaprio as he visits five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change issues firsthand, as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Balsamo said people who attend the screening will have access to handouts about environmental issues, and said the film addresses some issues that are of local interest, such as flooding.
For information on the April 26 event, Ritterson said people can visit Go Green Northfield’s Facebook page, at .
Information on the “Before the Flood” screening is available at www.lwv-wnk.org/calendar.html.
Twitter: @pioneer_kathy