Men In Green Meet The Selectmen

By Kendra Bobowick

As the overhead lights dimmed and a projector’s beam hit the screen, Newtown Middle School’s Men In Green provided selectmen with a brief PowerPoint introduction Monday, April 5.

Narrating alternately, the environmental-minded group of boys explained themselves, and their message, starting with trees: if trees continue to be cut at this rate, “we stand to lose billions,” which is “quite a large amount of our rain forests,” said Vivek Tedla.

Huddled in a group behind their projector and talking through each slide, Vivek stood with Wesley Morlock, Garrison Buzzanca, Mike Davis, Austin Raftery, and Matt Mossbarger — who all have been working hard to convey concerns of deforestation, for one.

The group is coordinating its green appeal with this year’s third annual Earth Day festivities to be conducted April 24 on the middle school grounds. (See related story). The group has a plot of land near the former Fairfield Hills water treatment plant, which it intends to “reforest with indigenous plantings; we want to fix it up,” said Vivek. They asked selectmen if residents would consider pledging a tree to accompany their effort on the roughly three acres designated by Deputy Director of Land Use Rob Sibley. Pledge a tree or “promise to plant a tree,” he said. Find the group at this year’s Earth Day and make the commitment, he urged.

“We’ll pass out trees; come pick out a tree,” the group asked. They also indicated, “We need volunteers” to help with the site planting. “Mr Sibley wants us to make it look like nearby vegetation,” said Vivek.

The group original begun as a school project has grown into an ongoing effort. The students have advanced in the national Lexus Eco Challenge, created by the automaker and Scholastic, a children’s publishing company, to inspire environmental awareness.

The group has earned awards and grant dollars, so far, and now seeks additional public support and participation.

Of their grant funds, First Selectman Pat Llodra asked, “Do you have plans for the [funds] you have been awarded?”

“Tree purchases and plantings, and we want to buy composters for all the schools,” the boys all agreed.

“I am greatly impressed,” Mrs Llodra replied. “Let me say thank you. I am impressed with the initiative.”