Saint Clair Shores, Michigan– What does a “Green” City look like? When people in Michigan think of Green Cities they may think of Ann Arbor, Rochester, or Traverse City, maybe not Saint Clair Shores. However, there’s a network of individuals and organizations in the City that are working to change that. That is why Saint Clair Shores will host its first Green Fair in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The coalition of organizations and individuals putting on the green fair hopes to accelerate progress in makeing Saint Clair Shores a “Green City” by hosting a green fair to build awareness around what people can do in their everyday lives and decisions to live a greener, healthier life. Inspired by green fairs around Michigan such as the Earth Day Expo in Rochester, the Green Street Fair in Plymouth, and the local motion Green Festival in Grosse Pointe, city employees have partnered with local community activists and green organizationsto put on a Saint Clair Shores Green Fair. Initially the idea for a green fair in Saint Clair Shores started after Greg Esler, head of the Parks and Recreation Department in Saint Clair Shores visited the Earth Day Expo in Rochester. Greg Esler reached out to the director of Saint Clair Shores Adult Activity Center, Sue Fickau, to organize a meeting of local residents who would be willing to plan and organize a green fair in Saint Clair Shores. Steve Kiluk of Transition Saint Clair Shores and Maria Martinez and Goram Misic of the Saint Clair Shores Cool City Committee were ecstatic to hear that the city was planning a green fair as they had envisioned such an event in the city and were eager to collaborate with the City in making this event happen. The organizers of this year’s Green Fair in the Park hope to bring awareness to the efforts already going on to “green” the city of Saint Clair Shores, increase citizens’ awareness concerning the impact of their lives on the environment and how simple and inexpensive it can be to reduce this impact of their lives on the environment and how simple and inexpensive it can be to reduce this impact, as well as make people more aware of local green businesses, services and the many economic, social and health benefits of green living.
The initial meeting forged a strong alliance between Parks and Recreation, the Cool City Committee, Transition Saint Clair Shores, and Lakeview High School’s team Green committed to making the vision of a green fair in Saint Clair Shores a reality. The Green Fair in the Park plannning committee has also partnered with Raven Hannah of Wow Green distributing and John Carlos of GreeningDetroit.com for assistance in planning the green fair. The Green Fair in the Park will provide a variety of different opportunities to explore the many aspects of a green lifestyle. There will be activities for people of all ages and you will find somthing interesting whether you are new to the Green movement or live like Ed Begley Jr. The Green Fair in the Park will be organized into 5 sections with emphasis on different facts of the green movement:
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Food and Farm – Will include information, resources and products/services concerning farmers markets, the benifits of local food, organic gardening, home food preservation, as well as being gentle on the environment with your diet.
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Green Living – Includes information, resources and products/services concering living a green lifestyle, this entails energy conservation, water conservation, reducing your carbon footprint, elmininating toxic materials from your home, waste reduction, residential renewable engergy options.
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Kids Education – Interactive and educational fun for kids.
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Entertainment – Music lineup to be announced, speakers on environmental issues and a documentary tent hosted by Transition SCS.
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Health/Wellness – Products and services that help keep you healthy and enhance your sense of well being as well as information on how to live a green, healthy lifestyle. There will be a section dedicated to pets as well.
Organizations and businesses that wish to participate in the SCS Green Fair in the Park should meet one or more of the following criteria:
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Provide a green product or service
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Traditional businesses with innovative green business practices
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Advocate environmental responsibility through education or green projects
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Promote patronizing local businesses, locally made products and local entrepreneurship
The Green Fair in the park planning committee is currently looking for green businesses and organizations interested in participating in this year’s green fair. Fees for a space at the Green Fair in the Park range from $50-250 for businesses. Non-profit organizations may participate for free. Businesses may also choose to become a sponsor of the Green Fair, call Sue Fickau for further details.
Business or organiztions interested in participating in the Saint Clair Shores 2010 Green Fair in the Park should contact Sue Fickau at 586-498-2414 or email her at fickaus@scsmi.net. You can also contact Steve Kiluk at 586-871-2587 or email him at stevekiluk@gmail.com
Source: City of Saint Clair Shores
