All About Sustainability

with Connor Stedman
Tuesday, April 27, 7-8:30 pm
In this talk, permaculture designer and wilderness educator Connor Stedman shares stories and principles of nature awareness, land stewardship, and sustainable living. Join us for a powerful conversation about where we are, where we have been, and where we are going. Connor is a co-founder of Gaia Northeast, offering B.Sc. and M.Sc. action learning degree programs in eco-social design and eco-social agriculture. He will be teaching a workshop at Millstone Farm on May 23, 2010. A short reception will follow. Made possible by the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation for Wilton Library’s Environmental Initiative. Registration recommended.

WGGF-“Where the Wild Things Are,”

5K and Children’s Fun Run at Woodcock Nature Center
Sunday, May 2, 8:30–10 am
Get a jumpstart on the Wilton Go Green Festival with an early morning run! Go to the Woodcock Nature Center for the second annual “Where the Wild Things Run” 5K ($20 in advance, $25 on race day) and Children’s Fun Run ($10). The trail is partially on groomed trails through the Woodcock Nature Center property and offers a challenging and beautiful course for runners, joggers and walkers of all ages. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Kids Fun Run starts at 8:30am and 5K starts at 9:00 am. Register at: Woodcock Nature Center, 56 Deer Run Road, Wilton CT 06897, 203-762-7280.

WGGF—Bike Safety Session

Bright Horizons
Sunday, May 2, 8:15-8:30 am
The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club invites you to meet at Bright Horizons (Godfrey Place) for a Bike Safety session before the morning bicycle rides begin. There will also be a safety discussion before each ride scheduled as part of the festival. Sponsored by the Wilton Go Green Festival and the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Registration suggested.

WGGF—Bike Ride:

Upper Level “B-” 16.5-18.0 avg. mph, & “C+” 15.0-16.5 avg. mph
37 & 44 miles, Bright Horizons
Sunday, May 2, “B-”: 8:15-8:30 & “C+”: 8:30-8:45
The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club invites you to meet at Bright Horizons (Godfrey Place) to join fellow upper level riders on a 37 &44 mile bike ride through Wilton beginning at 8:45 a.m. Bikers will return to the Town Green between 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Bike safety discussion provided before starting. Helmets required. Sponsored by the Wilton Go Green Festival and the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Registration suggested.

WGGF—Bike Ride: Mid Level “C” 13-14 avg. mph , 27 miles

Bright Horizons
Sunday, May 2 , 9-9:15 am
The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club invites you to meet at Bright Horizons (Godfrey Place) to join fellow mid level riders on this 32 mile bike ride through Wilton beginning at 9 a.m. Bikers will return to the Town Green around 11:30 a.m. Bike safety discussion provided before starting. Helmets required. Sponsored by the Wilton Go Green Festival and the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Registration suggested. Signing a liability release prior to riding is required. All riders must be 18 years or older.

WGGF—Bike Ride: Slow “D” 10-12 avg mph, 18 miles

18 miles, Bright Horizons
Sunday, May 2, 9:30-9:45 am
The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club invites you to meet at Bright Horizons (Godfrey Place) to join fellow slow riders on an 18 mile bike ride through Wilton beginning at 9:30 a.m. Bikers will return to the Town Green 11:30 a.m. Bike safety discussion provided before starting. Helmets required. Sponsored by the Wilton Go Green Festival and the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Registration suggested. Signing a liability release prior to riding is required. All riders must be 18 years or older.

WGGF—Bike Ramble:

Family Town Loop, 2.5 or 5 Miles, Bright Horizons

Sunday, May 2, 9:45-10:00 am
The Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club invites you to meet at Bright Horizons (Godfrey Place) with your family for a casual bike ramble of 2.5 or 5 miles through Wilton Town Center, coordinated by the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Ramble will begin at 9:45 – 10 a.m. Bikers will return to the Town Green between 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Bike safety discussion provided before starting. Children 5 and under must ride with parent in a bike carrier or on adult/child tandem. Children 6 and over may ride their own bikes but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Helmets required. Sponsored by the Wilton Go Green Festival and the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Registration required. Signing a liability release & a parent/guardian form prior to riding is required.

WGGF—Stroller Derby, Bright Horizons

Sunday, May 2 , 11-11:30 am
The Moms Club of Wilton and The Wilton Newcomers Club welcome you to celebrate alternative transportation, make community connections and promote a festive local atmosphere. Meet in the Bright Horizons parking lot (7 Godfrey Place) between 10:30-11 am with your strollers (and kids, if you’ve got ‘em) to kick-off the Festival with a short stroll or jog through Wilton Town Center. Children and families without strollers welcome as well. Green attire encouraged, but not required. All participants will be entered in a drawing for a free trial membership in the Wilton Newcomers + Wilton Moms Clubs. Sponsored by Bright Horizons and brought to you by Wilton Moms Club and Wilton Newcomers Club. Registration suggested.

WGGF—Celebrate Wilton:

Tree City, USA, Wilton Library
Sunday, May 2, 11 am-noon
The Wilton Tree Committee invites you to celebrate Arbor Day with us as the National Arbor Day Foundation honors Wilton as a Tree City, USA. Chris Donnelly of the Connecticut Division of Urban Forestry and First Selectman, Bill Brennan, will join us to present the award. The Tree Committee’s accomplishments include developing a Wilton Center Tree Plan and establishing a tree ordinance for the management of trees on public lands. Pat Sesto (Director, Wilton Department of Environmental Affairs) will present a map of the Center Tree Plan and acknowledge residents who have donated over 25 trees now planted there. Find out how you too can add to the greening of Wilton. Attendees will have a chance to win a tree generously donated by Nick Lee, Lee Horticultural Services, Ltd. Moderated by Jessica Kaplan, Chairwoman, Wilton Tree Committee. Registration suggested.

WGGF—Clean and Green,

Wilton Library
Sunday, May 2, 11-11:45 am
Discussion of earth-friendly cleaning and everyday chemicals found in the home. Speaker Susan Eastwood of the Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut will present and show a 15-minute video. Panelists for a subsequent discussion include: John Calandrelli (CT Sierra Club), Peter Fraboni (Harbor Watch/River Watch scientist), and Dave Havens (New Canaan’s St Luke’s School Environmental Coordinator). Registration suggested.

WGGF—The Caribbean Cruisers with Arthur Lipner

Wilton Town Green
Sunday, May 2, 11 am-1 pm
Arthur Lipner and his Caribbean Cruisers will be getting the festival moving to the beat with his three-piece steel band at the Town Green.

WGGF-How Green is Your World

Wilton Library
Sunday, May 2, 11 am-4 pm
Take a quick online survey in Wilton Library’s Computer Lab to determine how green your own world is – how well you and your family are doing in the quest to green up your life! No reservations required. Sponsored by Deloitte LLP.

WGGF-Conscious Child Yoga Class

Sunday, May 2, 11:30 am-12:15pm
Amy Ferrero references the holistic and humanitarian nature of Yoga, which nurtures the body, mind, conscious and spirit of the child. Yoga allows for each child to tap into their own natural abilities to gain strength, coordination and heighten their mental accuracy. They become more connected with their own bodies and conscientious of those around them. Ages 3 and up with caregiver in building. Enrollment limited to 20. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Story of Stuff

Sunday, May 2, 11:30-noon and 2:30-3 pm
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute film that takes viewers on a provocative and eye-opening tour of the real costs of our consumer driven culture-from resource extraction to iPod incineration. Annie Leonard, an activist who has spent the past 10 years traveling the globe fighting environmental threats, narrates the Story of Stuff, delivering a rapid-fire, often humorous and always engaging story about “all our stuff-where it comes from and where it goes when we throw it away.” Reservations not required.

WGGF-The Two-Wheel Manifest:

Why We Need to Make Room for Bikes
on the Roads of Fairfield County
Sunday, May 2, 12 – 12:45 pm
Panel discussion on the efficacy of Fairfield County roads for bike travel. Panelists: Deborah Lewis – Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance steering committee, Gail Lavielle- CT Public Transportation Commission and Norwalk River Trail Committee, Michael Lombardo- Wilton Chief of Police, Ray Rauth – Chair, State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and Community Relations Representative for Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club. Moderated by John Sohikian, past president of Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club, the panel tackles the challenge of how to improve our roads for greater bicycle use from many angles. The panel welcomes insights of those in attendance. Sponsored by Outdoor Sports Center.

WGGF-“One Water,”

a Celebration of Our Planet’s Relationship to Fresh Water
Sunday, May 2, 12-12:45 pm
Experience a 20-minute excerpt from an artistic, non-verbal film on water resources by writer-producer-director Sanjeev Chatterjee, followed by a panel discussion with panelists: Kristen Begor – Wilton Conservation Commission Chair and former hydrogeologist, Sara daSilva – Norwalk River Watershed Association Board President, Jim Lucey – Wilton High School Science Department Chair, Jeff Yates – Trout Unlimited – Mianus Chapter officer. Registration suggested.

WGGF-From Health Foods to Whole Foods

Sunday, May 2 ,12-12:45 pm
Our panel takes a practical look at the best ways to obtain local food, and at efforts to provide access to it for the well-being of all. Panelists include: Jade Hobson and JoAnn Overton (Wilton-based organic gardeners), Analiese Paik (founder and editor of the FairfieldGreenFoodGuide.com), Joe Ancona (Ancona’s Market, Ridgefield), Wholesome Wave Charitable Foundation (based in Westport and founded by Michel Nischan). Registration suggested.

WGGF-Film: Disney Nature’s “Earth,”

Sunday, May 2, 12:30-2:15 pm
Drop your older children at the Children’s Library while you enjoy the keynote speaker. Disney’s epic story of adventure, starring some of the most magnificent and courageous creatures alive, awaits you in Earth. Disney Nature brings you a remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet — polar bears, elephants and humpback whales. Narrated by James Earl Jones. Children under 8 must be accompanied by caregiver. Children 8-12 must have caregiver on site at library. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Keynote Speaker-Alex MacLean-Over:

The American Landscape at the Tipping Point
Sunday, May 2, 1-1:45 pm
Alex MacLean, pilot and photographer, has flown his plane over much of the United States documenting the landscape. His newest book, Over: The American Landscape at the Tipping Point, presents stunning images that document the history and evolution of the land from vast agricultural patterns to city grids, and that vividly record the changes brought about by human intervention and natural processes. His powerful aerial portraits and informative commentary shed light on the relationship between the natural and constructed environments, including the causes and effects of climate change. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Science Fiction or Science Fact:

Vehicles of the Future
Sunday, May 2, 2-2:45 pm
There’s a lot of talk and excitement about the future of what used to be called the motor car, but far less certainty about what that future will be. Our panel of experts will talk about what’s on the drawing board, what’s already in the showroom, and what’s in between. Participants will include: John Papa, Electric Vehicle Owner and Advocate, Steve Waite, Curtis Instruments (manufacturer of instruments and motor speed controllers for battery-powered and electric vehicles and equipment), Lee Phillips, Blu-Print Automotive Conversions (involved in conversion of traditional cars to electric), Chris Colquitt, General Motors Fuel Cell Activities. Also, representatives from Tesla Motors, Connecticut Light & Power and more. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Earth Stories with Miss Lesley

Sunday, May 2, 2:30-3 pm
In celebration of the Wilton Go Green Festival, children ages 5 and up are invited to listen to stories about the Earth, told by Children’s Library assistant, Lesley Keogh. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Registration recommended.

WGGF-Norwalk River Walk and Wade

Wilton High School
Sunday, May 2, 2:30-4 pm
Jim Lucey (Wilton High School Science Teacher) and Dave Havens (St. Luke’s Science Teacher) lead participants on a walk of the Norwalk River and return to a Wilton High School science lab to examine your “catch” under microscopes. They will provide waders and nets. Participants can bring their own waders. Meet at the Wilton High School front entrance. All ages welcome-children under 12 with caregiver. Meet at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road, Wilton. Registration required – limited to 20 participants.

WGGF-People Who Live in Green Houses

Sunday, May 2, 2:30-3:30 pm
Energy-efficient solutions are discussed by panel: CT Clean Energy Fund, Connecticut Light & Power, Bob Faesy – Faesy-Smith Architects, Mike Trolle – BPC Green Builders, Mark Harris -Good Life Energy Savers, Ron French – Alteris Renewables). The discussion will be moderated by Bruce Hampson, member of the Wilton Energy Commission. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Green Gal Show

Sunday, May 2, 3-3:45 pm
Green Gal brings “Low-Tech Fun” to a very High-Tech World! Without disclosing too much highly confidential information (it’s like a Peter Parker situation), Green Gal is an Earth-friendly Super Heroine with a green cape and a green guitar who travels about on behalf of the Green Queen spreading the word about taking better care of the Earth! The ever-growing Green Gal show is a children’s sing-along with a Go-Green twist! Get ready for original Earth-friendly songs, recycled instruments, Greta the Grasshopper, and the mysterious snailbox. Solve the Green Queen’s challenging riddle, and discover the simplest ways to take care of our home, the Earth. Everyone learns how to go green. Children under 8 must be accompanied by caregiver. Children 8-12 must have caregiver on site at library. Registration suggested.

WGGF-Wilton’s Waste and Recycling Myths and Facts

Sunday, May 2, 3-3:30 pm
Learn fact from myth about Wilton’s Waste and Recycling program from presenters Jennifer Fascitelli (Wilton DPW Program Coordinator), Dave Hapke (Wilton Conservation Commissioner), Kristen Begor (Wilton Conservation Commissioner) who will present and discuss the topic as well as answer your questions about recycling in Wilton. Registration suggested.

Documentary: No Impact Man

Wednesday May 5, 7-8:30 pm
Author Colin Beavan, in research for his next book, began the No Impact Project in November 2006. A newly self-proclaimed environmentalist vowed to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein’s film provides a front row seat into the experiment that became a national fascination and media sensation as well as an intriguing inside look at the familial strains and strengthened bonds that result from Colin and his wife, Michelle’s struggle with their radical lifestyle change. Q&A following the film with Andrew Winston, co-author of Green to Gold and Emily Brooks, founder of Edibles Advocate Alliance. The evening is made possible by the Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation for Wilton Library’s Environmental Initiative. Registration recommended