What’s FUN @ FEDC2016? Lotsa stuff!!

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY in multiple venues…our schedule is coming together, please take a look to see who we know is coming thus far.  Many folks have told us we should say we’re a Music Festival because we have so much wonderful, live music throughout the event – some see what you think!

PERENNIAL FAVORITES 

TRASHY FASHIONS by our friends at Lauralton Hall and Burr Elementary’s Roots & Shoots Club.                                                                                                                 

                                                   FACE PAINTING

 

FOOD TRUCKS….YUMMMM!
Christophe’s Crepes LLC
Maple Craft Foods
Meriano’s Bakery & Cannoli Truck
Snowie of CT
Taco Loco Truck
Have a Ball

 

CRAFTS we supply…and many of our Exhibitors have fun things for kids of all ages to do at their stations.

Refrigerator Magnets: Made with recycled paperboard and magnets. Kids will glue a list of what goes into their recycling bins onto a paperboard square with a magnet on it. They can decorate it and stick  it on their refrigerator to remind them of the correct items to recycle.

Bookmarks: Made from recycled paperboard and plastic newspaper bags. Kids will slip knot a plastic loop into the pre-punched hole and decorate.

(Carbon) Footprint Door Hangers: Kids will glue 3 different pictures of ways to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint onto a paperboard foot. They can color the pictures and hang it on a door at home to remind them to save energy.

Newspaper Hats:  The hats are made from recycled newspapers and the kids will be able to color and glue on  different things they can do to help keep the earth clean.

Lorax Masks: We’ve got all the fixings for kids to make a Lorax mask so they can “speak for the trees.”

COOL STUFF FROM THE PAST

 

A 1898 Electric Car!

 

 

Working, life-sized replica of the airplane Gustave Whitehead flew in Bridgeport 2 years BEFORE the Wright Brothers flew the Kitty Hawk in NC!  Mr. Whitehead  lived in Fairfield not far from our event!  See the web site devoted to this topic.  Here’s something to whet your appetite:

In the early hours of 14 August 1901, the Condor propelled itself along the darkened streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut, with Whitehead, his staff and an invited guest in attendance. In the still air of dawn, the Condor’s wings were unfolded and it took off from open land at Fairfield, 15 miles from the city, and performed two demonstration sorties. The second was estimated as having covered 1½ miles at a height of 50 feet, during which slight turns in both directions were demonstrated.

Federal and State LEGISLATOR FORUM  where the politicians don’t give speeches but give answer your questions…come ready to ask them about things important to you!  We hold this in the 3rd Annual Earth Day Art Contest Gallery.

 

 

AND, of course, ALL OUR WONDERFUL EXHIBITORS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CTO – GBYO @ FEDC on 4/30 at FWHS!

The sounds of music will fill the courtyard at Fairfield Warde H.S. during Fairfield’s annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 30^th.

There will be something for everyone as Earth Day perennials Rob Carlson and The Benefit Street Band, The Mostly Green Band, and former CT State Troubadour Kristen Graves are on hand to celebrate the Earth with rousing Rock & Roll, Pop and Folk.

There are some new kids on the quad as well.  The Concert Orchestra of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras (GBYO) will be making their Earth Day debut at 1:30pm and adding a classical touch to the event.  This exceptional group of 58 young musicians will be performing Verdi’s “Overture to Nabucco” and “Russian Sailors’ Dance” by Reinhold Gliere, among other pieces.

GBYO has 290 musicians comprising 6 separate ensembles. Concert is the first level full orchestra. Musicians from Concert progress to Symphony and then on to Principal Orchestra as their skills develop.

“Concert Orchestra is proud to be representing GBYO in this wonderful community event,” says Concert Orchestra Conductor Erica Messina. “To have the opportunity to play an outdoor concert, and for the Fairfield community, is exciting for our musicians.”

Many of the youngsters are from Fairfield, Trumbull, Bridgeport, and Westport and Norwalk.  But they also hail from as far away as Southbury, New Fairfield and E. Lyme.

The musicians of GBYO must participate in their school music programs, creating a bond between GBYO and their schools and communities.

Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration is all about community as well, bringing together over 1,000 attendees and 100 exhibitors and sponsors to learn, celebrate, create new bonds in celebration of our common home.  In addition to music, the day features an art contest, interesting and educational exhibits and a myriad of family-friendly activities like face painting, arts and crafts, fun and games, and of course, the food trucks.

 

 

 

 

Art Contest Winners Ceremony

Congratulations to Annika Vuppala, Anna Paulmann & Laura Herron, Rachel Grella, Emilia Kozeracki, Gwendolyn Kardos, Emilia Kozeracki & Grace Giandurco, Catalina O’Connor, Eloise Essig, Charlotte Barrato, Ginia Kohler, Melissa DiCostanzo, Sophie Lipset, Diego Alarcon, and Greyson Moore for winning the 3rd Annual Fairfield Earth Day Art Contest!

There will be a special Press Event tomorrow, Monday, April 25, 2016, at 5pm in the First Floor Conference Room of Sullivan Independence Hall (725 Old Post Road) to highlight and recognize this year’s winners.

FairTV will be covering this event live as well as recording it for rebroadcast on the FairTV Government channel and on demand access via the web.  First Selectman Mike Tetreau will be congratulating the winners personally.  Art Contest Committee members Emma Gleysteen (chair), Cara Bebey, and Ethan Kohn are also expected to participate in the ceremony.

Also, please come to the Fairfield Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 30th, 10am-4pm at Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Avenue.  The gallery of Art Contest entries, as well as other pieces of art created by students, will be on display in the Fairfield Warde High School LMC Lecture Room all day.  The event is free and held rain or shine.  There is live music in several venues all day, as well as food trucks, arts & crafts, fun & games, Federal and State Legislators, Trashy Fashion show, 100+ exhibitors and so much more!

Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration Named One of Best in the Nation!

Town of Fairfield News

4/11/2016 – Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration Among Best in Nation 

Selectman Mike Tetreau announced today that LeafFilter North Inc., which is one of the most environmentally friendly companies that has a vested interest in sustainability, has included Fairfield, Connecticut on its top 11 places to celebrate Earth Day this year. Fairfield is the only Connecticut locale to make this list. The company cited Fairfield “as a leader in the sustainability category, with its long history of eco-friendly outreach programs and dedication to raising awareness of environmental issues within the community.”

According to this company, “To celebrate Earth Day and help homeowners become more environmentally conscious, a list of standout Earth Day events was compiled for 2016. Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration, which is taking place rain or shine and free of charge on Saturday April 30 from 10-4 pm at Fairfield Warde High School, 755 Melville Avenue, was named one of the best upcoming events of 2016.

Earth Day events on this list were chosen for their unique offerings, like educational lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Community commitment to sustainability was another factor. To get the whole list of nationwide communities selected as places to celebrate this year’s Earth Day, go to  http://www.leaffilter.com/blog/top-11-places-celebrate-earth-day-plus-5-bonus-kids-earth-day-events/.”

Fairfield Earth Day’s annual major event, Fairfield’s Earth Day Celebration, attracts over 1000 attendees and over 100 exhibitors and sponsors with the assistance of over 100 volunteers. The event features live music, a variety of food trucks, a myriad of family-friendly activities like face painting, arts and crafts, fun and games, Touch-a-Truck and a full-size working replica of Gustave Whitehead’s Condor which was first flown in Fairfield—two years before the Wright Brothers’ flight.

Starting in 2014, an art contest was launched for students in all grades, beginning with pre-school through grade 12. An award ceremony is held each year at a Board of Selectmen meeting where winners are issued certificates of congratulations. Art categories include dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. This year’s theme is “What If…..” Hundreds of entries are displayed at the Earth Day event in a gallery at the high school where Connecticut’s Federal and State legislators speak about how they are championing causes and initiatives to help protect the environment.

For information on Fairfield Earth Day, please visit www.FairfieldEarthDay.org. In addition to reading about this year’s Earth Day Celebration, click on “home” to read about all of the yearly activities, programs, helpful tips and interesting facts the Committee works hard to provide to the community.

Fairfield Earth Day Committee Chair Mary Hogue said, “This fun-filled event celebrates making every day Earth Day in Fairfield, which is this year’s theme. Every year, this popular day, which keeps getting bigger and better, attracts more adults and children from Fairfield, other towns and even other states. We hope you can join us!”

First Selectman Mike Tetreau stated, “It is a great honor for our Town to be recognized nationwide for our annual Earth Day Celebration. This year’s event which features activities for people of all ages could not be made possible without the hard work and commitment of Fairfield’s Earth Day Committee, as well as the many sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers who dedicate their time to make this an enjoyable experience.”  First Selectman Tetreau further added, “Thanks to the Fairfield Earth Day Committee, Fairfield’s taxpayers have benefited from the Committee’s year-round efforts to help sponsor or promote cost-savings programs relating to solar, clean energy and other environmental initiatives.”

The photo shows Fairfield Earth Day Committee Chair Mary Hogue and First Selectman Mike Tetreau.

Art Contest Deadline Has Arrived!

Thanks for all the wonderfully creative entries for this year’s Art Contest!  We’ll be announcing this year’s winners very soon!

One More Week ‘Til Art Contest Deadline!

Calling all Preschoolers – 12th Graders!

April 1st is the deadline to get your submissions in to this year’s Fairfield Earth Day Art Contest.  The theme this year is “What if…” tied to the environment / sustainability.

This is not an April Fool’s Day prank!  Get your submissions into the colorful Fairfield Earth Day Art Contest boxes at all public and parochial schools, public libraries, Pequot Library and Sullivan Independence Hall by 4/1/2016!  Please remember – only 2-D for Visual Arts entries.  If you are submitting anything other than visual arts or photography, you can send your submission to FairfieldEarthDay@gmail.com.

For more information please see our Art Contest page.  Still have questions?  Get in touch at FairfieldEarthDay@gmail.com or (203) 590-1755.  Can’t wait to see all the creative pieces you’ve been working on!

 

Fairfield Launches Cutting Edge Solar Program Wednesday, 3/23, Sherman APR

First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced on March 16, 2016 that the Town’s Clean Energy Task Force, in conjunction with Solarize Fairfield, is holding a free workshop for residents to learn if their house is good for solar on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Roger Sherman Elementary School, 250 Fern Street. At the workshop, residents can learn about the Solarize Fairfield program, be introduced to their solar installer, and hear about financing options.

The Town of Fairfield has been selected to participate in a cutting-edge solar program that makes going solar easy and affordable. Solarize Fairfield is part of Solarize Connecticut, the ground breaking residential solar program that has been spearheaded by Connecticut’s Green Bank through a partnership with SmartPower. Solarize Connecticut has helped thousands of residents save money on energy bills through solar.

Solarize Fairfield is a coordinated effort across the community, supported by the Town of Fairfield. Through a competitive selection process, Solarize Connecticut has selected All Green it Solar as their solar installer. All Green it Solar will provide all the solar installations in Fairfield in exchange for special discount pricing.

Solarize Fairfield also offers residents access to special financing options that make going solar affordable with no upfront costs. SmartPower has partnered with Dividend Solar, a national solar financing company, to help qualified residents save money with the $0 down financing option. Other financing resources are available through Fairfield’s solar installer. To be eligible, residents must sign an installation contract by July 28, 2016.

Solarize is an increasingly popular program that increases residential solar through a proven formula. It relies on an on-the-ground outreach campaign provided through the Town that helps educate consumers. The pre-selected solar installer means residents are getting the best possible price and equipment, specifically chosen for Fairfield residents, and, special financing makes going solar affordable.

“The Town of Fairfield is excited to bring Solarize Fairfield to our residents,” said First Selectman Mike Tetreau. “Solar can be a very cost efficient way to meet your home’s electricity needs while also helping to reduce the damaging impact of fossil fuels on the environment. At the same time, the Solarize Fairfield program is specifically designed to make it very straightforward for our residents to learn more about solar and decide whether ‘going solar’ is right for your home. I encourage Fairfield homeowners to attend one of the public events over the next 18 weeks to learn about how you can use solar to take better control of your energy costs, as well as help safeguard our environment.”

“Connecticut is truly becoming a national leader in solar through the Solarize Connecticut program,” reported Brian Keane, President of SmartPower. “Working in partnership with the Connecticut Green Bank, we have been able to add more than 17 MWs of residential solar across the state, with over 2,000 households participating. We continue to see financing and the Solarize model bringing down the cost of solar and making it affordable for more and more homeowners throughout Connecticut.”

Homeowners who want to get started finding out if their home is conducive for solar can go directly to www.solarizect.com/Fairfield to “Get Started.” Information about other public events to help residents learn about the program will be posted on this site as those events are scheduled.   Residents who live in surrounding communities can also participate in Solarize by going to www.solarizeCT.com.

For more information about Solarize Fairfield, please visit www.solarizect.com/Fairfield, or contact Chamae Mejias at cmejias@smartpower.org.