October 2019 Eco-Extraordinaires

Check out this month’s local leaders in green.

Do you know a DuPage County organization or person that deserves some green kudos? Email [email protected] to explain who you think should be one of our next Eco-Extraordinaires.

Village of Westmont Awarded the Earth Flag

In September, the Village of Westmont was awarded an Earth Flag by SCARCE and DuPage County. The village earned the certification through a variety of environmentally friendly efforts including implementing energy efficient LED street lighting, permeable paver streets, the use of solar-powered speed signs, pledging to a green cleaning regiment at the Westmont Community Center, and using eco-friendly road de-icers. Well done and keep up your great efforts!

Cub Scout Pack 86 Saves Resources to Help Others

In an effort to reduce waste and give back to the community, Cub Scout Pack 86 of Downers Grove ran a school supply collection for SCARCE’s resource center at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. The scouts organized the collections at their two schools: Lester and Pierce Downer elementary schools in District 58. After they gathered the supplies, they put in the extra effort to sort them and test markers and pens to make sure they worked before boxing them up and bringing them to SCARCE. Since our donation delivery schedule gets booked up so far in advance during the summer months, they even held onto the supplies until we could take them in September. Thank you so much for your hard work!

DuPage Sheriff Work Program Protects Clean Water

In September, participants in the DuPage County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program cleaned and installed over 250 storm drain medallions on storm drains in DuPage County. The medallions educate community members about the direct and negative impact on waterways from dumping waste down storm drains. Their effort is part of SCARCE’s on-going storm drain medallion project which seeks to engage youth and organizations to take action locally to protect clean water. Wonderful work!

Super Star Karate of Carol Stream Book Collection

The kids an families of Superstar Karate in Carol Stream did a book collection for SCARCE. Kids were encouraged to bring in reading books they no longer needed to donate to others in need. Together, they collected 10 boxes of reading books for SCARCE’s resource center. Thank you and way to go!

Naperville Park District Swaps Turf for Native Prairie

Starting this year, the Naperville Park District began the Park Meadow Project to improve stewardship of their parklands. As part of the program, underutilized areas of parks, especially those that are frequently too wet for recreational use, will be planted with native wildflowers and low prairie grasses. This meadow conversion will not only add beauty to local parks but also reduce flooding and pollution in local waterways, reduce labor including fertilizer and pesticide use and mowing (which avoids greenhouse gas emissions) and also provides habitat to support wildlife and pollinators. Way to be a leader in parkland sustainability!