EAST LONGMEADOW TO HOST HEALTHY LAWNS AND LANDSCAPES WORKSHOP

The Town of East Longmeadow, in cooperation with the Town of Wilbraham and the Town of Longmeadow, has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to host a workshop on Healthy Laws & Landscapes. The workshop will be held on May 5, 2004 at the East Longmeadow Fire Department, 150 Somers Road, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The workshop is free of charge to homeowners and landscapers in the greater East Longmeadow area and free gifts and refreshments will be provided.

“We are proud to be part of this innovative effort to help reduce the amount of chemicals in the Town and region,” said John M. Claffey, Chairman of the East Longmeadow Board of Health. “We look forward to joining with our neighboring communities and the Department of Environmental Protection in bringing this information to the community.

The workshop will be tailored to the topics of interest to the audience, such as:

· Health effects of pesticides;

· How to create healthy soil for lawns and landscapes;

· Simple steps to healthy lawns;

· Other healthy landscape choices (flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables);

· Alternatives to pesticides and chemical fertilizers;

· Resources for more information.

For more information and to sign up for the workshop, you may contact Arlene Miller of the DEP at 413-567-5027 or the East Longmeadow Board of Health at 413-525-5400x420.