June 27, 2009 - Posted by Janet - 0 Comments
This morning we were going to the gym but decided it was too nice to exercise indoors. We headed for our favorite walking trail; LaTourette. Today we saw more people than usual taking advantage of this beautiful trail. Their were young and old alike, on foot and on bikes. New signs have been added to the trail to alert bicyclists of upcoming turns which can be hard to see on a winding road.
This morning was the perfect time to go. With all the rain we have had here on Staten Island, we have to take advantage of the sun when it appears. The trees made a canopy of shade overhead which allowed the sun to peek through. Where there are no trees overhead the sun felt radiant.
It is in this environment where no I Pod is necessary. This is the place to walk; fast or slow, and meditate on life. In the quiet you will find answers. In the quiet you will find peace. The trail at Latourette reminds me of being upstate in a place like Harriman State Park. We are lucky to have this trail in our own backyard. It is filled with honeysuckle, skunk cabbage, butterflies, bluejays and cardinals.
More people have found the trail. When I first started walking it, I would cross paths with maybe 3 – 4 people. This morning I said good morning to at least 20 nature lovers. I did it with only the music of the birds and stream and the breeze from the trees. That’s music all it’s own.
June 26, 2009 - Posted by Janet - 0 Comments
We are watching our carbon footprint; so in deciding where to eat, it had to have a garden. Eating outside means dining under the stars; by candlelight, on a beautiful summer evening. No extra lighting, no air conditioning necessary.
We found the perfect restaurant. Dosi on Bay Street in Staten Island offers outdoor eating overlooking a garden of herbs and vegetables. While eating my fig and prosciutto pizza, I felt relaxed by the atmosphere surrounding me. As I watched the fish swimming in the pond nearby, I enjoyed my entree of mezzaluna. 
My husband and I found eating “out” more than a dining experience. It was tranquil, serene, and delicious. Much better than eating “in”.
June 18, 2009 - Posted by Janet - 1 Comment
TRENTON, NJ – June 8, 2009 – Every year in the United States, the vinyl from over 3 million billboards is sent to landfills. That’s almost 10,000 tons of vinyl, roughly the weight of 2,500 full-grown elephants worth of material that does not biodegrade and will spend an eternity in our landfills. To address this environmental issue, TerraCycleÔ and Yak PakÓ have partnered to construct durable, affordable bags and accessories by upcycling this difficult to recycle material.
Upcycling is the practice of transforming disposable materials into something of greater use and value, giving that material new life. The new TerraCycle-Yak Pak billboard product line represents the ultimate achievement in upcycling. By combining the durability of the billboard vinyl with Yak Pak’s expertise in design and manufacturing, the resulting products are not only great looking, but also nearly indestructible allowing every item to come with a lifetime warranty.
“The only way one of these bags will ever end up in a landfill is if someone chooses to throw it away,” said Stephen Holt, Yak Pak’s Founder, “These bags are designed and constructed so well that when a consumer is done using them they can be donated or handed down again and again.”
The product line is hip, stylish and because each is made from a different cut of a billboard, every single bag is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. They are manufactured at a hydroelectric powered facility in El Salvador, which is wholly owned by Yak Pak who pays fair wages and assures proper working conditions. The product line includes a variety of functional shapes including messenger bags, backpacks, laptop sleeves and totes and are very affordable, with most retailing for less than $35.
These young, innovative companies working together will create a wealth of environmental and social opportunity and help to solve a serious problem that has few other solutions.
“The distribution and brand awareness of Yak Pak and TerraCycle will enable our two companies to substantially reduce the amount of billboard vinyl going to landfill” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle’s CEO and Founder. Yak Pak’s Founder Stephen Holt echoed the same point, “Working with an upcycling expert like TerraCycle will give us the combined resources and expertise needed to make a meaningful difference in this growing environmental issue.”
The billboard bags are currently available in Urban Outfitter stores nationwide.
June 5, 2009 - Posted by Janet - 0 Comments
New York City’s water supply system delivers more than 1 billion gallons of fresh, clean water daily to 9 million customers throughout the five boroughs and upstate. Consisting of 19 reservoirs, 3 controlled lakes, and more than 6,000 miles of pipes, aqueducts, and tunnels – our system is a green machine that runs almost entirely by gravity and, for the most part, doesn’t require filtration.
Soon, DEP will launch NYC Water, a campaign to promote our delicious tap water, which is among the highest-quality and best-tasting in the world. With no carbohydrates, sugar, or calories, NYC Water is not only good for your health; it’s healthier for your wallet. Drinking two liters of NYC Water each day costs just 50 cents a year, while drinking two liters of bottled water a day can cost more than $1,400. a year.
In addition to being economically prudent, it is also environmentally responsible to drink tap water. Forty-seven million gallons of fossil fuels are used to produce all the plastic bottles Americans use each year, which results in one billion pounds of CO2 added to the atmosphere. By drinking NYC Water, instead of bottled water, you can help protect our environment and minimize the likely impacts of climate change on our water supply system.
