Fresh AIRE

Fighting the Minivan Urge

Episode 5 -- The Smiths Take on Global Warming: Last weekend, the County Board approved a property tax reduction for clean emissions vehicles. (For us, I think it means we wouldn't pay property tax on the first $20,000 of a new "clean emissions" vehicle we bought.). That's GREAT -- and certainly provides an incentive to buy a hybrid. But let me back up a bit...

For over a year, my husband and I have struggled with the question of do we need a second car? And IF we get a second car, what kind? We're working parents, have two young kids and a nanny of four years who drives them in her own car. In the fall, however, the kids will likely start going to daycare (no more nanny with a car), and the need for second car will increase. Oh yeah, since I had kids, I also got the disease: I was convinced we needed a minivan. My husband couldn't even utter the word "minivan" for months -- and his eyes still bulge out even when I say the "M-word."

Anyway, since my involvement with the AIRE campaign (and with the recent board decision mentioned above), I've started thinking a bit differently. I find myself asking questions like, could we get by with only one car? If we get a second car, should we consider a small (safe) gas-efficient model -- and NOT a minivan at all? (So what if we don't have seven seats...we really DON'T need them all that often, right?)Should we be looking at hybrids? Are their any minivan hybrids? (Not from what I can tell...but a Toyota Sienna minivan hybrid is supposed to be coming.)

I wish I could be a better person, like Elenor Hodges, who has kids and does manage with only one car. But I'm not sure I can be that good. We'll see -- check back in a couple months to find out just what the Smith Family decides to do. Whatever we do -- efficiency and the environment will be top of mind.

P.S. Old toilets, tubs and sinks may not be destined for the landfill after all. This company (EnviroMODE) turns trashed porcelain fixtures into recycled tiles. Might be worth checking out if you're doing a bathroom renovation.

Jennifer K. Smith, 17-year resident of Arlington
Arlington County communications mgr. (& AIRE blog manager)

Saving the Environment One Bus Ride at a Time

My name is Eric, and I love riding Metro bus.

I feel like I am entering a 12-step program when I say that. When I tell people where I work (Shirlington) and then tell them I usually take Metro to work, I always get this strange look, and then the conversation goes something like this:

Eric: I take the bus from Pentagon station.

Other Person: Oh, isn't that hard?

Eric: No, it's really easy, and frequently takes less time than driving to work, plus it's a great time to read, which is the best part.

Other Person: Oh. I didn't know it was that easy.

So, to everyone out there who doesn't ride the bus becuase you think it's too hard or too inconvenient, you don't know what you are missing!

First, www.wmata.com makes it really easy to find the bus you want to take, and SmartTrip makes it really easy to pay. Second, it doesn't take that much longer than driving. Third, you get to relax and read. Metrobuses are often less crowded than trains, so it makes a nice trip. Did I mention, I get to read?  Yes, the bus isn't always perfectly on time, but it's generally really close.

I confess, sometimes I'm tempted. Sometimes driving seems so much more convenient. And then I remember how much good I do for the environment by leaving my car at home and that often will push be back towards the bus. Yes, I do take my car some days; sometimes I have to go somewhere after work, or have a late meeting, and feel like I need my car. But I know that each bus trip I take helps (does anybody out there have a great statistic on that?), and so I'm going to take the bus as much as I can.

So for all you out there who think you have to drive because there isn't a train stop near your home or work -- it's time to catch the bus!

Eric Legg, Editor, What's Up Arlington!

A-choo! Spring is Here

Over on the CommuterPage blog, Carly Nider posts about a recent study linking global warming with increased allergies, and she refers to a recent article is from WebMD.

Steve Offutt, Arlington resident
Director of AIRE Transportation Projects

Hhhhhere's Johnny

Sunday nights in the 1960's for me meant The Wonderful World of Disney and even on a black and white television set, it was possible to be transported into the worlds of magic, fantasy and the stuff dreams are made on. Wedged in between cartoons of Mickey and The Donald, dramas about dogs (Old Yeller) or cowboy wannabes (Spin and Marty) and nature stories, a tale from Americana would occasionally air … yarns about Paul Bunyan and Babe, his Blue ox, the Headless Horseman, and Casey, of the bat fame, whose colossal strike out was the whiff heard 'round the world. And my personal favorite, a cartoon version of the true story of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, whose itinerant meanderings resulted in orchards of apples being planted across the United States.

According to the Disney version, which was surprisingly close to the truth, Chapman was "an apple farmer who sees others going west, wistfully wishing he was not tied down by his orchard, until an angel appears, singing an apple song, setting Johnny on a mission. When he treats a skunk kindly, all animals everywhere thereafter trust him." (Source: Johnny Appleseed, 1948)

Chapman aka Appleseed had a few other things going for him to ensure future enshrinement: he dressed in shabby clothes, wore no shoes, even in winter, and while not exactly a horse whisperer, was known to cure lame horses. Imagine, a person whose sole mission in life was to improve the environment! Definitely the stuff of folk legend and exactly the kind of story that could (and did) make an impression on a young mind.

So what does the tall tale of Johnny Appleseed have to do with Arlington Reads? Plenty! Taking our cue from County Board Chair Paul Ferguson, we have launched Arlington READS Green in support of the current priority initiative of Arlington County government leaders—Fresh AIRE or Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions. Most events for Arlington READS Green will take place this month when National Library Week (April 15-21) and Earth Day (Arpil 22) fortuitously coincide. Through recommended reading, website tips, recycled art shows, film screenings, nature walks, and seed giveaways, Arlington READS Green will raise awareness of the threat of global warming and other critical environmental challenges.

Taking care of our planet is everyone's business. And who knows, maybe through one of our Arlington READS Green programs, we will inspire a young member of our community to make that extra effort and do something legends are built on?

Diane Kresh, Director of Libraries

Banning Bags and Duping the Kids

Episode 3 (or 4?) -- The Smiths Take on Global Warming: This past Friday night, I got a phone call from my friend, Vicki Cornish, a 15-year resident who lives in the Donaldson Run area. We hadn't talked in a long time, and I figured Vicki was simply calling to chit-chat. Well, for sure we did some of that, but then the truth came out! Vicki had been reading all about the Fresh AIRE campaign in the last Citizen newsletter. And she had discovered this AIRE blog -- and that I was connected to it. Then I learned Vicki was on a mission. She wants plastic bags banned from Arlington. She sent me some background about how San Francisco recently banned petroleum-based plastic checkout bags in large markets and pharmacies. The mandate calls for the use of biodegradable plastic bags or recyclable paper bags. Certainly seems like it could be a good idea. Anyway, after we talked, I pulled open our kitchen drawer where we keep a bunch of junk. Man. It was packed full 'o plastic bags -- mostly grocery bags. I admit, I haven't been bringing them back to Safeway for recycling. Not until now, that is. Recycling plastic bags is the least we can all do, isn't it?

One more recycling thought for any parents out there. I have two young girls who go to preschool. While I appreciate all the wonderful "art" they produce...it SERIOUSLY accumulates. I decided I'd recycle some of the "art" with our other paper products we put out each week. I had to approach this very carefully. Tip 1: Choose your purge time carefully. I waited until the 4-year-old headed to gymnastics at Barcroft with Daddy-O...and until the 2.5-year-old was napping. Then I quickly when through the pile. (No worries, I did keep several especially wonderful works of art. The picture at right represents the 5% I kept.) As for rest, it's all bagged up -- in a paper bag! -- and ready for Tuesday morning's recycling pick-up -- carefully hidden and out of sight, which leads to my second tip. Tip 2: Don't let the kiddies SEE any of their art in the recycled paper pile/bag. Lordy, that's happened to me a couple times: "Mommy, I found this in the trash...who put it there?" My flustered response? I fibbed. "Honey, I don't know HOW that got there...it must have fallen off the counter somehow!!" OR "Daddy must have accidentally put it in there."

Stay tuned for the next Smith Family adventure...

Jennifer K. Smith, 17-year resident of Arlington
Arlington County communications mgr. (& AIRE blog manager)