[SustainableTompkins] editorial in today's Ithaca Journal

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

Sustainable living: Conference helps county make a  mark

This area has long since adopted and accepted many sustainable living  
principles. And since groups here were some of the first, we now find  other 
communities hoping to do things a little differently turn to  organizers here for 
advice.  
The first Health and Sustainability Conference in the Finger Lakes will  be 
on Saturday at Ithaca College's Hill Center. The event will draw people  from 
all over the region and beyond to learn about how health care and  
sustainability practices can be linked to create healthier communities.  The conference 
will also look at how infrastructure decisions made by  development and 
government officials affect the lifestyles of citizens.  
>From designing neighborhoods to making medical centers greener to  creating 
food systems that promote healthier eating, communities can do a  number of 
things to promote healthier living and help the environment,  according to 
conference organizers. Those who attend the conference can  look no further than 
Tompkins County for many examples of how sustainable  living can be incorporated 
into public life — from local businesses to  colleges to residential 
developments to community-wide programs.  Hosting conferences like the one at Ithaca 
College on Saturday will  continue to enhance our reputation, especially since 
we are able to  showcase our area to nationally known experts.  
We are now garnering a reputation as an “eco-friendly” community. Not  only 
is it good for the environment and the area, but it is also a solid  marketing 
point to attract businesses, new residents and tourists to help  the economy. 
Going forward, groups like Sustainable Tompkins and others  will continue to 
promote and grow a sustainable lifestyle, and the area  will be able to reap 
the dividends.  


----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu




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