ABCD Newsletter – Belfast Free Library

“Community Resilience for the Climate Emergency”, Community Compost & Belfast Climate Solution Plans ~ July 2023 Newsletter
In this issue: Planning is under way for community composting in Belfast; NASA climate scientist and award-winning author Dr. Peter Kalmus speaking on "Community Resilience for the Climate Emergency" (July 19th at the Library and on Zoom); Draft Comprehensive Plan Update for Belfast includes climate solutions strategies; Belfast is applying for grant to install heat pumps in City-owned buildings... and more!

Audience at All of Belfast Climate Dialogues event on February 9 2023, The Future of Transportation in Belfast and Waldo County — A great turnout and engaged audience at ABCD event on February 9, 2023, "The Future of Transportation in Belfast and Waldo County"

Updates from “Future of Transportation in Belfast & Waldo County” Event ~ February 2023 Newsletter
In this issue: Takeaways & City updates from our exciting “Future of Transportation” conversation; upcoming events including Community Composting.

A new group called “Walk & Roll Belfast” is also being created to help citizens band together to create more active transit in our community! SIGN UP to learn more - send your email address to [email protected] to be added to the email list!

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a $13.3M grant will help 13 Maine school districts buy 34 electric-vehicle school buses this year. Searsport RSU 20 received an award for two EV school buses ($790,000). Credit: NewsCenter Maine

The Future of Transportation in Waldo County ~ January 2023 Newsletter
In this issue: Come attend a Community Climate Conversation on February 9th, about reducing greenhouse gases from transportation in Waldo County. Check out some great resources and actions discussed at our December "Modernizing Our Homes & Buildings" discussion. Mark your calendars for lots of other great events coming up including the Belfast Garden Club's winter lecture series.

Maine municipalities are often faced with budget pressures and high operating costs to maintain older municipal buildings. Energy efficiency is a great way for municipalities to save energy and money, and improve comfort, safety, and maintenance costs. Image credit: Efficiency Maine

Modernizing Our Homes & Buildings ~ November/December 2022 Newsletter
In this issue: You're invited to a Belfast Community Climate Conversation on December 8, to discuss how our community can modernize our homes & buildings for energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases.

Belfast Summer Nights concert on July 7 2022 — Belfast Summer Nights music, July 7, 2022

An Inspiring Night of Community Input to Belfast's Climate Action Plan ~ July 2022 Newsletter
In this issue: Check out the inspiring community input from the June 14 public meeting on Belfast's Climate Action Plan; upcoming events; and LAST CALL for the ABCD Photo Contest (deadline July 15th)! We also reflect on last week's Supreme Court decision limiting the EPA's authority; and share hopeful notes from Maine's June 17 "Communities Leading on Climate" conference.

Belfast tugboats at sunset — “This sunset photo of the tugboats was taken from the Nautilus patio after a big band of thunderstorms narrowly missed us. I feel so fortunate to work in this amazing spot right on the water ~ it is beautiful in all seasons!” Photo by Misty Mallar, July 2019

Celebrating Belfast ~ Places & Play! All of Belfast: Climate Dialogues 2022 Photo Contest ~ June 2022 Newsletter
In this issue: Your input is needed on Belfast's draft Climate Action Plan! Community discussion on Tuesday, June 14th at 6:00 PM in the Abbott Room at the Libary (also available on Zoom). Also announcing the ABCD Photo Contest ~ deadline July 15th. Share your photo of the things you love most about Belfast and our corner of Maine… What activities and places bring you joy and gratitude?

Emma C. Moesswilde, presenter of "Living With Thin Ice: Past Perspectives on Climate Change in Belfast, Maine"

Looking Back to See Ahead ~ May 2022 Newsletter
In this issue: This month, ABCD has 2 programs that examine historic and current climate change here in the Belfast area and in Maine - including a May 10th presentation by Belfastian and doctoral candidate at Georgetown University, Emma Moesswilde (pictured), "Living With Thin Ice: Past Perspectives on Climate Change in Belfast, Maine."

Mother Nature Holds Her Breath chalk painting — "Mother Nature Holds Her Breath" by Mj Viano Crowe

A Climate-friendly Holiday Season ~ December 2021 Newsletter
In this issue: We are excited to feature offerings from local Belfast businesses who have shared their climate-friendly holiday ideas with ABCD. Enter our holiday book giveaway! Sign up for our Tuesday 11/30 online event with author Sue Inches, “Finding Hope in the Face of Climate Change.” We are also putting out a Call for Art for an upcoming spring Library exhibit, "The Art of Re-Climation."

Belfast Area High School students describing their design and installation of a tidal gauge in Belfast Harbor, Maine in October 2021. — Belfast Area High School students describe their design and installation of a tidal gauge in Belfast Harbor, Maine in October 2021.

November 2021 Newsletter
In this issue: Climate migrant stories submitted by local Belfast residents on the ABCD website; Belfast leads the planet with local tidal data collection and community planning for sea level rise; upcoming events including an intro to "The Warming Sea" symphony, and "Finding Hope in the Face of Climate Change."

(Note that you can watch past events anytime on the Library's YouTube ABCD playlist!)

All of Belfast: Climate Dialogues began in 2020 as a grant-funded project to facilitate conversations among a broad cross-section of the Belfast community about climate change. The ABCD project became a presence in the community, establishing the Library as a source for information and a gathering place for conversation about the climate crisis and community response. From 2020-2023, ABCD held over 35 educational programs & community conversations engaging well over 1,000 people. The Library will continue to offer educational programming on topics around the climate crisis; and will continue supporting citizens to take action.

This project of the Belfast Free Library was made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS grant number: APP-246100-OLS-20). Contact: [email protected].

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