Darien Chamber Announces 'Going For Green' Winners

DARIEN, Conn. -- The Darien Chamber of Commerce recently announced the award winners of the “Going for Green” effort to promote green choices of a variety of different ways in everyday living and doing business.

The first-place poster designed by Valerie Lee.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

The second-place poster designed by Cheyenne de la Rivera.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Daily Voice

04/19/2016 4:00 a.m.

The first part of the initiative is the annual poster contest with the DHS Graphics Design Class. The students are given an assignment to create a poster to be used in the Darien community promoting green choices. The posters can be seen in windows of retailers around town promoting “green choices” to the the Darien community.

In addition, the chamber chose three chamber members that have taken steps to be “environmentally friendly.” These award winners are leaders in the community and exemplify steps that local businesses and residents can take themselves to make “green” choices.

The 2016 Re-Purposing Award of Darien went to The Gardener’s Center & Florist. The center has made changes using native plants in its outdoor landscaping. This plan was very creative in that it removed 1000 square feet of turf grass between the sidewalk and Post Road and replaced it with two species of ornamental sedge grasses native to the Eastern region of the United States.

The 2016 Green Choice Award of Darien went to Palmer’s Market. Palmer’s has made many changes to benefit the environment and help it be more efficient and economical. From something as simple as providing reusable cups and mugs to employees to working with Eversource to replace all the florescent lights with energy-efficient LED bulbs, Palmer’s is committed to reducing it’s environmental footprint.

The 2016 Non-Profit of Darien Award goes to the DAC Thrift Shop. This shop is truly an example of recycling, reusing, and repurposing any and all things possible. For example, new toys that cannot be sold are stored for “Toys for Tots” each Christmas, unsold blankets are sent to PAWS, socks go to shelters, soft toys go to keep children company when transported in an ambulance to the hospital and wedding dresses are sent to Haiti (and other countries) for girls who can't afford them.

The awards reception will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at First County Bank, 1006 Post Road. Tickets are $15. To register, go to www.DarienCTChamber.com.

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