Local volunteers lead the way
As Earth Day approaches on April 22, Greenwich has something to celebrate: a community of dedicated volunteers who aren’t just talking about sustainability—they’re delivering real, measurable results.
Across town, residents are stepping up in big ways. Greenwich now diverts more textiles than any municipality in Connecticut, according to Julie DesChamps, founder and chair of Waste Free Greenwich. Composting efforts alone have kept an impressive 780,000 pounds of food scraps out of our waste stream. And in 2025, Greenwich residents drove 3,335 electric vehicles—more than any other town in the state.
These are tangible outcomes—driven not by mandates, but by neighbors, volunteers, and local organizations working together.
Pollinator Pathway is working to restore habitats and strengthen biodiversity across town. At Greenwich Audubon, volunteers are partnering to restore a degraded forest gap—clearing invasive species and replacing them with a diverse mix of native trees and plants. As co-chair Myra Klockenbrink explained, “We’re preparing the soil and installing 1,500 canopy trees and understory trees and shrubs—with at least 35 different species…If successful, we hope it can be replicated and potentially scaled up.” The project will even track bird activity to better understand how these ecosystems recover—bringing data and science to local conservation work.
Powered by community
This month, local volunteers are organizing a wide range of events for residents of all ages. From the Spring Native Wildflower Planting on April 16 to Waste Free Greenwich’s Rethink Waste Fair on April 18, to the Spring Beach Cleanup with Live Like Luke on April 25, there are countless ways to get involved. Families can also take part in hands-on programming like the Bruce Museum’s “Bruce Beginnings: Earth Day Art,” helping young children explore sustainability through creativity. From a cleanup at Mianus River Park to a paper shredding event, residents are showing what’s possible when a community comes together.
This Earth Day, we celebrate the work of so many volunteers and the example they set. In Greenwich, sustainability isn’t just an idea—it’s a community effort powered by people committed to protecting our environment, strengthening our town, and building a more resilient future.
Neighborhood update – Northwest Greenwich
Round Hill Association President Brendon DeSimone recently answered our questions about the latest issues affecting residents in northwest Greenwich.
The association aims to foster a sense of community, provide opportunities for neighbors to connect, maintain and enhance the neighborhood’s natural beauty, and advocate for its local interests.
Q: What is the single most urgent concern your members are talking about right now? Why?
Traffic and safety remain top priorities. We have worked for years with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the town to prevent unsafe driving on some of our dangerous backcountry roads. Speeding and out-of-area drivers using our roads as cut-throughs, using Waze and Google Maps, are our biggest concerns.
Q. What additional issues consistently come up in your meetings or communications?
We keep a watchful eye on airport traffic and potential expansion at Westchester County Airport (HPN). Most recently, we have heard from residents who are concerned about low-flying helicopters and airplanes.
Q. How do you think town leaders could make the biggest practical difference for your neighborhood in the next 6–12 months?
We believe more should be done to prioritize residents, pedestrians, and bicyclists over moving cars. In some parts of backcountry, it is unsafe to walk onto the street to simply get your mail. During COVID, we noticed many residents walking and using the streets. We consistently hear from longtime residents that they used to use these streets more, and that traffic has increased significantly. Cars should be diverted onto the Merritt Parkway or safer roads that can handle the volume we see today.
Q. When is your next association meeting?
Monday, June 1, time and place to be announced.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of an occasional series highlighting key concerns in Greenwich neighborhoods. Answers are sometimes edited for clarity.
What we’re reading
Sometimes it helps to evaluate from a different perspective. The crew of NASA’s first moon mission to carry astronauts in over 50 years has an opportunity to do just that. Victor Glover, the pilot of Artemis II, summed up the impact of seeing Earth from space, “No matter where you are from or what you look like, we’re all one people,” he said. Read the story and see the images here.
Action Calendar
April 13. Engage.
Greenwich Democrats are proud to host a conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin at 6 p.m. The public is invited to register and attend this fundraiser. Registration closes Friday, April 10. Tickets start at $500 per person. All funds solicited in connection with this event are by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee, and not by Congressman Jamie Raskin.
April 17. Learn.
Selectwoman Rachel Khanna will be hosting a conversation with state Treasurer Erick Russell about investing in the future of Connecticut, at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 101 Field Point Road. A Zoom option is available.
April 18. Clean up.
The Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation hosts its annual Earth Day Clean-Up & Beautification event from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Mianus River Park. Volunteers will meet at the 450 Cognewaugh Road, Cos Cob entrance.
April 19. Make a difference.
Join us and Rise Against Hunger at First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich to help package meals to feed communities in need. This is a family-friendly event. Please register in advance here or at the door. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich.
April 19. Discover.
Greenwich Girl Scouts and the League of Women Voters Greenwich present a Women in Government Workshop—an opportunity for pre-K to grade 5 to meet women leaders and discover how their voices can make a real impact. Event runs 2 – 4 p.m. Register here. Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road.
| Volume 4, Number 41 • April 9, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |