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LexCAN's Community Newsletter for a
Sustainable Lexington
| | CURRENT EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS | | |
Lexington Climate Action
Network
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Apply for the Programs and Communications Manager Position
Lexington Climate Action Network (LexCAN) is seeking a part-time Programs and Communications Manager (PCM)(approximately 20–25 hrs/week) to lead program coordination, communications, and marketing in support of our organizational priorities. The PCM will work remotely, with regular in-person attendance at community events and occasional evening or weekend commitments. Workload is seasonal: expect a lighter pace in summer and a heavier one from September through May.
To apply, send a resume and cover letter to lexclimateaction@gmail.com. More information here.
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Charge Your Car with this Eversource Home Charging Program
Eversource is offering rebates to offset the costs of installing a 240 volt outlet for a Level 2 charger. Level 2 smart chargers can charge your vehicle up to four times faster than a standard charger and can provide enough charge for an average 50-mile commute overnight. Income eligible customers may qualify for 100% off the cost of the charger itself!
See here for more information.
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Save Mass Save
Right now, our Legislature is making consequential decisions for our energy future. The Energy Affordability bill is now in Conference Committee where the Senate and House versions will be reshaped with elements of both to produce a final version.
Will we take a step forward? We could phase out the costly Gas System Enhancement Program (GSEP), which, if left as is, locks us into decades more of fossil fuel dependence by incentivizing pipeline replacement rather than safe repair, which is 8X less costly.
Or a Step Backward? Alternatively, we could slash funding for Mass Save. Mass Save reduces the use of gas and electricity, thereby eliminating the need for expensive new energy infrastructure and costly peak load electricity. Through subsidized weatherization and heat pumps, Mass Save offers an off-ramp from rising fossil fuel and electricity prices.
What Can You Do?
- Learn about the issues: The website for the MA Coalition for Affordable Energy has many great resources.
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Contact your MA representative and ask that they relay your concerns to their leadership and their colleagues on the Energy Affordability Conference Committee: MA Coalition for Affordable Energy has a sample phone call script and email that you can personalize.
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Act Now to Get Plastic Legislation Passed in the "Mass Ready Act"
Write your representative and ask him or her to prioritize the reduction of single-use plasticsin the final Mass Ready Act by contacting the House members of the Mass Ready Act Conference Committee (Rep. Michael Finn, Rep. Christine Barber and Rep. Kenneth Sweezey) and urging them to include language passed by the Senate in the final version of the bill as follows:
- Plastic bags (section 19 of S.3064) – Bans plastic bags from large retail establishments and Requires fees for paper or reusable bags provided.
- “Skip the stuff” (section 19 of S.3064) – A retailer shall not provide a customer with food service ware unless requested by the customer.
- Hotel toiletries (section 20 of S.3064) – A hotel shall not provide or otherwise make available a hospitality personal care product in a plastic container with a volume of less than or equal to 9 oz.
- Black plastic (section 21 of S.3064) – No food service ware provided shall be made from black plastic.
- Study banning foam and solid polystyrene (section 100 of S.3064) – MassDEP shall study and make recommendations on the feasibility and benefits of banning foam and solid polystyrene in the Commonwealth.
These policies will help reduce municipal waste management costs while protecting natural resources and public health.
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Federal Actions
Tell The EPA: Do Your Job. Protect Us from Power Plant Pollution.
The administration's EPA just proposed abandoning its legal authority to regulate climate pollution from power plants — which are responsible for one-quarter of U.S. carbon emissions. The consequences would be severe:
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More unnatural disasters: from devastating floods and wildfires to deadly heat waves that hit harder and harder every summer
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Dirtier air and serious health impacts: projected 1,200 premature deaths and 360,000 asthma attacks by 2035. A rise in heat-related deaths, and premature death, especially in communities already overburdened by pollution.
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Higher costs for families: from healthcare bills to recovering from climate disasters to rising homeowners' insurance rates
The EPA is legally required under the Clean Air Act to regulate climate pollution. This isn't a policy disagreement — it's an illegal attempt to hand polluters a free pass while the rest of us pay the price. Register your comment with the EPA by November 2.
Sign on letter here
Official comment here
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What We're Reading
LexCAN suggests subscribing to the The Daily Climate. Get top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics and drivers, delivered into your inbox on weekdays.
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Make an Appointment with Lexington's Energy Advocate
Looking to take the next step toward lowering your energy bill? Book a 20-minute session with Yahan Hua, Lexington's Energy Advocate, to discuss:
- Reducing Energy Costs
- Understanding your Energy Bill
- Navigating MassSave Programs
- Accessing Rebates, Incentives, and Income-Based Discounts
- Determining Income Qualifications for Additional Discounts
Yahan Hua has one-on-one appointments available every Thursday at Lexington Center. Book an Appointment with Lexington's Energy Advocate.
Reach out to your Town Energy Advocate anytime:
- Email: energyadvocate@lexingtonma.gov
- Phone: 781-382-4410
- Instagram: @lexcleanenergy
- Start your energy-saving journey at the Lexington Mass Save Portal
Follow @LexCleanEnergy on Instagram for easy-to-understand information to help Lexington residents make informed energy decisions. Posts cover common questions such as how to read your electric bill, why smart meters matter, and what Mass Save incentives and rebates may be available. New content will be shared regularly to help residents better understand their energy use and explore ways to save energy and money.
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Get the New LexSortSmart App
The Town of Lexington is pleased to announce the launch of a new tool available to residents to get local information about waste disposal and collection. LexSortSmart is both a mobile app and a web app available on the Town website.
The tool allows residents to:
- Get reminders and notifications about their collection schedule
- View upcoming waste disposal events
- Search for how to properly dispose of items
- Schedule collection of special disposal items
- Access recycling educational resources
LexSortSmart is your one-stop shop for trash, recycling, and composting information in Lexington!
For more information, including instructions on how to download and use the new app, visit the LexSortSmart User Guide.
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Carbon Countdown 2026
Saturday, December 5
9:30 AM—11:30 AM
Follen Community Church
Community Room
755 Massachusetts Avenue
How can Massachusetts move beyond natural gas to a clean energy future? Featuring Senator Mike Barrett, Anne Wright, co-founder of the Building Electrification Accelerator, and Audrey Schulman of Black Swan Lab as speakers. Available in person and on zoom. Register here for the zoom link.
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Lexington League of Women Voters
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Get a Ride to the Polls
The League of Women Voters of Lexington (MA)'s Rides to the Polls program will provide rides to voters on Election Day, November 3.
Rides can be arranged by calling the League at (339) 223-0832. Contact information will also be available from the Town Clerk’s office.
Find your voting location here.
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Citizens for Lexington Conservation
| | Citizens for Lexington Conservation offers free guided walks on Lexington conservation land. All are free and open to everyone. Full details and registration links can be found at their website. | |
Across Lexington Route H
Sunday, November 1
1:00 PM
Bridge School
55 middleby Road
Join this walk to discover Across Lexington Route H. This 3.8 mile loop goes through residential streets and several conservation areas including Idylwilde, the Takeda property Conservation Easement along Shade Street and Hayden woods. The route goes on a very long boardwalk through some wetlands. It also passes by a community garden. Remains of stone walls used to mark boundaries can also be seen. The route is shared by runners and bicyclers and is not suitable for baby carriages. The walk will start and end at the front parking lot of Bridge School, 55 Middleby Road. Parking available under the canopy and along the pavement. Wear comfortable clothing and walking footwear.
Leader:
Miriam Boucher
Phone Number: 781-248-6695
Email: mdcb16@verizon.net
| | Lexington Living Landscapes | | |
Native Plant Seed Saving Workshop
Sunday, November 1
2:00 PM—3:30 PM
Lexington Community Farm
52 Lowell Street
Hosted by Lexington Living Landscapes and LexFarm.
If you’ve ever been interested in winter sowing your own native plants, collecting seed can be a fun and inexpensive way to start. Join us to learn about collecting, cleaning, and storing some of your own native seeds to plant this winter. First, take a short walk around the farm to view LexFarm’s native plant restoration areas and observe any remaining seed heads. Then, spend time inside learning about best practices and handling of different types of seeds. Participants will be able to take home some seeds to plant this winter. Hosted by LexFarm and taught by volunteers from Lexington Living Landscapes.
Fee: $15 ($10 for LexFarm members). Limit 25. Register here.
| | Lexington Urban Forest Master Plan | | |
Lexington's Urban Forest Master Plan in the works
Lexington’s urban forest is made up of all the trees in yards, in parks, on school grounds and along our streets. Trees improve our lives by making Lexington a cooler, cleaner and more beautiful place to live, and they mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon, but they require care from both the Town and its residents to stay healthy and strong.
The Plan will set a vision for the future of Lexington’s urban forestry program. The Town and its consultant, Davey Resource Group, would like to hear from residents about their priorities and concerns. A survey was conducted this summer, and 2 community meetings were held: a virtual meeting on July 29th, and an in-person meeting on October 28. If you missed those opportunities, you can find a recording of the virtual meeting, as well as a feedback form, on the Town’s Urban Forest Master Plan webpage.
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As mentioned in previous newsletters, the best chance to win a statewide ban of anticoagulant rodent poisons that harm our wildlife and pets is if the Conference Committee includes Sections 74 and 75 of the Senate version Mass Ready Act (S3064) in the final bill. Those two sections together provide that cities and towns would be able to ban anticoagulant rodenticides as bylaws or ordinances within their municipal borders, including on private property. Mass Audubon put together an online petition to the Conference Committee for individuals and it mobilized 9,887 Massachusetts residents to sign this petition. It was sent to the Conference Committee members on October 22, 2026. We look forward to the Conference Committee taking action.
As mentioned previously, Marci Cemenska, along with activists from Lowell and Woburn, created a change.org petition asking the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Rebecca Tepper, to meet with advocates about the effects of anticoagulant rodenticides on MESA listed species. That meeting happened on September 30. Attendance at the meeting include Stephanie Cooper, Undersecretary of Environment; Rebecca Mulrean, Director of Food System Resiliency; Paolo DiFabio, Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Tepper; Amanda Dew, Policy & Cabinet Affairs Liaison for Governor’s Office; and Emily Carrara, Legislative Affairs Liaison for Governor’s Office. We discussed a wide range of issues including the emotional toll of caring for these animals; the effect on MESA listed species and the lack of public announcement and clarity on bald eagle deaths; the broad support for stopping the use of ARs across the state; the availability of alternative products and strategies; the potential to strengthen state contract language; and more! The organizers provided some resources to EOEEA and plan to follow up on some issues and to schedule a follow up meeting.
The Rodenticide Individual Review has started and is ongoing. The Individual Review was the result of the request by Harvard Animal Law and Policy Clinic’s petition to the Pesticide Subcommittee which was delivered in May of 2024. The Individual Review was preceded by the Scientific Study. Individual Review discussions take place at Pesticide Subcommittee meetings.
Finally, Save Lexington Wildlife was at the Lexington Sustainability Fair. We had great conversations with residents of Lexington and other towns in addition to some town officials.
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Try an Adult Education Workshop at LexFarm this Fall!
Sign up for a workshop with local experts to learn new skills and knowledge of the natural world. We’ll walk the fields and utilize our unique, new geodesic dome classroom for these fun, hands-on learning opportunities.
Register Here!
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Senior Wellness Walk: Creating and Connecting on the Farm
Sunday, November 1
10:00 AM—11:30 AM
Lexington Community Farm
52 Lowell Street
Join Expressive Arts Therapist Marina Strauss from Mystic Open Studio for a gentle and creative walk that invites movement, imagination, and reflection. Along the way, we will pause to engage with our surroundings through activities incorporating movement, drama, writing, and storytelling. Participants will be invited to notice what they see, hear, and feel, respond creatively to the environment, and share reflections and stories with one another. No artistic or writing experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore. This experience offers an opportunity to move, create, remember, and connect with others while discovering new ways of experiencing the world around us. Register here.
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Wreath Making
Thursday, November 12
3:30 PM—5:00 PM
Lexington Community Farm
52 Lowell Street
Join LexFarm’s Greenhouse and CSA Manager, Kat Kyuchukova, for a relaxing afternoon of wreath making and socializing in the LexFarm Geodome. Go home with your very own 14-inch indoor wreath created with LexFarm flowers. The wreath-making art form is accessible to all (fun for beginning crafters and serious artists alike!). Everyone will make something beautiful and unique. All flowers and grasses have been pre-dried by our farmers, so workshop participants can simply enjoy picking and choosing their favorite colors and textures before weaving them into a grape vine base. Instruction will be given on various techniques and suggested styles. Wreaths will last multiple seasons and they make wonderful holiday gifts! Register here.
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Alpaca Wool Felting
Saturday, November 14
10:00 AM—2:00 PM
Lexington Community Farm
52 Lowell Street
Wet-felting is an ancient process by which loose, unspun wool is transformed into a permanent non-woven fabric. In this class we will use LexFarm's own, dear alpacas' fleece, and make beautiful vessels from it! This class is suitable for beginning felters who want to learn this hands-on, dynamic technique. All materials will be supplied, and participants will be able to take their pieces home afterwards -- participants should bring a plastic bag to carry their vessels home! Register here.
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Tuesday Goat Walks
Help our animal manager, BJ, walk our Nigerian dwarf goats around the farm! Learn all about these amazing, social animals, what they eat, and how we care for them here at LexFarm. Each registered participant will get to walk a goat on leash, helping them to get their daily exercise and foraging time. Say hi to the chickens and alpacas while you're at it. This afternoon program lasts for half and hour and is suited for children or adults -- anyone eager for some farm animal interaction or time in the presense of these sweet and grounding animals. All children under 10 must attend with an adult and siblings should be registered separately (tag-along babies free if they will be in front pack/stroller throughout). Each week has space for up to 4 participants. Sign up for one or multiple sessions! Available every Tuesday until December 8. Register here.
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Order your Organic Holiday Turkey from LexFarm this Season
Buy fresh or frozen turkeys for your Thanksgiving table. Turkeys are from Lilac Hedge Farm in Rutland, MA. This year we also have options to purchase a turkey on behalf of a neighbor in need. Pre-order here.
Pickup: Tuesday November 24, 12 pm-6 pm at LexFarm, 52 Lowell Street.
Deadline to Order: November 24
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Setback & Street Trees Planted by Resident Request
Lexington homeowners can request a FREE tree to be planted by the town in your front setback (the front 20' of your yard) or in the town's right-of-way in front of your house. Visit the Tree Committee's Setback and Street Tree page for more information, including descriptions of the species offered this fall and how to request a tree.
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Pick Up or Donate Graduation Gowns
LHS graduation gowns available for current seniors!
Use this form to select the proper size for a graduation gown.
(Limited quantities so don't wait.)
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Pumpkin Smash
Friday, November 6
1:00 PM—3:00 PM
Lincoln Park
100 Lincoln Street
Come to the Pumpkin Smash at Lincoln Park to reduce waste and create compost after Halloween! Please remove all decorations.
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It's a Wrap!
Saturday, November 7
10:00 AM—1:00 PM
Genealogy Room
Cary Library
1874 Massachusetts Avenue
Stop by the Genealogy Room after the book sale on Saturday Nov 7 and make a fabric wrap to take home with you! Members of the LexZeroWaste textiles and mending group will be on hand with everything you need to make or finish a bag or wrap and help reduce paper waste for your gift giving. Bring your own t-shirt or fabric, or choose from our collection.
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Drop-in Mending at Cary Library, Second Tuesday of the Month
Tuesday, November 10
6:30 PM—8:30 PM
Genealogy Room
Cary Library
1874 Massachusetts Avenue
Members of the LexZeroWaste Textiles & Mending group invite you to join us and share ideas, techniques, and projects in progress with other community members trying to “Mend it, not End it." Drop-in Mending sessions will be held on the second Tuesday of every month.
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Donate your Household Goods
Saturday, November 14
9:00 AM—12:00 PM
20 Pelham Road
Folks in need who are setting up housing – they have to be referred by such as a social worker or faith community or shelter or community service group that serves people in needs- come to Household to set up their homes with essential items.
Each year Household Goods furnishes 3000 homes [including linens, dishes, kitchen supplies., etc] helping 9000 people. They are always looking for donations — Donation Guidelines | Household Goods
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Lexington Farmer's Market
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Thanksgiving FEASTival
Tuesday, November 24
12:00 PM—4:00 PM
Fletcher Park
Shop local for your Thanksgiving table at the LFM Thanksgiving FEASTival, Tuesday November 24 from 12-4pm in Fletcher Park. It's the last outdoor market of the year, and will be full of all the best in fresh vegetables, turkey, cheese, fish, baked goods, heirloom chocolate, and more! You will find everything you need for your Thanksgiving table, as well as prepared foods to stave off the pre-turkey hunger - you can even get your knives sharpened while you shop. Check out the full list of vendors and pre-order information on our website. Please note that Copicut's turkeys and other offerings are pre-order only, and many of our vendors have pre-order deadlines by November 20. Order early for a hassle-free market pickup! See you there!
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Plastic Free Future: Protecting People and the Planet
Thursday, November 5
7:00 PM—10:00 PM
New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf
Boston MA
Plastic pollution is everywhere – in our oceans, our communities, and even our bodies. But what can we do about it?
Join Just Zero and Plastic Free Mass at the New England Aquarium for a conversation about the impacts of plastic on human health and the environment – and the solutions that can help protect both.
Moderated by Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director of Just Zero and a leading expert on recycling and waste policy, the panel of experts will explore what we know about the growing impacts of plastics – from our oceans to our bodies – and what individuals, communities, and policymakers can do to create a healthier, less plastic-dependent future.
Presented in partnership with Just Zero, an environmental nonprofit working to advance community-centered Zero Waste solutions across the country, and Plastic Free Mass, a coalition of more than 40 Massachusetts organizations working to reduce plastic pollution.
Registration ends on November 4 at 5:00 PM. Register here.
| | Grow Native Massachusetts | |
Seed Series: Cleaning Techniches
Wednesday, November 4
6:00 PM—7:30 PM
7 Harrington Road
Join Freddie Gillespie for a hands-on seed cleaning workshop. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes; some will fall easily from a brittle capsule, others are encased in a hard-to-break pod, or coated in flyaway-fluff. Freddie will go over the various techniques and equipment needed to clean different types of seeds. We will be cleaning the seeds collected during part one of our Seed Series on October 4, all from native species that support at-risk pollinators. While we work, we will chat, share tips, and dream of next year’s gardens! Register here for $25.
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DIY Halloween Costume Show and Contest: From Waste to Wonder
Get creative and make your own Halloween costume using recycled and household materials! Join YSI in celebrating creativity, reducing waste, and making Halloween more sustainable.
Although Halloween has passed, you can still submit a picture of your costume online until November 7. The winners will be announced on November 14.
Win cash prizes up to $50! Submit your costume online and join the fun!
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Lexington Transportation
Services
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New MBTA Program: Car-Free Seniors CharlieCard
If you are 75 years of age or older and don’t drive, you could be eligible for free MBTA service with an RMV-issued Mass ID card. Visit www.mass.gov/rmv-issued-identification-cards to learn how to acquire the Mass ID card. Once you have one, visit mycharlie.mbta.com/reduced/senior to register for the free CharlieCard. Contact the Lexington Transportation Services Department with any questions.
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The Bus Lane: Air Quality’s Best Friend
Bus priority lanes – the red-painted sections of some streets in Greater Boston – are areas of the road that are reserved for buses, allowing them to bypass traffic congestion and ensuring that bus riders can get to their destinations on time. This means that making the
environmentally-friendly choice to take transit instead of driving becomes more convenient and more feasible, and that buses spend less time idling in traffic, reducing their own emissions as well. While there are no bus lanes in Lexington, there are lanes in the neighboring communities of Arlington and Cambridge that help important MBTA bus routes like the 77 arrive on time. If
you are driving, and you see a red-painted lane, that means buses only – never drive, park, or stand in one. Leave the bus lane alone to help our air quality.
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ONGOING
EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS
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Would you like to get involved in one or more of these campaigns?
Help is always needed and welcomed!
Please email: info@lexcan.org
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Town of Lexington Department of Sustainability and Resilience
| | Sign Up for FREE Curbside Composting | | Explore Lexington's Climate Data with the Resilient Lexington Dashboard | | |
Go Solar! Free Solar Coaching!
| | Climate Action and Resilience Plan: Resilient Lexington | | |
Would you like to submit an environmental event or activity?
Email us at info@lexcan.org
Please forward to your network!
Interested in signing up for this newsletter? Please email us at info@lexcan.org
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