Earth, Wind and Mavis

Last June, Montgomery started a battery recycling program with the Village Hall and the police department serving as drop off sites for used household batteries. Then this April, the village began selling at Village Hall, through the Conservation Foundation.

Montgomery and other communities are starting to grow greener. But what can households do to jump on the green bandwagon?

That is what Mavis Bates was wondering when she noticed that communities are trying to be environmentally friendly and people living in those communities might need some help with the learning curve. 

"It's not just about recycling," Bates said.

Bates, of Aurora, wants to help educate people about the many things that can be done to preserve the environment. Recycling is important, but there is so much more, she says. "It's for their grandchildren," she adds. 

Bates is part of Aurora Green Lights, a citizens group that she formed about two years ago to promote sustainable living in Aurora and the Fox Valley. The group put on the first annual Aurora Green Fest last summer.

Held in June at Aurora's Prisco Community Center, the festival drew hundreds from the community, even though the rain forced it from the outdoors to inside the center.

A full afternoon of activities, demonstrations and performances focused on being green; vendors displayed recycled wares and gave away energy-saving light bulbs; speakers talked about rain gardens and light pollution.

Bates and others saw that people are hungry to be part of the local green movement and learn things that could help their environment, like how to compost and save energy.

On June 11, Bates is bringing back her green lineup of musicians, performers, speakers and vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora.

Bates wants to welcome people to her green world and make it easy for them to join the movement.

Rain or shine, people from all over will learn how to save on their utility bills, how to start an organic garden and how to tune a bicycle. There will be folks on hand talking about native plant landscaping and cooking with whole, natural foods. 

Local businessman Vernon LaVia will conduct a bird walk at 10:30 a.m., Karen Kulzer from Oswego's Fox River Academy of Music and Art will have children's art on display and the will open up for an hour to update the public on the park district's environmental efforts.

Ride a bike to the festival and join a group for a rendezvous to Devil's Cave and back. Shuttles will also run from the Green Fest to the Aurora Farmers Market, Louche Puce Flea Market and the Aurora Paddlesports Festival. 

And new this year will be recycling drop-off bins for medication, electronics, batteries, Styrofoam and books.

Visit Aurora Green Light's website at www.auroragreenlights.org for more information and a full schedule of events.