I see those dirty snowbanks stacked in corners of large parking lots, and sand at the end of the driveway and on the lawn close to the street. Let the cleanup begin. I’m craving some green.

Green means different things to different people. Aside from the simple color, to talk “green” can reference an environmentally friendly approach to something, be it in the natural landscape or an architectural design. Talking green from a development perspective usually comes with a higher cost, and as our economy slows, there are others who simply wouldn’t mind finding ways to earn a little more of the green.

For me, green – my favorite color – evokes a fresh energy that suggests transition and new life. That would be the color of new grass, a welcomed sight in early spring. This past weekend, in my search for green, I pulled the winter mulch bedding off my gardens and there they were – green chives and day lilies poking through.

Green can rear its ugly face, too. It comes in the form of mold on uneaten leftovers tucked away in refrigerator containers, or the more subtle appreaance on the shower curtain. Overall, though, green is a color that commands respect and reverence.

Green seems to be the buzzword in town these days. The Scarborough Community Chamber is going green this year as it celebrates Small Business Week, April 20-26. The library will host lunch-and-learn sessions covering topics from improving energy efficiency in the workplace to recycling.

Meanwhile, Scarborough’s Route 1 re-development plan hopes to encourage new development along a certain section that adopts more green design standards. This buzz, for the most part, seems positive for Scarborough. The town envisions a more village feel to Route 1, with buildings such as Willowdale Place identified as the ideal. The goal is to make Route 1 a place where people can live and work. Development in this area, which runs from the Scarbrough Marsh to Sawyer Road, would be zoned to require new buildings 30,000 square feet or larger be green; that is, meet nationally recognized standards.

As our community begins to wrap its arms around green, we can have big visions of expensive, green architectural standards, but we shouldn’t over look the less costly environmental landscape elements that complete the vision.

Green may well be the impetus to gather some groups for a community project that could involve sponsoring a corner or a median strip. It’s time to environmentally dress up the median strip and intersection corners with grass, landscape and flowers. Perhaps the garden club could come up with a design for our intersections. Green grass, landscape, and flowers are so much more attractive than green asphalt. If we’re going to talk green, let’s go green all the way.

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