‘Green' group to meet in Princeton on Thursday

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PRINCETON — A new forum on environmental issues for community members will open next week in Princeton.

Creal Zearing of Princeton, a junior environmental studies major at Knox College in Galesburg, announced the first meeting of the new environmental group will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Prouty Building.

Zearing said she wanted to start the group to give community members an opportunity to discuss their ideas, concerns and questions about current environmental issues. She hopes the group will take action locally to make changes and work toward sustainability.

“Towns all across the nation are starting their own movements,” Zearing said. “The talk is happening, and people are making changes to do things sustainably and to start looking at things environmentally.”

Zearing hopes the initial meetings of the group will provide a springboard for local projects and action. She said the direction and focus of the projects will depend on the group members’ individual interests.

“In order to help make change on a large scale, you have to start it on a smaller scale,” Zearing said. “Creating discussion and change locally is doing our part to help make change on a bigger scale. You have to believe that the little things do count.”

Zearing would like to see the group take some form of action by the end of the summer — whether it’s speaking with local businesses about recycling or working to promote and expand the farmers’ market in Princeton.

She encourages everyone to come to the meeting with their concerns, questions or ideas for possible projects. Anyone who wants to help make a difference is welcome.

“We are in the middle of something in the world right now that could change the planet for future generations,” Zearing said. “If we neglect to do something about it, we’re not being responsible. Doing something like this in a small town is a pretty cool thing. It shows a lot about the character of this area if we could start a local movement. It says a lot about what we believe in and what our priorities are.”

Zearing, who graduated from Princeton High School in 2006, said she hopes when she returns to college in August, the new green group will be active and thriving.

“I just wanted to get the conversation started, but really it’s about the people who live here all year round,” she said. “I hope people will come and bring their own ideas and things they are concerned about.”

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