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OCSL Groundbreaking
On October 11, 2007 Omega Institute hosted more than 100 guests, including New York's first lady Silda Wall Spitzer, for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL).
Members of the audience, many of them environmentalists, elected officials, and longtime friends of Omega, were greeted by drummers Steve Leicach and local children who embodied the enthusiasm of the day. Patty Goodwin, a member of Omega's Stewardship Council, welcomed guests and keynote speakers to the event, and introduced Skip Backus, Omega's executive director.
Backus gave context to the project, describing the evolution of a vision that started out as an ecological way to treat wastewater and evolved into an experiential model for sustainability. The building will "not only house an Eco Machine, but will serve as an anchor for all of our sustainability efforts on campus. We saw that what had begun as a technical solution to a particular problem had grown into an opportunity to teach important lessons," stated Backus.
The Eco Machine incorporates technology first seen in similar systems known as Living Machines. John Todd is generally credited for the initial development of Living Machines and is the founder of John Todd Ecological Design, Inc. His son, Jonathan Todd, is the ecological architect for this project. John Todd spoke at the groundbreaking and said, "I see the new Omega Center for Sustainable Living as a kind of crucible, where one can see in a small, whole, single place, all of the processes and ideas that we as a larger culture must embrace."
Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, also a keynote speaker, endorsed the project when he said, "Omega is committing itself to helping to heal communities…to provide leadership and education for its children, and to demonstrate what can be done through creativity, collaboration, and by bringing cutting edge environmental technology to its own campus."
Silda Wall Spitzer, credited for the greening of the Governor's mansion, spoke about the importance of buildings becoming part of the global warming solution. Spitzer called the OCSL, "a monument to Omega's commitment to teach and model a holistic lifestyle; one that complements rather than infringes upon our natural environment." The center will include a laboratory, greenhouse, water garden, constructed wetland, and a classroom that will be open to students of all ages, year-round.
A highlight of the event was when Elizabeth Lesser, Omega cofounder, introduced the legendary folk musician and environmental advocate, Pete Seeger. Seeger took the stage to express his concerns and hope for the environment. "We know huge, terrible, bad things are going on, at the same time more good little things [are happening] than ever in history," said Seeger. He received a standing ovation after performing three songs, ending with, "Turn, Turn, Turn."
Omega cofounder, Stephan Rechtschaffen, invited the audience to join Kenneth Little Hawk in a Native American blessing ceremony outside. Little Hawk performed a moving blessing of the grounds, concluding with all the presenters symbolically casting shovels into the ground.
The event has received extensive media coverage, including articles in the Poughkeepsie Journal, Rhinebeck Gazette Advertiser, the Daily Freeman, and Roll magazine; online stories on Topix.com and MidHudsonNews.com; radio coverage on WAMC Northeast Public Radio and WDST Radio Woodstock; and television coverage on Time Warner Cable's Channel 6 news.
The $2.7 million construction project is expected to be finished and fully operational in late 2008.
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