It’s not easy being green, but it’s healthy

MILFORD — As you drive around northeastern Pennsylvania and view the changing and growing communities, it would be hard to say that they are "Growing Greener," as the Governor's new environmental initiative is recommending. In most cases the "green" is being removed to make way for new roads, parking lots, commercial strip malls and residential developments. Meanwhile, scientific research is beginning to quantify the effects urban greenery has on health, local environments and economy.

Did you knows that:

• Medical studies have shown that people who view nature after stressful situations show reductions in blood pressure and heart rates, and that patients recover quicker when exposed to views of nature following surgery.
• Recent studies in Chicago's public housing show reduced domestic conflict and violence when trees and greenery were present.
• Plants and trees in commercial business districts send customers positive cues of quality and service, and in preference surveys, both businesses and consumers gave higher ratings to scenes with trees.
• Eighty six percent of real estate appraisers surveyed agreed that landscaping added to the dollar value of commercial properties, and 92 percent also agreed it enhanced the sales appeal.

To learn more, attend "Community Greening: Improving the Quality of Life," a regional conference scheduled for Wednesday, March 28 at the Luzerne County Community College campus in Nanticoke, PA.

The event is a full- day conference with a registration fee of $15 to cover lunch, breaks and written materials. For more information call at 570/825-1701 or 570/602-0600.