Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

From the “didn’t get to this yesterday” department….the Mets go green, but here’s what catches my eye:

 “Beer cans are no longer being poured into cups to reduce waste.”  No more cans?  I will investigate.

METS EXPAND GREEN INITIATIVES AT CITI FIELD

Action Carting Oversees Composting in All Kitchens, Suites and Restaurants,

Plus Recycling Throughout the Ballpark

FLUSHING, N.Y., April 23, 2012 – The New York Mets today announced the expansion of green initiatives at Citi Field building on the sustainable environmental programs introduced with the design, construction and opening of the ballpark three years ago.

The Mets, in partnership with Action Carting Environmental Services and ARAMARK, are composting in all kitchens, suites, clubs and restaurants.  Grass clippings from the field are also being composted.

In addition, new Action Carting recycling receptacles are located throughout Citi Field, helping the Mets achieve an equal number of recycling containers to trash bins.  Cans, plastic or glass bottles and cardboard will continue to be recycled including Budweiser’s new Mets 50^th Anniversary aluminum bottles.  Beer cans are no longer being poured into cups to reduce waste.

Fryer oil is being recycled in all concession stands, kitchens, clubs and restaurants.  The waste oil is converted into biodiesel fuel and then reused in biodiesel-ready field equipment.  Alliance Building Services uses green cleaning materials in its efforts to keep Citi Field clean.

The Mets and ARAMARK are purchasing green products including compostable utensils and post-consumer recycled cups, plates, and napkins.

The expanded program was scheduled to be announced yesterday, to coincide with Earth Day, but the game was rained out.

These new efforts complement the existing programs geared to make Citi Field environmentally friendly. The ballpark was built with recycled concrete and construction vehicles were fueled with ultra-low sulfur diesel.  The Mets save more than four million gallons of water per year by using 414 hands-free faucets, 635 automated toilet flush-valves, and 270 waterless urinals.  A 11,000 square foot green roof atop the administration building in rightfield, white PVC roofs throughout the ballpark, high mast parking lot light fixtures, permeable pavers, and an underground well used to irrigate the playing field are other ways the Mets are working at Citi Field to protect the environment.

If anyone cares about me I will be part of the panel Saturday at 12:30 with Greg Prince, Joe Dubin, Matthew Callan, Michael Donato (aka Ceetar), Shannon Shark, Matthew Artus, Kerel Cooper, and Howard Megdal.  Should be a good crew.

Hofstra Hosts Amazin’ Mets Conference

Commemorating the Team’s 50th Anniversary, April 26-28, 2012

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY …  Join beloved former players including Rusty Staub and Ed Kranepool, cultural and baseball historians, sportswriters, statisticians, bloggers, biographers and fans at an interdisciplinary conference commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the New York Mets at Hofstra University April 26-28, 2012.

The 50th Anniversary of the New York Mets conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Dana Brand, a beloved Hofstra professor who was former chair of the Department of English and a lifelong Mets fan. He had started planning the conference shortly before his passing in 2011. He was the author of the books Mets Fan (2007) and The Last Days of Shea (2009).

SELECTED CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, April 26

1 p.m. Conference Opening Ceremony featuring John Thorn, official historian, Major League Baseball, and a reading from Dana Brand’s The Last Days of Shea.

4 p.m. Amazin’ Media: Broadcasters and Sportswriters panel, featuring Hal Bock, former sports writer, Associated Press; Ed Ingles, WRHU; Stan Isaacs and Steve Jacobson, former sports writers, Newsday; and Sal Marchiano, Emmy-winning former sports anchor, CW11.

Friday, April 27

9 a.m. “Metmoirs” and Managers with former Mets player Skip Lockwood.

10:45 a.m. Concurrent Panels – By the Numbers: Statistics and Analytics with Vince Gennaro, the Society for American Baseball Research; Mark Simon, ESPN.com; and Ben Baumer, New York Mets AND In a League of Their Own: Author Roundtable with Matthew Silverman, Stanley Cohen and John Thorn.

1:30 p.m. The Miracle Mets with Bud Harrelson, Ed Kranepool and Art Shamsky.

3:15 p.m. Poetry in Motion with The New York Times’ George Vescey and Ed “The Glider” Charles.

4:15 p.m. Four Long Years Before the Birth of the ’69 Mets with George Vescey, Mrs. Gil Hodges, Gil Hodges Jr., Ed Kranepool and Joe Pignatano.

6:30  p.m. VIP Reception, followed by a Gala Banquet featuring an address by Rusty Staub

Saturday, April 28

Featuring panels such as The Writer’s Game; Met-Life: The ‘80s and Beyond; Los Mets; The Passion of the Bloggers; and Fan-Addicts and “MetsMobilia.”

A complete program, which includes all conference events, the entire lineup of guest speakers and registration and ticket fees is available at www.hofstra.edu/mets.