Local entrepreneur goes green
RACHEL CAVANAUGH
News Editor
A Goldendale woman is making eco-friendly living more accessible to Klickitat County.
Entrepreneur Mary Tennant, who debuted a handful of products last week at a “Go Green” open house workshop, specializes in goods aimed at lowering energy costs and reducing the environmental footprints of her customers.
Through her business, MT Environmental Technologies, the Goldendale woman sells products ranging from showerheads to water and air purifiers.
There are three key perks of her products, she said: saving on energy costs, reducing environmental impact, and improving health.
The most common package offers five products, which provide an “energy and health renovation” throughout the house. They include an air purifier, indoor water purifier, outdoor water purifier, power saving energy management system, and a laundry device that hooks to the back of the washing machine.
The latter hydrogenates water and uses oxygen and silver to wash clothes without detergent or hot water. Clothes come out fresh-smelling, according to Tennant, and silver can act as a healing agent.
Tennant said the power saver reduces energy bills between 8 and 20 percent, and eliminates the electric “hum” often heard in older homes.
She offers free energy assessments and air quality test in homes.
Beyond energy and the environment, she said, health is one of the key concerns. In air quality tests, for example, in Goldendale and other parts of Klickitat County, she said she has found black mold, especially in older homes.
“I would like to see the Goldendale community to be a totally eco-friendly community, where we’re really interested in preserving our world,” said Tennant. “Now people are really in the green movement to be able to make their homes more eco-friendly. It just saves so much money…all of this just falls into place.”
Volunteers wanted to help with Fall North American Migration Count
The first bird Migration Count was held in 1997 and according to Bob Hansen, of Lyle, it has been an interesting 11 years. Counts were not held in 2005 because of an inadequate number of sector leaders.
The Counts have been very useful in terms of having a better idea of the distribution and proportion of species, observing several county firsts (including Black-throated Blue Warbler - Stuart Johnson), accidental sightings, and new places to bird watch ( e.g., Alderdale Sewage Ponds for shore birds -credit Patrick Sullivan. Previous count results can be found at community.gorge.net/birding/counts.htm.
Generally, there have been approximately 140 species on the fall count but this number can be very much dependent upon the number of sectors being surveyed. The County is divided into eight to 10 sectors depending on the number of participants, so it is important for anyone interested in helping with the count to notify Hansen as soon as possible. Hansen can be reached at (509) 637-2736.
Pig bowl to benefit local Walter family
The 2008 Pig Bowl will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. at the Whatonka Football Field, in The Dalles. It will once again feature Oregon Law Enforcement Officers versus Washington Law Enforcement Officers.
Proceeds from this year’s game will provide help for the Brandon Walter family. Brandon and his wife, Amanda are long-time Goldendale residents and have two children, ages 10 and 12. Walter has been a reserve officer with the Goldendale police force since 2001. The family has been challenged with several severe medical issues over recent years.
This is the sixth annual Pig Bowl, and the second time the event pitted Oregon versus Washington Law enforcement.
Tickets will soon go on sale at a variety of outlets in Klickitat County . |
