Gail and Les Silberman, activists in Don’t Spray Me! and the West Chester Green Team, are leaving West Chester and moving to Woods Hole, MA.  Their environmental colleagues here are so sorry to lose them from our community.  

Both Gail and Les have contributed a great deal in a range of areas.  Gail’s posts on the Next Door site brought in many new members to the Green Team’s Plastic-Free Please committee. The online responses suggested the depth of support in the community for such an initiative, which passed Borough Council last summer after a turnout of 200 residents advocated for it.  Next month, Downingtown Borough Council plans to follow our lead and pass a ban on plastic bags and straws effective July 2, 2020.  Even Philadelphia has been influenced by our work on plastics.  Thank you, Gail, for your leadership.  

We have particularly appreciated Les’ realistic insights into the personalities we work with. His advice on interactions with allies and those resistant to our goals has proven invaluable. His scientific and medical expertise have contributed to many fruitful discussions both through his membership on the Borough’s Sustainability Advisory Committee and on the Board of Don’t Spray Me.!

Both Gail and Les have enriched the community environmentally.  They will be greatly missed.

Don’t Spray Me! and the West Chester Green Team offer them our heartfelt best wishes.