A student at Hopkinton High School sent a letter to the Selectboard asking that the Town of Hopkinton ban single-use plastic bags because of their effect on the environment.  Recognizing that the Town doesn't have the legal authority to pass such an ordinance without approval of the Legislature, the Selectboard asked the Recycling Committee to consider creating an education and outreach program to help residents switch from plastic to reusable bags.  The Recycling Committee has created a vision for an extensive community program called "Contoocook to the Coast:  Choose 2 Reuse!"  Our plan is to work with the schools, local businesses, faith communities, community leaders and volunteers to create alternatives to plastic and help residents make the transition to reusable bags.  We would like to make this a model project that we can take to all of the 16 riverfront communities along the Contoocook River, then to communities along the Merrimack River, all the way to its mouth in the Atlantic in Newburyport, MA.  We seek to show that one person, one small town, one idea can create real change.