Community turned out for Earth Day festival

Earth Day Celebration and Green Fest is over for 2009 and what a celebration it was! Those attending could walk through RECOVER's Simply Green House that was built with energy efficient, recycled, non-toxic materials, all topped by a solar panel. Solar panels were also demonstrated by DoveTail Wind and Solar and Third Sun Solar and Wind. Les Anderson had his 2002 Prius on hand with good maintenance and performance information.

Lots of hands-on activities, including making wall hangers (Girl Scout Troop 9, St. Mary's School); learning about seed dispersal from master gardeners; Wacky Rabbits and Oak Grove Fourfold 4-H clubs members sharing knowledge and enthusiasm; Wayne National Forest representatives teaching about pollinators and energy saving tips from Washington Electric Co-op. Storm drain and groundwater models from Washington Soil and Water Conservation District and Friends of Lower Muskingum River were available to demonstrate the movement of water through these systems and a model of a typical Muskingum River lock and dam clearly demonstrated the locking procedure. Because of Mike Austin's knowledge and enthusiasm for his snakey-friends, no one should have left believing snakes feel slimy and are unimportant members of our wildlife community. The number of people able to recognize wildflowers increased significantly from last year and some not only recognized the large white trillium but they remembered it is our state wildflower. Assistance from Eric Fitch, Marietta College, and League of Women Voters volunteers helped participants to calculate their carbon footprint.

The River Valley Mountain Biking Club had maps of the trails they have built in the Marietta area. Court Witschey had information about the Washington County Hiking Club. Dwight Mitchell explained how he presses oil from black oil seed and then feeds the residue to domestic livestock and uses the oil to run his pickup truck. Just learning about how used cooking oil from the food service at Marietta College is going to help power the Valley Gem this season was worth the trip. Kathy Bartunek made sure everyone could go home with their own mini-composting bin powered by earthworms. Neighbors for Clean Air demonstrated air monitoring equipment and sponsored a Clean Air essay contest with impressive entries.

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge not only had their mussel display but Bette Cain and Janet Butler helped everyone make elegant nature pendants. Pioneer Ladies Civitan volunteered for the bath salts and bead bracelet booth; free seeds were available; no one went home empty-handed. Skins, skulls and tracks, recycling displays, and more were available to look at and learn from. Games and bagpiping by Sara Chichester added to the beautiful sunny day. As usual, Peoples Bank employees handled registration and drawings for prizes.

Two contests that are annual events at the Earth Day celebration: the Sweetgum Ball Contest (what can be made with the seed-bearing balls of sweetgum trees) and the Trash-to-Art Contest (what can be made from items/material found in the waste- or recycling-stream?) both continued to build in entries this year.

Everyone attending the celebration received tokens with which to vote for the wonderful creative entries. You may have seen the winners exhibited in Peoples Bank windows.

Now everyone has 10 months to decide upon and work on entries for 2010.

Greenleaf Landscaping, Lowe's Home Improvement, Cici's Pizza, Domino's Pizza, East of Chicago Pizza, Little Caesar's Pizza, Papa John's Pizza, and Smitty's Pizza, stepped up to supply the prizes for these contests.

We very much appreciate the generosity of these businesses and the time and effort of all of those entering the contests.

Primary sponsor of the event is Responsible Care: Americas Styrenics, Kraton Polymers, and Solvay Advanced Polymers. AEP was a new sponsor this year as were Third Sun Solar, Peoples Bank, Jim and Marilyn Mills, Gladys Stokes and Darryl and Cynthia Ting. Many thanks to them and to all of the other volunteers and to all those who participated.

Connie Grimes (Peoples Bank), Teresa Stone (Ohio State University Extension), Dawn Wittberg; Jan Adams, Betsy Cook, Cathy Schafer and Marilyn Ortt (Marietta Area Recycling Center), Community Earth Day Celebration Committee