(Photo by Clara Noelle) The MOV Climate Action committee showed up to Marietta’s Earth Day event to spread information about climate change. Adeline Bailey, a representative of the committee, also had a petition to get Toyota to strictly manufacture electric cars by 2035.

Saturday, Marietta held the annual Earth Day event in the Armory Lawn from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“This year is our 24th celebration. Next year is going to be the big 25 anniversary,” said Kathy Ortt, a Co-Chair of the Earth Day Community.

“The Earth Day celebration was actually started by Kathy’s mom,” said Co-Chair of the Earth Day Community Connie Grimes. “When she passed, Kathy kind of took over in her place.”

The Earth Day celebration is funded by People’s Bank who also helps lead the event with Marietta Recycling Center.

The Earth Day Community hosted 34 groups to spread awareness about the earth.

(Photo by Clara Noelle) Judy Kohler gave some kids the ticket that they took to all ten stations. The stations had unique activities for children to participate in and the children would then get their ticket hole punched. If a child got all ten punches, they would receive a price.

“We really just want to get people interested in what is happening to the earth,” said Grimes.

Jody Kohler was in charge of getting kids registered for the event.

The registration included a craft and getting a ticket. The children would go to the ten stations on the lawn and do the activities there. When the children completed these activities, they would get their ticket punched. When they had their ticket completed, they received a prize.

The Washington County Health Department was at the event and set up an activity for kids to sign a tobacco free pledge.

If they signed the pledge, they would get their ticket punched and receive a prize.

(Photo by Clara Noelle) Emersyn Price, 2, participates in Oak Grove’s Explorers digging activity.

“We want the kids to be aware that tobacco is not only bad for their health but also bad for the environment,” said Andrea Sites, a representative from the Washington County Health Department.

Tobacco takes high levels of pesticides to maintain which is bad for the earth, and, depending on the pesticide, can also be damaging to the farmer’s health.

“We also want to put an emphasis on vaping,” said Sites. “Vape pens have both nicotine and lithium batteries. Both are considered hazardous waste.”

The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley (HSOV) was also at the Earth Day Celebration and were handing out adoption and volunteer applications.

They also had friendly dogs walking around to, hopefully, get adopted. The HSOV is still full, especially of dogs, and is looking for donations and adoptions.

(Photo by Clara Noelle) Mocha, who was taken in by the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, is a two year old Pitbull and Labrador Retriever mix. She has been at the Humane society since December 1, 2022.

“We are actually going to open up a new building soon,” said Karissa Reynolds, Executive Director of HSOV. “This building is going to be dedicated to animals that come from domestic violence situations and homes where the owner is in the hospital and cannot take care of them.”

Volunteer orientation is every third Sunday at 1 p.m. The next volunteer orientation is May 1.

Clara Noelle can be contacted at intern@newsandsentinel.com.