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Mother Nature ended up being on our side for Marietta's Earth Day Celebration on April 22 at Armory Square. This event was sponsored by Peoples Bank and the Marietta Area Recycling Center. There were 34 local and regional organizations that participated with free activities for all and information to make us more aware of the environment. Wonderful live music was performed by Marietta's own High Schools That Rock with Mark Doebrich, band director, The Drum Circle from the Unitarian Universalist Society and Chase Brady.
The Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia (ACCA), through the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, brought an American Kestrel, Eastern Screech Owl and Broad Wing Hawk. These are all educational raptors as they were rehabilitated but had injuries that did not allow them to be safely released back to the wild. Many of the raptors that are treated at ACCA are injured by being hit by vehicles or on power lines but HD, the Screech Owl, fell out of its nest as a fledgling.
A living educational hive was brought by the Southern Ohio Beekeepers Association and the Fort Street Pollinator Habitat Committee and Lower Muskingum Conservancy provided information on pollinator habitat. Pollinator planting packets donated by Walmart were handed out to all attendees. The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge brought a soft-shelled river turtle and information on river life, including the Asian Carp and its potential impact on river life and efforts to monitor its advance up the Ohio River.
A new attendee this year, The Senecaville Fish Hatchery, brought bass and catfish; we learned why catfish are great bottom dwellers that clean our waterways and that, no, they don't sting, but they do have three defensive spines hidden on their fins that can definitely hurt when deployed!
Woodsy the Owl (Give a Hoot Don't Pollute!) from the Wayne National Forest came for a visit (ably portrayed by Jennifer Ortt). Bruce Wunderlich answered birding questions and provided information on BWD and local birding trails.
A wide variety of Earth Day related craft activities were provided including Peddler of Dreams' table making Japanese fish from paper sacks and the ever-popular Shrinky Dinks utilizing reuse of #6 plastics by the Pioneer Ladies Civitan. Pine cone bird feeders were made at the Marietta Noon Lions table.
Information on solar panels was provided by ARP and Pickering Associates had information on home modifications to save energy as well as some fun solar toys. There were also electric vehicles on hand to see including a Tesla, Bolt and electric bike! Marietta Adventure Company provided information on the many trails in and around Marietta both for walking, biking and kayaking. Jon Ortt captained the boat for the Lock and Dam Model and helped explain to attendees how this important part of our local heritage works.
The 4 Rs, Rethink, Reduce, Re-use and Recycle, were featured in an exhibit done by Jenny Bruce. Rethink/Reduce was focused on point of purchase decisions to reduce items sold in plastics such as laundry detergent or soap and find alternate products and samples were provided.
This was followed by examples of Reuse through the Trash to Art & More Show, re-purposed furniture by The Marietta Makery and interactive rag rug looming.
Recycling was covered by information provided by the Marietta Area Recycling Center and by showing some of the end use materials made from our local recyclables, such as guardrail blocks made by Mondo Polymers as well as cellulose insulation made from newspaper.
The Trash to Art & More Show had entries that were artsy, functional or both, made from materials that would have been thrown away or recycled. Entries ranged from Elin Jones' "Trashasaurus," Lauren Knaus's box and Jell-O cup fox, Tom Wittekind's Titanic, Avery Price's aluminum, plastic and cardboard pterodactyl and Fancy Birds were made by students from Washington Elementary art classes out of cat food boxes. Peoples Bank provided the participation prizes and presented a check for $1,000 to the Marietta Area Recycling Center.
The Earth Day Celebration requires planning and effort by volunteers, and even more volunteers show up on the day of the event. A special thanks to Marietta Civitan for their enduring support in helping set up and tear down the large event tents, tables and chairs. Everyone's efforts and continued support are greatly appreciated. We're looking forward to next year when we celebrate our 25th Anniversary. Remember, Earth Day is every day!
Connie Grimes (Peoples Bank), Rebecca Phillips and Dawn Hewitt (FUUSM Green Sanctuary Committee), Joyce Robinson (Marietta Tree Commission), Kathy Ortt (Marietta Area Recycling Center), Prudence Burgardt, Mary Hetrick, Jody Kohler, and Jenny Bruce.
Marietta Community Earth Day Celebration Committee