Organizers Hope To Engage Newtown For Earth Day

By Kendra Bobowick

“Why, why,” mused Clean Energy Task Force Chairman Dan Holmes.

Why celebrate Earth Day on the last Saturday in April, and why get involved in the environmental effort? Why get to know the local people campaigning for a greener everyday life?

His thoughts settled locally. “There are a lot of groups working at Earth Day every day,” he said. “This is a way to celebrate their efforts on a single day with a single event.” The upcoming Clean Energy Task Force’s second Earth Day celebration promises a variety of vendors and activities all at the Newtown Middle School between 10 am and 4 pm on April 25. Mr Holmes’s second hope is to use the celebration to reach further into the community. Learn about the Conservation Commission, the local Trout Unlimited chapter, Lose the Litter efforts, Smart cars, local gardening, recycling, and more.

“Hopefully, visitors will unite with some of the volunteers and organizations to learn what they can do to help in town,” Mr Holmes said. He wants guests to “learn about environmental causes, and have a good time.”

Reserving a spot for his organization on April 25, Newtown Forest Association President Robert Eckenrode noted the day’s importance. “People should realize the value of our natural resources.” We don’t need to look beyond the backyard to “experience the things we appreciate in the neighborhood,” he pointed out. Earth Day is also a good chance to “look at habits.” What is each homeowner “doing environmentally,” asked Mr Eckenrode.

Like Mr Holmes, he is encouraged to see that the Earth Day celebration will bring together green-minded people and organizations. Learn more about the day’s plans at GoGreenNewtown.com.

This year the task force is “really” connected to the schools, and the event itself will be “very kid oriented,” Mr Holmes said. Planned for the day are events including the Lion’s Club’s Lose The Litter effort beginning at 9am. Bags and gloves will be provided for participants who volunteer to help collect trash. At 10 am is a Family Yoga exercise. An Environmental Maze with prizes awarded at the end. A potato sack race, music, ecology walk, and dancers from the Graceful Planet also will entertain.

Wishing everyone a “Happy Spring,” Kathleen Barton of the Graceful Planet promised crafts including fairy crowns and wands, face painting and henna tattoos. The list of vendors is long. Mocha Coffeehouse, The Taunton Press, Pootatuck Watershed Association, Newtown Public Works, the Conservation Commission, schools, private residents, businesses, and more are getting ready for Earth Day. Any homeowner who has not signed up to purchase renewable energy off the power grid from the utility company will have the opportunity on Earth Day, or by contacting the task force.