Earth Day Schedule, Vendors Filling Up

By Kendra Bobowick

March’s weather coaxes early buds on trees and the first moist scents of life in a landscape waking with spring in the weeks before Newtown’s annual Earth Day celebration.

By April 24 as organizers, guests and participants prepare for the third annual event on the Newtown Middle School lawn, grass underfoot will be greener and leaves on the trees overhead will be maturing. This year’s focus is students.

“The kids are important,” said Sustainable Energy Commission Chairman Dan Holmes, who is again helping to coordinate the Earth Day event. “They can spread the word quickly and they’re incessant; they’ll get the [green] message to parents.”

Unlike adults who are preoccupied with work, bills, grocery shopping, etc, Mr Holmes noted, “Children see the urgency of it. They get it. This is going to be their earth when we’re gone.” He said, “This year, we really want to reach deep into the schools…”

Along with vendors, bands, sponsors, nature walks, fitness instruction, an environmental maze, and performances throughout the day, one Newtown Middle School group stands out this year. “One thing we’re really trying to promote is Men in Green.”

The Men in Green Foundation was established by students Vivek Tedla, Wesley Morlock, Matt Mossbarger, Austin Raftery, Garrison Buzzanca, Mike Davis. The friends participated in the Lexus Eco Challenge, “a life–changing opportunity for teens across the nation to make a difference in the environmental health of our planet, one community at a time,” according to a message on the site, www.scholastic.com/lexus/. According to the Men in Green’s PowerPoint presentation, they are “saving the world one tree at a time,” “making a difference to help our community,” and they vow to help their environment.

The Men In Green team has chosen the topic of deforestation for the final effort in the 2009-2010 Lexus Eco Challenge.

Their Earth Day goal? “They’ll hand out trees that day,” Mr Holmes said. “The push is to re-leaf certain areas.” The group is also working to pay for composters for the schools. “We’re supportive,” Mr Holmes added. Already resident Bill Buchler has donated a composter to Middle Gate School, and Gina Wolfman donated one to Hawley School.

Help their efforts by visiting MenInGreen.net, where visitors can read more about their efforts, support their cause, and watch their YouTube video.

Earth Day

“This year’s Earth Day promises to be bigger and better than ever!” according to the greeting at NewtownEarthDay.org.

The site explains, “At the core of our event is our Vendor Fair, filled with local businesses, school organizations, and nonprofit associations. Signed on so far are Aquarian Caterers, Bent of River Audubon, Fitness Loft, Girl Scouts, Graceful Planet, Hawley Go Green!, Holmes Fine Gardens, Merrell, Mocha Coffeehouse, My Place Restaurant, Taunton Press, Wide World of Spice, Wild Birds Unlimited.”

The day’s events are:

Sunrise Service at 8 am. The clergy of Newtown will hold an ecumenical at the top of Castle Hill — the beginning of Old Castle Drive.

Lose the Litter from 9 am to 1 pm. Help the Lions Club clean up Newtown’s streets…bags and gloves provided.

 Live Music. Music will include the crisp Americana, alternative rock and country sound of The Blue Yodels in the morning and the good-time reggae of Skanktones in the afternoon.

 Environmental Maze. Laid out on the middle school lawn will be a fun opportunity for kids of all ages to learn about the environment and our relationship with it as they move through the maze. Constructed of bamboo, this huge maze will have numbered junctions prompting questions and answers. A correct choice will lead in the right direction. To keep it fun for everyone, there will be several versions of the guide sheet for people of differing ages.

Earth Day Hootenanny at My Place Restaurant at 6 pm. End the day with food and music at My Place.

Check the website for updates, or to become an exhibitor or underwriter. Contact event organizers: Chairman and Lead for Major Underwriters Dan Holmes at dan@holmesfinegardens.com, Environmental Maze coordinator Ben Roberts at ben.Roberts@charter.net, Exhibitors, Emily Snayd at esnayd@charter.net, Festival MC, Stage/PA Bob Brophy at blueyodels@aol.com, Food Court is Betsy Paynter at soxrule@charter.net, Lions Club “Lose the Litter” contact is Ed Miklaszewski at ed.miklaszewski@yahoo.com, Marketing coordinator is Bill Buchler at newtownearthday@live.com, Music coordinator is Terrance Ford at tford1966@gmail.com, Recycled Art Show organizer is Rob Kaiser at rob@mochacoffeehouse.com, and for the Sunrise Service, contact Gordon Williams at gmwllw@att.net.

Watch for related articles in upcoming editions.