Community Corner
Earth Day 2012: Green Events in the Lower Hudson Valley
Spend the weeks leading up to this year's Earth Day making your community green with these fun events.
Here are some activities leading up to and including Earth Day—April 22. If we left something out, let us know by leaving the information in the comments below. What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?
Wednesday, April 11, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Celebrate 50 years of the Departments of Parks in New Rochelle’s Glen Island Harbor and the Friends of Westchester County Parks as they look back at the organization’s history for the annual Best Friends Awards Reception.
For tickets: http://friendsofwestchesterparks.com/gala.html
Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Thursday, April 12
Valhalla’s Household-Material Recovery Facility will officially be open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to help dispose of hard-to-get-rid-of household waste year round working to keep the Earth green.
By appointment only: www.westchestergov.com/recycling or call the Recycling Help Line at (914) 813-5425.
Friday, April 13, 4 p.m.
Recycled Art—Earth Day Comes Early
Chappaqua Public Library invites children in grades 2-4 to celebrate Earth Day with recycled art. Registration is required as space is limited.
To register visit the Children’s Services Section of the Chappaqua Public Library website.
Saturday April 14
In recognition of the importance of recycling our materials, Yoko Komori Olson demonstrates how to make special gift bags out of newsprint and catalog pages. The bags can be customized to match the theme of the present and can be made any size. Look for Yoko’s samples in the display cases outside the meeting room. To register for the 1 p.m. activity, call 845-634-4997, ext. 139
Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m. to noon
Orangetown Cleanup/Tree Planting
Take part in a combined cleanup and tree planting at Orangetown Town Hall 9 a.m. Bring gloves and shovels for the cleanup. Bags, pick-up tools, bagels, coffee and juice will be provided. Locations will be assigned. The tree-planting for Arbor Day will be held at 10 a.m. at town hall.
Saturday, April 14 through May 19
Join thousands of Rockland County residents who will remove tons of litter from streets, parks and waterways, making communities cleaner and healthier, during the Great American Cleanup. For a list of activities, check the organization's website.
Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Come to James M. Carroll Park in Thornwood help clean major areas in town that need help: Kensico Road, Saw Mill Parkway Entrance, Columbus Avenue, Broadway Field, 141 overpass and Carroll Park. Coffee and doughnuts will be served. The Town of Mount Pleasant will provide necessary supplies.
Sunday, April 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Junior League of Central Westchester’s “Pitch In for Parks”
Clean up the Bronx River parkland on Sunday in the largest single-day volunteer activity of the year for Westchester County Parks through the “Let’s Save the Earth” committee staffed by the JLCW members, families and friends.
Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.
Earth Day Quest—Teatown Lake Reservation
Celebrate Earth Day at Teatown in Ossining by hiking the trails and going on a unique scavenger hunt to reveal a special earth day message.
To register for this event call Teatown at 914-762-2912 ext. 110, Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, April 21
Celebrate Earth Day at Cortlandt's Give and Take event, which makes one person's trash another person's treasure and keeps unwanted items out of landfills. People give old toys, clothing and other items they no longer need and have the option to take others' items. The day also features a neighborhood cleanup.
Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ossining Earth Day Celebration
A day full of Earth Day activities scattered throughout the day including Ossining’s Earth Day/ Stash the Trash/ Free-a-tree event at the Louis B. Engel Waterfront Park at noon where participants will clean up different areas using biodegradable garbage bags and will receive Green Ossining stainless steel hip water bottles.
Stop by the Waterfront Park for an educational day along with music, children’s activities and information about reducing your carbon footprint.
Saturday, April 21, All Day
The Battle of Yorktown Roadside Litter Clean Up
Join the village of Yorktown in its annual battle against litter. Volunteer for a few hours to pick up garbage and work hand in hand to keep Yorktown green.
To register contact the Environmental Conservation Department at 914-245-4438.
Sunday, April 22 10 a.m.-Noon
Plants & Picnic, Earth Day 2012
Come out to Jen’s Community at Wildcliff in New Rochelle on Earth Day with your family and picnic basket and enjoy the views of the Long Island Sound; flowers will be supplied to plant in the Sound Shore community. Children 3-5 years old will be invited to a Nature inspired preschool and educational classes will be provided for older children and adults.
To register for this event, visit the Children & Nature Network website.
Sunday, April 22 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Earth Day 2012 Westchester County Celebration
The county's celebration takes place at Kensico Dam Plaza and is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Facilities, the county's parks department and the Friends of Westchester County Parks. There will be live entertainment, kids' activities, informational exhibits, a farmer's market and more.
Sunday, April 22 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Earth Day Celebration—Greenburgh Nature Center
The Children & Nature Network’s Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside) initiative will be getting together in Scarsdale for an afternoon of sprucing up the grounds, preparing garden beds and clearing trails followed by a tree planting demonstration. All volunteers gain free admission to the Animal Museum.
To register, contact 914-723-3470.
Sunday, April 22, 1:30pm
“Bag It” Movie to play at Pelham Picture House
Learn about the different types of plastics, their environmental costs and the use of disposable plastic bags at a special Earth Day screening of “Bag It.” A panel discussion to follow with the founder of Mothering Mother, Sydney MacInnis.
Tickets can be purchased in advance through The Picture House website.
Sunday, April 22, 2 p.m.
Mount Kisco’s Bechtel Lake provides clean dinking water to residents in lower Westchester County. Come out and explore the lake’s aquatic ecosystem and celebrate Earth Day.
Register by April 20 at 914-666-8448.
Sunday, April 22, 2 to 4 p.m.
Join cubist mosaic cereal-box collage artist Michael Albert at the White Plains Public Library for an afternoon viewing Albert’s exhibit as well as make your own collage to celebrate Earth Day with your family.
Sunday, April 22, 7 p.m.
Clearwater Earth Day Benefit Concert: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, founded by Pete Seeger, presents its second annual Earth Day Benefit Concert, featuring artists including Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, David Amram and Garland Jeffreys. Tickets range from $48 to $125. Proceeds benefit Clearwater's Environmental Education and Camp Programs.
Monday, April 23
Habitat Enhancement—Westmoreland Sanctuary
This spring the nature sanctuary is launching a set of specific volunteer days designedto gain a core group of volunteers over the age of 13 who become dedicated to helping Westmoreland on a regular basis. Cleanup days are open to everyone 13 years and older. On April 23, the group will work on the Nichols Field habitat. To register, call 914-666-8448 or check out other events at the sanctuary’s website at www. westmorelandsanctuary.org.
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