Earth Day

If you have any interest in hissing cockroaches, science experiments or learning how to help the environment, the annual Earth Day & Outdoor Expo could be the place for you.

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful presents the annual event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Friendship Church, 16479 Lucas Ferry Road, Athens. This year’s rain-or-shine event is sponsored by American Leakless.

Admission is free, but there is a suggested $1 donation at the door to help fund future KALB events and efforts.

Earth Day, a day meant to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment, has been celebrated by KALB for several years. When asked where the Athens-Limestone community is deficient, Lynne Hart, executive coordinator for KALB, said litter remains a constant source of frustration.

“We have people in our community who care very much and people who either don’t care or don’t understand,” she said. “The litter situation is atrocious.”

In March, KALB hosted a county wide Trash Attack event and also promoted a One Bag Challenge. Each county resident was challenged to pick up at least one bag of litter.

“We collected three and a half tons of litter, but if you go down the roads, it’s almost not evident,” Hart said. “People don’t seem to understand the impact litter has on our environment, our water supply and the air we breathe. We’re trying desperately to get the word out.”

At last year’s Earth Day & Expo, a local Girl Scout troop demonstrated how litter collected from waterways may still leave residue. Hart said KALB’s booth would feature photos of litter in Limestone and information on how to help.

Featured events and attractions

The day will kick off with a guided nature walk led by Damien Simbeck with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Natural Resource Management. The walk will begin at 8 a.m. at the trail head of Marbut Bend Nature Trail on Alabama 99 in West Limestone. Participants are advised to wear comfortable shoes, bring binoculars and sunscreen and insect repellant, if needed.

Hart described Simbeck as a birding expert who is “very knowledgeable” about the wildlife found along the trail.

For those who want hands-on experience with animals, a petting zoo will be returning to the Earth Day & Expo courtesy of Tickled Pink Petting Zoo. Jim Swanner and his horse, Rosie, will also be returning this year.

Mr. Bond and the Science Guys of Nashville will be performing experiments for kids. Hart said the experiment would change each hour as a way to keep kids interested.

Hart was also excited about the hissing cockroaches and the ability for kids to take part in cockroach races. Other attractions include:

• Raptors and reptiles courtesy of Camp McDowell Outreach Programs;

• Make-and-take crafts;

• $1/minute massages by HealthSource Chiropractic (all proceeds returned to KALB);

• Performances by the Athens Dulcimers;

• Face-painting by Beth Haney;

• Free hot dogs, Pepsi and popcorn; and

• Adoptable pets from Peace, Love & Animals.

Hart said American Leakless’ support has enabled KALB to provide free gifts to guests.

“American Leakless is a very good friend to KALB and supports several of our events, including our Earth Day & Outdoor EXPO,” Hart said. “For that, we are so very grateful.”

Other sponsors include Friendship Church, Westrock, In’Tech Medical, Indorama Ventures, Clem Tire Co., Bank Independent, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Pepsi, The News Courier and Athens Now.

About Earth Day

Earth Day will be celebrated nationally Monday, April 22. This year marks the 49th anniversary and 50th observance of Earth Day. In 1969, organizers started Earth Day in response to a massive oil spill in waters near Santa Barbara, California.

The following is from a presidential proclamation from 1974:

“To love America is not to care only for her freedoms, her promise, her institutions through which our great people strive for larger greatness. It is also to love the land and to cherish that which has sustained our people both in body and spirit from our earliest days on this vast continent.

“In recent times, we have understood that however rich and beautiful, our land is finite and our waters and air must be used as any other resource — with care and respect for their value. The celebration of Earth Day in 1970 was the first national acknowledgement of this understanding, and in the succeeding four years, we have done much to ensure that America the beautiful — the heritage of our generation — will be preserved and passed on as a legacy to generations yet unborn.”