March 19, 2024

Earth Day Action

April 18, 2007
For the 19th consecutive year, Traverse City Light & Power (www.tclp.org) will be giving away free blue spruce seedlings starting at 8 a.m. at the Sara Hardy Farmer’s Market in Traverse City (Union & Grandview Parkway) on Saturday, April 21.
The seedling giveaway is part of local Earth Day celebrations. L&P will also be donating 10,000 white pine seedlings to local school children and youth groups through their partnership with the Grand Traverse Conservation District.
“Giving away these tree seedlings expresses our commitment to the environment and renewable resources,” said Linda Johnson, chair of the Light & Power Board of Directors. “These seedlings will impact the quality of the air and the beauty of our environment for many years to come.”
Other Earth Day activities on April 21 will include a Beach Clean-Up, TC‘s free compost distribution, and a spectacular Earth Day Parade.
Starting at 8 a.m. at the Farmer’s Market, self-serve, self-haul compost is yours free until it’s gone, courtesy of the City of Traverse City.
The Beach Clean-Up begins at 9 a.m. rain or shine. Hosted by Traverse City Parks & Recreation, volunteers will help clean some of Traverse City’s most prized resources.
At 1 p.m., the Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade begins. It is a storytelling-style parade that celebrates art, species and the community. This year’s theme is “Global Warming: The Tipping Point.” Parade line-up is at 12 noon at Central Grade School (7th Street and Pine). The parade will end at Hannah Park along 6th Street. (In case of bad weather, the parade will be held April 28.)
For more info, visit the Light & Power website: www.tclp.org and click on “FREE Trees.”

Calling All Eco-Heroes:

The 18th Annual Environmentalist of the Year Awards will be held Friday, April 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Waterfront Conference Center in East Bay. Hosting the event is NMEAC, the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council.
Glen Chown, executive director of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, will be the keynote speaker for the event. Chown‘s talk will focus on an update of conservancy achievements and plans for the future.
In addition, local foods will be featured during an opening reception from 6-7 pm. The program runs from 7-9 pm and will include a Great Lakes Bioneers video along with some special skits organized by NMEAC‘s executive director Ken Smith.
Smith, who has been part of NMEAC since the mid 1980s, said the event is “energizing to people in the environmental community and the magnitude of achievements is amazing. It brings together a very diverse crowd and a circle of people who may not call themselves environmentalists.“
Environmentalist of the Year Awards will be handed out in the following categories: Journalism & Communications, Public Service or Public Office, Education, Business, Student and General.
This year‘s program will also include some special awards along with a Golden Bulldozer Award. “We have quite a few outstanding nominees for this award,“ said NMEAC co-chair John Nelson. “In the running is the Cherry Tree Inn, Williamsburg Receiving & Storage Co., and two wetland sites owned by Bill Clous.“
Candidates for Environmentalist of the Year in Journalism and Communications include Anne Stanton of the Northern Express; Jeff Smith, editor of Traverse the Magazine; along with the Record-Eagle editorial board. Candidates in other categories will be announced at the April 20 event.
NMEAC began handing out Environmentalist of the Year Awards in 1988 with one award. In 1989, the number of awards expanded to three and, in 1990, it was enlarged to 10. The all-volunteer organization, which was founded in 1980, has continued the tradition and now coordinates the date of the event with Earth Day activities.
Co-chair Bob Carstens said the event is a very special part of NMEAC‘s role in the Grand Traverse region. “In a society and time in which victory, status and short term profitablity so often seem to trump all other values, Environmentalist of the Year Awards is one way in which we can nourish, recognize and, hopefully, validate the efforts of those who consistently demonstrate their commitment to doing what is right for their neighbors, future generations and for the earth.“
NMEAC‘s mission is preserving the natural environment through citizen action and education. Admission to the event is $20 and is open to the general public. For more information, call 946-6931, or see www.nmeac.org.
- by Greg Reisig

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