Arkansans plan 'green' activities for Earth Day

Haas Hall Academy seniors Hays Osborne, 19, top; Alex Walker, 18, right;  and Thomas Coger, 18, bottom; join other students in assembling a large bottle-shaped container constructed of wire Thursday, April 17, 2014, meant to collect recyclable plastic bottles at the school in Fayetteville. The school's green team is collecting bottles for a second year to raise awareness of the amount of bottles that are used but not recycled in advance of Earth Day, which is Tuesday.
Haas Hall Academy seniors Hays Osborne, 19, top; Alex Walker, 18, right; and Thomas Coger, 18, bottom; join other students in assembling a large bottle-shaped container constructed of wire Thursday, April 17, 2014, meant to collect recyclable plastic bottles at the school in Fayetteville. The school's green team is collecting bottles for a second year to raise awareness of the amount of bottles that are used but not recycled in advance of Earth Day, which is Tuesday.

Earth Day is Tuesday, and Arkansans are finding many ways to celebrate conservation starting this weekend.

Cities throughout the state have "green" activities planned through next week, such as recycling drives, greening projects and block parties.

• Friends of Fourche Creek in Little Rock, with the support of several local organizations, is cleaning up the creek in Little Rock to celebrate the holiday.

The new group is calling for volunteers to gather at 9 a.m. Saturday at 5207 Scott Hamilton Drive to clean up “one of the worst trash fields in the 2,000 acre Fourche Bottoms,” a Little Rock news release states.

“Volunteers have already removed an estimated 7,000 pounds of trash from the creek recently,” Norm Berner, a member of the group, said in a statement.

“Everyday litter, mattresses, barrels and even old cars dumped throughout the City of Little Rock ultimately end up in Fourche Creek, which winds its way across Little Rock and into the Arkansas River.”

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• Representatives of the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton School of Public Service and the United States Green Building Council will make an announcement regarding the Clinton Center’s commitment to sustainability at 10 a.m. Tuesday in front of Sturgis Hall, a Clinton Foundation news release states.

Jason Hartke of the U.S. Green Building Council; Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School; Debbie Shock, director of operations for the Clinton Center and Stephanie Streett, executive director of the Clinton Foundation, will be present for the announcement.

• A vegetarian meal prepared by chef Zoltan Lapicz and concert by Bonnie Montgomery is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Michael's Episcopal Church at 12415 Cantrell Road. Tickets are $30.

• The River Market will host a free block party to celebrate Earth Day, according to a River Market news release.

Two blocks of President Clinton Avenue between LaHarpe and River Market Avenue will be closed for the Tuesday celebration. The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Samples from Post Winery, Saddlebock, Fossil and Cove breweries and Rocktown Distillery will be available to party-goers.

Vendors at the River Market event will range from environmental related community groups, local artisans and local goods, the release states.

• In Jonesboro on Tuesday, Arkansas State University, local school children and the community will gather on the ASU campus, 2105 E. Aggie Road, to celebrate Earth Day.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the west side of the Carl R. Reng Student Center at the fountain, according to an ASU news release. In the event of rain, the celebration will be held on the first floor of the Dean B. Ellis Library.

The focal point of the event will be a tree planting living memorial on the ASU campus, near the Marion Berry Overpass. A tree donation can be made for $200, which will sponsor a tree, planting and recognition on a plaque that will be placed near the trees, the release states.

Over 20 vendors will also be on hand to celebrate Earth Day with the public.

• On April 26, Natural Bambino will be host to the The Great Cloth Diaper Change, an international cloth diaper changing event. The event will start at 11 a.m. at the Bernice Garden at 1401 S. Main St. in Little Rock. Local businesses will also be on hand selling locally made soap, oils and baby items, and breastfeeding support will be available. More information about The Great Cloth Diaper Change is available at www.GreatClothDiaperChange.com or by calling (501) 676-1208.

Do you know of any other activities planned for Earth Day in your area? Share them with us in the comments below or submit an event at www.arkansasonline.com/events.

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