Earth Day is April 22. Our theme this year is “Water ... life depends on it.”
We will have an Earth Day celebration for children on April 17. “Earth Day in the Park” will include a sidewalk chalk art contest, environmental exhibits, and a hilarious but informative program by Jack Golden, an environmental educator. The program is entitled, “Water, Water Everywhere.”
Because of the generosity of a number of sponsors, this guarantees to be an enjoyable event full of interesting activities, giveaways and prizes, food and fun. We will also share information throughout the month in a variety of formats to remind everyone that natural resources, like our waters, cannot be taken for granted. It is up to each of us to make every day Earth Day.
***
One of the greatest dangers to our waters is stormwater runoff. I know right now we would all be glad to see a little rain, but because of the way we live in our modern life, rain and the runoff occurring can have devastating effects on our environment.
Stormwater runoff occurs when rain flows over impervious surfaces, like driveways, sidewalks, and streets, preventing the stormwater from naturally soaking in the ground. When this happens, this stormwater picks up any debris, litter, hazardous fluids, dirt and other pollutants and washes them down the storm drains in towns and cities and, even directly into local bodies of water, such as streams, lakes, rivers and, ultimately, oceans.
Did you ever stop to think that anything that enters the storm drains around town are discharged untreated into bodies of water we fish and play in and use for drinking water? So all the litter carelessly tossed on the ground — cigarette butts flicked away after use, motor oil and other automotive fluids, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants — can eventually reside in our waters.
I begin to lose interest in drinking water when I think about it. This polluted runoff can affect human health and certainly increases the treatment costs for drinking water.
This type of pollution can also have a destructive effect on our wildlife and the aquatic life in our waters. Sediment in our waters can make it hard for plants to grow and can destroy aquatic habitats. Litter; plastic bags, six-pack rings and cigarette butts; can choke and suffocate birds, fish, turtles, ducks and other wildlife. Diseased fish and shellfish that are eaten can cause serious health issues, even death.
Bacteria and other pathogens can flow into waters used for swimming and other recreational activities, creating health hazards and the need for beach closures. Household hazardous wastes, such as insecticides, paint, motor oil and other auto fluids, can poison land animals and aquatic life. Even an excess of nutrients flowing into our waters can create an overabundance of algae. When the algae decompose, it makes low oxygen levels that can destroy fish habitat.
All of this can be depressing to think about, but we have to remember that our daily choices and actions every day can make a positive or very negative difference on our waters. Water: life does depend on it. Let’s take care of it every day.
***
Reminders about upcoming events with the Great American Cleanup:
• April 17: Kids Earth Day at the Park from 5-7 p.m. Fun for the whole family!
The event promises to provide a fun afternoon at Bradwell Park in downtown Hinesville. It will feature a sidewalk chalk art contest at 3:30 p.m., and the from 5-7 p.m. environmental exhibits, food and prizes, and the hilarious but educational program “Water, Water Everywhere.”
• April 21: Hinesville Neighborhood Watch cleanups is set for 8 a.m. to noon. Call Officer Michael Trombley at 368-8211 or your local Neighborhood Watch coordinator.
• April 21: The city of Flemington cleanup on Old Sunbury Road and Peacock Canal is planned for 8 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, call Flemington at city hall at 877-3223 or via email at flemington@coastalnow.net
• April 21: The city of Midway cleanup day is from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at City Hall. To volunteer, call 884-3344.
• April 22: Earth Day. To receive bulletin inserts for your church on Earth Day and environmental stewardship, call the KLCB office at 368-4888.
• April 28: Hinesville’s Highway 84 Cleanup to the Limits will be from 8 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, call Trombley at 368-8211 or KLCB at 368-4888.
• TBA: Cleanup dates in Riceboro, Walthourville, Lake George, Woodland Lakes and more. To help in these areas, call KLCB at 368-4888.
• May 17-19: Old tire roundup in Liberty County. Non-commercial and Liberty County residents only may participate. No commercial customers! For information, call 368-4888.
• May 19: Recycle It! Fair at the old hospital site on Highway 84 in Hinesville is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Help local organizations and nonprofits collect items for recycling from old athletic shoes, plastic bottles, cell phones, aluminum cans, even old cars. Any nonprofit groups wishing to participate should call KLCB at 368-4888. Clean out your closets and help your community too!
• Now through May 31: Young Adult Liberty Leaders and local schools are spearheading a recycling collection for plastic bottles (soda and water type bottles) with the Students for Recycling national project.
Please help these young leaders as they lead this drive for our community.
Midway Middle School Builders Club is collecting athletic shoes for recycling through the Nike Grind project. So start gathering those shoes because all parts of the shoes can be recycled!
For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, call Swida, its director at 368-4888 or email her at klcb@coastalnow.net.
We will have an Earth Day celebration for children on April 17. “Earth Day in the Park” will include a sidewalk chalk art contest, environmental exhibits, and a hilarious but informative program by Jack Golden, an environmental educator. The program is entitled, “Water, Water Everywhere.”
Because of the generosity of a number of sponsors, this guarantees to be an enjoyable event full of interesting activities, giveaways and prizes, food and fun. We will also share information throughout the month in a variety of formats to remind everyone that natural resources, like our waters, cannot be taken for granted. It is up to each of us to make every day Earth Day.
***
One of the greatest dangers to our waters is stormwater runoff. I know right now we would all be glad to see a little rain, but because of the way we live in our modern life, rain and the runoff occurring can have devastating effects on our environment.
Stormwater runoff occurs when rain flows over impervious surfaces, like driveways, sidewalks, and streets, preventing the stormwater from naturally soaking in the ground. When this happens, this stormwater picks up any debris, litter, hazardous fluids, dirt and other pollutants and washes them down the storm drains in towns and cities and, even directly into local bodies of water, such as streams, lakes, rivers and, ultimately, oceans.
Did you ever stop to think that anything that enters the storm drains around town are discharged untreated into bodies of water we fish and play in and use for drinking water? So all the litter carelessly tossed on the ground — cigarette butts flicked away after use, motor oil and other automotive fluids, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants — can eventually reside in our waters.
I begin to lose interest in drinking water when I think about it. This polluted runoff can affect human health and certainly increases the treatment costs for drinking water.
This type of pollution can also have a destructive effect on our wildlife and the aquatic life in our waters. Sediment in our waters can make it hard for plants to grow and can destroy aquatic habitats. Litter; plastic bags, six-pack rings and cigarette butts; can choke and suffocate birds, fish, turtles, ducks and other wildlife. Diseased fish and shellfish that are eaten can cause serious health issues, even death.
Bacteria and other pathogens can flow into waters used for swimming and other recreational activities, creating health hazards and the need for beach closures. Household hazardous wastes, such as insecticides, paint, motor oil and other auto fluids, can poison land animals and aquatic life. Even an excess of nutrients flowing into our waters can create an overabundance of algae. When the algae decompose, it makes low oxygen levels that can destroy fish habitat.
All of this can be depressing to think about, but we have to remember that our daily choices and actions every day can make a positive or very negative difference on our waters. Water: life does depend on it. Let’s take care of it every day.
***
Reminders about upcoming events with the Great American Cleanup:
• April 17: Kids Earth Day at the Park from 5-7 p.m. Fun for the whole family!
The event promises to provide a fun afternoon at Bradwell Park in downtown Hinesville. It will feature a sidewalk chalk art contest at 3:30 p.m., and the from 5-7 p.m. environmental exhibits, food and prizes, and the hilarious but educational program “Water, Water Everywhere.”
• April 21: Hinesville Neighborhood Watch cleanups is set for 8 a.m. to noon. Call Officer Michael Trombley at 368-8211 or your local Neighborhood Watch coordinator.
• April 21: The city of Flemington cleanup on Old Sunbury Road and Peacock Canal is planned for 8 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, call Flemington at city hall at 877-3223 or via email at flemington@coastalnow.net
• April 21: The city of Midway cleanup day is from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at City Hall. To volunteer, call 884-3344.
• April 22: Earth Day. To receive bulletin inserts for your church on Earth Day and environmental stewardship, call the KLCB office at 368-4888.
• April 28: Hinesville’s Highway 84 Cleanup to the Limits will be from 8 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, call Trombley at 368-8211 or KLCB at 368-4888.
• TBA: Cleanup dates in Riceboro, Walthourville, Lake George, Woodland Lakes and more. To help in these areas, call KLCB at 368-4888.
• May 17-19: Old tire roundup in Liberty County. Non-commercial and Liberty County residents only may participate. No commercial customers! For information, call 368-4888.
• May 19: Recycle It! Fair at the old hospital site on Highway 84 in Hinesville is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Help local organizations and nonprofits collect items for recycling from old athletic shoes, plastic bottles, cell phones, aluminum cans, even old cars. Any nonprofit groups wishing to participate should call KLCB at 368-4888. Clean out your closets and help your community too!
• Now through May 31: Young Adult Liberty Leaders and local schools are spearheading a recycling collection for plastic bottles (soda and water type bottles) with the Students for Recycling national project.
Please help these young leaders as they lead this drive for our community.
Midway Middle School Builders Club is collecting athletic shoes for recycling through the Nike Grind project. So start gathering those shoes because all parts of the shoes can be recycled!
For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, call Swida, its director at 368-4888 or email her at klcb@coastalnow.net.