Earth Day event to include Little League ceremonies
Date: 4/25/2012
April 25, 2012By Katelyn Gendron
katelyn@thereminder.comAGAWAM — City officials and non-profit organizations are encouraging the community to celebrate Mother Earth while enjoying America's favorite pastime during the eighth annual Celebrate Earth Day.
This year's celebration will incorporate opening day of Agawam Little League at noon and the Coaches' Home Run Derby at 2:30 p.m., with Earth Day events beginning at 10 a.m. at the Little League Complex on School Street.
"It's important that people come and learn about the environment and support our Little League and the beautiful open space that we provide for recreation. We only have one environment and we all have a responsibility to maintain what we sometimes take for granted," Mayor Richard Cohen said.
The celebration will feature giveaways beginning at 10 a.m. with free seed packets from the Agawam Garden Club, reusable water bottles from the Department of Public Works (DPW), along with $1 soil testing courtesy of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners and organic lawn care education provided by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Forest Park Zoo on the Go will also be at the Earth Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to noon.
"We're trying to focus on green practices [at the celebration] but we also want [attendees] to know more about energy cost savings practices," Tracy DeMaio, environmental project coordinator at the DPW, explained, noting that soil testing will also allow attendees to learn about their property's current pH levels and how to transition to chemical-free gardening and landscaping.
Those wanting soil tests must bring a ziplock bag filled with a one-cup dry sample taken from a depth of three to four inches.
Cohen noted the Earth Day Celebration would also feature Reduce, Reuse, Recycle activities at Town Hall on Main Street including Drug Take Back and free shredding of paper documents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For additional information about Celebrate Earth Day, call DeMaio at 821-0624.
