We celebrate Earth Day this Spring on April 22. Earth Day was established in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues and to promote action to sustain the Earth. We have many opportunities to celebrate Earth Day throughout the month here in Alameda. Join in and make a difference for the Earth.
Spring Shindig
The Alameda Recreation and Park Department (ARPD) is putting on its Spring Shindig on April 19 from noon to 3 p.m. at Alameda Point Gym and Field, 1101 West Redline Avenue, Alameda. It is a free event that is fun for all. The Rotary Club of Alameda will give away fruit tree saplings as part of its focus on protecting the environment. 100K Trees for Humanity will give away California native saplings and seedlings, including Coast Live Oak, California Buckeye, Grey Pine, Fremont Popular, and Big Leaf Maple.
As part of Spring Shindig, ARPD is also sponsoring a public tree planting at 9 a.m. at the edge of the Multipurpose Field, where the community will be planting 10 trees — European Hornbeam and Horse Chestnut. To volunteer, email ARPD Park Maintenance Supervisor Eric Vlnar at [email protected].
Climate Change workshop
The League of Women Voters is hosting an event on Earth Day, April 22, entitled “Climate Change — What Alameda Is Doing and What You Can Do.” This program will cover what the City of Alameda is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address sea level rise, and mitigate the effects of climate change, and what you can do through political action, community organizations, and personal actions to aid in that effort. I will present at this program as a longtime climate activist, a member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), and author of the book, Save the Planet in Your Spare Time — A Climate Protection Handbook for the Busy Person. Lauren Eisele, an expert on climate change adaptation in Alameda and a member of CASA, will also be presenting. The event will be held at The Phoenix, 2315 Lincoln Avenue, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. This is a free event. Please RSVP.
Bike Festival
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition will be hosting the Alameda Bike Festival at Paden Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, 444 Central Avenue, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free activities include bike repairs, helmet fitting and giveaway, decorating your helmet, testing your safety knowledge, bike rodeos, free bike bells, food trucks, and music.
The festival will also include Urban Cycling 101, a free, fun, and informative presentation of videos, slides, and discussion about avoiding the most common bike crashes in traffic, bike laws, riding comfort, theft prevention, and locking information. Bikes are not required in this classroom setting. The class is free but registration is required.
Joyce Mercado.
Spring cleaning
Spring is also time for Spring cleaning. Let’s do so in an environmentally friendly fashion, starting with decluttering. Need to get rid of some of your stuff? Rather than toss it, you can give it away to fellow Alamedans via Alameda FreeCycle or on Facebook’s Buy Nothing Alameda groups (there are several).You can donate it to one of the many thrift shops in town, some of which recycle items that are not sellable. Or you can recycle it. If you are not sure where to recycle something locally, check out StopWaste.org’s recycle search. Just enter the type of item you want to recycle and your zip code, and StopWaste will provide information about local places where you can deliver your item to be recycled.
For actual cleaning, use non-toxic cleaning supplies, which you can pick up in reusable containers at Alameda’s new reuse store, Replenish Marketplace, at 1503 Webster Street. They have everything from reusable cloths (instead of paper towels), to all-purpose spray cleaner and scour cleaning paste. Bring containers to fill, purchase them there, or take advantage of their communal used jars. You can also make your own non-toxic cleaners for your kitchen, bathroom, and the rest of your home with simple recipes from Tiny Beans.
Together we can make a difference this Spring for the Earth!
Joyce Mercado is an author and member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA). Her columns are collected at alamedapost.com/Joyce-Mercado. She can be reached at [email protected].
