Marlborough prepares for Earth Day celebration
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Marlborough - Local environmental activists are teaming up with city officials Saturday May 3 to host a community Earth Day celebration. The event will off er a full day of events, including fun family games like "Toss the Trash" to a citywide clean-up eff ort.

To kick off the city's celebration, the Mayor's Office, City Council, Conservation Committee and the Department of Public Works are inviting residents to Memorial Park at 9 a.m. for the annual "Clean Sweep."

"It is a lot of fun and an opportunity to polish up the city," said Jennifer Boudrie, a founding member of the Green Marlborough environmental group.

After meeting at the park, residents will disperse to targeted areas of the city with yellow bags, brooms and rakes in tow to embark on a bit of spring cleaning of the city's outdoor areas. Residents interested in volunteering will receive a Tshirt and refreshments. City officials are also asking that all residents sweep sand from sidewalks into the street and to pick up litter around their own properties.

Immediately following the clean-up, Green Marlborough and the Marlborough Recycling Committee will host an "Earth Day Fair" at Ghiloni Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will off er a host of activities to promote environmental awareness.

Earth Day is an annual event that began in 1970, with the objective of raising awareness about environmental policies and concerns.

"Most communities now have their own local Earth Day festivals," Boudrie said, "and it is a chance for us to rally around environmental interests in our own city."

This year Boudrie wanted to reach as many people as possible.

"Instead of asking people to drive to the celebration, I decided to bring the festival to the people," she said.

By hosting the celebration at the park, she hopes to appeal to local families attending other park recreational activities.

"The existing climate change has created more of an urgent need to reduce air pollution," Boudrie said.

The goal of this year's event is to provide a wealth of fun and interesting demonstrations and activities to educate community members.

Along with activities like face painting, homemade treats from a solar oven, puppet shows, seed plantings and green giveaways, the event will feature exhibits that promote a healthy sustainable future.

The organizers will focus on how residents can conserve energy through alternative transportation, treatment and disposal of food and garbage waste, and curbing the use of water.

"We are going to have a lot of information for residents to reduce and reuse," Boudrie said.

Displays will include various alternative vehicles, including vehicles run on vegetable oil, natural gas vehicles and the increasingly popular hybrids.

"We will also have literature about other options, including local bike paths, to give residents some ideas," Boudrie said.

The event coordinators are still looking for local musicians interested in volunteering their time to provide entertainment.

For more information about volunteering, donating or attending, visit the website at www.greenmarlborough. org. For "Clean Sweep" information, contact your local ward councilor at 508-460-3711 or Department of Public Works Assistant Commissioner Doran Crouse at 508-624-6910.