Celebrating Earth Day Not Just on April 22, But Every Day

ELLINGTON, CT — It's hard to believe that Earth Day started in the United States in 1970…53 years ago. It went global in 1990. It's a day of action to change human behaviors and raise awareness of the damage we are doing to our shared planet. Earth Day is about big and small steps that we can take to care for our planet. We can take big steps by participating in demonstrations and speaking to legislators about policy changes to protect our environment. However, it's also about the little steps like planting trees locally or picking up litter while we walk our kids to school.

I did that this month.

I picked up litter in the few blocks between my house and my daughter's school, and it was easy. If you pick up litter with your kids, I recommend exercising some caution:

• Wear gloves to protect your hands
• Use a tool if you can – shovels or a "grabber" if you have one
• If they're too young to know if something is safe or not to touch, have them be your "spotter," to point out litter when they see it.

My husband Aaron was/is an Eagle Scout and picking up trash seems ingrained. I remember him doing this even as we were a young couple walking through the UConn campus. But imagine...If we all did just a little, how much more beautiful we could make our community!

If you're not busy on Saturday, April 22, come visit us down at the Ellington Town Green. I'll be there handing out flower seeds! Ellington's Earth Day Celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Green and at the Nellie McKnight Museum. Local businesses, organizations, and vendors will be promoting practices to make Ellington more eco-friendly.

Among the day's highlights: A clothing and household goods collection, packing material collection, bottle and can drive, live entertainment, refreshments, and exhibits. The Ellington Public Works Department will host a grand opening event for the new recycling center and CT State Police will collect unused prescription drugs at 33 Arbor Way.

More information can be found through the Ellington Town website.