Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis Flinn, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: (843) 958-4012

Email:   jflinn@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3093

Date: April 5, 2010

See this year’s winning artwork: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/SolidWaste/pubs/edf10artwinner.pdf

Charleston County Hosts 2010 Earth Day Festival on April 17    

            Festival will be from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Park Circle in North Charleston

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department will host the 2010 Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Park Circle in North Charleston.

The County’s 11^th annual Earth Day Festival is a celebration of Charleston County’s environmental community. The festival provides educational opportunities highlighting Charleston County’s environmental challenges and successes.

“We are excited to host Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival,” said Jenny Bloom, Charleston County’s Environmental Management Recycling Educator. “We love the opportunity to connect our residents with Lowcountry environmental issues and resources.”

Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival attracts more than 8,000 people to the free event each year. All participants are asked to commit to reduce waste and to recycle while joining in the fun.

Charleston County’s Earth Day Art Contest was held again this year. Students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade were asked to submit drawings on Earth Day subjects by Thursday, April 1 with the theme of “Do Your Part, Be Earth Smart.” The winning art work will be the theme of the festival and will be printed on the back of the volunteers’ T-shirts.

Schedule of Events for the Festival Stage:

11:00 a.m.: International Center for Birds of Prey will release a rehabilitated bird, if ready to go

11:15 a.m.: Climate Change Balloon Launch by NASA SC Space Grant High Altitude Ballooning and the College of Charleston

11:30 a.m.: Clean City Clara” skit by Keep Charleston Beautiful

12:15 p.m.: Earth Day Art Contest awards presentation

12:45 p.m.: Recycled Instrument and Masked Procession by A.C. Corcoran Elementary School

  1:00 p.m.: Environmental Poetry Slam by the College of Charleston Upward Bound Program

Other Highlights for the 2010 Earth Day Festival:

• More than 70 environmental activities and educational displays on alternative energy, green building, local and organic agriculture and nutrition, outdoor adventure, animals and habitat preservation, litter, water, recycling, seedlings and compost

• Home compost information and Green Cone Solar Compost Digesters for sale at a discounted price of $89.23

• Lowcountry Earth Force out in force!

• Charleston area chefs demonstrate local, organic and raw cooking.

• The Yo Art Project getting crafty with lots of recycle material projects

• Charleston County School District’s Mobile Planetarium

• Hands-on earth science activities with Mad Science teachers

• Water play with Charleston Water Systems

• Lego Race Car Build

• Park Circle site improvement projects to make a difference and get your hands dirty

• Festival food vendors operating greener with recyclables and compostables only

• Plus a whole day of activities on the stage, from awards presentations to some special surprises in the works!

Charleston County’s 2009 Earth Day Festival is sponsored by:

• Charleston County Government

• Charleston Water Systems

• City of North Charleston

• Kessler Consulting, Inc.

• North Charleston Recreation Department

• Nucor Steel

• PDA Green Light

• S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control

• Sonoco Recycling, Inc.

• The Post and Courier

The 40^th annual National Earth Day is Thursday, April 22. Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.