Charleston County News Release
MEDIA CONTACT
Name: Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer
Phone: 843.958.4012
Email: jdavis@charlestoncounty.org
Release Number: 2869
Date: April 4, 2008
See winning artwork: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/solidwaste/earth_day_art_contest_winner_2008.pdf (This year’s Earth Day Festival Art Contest Winner is Tyshaun Ravenel, a fifth grade student at North Charleston’s A.C. Corcoran Elementary School. This year’s theme is “Do Your Part, Be Earth Smart.”)
Charleston County Hosts 2008 Earth Day Festival on April 19
Festival will be from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Park Circle in North Charleston
Charleston County’s Solid Waste & Recycling Department will host the 2008 Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 19, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Park Circle in North Charleston.
The County’s ninth annual Earth Day Festival is a celebration of Charleston County’s environmental community. The festival provides many educational opportunities highlighting Charleston County’s environmental challenges and successes.
“We are excited to host the Earth Day Festival every year,” said Gregg Varner, Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Director. “It gives us an opportunity to reach out to our community and to share the benefits of all our programs related to waste management and our environment.”
Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival gains popularity each year. More than 5,000 people attended last year’s event.
Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department will have several offers for those attending the festival:
- Free reusable bags to replace disposable grocery bags
- Free compost from the Bees Ferry Landfill
- Solar Cone food digester composters for sale at a discounted price of $83, plus tax
- T-shirts featuring the Earth Day Art Contest winning artwork for sale at $7, tax included
- Recycled art for sale, and an opportunity to make recycled crafts with Creative Spark volunteers
In addition, residents are asked to bring used running shoes to the Earth Day Festival. TrySports will be present at the event to collect the shoes, which will be used for recycling and donations to the non-profit organization, Samaritan’s Feet.
Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival will be waste-free this year, so the public is asked to help recycle all that is possible and compost the rest.
This year’s Earth Day Festival Art Contest Winner is Tyshaun Ravenel, a fifth grade student at North Charleston’s A.C. Corcoran Elementary School. This year’s theme is “Do Your Part, Be Earth Smart.” Ravenel will be recognized at the Charleston County Council meeting on Tuesday, April 15, and will be presented with an award at the Earth Day Festival. His artwork is featured on the Earth Day Festival T-shirt and has been used in advertising for the event.
Highlights of this year’s Earth Day Festival:
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More than 60 environmental activities and educational displays on alternative energy, green building, local and organic agriculture and nutrition, outdoor adventure, fossils, live animals and habitat preservation, litter, water, recycling, seedlings, fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, compost.
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Cooking demonstrations and tastings all day long organized by Earth Fare
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Mobile Planetarium for ages seven and up
- Dig in and help your community by getting your hands dirty! The Charleston Horticultural Society will lead a replanting of the butterfly garden at the Park Circle’s “wedge” garden.
- Water play with Charleston Water Systems, and free jump castles too!
- Numerous food vendors, so bring your appetite!
Scheduled events during the Festival:
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The Gazebo in Park Circle will feature book readings every half hour from Wartsville Wizard, Clean City Clara, A Seed’s Story, and The Lorax.
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Becky’s Box of Puppets playing all day
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Planetarium entrance every half hour
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On the stage: Hawk Hurst plays Native American flute and tells environmental tales at 11 a.m. and Rivers and Company’s smooth R&B will play at 1 p.m.
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Celebrate with the winners of the School Incentive Program and the Earth Day Art Contest during the awards ceremony from 12 – 1 p.m.
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Join the procession of giant puppets made by Charleston County school students at 12:30 p.m.
Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival is sponsored by Nucor, SCE&G, Charleston Water System, Fisher Recycling, Earth Fare, Keep North Charleston Beautiful, North Charleston Recreation Department and the city of North Charleston.
National Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, and was established as nationally recognized day in 1970.
Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.