Earth Day will be celebrated on April 20 in Middletown, Ohio. A much expanded program of activities will be offered at this year’s event to those who attend the festivities at Miami University Middletown, 4200 E University Blvd/Breiel Blvd between 10 am and 2 pm and/or visit the Hazardous Waste Recycling Drop Off at Middletown High School just across the street at 601 N Breiel Blvd.
Earth Day will include a broadcast by WNKU, a prescription drop off point, an opportunity to join a clean-up crew at one of the Middletown parks and free half-hour seminars for adults and children, all to be held in the Miriam Knoll Community Center at Miami University Middletown (MUM).
Scheduled speakers:
10 am. Red Alert: Alien Plant Invasion, Dr Keith Gilland from Ohio University
10:30 Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program, Dr Avi Eitam from USDA-APHIS
11:00 Feeding & Sheltering your Feathered Friends, Monica Brubaker from Wild Birds Unlimited, Springboro
11:30 Ohio Spiders and Other Creepy Crawlies, Dr Alan Cady from Miami University
Noon Backyard Wildlife – Friends or Foes? Anthony Wolfsong from Wildlife Solutions
12:30 Fungi and Other Plant Pests, Dr Jenise Bauman from Miami University
1:00 Meet our Native Reptiles & Amphibians, Cindy Stark from Arrowhead Reptile Rescue
1:30 Birding for Children of All Ages, Barb Reuss, Naturalist from Bull’s Run Arboretum
2:00 Proper Pruning Techniques, Jeff McMullen, Certified Arborist from Denny Lumber Company
2:30 Pruning Workshop-outdoors, Jeff McMullen
Across the street at Middletown High School’s north parking area there will be a drive-thru hazardous waste drop off point 9 am to 2 pm. Enter off Breiel Blvd only and stay in your vehicle as your items are unloaded for you.
Accepted items are:
Paint – oil or latex, solvents/paint thinners, antifreeze, fluorescent bulbs – compact or tube, driveway sealer, pesticides/fertilizers, lawn/pool chemicals, household/auto batteries, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, thermostat/thermometers, mercury.
Do not bring:
Tires, computers/televisions, appliances
Goodwill/Easter Seals at 3526 Towne Blvd, Middletown will be open 9 am to 8 pm to accept computers, televisions and other e-waste. Goodwill staff members will unload your items at the drive-thru area to the left of the building.
TIRES will be accepted in the fall at a special drop off to be sponsored by the Butler County Solid Waste and Water District.
Early sponsors for Earth Day are: Keep Middletown Beautiful, Wausau Paper, Rumpke, Butler County Solid Waste & Water District, WNKU Radio, Lewis Horticulture and Shovel Full Landscaping.
Volunteers:
There will be many opportunities to lend a hand. Sign up in advance or show up on Earth Day and pick up tools and trash bags. Please bring gloves.
Several individuals and groups have already volunteered to clean up particular areas of Middletown on Earth Day. Wausau Paper and Kohls.com employees will help in Smith Park which is the park targeted for major attention in 2013. PRISM, the South Main home owners group, will work on South Park and restart the fountain for the year. Oaks Church will clean Central Avenue from University to Breiel while Cincinnati State staff and students clean Central from University to the Cincinnati State Campus at Main Street St John church members will continue their quarterly clean up of SR 122 in the Towne Mall area in memory of Bob Ryan who led the group until his death. Even the Middletown City Council will be volunteering as a group on Earth Day and invite others to join their crew.
According to Jeff Michel, Executive Director of Keep Middletown Beautiful, anyone and everyone is invited to join with neighbors and friends, sports, school, church or corporate groups to select a project and help keep their community attractive. It is designed to be a work/play day with food and fun, t-shirts and a wrap up event in the late afternoon for those who pitch in to help.
For more information, contact Jeff Michel of Keep Middletown Beautiful at Jeffmi@cityofmiddletown.orgor call 513-465-2675. Volunteers may sign up on line at keepmiddletownbeautiful.com