Biggest Area Earth Day Event is at Zoo: Clean-Air Bus Riders, People in Walk or Bike Ride Will Get in Free at All-Day EarthFest in Cleveland

By Bob Downing, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Apr. 19–On Sunday, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be the site of the largest Earth Day event in Northeast Ohio.

The 18th annual EarthFest 2007, sponsored by the Earth Day Coalition, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 135 exhibits, clean-fuel vehicles, an organic food market, activities for children and entertainment.

This year’s theme is climate change solutions.

Admission will be $7 for adults and $4 for children 2 to 11. Anyone who participates in the EarthFest Walk for the Earth or Bike for the Earth will be admitted free, as will people who ride the free RTA Clean-Air bus from Public Square to the zoo.

The zoo is at 3900 Wildlife Way and can be reached from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.

Call 216-281-6468 or visit www.earthdaycoalition.org.

Today

Photographing birds — Jim Roetzel will present a program on photographing birds at 7 p.m. in the Happy Days Visitor Center, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, state Route 303 in Boston Heights. 330-657-2909.

Old-time music — Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville will host traditional music from 7 to 10 p.m. at 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. Bring your instruments and join the fun. 330-877-6652.

Tree planting — The Stark County Park District will plant trees from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sanders Center of Outdoor Education, 800 Genoa Road N.W., Perry Township. Call 330-477-0448 for reservations.

Friday

Spring bird walk — Naturalist Pat Rydquist of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will lead a bird walk at 7:30 a.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet in the Tuscarawas Meadows area off Harrington Road in South Akron. 330-865-8065.

Raptor help — Dr. Patrick Redig of the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota will speak on the medical and surgical techniques that have helped save raptors. His talk will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval, University Circle area. Part of the museum’s Explorer lecture series. $9, adults; $7, senior citizens, students and children. Call 216-231-1177 or 800-317-9155, Ext. 3279, for reservations.

Beavers — The Medina County Park District is presenting a nature program on beavers at 8 p.m. Meet at the Chippewa Inlet Trail off Chippewa Road near Chippewa Lake. 330-722-9364.

Earth Day Gathering — The College of Wooster is hosting an Earth Day Eve Gathering at 5 p.m. with a potluck dinner on the back patio of Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Ave., Wooster. Topics to be discussed include global warming, clean vehicles and how to conserve energy. 330-263-2380 or www.wooster.edu/etf.

Woodcock walk — Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville will host a woodcock walk at 8:30 p.m. Meet in the Shady Lane parking lot. The park is at 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. 330-877-6652.

Night pedal — The Stark County Bicycle Club will hold its first night ride of the year on the Towpath Trail, starting at 8:11 p.m. (sunset) in Massillon. Meet at the Lake Avenue Trailhead. Bikes need headlights and taillights, and cyclists need helmets. 330-832-5111.

Dances of peace — Join in Dances of Universal Peace at 7 p.m. at Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath Township. The program embraces movement as prayer. No experience necessary. The center is at 3220 Ira Road. 330-668-8992.

Saturday

Cuyahoga River cleanup — Volunteers are needed to help on a Cuyahoga River cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Stow and Munroe Falls. Meet at the Fishcreek Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2910 N. River Road, Stow, and car pool to the cleanup sites. Expect to get muddy. Bring work gloves, rakes, boots and small hand tools. Snacks and lunch will be provided. Contact Maia Peck at 330-252-0337. You can also check out www.co.summit.oh.us/executive/mfd/mfdhome.htm.

Earth Day celebration — Bath Township and the Yellow Creek Watershed Committee are hosting an Earth Day celebration with Twelve Eagles from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bath Township Hall, 3864 W. Bath Road. Watershed health, lawn displays, native plants, organic products. 330-666-4007 or www.yellowcreekwatershed.org.

Parks cleanup — The Stark County Park District will stage park cleanups from 1 to 4 p.m. at Canton’s Nimishillen Creek and Cook’s Lagoon parks. Volunteer by calling 330-477-0448.

Earth Day fest — The Medina County Park District is staging its Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Exhibits, nature walks, fishing, kids’ activities. Park at Sharon Elementary School; free shuttle will be provided to the park. 330-722-9364.

State park cleanup — Volunteers will be cleaning roads and shores at West Branch State Park in Portage County. Meet at 9 a.m. at the west boat ramp off Rock Spring Road in Edinburg Township. Bring work gloves and dress for the weather. The cleanup will be followed by a cookout and potluck lunch at noon. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. 330-296-3239.

Earth Day fun — The Wilderness Center off U.S. 250 near Wilmot will host a trail cleanup and garlic mustard removal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of its Earth Day events. Bird walk at 8 a.m., backpacking open house from 9 a.m. to noon and family astronomy program on spring skies at 1 p.m. There will be a 4.6-mile trail run-walk for $18 in advance and $20 the day of the event and a 1.25-mile prediction run for $10. They will begin at 12:45 p.m. Participants receive T-shirts. The center will also present its 13th annual FotoFest from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 330-359-5235 or 877-359-5235.

Park concert — The Juggernaut Jug Band will perform at 8 p.m. in the Happy Days Visitor Center in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, off state Route 303 in Boston Heights. Sponsored by Mountain Rose Concerts. $12 in advance; at the door, $15, adults, and $7.50, children 3 to 12 years old. 330-733-8845 or www.mountainroseconcerts.org.

Bird walk — Ranger Paul Motts of the National Park Service will lead a spring bird walk from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township.

Heron mating — The National Park Service will present a look at the mating great blue herons off West Bath Road in North Akron. Meet ranger Scott Van Houten at 2 p.m. at the Botzum Trailhead off Riverview Road.

Park art — The Cuyahoga Valley park’s M.D. Garage will host an exhibit of paintings by the Crooked River Gang, a group of local painters, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The garage is off Boston Mills Road, east of the Cuyahoga River in the hamlet of Boston.

Woodcock walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will present a woodcock walk at 7:30 p.m. at the Pond Brook Conservation Area. Meet at 3973 E. Aurora Road (state Route 82) in Twinsburg Township. Bring binoculars. 330-865-8065.

Bugs for kids — Volunteer naturalist Alice Phillips of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will direct a kids’ program on hidden bugs at 2 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Participants must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by adults. 330-865-8065.

Asteroid program — The Astronomy Club of Akron will stage a program on asteroids and how they may have affected the dinosaurs. The show will be at 8 p.m. at the club’s observatory at Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Road (state Route 93), New Franklin. 330-535-8009.

Astronomy and frogs — You can celebrate National Astronomy Day at Quail Hollow State Park from 3 to 11:59 p.m. with solar and night viewing, exhibits and talks. Bring binoculars and telescopes. The park will also host a night frog hike from 8 to 10 p.m. Indoor slide show and a wetland hike. The park is at 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. 330-877-6652 or www.quailhollow.org.

Cleveland astronomy — The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will hold a National Astronomy Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a variety of activities and programs. The museum is at 1 Wade Oval in the University Circle area. Free with museum admission. 216-231-4600 or www.cmnh.org.

Twinsburg hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 9 a.m. for a six-mile hike at Liberty Park in Twinsburg. Meet in the parking lot near the ball fields off Liberty Road north of Cannon Road. 330-733-3995.

Daffodil hike — The Portage Trail Walkers hiking club will meet at 9 a.m. for a hike along the daffodil trail at Furnace Run Metro Park. Meet at the Brushwood Area off Townsend Road in Richfield Township. 330-673-6896.

Drum circle — Mount Union College’s John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a drum circle with Greg Rice at 2 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183, six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.

Weed pull — Cleveland Metroparks is seeking volunteers to pull invasive garlic mustard from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Bedford Reservation. Meet in the Hemlock Creek Picnic Area off Button Road east of Dunham Road in Walton Hills. 216-341-3152.

Sunday

Bird walk — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will present a spring bird walk at 8 a.m. at Cascade Valley Metro Park. Meet at the Oxbow Area off Cuyahoga Street in North Akron. 330-865-8065.

O’Neil Woods hike — Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is sponsoring a 1.8-mile Earth Day hike at 2 p.m. at O’Neil Woods Metro Park in Bath Township. The park is off Martin Road. 330-865-8065.

Off-trail trek — The National Park Service will present an off-trail trek for youngsters 12 and older and accompanying adults in the Cuyahoga Valley park. It will run from 2 to 4 p.m. Meet at the Indigo Lake Trailhead off Riverview Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Be prepared for all types of terrain. Maximum of 20 participants. Call 800-445-9667 for reservations.

Kent festival — The Who’s Your Mama? Environmental Film Festival will be staged from 2 to 9 p.m. in Kent. The films run at the Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St. Displays, local farmers and children’s activities. Sponsored by Standing Rock Cultural Arts, Kent Parks and Recreation Department, Ravenna Parks and Recreation Department and Citizens for Portage Park District. $10, adults; $7, students and senior citizens. 330-673-4970 or www.whosyourmama.org.

Pond dedication — Kent State University’s Stark Campus in Jackson Township will dedicate a new pond and the Stark County Park District will unveil plans for a new campus trail at 2 p.m. Use the Strip Road entrance and follow the signs.

Wildflower walk — Quail Hollow State Park near Hartville will present a spring wildflower walk at 2 p.m. Meet at the Spruce Grove Picnic Area. The park is at 13480 Congress Lake Road N.E., Lake Township. The trail may be muddy. 330-877-6652.

Wildflower Walk II — Mount Union College’s John T. Huston-Dr. John B. Brumbaugh Nature Center will host a spring wildflower walk from 2 to 4 p.m. The center is on Daniel Street off state Route 183, six miles south of Alliance in Washington Township. 330-823-7487.

Barberton hike — The Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club will meet at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot at state Route 619 and Robinson Road in Barberton for a five-mile sidewalk hike. 330-733-3995.

Bird walks — Cleveland Metroparks, the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History are offering the 71st annual series of spring bird walks at 7:30 a.m. Sundays through May 21. The locations are: Brecksville Reservation, at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead off Riverview Road, south of state Route 82 in Brecksville; Hinckley Reservation, at the bridge at the south end of Hinckley Lake off State Road in Medina County’s Hinckley Township; Bedford Reservation, at the Hemlock Creek picnic area off Button Road in Bedford; Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, at the CanalWay Center off East 49th Street south of Grant Avenue in Cuyahoga Heights; the Audubon Sanctuary on East Pioneer Trail east of Page Road, Aurora; Audubon’s Blanche Novak Wildlife Sanctuary off Town Line Road, north of state Route 82, Aurora; and Hiram College Biological Field Station, Wheeler Road, Hiram Township. 216-351-6300 or 440-734-6660.

Tuesday

African tour — Mark Purdy will present a slide show, Adventures in Namibia, when the Greater Akron Audubon Society meets at 7 p.m. in the Mingo Shelter at Sand Run Metro Park. That’s off Sand Run Parkway in Northwest Akron. The public is welcome. 330-920-9138.

Nature Club — The Medina County Park District will present a Nature Club program on birds for youngsters 8 to 13 years old. It will run from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. Registration is required. 330-722-9364.

Wednesday

Firestone hike — Naturalist Mary Beth Filon of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, will lead a spring nature walk at 7 p.m. along the 1.1-mile Redwing Trail at Firestone Metro Park. Meet in the Tuscarawas Meadows area off Harrington Road in South Akron. 330-865-8065.

Campus Earth Day — The University of Akron will celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with exhibits and displays next to the Student Center and E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. Contact Colleen Sharp at 216-337-6498.

Drawing class — The Medina County Park District is presenting a drawing class for ages 10 and up from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road (state Route 94), Sharon Township. $10. Call 330-722-9364 for reservations.

Museum lecture — Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, curator of physical anthropology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, will lecture on the Woranso-Mille research project in the Afar region of Ethiopia at 7 p.m. at the museum, 1 Wade Oval in the University Circle area. $7. 216-231-4600 or 800-317-9155.

Steamboat history — Cleveland Metroparks is staging a brown bag lunch program on river steamboats and their history by historian Hank Mallery at noon at the CanalWay Center, off East 49th Street, south of Grant Avenue in Cuyahoga Heights. 216-206-1000.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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