Earth Day activities scheduled for April 22

April 8, 2010 -- “Act Locally” is the theme for the 2010 Earth Day as Arkansas State University and the city of Jonesboro join forces to celebrate the event, Thursday, April 22, at Tailgate City, adjacent to the Pavilion and ASU Football Stadium. The Barton Weather Deck from KAIT8 is the stage for the activities which are from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Speakers begin at 1 p.m. Earth Day celebration is free and open to the public.

Trey Stafford of the Triple FM radio group will serve as the master of ceremonies, and Triple FM will have a remote broadcast from the site and will be serving hot dogs donated by Sodexo along with drinks and chips donated by Frito Lay.  

“Our theme, ‘act locally’ is a take-off from our past years when we encouraged everyone to think globally and act locally,” said Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, assistant professor of Environmental Biology and director of the Ecotoxicology Research Facility at ASU. “We are partnering with the city of Jonesboro and will have local businesses, industries and community groups displaying their conservation and environmental efforts.”

Dr. Andy Novobilski, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics, will get the occasion underway with introductions of Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, Jill Forrester from Whitton Farms, John Risi from Frito-Lay, and Shawn Merrill from the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center. These speakers will discuss locally grown produce, local industry striving for sustainability and local conservation efforts.

Dr. Bouldin also said representatives of several local schools will explain how the schools are addressing conservation.

As during last year’s Earth Day celebration, tree-planting sponsorship is available on the east side of University Loop East and south of Aggie Road. Trees are presented for a $150 donation and include a deciduous mixture combined with a few flowering focal trees.  The donation includes the tree, planting and mulch, and recognition on the Earth Day plaque that will be constructed on the site. Because the site is remote from the celebration area, the physical planting of the trees is not a part of the ceremonies.

Colleges, departments and organizations are invited to donate a tree as well as any individual or group that would like to contribute to Earth Day and provide a living memorial. For additional information, contact Dr. Bouldin at (870) 972-2570 or jbouldin@astate.edu.

In addition, local automobile dealers will display hybrid cars on the west parking lot of the football stadium. E-waste will be collected by Suddenlink.

Among the local businesses participating in Earth Day activities include Harmony Gardens, Landers Brothers Honda, Central Toyota, Central Chevrolet, Gearhead Outfitters, NEA Bicycling Coalition, Jonesboro Parks and Recreation, Greenway Renewable Energy, United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Marck Industries, Inc. (recycling), Curtis Stout (portable solar array demonstration), Suddenlink, Arkansas Rivers Association, Olive Garden, Frito Lay, USDA County Extension Office, ASU Facilities Management recycling programs and ASU Facilities for tree donations and Nordex.

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