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Earth Day

Photos: Earth Day clean-up at DeWitt

By Howard B. Owens

Troop Leader Melissa Sciortino holds a trash bag while Girl Scouts Lana, left, and Kennedy, gather garbage dropped on the ground by people at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia.

Also helping from Troop 60870 in Spencerport was Isabella.

The girls were earning badges for environment, hiking and wilderness.

The clean-up was part of the Genesee County Parks Department celebration of Earth Day at DeWitt.

Photo: Earth Day clean up in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Robert and Sara Mackenzie were among the volunteers today helping to clean up Oakfield for the community's 13th annual Earth Day observance. The Mackenzies were picking up trash on Drake Street Road.

Public invited to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow at DeWitt

By Press Release

Press release:

Earth Day is your chance to give back to your community and take care of the earth!!

Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for the Earth Day Park Cleanup on Saturday, April  23rd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Celebrate Earth Day and help keep the park beautiful and the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife! Learn to make cool things from recycled materials and enjoy a naturalist-guided hike to discover natural wonders in the park. Enjoy wild games and find out what you can do each day to help the earth! Service groups, students, 4H and scouts can earn community service hours and badge requirements. Meet at Pavilion 2 for all activities. Celebration and all activities are FREE and open to the public. 

Schedule of Activities:

  • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Park Cleanup Projects: Make the park beautiful and healthy for wildlife!
  • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Recycled Crafts 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Field Games for Kids 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Guided Hike

Celebration and all activities are FREE! Please pre-register for activities by calling 585-344-1122! 

Video: Earth Day cleanup projects in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
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Volunteers turned out in droves yesterday for two big Earth-Day-related cleanups of public spaces in Batavia.

First was an effort to pickup litter along the Ellicott Trail. Also, County Parks officials hosted an Earth Day event at DeWitt Recreation Area that included not just a cleanup but Scouts involved in projects and games and information booths about taking care of our planet.

County celebrates Earth Day with Friday night hike at GC Park & Forest, Saturday events at DeWitt

By Press Release

Press release:

Earth Day is your chance to give back to your community and take care of our planet! Here are two fun events this weekend.

1) Earth Day Night Hike at the Genesee County Park & Forest

Celebrate Earth Day with a night hike through the forest! Explore the forest at twilight and be part of the magic of spring with our Earth Day Night Hike at the Genesee County Park & Forest in East Bethany from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday April 23rd!

Meet at the Interpretive Nature Center and head out to the forest as we visit animal habitats, hear nature folklore and more.

Cost is $5/person, $10/family. Preregistration is required, call (585) 344-1122 to register.

Participants must wear a mask when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance and are encouraged to wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

2) Earth Day Park Cleanup at DeWitt Recreation Area

Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for the 20th annual Earth Day Park Cleanup on Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Celebrate Earth Day and help keep the park beautiful and the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife!

Learn to make cool things from recycled materials and enjoy a naturalist-guided hike to discover natural wonders in the park. Enjoy wild games and find out what you can do each day to help the Earth!

Service groups, students, 4H and scouts can earn community service hours and badge requirements.

Celebration and all activities for the DeWitt event are FREE and open to the public. Please preregister for activities by calling (585) 344-1122.

Participants must wear a mask when unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance and are encouraged to wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

Schedule of Activities: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Park Cleanup Projects -- Make the park beautiful and healthy for wildlife!

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Recycled Crafts
  • 12 to 1 p.m. -- Field Games for Kids
  • 1 to 2 p.m. -- Guided Nature Hike

For more information visit our website, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122

Registration is still open for free electronics recycling event May 15 in Batavia

By Press Release

Press release:

Registration is still open for the free local electronics recycling event in Batavia on May 15.

The Brockport-based electronics recycling company Sunnking is handling the recycling.

In the spirit of Earth Day -- today, April 22 -- this year's theme is "Restore Our Earth."

Due to coronavirus health and safety protocols, residents will be REQUIRED to register online for a drop-off time slot, or reserve a spot by calling (585) 637-8365.

Register online at sunnking.com/events. Registration closes when time slots are booked up or by 4 p.m. the day before the event.

You must register to print out a ticket to take to the event in order to get in.

Here's a link to a list of materials that are acceptable; here the list of what's unacceptable.

REMEMBER to neatly pack your recyclables in the back of your vehicle for easy unloading. Limit of 4 CRT (tube) monitors or TVs per vehicle.

Due to the rising costs of recycling and the coronavirus pandemic, Sunnking also asks supporters for an optional monetary donation to continue providing the environmentally responsible service. Sunnking collects an average of 100 tons of electronics per event.

WHO: Sunnking Electronics Recycling

WHAT: Local electronics recycler, Sunnking, is holding its initial round of FREE e-recycling events for 2021. 

WHEN:

  • Batavia -- May 15 / 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

​WHERE:

​HOW:

Register online. Health and safety procedures will be in place to ensure a safe environment, including timed appointments, no-contact device removal, and dedicated drive-through lanes.

WHY:

Good stewardship of the Earth and its resources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Registration is open for local electronics recycling event in May

By Press Release

Press release:

Registration is now open for free local electronics recycling events, in the spirit of Earth Day, which is Thursday, April 22. This year's Earth Day theme is "Restore Our Earth."

Last year, the Brockport-based electronics recycling company Sunnking saw record-breaking attendance, with eight events fully booked up for all drop-off time slots.

Due to coronavirus health and safety protocols, residents will be REQUIRED to register online for a drop-off time slot, or reserve a spot by calling (585) 637-8365.

Register online at sunnking.com/events and find a complete list of recyclable devices.

Sunnking collects an average of 100 tons of electronics per event.

Due to the rising costs of recycling and the coronavirus pandemic, Sunnking also asks supporters for an optional monetary donation to continue providing the environmentally responsible service.

Here is information about the first round of Upstate/Western NY events:

WHO: Sunnking Electronics Recycling

WHAT: Local electronics recycler, Sunnking, is opening registration for its initial round of FREE e-recycling events for 2021. 

WHEN:

  • Batavia -- May 15 / 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • North Syracuse – April 17 / 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Williamsville – May 1 / 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE:

HOW:

Register online. Health and safety procedures will be in place to ensure a safe environment, including timed appointments, no-contact device removal, and dedicated drive-through lanes.

WHY:

Good stewardship of the Earth and its resources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

********************************************************

"We're really excited to see how many people will carry over that excitement for recycling that we witnessed last year," said Robert Burns, director of Marketing for Sunnking. "Throughout the winter we've had New Yorkers from all corners call us asking when the next event would be and now, we can give them the first few dates to look forward to."

Sunnking, New York State’s first R2 certified recycler, has offered no-cost collections in Western and Central New York since 2010.

"Thousands of people have clearly used the last couple of cold months at home to take inventory of their devices or upgrade over the holidays and now is their chance to take back their space the responsible way," Burns said.

Today's announcement comes as Sunnking celebrates its 21st anniversary, offering clients throughout New York state electronics recycling, ITAD (IT Asset Disposition), and data destruction services.

More local events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photos: Happy Earth Day

By Howard B. Owens

Photos submitted by Jason Smith, taken in his back yard in Batavia.

Batavia Area Jaycees hold local photo competition to celebrate today -- Earth Day

By Billie Owens

Photo of DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia taken by Mel Robinson in July 2014.

From the The Batavia Area Jaycees:

The Batavia Area Jaycees have gotten creative to not let the COVID-19 Pandemic ruin all of their plans. To celebrate Earth Day, The Batavia Area Jaycees are asking the community to vote for their favorite nature photo in their online contest album that can be found here.

The photo with the most likes and reactions will win, and the Jaycee member who submitted the winning photo will pick a local charity for the service group to donate money to.

Voting will remain open until Monday April 27th at noon. All photos are taken locally to celebrate Earth’s beauty in our community. 

The group was originally supposed to participate in a litter cleanup event to celebrate Earth Day. With the state being on pause, that event was unfortunately canceled. The group brainstormed new ways to act out their mission while practicing social distancing. 

The Batavia Area Jaycees is a group of young, active citizens ages 18-41 who work together to provide development opportunities that empower people to create positive change within themselves and our community. They strive to grow personally and professionally so that they can make an impact in our community and beyond.

The Jaycees are always accepting new members. The group will resume monthly meetings after the pandemic, so follow them on Facebook or email them at bataviajaycees@gmail.com to learn more information on how to become a member.

The group currently has members from all over Genesee County as well as Orleans County.

CANCELLED: Break Week=Earth Week at Richmond library

By Katie Elia

Break Week is Earth Week

Every day during break week (4/6-4/11) at 2:30pm the Richmond Memorial Library Children's Room will be hosting programs celebrating our environment and conservation.

Registration is necessary - we want to have plenty of supplies for everyone; call us 585.343.9550 ext. 4. Recommended for all ages; Children under 5yo will need an adult.

Monday (4/6) Farm in a Glove

Tuesday (4/7) Scrap Art with the Scrap Lady

Wednesday (4/8) Gen County Parks activity

Thursday (4/9) Edible Quakes

Event Date and Time
-

19th annual Earth Day Celebration at DeWitt Recreation Area is April 20

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Earth Day is your chance to give back to your community and take care of the Earth! Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for the 19th annual Earth Day Celebration and help with park cleanup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.

Let's celebrate Earth Day early (it's actually Monday, April 22) and help keep the park beautiful and the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife.

Leanr to make cool things from recycled materials and enjoy a naturalist-guided hike to discover the natural wonders in the park.

Enjot wild ganes, free fun and more.

Service groups, students, 4-H'ers and Scouts can earn community service hours and meet badge requirements.

Don't miss a special presentation by theBuffalo Zoomobile from 2 to 3 p.m., weather permitting!

Special thanks to the Genesee Finger Lakes Cahpter of the Air & Waste Management Association for their generous support of this Earth Day celebration.

Meet at Pavilion 2 for all activities. DeWitt Recreation Area is located at 115 Cedar St. in the City of Batavia.

This event and all activities are free and open to all. Please preregister for activities by calling (585) 344-1122.

Here's the day's schedule of activities:

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Park Cleanup Projects
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Recycled Crafts
  • 12 to 1 p.m. -- Wild Planet Games
  • 1 to 2 p.m. -- Wild Planet Guided Hike
  • 2 to 3 p.m. (weather permitting) -- Special Guest: World Safari by the Buffalo Zoomobile -- Meet fascinating animals from all different places on planet Earth!

Photos: Earth Day at DeWitt Recreation Area

By Howard B. Owens

The County's Parks Department hosted an annual Earth Day event at DeWitt Recreation area, which included events for children, a nature walk, park cleanup, and of course, plenty of people showed up to fish.

The lake is at near record-high levels, which is quite a turn around from about a year ago when you could walk on dry land out to the island.

Reminder: Earth Day Celebration at DeWitt, Night Hike at county Park & Forest

By Billie Owens

Earth Day Celebration at DeWitt on Saturday

Earth Day is your chance to take care of your planet and your wild neighbors! Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for our “Earth Day Celebration” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21st.

Help clean up the park to keep the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife! Learn to make cool stuff from recycled materials. Enjoy wild games and a naturalist-guided hike to see where animals live and discover what good things you can do for them!

Scouts can earn badge requirements and service hours! Help keep the community ecologically healthy and undeniably beautiful! Meet at Pavilion 2 for all activities. Celebration is FREE and open to the public.

Please preregister for activities by calling 585-344-1122!

Earth Day Night Hike at Genesee County Park & Forest

Celebrate the magic of spring with our Earth Day Night Hike at the Genesee County Park & Forest from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21st!

Meet at the Interpretive Nature Center and explore the forest by moonlight as we search for animals, hear nature folklore and listen to the wild chorus of the night. Visit the headwaters of Black Creek and find out why April’s moon is called the Fish Moon.

Create a memory this Earth Day! Cost is $5/person, $10/family. All ages welcome. Preregistration is required, call 585-344-1122 to register!

For more information visit our website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Morley at Shannon.Morley@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

April 21st: Earth Day Celebration at DeWitt, Night Hike at county Park & Forest

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Earth Day Celebration at DeWitt April 21

Earth Day is your chance to take care of your planet and your wild neighbors! Join us at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia for our “Earth Day Celebration” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21st.

Help clean up the park to keep the habitat safe and healthy for wildlife! Learn to make cool stuff from recycled materials. Enjoy wild games and a naturalist-guided hike to see where animals live and discover what good things you can do for them!

Scouts can earn badge requirements and service hours! Help keep the community ecologically healthy and undeniably beautiful! Meet at Pavilion 2 for all activities. Celebration is FREE and open to the public.

Please preregister for activities by calling 585-344-1122!

Earth Day Night Hike at Genesee County Park & Forest

Celebrate the magic of spring with our Earth Day Night Hike at the Genesee County Park & Forest from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday April 21st!

Meet at the Interpretive Nature Center and explore the forest by moonlight as we search for animals, hear nature folklore and listen to the wild chorus of the night. Visit the headwaters of Black Creek and find out why April’s moon is called the Fish Moon.

Create a memory this Earth Day! Cost is $5/person, $10/family. All ages welcome. Preregistration is required, call 585-344-1122 to register!

For more information visit our website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Morley at Shannon.Morley@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

Photos: Earth Day at DeWitt Recreation Area

By Howard B. Owens

Volunteers of all ages came out to DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia today -- Earth Day -- to help clean the park and participate in various learning activities.

One of the activities was an "emerald ash borer game," where several children were emerald ash borers, two were volunteers and one was a park ranger. The emerald ash borers had 10 seconds to lay their eggs in as many ash trees in a wooded area (represented by small, green disks). Then volunteers would identify infected trees and the park ranger would come along and replace the ash trees with another kind of tree. The game illustrated how much faster an infestation can spread than forest rangers can act to do anything about it.

Photos: Earth Day cleanup and nature walk at DeWitt

By Howard B. Owens

As part of an Earth Day observance, volunteers came out to the DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia to help with spring cleanup.

The walk around the park was about more than just trash pickup. It included a guided nature walk led by Amy Jessmer, from Albion, with a degree in environmental science from SUNY Brockport, where she is currently working on her master's degree. Jessmer spoke about native and non-native species and the environmental balance of the lake and surrounding habitat.

The water level of DeWitt is exceptionally low. George Squires, retired from the county's soil and water department, said he doesn't believe he's seen it this low since the 1980s.

Celebrate Earth Day at DeWitt Recreation Area with special activities April 23

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Earth is a Wild Blue Planet! On Saturday, April 23, celebrate Earth Day (nationally recognized on Friday, April 22) by helping with habitat cleanup at DeWitt Recreation Area, making awesome crafts out of recycled materials, and taking home your own live tree seedling!

It is located off Cedar Street in the City of Batavia.

Sign up for the naturalist-guided Blue Planet Hike, Helping Hands for Wildlife, habitat checkup, and catching Clean Water Critters by calling 585-344-1122.

Learn about aquatic habitats, the wild animals that live there, and how you can help them! Grab a friend or sign up as a group!

Schedule of Activities at DeWitt Recreation Area, Saturday, April 23:

  • 9 – 11 a.m. -- Park Cleanup Projects: Helping Hands for Wildlife
  • 11 a.m. to noon -- Wildlife and Water: A Blue Planet Hike
  • Noon to 1 p.m. -- Habitat Checkup: Water Monitoring Activity
  • 1 – 2 p.m. -- Clean Water Critters

Ongoing -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. --  Special Guests, “The Incredible Journey" game and Earth-Friendly Crafts!

Special guests include: Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District, Genesee County Youth Bureau/AmeriCorps, Batavia Youth Bureau, Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries, GLOW Region Solid Waste, ACORNS and more!

Scouts may earn requirements for the following projects by signing up for Earth Day Activities: Webelos Naturalist 11 and 12, Daisies Between Earth and Sky, Brownies The Wonders of Water, Juniors Animal Habitats badge, Cadettes Breathe Journey, Boy Scouts Bird Study Merit Badge 1. Sign up for Helping Hands for Wildlife and leave the park better than you found it!

Celebration is FREE! Please pre-register for activities by calling 585-344-1122.

To register call (585) 344-1122. For more information visit the Web site at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Morley at Shannon.Morley@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122. 

5th Annual Oakfield Earth Day Community Clean Up a resounding success

By Jamie Lindsley

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who helped make the Fifth Annual Oakfield Earth Day Community Cleanup a great success! On the morning of April 19, 2014, over 60 individuals of all ages joined together to clear the roads in our community of unsightly litter in an effort to continue our annual earth day tradition. With Mother Nature’s cooperation this year, we were able to conquer twice the amount of roadside space as in previous years, thus eliminating many more contaminants from our beautiful environment! Participants joined together for lunch after the event to share feelings of accomplishment and to exchange stories about the experience. Most were amazed by the objects that were carelessly dispersed through the countryside! We hope that each year, we can continue to help people in our community choose to dispose of waste properly and to make them aware of the harmful effects in doing otherwise. Thank you to each person who donated a bit of their time to participate in this great cause! We also want to thank our sponsors for their assistance in making this event possible: Alli’s Cones and Dogs, Waldron Financial Group, Santino’s, Domoy Farms, Home Depot, Lorraine’s Daycare, Lamb Farms, Oakfield Lions Club, One World Projects, and the Town of Oakfield/Highway Department. We encourage you to support these local businesses and to thank them for their service to our community!

Sincerely,

The Oakfield Betterment Committee

City Youth Bureau to host annual Earth Day event May 10 at Austin Park

By Billie Owens

Press release:

In an effort to educate students and the community on recycling, conserving energy, and going “green” in general, the City of Batavia Youth Bureau is sponsoring its Annual Earth Day event at 9 a.m. on May 10 at Austin Park. School and community groups, as well as the community at large are invited to participate.

Local agencies will set up booths and interactive displays for the participants to visit. The students will also receive giveaways at some of the booths. After folks have visited all of the booths, school/student groups will be sent out to clean a park or an area within the city. We will then meet back at Austin Park and each of the students in attendance will plant their own seedling to take home. Everyone is then invited to a pizza lunch. The event will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m..

If you would like more information on Earth Day or would like to participate, call the Batavia Youth Bureau at 345-6420.

Ninth Annual Cool Kids ECO-Fest is April 12 at GCC

By Billie Owens

This information is provided by Genesee Community College:

The Ninth Annual Cool Kids ECO-Fest happens at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. This fun-filled, educational event aims to increase awareness of important environmental issues while celebrating Earth Day.

It's free and open to the public. The first 250 attendees will receive free tree seedlings to plant. And more than 40 exhibitors will have booths including exotic wildlife, make-it take-it activities, and you get a chance to recycle items you often don't know what to do with.

Some favorite recycling initiatives from years past continue, including the collection of rubber sneakers to be made into running tracks, paperback books sent to American troops overseas and the worn American flags collected for proper disposal.

But just like Mother Earth, the Cool Kids ECO-Fest is ever-changing with new opportunities each year. Planners are excited to be welcoming Habitat for Humanity's call for non-fabric, wood or metal furniture including desks, bookcases, tables and dressers. In addition, old bicycles and reusable bike parts are being collected by Trailside Bikes of Orleans County.

For the first time, Cool Kids ECO-Fest at GCC will not be accepting any electronic waste (E-waste) such as computer CRTs, televisions, stereo equipment or microwave ovens.

Also new this year will be the Seeds of Change -- The Earth Charter and Human Potential Exhibit created by the Soka Gakkai International and The Earth Charter Initiative. The multi-panel display is seven feet tall, and with dynamic images and compelling messages viewers learn about community empowerment, water harvesting, the Green Belt and The Paulo Freire Institute and much more.

After ECO-Fest, GO ART! will screen the environmental film "Comfort Zone" in the Conable Technology Building.

Each recycled item from the list below earns a Cool Kids ECO-Raffle ticket increasing the chances to win great, green prizes including the grand prize of a brand-new bicycle from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.

Recyclables being accepted are:

•    Non fabric, metal or wood furniture for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore

•    Old bicycles and reusable bike parts collected by Trailside Bike

•    Old rubber sneakers (no cleats, please)

•    Paperback books for American troops overseas

•    Worn American flags for proper disposal by Shepard, Maxwell and Hale

•    Old eyeglasses

•    Computer ink cartridges

"The small things we do as individuals have a big impact on our planet. That's the theme of Cool Kids ECO-Fest every year. Each one of us makes a difference," said Cool Kids' Steve Appleton. "The items people have brought to Cool Kids ECO-fest over the years have kept thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills. Let's keep it going. ... We can celebrate Earth Day every day as individuals, but on April 12th we come together and become Green Gangsters!"

To expand the festival to a broader audience, GCC is partnering with Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) to show the film "Comfort Zone." Essentially it asks, "How big is your carbon footprint?" This critical question is addressed by three Upstate New York filmmakers who explored the impact of climate change from a personal perspective. "Comfort Zone" takes an in-depth look at what happens when the issue comes to our backyards.

The screening is set for 3 p.m. in Room T102 of the Conable Technology Building. Following the film, one of the filmmakers will be on hand to answer questions. The event is a fundraiser for GO ART! and costs $10 for GO ART! members, $15 for non-members, and Cool Kids ECO-Fest volunteers can attend free with seat availability. For more information about the film, please visit http://comfortzoneproject.com.

Cool Kids ECO-Fest is co-sponsored by GCC's Student Activities Office, College Village, and Brockport-based Generation Cool.

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