The official, nation-wide celebration of Earth Day will be April 19. But local organizers have planned a whole month of Earth Day-related activities in and around Hood River.
The Columbia Gorge Earth Day Street Fair will be held on Saturday, April 26, this year to avoid conflicting with Blossom Festival weekend. Activities will take place on Oak Street between Front and First streets. Booths will be set up and there will be speakers and live music throughout the day. The Salmon Pageant and the Procession of the Species parade will also take place downtown that day.
Other activities happening throughout the month include:
* Saturday, April 19 — Fourth Annual Earth Day 5K/10K Run/Walk on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Race starts at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is recommended by April 12 by calling Rebecca Stonestreet at 509-538-2526 or Sharlene Carney at 386-6568.
* Saturday, April 19 — Electrathon America electric car race, Hood River Valley High School. Practice begins at 9 a.m., racing begins at 11 a.m. Go Cart-like vehicles will race in one-hour heats. For information e-mail Jeff Blackman at jblackman@hoodriver.k12.or.us.
* Saturday, April 19 — Procession of the Species costume making session at Mt. Hood Towne Hall, 2 to 5 p.m. All ages welcome. Hands-on work/play session will include ideas and instruction. Materials will be available, or bring your own.
*Tuesday, April 22 — Stories and Poems about the Earth, open-mike event at 7 p.m. at Riverside Community Church.
* Friday, April 25 — Columbia Riverkeeper’s “Love of a River” poetry contest and reading, 7 p.m. at White Salmon Community Library. Submission deadline is April 11. Any poem about “Love of a River” is welcome. There will be three categories of judging: middle school, high school and adult. Poems from elementary school age and younger will be handled separately and all given prizes as before. Prizes will be awarded for top three entries and honorable mentions in each category. Poems can be mailed to P.O. Box 1254, Hood River, OR 97031 or dropped off at the Columbia Riverkeeper office at 724 Oak St. For more information call 387-3030.
* Saturday, April 26 — Columbia Gorge Earth Day Street Fair, 10 to 4 p.m., downtown Hood River. The Salmon Pageant begins at 1 p.m. The Procession of the Species Parade starts at 1:30.
* Sunday, April 27 — Community forestry panel discussion, 1 p.m. at Jackson Park. Topic is “Whose forests are these?” The discussion will culminate in an informal tour of county forests and a discussion of a “model” forest.
* Sunday, April 27 — Children’s Park birthday party, 2 to 4 p.m. at the park, 9th and Eugene streets.
* Tuesday April 29 — Free Community Ed class on “Sustainable residential development,” Hood River Valley High School, 6:30 p.m. in Room H13.
* Saturday, May 3 — Mid-Columbia Enviro House Tour, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration will be at the Windance parking lot, where maps will be available. Cost is $10 per car. All proceeds to benefit the Columbia Gorge Earth Center.
More information about all the Earth Day-related events can be found on the Web site of the Columbia Gorge Earth Center at www.gorge-earth-network.org.
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