By RUSTY DENNEN
A river cleanup and a new location will highlight Fredericksburg's Earth Day observance this year.
Officially, Earth Day is Thursday, but the Rappahannock Group of the Sierra Club, Friends of the Rappahannock and Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation are having their events on Saturday.
The observation begins with FOR's annual river cleanup, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Old Mill Park. Volunteers should check in to pick up supplies and a site assignment. Pre-registration is required (call FOR at 373-3448) and trucks are needed to haul trash back to the park. Lunch will be provided.
A free family celebration, also at Old Mill Park, runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The local chapter of the Sierra Club had been holding Earth Day events for several years at Alum Springs Park.
"We moved it to Old Mill Park so we could partner with FOR on the river clean-up," said Scott Howson, with the Sierra Club.
With the cleanup along the Rappahannock River, "this year it will be a longer event, and we'll have almost twice as many exhibitors" as in previous years, he said.
Among the exhibitors will be the American Canoe Association, with a river-safety display; the Falmouth Flats Fly Fishermen, with fly-fishing demonstrations; and the Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative, which is developing trails and green areas.
A petting zoo, food vendors and local music will also be available. Bob Gramann, Laurie Rose Griffith & Peter Mealy, Ask Fred, and Andra Faye and The Mighty Good Men, will play.
Howson said the Sierra Club will be handing out two inaugural green awards to recognize businesses' conservation efforts.
Also on Saturday, the King George Naturally Earth Day Celebration will be held at Caledon Natural Area off State Route 218. There's a Potomac River cleanup starting at 9 a.m., with other events and activities from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County will hold Earth Day displays and activities from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. Gov. Bob McDonnell will be in town today for one stop on his weeklong Earth Week observance. He'll be talking about land preservation during a program at noon on the Chancellorsville Battlefield.
For more, check out the daylong Earth Day rally on the National Mall in Washington, from noon-7 p.m. The focus is a push for clean energy and climate legislation.
Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Email: rdennen@freelancestar.com
Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970. It was the brainchild of Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, an early environmental activist.
He used protests against the Vietnam War as a template for organizing a movement to protect the environment. Since then, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide cleanup and educational movement.
-Rusty Dennen