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Winslow City Council member Samantha Crisp has been working on a week-long celebration for Earth Week. The week, beginning April 22 will feature clean ups and workshops geared toward beautifying and protecting the environment in Winslow.
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“The week will kick off with neighborhood clean ups,” explained Crisp. “We will have the very large dumpsters placed in various places throughout the city to aid in that. Neighbors are encouraged to help each other pick up trash and clear yard waste. That will go on through the entire week and hopefully extend into the other weeks of the year.”
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Next will be a Mayor’s Proclamation during the city council meeting on April 23. According to Crisp, the proclamation will declare Earth Week in Winslow and she hopes that it will encourage participation. “It is really important that the event is recognized as significant. We are trying to get the word out that cleaning up our neighborhoods is not only good for our aesthetic as a community, but also good for the environment overall.”
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She is in contact now with the schools in the Winslow district to have presenters teach students the benefits of protecting the environment. “We are dealing with a lot as far as climate change and carbon foot prints in our country right now. It is my goal to teach the kids as young as possible to respect the planet and to start small in doing their part.”
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Other events during Earth Week will include a presentation at the Winslow Public Library, the date for which has not yet been set, and an Arbor Day celebration led by Mayor Tom McCauley.
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Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 26. McCauley has been speaking about his desire to plant pine trees in and around Winslow and plans to have some of those in place during the celebration.
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The Earth Week event will culminate at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, in the Route 66 Plaza, located on Second Street. “In the plaza that day we will have a presentation by Deidre Burton from Stichin’ on the Corner on repairing clothing, so as to reduce the need to buy new, many vendors and artisans that specialize in upcycled and recycled products and live music from Rascal Martinez, who does cover songs. Its recycled music! I also have some contacts with solar companies and other vendors dedicated to improving the environment.”
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Also on the agenda for the Saturday celebration is an open house by the Winslow Sweetland Community Garden at 10 a.m. and the Mother Earth Art Show at Gemini Gallery, located at 200 N. Kinsley Ave.
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There is also a plan to plant flowers in the parking bump outs along Second and Third streets. Donations of flowers and plants are being accepted for that project. To donate, contact Crisp at scrisp@winslowaz.gov.
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“This year marks the 49th anniversary of Earth Day,” Crisp said. “We are going to try to use this event as a gearing up for next year’s much larger celebration. I am still looking for vendors and artisans so please contact me if you or someone you know would like to be a part of this. I could not make this happen without the generosity of the City of Winslow and the many volunteers, I hope this is a great event!”
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