EARTH DAY
Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up City Beach Hosted by the Idaho Conservation League in partnership with the city of Sandpoint
By Reader Staff In celebration of Earth Day 2023, the Idaho Conservation League is partnering with the city of Sandpoint to host a cleanup event at City Beach and Lower Sand Creek. From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22, community members are invited to join together to clear local shorelines of garbage and debris. This family-friendly event is a great way for area residents, local businesses and community organizations to care for their waterways before the busy summer season begins. “We are so excited to be partnering with the city once again for this event,” said Karissa Huntsman, ICL community engagement assistant. “We had a wonderful turnout last year, and hope to make this an annual opportunity for people to come together and take care of the envi-
ronment, and this lake that we all love.” The event is free to attend and open to all ages. Volunteers can check in at the City Beach Pavilion (58 Bridge St., in Sandpoint) to receive gloves, garbage bags and instructions for areas to clean up. The city will also have opportunities for volunteers to rake sand, spruce up picnic tables and other activities to get the park ready for summer. There will also be warm refreshments, courtesy of Evans Brothers Coffee, as well as snacks provided by ICL. The area may be muddy, so waterproof boots or shoes are highly recommended. ICL’s mission is to create a conservation community and pragmatic, enduring solutions that protect and restore the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the land and wildlife you love. To learn more, visit idahoconservation.org.
Volunteers collect litter, debris and micro-trash from Sandpoint City Beach and Sand Creek as part of the annual clean-up event. Courtesy photos.
SHS Earth Club: The next stewards for the environment
Earth Day activities in Newport
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
The Newport Creative District and Evergreen Arts Association have teamed up to plan the first annual Newport Earth Day ArtWalk from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. The theme is art made of natural elements, recycled materials or otherwise inspired by nature. All businesses in the Newport, Wash. area have been invited to participate; and, so far, 10 businesses have agreed to be venues for exhibits. Organizers said artists have responded enthusiastically, as well. In addition to the ArtWalk, there are more Earth Day and other events in Newport, including on Friday, April 21, POC Indivisible is organizing an Earth Day sign waving down by the Big Wheel. Time to be determined. Friday night will also mark the grand opening of Vessel Gallery and Clay Studio (331 S. Washington Ave.), from 5-8 p.m. Celebrate the opening and support local artist/owner Angela Drew. There will be a free art activity using recycled materials and light refreshments will be provided. On Saturday, there will be an Earth Day cleanup project in Newport organized by 8-year-old Zeke Stutzman. Participants should meet at the east parking lot of Stratton Elementary (1380 W. Fifth St.) at 9 a.m.
Earth Day might come just once a year, but for the Sandpoint High School Earth Club, it’s every day. With only four members, the club aims to bring awareness to environmental concerns and educate people on how they can be better stewards of our planet. “I think of us as seed planters,” said club member Grace Rookey. “It’s not really something that many high schoolers are aware of currently, which is sad. I hope it continues to grow and continues after we leave next year when I’m a senior.” The club just started back up with a first meeting in November 2022. Currently, members meet weekly on Tuesdays after school to talk about spreading awareness, as well as implementing environmental projects at SHS. “So far we’ve got aluminum recycling in almost 10 classrooms,” Rookey told the Reader. “We collect cans every Tuesday. We also did a protest on the Willow Project [oil drilling operation in Alaska]. Mostly, our club talks about current things that are going on in the world that involve the environment and politics.” 14 / R / April 20, 2023
From left to right: Kennedy Denny, Devin McDaniel, Payton Betz and Grace Rookey. Photo by Ben Olson. Rookey said the club’s next big project is starting a composting system at SHS. “This is a big one for me,” she said. “There’s so much food waste at the school. This is the biggest challenge we’d like to accomplish.” Rookey said the club needs more members to make some of these projects a reality. While it’s difficult to convince her fellow students to care about these issues, Rookey said the Earth Club remains dedicated. “I’m so young and seeing so many changes in the environment and the world,” said Rookey. “I really want my children and grandchildren and myself to have access to clean water and healthy soil, nutritious food and clean air going into the future. This is the only planet we’ve got.”
By Reader Staff
TJ Kelly Park will be the scene all day for a number of Earth Day art and recycling activities for kids and adults. The POC Democrats will host a voter registration and global warming informational booth. Fire prevention and other forest land information will be available at the DNR booth. The Newport Roxy Theatre, partnering with Responsible Growth * NE Washington, Washington Department of Natural Resources and others will host a matinee showing of the film Elemental: Reimagine Wildfires, with question-and-answer session following on Saturday, April 22. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the movie starts at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door (120 S. Washington Ave.). The Friends of the Library will have a book table and sale outside of the library on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Pend Oreille County Historical Society Museum gift shop will be open, as well as the Visitor Center next door. Create Arts Center at 900 W. Fourth St. has two offerings on Saturday: The day begins at 10 a.m. with a drawing and writing workshop. In the evening, enjoy the music of the Family Circle Band. See createarts.org for details and ticket purchases. For more information, email newportcreativedistrict@gmail.com.