Earth Day Activities April 21 - Murfreesboro

MURFREESBORO — Murfreesboro and Rutherford County’s Earth Day Celebration will continue its highly successful run, started two years ago around Rutherford County’s Courthouse, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first day of spring, April 21, the city announced.

Organizers are expecting a record number of visitors to attend the event — an extravaganza that offers a wide variety of activities for young and old alike.

The day’s activities will include free popcorn, hotdogs, drinks and door prizes. There will also be games and other kid-specific activities. To top it off, 1,000 red oak tree seedlings will be given away on a first-come first-served basis..

This year’s event will showcase nearly 20 informational booths offering scores of brochures and other media on earth-friendly topics and services.

Returning this year to provide entertainmentare MTSU’s Jazz Ensemble, Creative Rhythm, a local percussion ensemble and the Earthlings featuring premier guitarist Larry Pinkerton and Friends.

Also on tap is a return engagement by Murfreesboro Electric Department’s mascot, Louie the Lightning Bug. MED, TVA’s local distributor will provide information and sign-ups for the authority’s Green Power Switch program.

This program gives customers an opportunity to purchase power that has been produced by renewable resources such as wind, solar and methane gas. For more information on the Green Power Switch Program, visitwww.greenpowerswitch.com or contact your local power distributor. MED is a major sponsor of the event and its personnel will be on hand to help explain the program and sign up residential and commercial green-power consumers.

Sponsors in addition to MED include General Mills and its local subsidiary Pillsbury, whose mascot the Pillsbury Dough Boy will make an appearance and Mr. Wegs, the company’s environmental mascot, will attend to represent the company’s commitment to conservation.

Other sponsors are MaxShred, Murfreesboro City Schools, Kroger, Lewis Brothers Bakery, the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Rutherford County Schools and All in One Recycling.

In keeping with the day, a “kick off the spring and summer season on the square” event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. after Earth Day festivities conclude.

Magazine Guilt

If you feel guilty about throwing your magazines in the recycle bin when you are the only person who thumbed through them, here's the cure!

Take that pile of magazines with you to the hair dresser, dentist, or doctors office and leave them.  You can cut off your address on the front cover.  Don't let them pile up just because you didn't read every article. Let others enjoy!


~Gretchen

Free Shredding at Office Depot

Papers piling up? Filing cabinet full?

Office Depot Provides Free Copies of 2011 Tax Returns and Shredding of Confidential Documents


Through April 16, 2012, customers can take advantage of this popular offer by visiting the Copy & Print Depot at any Office Depot retail store location nationwide.


Read more here:
http://mediarelations.officedepot.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=140162&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1673116&highlight

Box For Santa - Do You Store Garbage/Recycling in Your Attic?

Better than paper towels!!

Do you hold on to the boxes that your Christmas decor arrives in? I do not.

I remove Santa and recycle the packaging. When I store Santa after the holidays I wrap him in bubble wrap, use peanuts, or under pads to store in a green and red bin. Preferably a clear bin with a red and or green lid. No newspaper, paper towels, or grocery shopping sacks needed!

If you adopt this practice, you will be amazed at the amount of recycling/garbage you can reduce and increase storage in your attic each year.  ~Amy

Oh no! That tabletop is scratched!

Recycle Furniture. 

Try this with a table your grandmother gave you or you find at a consignment shop.

My mother gave me a nice mahogany table, but it needs to be refinished.  I decided to cover the table with oil cloth.  I cut it slightly larger than the table and stretched it under the edge.  This is a two man job.  I attached the oil cloth using a staple gun.  

When the time is right to refinish the table I can simply remove the staples by prying them loose with a flat head screw driver.  For now this wipe clean oil cloth surface is perfect for meal time, craft projects, and homework. 

~ Gretchen

What's Coming in Your Door?

If that is coming in, what's going out?

When you bring something in, take something out -  monitor your drawer, in your closets, in your files, your mail, your bookshelf, your child's schoolwork...the list is endless.


If you buy three new pairs of socks, get rid of three or even four old pairs.  Once you develop this habit, you will be amazed at how it cuts the clutter in your life, and not just paper, toys, and clothing.  Use this strategy to break bad habits, improve your nutrition, and even develop healthier relationships.


~ Gretchen

How about a book swap?

Notebook 

Recently, I hosted my book club.  We often trade books when we meet once a month.  This time was no exception.  I offered my entire library, from which club members could borrow.  I asked them to write their name and the title of the book in a notebook which I will keep in the book shelves in case I need to remember who has what.  My library is becoming more and more digitized as there is both a Kindle and an iPad in my family, but I still love the feel of books.  I cannot really justify keeping so many if I don't share. 

Earth Day Celebration this Saturday!

Space Claimers LOVE to Recycle! Check out the Earth Day celebration on the square this Saturday 4/16 from 10-2.

Click here for more details: City of Murfreesboro Earth Day Celebration

Recycling Options You May Have Never Considered

I can't recycle these at my curb. Now what?

Wondering where to recycle items not meant for curbside recycling? Try where you bought them. 

Compact florescent bulbs can be recycled at Lowes or Home Depot. Do not put them in with trash or glass recycling as they contain mercury. 

Batteries can be recycled at Batteries Plus. Store spent batteries in a glass jar in case of corrosion leakage. 

Cell phones can be recycled at Verizon stores. They will not accept the charger or car charger or case, just the phone including the battery. Ink cartridges can be exchanged at Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples often for a discount or a pack of copy paper. Your local Lions Club will accept your old prescription glasses and in some cases your optician will see that the Lions Club gets them, just ask. Your dry cleaner will take back wire hangers.

Kroger and Publix recycle plastic shopping bags, though you should bring your own bags whenever possible to the grocery store. Both Publix and Kroger also have bins to donate to local food banks. Whether you have something to bring from home or you find a good deal while grocery shopping and want to share, you can do it conveniently at your local store. Whole Foods even provides recycling for wine corks.

Electronics such as computers, televisions, and DVD players can be recycled at Best Buy. Apple stores accept old ipods and other Apple products. If you are buying a new computer, check to see if you can have your files transferred in the store where you buy. Sometimes there is a fee and sometimes it can be negotiated as part of your package. 

Electronic waste is becoming a huge problem because as the componets and batteries break down, toxins leak into soil and eventually, ground water. Before desposing of any appliance or electronic item, check with your local refuse collection service or do a little research on the internet to find out proper disposal for the item. You may want to donate it as long as it is not broken.

Spring Cleaning is for Workspaces Too!

What does your desk look like?

Start at the top, whether office, cube or nook. Remove any paper or decor that is no longer timely or necessary. Check for spider webs and dust bunnies and brush those away. Remove items and paper from shelves, desk, or cabinet one surface at a time so as not to overwhelm the space or your employer. Go through paper and recycle as you clean off each surface. 

Wipe each surface and item before returning things to their proper place. Disinfecting wipes are great for this purpose and a handy thing to keep in a desk drawer just in case of a future coffee spill or lunch mishap and to regularly disinfect your phone and computer keyboard. 

Look through drawers and and discard things that do not belong, such as ketchup packs or dried up ink pens. When you have freshened to your satisfaction, don't forget to empty the trash and use a disinfecting wipe to clean the garbage can before putting in a new liner.

Home offices are all sizes!

Too Many Masterpieces - Sorting Children's Art Work

File Drawer for Art Work 

Reclaim space on your refrigerator and bulletin boards. Children love to draw and never want to throw their masterpieces away. Consider purchasing a file drawer that accommodates one drawer for each of your children. As art work comes home from school or is completed at home, place it in the child's drawer. 

When the drawer is full, empty the contents on your kitchen table and set aside 15 minutes for your child to choose their favorites. Place the favorites back in the drawer and recycle the rest. I have 2 children so the bottom drawer is filled scrap paper, notebook paper and activity/drawing books.