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.

Is that a keepsake? Part 2: Do you like it?

What items do you treasure? A child's treasured keepsake may be a game-winning baseball. Adults have a variety of collections that they treasure.

Antique Camera. Do you like it?

What happens when someone gives you a collection or an item that you do not treasure? Do you like it? You have some choices:

1. Store it. Do nothing and store it in the garage, attic, or closet.  
2. Honor it in your home by display. Think of incorporating items into your home decor. There are many options for framing items. 
3. Honor it in your home by use. Choose a portion of the collection if you are not fond of the whole. If your grandma gave you an entire set of dishes you love, use them! Or, pick out the serving pieces and use them!
4. Give it away. Give to Goodwill and you give someone a job. Give to a family member that you know would enjoy it for no reason, Christmas or a birthday. 
5. Sell it - eBay, Craigslist, yard sales, antique dealers, etc.  

Is that a bucket under your sink?

Collect towels in this bucket.

Using dish towels and smaller dish cloths saves greatly on paper towel use.  I find that  white wash cloths or bar mops, available in multi packs at Walmart or Marshall's work well as a substitute.  I especially like microfiber towels for cleaning.  After using them sufficiently, I toss them into a bucket under the sink filled with water in which I have dissolved a scoop of Oxi Clean.  I dump the contents of the bucket in the washing machine and wash with a warm water load every other day or so. 

My cousin decided to give up paper towels all together after she stopped buying them during a time when she was out of work.  She said that once she developed the habit of using dish cloths, she never needed to go back to paper towels.  I don't know if I can ever totally give up paper towels, but it's a good goal.  Think of the money and trees we could save if we all just gave it a try.