Crowd celebrates Earth, Art in Woodside Crowd celebrates Earth, Art in Woodside (October 13, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet
Almanac Staff Writer

The sky was blue, the weather was balmy and the tickets were sold-out at the Woodside Earth & Art Day, held at Runnymede sculpture farm on Saturday, October 9.

About 500 people converged on the picturesque property, fanning out for self-guided sculpture tours, taking rides in horse-drawn carts, browsing art exhibits and environmentally themed information booths, and sampling wine from local vineyards.

Susan Lang won this year's environmental champion award. Ms. Lang, a community volunteer who has been spearheading the efforts to restore the historic Folger estate stable, was lauded as "an inspiration to all who work with her."

"It would be difficult to find a more dedicated or supportive champion of the local and regional environment," said Holt Ashley, chair of the award committee.

Woodside Elementary School science teacher Kevin Kinsella was named the Creek Champion, a new award, for his efforts in caring for the Bear Gulch Creek. Mr. Kinsella founded Bear Claw, a group that works with the watershed district and organizes a creek-cleanup day.

Mr. Kinsella thanked the crowd by inviting people to get into the creek and get their hands wet at an event on October 24.

In its fourth year, the newly renamed Earth & Art Day, organized by the Woodside Conservation Environmental Health Committee, has morphed into a somewhat swankier community gathering.

In previous years, the former Environment Fest was held in the parking lot in front of Independence Hall, where attendees munched hamburgers and hotdogs grilled by Woodside Recreation Committee members.

"The asphalt in the parking lot was not as conducive to the event," said George Offen, one of the organizers.

Earth & Art Day, while not free, still wasn't too pricey. A $10 ticket got you admission, a box lunch catered by Jesse Cool, and tables to eat at. Some constants remained -- the Woodside Village Band serenaded the crowd, there was free compost (offsite, however), and tree award winners were announced.

Kids gathered to ooh and ahh over wild animals presented by Wildlife Associates, including a two-toed sloth, a one-eyed great horned owl, and a turkey vulture that lost its lunch on stage. Winners of the new children's art contest were announced by Woodside Elementary teacher Karen Peterson.

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