Lots of activities set for Earth Day Lots of activities set for Earth Day (April 20, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Thirty-five years after a bunch of college students helped launch the environmental movement with the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, people around the world will turn out for thousands of projects to help restore the health of the planet.

Here on the Midpeninsula, there are ample opportunities this weekend to celebrate and help our own patch of earth.

For inspiration, folks can go to an Earth Day sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. Friday at Palo Alto Baylands; or on Saturday evening, they can eat a decadent vegetarian dinner of fresh, locally grown produce prepared by chef Laura Stec.

For family fun (and education), the Marine Science Institute in Redwood City will put on an educational party from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with activities ranging from the Banana Slug Band, to fish touching, shark feeding, and crafts. The two-hour Bay cruises on its 90-foot research vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee, have already filled up.

For the energetic, state and local conservation organizations are sponsoring a variety of clean-up projects from the Arastradero Preserve to Half Moon Bay beaches.

Some businesses are joining in, too. Kepler's bookstore will donate a percentage of purchases on Earth Day to the local conservation center, Acterra. And Runner's High, at 859 Santa Cruz Ave. in downtown Menlo Park, will be accepting used athletic shoes.

Those who just want to enjoy the beauties of spring can enjoy hikes around the hills, green from spring rains and sparkling with the best wildflowers in years.

Following is partial list of activities. Most of them are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-24.
Pleasure, education, inspiration

** Earth Day Sunrise Ceremony , Friday, April 22, at 6 a.m. at the Palo Alto Baylands boat ramp. Free. Call Ginny Anderson, at 323-4494. ** Ecology Action , a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit, will hold a program from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, April 22, at Sunset Publishing, 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park. The program helps small businesses cut their energy bills by installing energy efficient lighting upgrades at little or no out-of-pocket cost. Call Aaron Brown at 831-426-5925, ext. 107. ** Marine Science Institute , Saturday, April 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood City. Family programs include hands-on activities relating to Bay mud, water, fish and crafts, with entertainment by the Banana Slug String Band, and food available from Whole Foods. Entry fee $5. Check sfbaymsi.org. ** Paddle around Bair Island with Save the Bay on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to view plans for its restoration to tidal action. Check savesfbay.org, or call 510-452-9261. ** Acterra's Earth Day Decadent Dinner on Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 826 Lincoln Ave. in Palo Alto. Chef Laura Stec prepares a vegetarian dinner with produce from local farmers. Tickets are $35 to $100 on a sliding scale. For reservations -- if any are still available -- call Laura at 961-9876, ext. 346. ** The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is sponsoring a variety of wildflower hikes and educational activities on Earth Day weekend. Check openspace.org or call 691-1200. ** Wildflower walks at Edgewood Natural Preserve on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. Walks start from Old Stage Day Camp on Edgewood Road about a mile east of Interstate 280; an easier walk on Saturday starts from the Clarkia Trailhead on Canada Road, just east of I-280. Check friendsofedgewood.org.
To work or recycle

** Arastradero Preserve Trail Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by Acterra and Environmental Volunteers. Participants will repair and restore natural habitat and the Portola Pastures Trail. To sign up, call Brianna Richardson at 962-9876, ext. 347. ** Beach restoration at Half Moon Bay State Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 95 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay. Volunteers will clean the beach, remove non-native plants, and plant native species at Francis, Venice, Dunes and Roosevelt beaches. For information on this and other park projects sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation, PG&E, Oracle and others, call 1-888-98-PARKS, or visit calparks.org. ** Mercury thermometers can be exchanged for new digital thermometer Monday through Friday, April 18 to 22, at Menlo Park City Hall, 701 Laurel St.; or at the Atherton town hall, 91 Ashfield Road, during business hours. Thermometers should be in their original case, or two zip bags. Check flowstobay.org. (Old or expired pharmaceuticals may also be turned in at the Atherton town hall. To protect privacy, labels should be removed, or the pharmaceuticals should be transferred to another container.) ** Used athletic equipment can be turned in from Friday, April 22, to Saturday, April 30, at Menlo Park's Burgess Gym, 501 Laurel St. Used soccer balls, basketballs and footballs; cleats, gloves, bats, boots and clean sleeping bags will be donated to organizations that can put them to use, including Urban Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Sierra Club Inner City Outings. Check recycleworks.org.

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