The celebration, which kicks off on Monday, April 20, and runs until Sunday, April 26, is made possible through a dedicated website, www.fairfieldearthday.org. With a video welcome from Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, the website offers the full schedule for the week’s events as well as broad selection of downloadable information and activities.“With a global pandemic upending our daily lives, it’s more critical than ever for communities to come together and help individuals voice their respect and gratitude for the planet we call home,” said Mary Hogue, SFTF member and celebration co-organizer. She added, “This year, we might actually be celebrating Earth Day separately, but we can still gather virtually and in spirit to renew our commitment to safeguarding the health of the Earth for generations to come.”Live Online Events – Including Music!The highlight of the online events on April 22 will be a special, Zoom-cast of live, environmentally themed music performances by Fairfield County-based artists at 8 p.m. hosted by author/journalist, local radio host and SFTF member Jim Motavalli. Those appearing include the Bar Car Band; Beth Bradley, Earth Day songwriter/performer; Brian Dolzani, singer/songwriter; Michael Dunham, jazz and R&B pianist/singer; Fuzz, guitarist with Caravan of Thieves/Deep Banana Blackout; Chris Kinsley/Jona Ziac, bluegrass artists; Liz McNicholl, Americana performer; Greg Packham, jazz guitarist; Dan Tressler, fiddler/guitarist/singer; Heidi, Dave and Anika Vanderwal, professional classical/church singers.During the week, the Earth Day website also will host a series of video events, both live and taped, all open to participants via the Zoom networking app. The schedule includes Michelle McCabe on building community during and after Covid-19 (live, April 20); Mary Hogue on the Pollinator Pathway and Green Corridor programs, guiding residents on how to create home gardens that support beneficial, pollen-spreading insects (live, April 20); Daphne Dixon, LiveGreen CT, on electric vehicles and buses (live, April 21); a virtual EV Car Show (live, April 21); a legislator forum (live, April 22); Mary Hogue and Esben Chou on composting (live, April 22); Lori Brown of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters on the legislative/election outlook (live, April 23); Scott Thompson, SFTF chairman, on 10 Steps to a More Sustainable Lifestyle (live, April 26). All of the video events will be archived for later viewing.
Residents interested in securing supplies to create their own pollinator-friendly gardens can follow links on the website to local providers including Ganim’s Garden Center, Oliver Nurseries, Native Plant Nursery, and the Wilton High School Ecotype Native Plant Sale.Links also will be provided to a wide selection of local and regional environmental and conservation-focused advocacy groups, including (among many others) the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Fairfield Bike-Ped Committee, Fairfield Forestry Committee, and the Sustainable Fairfield Task Force.Sharing the Celebration:Even with all of us staying at home and social distancing, Earth Day will offer everyone opportunities to express thanks and love for the Earth. Regardless of how residents mark the day, the SFTF encourages everyone to capture a photo of their observance and share it using the hashtag #FairfieldEarthDay50. Residents also can tag the SFTF in their posts about their Earth Day activities (@SustainableFairfield on Instagram and @SustainableFairfieldTaskForce on Facebook) and those posts will be shared as well. The photos will be uploaded throughout the day and as many as possible will be showcased on the Earth Day website.About the SFTF:
The Sustainable Fairfield Task Force provides support for Town practices and projects that can help Fairfield manage its growth to safeguard the health of its environment, ensure the reliability and economical use of its natural resources, and preserve the quality of life of its residents – today and for the future. For more information, please visit www.fairfieldct.org/sftf.
For more information or questions, please contact: Mary Hogue/Sustainable Fairfield Task Force, (203)-216-2536.