Earth Day was born way back in another time in the country’s history, during upheavals of the 1960s, when pollution streamed from industrial smokestacks and oil spills in waters killed dolphins, fish and sea birds. It was a time when car windows were casually rolled down and trash was freely pitched to the side of the road. American environmental regulations were born in tan Age of Aquarius so to speak.
Instituted nearly 50 years ago in April of 1970, Earth Day has morphed from its roots of peace and understanding about our environment into many issues that impact a whole cascade of eco systems. From over fishing coastal waterways and stresses of windmill farms to local waste management and healthy streams, the Earth Day has debated how humans consume resources and lower impact living.
Now celebrated globally on April 22, Sloatsburg and the surrounding area work locally when the Sloatsburg Public Library hosts an afternoon with Timber rattlesnake expert and legend Randy Stechert on Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Stechert presents rare photographs and narration of the life history of this familiar, congenial though threatened species of New York state snake.
On Sunday, April 22, the Friends of Harmony Hall and the Town of Ramapo present a lecture and book signing by local author and archeologist Edward Lenik. The Jacob Sloat House parlor talk begins at 2 p.m. and features a rich pageant of Lenik’s 35 years of field experience exploring the surrounding rock formations and woods and impact of the region’s Ramapough Lenape Nation people. Lenik has documented traces of vanishing of evidence of human occupation – tools and whatnot and other shards of life – in the ancient Ramapo Mountains.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Tuxedo will be celebrating Earth Day with an assortment of community cleanups, including:
Saturday April 21, 8am — Commuter Parking Lot Earth Day Clean-up. Sponsored by the Friends of Sterling Forest
Help keep our park clean! Meet Dennis Trotter and members of the Friends of Sterling Forest at the Commuter Parking Lot located at the intersection of Rt. 17 and 17A and help remove the litter. Please bring work gloves. Trash bags will be provided. All participants will be awarded a Friends of Sterling Forest patch!
Sunday, April 22, Electronic Recycling at Town Hall, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 22, meet up with Shari Brooks at 9:30 a.m. at the Mini Park Neighborhood cleanup in Eagle Valley. Safety vests and bags will be provided.
Sunday, April 22nd Route 17 Corridor Clean Up Meet up with EJ Matthews at the train station 9:30 a.m. Safety vests and bags will be provided.
For more information on Ed Lenik’s Harmony Hall appearance, contact GeoffWelch@gmail.com or call (845) 712-5220.
Call the Sloatsburg Public Library with any questions related to Randy Stechert’s rattlesnake presentation.
