Earth Day activities continue in city
Local Earth Day activities continue today as individuals, groups and organizations worldwide mark the day earmarked for environmental protection.
Rotary Park Environmental Center, which held a native plant sale this past weekend, will be the site of a butterfly “tour” today.
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will host the special butterfly house tour at the park from 10 a.m. to noon. Although the tour is free, donations for the Friends of Wildlife are accepted.
The tours are normally offered Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Also today, at 3 p.m., the city of Cape Coral and Lee County Electric Co-Op will donate three more fruit trees for Trafalgar Middle School’s garden. Mayor Marni Sawicki and students will plant the trees this afternoon and the public is invited to attend.
Trafalgar Middle School now has 26,000 square feet dedicated to a garden and fruit trees, which help serve local soup kitchens.
“We wanted to provide fresh vegetables and fruit to local soup kitchens … people in need,” Trafal-gar Middle School Builders Club Advisor Al Piotter said of the garden that began in August 2014.
The garden has such staples as tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, collards, eggplant, dill, Swiss chard and basil. It also has 67 fruit trees.
“It’s unbelievable,” Piotter said.
The Garden Club developed out of the Builders Club, which participates in community service projects almost every weekend. Once the garden came to fruition, the community stepped in and provided materials and funds. Individuals have sponsored rows in the garden.
Last year, the garden provided more than 5,000 pounds, or 2.5 tons of food to the soup kitchen. Piotter said they have already provided 3,700 pounds of food to the soup kitchen this year.
Other events include:
n All Aboard Preschool, at 1918 S.E. Santa Barbara Place, decided to host an Earth Day event for its parents and family members from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
Director Ann Marie Walsh said Kimberly Cain will be in charge of the first year event. She said since they received a greenhouse they wanted their students to get involved in more earthy activities.
Parents and family members who attend will help plant flowers and vegetables in such items as boots, rain boots, shoes and buckets.
n The public is also invited to an Earth Day celebration today beginning at 10 a.m. at the Fort Myers Regional Library on the Cornog Plaza. The Lee County Library System will make a special public announcement at 10:30 a.m., which will coincide with a national announcement at that time.
A variety of environmental programs will take place including an eco-themed storytime for kids beginning at 10:30. A representative from ECHO will discuss sustainable agriculture and world hunger. Lee County Solid Waste and Fort Myers Regional Library will have activities for kids and adults including a planting station, chalk drawings and an eco-craft table.
The Fort Myers Regional Library is at 2450 First St., Fort Myers.
Trafalgar Middle School is at 2120 Trafalgar Parkway.
Rotary Environmental Park is at 5505 Rose Garden Road.