Community Corner
Patch Picks: Local Eco-Friendly Escapes
Here are a few places to help the environment in honor of Earth Day.
Earth Day serves as a reminder to show our care and appreciation for the planet's natural environment. It was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, and first held on April 22, 1970.
To commemorate what in 2009 the United Nations designated International Mother Earth Day, here are some local events in need of volunteers to help better our surroundings and nurture the Earth.
The Great Brookhaven Cleanup at Shorefront Park at 36 Smith Street in Patchogue will take place on Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
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Last year's event was very successful with 16 pounds of refuse being collected from the park.
The Great Brookhaven Plant-In will be held at Shorefront Park in Patchogue on Saturday, June 4 at noon. The deck booth, pool, bandshell, bridges and playground will be beautified, and lots of fun is sure to be had by all.
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Help Clean Lake Ronkonkoma on the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. usually meets at Portion Road and Hawkins Avenue. Cleanup weather allowing, members gather in the parking lot at the southwest corner of the intersection of Portion Road and Holbrook Road. Gloves, safety vests and trash bags will be provided to volunteers. If inclement weather causes a cancellation, then the cleanup will be on the second Saturday of the month.
Join the Great South Bay Audubon Society for their Annual Spring Brookside County Park Cleanup on Sunday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Brookside County Park located at 59 Brook Street in Sayville (rain date Sunday, May 29).
A hearty and delicious continental breakfast will be provided to jumpstart volunteers' energy.
Feel free to stay for an hour, or the entire day. Any amount of time will be appreciated and everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity for students to log in community service hours. Please bring work gloves and gardening tools (rakes, clippers, etc.) if possible. For more information please contact Brookside director, Kathy Kozakiewicz at raykozak@rcn.com or call 631-567-2637.
The Annual Bayport-Blue Point Community Cleanup Day will be held on Sunday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is sponsored by the Bayport-Blue Point High School Ecology Club. Meet at the High School, 200 Snedecor Avenue in Bayport in the north entrance parking lot. Just bring a willing spirit, all supplies will be provided. Call 631-277-1365 or go to sscomh@aol.com.
Go Gardening in the Park at The Common Ground in Sayville's Rotary Park between Candee and Gillette Avenues. In order for the gardens in the park to look and be flourishing and vibrant many hands, and a few green thumbs, are needed. Think about dropping in on their gardening season and classes held on the first and third Saturdays of every month from 9 a.m. to noon beginning in April. To obtain more information go to thecommonground.com.
On April 16 divide fall-blooming perennials and take home a plant! April 30 will be a special Earth Day session
Brookhaven's Great American Cleanup will meet at the Sachem Central School District - Walter C. Dunham Administration Building, 245 Union Avenue in Holbrook on April 16 at 9 a.m. Volunteers will gather there and then pick up litter from Union Avenue, Main Street and hopefully beyond. Groups or individuals are asked to come help make a difference in their community. Bags, some gloves and pickers will be provided. Call 631-981-9488 or go to earthkeepersclub@aol.com.
The Town of Brookhaven's fourth annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup, held on April 16, is part of a national drive to beautify communities, and is organized by Keep America Beautiful. The event has gotten more than 4,000 town residents involved each year since its inception. Previous cleanups have resulted in the collection of more than 80 tons of trash.
The Great Brookhaven Plant-In, to be held on June 4, is an effort to renew parks and plant community gardens.
Both events will be held in various locations throughout the Town.
Information about volunteering is available at the Town of Brookhaven Website or 631-451-6260.
This year for Earth Day consider doing something special to welcome spring, clean up the environment, take some time to smell the roses — and maybe even plant some! If you don't see an event planned in your neighborhood, why not organize one?
