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Over a thousand area residents of all ages had a chance to learn about renewable energy, locally produced food, owls, recyclable products, enjoy outdoor exercise and help clean up their community during Clear Lake Earth Days.
Over a ton of paper was shredded to be recycled into paper towels. The Clear Lake 5K and 10K included 215 participants; over 50 children enjoyed the scavenger hunt and storytime at the Clear Lake Public Library; hundreds attended the Green Expo/Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours with the locally-produced food provided by the Clear Lake Chapter of Slow Food USA. The events also included a Boundary Water Boys concert; the Iowa State University solar-powered car and over 800 school children learned about naturalist skills and owls.
Clear Lake and Ventura business owners are finding that more customers are asking for “green” products, which in turn can add “green” to the business bottom line. The first-ever Green Expo provided a marketplace for local businesses to reach customers interested in practical ways to save energy and money, eat well and purchase sustainable products. Several Clear Lake retailers also are participating in a “shop local” recyclable bag program and offered special promotions in connection with Clear Lake Earth Days. CLvision digital cable tv is broadcasting interviews with the retailers. Shopping locally is one of those green practices that we all can do! Plans already are under way for a Green Fest/Saving of the Green retail promotion for 2010.
Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped with the cleanup, Earth Day 5K and 10K, Green Expo, Business after Hours and the local food provided by the Clear Lake chapter of Slow Food USA and the Fun Run. We offer a special thanks to volunteers Darlene Sherwood and Anne Unsworth for their work on the silent auction, to Matt Ritter of Clear Lake Bank and Trust for coordinating the paper shredding; to Laurie Lietz and the Surf Ballroom Board; to school administrators Jay Mathis, Tracy Thomsen and Mike Barkley and to the terrific Silver Chord middle school students and to seventh graders who cleaned up the Clear Lake shoreline. Our thanks to our Major Sponsors: Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce; Clear Lake Bank and Trust; CLTel; Fox River Mills; Hanson Foundation; JBS Auto Parts; Surf Ballroom. Event Sponsors: Voortmann Chiropractic; Perkins; Kelli Smith of State Farm Insurance; Wilcox Furniture; On-Site Information Destruction Inc. and Contributing Sponsors: Breadeaux Pizza; Cutting Edge Fitness; Best Western Holiday Lodge; North Iowa Collision Center; Econofoods; Cabin Coffee; Decker Sports; Splash MultiSport; Culligan Water Conditioning; Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers; Healing House; Celebrations.
Over $3,400.00 was raised to help expand community and school recycling. The committee will assist Mayor Nelson Crabb, the City Council, school administrators and Absolute Waste in this project. Everyone makes a difference! A big thank you to Gordan Wiemann, Dean Molinsky and John Clemons for being our auctioneers and to Dr. Jerry Nelson, John Larsen of Clear Lake Stained and Beveled Glass, Sandra Quintus of Artistic Walls by Sandra Quintus, Steven Johnson, ceramic artist and to Steve and Vicki Sukup and to the following donors to the auction: Eva Marie’s Home & Gift, Donna Dull, Boundary Water Boys, Deb Tesar, Clear Lake Arts Center, White Sail Spa, Jennings Excavating, Manufacturer’s Bank & Trust, Wayne’s Ski & Sports, River City Tattoo Company, Grunwald & Kiger Jewelers, Back Alley Wine, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, Mary Drew Kohlhaas, Clear Lake Parks & Rec, Jackson Floral, Blessings on Main B & B, Healing House, C L Massage Therapy, LightSmile, Happy Trails Wrecker Service, Lakeside Cyclery, Our Iowa Magazine, Poland Photography, Zilge Appliance Center, The Red Geranium.
The Clear Lake Earth Days Committee of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce uses practical information, Clear Lake’s cooperative community spirit and pragmatic action to achieve the following goals: to help inform North Iowans about local ways to save energy and eat well and so they can save money and sustain the local economy while also enhancing their personal health and the planet’s health; ignite an excitement about the outdoors and an understanding about our impact on our natural environment; raise an awareness of the link between Clear Lake’s economic vitality and the health of its natural resources and provide a chance to make a visible enhancement in Clear Lake with the community cleanup.
Each of us makes a difference and working together, what a difference we make! Clear Lake Earth Days are always held on the week surrounding the April 22 national Earth Day.
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