(PRESS RELEASE SENT TO MEDIA APRIL 5, 2013)

April 27th will mark the 19th annual Earth Day celebrated in Woodbury, CT, and the second year it will be brought to you by the Woodbury Business and Economic Development Committee (WBEDC), and sponsored in part by New Morning Market. The event will take place at Hollow Park from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Guests will enjoy learning about and talking to local, natural and organic vendors and exhibitors, and a full day of entertainment and activities are planned.  Sponsors and volunteers are still being sought.  This event is not-for-profit, and any proceeds collected will be donated to local charities.

“2012 was the first year that the event was held at Hollow Park instead of New Morning’s parking lot area” says Joe Donato, chairman of the Woodbury Business and Economic Development Committee.  “It was incredibly well attended, with more than 120 vendors and exhibitors, and over 5,000 guests. We could not be happier.”

Activities planned include children’s arts and crafts, a petting zoo and a hula hoop demonstration. There will be musicians taking the stage throughout the day, including Doug Mahard, Krizta Moon, Sweetheart Mountain and Emily Colt.  In addition, guests can enjoy a River Walk, a Weed Walk and Kayak Demo on Hollow Pond.  Henna tattoos and face painting will be offered, and a drum circle brings together guests in harmonious rhythm.

“There is so much to experience at this year’s Earth Day celebration,” says John Pittari owner of New Morning Market and member of the event planning committee.  “I invite you to come enjoy an afternoon in beautiful Hollow Park, there will be something there for everyone to enjoy.”

Food vendors this year will include the Caseus Cheese Truck, El Camion, Chet’s Italian Ice, Le Petite France’s fresh crepes cart, Dottie’s Donuts and Annie Bananie ice cream. 

Volunteers are also being sought for help with set-up, vendor assistance, survey administers, animal care, clean up, and arts and crafts.  Those interested in volunteering may email woodburyearthdayvolunteers@gmail.com.

“This is a great way for families and friends to work together in support of a community event that could not run smoothly without their help,” says Carol Haskins, volunteer committee member in charge of coordinating volunteers.

Those seeking additional information please email woodburyearthday@gmail.com.

Wow!  That’s all I can say.  What an amazing day at Woodbury Earth Day!  Droves of guests came to enjoy the music, activities and exhibitors, and the sun shone bright all day long.    If you attended and would like to fill out a survey, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.  We will be posting a link here soon, for you to do so.  Please check back.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered and who worked tirelessly to insure the celebration was a success!

Woodbury Earth Day is tomorrow, and excitement is brewing!  The weather looks decent, no rain until late afternoon..which will be a perfect way to end Earth Day, seeing as we really could use rain, just not on all of our guests during our celebration.

We hope to see you and your friends and family at Woodbury Earth Day. We know you’re going to love everything that has been planned!

Woodbury Earth Day relies greatly on the help of volunteers. Please click on the link below information sheet, and consider donating your time for a great, community cause!

Volunteer Expectations & Roles

Volunteers are a vital component in making the 2012 Earth Day Celebration a success!  While there are numerous vendors, exhibitors, entertainers, and activity leaders, they need the support of volunteers to ensure that the day is enjoyable for everyone. 

 Volunteers are asked to commit to 3 hours of volunteering during the course of the day.  With this commitment, volunteers will receive a complementary T-shirt to wear during your shift and keep.  Volunteers will also be provided with lunch.  Volunteers are expected to arrive at least 5 minutes before their shift to check-in at the Volunteer Tent and get their T-shirt.  Volunteers are also expected to work for the full duration they have committed to serving. Volunteers are expected to act in a mature and responsible manner, as they represent both the Town of Woodbury and New Morning Market.

  If you are thinking about volunteering, please read the descriptions on the following page to decide which role would best suit your interests and abilities.  To schedule your volunteer time-slot, contact Carol Haskins at chaskins@pomperaug.org or 203-263-0076. Please print, sign, and return your completed Contract by Friday April 13, to PRWC, 39 Sherman Hill Road, C103, Woodbury, CT 06798 or FAX to 203-263-0076.

 If for some reason your plans change after signing up, please let the volunteer coordinator know as soon as possible so another volunteer may be found.  We are counting on you!

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Set-up (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

Set-up for the Celebration includes a wide variety of tasks that range from posting signs to placing trash cans around the grounds to helping vendors find their exhibit space, unloading their cars, and setting up tents and tables.

 Runners (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

Runners will be needed throughout the course of the celebration and will help with a variety of odd jobs like providing bathroom breaks to vendors, running messages between vendors and committee organizers, locating and delivering random pieces of equipment.  This position requires a volunteer that is ready and willing to help with just about anything.

Grounds Crew (11:00 AM – 4:00PM)

The Grounds Crew volunteers will circulate grounds and empty trash cans and recycling can as needed, pick up trash that may end up on the ground, and periodically check and restock bathrooms.

Arts & Crafts (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

What Earth Day Celebration would be complete without an Arts & Crafts area?  Spanning throughout the course of the Celebration, a handful of arts and crafts will be available for kids to stop by, do and bring home.  A few volunteers will be needed to run and assist children with each of the craft projects.

Break-down (3:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

Set-up for the Celebration includes a variety of tasks that range from removing signs to removing trash cans around the grounds to helping vendors take down their tents and loading their cars to “sweeping” the grounds for stray bits of trash.

To schedule your volunteer time-slot, contact Carol Haskins
at chaskins@pomperaug.org or 203-263-0076.

Please print, sign, and return your completed Volunteer Contract by Friday April 13, 2012 to
PRWC, 39 Sherman Hill Road, C103, Woodbury, CT 06798 or FAX to 203-263-0076.

APRIL 16, 2012 – Woodbury, CT –Woodbury Earth Day will take place on Saturday, April 21st from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Hollow Park in Woodbury, CT, More than 130 exhibitors, live music and entertainment, 3 authors, as well as numerous demonstrations and activities suited for children, teens and adults will be featured. A complete list of activities and exhibitors can be found at http://www.woodburyearthday.org.

“Woodbury and the surrounding communities have a great number of environmentally and sustainably conscience business owners and entrepreneurs. This Earth Day celebration will be a new opportunity for many people to buy directly from our neighborhood producers and to interact with others who are passionate about preserving our community and the planet”, said committee member and New Morning owner John Pittari.

Featured Connecticut Authors who will be available for discussion and book signings include: Terry Walters author of Clean Start and Clean Food;  Emily Brooks, founder of Edibles Adoviate Alliance as well as the author of Connecticut FARMER & FEAST®, NYC FARMER & FEAST ®, the creator of Buy Local Connecticut®, the Advisor for GreenTown’s Sustainable Food Initiative, and is a regular “local food & sustainability expert” on NPR; and Maureen Whitehouse, author of Soul-Full Eating, A (Delicious) Path to Higher Consciousness

Musical guests include; Not Quite Bluegrass, Krizta Moon, Mark Louis Miller, Doug Mahard, Don Lowe, HannaH’s Field, Mark Elkins, Michelle Wenis, and Garden of Beats.

There will be a kids scavenger hunt, Animal Homes Walk, Weed Walk, Tree Talk, and River Walk.

There will be a children’s activity tent which will include face painting, bird feeders and necklace crafts, and a poster contest where guests will be asked to vote on their favorite posters which will have been created by Woodbury Middle School students.

There will also be two non-profit organizations  accepting donations at the celebration, one being Children 2 Children, who collects unwanted and lightly used children’s clothing and shoes and distributes them to underprivileged children in Connecticut and beyond.  In addition the Community Services Council of Woodbury will be there collecting non-perishable food items for the local food bank.

The Town of Woodbury’s Business and Economic Development Committee is hosting the celebration, which will be sponsored in part by New Morning Market.  This year’s theme is ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’.

“The main mission for this celebration is to bring together local businesses and community who share in a vision of a healthful and wholesome lifestyle,” said Woodbury town selectman Jerry Stomski.  “We also want to create awareness, and actively encourage the sustainable production of local goods.”  Stomski is grateful for the support of New Morning Market and other local businesses, and feels the celebration will be educational and fun for all ages.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012- In celebration of it’s 18th year, Woodbury Earth Day launches it’s brand new website.