“In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”     Senegalese Environmentalist Baba Dioum

I saw that quote at an exhibit in New York while attending a conference there. For me, it helps to bring all of our hopes for saving the planet into perspective. We have to learn enough about our environment to love it, and then we have to find ways to protect what we’ve learned to love.

In one way or another, I have been working at protecting our water resources since the 70s, first with SEMCOG, and then as Drain Commissioner. In recent years, I have seen educating people about the environment really taking hold.

On this Earth Day 2008, I thought I’d let you know that our Washtenaw Community and our own Washtenaw County government are making important strides toward more sustainable lifestyles. Take a look at the following events, programs and initiatives and then think about the possibilities for change in your own life – from turning off a light or your computer, to leaving the car at home a couple of days a week, to skipping the fertilizer for the back yard.

Happy Earth Day!

Janis
Janis Bobrin, Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner

• Earth Day Festival – Sunday, April 27 – Washtenaw County environmental programs will be at the Leslie Science & Nature Center on Sunday from noon to 4 pm,1831 Traver Road in Ann Arbor. It’s a “free, family-friendly event featuring displays from local environmental, non-profit, and governmental organizations; live animal demonstrations; hands-on activities; live entertainment; and the newest solar home technology and green building features.” See the City of Ann Arbor press release.
  
  
• Washtenaw County Clean-Up Days, Saturday, May 3rd, 8025 Werkner Rd. in Chelsea, (see flyer), and another on Saturday May 17th, at the Saline Patrick J. Little Public Works Facility at 1234 Tefft Court, in Saline. (See flyer) These Clean-Up days are a great way to safely get rid of household hazardous materials, old tires, furniture, electronic equipment, motor oil, yard waste, freon appliances, traditional recyclables and more. 
   
  
• BEST BUY parking lot, Saturday, April 26, 3100 Lohr Road in Pittsfield Township, 9 am to 4 pm. Drop off electronic items like computers, personal digital assistants, telephones, VCRs, and other small electronics less than 100 lbs. for free.  No Freon containing appliances will be accepted at this event.  And the first 100 people will receive a Best Buy gift card. 
  
  
• The Home Toxics Reduction Program is operating again every Saturday from 9 to Noon at 705 N Zeeb, the Washtenaw County Western Service Center, excluding holidays from April through the first week of December.  Plenty of opportunities to clean up and clean out in the best way.
  
  
• Waste Knot Awards Ceremony will be this Thursday, April 24 from 5 to 7 pm at Weber’s Inn, recognizing 300 businesses that have exemplary behavior in waste reduction by purchasing post consumer goods, practice recycling and have policies supporting education of employees to reduce waste.
  
  
• Take a Rain Garden Tour – See this new online tour of our some of our area’s beautiful Rain Gardens that help keep fertilizer chemicals and other harmful runoff out of our rivers and streams.
  
  
• RiverSafe Homes – Protecting our area’s life giving water systems – one home at a time. Find out how your home can be a RiverSafe Home.
  
  
• Community Partners for Clean Streams (CPCS) is a voluntary, cooperative effort between the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner's Office and Washtenaw County businesses, institutional landowners and multi-family residential complexes.
  
  
• Energy Conservation Videos are now on the Washtenaw County public web site. Check them out!
  
  
• Environmental Portal – The County’s innovative portal for information on all things environmental has been honored with a permanent link on the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) web site.  It also brings you a lot of ways to “act local” in protecting and celebrating the Earth!