A child’s face lit up with excitement as 84-year-old Vic Lase
showed her how to connect the walls of the bird house to the
foundation. She was learning how to build a nesting box to provide
shelter for the first small song birds of spring.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle, 1855
A child’s face lit up with excitement as 84-year-old Vic Lase showed her how to connect the walls of the bird house to the foundation. She was learning how to build a nesting box to provide shelter for the first small song birds of spring.
“This type of bird house is designed for chickadees,” Lase explained. “That’s why the opening is so small.”
Such was the scene April 19, 2007, at Christmas Hill Park for Gilroy’s annual celebration of Earth Day.
But now, due to personnel and budget cutbacks, the City of Gilroy has officially canceled Gilroy’s celebration of Earth Day.
Marilyn Mitri, president of the Gilroy Lions Club, is trying to keep it alive. She is spearheading a grassroots campaign to save the City’s annual celebration of a day that raises awareness about the Earth’s natural resources and provides education about environmental conservation. However, due to finding out about the cancellation late, Mitri is planning to hold the celebration May 9, not on Earth Day, which is Tuesday.
Typically, the City coordinates the spring celebration, which usually includes free refreshments and activities such as planting and pruning demonstrations, bird walks, and several activities for children such as planting seeds and the construction of birdhouses. Last year, children planted native California poppy seedlings in the park.
“When the City rescinded Earth Day, we thought, why don’t we just go ahead and have our own program?” said Lase, a bird lover, a Lions Club member and Gilroy resident of 52 years. “Right now I’m preparing all the materials to make 102 bird house kits.”
Lase has fabricated all the parts for 72 bird house kits each year for the past seven years. He’s upping the number this year because he doesn’t want to see any long faces like he did last year when the supply ran out too soon. The bird houses are designed to protect the eggs and young of local song birds from predators such as squirrels and raccoons.
“I’ve even had blue birds use this box,” he said. “I thought the opening was too small, but by golly the mama blue bird just flew right in!”
It’s all in the planning stages at this point, but this week the city gave approval to the Lions Club for use of the Ranch section of Christmas Hill Park. The City has offered to provide some supplies – such as tables, chairs, and the use of rest rooms.
“We can do this,” Mitri said, “We just have to put our heads together.”
The Lions, many of whom are senior citizens, have decided to partner with Gavilan College students to put on the celebration. The students are exploring ideas for activities, such as leading nature walks.
The first national observance of Earth Day was made possible largely by the efforts of three men: Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, environmental lawyer Denis Hayes – CEO of the Bullitt Foundation, a $100 million environmental foundation in Seattle – and Republican California Congressman Pete McCloskey.
The first Earth Day event was held April 22, 1970. More than 20 million people – including students and government employees – participated throughout the nation to show support for environmental conservation. It led to the passage of many important environmental protection laws and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Growing to become the largest secular holiday observed in the world, it is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by over a billion people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities.
We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
Educator Marshall McLuan once said: “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”
Our responsibility for environmental stewardship of this planet doesn’t take a holiday when the economic grinch rears its ugly head.
To help with the grassroots campaign to keep Gilroy’s Earth Day celebration alive, contact Gilroy Lions President Marilyn Mitri at 847-0092.
A New Earth Day
When: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. May 9
Where: Ranch section of Christmas Hill Park
