Friends of Main Street are encouraging residents to not let the COVID-19 virus prevent the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!
Although the Friends of Main Street are disappointed that an "organized" Mad River Clean Up is not practical or advisable this year, they are encouraging local folks to not miss the opportunity to take action on the special anniversary.
Friends of Main Street are encouraging our residents to take a moment to celebrate the Mad River along Main Street. For years Friends of Main Street has organized its cleanups with volunteers bringing their own tools trimming — or hacking — away at years' worth of weeds and undergrowth and trash. Over the past few years, the Board of Selectmen and town management have, for the public's safety, had the overgrowth, that was not safe for volunteers to reach, carefully cleared. Today we can now enjoy the beauty of this river, the walking path, bridge, and historic mill buildings. Let's continue to honor and support this natural beauty by keeping its banks pristine.
How you will celebrate the week of Earth Day this year may be different, but there's no shortage of fun and education activities that are good for your health and environment that will keep you safe during a pandemic. Here are some ideas from Friends of Main Street:
- Join Winsted Trails. Learn about trails under development, become a volunteer trail master, make a tax-deductible donation to help fund marking our trails network. Winsted Trails recently shared an article that suggested that you hug a tree if you can't hug someone now due to the pandemic!
- Plant a tree or start a garden. Plant a tree and dedicate it to a family member. How about starting a garden — from seed? My fondest memories of spring were watching seedlings grow and then planting them in a garden with my parents.
- Take a walk or a hike. Stay active, immerse yourself in nature while hiking or on a walk with a pet. Get out and enjoy nature safely and bring a bag to pick up trash (or poop) on your street and around the community.
- Go paperless. Change how you receive your bills and pay them online.
- Bird watching. How many birds (or animals) can you and your children identify that visit your property — daily, weekly, monthly? Take pictures too!
- Get educated and go virtual. There are so many documentaries available online to watch — here are a few to check out: "Our Planet" on Netflix, "This Changes Everything" on Amazon Prime, "Trashed" on iTunes, "VICELAND, Rise and "Voice of the Amazon" on YouTube.