This coming Thursday, April 22, will officially mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 by 20 million Americans participating in teach-ins and other events to highlight awareness of the Earth’s environment.
“People can see earth and nature pretty much untouched and unspoiled by the outside.” – Eileen Markenstein
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Earth Day events
The public will be able to enjoy the following Earth Day events:
• Saturday, April 24, the Hudson County Improvement Authority in collaboration with Liberty State Park, the county of Hudson, the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, and the Friends of Liberty State Park will hold its annual Earth Day Celebration. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the celebration “A Billion Acts of Green,” will be held in the CRRNJ Terminal and the South Field of Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The events will include a 5K race/walk by competitors from all demographic groups, and a Kids’ Earth Day Kingdom featuring environment-themed displays, live entertainment, inflatable rides, arts and crafts activities, games, contests, and food. For more information, call (201) 795-4555.
• Also on Saturday, April 24, the Liberty State Park Interpretative Center will host a shoreline clean-up from 10 a.m. to noon in the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area. Volunteers will meet at the center at 10 a.m. Please wear appropriate clothing. Closed-toed footwear and a hat, sunscreen, and water are advisable. Gloves will be provided. For more information and registration, call the Interpretative Center at (201) 915-3409 or e-mail lspic@verizon.net.
• Also on Saturday at Newport Centre Mall in downtown Jersey City, “Little Planet Helpers,” a free, eco-themed event, will be held with the Simon Kidgits Club from noon through 2 p.m. in Center Court. Kids from ages 3 to 8 can partake in fun Earth Day festivities such as the “Pitch In Recycle Game,” and plant herb seedlings in pots they decorate themselves. For more information visit www.simon.com/kidgits.
• On Sunday, April 25, the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery celebrates Earth
Day with the planting of trees and shrubs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Trees & shrubs donated by the New Jersey Tree Foundation). The plantings will be followed by an Earth Day concert featuring Jersey City musicians including Smoove Sailors and Nathan Carpenter from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested for concert admission. The cemetery is located at 435 Newark Ave., across the street from Dickinson High School. For more information on the event, call Eileen Markenstein at (201) 707-0738 or visit www.jerseycitycemetery.org.
Making a resting place more lively
Eileen Markenstein, president of the board of trustees for the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery, said the Earth Day celebration in the cemetery will allow the public to appreciate the burial ground not only as a historic space, but also as a “wonderful open green space.”
“People can see earth and nature pretty much untouched and unspoiled by the outside,” Markenstein said.
Much of the preservation was accidental for the cemetery, which dates back to 1829, as it had been neglected for a number of years before Markenstein – who has relatives buried in the cemetery – led a group of volunteers to take over the 5-acre property in 2008. They worked toward repairing and preserving the location to secure the graves. Markenstein said there have been five new burials so far this year.
At the event, volunteers will plant 50 small redbud trees as well as silky dogwood shrubs. Markenstein said the redbud trees are adorned with pink flowers when in full blossom. They will be planted in rows to create a welcoming sight for people entering the cemetery and also to provide shade. The shrubs will provide border foliage around the cemetery.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.