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homerhorizon.com NEWS
the Homer Horizon | May 18, 2017 | 9
Earth Day-Arbor Day
turns a decade old in 2017
Annual event
promotes animals,
nature to community
Erin Redmond, Assistant Editor
For the past decade,
Homer Glen has made its
slogan “Community and
Nature in Harmony” come
alive through its Earth Day-
Arbor Day event.
The event returns for its
10th year, running from 11
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May
20, at Konow’s Corn Maze,
16849 S. Cedar Road,
Homer Glen. It is a day that
brings the preservation and
restoration of nature to the
forefront through a plethora
of different vendors, exhibitors
and activities.
The event offers educational
activities for attendees
of all ages and interests.
From gardening to animal
interactions, energy efficiency
tips and more, providing
something for everyone.
“I think [Earth Day-Arbor
Day] is extremely important,”
said Sharon Sweas,
Village of Homer Glen
trustee and chairwoman of
the event. “It’s an educational
event where people
can talk about the environment
and they learn things.
It’s a good way to get residents
together to know each
other and really put forth
what’s important ... You
cannot overlook environment
and your quality of
life.”
Young environmentalists
can come face-to-face with
furry — and not-so-furry
— creatures at the petting
zoo. Live bats, skunks, ferrets,
owls, hawks, falcons,
ponies and more will be
in attendance from various
exhibitors to teach attendees
about the creatures
they share the environment
with.
New to Earth Day-Arbor
Day this year is the Exotic
Wildlife Sanctuary. Attendees
can get up close and
personal with the group’s
animals, including Cheech,
a pot-bellied pig, Aaliyah,
who is a ring-tailed lemur,
and Einstein, the Cotton-top
tamarin — among others.
“We’re going to have lots
of animals,” Sue Steilen,
staff liaison for Earth Day-
Arbor Day, said. “Every
year, we always seem to add
a few more animals.”
New this year for the
younger crowd is two educational
presentations.
From noon-1 p.m., Steve
Belliveau will lead an Earth
Day-themed show entitled
“Getting Excited About Science.”
Then, from 2-3 p.m.,
children will get a blast
from the past with the “Dinosaur
Discovery” presentation
from T-Rexplorers,
which features dinosaur
fossils and teeth.
“We wanted to get something
new and different.
We have tried to go out and
get some new features like
[‘Getting Excited About
Science’] and T-Rexplorers,
where kids can have a
hands-on program there,”
Sweas said. “Where else
can you go to spend the
day, whether you’re with
your parents or your grandparents,
where can you really
go and have a fun time
... and enjoy yourself [for
free]?”
And there is plenty for the
grown-ups, too.
Demonstrations on everything
from beekeeping to
pottery making will be going
on throughout the day.
Handmade and eco-friendly
items, such as jewelry,
paintings, heirlooms seeds,
wooden baskets and more
will also be on sale inside
the vendor tent.
Those with a green thumb
can learn about and how to
make Tower Gardens by
Juice Plus. The recently
formed Homer Glen Gardening
Club will also be
there looking for new members.
Even those with a need
for speed will have plenty
to entertain them. Both
classic cars and modern,
fuel-efficient vehicles will
be on display, as well an
Icebox Derby car. The car,
featured in the ComEd exhibit,
was made by teenage
girls out of old refrigerators
as a way to support girls in
STEM — science, technology,
engineering and math
— programs.
Homeowners can learn
about cost-saving measures
by visiting exhibits on solar
panels by companies such
as Solar Shift. Local groups
— the likes of Citizens
Utilities and Citizens H20
Uprising — will also have
booths at the event and will
be present to discuss home
improvements and water
rates, respectively.
“It’s an educational event,
as well, and it’s focused
on taking care of nature,”
Steilen said. “It’s kind of an
easy thing to forget sometimes,
especially as more
areas become developed.
We see those areas disappearing,
and it just shows
you that you have to protect
what you have.”
Admission and parking
to Earth Day-Arbor Day is
free. Approximately 1,500
people are expected to attend.
For more information,
visit www.earthdayarbor
day.info.
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