Column April 8

April 22 is Earth Day. I think being frugal and being environmental friendly are complementary efforts. When you reuse an item for another purpose or buy an item at a thrift store instead of buying a brand-new one, you are saving the environment. And if we think like our grandparents by hanging our clothes outside, cooking our meals at home and eating leftovers, we’re benefitting our pocketbook and the Earth.

Whole Food is offering the public screening of the film FRESH, meet farmers, thinkers and businesspeople all across America working to create a new model for modern agriculture – one that embraces fresh, healthy and local, and that confronts today’s unresolved health and environmental issues. It will be shown at 161 Lexington Green Circle (the old Disc Jockey space) on April 16 at 6:45. Many community partners will be on hand with giveaways and information on environmental issues.

The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation recommends plugging two ICE (in case of emergency) contacts in your cell phone. When you enter the contact name put ICE in front of the name. The organization also advises that you carry a card in your wallet with your MAD details: medicines, allergies and doctors.

To celebrate a renovated Gainesway pond and restored wetland, LFUCG and Bluegrass PRIDE are planning a water celebration on April 10th, from 10 am – 2 pm at Gainesway Pond. There will be fun and educational activities for adults and youth. For more information contact Bluegrass PRIDE (859) 266-1572.

Bluegrass PRIDE is offering Waste Paint Hardener at no cost to residents of its service region. To receive up to 5 free bags of these crystals, call the PRIDE office toll free at 866-222-1648. For more information go to their website http://www.bgpride.org/PaintDisposal.htm

The Loan-A-Box program is a service where a resident or non-profit organization can schedule to have a box delivered to you overnight through the weekdays or on Friday for the whole weekend. You can then load the 10x6x4 box for a total of ten (10) cubic yards with most types of debris and we will haul it away. This program is available to all citizens of Fayette County. It does cost $38.00 which is required in advance to cover the landfill disposal cost. This program runs all year round and is scheduled on a first-come, first-to-be served basis. Call (859) 425-2255 to reserve.

The LFUCG is pleased to announce that we will be holding a FREE tire drop-off event called The Tire Roundup. This will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday May 26 through Saturday May 30, 2009 at the LFUCG Old Frankfort Pike Landfill driver training pad located at 1631 Old Frankfort Pike. Enter and exit the event from Old Frankfort Pike.
FREE residential yard composters (made from reusing old herbie carts) are available at the LFUCG Recycling Center at 360 Thompson Road. Just call 859-425-2480 to make sure they have some on hand.
Recycle your electronics and batteries with The Big Green Box. You do not need to pay any fees to waste management companies go to their website to locate your closest box.
http://www.bgpride.org/BatteryBoxLocations.htm

Bring six empty MAC packaging containers to any MAC counter or mail them in. The company recycles them and hands over a free lipstick to you.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/giving_back/btm_return_packaging.tmpl

· Celebrate Earth Day Thursday, April 22 at the Disney Store, bring 6 empty plastic water bottles or soda cans to be recycled, and receive a FREE Eco-Friendly Baseball Cap.
Limit 1 cap per guest!!!
Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program is a fun, hands-on way to teach about recycling. As a program member, you’ll have access to plenty of helpful recycling related fun projects to keep kids excited about recycling.
http://www.elmersgluecrew.com/

Home Depot offers free in-store compact fluorescent light bulb recycling at all of their stores. Just place them in the plastic bag and deposit them into one of the bright orange collections units.
http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/index.html?cm_mmc=Thd_marketing-_-Eco_Options_Site_07-_-Vanity-_-Home

Sign up for The Home Depot Do-It-Herself Workshop – Interior Painting Featuring Martha Stewart Living Thursday, April 15 from 7:00 pm to 8:30pm.
http://www.homeimproverclub.com/workshopsdetail.aspx?id=250&Type=1&date=2010-4

Sign up for The Home Depot Garden Club is receive valuable information about your landscaping along with high value coupons.
http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/

Bluegrass Greenworks is offering a GreenCard that you can present to participating businesses for special offers and discounts.
http://www.bluegrassgreenworks.org/greencard

Receive money for your school buy sending in certain empty drink pouches, chip bags, Colgate tubes and Aveeno lotion containers. They even pay shipping and handling.
http://www.terracycle.net/

G is for Gardening Workshop at Tates Creek Branch library on Saturday, April 10 from 1:00 – 5:00. This FREE workshop is for beginning and experienced vegetable gardeners. The four hour meeting will cover everything from see-starting, to nurturing, to harvesting homegrown crops and also included will be a demonstration on how to build tomato cages and green trellises for vertical growing of climbing crops.
Call the library at (859) 231-5580 to register.

The Lexington in Bloom Contest recognizes the most outstanding gardens in Fayette County. The goal of the contest is to instill a spirit of community, to increase civic pride, and to improve the visual appeal of the area through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees. For more information, contact Liz Pattengill at (859) 223-4362 or email them at lexingtoninbloom@gmail.com

The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees so visitors can enjoy all 392 national parks for free April 17 – 25.
http://www.nps.gov/npweek/

MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK, KY - MAMMOTH CAVE HOTEL:FREE reusable eco-friendly shopping bag! Just visit the Forever Resorts retail store during the Fee Free Weekend to receive your eco-shopping bag. ALSO: are you always taking the pictures and never able to be in the group shot? How about a special photo to commemorate your visit to the National Park? They have chosen a special scenic location at their operation where FREE digital photos will be taken from 10-2 on Saturday of the Fee Free Weekends!

Kentucky Christmas Tree Association 6th Annual Plant Auction. Saturday, April 17th starting at 10am in the parking lot of the Fayette County Extension Office on 1140 Red Mile Place. Call Bill and Fredda Moody for more information (859) 223-1140

Integrative Health and Wellness Expo at the S.P. Rawlings Conference Center 866 George St., Sunday April 11 from 10am to 4pm. FREE Health Seminars, Chair Massages, Fitness Demonstrations and more.

Get a FREE 8x10 print from Walgreens on Friday, April 9
http://www.walgreens.com/topic/photo/friday040910.jsp

Rally your neighbors and make a difference for kids struggling with hunger. Register and you will receive a FREE toolkit to help make your neighborhood rally a success.
http://www.childhungerendshere.com/Public/getinvolved.html

Join Domino Sugar and Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale national campaign that mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales. Get coupons, tips and tools to promote your sale.
http://www.childhungerendshere.com/Public/getinvolved.html

Meijers is celebrating Opening Day of Baseball with a Fan Fest Party on Saturday, April 10th from 11am to 2pm. Free Major League Basebal schedules, Free giveways, samplings and more.

Family Fun Day at Lexington Catholic High School on 2250 Clays Mill Rd. Saturday, April 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. Inflatables, Performances, Giveaways, Games and more. For more information call (859) 223-1765

Coupon for FREE ice cream at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.
http://www.brusters.com/sweetrewards/april10/SR_CouponPage_Apr10_BruOnly.jpg
FREE Kid’s Cone for tots under 40” tall no coupon required.
Thursdays 1/2 off banana split when you bring your own banana