Get the latest on recycling, reusing at Green Walk
Downtown Batavia turns green for Arbor Day from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 30.
The Batavia Environmental Commission, Batavians for Clean Energy and Conservation and Water Street Studios have teamed up with Batavia MainStreet to host the Green Walk. Sixteen downtown businesses will be hosting groups and activities to inform the public about the latest ways to help the planet. Some venues will also feature live music.
New this year is a Green Walk Scavenger Hunt that starts at Batavia Creamery, 4 N. Island Ave. The hunt takes participants to locations around the Green Walk. All completed forms are entered in a drawing to win a free rain barrel. Also new this year, information about the Batavia Community Garden and an opportunity to get free seedlings for either a donation of canned goods to benefit the food pantry or a cash donation to support the community garden project.
A highlight of the evening will be "Project Greenway" at 7 p.m., a recycled plastic bag dress design competition.
Donations of plastic shopping bags are needed as the plastic bags are used as fabric for teams to design and create a unique prom dress from 7 to 8 p.m. at 4 E. Wilson St. Teams are still needed to participate in the competition. Pre-register via Water Street Studios, e-mail waterstreetstudios@gmail.com or call (630) 761-9977.
Businesses on the Green Walk and groups they'll be hosting include:
Batavia Creamery: hosting Conservation Foundation rain barrel sales and the Eco Club (start here for the Eco Scavenger Hunt); Creamery is offering a Green Walk $1.25 scoop special;
Shelter Insurance: Soil Amendments with Jen Calhoun;
Betsy's Silk Creations & Gifts: hosting Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and "Plant a Row for the Hungry" and offering 25-75 percent off discounts;
Bulldogs: offering 10 percent off dinner when you show your Green Walk map;
BerkanaWay: Local foods and Geneva Green Market, Seed exchange, seedling sale and community garden information and worm composting/worm sale fundraiser; city of Batavia Water Department drinking water trailer with education on water conservation and groundwater protection;
O'Brien's Pub & Grill: 10 percent off food and free tree with purchase of $20 or more while quantities last;
El Taco Grande: offering a green dinner special at the restaurant and hosting Batavia Farmers Market information and a sampling of vendors and Batavia Environmental Commission "No Impact Batavia" project plus "Our Earth, Our Children";
Limestone Coffee & Tea: Local artists' work on display; Home Depot Garden Club and "topsy-turvy" planter demonstration;
The RendezVu Restaurant: Offering green pizza specials including Pesto Pizza & Green Pizza;
4 E. Wilson St.: Plastic Prom Dress Design Competition at 7 p.m.; bring your plastic bags to be used in the competition before 7 p.m. For every 10 plastic bags dropped off the BEC will donate a reusable bag to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry; Solar powered attic fan by Confident Aire.; Batavia Woman's Club Conservation Dept., "Discovering a Sense of Place" with the Batavia Park District and Spiritual Green Connection and Marisa Pawelko Modern Surrealist;
Simonetti Studios: League of Women Voters offers a dollhouse energy display;
Allen+Pepa Architects: thermal image portraits and information about energy audits with Lane Allen and Tony Botkin of Intelligent Energy Solutions; also, a show of new artwork by Timothy Burns and Maureen Gasek;
Prairie Path Cycle: Batavia Bicycle Commission and energy bicycle demo with Jon Wesenberg;
Daddio's Diner: featuring Green Walk dinner specials;
Flinn Street Productions/Joe Gagnepain: Recycled sculptures on display and live auction; community plastic flowers craft made from 2-liter pop bottles (clean bottle donations accepted), live music and Batavia Robotics Club demonstrations in parking lot
Water Street Studios: Kids' green crafts, gallery is open and live music with Cherry Valley Revival at 7 p.m. and Tina Turner Overdrive at 8 p.m.
A map of the event is available online or at any of the participating locations.
For more information, call (630) 761-3528 or visit downtownbatavia.com.