Earth Day event keeps getting better

The fourth annual Earth Day celebration was held on April 19 with attendance of 80-plus people ages 5 to 75 years old.

Attendees included residents from Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights, which included the Rolling Meadows High School Ecology Club, the Youth Group from the Police Neighborhood Resource Center and numerous Scout troops and leaders. They scoured nine problematic sites for trash and litter.

Special acknowledgment to Environment Committee members for providing wonderful goodie bags for each of the participants as well as working to make sure the day was fun for all the participants. The Environment Committee, a sub-committee, was formed by Mayor Ken Nelson and Alderwoman Barbara Lusk.

Mayor Nelson recently signed the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. This agreement commits cities to reduce carbon emissions by 7 percent below the 1990 levels by 2012. Under Mayor Nelson's leadership, the city has set the course for a healthier city.

The Public Works staff provided the support and tools for brush removal and trash collection. Forester Jim McFeggen planted a Kentucky Coffee tree at Barker Lake in conjunction with our 18th year of being named a "Tree City." Each participant received a sapling to plant.

I commend the volunteers young and old for giving of their time and energy to make our city a cleaner, healthier place to live.

Sue Walton, chair

Environment Committee

Rolling Meadows