On April 22, local cities celebrated Earth Day by hosting collections, activities, displays and events to promote more eco-friendly living.

The cities of Glendora and Covina had two very different approaches to educate citizens on how to live green in light of the state’s recent drought.

“The drought has taught us we must conserve our natural resources for current and future generations, and we can do so with drought tolerant designs and rethinking about our everyday habits,” Glendora Management Analyst and event planner Katie Savant, said.

Glendora arranged a discussion session aimed to teach citizens about drought tolerant and native plant species as well as a Water Wise demonstration garden.

The city of Glendora invited people to take the Earth Day Pledge at the Glendora Civic Center. Taking the Earth Day pledge meant making a promise to preserve our natural resources.

“Someone can use our drafted pledge or come up with their own, such as, ‘I promise to turn off the lights when I leave a room,'” said Savant.

City departments came together to host booths, along with live entertainment, food, vendors and fun activities for people of all ages.

Events included a scavenger hunt for kids and a series of day collections including shredding, used motor oil/filter collection, beverage container recycling and even a safe drug drop-off.

The city of Covina took a new approach by combining Earth Day and Arbor Day activities to create a tree planting volunteering event, held on April 22 at Hollenbeck Park.

Volunteers helped to plant trees in the park as well as in nearby neighborhoods. They  also held a free mulch and compost giveaway.

Recreation coordinator Taylour Unzicker explained what inspired this event. “We’ve lost a number of trees the last couple years due to the drought … and that includes [trees from] people in the neighborhoods … we saw it as an opportunity to educate the public on what can be planted and what will be more sustainable in our climate,” he said.

He said he hopes that this event can be used as an educational tool to introduce citizens to some of the native California plant species because native California plants can be beautiful in their own way.  

Unzicker said that this is only the first phase of a plan that Covina has to implement sustainable landscaping throughout the city. In the next few years, the city hopes to create a native plant park in the empty lot next to Charter Oak High School.

On April 26, the Mt. SAC Geography and Political Science Departments will host their seventh annual Earth Day Lecture in the building 13 auditorium from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The main focus of the event will be lectures from two guest speakers.

Kristin Bezdecny is a professor of geography and environmental science at CSULA who will discuss the California drought.

Steve Wicke is the chair of the Climate Change and Conservation committees for the Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club and will discuss the possibilities of California working with the Trump administration on environmental policy.

“Everyone should have access to credible information, especially when it is a state and national concern for many,” Student Assistant and Ecological Restoration Major Carol Martinez said. “It is important for our generation to be informed and educated on these topics and to start becoming involved now.”

Other events include the awarding of the Student Sustainability Awards and the 50th Anniversary of the Mt. SAC Wildlife Sanctuary on April 27.