A community clean-up, a fair and free forums at the West Springfield Public Library are planned as part of observing April as Earth Month.
WEST SPRINGFIELD - Checking out a Greasecar, a community cleanup, an Earth Day fair and free forums at the West Springfield Public Library are the offerings of a coalition of community groups to observe April as Earth Month.
The West Springfield Environmental Committee, the Earth Day Committee, the city, the West Springfield Rotary Club and the West Springfield Lions Club are working together to put on more activities this year than ever, according to Diane Crowell, the Earth Day Committee member who is coordinating the events.
"It has been a very good joint event," she said Friday.
People can get documents shredded and soil tested when the Department of Public Works, the Park and Recreation Department, the West Springfield Rotary Club and the Lions Club sponsor the second annual Earth Day Fair April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Town Common. The event will feature a Pro Shredder as well as master gardeners who will test the pH in yard and garden soil.
Colorado Bike Shop will do free safety checks, Home Depot will display energy saving devices and the Department of Public Works will host a free raffle for a rain barrel, a composting bin and a food scrap bucket.
Among the other exhibitors will be Western Massachusetts Electric Company, the Center for Ecological Technologies and Another Chance for Homeless Cats.
Other programs will include the Water Department giving out free, water-saving kits and a demonstration by the West Springfield Garden Club of how to make a rain barrel from a 55-gallon Coca Cola syrup barrel.
The Park and Recreation Department, the West Springfield Rotary Club, the Department of Public Works and the West Springfield Lions Club will sponsor Clean Up West Springfield Day Saturday at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Rotary Pavilion in Mittineague Park for coffee, donuts and juice and to register.
Other free programs offered this month are the following:
• A forum titled The Forest We Live In with arborist Alan Snow Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the West Springfield Public Library. It will focus on the benefits of and ways to maintain a healthy tree canopy.
• A representative from Greasecar will bring a vehicle that runs on vegetable oil and smells like French fries to a forum at the West Springfield Public Library set for 6 p.m. April 21.
• Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society will present a program featuring some of its animals and information about its services April 28 at 7 p.m. at West Springfield Public Library.