LIVING HERE
Earth Day celebrations around Geneva Lake will be this weekend, as millions celebrate around the world on Friday, April 22.
Earth Day started as the world’s largest environmental movement over fifty years ago (in 1970) and is now celebrated in over 190 countries. Up until that time the movement for a cleaner earth and environment air pollution was commonly accepted as just a normal part of life. At that point, most Americans were not aware of how a polluted environment threatens human life and were oblivious to the environmental concerns that posed a threat to our planet.
Wisconsin played an important role in establishing Earth Day and bringing awareness to the damage that was being done to our planet. Senator Nelson, from Wisconsin, had been concerned for quite some time about the deteriorating environment across the country and even more so after the big oil spill off Santa Barbara in 1969. With the help of Denis Hayes, a young activist at the time, Senator Nelson organized classes on college campuses, bringing awareness of the issues needing attention to keep planet earth clean for future generations.
They chose April 22 as the day to hold the classes, a selection that stuck as the celebratory day going forward. Earth Day immediately caught national media attention and inspired 20 million Americans to take to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts. Then, in 1990, Earth Day went global and is now celebrated all around the world, bringing environmental issues to the world stage.
Our local communities will take part in these celebrations and show their support for a cleaner earth. Earth Day in the Bay held by Green Grocer and Clear Waters Salon Spa will be held Friday, April 22nd, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy recycled paper art, hydroponic gardening, a book signing with author James Killian, live music, food and more. Tickets to the event are only $25 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com.
Gateway College on Highway H in Elkhorn will be hosting its Earth Day celebrations on Saturday, April 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrations will be held as a drive-thru. Stop by to receive free giveaway items, enter to win a door prize, and drop off donation items and electronics to be recycled. Drive-through activities include picking up a free gift for each family, tree seedlings, kids activity kits, and more (limited quantities available on a first-come, first-served basis), dropping off electronics for recycling, and donating unopened, unexpired non-perishable food and hygiene items to benefit the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank.
Walworth County and Geneva Lake Conservancy are looking for volunteers to pitch in at an Earth Day workday at White River County Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will plant native wildflower seeds and assist with the removal of invasive buckthorn. Those interested in volunteering should make sure to contact Colleen Lesniak, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at (262) 741-422 clesniak@co.walworth.wi.us. Saturday,
April 23rd, Lake Como will be hosting a clean-up along the lakeshore. Volunteers will meet at the 1st Beach by DJ’s In the Drink at 9:00 a.m. They will be cleaning the lakeshore and the Clubhouse grounds/landscaping. Please bring rakes, trimmers, gloves, and any other gardening tools that might be laying around.
Join the Geneva Lake Conservancy on Friday, April 22nd, as they plant native wildflowers and clear invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle. They will be at White River County Park from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Many of the local schools will also be celebrating Earth Day with their own projects and good deeds. Everything helps whether it’s big or small.
Wells Street traffic can get thick during lunch and times.
Wells Street is home to several fast food and simple eateries and is sometimes called fast food ally. McDonalds and Culver’s are the two with the most traffic issues that can and have affected the traffic flow on Wells Street.
McDonalds incorporated a second lane in its drive-through to allow the line of vehicles from invading the street. This was a solution to a real problem but oddly as soon as the lane was incorporated the traffic eased up and for the most part the new second lane is closed.
Culver’s was approved for a second lane at a recent city council meeting and has started the work. Culver’s property has less space to work with than Mcdonald’s has, and its traffic literally stops traffic on Wells Street. It also traps the dine-in patrons that are parked on the south side of the drive-through lane. It’s a mess during the dinner rush and locals know it, as most avoid the issue or park in the neighboring YMCA parking lot. The work did not take long and is now open for drive-through business. The store did not close at all during the construction and only closed its drive-through for a very short time. Culver’s is ready, a little more convenient, and fast-food ally moving a little faster.
The City Council reorganization meeting was Tuesday, April 19th.
The reintroduction of city officials and welcoming of new took place as the official’s swearing-in took place. Mayor Charlene Klein will be serving a second term as Lake Geneva’s Mayor. Alderpersons John Halverson, Joan Yunker, Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Tim Dunn, Ken Howell, Shari Straube, Rich Hedlund are here for another term. Alderperson Cindy Flower did not run for another term and said her goodbyes and shared her gratitude at her last city council meeting. The newest Alderperson for district four is Cindy Yager. Committees and commissions were reorganized remaining much as the same. The president and vice president were elected, Rich Hedlund is City Council President and Ken Howell is Vice President. All in all, Lake Geneva’s City government is in good hands and it’s always an honor to watch it in action.
