Earth Day Celebration

Contestants in the "Dress Like a Hippie."
Photographer Melissa Chandler

Faculty, students and staff revel in Earth’s glorious greenness

Flower power and groovy hippies swarmed Linn-Benton’s Albany campus to celebrate Mother Earth on Thursday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the courtyard. It was free and open to the public.

The Sixth Annual Earth Day Celebration was sponsored by LBCC’s Sustainability Committee, Horticulture Club, Science, Engineering and Math division and Student Leadership Council.  

On the East side of the courtyard on the windows of the Hot Shot Café there was a “Pledge Tree” created by 18 LB Drawing I students and art instructor Analee Fuentes.

“I pledge to say no plastic bags and bring my own,” said an anonymous pledger.

The inspiration for the tree was at the request of Earth Day participant Lori Fluge-Brunker. She asked if students could be involved in the creation of the tree. Originally, Fluge-Brunker and Fuentes had discussed making a paper-mache tree, but since Fuentes’ class this term is a drawing class, they collaborated on the “Pledge Tree.”

Each student got a small piece of the tree image, blew it up to a specified size, and used charcoal as the medium. They put it together using a spray fixative.  

“The lesson being that together, we can all create something much more wonderful than if we try to do it alone,” said Fuentes. “Collaboration is a powerful tool in art and in ecology. This is a beginning drawing class and they were very excited about doing this.”

Sign-up began at 11:30 a.m. for the “Dress Like a Hippie” contest. Contestants wore their favorite hippie garb for the chance to win first, second and third place prizes. The contest was underway by 12:15 p.m.

There were 12 contestants. They strutted their groovy wardrobe up to the stage. Four judges from the SLC presided: Christy McDaniel, Kaela Fuller, Kylie McLoud, and Scott Harrington.

“Mother Earth I love you,” said Dreagn Bennett (Dragonfly).

First prize for best dressed hippie went to Vickie Keith (Momma Flower), executive board member president. Second prize went to Joshua Carper (No Nukes Norman) and third prize went to Sunny Green (Sunny Sunshine) from the LBCC Horticulture Club president.  

There were other activities located around the courtyard that visitors could participate in; planting a flower in a pot from AAWCC & Peoria Gardens, inject mushroom spores with the LB Horticulture Club, and get involved with pulling weeds and any debris from the rose garden in the East parking lot by McKenzie Hall.

From noon to 12:50 p.m. there was a lecture in Madrone Hall room 113 with Dr. Christo Buizert, OSU College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. It was a lecture about an ice core perspective on climate change, the last ice age, and Shakespeare.

Visitors could purchase an “Earth Day” t-shirt, buy metal art made from recycled metal by the Welding Club, and get a free reusable shopping bag from Natural Grocers.

Another great find was the “Earth Day Café.” Lunch was an organic salad of greens with grilled chicken, parmesan breadsticks, drink, and a cookie. The organic greens were provided from the Horticulture Club’s garden on campus. Lunch for students was $4 and $5 for others. They raised $150 to benefit LBCC Equestrian Team.

LB’s very own choir performed for the spector’s a song called “Earth Song.”

“It was a perfect day to be singing in the sunshine and celebrating Mother Nature,” said Marina Brazeal, LB choir performer.

“Earth Day” was full of green ways to better serve the planet. Celebrating Mother Nature allows everyone to come together for one sole purpose, to save Earth. On Thursday, April 21 the LB campus was full of Earth supporters.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better,” said Albert Einstein.