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June 21, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 26, 2004 All ages celebrate Mother Earth By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings More than 2,300 area residents converged on Ashland's North Mountain Park to enjoy sunny weather, live entertainment and educational exhibits during the 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration. The whole world in his hands, Jastin Barnett, 15, of Medford, helps keep a 15-foot diameter Earth balloon aloft during the Earth Day celebration at North Mountain Park Saturday. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings It was one of three big events happening throughout the busy city this weekend. The Southern Oregon Goodwill held its annual Recycled Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday while A Taste of Ashland celebrated art and local food and wines on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Earth Day celebration was an all ages affair that basked in the sunny weather. Local environmental groups were out in force to pass on their conservation messages, while a herd of kids ran across a field and kept a giant Earth-colored ball bouncing through the air at Saturday's event. Children and adults stopped to breathe in the aroma wafting from a tray of muffins baking in a sun-powered oven. Curious auto enthusiasts lifted hoods and peered inside cars that ran on fuel made from American-grown soybeans or leftover fryer grease. At Southern Oregon University's Environmental Education exhibit, Cameron Forrest, 9, expertly sorted pictures of Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry and a European starling into the pile for invasive species, while placing pictures of other plants and animals in the appropriate pile for native species. "I just got it from school," said Forrest, explaining how he knew about native and invasive species. "The teachers teach a lot of science." His father, David Forrest, said he brought his son - a fan of bugs, spiders and dinosaurs - to the Earth Day celebration to help him learn more about the natural world and conservation. "He's the one who's going to be able to benefit from this knowledge and maybe share it with other kids who weren't here today," David Forrest said. Inside a 24-foot trailer decorated like a Caterpillar, children raked through a box of sand to find fossils. They learned how Native Americans twisted root fibers together to make rope and then applied their new-found skills to the making of yarn bracelets. Others examined animal specimens. "It's really mad," 3-year-old Irie Browne told her mom, Lisa Bailey, as she looked at a glowering stuffed owl. "Well, owls are very serious," Bailey responded. Bailey said she enjoys the annual Earth Day celebration at North Mountain Park. In addition to athletic fields, the park features an extensive natural area, Nature Center and demonstration gardens. "I really love this park. It's nice to anchor this event with this park," Bailey said. Paige Prewett, event manager for this year's celebration, credited good weather, the hard work of volunteers and exhibitors and the variety of live entertainment for the strong turn-out. "It's starting to become a tradition. This is our third year. People are learning it's a great place to learn about environmental stewardship and have a great time," Prewett said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams