Annual environmental event focuses on region’s most-valuable resource

By: 
Karin Beery, Contributing Writer

ELK RAPIDS – Nine years ago, a group of environmentally-concerned individuals came together to help educate residents and local government officials about environmental issues.

Today they continue to work across political lines as Green Elk Rapids Days to address those issues, such as alternative energies, conservation, bird habitats and recycling. This year the group is highlighting a worldwide cause that’s also prominent in the Elk Rapids region – water.

“It’s becoming more apparent that water conservation and safety is huge,” said Green Elk Rapids member Marcia Graham. “When we chose this topic over a year ago, we didn’t know that parts of this country would experience one of the driest years on record, and that demands on the world’s water supply would reach epic proportions.”

Not to mention the Flint water crisis.

“We chose water as our theme because it’s increasingly demanding everyone’s attention,” said Royce Ragland, a founding member of Green ER Days. “It’s exciting to see increasing attention on water concerns and related climate issues. Although we may not agree on what causes these problems, we will all have to work together to solve them.”

Considering the large number of water sources in northern Michigan, Ragland said highlighting water issues and solutions seemed like a good fit.

“We have a great number of organizations in this area that address water issues. An international event, World Water Day, was recently held at the Vatican and sponsored by Circle of Blue, a Traverse City-based organization whose executive director will speak at our village council event, along with speakers from FLOW (For Love of Water) and the Grand Traverse Watershed Center.”

As in years past, the 2017 Green Elk Rapids (ER) Days will feature a variety of forums and activities to educate and inspire residents regarding local and global water issues. Returning events include Super Recycling day (May 13), a special village council meeting (May 15), and the community hike (May 27).

Green ER Days will also once again include GreenER Reads as one of its three book events to be held throughout the spring and summer.

GreenER Reads also will discuss “Water Knife” on May 9 at Siren Hall, and “Rain: A History for Stormy Times” author Cynthia Barnett will speak at the marina pavilion on July 6.

More hands-on events include a plastic bottle project at HERTH , a tour of the new Elk Rapids wastewater treatment plan on May 15 and MDOT highway pick-ups through the summer and fall.

The Elk Rapids Cinema will present a free showing of the documentary “Before the Flood” on Sunday, May 7 at 12:30 p.m. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the documentary covers five continents and the Arctic to learn about the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, and how individuals and society can combat those issues.

For a more information on Green Elk Rapids Days, including a detailed list of events, times and locations, visit greenelkrapids.org. 

Read the full story in our regular edition of The Review. To subscribe to the paper for just $34 a year, which includes access to our full online e-edition, please go to the subscription page on this website at: http://www.antrimreview.net/subscribe/

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