OLYMPIA—With Earth Day only a week away, Thurston County Commissioners today issued a proclamation naming Monday, April 22 Earth Day in Thurston County. The proclamation also highlighted a number of local environmental projects and local environmental heroes, presented with a rousing song and dance from Samba Olywa that has become a delightful annual tradition at the county commissioners’ Earth Day presentation event.
“Our Earth Day proclamation is our chance to thank the people in our community who really do the heavy lifting when it comes to protecting the environment,” said Commissioner Cathy Wolfe. “To really succeed, environmental protection efforts can’t be top down. They have to be supported and nurtured at the grassroots level, and I’m so proud to see so many people in our community who embrace the environmental protection effort on Earth Day and every day of the year.”
“Most of these projects and organizations count on volunteers to make these environmental projects happen. Today is our chance to celebrate those volunteers and all that they contribute to making Thurston County a greener and healthier place to live—with a little whimsy and fun. Thank you all for everything you do for Thurston County,” said Commissioner Karen Valenzuela.
Recipients of today’s Earth Day proclamation include:
- Eli Sterling, Founder of the Procession of the Species. Founded in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Earth Day, the Procession of the Species celebrates cultural connections between communities and the natural world each year with a parade in Olympia.
- Carrie Ziegler, Thurston County Solid Waste Education and Outreach Specialist and local artist. Zeigler worked with more than 800 students across Thurston County to create a life-size whale out of plastic waste that will be featured in the Procession of the Species on April 27.
- Ralph Munro, former Secretary of State and McLane Nature Trail volunteer, along with students from McLane Elementary School. McLane Elementary students have donated countless hours alongside adult volunteers to beautify and protect McLane Nature Trail. More than 8,000 daffodil bulbs the group planted are in bloom now along the trail.
- Chris Maun, Thurston County Resource Stewardship’s Stream Team program staff member. Maun was joined by long time Stream Team volunteers Nathan and Yoshie Williams, who were honored for dedication to the Stream Team program.
- Lisa Remlinger, Outreach Director for the Environmental Priorities Coalition. Remlinger highlighted many of the coalition’s successes statewide and locally, noting that the coalition helped secure funding for local projects along the Chehalis Western Trail, at Deschutes Park, and at Mima Mounds, among others, and that they are currently working to secure funding for six additional projects in Thurston County.
The Board of County Commissioners is Thurston County’s legislative authority and is made up of three commissioners elected to four-year terms. To learn more about the Board of County Commissioners, commission meetings and current legislation, visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc.
