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Arts & Entertainment

Polliwog Park Comes Alive for Earth Day Celebration

Environmental and eco-friendly causes gather to educate, demonstrate and offer plain ol' family fun at Manhattan Beach's 19th Annual Earth Day event.

With the sun shining brightly on the green grass of Polliwog Park, the 19th annual Earth Day in Manhattan Beach pedaled into the future with a bike ride parade that kicked-off the daylong event on Saturday, April 16.

Bicyclists, organized by the South Bay Bicycle Coalition, gathered near the corner of Redondo and Marina avenues for the short ride to Polliwog Park, with City Council members Wayne Powell and Amy Howorth and the Manhattan Beach Police Department participating.

“It's all about safety and awareness," said Andy Harrod, captain of Manhattan Beach police's field operations division. "It’s great education for the children as we need to set a good example for them.” 

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At Polliwog Park as the day warmed up, the thought of participating at the booth where children threw water-filled sponges at "Litterbugs," began to sound refreshing. 

Nearby Tree Musketeers, whose mission is to empower young people to become environmental leaders, provided educational materials on their activities, with Mira Costa High School student Adam Gerard, the group's youth director, explaining their cause. He told attendees that the group's work has been widely honored, including by five Presidents of the United States.

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Brandon Winner, 12, from Manhattan Beach, displayed his impressive Doodle 4 Earth, which included abstract paintings on cork boards to small designs on canvas shoes. He then sells these artistic pieces and donates 100 percent of the proceeds to charity.  

“It’s a beautiful day today,” said Terri Leighton, who with her son, Zachary, 5, from Hermosa Beach, enjoyed playing and  listening to the band Titanic Johnson South Bay Classic Rock. Children danced and people lounged with blue skies overhead.

 “I may have to start dancing if everyone else starts,” said Councilman Powell.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who is running for the 36th District congressional seat, was happy to be a part of the festivities. “I enjoy coming here. I love what I am doing." 

Manhattan Beach Toyota introduced two vehicles that will be available during the first quarter of 2012. The 51 mpg 5 model is equipped with a solar roof, and nice amenities inside to keep drivers' eyes on the road at all times. With gas prices on the rise, Terry Setton, salesperson for Manhattan Beach Toyota, looks for people to become more eco-friendly and consider purchasing these $30,000 rides.

Paul Ostrove, president and CEO of Zephyr Energy, brought his electric/alcohol stove, which he calls “Hybrid Stove,” that he used to make coffee and run a blender to make “solar smoothies.”  He is proud to have reduced his electric bill by 97 percent in his home and hopes that more people will be more and more efficient in all areas of their lives.  “We waste a lot of phantom power, standby power, by leaving electric units plugged in when not in use," Ostrove said. "These small but efficient strategies are ways to become more green.” 

The South Bay Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit member driven organization that  promotes and strives to build a better and safer, and easily bike-able South Bay. 

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