
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991                   TAG: 9104180088
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Beth Macy
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EARTH DAY FOUNDER TO SPEAK IN ROANOKE

While it's not being touted as loudly as last year, this weekend's celebration of the 21st Earth Day is expected to draw the same big crowds it drew last year - in Roanoke anyway.

That's because the valley's Earth Day committee managed to pull a coup in securing former Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson as its keynote speaker.

Nelson, now counselor to The Wilderness Society, is the man who founded Earth Day in 1970 - and he had a lot to do with resurrecting it last year, too.

An environmentalist of national repute, his Sunday speech is expected to tie in with this year's Earth Day theme, "Make Every Day Earth Day." His appearance is underwritten by the Advertising Federation of the Roanoke Valley.

Roanoke's Earth Day celebration is being coordinated by the new group REACH, which stands for Roanoke Environmental Alliance for our Children's Heritage. "I think this is a good chance for Earth Day to be a refresher course," REACH member Lori Levy says.

"It's nice to have one day of the year to set aside for making new resolutions for the Earth."

Other sponsoring organizations include Roanoke City Parks and Recreation, the Clean Valley Council, Explore, Plowshare Peace Center and the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Here are some highlights of Earth Day activities in Southwest Virginia:

\ Friday\ \ EARTH DAY FAIR: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Shawsville Elementary School. Speakers, activities and programs throughout the day. 268-2208.\ \ Saturday\ \ CLEAN VALLEY & RIVER DAY: 9 a.m.-noon, Roanoke's Smith Park, between two bridges on Wiley Drive, Roanoke River. Clean-up with trash bags, drinks and souvenir hat provided; live entertainment for adults and children following. Bring a picnic lunch. 345-5523.\ \ FRANKLIN COUNTY CELEBRATION: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Aluminum can collection, dedication of nature trail, environmental skits, volleyball, tree planting. 483-9255.\ \ BROOMIN' & BLOOMIN': 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Montgomery County's eighth annual county-wide clean-up. 382-5793, 552-4909, 231-7801.\ \ RADFORD EARTH DAY: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Radford Recreation Department, 29 First St. The Council for Community Enrichment will provide hands-on science and art activities. 731-3633.\ \ Sunday\ \ EARTH DAY IN THE PARK: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wasena Park, Roanoke. Live music by African, folk, jazz, rock and bluegrass bands; natural-foods vendors; children's games. Former U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson will speak at 1:30 p.m. 981-2236.\ \ BEDFORD EARTH DAY: 2-5 p.m., Liberty Lake Park. Speakers, contests for kids, environmental programs, bluegrass performances. 586-7601, 586-7155.

by CNB