2009 New Releases
ECO FAIR - A FREE COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
CONTACT: Janet Peterson, Marketing and Public Relations DirectorTEL: (856) 825-6800, Ext. 108
FAX: (856) 825-2410
E-MAIL: jpeterson@wheatonarts.org
WHEATONARTS ECO FAIR -
A FREE COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
MILLVILLE, NJ – The WheatonArts Eco-Fair on May 2 is a Community Open House that is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is produced in partnership with the Cumberland County Improvement Authority. A host of exhibitors and presenters will offer visitors resources, products and real solutions about living better, healthier lives with less environmental impact.
Highlighting this year’s Eco Fair are presentations by Jane Kirkland, award-winning author of the “Take A Walk®” Books, and Lance Simmens from The Climate Project.
Kirkland is dedicated to educating children on the nature that surrounds us such as the birds, trees, butterflies and dragonflies found in our own backyards, schoolyards and local parks. She has appeared on Animal Planet, PBS and Philadelphia’s TV 10. She is a regular guest on “Kid’s Corner,” an interactive radio show hosted by Kathy O’Connell and heard on WXPN 88.5 FM in the Philadelphia area. She has lectured at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference for Environmental Educators, the Association for New Jersey Environmental Educators, Disney’s Epcot Center, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and many more state parks, schools and events in the U.S. Her presentation, “I Saw A Bald Eagle Soaring Over My Grocery Store,” begins at 11 a.m. in the Event Center followed by a question and answer session.
Simmens will present a slide show presentation based on the Academy Award winning documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” at 1 p.m. in the Event Center. For the past five years Simmens has served as Special Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. He co-chairs the Governor’s working group on wind energy and solar energy development. The Climate Project, a nonprofit organization based in Nashville, TN, began operations in June 2006 with the mission of increasing public awareness of the climate crisis at a grassroots level in the United States and abroad.
University Master Gardeners will begin at noon from the Event Center. In addition, there will demonstrations about composting practices. Composters will be available for a cost of $35.00 (retail value: $99.00). The composters will be available on a first-come, first served basis due to limited quantities (one per family).
Eco-Fair vendors include: Melaleuca – The Wellness Company; Al & Sam’s Canoe, Boat & Kayak Rental & Sales; Little Egg Harbor Soap Company; and Valley Berry Farm. Additional commercial organizations and businesses include White Cloud Therapies and Spa, Deppen Wood Products, Nature’s Healing Gifts, Old Shep’s Honey, Nutrilite, and Skye Flooring.
Participating organizations include: American Vegan Society; Slick/Outdoor Club of South Jersey ; Greater Egg Harbor Watershed Association; New Jersey Audubon Society; Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Cumberland County Improvement Authority; Bayshore Discovery Project; Citizens United; The Climate Project; Natural Lands Trust; Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program; Rutgers University Master Gardeners Program; Tuckerton Seaport; The Nature Conservancy; and the Wetlands Institute.
Eco friendly crafts for children are offered from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition, entertainer and magician, Bill Kerwood, will present the "Magic of Recycling" at 1 p.m. The presentation combines comedy and magic to entertain audiences, while educating and motivating people to recycle.
The group, Package Goods Orchestra, from Galloway Township, NJ, will entertain visitors to the Eco Fair from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m. Food and refreshments are provided by D&D Funnel Cakes, RJ’s Hot Dogs, Myro Dogs, Granny’s Kettle Corn, and Rosie’s Twisted Lemonade.
WheatonArts is home to the Museum of American Glass, the Creative Glass Center of America International Fellowship Program, the Down Jersey Folklife Center, hot glass studio, several traditional craft studios, and museum stores. In addition to daily glass blowing and craft demonstrations, WheatonArts features special exhibitions, programs, workshops, performances and several weekend festivals throughout the year.
For more information about WheatonArts, call 1-800-998-4552 or 856-825-6800, or visit online at www.wheatonarts.org. For more information about the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, call 856-825-3700, or visit online at www.ccia-net.com.
WheatonArts strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events and programs to all persons with disabilities. Individuals needing special assistance or accommodations should contact WheatonArts at least two weeks in advance. Patrons with hearing and peech disabilities may contact WheatonArts through the New Jersey Relay Service (TRS) 800-852-7899 or by dialing 711.
Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. WheatonArts received funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Funding also provided by a grant from the Cumberland County Improvement Authority.
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