Mainers celebrate Earth Day College’s Recycled Derby among weekend of events

UNITY – Residents of Maine chose all sorts of ways to observe Earth Day last weekend: planting trees, collecting litter, promoting organic fare.

But Will Farnham and Dan Rinell demonstrated their affection for Mother Earth by driving an old, dirty toilet to victory – or to within three-tenths of a second of victory, at least.

The pair of Unity College students were co-pilots of an unique ride – a four-wheeled chariot made from two rusty bicycle frames, a board and a toilet – in an equally unusual race.

Unity College’s annual Recycled Derby on Saturday featured racing contraptions made of parts scavenged from cars, boats, satellite dishes and, of course, household fixtures. Even Farnham and Rinell’s second-place-finishing chariot was recycled – from last year’s race.

Although arguably one of the most unusual, Unity’s ecologically friendly race was only one of many events held throughout Maine and the nation on Saturday, the 36th annual Earth Day.

In Bar Harbor, events on the College of the Atlantic campus began just after 5:30 a.m. with a sunrise ceremony, continued throughout the day with various activities, and ended well into the night with a contradance. The University of Maine in Orono hosted the annual HOPE Festival, featuring performances, a 5K run and solar car demonstrations.

Gov. John Baldacci helped celebrate the day by presenting a solar rebate check for more than $1,200 to John and Elizabeth Sherblom at their home in Bangor. The Sherbloms installed a solar water heating system last August and were presented the check Saturday as part of the Maine Solar Rebate Program, which has thus far helped to fund 23 solar electric systems, 33 solar hot water systems and three solar hot air systems. Combined, the systems will save 5,500 gallons of oil and more than 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in just one year, according to the governor’s office.

Also in Bangor, about two dozen people spent most of Saturday afternoon picking up trash in the last vestiges of nature remaining in the dense commercial district surrounding the Bangor Mall.

Working in the wetlands hidden behind Border’s and the Hannaford, volunteers picked up thousands of items of common litter – fast food containers, candy wrappers, coffee cups and countless plastic bags – as well as bulkier items such as a bike, a tire and cardboard boxes.

The litter cleanup, which was organized by Maine Audubon and the organization Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development, netted dozens of filled trash bags.

Judy Markowsky, manager of the Fields Pond Audubon Center and one of the organizers of the cleanup, said the Penjajawoc Stream that snakes in between the stores and parking lots is home to muskrats, waterfowl, amphibians and even the occasional otter.

The stream also feeds the Penobscot River, meaning any litter in the Penjajawoc could flow into the Penobscot and ultimately out into the ocean.

Volunteer Lucy Quimby of Bangor said she believes the overlooked wetland could become a place of relaxation for shoppers if trails and benches were placed around the stream and ponds.

“It’s just a lovely spot, if it wasn’t all covered with trash,” said Quimby, who was planning a similar cleanup of her neighborhood on Sunday.

Although Saturday’s events in Unity and Bangor were well-attended, several participants lamented the fact that Earth Day rarely gets much attention from the general public. They said they believe many people are concerned about the environment, but war and the economy and the toils of everyday life often overshadow environmental concerns.

Back in Unity, organic farmer Mitch Miller said he is learning firsthand how much demand there is for pesticide-free products. The 33-year-old Miller works for Snakeroot Organic Farm, which owners Tom and Lois Roberts started more than 10 years ago.

They grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in six greenhouses on 2 acres in Pittsfield.

“We can sell more than we can produce right now,” Miller said.

Farnham, the Recycled Derby racer, said he believes politicians will have to rally behind Earth Day more in order for observances to become more widespread.

“It’s more of a day of enlightenment than anything,” the 19-year-old freshman said.