WOODBURY - On that first Earth Day, back in the last century, 20 million people gathered in demonstrations around the country to demand protection of the environment.
Thirty-eight years later, Earth Day can feel less idealistic, particularly when you see stores at the local mall sponsoring celebrations, their motives, you suspect, more about drawing shoppers than promoting conservation.
But the original Earth Day organizers would surely approve of Woodbury's annual event. New Morning Natural and Organic, the host, is part health food store, part community resource center for local farmers, healthcare practitioners, and environmental groups. Many of them will have booths this year, with multiple tents set up for more than 100 groups and companies promoting natural foods, renewable resources, and healing therapies.
It'll look a lot like a farmers' market, but with a difference: Everything is free, from organic skin care products to gourmet cookies.
Back by popular demand will be a live radio broadcast of "Car Bob," which airs on local listener-supported station WPKN. The host, Bob Costanzo, a mechanic, will field questions with the editor of E/The Environmental Magazine, a representative from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and others. Think of it as "Car Talk" meets "Living on Earth."
14th Annual Earth Day Celebration, April 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., New Morning Natural & Organic, Middle Quarter Mall, 738 Main St. South, Woodbury, Conn. 203-263-4868, newmorn.com. Directions: Woodbury, which is west of Waterbury, is 145 miles, or about 2 1/2 hours, from Boston. Take Interstate 90 (Mass. Pike) west to exit 9. Take I-84 west to exit 57 (a left-hand exit) for Route 15 toward I-91 south. Take 1-91 south to exit 18. Take I-691 west toward Meridian/Waterbury to exit 1 (a left-hand exit) for I-84 west; head for Waterbury/Danbury and to exit 17. Get on Route 64 toward Middlebury/Watertown and in a quarter mile make a slight right turn onto Chase Parkway/Route 64 for about 7 1/2 miles. Turn left onto US-6/Main Street; the mall is one-tenth of a mile ahead.
KATHY SHORR
