PHOTOS AND TEXT BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey
After a year’s absence due to COVID-19, it was good to be back at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill for the 26th annual Earth Day Celebration. As is our habit, this is where we unload a year’s worth (this time more) of spent batteries, toner cartridges, cell phones we’ve tossed in the wash, documents needing shredding, and cans of old paint that have been drying up in the garage.
It was great to catch up with a few folks I haven’t seen for awhile, including Donna Hoague who is an educator at the Pasco Schools Energy and Marine Center in Port Richey. For years the EMC, located along the Salt Springs Estuary, has been a destination field trip for Pasco County students (including mine) who will long remember plucking baby crabs, fish and other creatures from during a favored seining activity. There they learn through a bevy of hands-on activities the importance of environmentalism and being stewards of sacred, natural spaces like the coastal estuary that is the Pasco coastline.
With COVID-19 restrictions, Donna has been taking the show on the road to local schools. They absolutely love it, she said while giving others a taste of what kids are learning at special education station featuring fiddler crabs and microscopic views of plankton she collected earlier in the day.
The old man and I moseyed about, catching a few wildlife presentations – crocodiles, owls, amphibians – a rain barrel workshop and the offering of Florida natural plants. Also picked up a freebie pot of Blue-Eyed grass, and Black-Eyed Susan seeds that came with the reminder to carry the Earth Day sentiment forward.
To that end……
Be sure to mark your calendars for a couple of annual events you might want to volunteer for in the future.
The Coastal Cleanup, held the third Saturday in September and the Great American Clean-up, held the first Saturday in March.
Also, a reminder that your local trash collector picks up recyclables weekly in Pasco County. To see what materials are acceptable, and what you should skip, along with drop-off recycling sites, check out the Pasco County Recycling Page here.
SLIDESHOW
Earth Day at Crews Lake Wilderness Park. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Reptiles and amphibians were the attraction at the Dundee Farms booth at Pasco County’s 26th annual Earth Day Celebration. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
There were a variety of educational wildlife presentations to take in. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Kids and adults alike learn a little something about plankton while collecting samples to view under a microscope under the guidance of Donna Hoague, Environmental Resource Teacher at the Pasco Schools EMC (Energy Marine Center) in Port Richey. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER Adults and kids alike were welcome to learn a little something about Pasco’s coastal environment – particularly plankton courtesy of Donna Hoague, Environmental Resource Teacher at the Pasco Schools EMC (Energy Marine Center) in Port Richey. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Master Gardeners out to offer some good advice at the Mobile Plant Clinic. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Rain Barrel Workshop. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Rain Barrel Workshop held at Pasco County’s Earth Day Celebration. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Smiling faces all around at the pop-up recycle collection site at Pasco County’s Earth Day celebration at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Pasco County employees collect household hazardous waste at the annual Earth Day celebration held April 24 at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill. Drop off stations were available for electronics, paper shredding and mercury disposal. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Freebie!! Earth Day Button 
Picked up some Blue-eyed Grass (for free) at Pasco County’s 26th annual Earth Day Celebration. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Blue-eyed Grass – supposed to be real pretty when it blooms. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Bring in a mercury thermometer, get a $5 gift card. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
One piece of litter a day…… PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Hazardous Waste PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Crocodiles. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
26th annual Earth Day Celebration was held April 24 at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
There was time for playing and climbing, too, at Pasco County’s Earth Day Celebration held April 24 at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Shopping repurposed tie-dye at the Twisted Sisters tent at the Earth Day celebration, held April 24 at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill. PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
Earth Day at Crews Lake Wilderness Park PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER 
PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER
PHOTO|MICHELE MILLER
Related – Environmental News of Note
- Florida Legislature Recognizes the Florida Wildlife Corridor, National Geographic press release, April 27, 2021
- For Florida Woman Shannon Estenoz, just appointed to U.S. Dept. of Interior job: Here’s a to-do list, Florida Phoenix
- Hiding Piney Point toxic waste underground may give us a taste of super-nasty water Florida Phoenix
- Florida’s controversial toll roads projects are scrapped Tampa Bay Times
- Bill to undermine Key West cruise ship limit ‘is dead’ Tampa Bay Times
- Red Tide is cause of concern near Piney Point discharge in Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Times
- Earth Day: Rehabilitated sea turtle released in Florida Keys Associated Press
