In April, Mt. Lebanon has a number of events and activities that celebrate the return of longer days and milder weather and encourage us to be more responsible tenants here on Earth.

EARTH DAY On Sunday, April 22, in Mt. Lebanon Park, Earth Day Mt. Lebanon will celebrate its 10th anniversary. (The 10^th calls for tin and aluminum gifts, in case you were wondering. Both totally recyclable.)

The first local Earth Day was at The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunnyhill) on April 26, 2008, and had a theme of “Block Party for the Planet.” It featured healthy snacks, an oxygen bar (remember those?) and poems about the environment; they even raffled off a tree.

The following year the celebration moved to Mt. Lebanon Park, where it has remained, with one temporary relocation because of the high school renovation.

This year’s festivities are from 11 to 3 and include a yoga demonstration by Himalayan Institute, meditation instruction by Sahaja Meditation, music by the Mt. Lebanon High School String Trio and String Quartet, free water testing and more. Food vendors include Betsy’s Ice Cream, BRGR, Pitaland and Seven Creeks Spring Water.

A highlight of the day for some will be the Pennsylvania Resources Council’s (PRC)  composting workshop, which will be offered at the park and costs $70 per person or $75 per couple.

TREE CITY Have you ever climbed a tree and hidden in its canopy, hoping to stay there long after someone discovered you were gone…fantasizing that the tree was your own clubhouse and the birds were your minions? That’s the theme of this year’s Tree City USA ceremony at Jefferson Elementary School: “Trees are homes, secret places and playgrounds.” The ceremony is at 1:30 P.M. on Arbor Day, Friday, April 27.

As has been tradition, the students will raise the American and Tree City flags, present poetry, songs and  instrumental music. Representatives of each grade will help to plant a red maple tree in front of the school.

This is the 12^th year that Mt. Lebanon has met the requirements to be a Tree City USA. To achieve it, a community must have a forestry commission, budget a requisite amount of public funding for forestry and have an annual Arbor Day Celebration.

MAKE A RAIN BARREL Learn how to practice watershed protection and conservation in your own backyard at a rain barrel workshop, 7 P.M., Tuesday, April 17, at Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Learn from  the Pennsylvania Resources Council about stormwater runoff problems, ways to conserve water at home and environmentally friendly landscaping techniques. Cost is $80/person and $85/couple and includes a pre-made 55-gallon rain barrel. For information contact Nancy at 412-488-7490 X247 or nancym@prc.org, or register online at prc.org/programs/conservation-workshops/watershed-rain-barrels/.

PITCH IN Next time you walk through Bird Park, Robb Hollow Park or Twin Hills Park, take a moment to ask yourself who cleared the path for you and who mulched the trail. The Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy, a group of dedicated volunteers, spends countless hours making sure your experience with the outdoors is enjoyable. But they need your help at a few events this spring.

The Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy Work Days (which are really only three hours on a Saturday morning)  are a great opportunity to say thanks to the conservancy and other groups such as the scouts, who care for our parks. All you have to do is show up from 9 a.m. to noon with gloves and maybe a gardening tool or two. For more specifics, go to: lebonature.org

   April 14 Twin Hills Park: Work on invasives, trails, planting

   April 28 Bird Park: Prepare trails for School in the Park

   May 19 and AUGUST 18  Bird Park, work on invasives

   June 16 Robb Hollow Park: Invasives

   July 21 Twin Hills Park: Invasives

CLEAN AND GREEN If you would like to help keep Mt.  Lebanon litter-free, sign up for the Clean and Green program by calling the public works department at 412-343-3403.

The program encourages volunteers to adopt a street or area of town and keep it litter-free. Clubs and organizations, families and individuals are welcome to participate. Bags, gloves and safety vests will be provided. The municipality will dispose of the trash.

If you decide to adopt a state road (Washington Road, Scott Road, Castle Shannon Boulevard, etc.) under PennDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway Program, the state will recognize you with a highway sign. 

COMMUNITY RECYCLING (RESIDENTS ONLY)

Note: because of heavy demand, these services are availalbe to Mt. Lebanon residents only.

Electronic Recycling 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 21, public works yard, 1250 Lindendale Drive. Computers and computer equipment, printers, televisions, DVD players and other electronics—anything with an electrical cord. Most devices are taken free of charge. More information at www.jvsenvironmental.net.

Document Shredding, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday, April 28, public works yard, 1250 Lindendale Drive. Bring paper documents to be shredded while you watch. Free.

Yard waste drop-off  This program runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the municipal golf course the first Saturday of every month from April through  October. Drop off leaves, garden residue, small twigs, shrubs, brush and branches (under 3 feet) in recyclable bags. No grass clippings, stones, soil, stumps, large limbs or plastic bags. Free.

Woody Waste Curbside Pickup Saturday, April 14. Reservations are required; call 412-343-3403 between the Monday and Thursday (no later than 4:30 p.m.) before pickup. Shrubs, tree branches and limbs only. No leaves in bags, soil, rocks, leaves, grass clippings or ornamental grasses.Follow these guidelines, or the materials may not be collected: Remove dirt and debris from the roots of shrubs. Place small branches into piles (not bound) not exceeding 24 inches in diameter and 48 inches in length. Large tree limbs should be no longer than 6 feet by five inches. The total amount put out for any pickup should be able to fit into a single pickup truck. Place materials at the curb, not in the street, before 7 a.m. on pickup day.