Earth Day: 11-year-old Bryant says we ‘clean up the earth for everybody’

Braving a chilly spring morning, volunteers throughout Middletown took to wide open spaces cleaning up for Earth Day.

Working along the Great Miami River in Middletown today were five step-siblings and mother, Sara Hartbarger. The family signed up for the Earth Day cleanup at All About PetCare.

After just a hour of work their big bags were nearly full of trash.

“(Earth Day) means we are going to clean up the earth for everybody,” said 11-year-old Bryant Finfrock, who was working with his brother, Jordan Milligan, 9.

In Goldman Park, Joe Moore who lives in the Oneida neighborhood, was collecting along the baseball fields and playground.

“I just hate trash,” he said, adding collecting was also good exercise. “I always enjoyed playing basketball in this park, so this is where I came.”

The city and Keep Middletown Beautiful had a ceremony and lunch for volunteers and on-site document shredding services of personal documents was available.

Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, which is said to have launched the modern environmental movement. And it’s estimated that more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities annually.

Other Butler County events for Earth Day

  • In Fairfield, a ceremony and tree planting at Huffman Park, 2100 John Gray Road. Duke Energy has donated five trees to be planted at the park. A black gum tree will be planted during the ceremony, but the city will also plant three red oaks and a cedar tree.
  • In Hamilton, the city and county will have more than 20 state, regional and local environmental organizations and other exhibitors at the Hamilton Earth Day Event. Participants can learn about recycling, resource conservation and awareness of local environmental issues. The free expo is sponsored by the Hamilton to New Baltimore Groundwater Consortium, MillerCoors, Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Butler County Storm Water District.
  • In Liberty Twp., Duke Energy has collaborated with the community to plant seven new trees at Dudley Memorial Park, 5700 Yankee Road. Four autumn blaze and three October glory trees will be planted.

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