Campus presents Earth Day fest

Staff report

SHARON, PA.

Penn State Shenango’s Earth Fest 2015 will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the campus in downtown Sharon.

The annual event, free and open to the public, will include live music and entertainment, educational presentations, children’s activities, a local artists market, Penn State Berkey Creamery Ice Cream, information from sustainability-minded local organizations and businesses, and a computer and cellphone recycling event.

Food and coffee from Haitian Sensation and AVI will be available to purchase.

There will be entertainment all afternoon beginning at 11 a.m. in the Great Hall with a community drum circle. Drums will be provided or attendees can bring their own. Performances will include: Rick Bruckner, original roots music at 1:30 p.m.; and Adam Swartz Puppets in “The Great Bug-Tacular Game Show” at noon, and “Five Folk Tales From Around the World” at 3 p.m.

Activities for children and family members include an upcycled puppet-making workshop with Adam Swartz Puppets, wetlands crafts and educational activities in the Habitat Room with the Hermitage Schools Green Team and Penn State Shenango science department, face painting by First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, and a take-home seed-planting activity with the Penn State Shenango Agriculture Club.

Free educational presentations will include: “Soil Health for Gardeners” by Loren Muldowney of the Natural Resource Conservation Service at 1 p.m. and “Permaculture” by John Ackley at 2:40 p.m.

Other activities will include an eco-friendly local artists market and information tables from environmentally-conscious local businesses and organizations. There will be a computer and cellphone recycling drive in Forker Laboratory ($20 fee for CRT monitors due to lead content). For info, call the student-affairs office at 724-983-2969.