David Goldstein
According to EarthDay.org (an international organizing coalition), the theme of 2022 Earth Day will be “Invest in Our Planet”. Electric vehicles, which will be led locally by the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCEA), will be a major focus of the investment theme.
It is an investment and not just a purchase. Kent Bullard, Electric Vehicle Technical Coach with the Energy Alliance, stated that it is an investment. He mentioned financial incentives and a study that showed electric driving is the same as using gasoline at 98 cents per gallons.
Ventura
April 1:The Museum hosts the Ventura County Library’s bilingual (English & Spanish) story time in person every Friday at 3 p.m. for free. April’s theme will be Earth Day.
April 17 The Center for Regenerative Agriculture staffs a table at Patagonia (235 W. Santa Clara Street) starting atThey will be promoting their grant-funded front yard planting program, which provides free fruit trees for residents in Venturas Westside.Visitors will be able to examine healthy soils under a microscope at the table.
April 22: Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance staff will be at the Pacific View Mall to assist with activities and games. They will have an electric vehicle display and other activities from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The staff of the mall hope that a new charging station for cars will open on the west side in time to host the event.
April 22:From noon to 1 p.m. at the Ventura County Government CenterThe center’s tour will feature water-efficient landscaping, stormwater capture, electric transportation, and composting. Ventura County District attorney will talk about how his Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit protects the environment. The Sustainability Division will present the county’s fleet all-electric Chevy Bolts. General Services Agency landscaping crews will plant trees. The GSA will host an electronic waste collection event at the service building on April 21 and 22 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m..
Oxnard
April 7: The First Thursdays Food Truck event at downtowns Plaza Park will display and distribute information about the city’s new organics collection requirements while launching a new three-bin clear stream collection system for large events. The City staff will offer promotional items, oil recycling kit and educational information.
April 9:The Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Facility is hosting a community drop-off event. This will offer residents of Oxnard free disposal of bulky items.
April 21: City staff will host an educationalbooth at the weekly Farmers Market in Plaza Park from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., providing promotional items, free oil recyclingkits and educationalinformation.
More information:
downtownoxnard.org/events/first-thursday-food-trucks/
www.oxnard.org/dropoff/
downtownoxnard.org/farmers-market/
Thousand Oaks
April 9:The Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 North Moorpark Road is hosting a free family event to promote sustainable living. It will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will be workshops and presentations, a demonstration of electric vehicles, workshops, instruction in bicycle safety, bicycle donation and collection for youth who are underserved, crafts for children, giveaways of compost and plants, and a raffle.
Ojai
April 21: From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at theOjai Community Farmers Marketinthecourtyardof theOjai Unified Schools District Headquarters, 414 E. Ojai Ave., vendors and non-profit organizations will host a community celebration of Earth Day. There will be crafts for children, live music, and speakers.
April 23: Caf BKUAnd BKUSuperfoods, located 987 W. Ojai Ave. are hosting a celebration from 2-6 pm. Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance and Electric Vehicle Advocates of Ventura County, will be displaying vehicles, giving away promotional items and offering games, and providing information to customers interested in buying electric vehicles. A new, onsite Electric bicycle rental business Ojai Electric Bikes will offer 10% off rentals (normally $35 an hour or $100 for the entire day for bikes with 60-100 mile range) to anyone who walks in their shade structure. BKUparking lot and greets staff with Happy Earth Day!
David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency Environmental Resource Analyst, can be reached by calling 805-658-4312 [email protected].