By Patricia Villers, Register Staff

ANSONIA — The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center’s annual Earth Day celebration will have a new twist this year: a theme of nature and the arts.

Workshops, talks, hikes, and music will all be related to the theme, said center Director Donna Lindgren.

The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center Inc. will host the event, which runs from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25.

Lindgren said this year will be slightly different, with the added art presentations and demonstrations planned throughout the day. “We have a lot of arty things for Earth Day this year, and it has all come together.”

As he has in the past, Ranger Justin Pegnataro will conduct a special Native American opening ceremony at 9:45 a.m.

Members of the Derby Historical Society board and Venture Crew 1762 dressed in Colonial garb will talk about the popular Day in 1762 program for fifth-graders held at the Gen. David Humphreys House in Ansonia, said Christine Boulay, a docent. Demonstrations will be offered in weaving.

The Derby Historical Society is co-sponsoring, along with the nature center, a visit from the Pisgah Mountain Primitives. The Durham-based group will offer a variety of demonstrations from Colonial life. They will use early tools to demonstrate candle-dipping, woodworking, rope-making and cooking kettle corn.

Lindgren said she was impressed when she attended one of Pisgah Mountain Primitives’ presentations at the Glebe House Museum in Woodbury and decided to invite the group to perform for Earth Day.

At 11 a.m., Ranger Martin Wigglesworth and Joyce Macauda, a representative of Healthy Valley, will conduct a guided photo walk. Participants will be able to find inspiration for their photos in the fields and woods of the center, or during one of the Earth Day programs.

At 2 p.m., Macauda will present awards for the photo contest sponsored by Valley Substance Abuse Action Council and Healthy Valley. Continued...

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Lindgren said she was pleased that artist Christopher Engstrom was going to teach public art banner design to children and adults.

“We’re hoping to hang the banners that are made along Main Street in Ansonia,” Lindgren said

Lindgren will lead tours of the Redwing Pond House at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. There, people will learn about sustainable energy in a green building.

A program on removing invasive species and replacing them with native plant species will be held at 1 p.m. Kyle and Lisa Turaczi, owners of Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery in Woodbury, will present the program.

There also will be music from 12:30 to 3 p.m., provided by Rich and Chris Randolph’s Solar Jam Productions. The company provides solar power for sound, lights and entertainment for musical groups.

Two bands, Sour Grapes and Wave Ryder, will perform, as will Friends member Owen Zimmerman.

Exhibitors will include organic gardening and the Connecticut Clean Energy Option.

Lindgren said representatives from the Valley Arts Council will be on hand, working on art projects with children, and a local 4-H Club, The Nature 4-Hers, will have an exhibit.

From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Ellen Hoverkamp, an art instructor, will demonstrate her work with scanner photography. “She makes beautiful art out of plant materials, they’re very dramatic items,” Lindgren said.

The first Earth Day was held in the United States on April 22, 1970, and it has grown to be an international event. Continued...

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Admission is free, but registration is appreciated. Call the center at 736-1053.

Patricia Villers can be reached at pvillers@nhregister.com.

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