Planning a day to honor the Earth

At least, that’s the idea.

The “gifts of a healthy planet” will be the theme for the 13th annual Earth Day celebration in Reno this spring. Last year more than 10,000 people attended the event, and Earth Day planners are expecting even larger numbers this time around. Though the event is months away, a group of environmentally minded individuals is already planning the festivities. The first move last week was to choose the event’s theme, based on a logo illustration created by Reno resident Phil Buckhart.

“There are gifts available to us if we take care of our planet,” said one Earth Day committee member. “The logo depicts that giving nature.”

The theme and logo will be used on Earth Day T-shirts. Sales of the shirts help fund the event on April 21 at Idlewild Park. The event will include live music played on a solar-powered stage, and more than 100 booths from nonprofit organizations will be set up to educate the community about ways to conserve and help the Earth.

“It is a quality event that teaches and encourages people to get involved,” said Sonya Hem, executive director of Environmental Leadership, the local group that coordinates Earth Day events.

Committee members are looking for volunteers to help plan the event. The next meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Silver Peak Brewery, 124 Wonder St. Call 323-3433 or visit www.environleader.org.