St. Joseph Today and Whirlpool have joined forces for Earth Day and will host a community cleanup at Tiscornia Beach on Monday, April 19 from 4 until approximately 6 p.m. Whirlpool will be represented by the Young Professional’s Network and Corporate Social Responsibility department.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 4 p.m. at the Tiscornia Beach parking lot (free parking for the event), where crews will be dispatched. The public is welcome and is encouraged to wear old clothes, a sturdy pair of shoes or boots and please bring gloves.

The City of St. Joseph has offered to pick up all the collected trash after the event. Water will be provided on site.

Contact St. Joseph Today for more information at (269) 985-1111 or www.sjtoday.org.

Coast Guard cleanup in South Haven

Learn how you can make a difference in the health of our Great Lakes by celebrating Earth Day at the Michigan Maritime Museum on Saturday, April 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. The Maritime Museum EarthFaire will focus on preserving and enhancing Great Lakes waterways. The event will feature conservation information, outdoor booths, children’s activities and informational exhibits. The Maritime Museum EarthFaire is a free public event.

The Earth Day activities will coincide with the United States Coast Guard Boat House and Vessel Clean-Up Day, the annual cleaning of the museum’s restored Coast Guard life-saving vessels with help from members of the St. Joseph Coast Guard Station. Other campus happenings that day will include the annual spring rigging of the replica tall ship, Friends Good Will.

Lunch will be provided to those who help the Museum clean and polish the restored USCG boats in the Herbert Van Oort Boat House between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. These three vessels represent the last three types of wooden lifeboats used by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the museum is the only facility in the United States where you can see all three together under one roof.

The Michigan Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Michigan Great Lakes waterways, maritime history and culture. Located at the drawbridge in South Haven, the museum is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible. For more information call (800) 747-3810 or visit michiganmaritimemuseum.org.

‘Recycle Yourself’ in St. Joseph

Do you have some unwanted items sitting around the house? Do the green thing by recycling it with the help of Michigan Blood and Goodwill. To celebrate Earth Day, the two organizations are joining forces to host a series of “Recycle Yourself” blood drives in five locations across the state during the week of April 19.

Goodwill and Michigan Blood will be collecting donated items at Michigan Blood locations in St. Joseph and Portage on Tuesday, April 20 from noon to 7 p.m. and in Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Traverse City on Thursday, April 22. Goodwill will recycle all items that they cannot resell in their retail stores.

There will be free hot dogs and chips for donors in St. Joseph. Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.

Any healthy person 17 or older who weighs 110 pounds or more may be eligible to donate blood every 56 days. Donors should remember to bring photo ID (or two pieces of non-photo ID). Each pint of donated blood may help as many as three people.

“Blood is a renewable resource,” said Kristen Sisson, public relations supervisor west for Michigan Blood. “That resource is a lifesaving gift for patients across Michigan. We hope this effort with Goodwill will encourage everyone to think about all the good they can do for the environment and for Michigan by donating blood and their unwanted items.”

Green initiatives breakfast in Sawyer

Rabbit Run is hosting a breakfast discussion on green initiatives, “Earth Day 2010: Green Initiatives for Living and Working,” Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at Rabbit Run Inn. Come with your ideas and questions to a spirited interchange with local community, businesses and organizations that are bringing the green movement to Harbor Country.

Presenting their work and plans for a greener future are Laru Chapman, Recoop; Mariah Power Windspire; Jim Grandholm, Green Earth Electronic Recycling; Tom Hackley, West Michigan Career Institute, Green Career Training; David Krumrie Jr., Sawyer Custom Woodworks, Chikaming Township Planning Commission; and Randy Rood, executive director, Chikaming Open Lands.

A continental breakfast will be provided by Rabbit Run Inn. This event is free and open to the public.

Rabbit Run Inn is located at 6227 Elm Drive, Sawyer.

For more information call Linda Jo or Rodney Clough at (269) 405-1050 or e-mail rabbitruninn@comcast.net.