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Earth Day Celebration at Paraiso in Dos Vientos Ranch
By Bethany North

With our wealth of knowledge and technology, more and more Americans are realizing the importance of conserving and preserving the earth we live on. The idea isn't completely new, because the original observation of Earth Day was started in 1969 by peace activist John McConnell, observed April 22. Many cities join in the spirit and even extend the holiday to Earth Week, from April 16 - April 22. Earth Day is being celebrated this year for the first time at Paraiso in Dos Vientos Ranch, which is the newest shopping destination in the Conejo Valley. The strip mall itself offers an open setting where guests can discover unique shops and restaurants for all tastes, and it is hoped that the Earth Day events here will become a rich tradition for the local residents to enjoy.

This Earth Day celebration is geared toward the whole family, with the first event teaching how to plant individual gardens and flowers with "The Garden Lady" on Tuesday April 21 at 10:30am - 11am. The event is sponsored by the Lil' Critters Club, and seeds, soil, and take home pots are provided, offering a unique and fun way to learn more about the environment. Planting options include zinnias, marigolds, carrots, squash and green beans. Pariaso spokesperson Jessica Yuda feels it is important to educate families about the Earth. "There are many things that can be done locally to educate and empower people to affect global change," says Yuda.

The second event takes place on Saturday, April 25, from 7pm - 9pm, and it is an Earth Day movie night showing "Arctic Tale", which is a National Geographic film for families about life in the Arctic. The movie will be shown in the Paraíso amphitheatre under the stars with various local "green" merchants and vendors, such as the National Park Service, Selected Beauty, Paraiso Cleaners, and Crave Fruit Bar, on site with special exhibits and discounts. "Arctic Tale" is a true story from the creators of "March of the Penguins" about a polar bear cub and walrus pup facing countless adventures in the frozen world of the Arctic, narrated by Queen Latifah. This movie was chosen to "address the very large issue of global warming and its effects on a small population - the polar bear," says Yuda. Families will take away the need to raise awareness about the Artic due to the fact that melting Artic ice is currently stranding and starving many polar bears.

The Lil' Critters Club, founded May 2007, is a large part of this Earth Day celebration and is a weekly event taking place every Tuesday morning at 10:30AM in the Paraíso amphitheatre in the Paraíso shopping center. There are typically 50 children in attendance. From the warmer season of April 7 to October 27, families can enjoy this free 30 minute program filled with quality, local entertainment from Conejo Valley. It is for ages 0-5 years and was created as a way to give back to the community with a safe and fun environment for children to learn and play. The Lil' Critter Club is using these Earth Day events to bring awareness to families about easy ways they can impact the environment within their own homes. Though this is the first Lil' Critters Club geared toward the environment, and there are many more scheduled with that theme throughout the year.

To conclude, here are several simple tips on how to make your home greener and more environmentally friendly in the spirit of Earth Day. First, reuse water bottles, because plastics are especially difficult to biodegrade. Second, make it a fun, family project to start a compost heap in the backyard, which can then encourage planting in the rich soil. Third, carpool. Save gas and the ozone, while also allowing your children to spend more time with their friends from school when you are part of a neighborhood carpool. Fourth, encourage a healthy and green lifestyle by encouraging your kids to bike or walk to their destinations, like school or friend's houses if they are close by. Yuda herself recommends unplugging all unused appliances, buying energy efficient products, and walking as much as possible. Pariaso feels the family is a very important part of preserving our earth and environment and hopes you all enjoy the activities planned to entertain and educate for Earth Day.