FINALS: Earth Day and May Fair offer break from the usual

For most students, May in Philadelphia means exams and nothing more. But two upcoming events could change all that. Philadelphia will celebrate an environmentally-friendly Earth Day next Sunday, and on Saturday, May 8, Clark Park will be the site of the 35th-annual Spruce Hill May Fair. Earth Day is "the most important free environmental activity in Philadelphia for the year," said Andrew Altman, the Earth Day steering committee chairperson and Clean Air Council director of advocacy. "This year, especially, we're real excited with the progressive and 'green' nature of the event. The event is as much activist oriented as it is going to be fun," he said Altman said that 75 non-profit groups will be offering "participatory activites and displays." Event coordinators have taken special care to make sure the festivities would also be environmentally conscious. "The shirts are made with no chemicals or pesticides and are locally made, printed with food grade FDA approved water based inks," Alman said. "All drinks will be served in re-usable cups and all food and paper waste will be composted." There will be an "Earthstage," and music will range from "world-class jazz, folk music, reggae, rock and blues, pop and Latino music," Altman added. The event is being sponsored by the Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Fairmount Park Commission. The event will take place Sunday, May 2 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall in west Fairmount Park. Spring is in the air the 35th annual Spruce Hill May Fair approaches. "It's basically a spring get-together and a chance to get outdoors and meet neighbors," Spruce Hill Association President David Hochmann said. He added there will be a variety of activites for all kinds of people including a white elephant sale, stage entertainment, a used book sale and a volleyball championship. Hochmann said the food tent will emphasize international foods. The fair will be held on Saturday, May 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clark Park. "The main feature will be a dozen tables representing various community groups in West Philly," Hochmann said. "It is a chance to see what an active area this is and all the things people are involved in." Hochmann said there will also be a variety of children's activities provided by neighborhood child care centers and police and fire trucks for the children to explore. "The fair is sponsored by Spruce Hill and is also a way for the association to raise funds and support the community," said Mary Brewster, executive vice president of the Spruce Hill Association. Brewster said the fair is almost entirely volunteer-based and they are relying on donations from residents for the white elephant sale and donations from businesses for raffle prizes. The fair is open to anyone and admission is free. Hochman encouraged University students to come and be a part of the neighborhood. Just after the fair another neighborhood event will take place several blocks away at the Woodland Mansion. The first annual spring reception given by the Penn Faculty and Staff for Neighborhood issues will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 8 as well. "The reception is for faculty and staff that live in University City," Carolyn Burdon, social chairperson of PFSNI, said. Burdon said that one of the goals of the reception is to help the University faculty and staff who live in this area meet each other and get a better sense of the number of Unversity employees who live in University City. "We're working to cultivate a sense of family and community among Penn faculty and staff who live in University City," Burdon said.