Country Fair Day, Volunteers Needed, Memorial Park Work Party, and More Zero Waste

Country Fair Day

This year Country Fair Day is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 25. This wonderful community day is going to be better than ever this year. Here is a schedule of events:

Pancake Breakfast: 7-11 a.m., at the Downtown Fire Station, 777 San Anselmo Ave.

The firefighters will be cooking up their usual yummy breakfast of pancakes, ham, juice and coffee, and the fire engines will be on display out in front of the station.

Booths and Kids Entertainment: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., San Anselmo Avenue between Pine and Tamalpais Avenues.  

There will be lots of local booths, showcasing local vendors, nonprofit information, and disaster preparedness, as well as booths from town council candidates, and town boards, commissions and committees. The kids entertainment will be much enhanced this year and will include the beloved train, jumpees, slot cars, a climbing wall, face painting, a U-Bot (you have to come down to find out about the U-Bot), a foam machine, human hamster balls and a fun van with outdoor video games.

Parade down San Anselmo Avenue: 11 a.m., beginning at Ross Avenue and continuing down San Anselmo Avenue to Tamalpais Avenue. 

This year’s parade will feature lots of local entries from the schools, local businesses, neighborhoods and children’s groups. 

Barbecue and Music in Creek Park: 12-4 p.m. The barbecue will be provided by local folks and will include burgers, sausages, Chinese chicken salad and oysters. Soft drinks and other beverages will be available. The entertainment will include Tim Cain, with music for the kids, followed by Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire (a Johnny Cash Tribute Band). 

We’re looking forward to a wonderful, community day.  Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss out.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed on the Library Advisory Board. The board is charged with considering, proposing and recommending guidelines with respect to programs and facilities to meet the library needs of the community, in conjunction with the Town Librarian. The board consists of seven members and meets on the third Thursday of every other month at 4:30 p.m. in the . There is one opening

For more information or an application, go to the town website or contact Jeannie Courteau at jcourteau@townofsananselmo.org or 258-4691. Applications for this opening should be submitted by Friday, Sept. 30. 

Volunteer Work Party at Memorial Park

The San Anselmo Parks and Recreation Commission is hosting a work party at on Saturday, Sept. 17. Help is needed with spreading wood chips into the Millennium Playground. The work party will begin at 8 a.m. at the playground. Volunteers are being asked to bring a shovel and wheelbarrow if possible, although some equipment will be provided. RSVP to David Donery at 258-4661 or by email at ddonery@townofsananselmo.com 

More on Zero Waste Marin

Here are some more zero waste ideas that build on last week’s ideas.

Junk Mail tips:

• Contact companies that send you catalogs and ask to be removed from their lists. You can use CatalogChoice.org to do this.
• Write letters (emails) of support for any “Do Not Mail” legislation. 
• For services you use, opt for paperless billing or email notifications.
• Ask to be taken off direct marketing lists.
• For any remaining junk mail, recycle it! 

Paper Towel tips:

• Invest in a set of microfiber cloths for deep cleaning, scrubbing, and dish-drying.
• Get a set of cloths just for the kids. They’ll love using their very own.
• Just use fabric. It’s cheaper, strong, and reuseable. Use a cloth napkin while eating, a towel to dry hands, and rags to clean.
• Set aside a bath of nicer cloths just for guests.
• For the worst stains and messes, save old towels and clothing that are unfit to donate, and cut them into rags.
• Some people prefer to separate cleaning cloths by color for outdoor, kitchen, bathroom, and general cleaning. You can figure out a system that works best for you.
• If you want to use paper towels, be sure to choose 100 percent recycled. 

General Tips (ideas to help you consume intelligently and choose less-toxic alternatives):

• Keep your car tires properly inflated, and you’ll use less gas (and your tires will last thousands of miles longer). Over one billion gallons of fuel are wasted every year dur to cars with underinflated tires.
• Make your own cleaning products. Buying less-toxic alternatives means generating less hazardous waste. 
• Use integrated pest management and avoid toxic pesticides.
• Many websites provide lists of third-party-verified commercial products that are less toxic. These sites are also updated regularly with the latest on changing product formulas.

For more information on these tips, and additional tips on reducing waste, go to zerowastemarin.org. These tips are provided through the Marin Hazardous and Solid Waste Joint Powers Authority zero waste campaign.