Earth Week at Carol Woods

        Spring is here, a time of natural beauty, renewal, pink and white dogwoods, bluebirds sitting on their nests. Carol Woods celebrates spring every year during Earth Week, and 2026 was no exception. Our campus is full of new life and promises. There were many activities during Earth Week, such as a plant sale, garden tours, a bird walk, and this year even a “moon watch.” There was an electric car show, and the Grounds Department showed off its new equipment such as electric leaf blowers to replace their noisy, gasguzzling predecessors.

        Bo Howes, Triangle Land Conservancy, Director of Conservation, West was the Earth Week speaker. In 1983 Bo’s father, Jon Howes(wife Mary), and Brad Barker (wife Sindy) led the efforts of Triangle J Council of Governments to form the Triangle Land Conservancy. There was a wide array of exhibits at the Earth Fair in the Social Lounge:

        Cathy Starkweather brought in samples of peatland from eastern North Carolina to illustrate peatland restoration.

        John Hinnant and Bob Hellwig, members of the Carol Woods Recycling Sub-Committee, had a table with items that were found in recycling bins — both those that can’t be recycled as well as items that can be.

         Kay Edgar and Norm Budnitz provided a checklist of birds found at Carol Woods along with tips on how to provide birds with a safe migration.

         Bob Healy assembled information on environmental organizations and Lois Howlettmanaged the display.

         Bill and Shirl Thomas offered participants Climate Bingo game cards to test their knowledge of positive and negative aspects of global warming.

         In a recycling effort to have partial bottles of liquor go to good homes, Bob Healy and Trish Rafalow coordinated the raffle where almost 30 residents were the winners.

         The joys of spring are tempered by grave concerns about our planet. Last year was the warmest on record, and this year may be even hotter. While offering Earth Week as a special event, the Climate Crowd devotes its time year-long to addressing climate change. The reduction of burning fossil fuels is the highest priority because they are the largest contributor to global warming. – Al Howlett, Chair, Climate Crowd SIG