East Meadow High School: Thinking green

Going "green" may be easier than you think.
   
At least that was the theme last week at East Meadow High School's Earth Day Fair on April 22. The EMHS Environmental Club, which hosted the event, wore bright shirts donning the slogan, "It's easy to be green."
   
But, according to Environmental Club President Stephanie Annunziata, being environmentally conscious does not simply stop with depositing plastic bottles in marked blue bins.
   
"A lot of people learned about environmental issues and that there is more to saving the environment than recycling," said Annunziata, an EMHS senior.
   
Fair participants ran exhibits set up across the EMHS courtyard. Each display offered either a lesson, an action, or a material that related to being environmentally sound.
   
One table operated by the SCALE Earth Science class, a college-level course, acted as a recycling collection station for old or broken cell phones. The class is participating in a cell phone collection program sponsored by Samsung, which offers a $1000 grant to winning schools. Community members are invited to donate their cell phones, chargers or batteries by dropping them off at a box stationed in the EMHS main office through May 24.
   
Others introduced green alternatives, like organic foods, scented pencils made of recycled newspapers and compost friendly products.
   
There was an area for discussion of the landmark documentary,  "An Inconvenient Truth," which played throughout the morning.
   
A research team found that plants are severely affected by cigarette smoke. Another team discovered that even items like backpacks and beach balls can be reused.
   
A tour of the school greenhouse and garden with members of the Horticulture Club introduced important gardening tips and tactics. Visitors from McVey Elementary School even had a chance to plant vegetables with the club
members.