COMMUNITY — Del Rio turn out for city’s Earth Day exhibits

By Karen Gleason

The 830 Times

Del Rio parents and children built birdhouses, petted adorable miniature goats and watched a robotics’ team’s ingenuity at the city’s Earth Day event on Saturday.

Those were some of the exhibits outside the Del Rio Civic Center for this year’s Earth Day celebration, held from 9 a.m. to noon under cloudy

David Lopez, second from left, sits with his children as they create Do-It-Yourself birdhouses at Home Depot’s station at Saturday’s Earth Day event outside the civic center. Juanita and David Lopez brought their children, from left, Matthew Lopez, 7; Joshua Lopez, 1; and Sophia Lopez, 9; to participate in the Earth Day event. (Photo by Karen Gleason)

skies.

City Planner Janice Pokrant took a break from handing out small Del Rio notepads, pens, miniature levels and measuring tapes to explain the festivities.

“We’re out here celebrating Earth Day 2023, and we are continuing to learn how we can all live sustainably,” Pokrant said.

She was partnering with the San Felipe Springs Water Treatment Plant and several of its water operators, including Ozzy Lomas, to explain the plant’s operations and hand out collectible items like notepads and pens.

“My job – our job – is to constantly test water and check to make sure it’s safe for people to drink and then to help distribute it all over the city of Del Rio,” Lomas said.

The water treatment plant’s exhibit included a membrane used to filter impurities from the water that flows from the San Felipe Springs, and Lomas and his fellow operators showed groups of youngsters how that technology works.

“We also have a small lab station set up to show people some of the tests we do. We have people working 24/7 to make sure our water is safe,” he added.

Not to be outdone, the city’s gas department raffled a large barbecue grill during the event, and the city’s animal service division brought

Adoptable puppies, kittens and cats were brought to the Del Rio’s Earth Day event by the city’s Animal Services Division. (Photo by Karen Gleason)

several crates of cats, kittens and puppies available for adoption.

Firefighters from the Del Rio Fire Department brought firefighting equipment and explained how various items stored on the truck are used.

Kids and parents attending the event were also able to build birdhouses at the station set up by The Home Depot and learn how to set up a safe, comfortable campsite by National Park Service members from the Amistad National Recreation Area.

The Little Farmhouse Petting Zoo brought Tinker, a young donkey; several miniature goats, rabbits and chickens for youngsters (and oldsters) to pet, and the two teams of budding geniuses from the Del Rio Middle School’s Robotics Programs – nicknamed Royal Ramz and Ram Jamz – showed off a robot they had designed and built.