Earth Day events throughout Snohomish County

From bird-watching tours to visits from a "superhero" promoting clean air, events celebrating Earth Day will be held across Snohomish County in the coming week to get environmental issues on the public's mind.

Many communities and public agencies are planning events leading up to Earth Day, which is April 22:

• The city of Edmonds is hosting an Earth Day Beach Cleanup from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 19. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help remove litter from the shoreline of Edmonds Marine Sanctuary.

Sally Lider, environmental-education coordinator for Edmonds, expects about 50 people to join in the event and clean the beach of golf balls, bottles, tires and odds and ends that float to shore from Puget Sound. Volunteers should bring their own gloves and boots, and meet at the Visitor Station at Olympic Beach.

"We just know there's always stuff to clean up," Lider said. "During spring and Earth Day, it is important for people to think about the environment because they will be out interacting with it all summer long."

• Mill Creek is hosting a volunteer event from 9 a.m. to noon on April 19 to install storm-drain markers, pick up trash along sidewalks and plant trees and shrubs.

• In Mountlake Terrace, an Earth Day Sustainability Workshop will be held at 7 p.m. on April 22 at the Mountlake Terrace Library to cover sustainability as it relates to people's homes, businesses and the government.

• In Marysville the public is invited for tours of a wastewater-treatment plant and bird watching at an Earth Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19 at Ebey Waterfront Park.

Marysville surface-water technician Adam Bailey said about 15 booths will be staffed by a range of agencies and organizations to highlight environmental projects going on in the community.

"Any little bit helps, and it's fun for the local community," he said.

• Around Snohomish County, a superhero clean-air advocate will appear here and there to celebrate Earth Day and spread a Community Transit message about clean air. The agency's Oxy Gene mascot will visit April 19 at the Mukilteo Library from 10:40 a.m. to noon and at Lundeen Park in Lake Stevens from 2 and 4 p.m.

Community Transit says public transportation produces about half as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger mile as private vehicles do.

• In Everett, the Snohomish County PUD invites the public to watch "Planet Earth" and education videos at the utility's Everett Auditorium on April 22. Showtimes will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There also will be information about PUD programs and displays on renewable energy and conservation.

Christina Siderius: 425-745-7813 or csiderius@seattletimes.com