03/23/11 by Juanita Teschner 
The Center for the Environment will offer a free Gas Cap Check and raffle off a battery-powered lawnmower during the Second Annual Viva Verde Earth Fest in Kannapolis on Saturday, April 16. Leaking caps will be replaced free of charge.
The Gas Cap Check will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main parking area of North Cabarrus Park at 760 Orphanage Road. Visitors may buy a raffle ticket for a battery-powered lawnmower, which, unlike gasoline-powered mowers, emits no toxic fumes. Center staff will provide information on the health risks of poor air quality and the link between air pollution and asthma.
The Center’s activities are part of its Campaign for Clean Air, which is designed to educate citizens in the community and region and empower them to take action to address the air quality issues the region faces.
The event will also include live music with such bands as Crys Matthews, Time Sawyer, the Tater Family Traveling Circus and Ang Medlin.
Event highlights will include birds from the Carolina Raptor Center and a Scrap Exchange.
The Earth Fest will feature nature walks, geocaching, art contests, recycling, arts and crafts, music, children’s activities, paper shredding, both plant and book swaps, food and more.
People may bring all sorts of items for free recycling: tennis balls, paper to be shredded, photo film, disposable cameras, plastic bags, ink and toner cartridges, electronics, cell phones, batteries and compact fluorescent bulbs.
Greenway Nature ID Walks will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Magnolia Shelter with walks every hour. Geocaching will begin at 11 a.m. at the Magnolia Shelter with expeditions every 30 minutes.
The recycled art contest is open to all Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City public, private and home school students.
The photo contest is open to people of all ages. The entry form can be found at http://www.ci/concord.nc.us./Portals/O/Documents/2011%2oViva%20Verde%20Earth%20Photo%20Contest.pdf.
Vendors with green products or green messages may register at http://www.ci.concord.nc.us/Portals/0/Documents/Viva%20Verde%20registration%20form-2011.pdf.
For additional information, visit http://www.vivaverdeearthfest.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/vivaverdeearthfest.
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The Center for the Environment at Catawba College was founded in 1996 to provide education and outreach centered on prevalent environmental challenges and to foster community-oriented sustainable solutions that can serve as a model for programs throughout the country.