April is a green month for Clermont County -- in more ways than one. The Soil and Water Conservation District is now holding its annual plant sale. Orders will be taken until April 8; details are here. SWCD is also holding its annual pond management clinic April 12 at Pattison Park Lodge; details are here.

Clermont County's annual Spring Litter Clean-Up will be held Saturday, April 23. Volunteers will meet at locations throughout the county to pick up the trash that has accumulated over the fall and winter. Details on where to meet and how to register can be found here. 

Fourth-grader Karley Wrigglesworth (in photo with her teacher, Meredith Zimmerman) of New Richmond Elementary School won the Spring Litter Clean-Up T-shirt design contest -- T-shirts handed out at the event will have her design on them. If you appreciate the beauty of our county -- and want to maintain it -- come on out on April 23! Bring friends, meet new ones, and have a great time!

 

10 a.m.-noon April 16

6-8 a.m. May 5

 

Interested? Please call lead naturalist Jana Marshall-Westhoven to let her know! Details at  www.clermontparks.org.

 

Wildlife Wednesdays: Join the Little Miami Conservancy Center and the Park District for Wildlife Wednesdays, held 10-11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month April 13 through Oct. 12. The group will meet at 211 Railroad Avenue, Loveland, along the bike trail. You'll learn about our local wildlife, reptiles and fossils. Programs are free.

 

Earth Day: Celebrate at Sawyer Point noon-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. Don't forget to visit the Clermont County Park District booth for some hands-on learning and giveaways!

Matt Maupin Fishing Derby: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 7. East Fork Bass Anglers host a fishing derby for children under 16 years old. Registration starts at 10 a.m. Fishing and casting contests run 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board has published a Substance Abuse Recovery Resource Guide for residents of the county. The Recovery Guide is available on the websites of Clermont County Public Health  and the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board. The guide offers a comprehensive list of detox and treatment centers in Ohio and Kentucky; faith-based treatment organizations; Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, as well as tips on overdose prevention and how to help loved ones with addiction. If you are interested in getting a hard copy, contact Michelle Lydenberg at mlydenberg@clermontcountyohio.gov. Details are here.

Sheriff A.J. 'Tim' Rodenberg encourages citizens to use the office's drug and crime hotline.

TIP OF THE MONTH: April is Financial Literacy Month. Being prepared for disaster includes having your financial house in order so you do not have to worry about your finances during an event. Take the first step towards financial preparedness and go to www.consumerfinance.gov to get your money questions answered. And don't forget ready.gov for checklists of important documents that you might need during an emergency.

 

DRUG TAKE BACK DAY: The DEA Drug Take Back Day is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 30 at the following locations: Amelia Police Department, Felicity Police Department, Goshen Police Department, Pierce Township Police Department, and Furniture Fair, 4363 Eastgate Square Drive in Union Township. All non-liquid prescriptions and over-the-counter medications will be accepted. Needles cannot be accepted.

FAMILY FUN RACE: Clermont County Public Health is partnering with Batavia Township to offer a free one-mile Family Fun Adventure Challenge Race at  11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at Batavia Township Park, 1535 Clough Pike. The family friendly race will be part of the larger East Side Adventure Challenge obstacle course and color run that will take place prior to the Family Fun Adventure Challenger. Participants will encounter obstacles along the way, and will be covered in color by the end of the race. To register for the race, or for more information visit www.bit.ly/ESAdvChallenge.

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS:  April 9 is the Ready to Read Festival. Bring your preschool children to learn more about how to help them prepare to read. The event is 10 a.m. to noon at the Union Township Branch Library, 4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road.

* April 10-16 is National Library Week. Stop by a branch to borrow a book or movie and use the public computers and free Wi-Fi. Just for stopping in, pick up a small prize. Sign up to win a gift basket. What will you discover?

* This summer, participate in the Summer Reading Challenge and read for the fun of it. This program helps kids maintain their reading skills during the summer months so they are better prepared for school this fall. For adults, take a little time to enjoy the latest best seller. Everyone can win prizes. The challenge is June 1 to Aug. 1.

SALUTE TO LEADERS: Joe Whitt, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and survived the attack, was named the Military Leader honoree during the Chamber Foundation's 2016 Salute to Leaders. The Southwest Ohio VFW Memorial Team, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, was also honored. The Memorial Team is made up of veterans from various VFW and American Legion posts in Clermont County, as well as Vietnam Veterans of America. They and others were honored during a dinner March 23 at Oasis in Loveland.