Aquarena Center's 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration - A Success

The celebration included a dedication ceremony, a blessing of the springs, live music and dance and 80 vendor, education and informational booths.
Speeches from U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, River Systems Institute Director Andrew Sansom, Texas State University President Denise Trauth, San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz, Hays County Judge Liz Sumter and British Petroleum (BP) representative Karen Hyland emphasized the importance of preserving natural areas. Doggett called Spring Lake a “precious place” and said Earth Day is an opportunity to recognize the necessity of preserving other natural areas. Judge Sumpter reading from a Cree Indian proverb said: ‘It’s only when the last tree has died, and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught, will we realize we cannot eat money.’ British Petroleum’s Karen Hyland presented a solar utility vehicle to Aquarena Center along with two solar panels which the Texas State Ingram School of Engineering under the direction of Professor Lawrence Larson designed and installed into the glass bottom boats that were unveiled in a ribbon cutting. 
Before the Native American blessing, St. John’s Catholic Church Associate Pastor Rev. Enrique Diaz took to the stage near the lakeshore to say a prayer and recite a Judeo-Christian-Islamic story from the Book of Genesis, in which Yahweh gives the Earth and all life upon it to humans on the sixth day of creation. Diaz then performed a blessing using holy water, which he flicked on onlookers. Executive Director of the Indigenous Cultures Institute Dr. Garza followed with a Native American blessing of the springs in the oral language Coahuiltecan. After the ceremony, a line formed of people wishing to receive a blessing from Garza. Using incense, Garza performed dozens of individual blessings for at least 45 minutes.  “It was very unexpected,” Garza said.
Throughout the day live music and dance were performed on two stages including local artists The Blue Hit, Orcquesta Ritmo Salsa band, Earle Brown, Henry and the Invisibles and Hakloka, the River City Dance Group, the Native American Student Association and the dynamic Aztec dance troupe “Cuiciani In Xochitl. Informational and educational booths included the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, the San Marcos River Foundation, Hays County Master Naturalists and Gardeners, Sustainable San Marcos, Edible San Marcos, The City of San Marcos and Texas Disposal Systems.  Local bike shop “The Hub” gave away free bike tune-ups and Texas State University’s Horticulture Department provided recycling containers and pickup after the event.
Sponsors of the Earth Day Celebration contributed more than $4,000 and included the City of San Marcos, Hays County Commissioners Court, Texas State University’s Environmental Service Committee, the National Association of Environmental Professionals, University Seminar, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the Native American Students Association, Tanger Outlets and Half Price Books. Event organizer Deborah Lane concluded: “The combination of events, presence of the Indigenous Cultures Institute Festival and strong community support and participation made this year’s Earth Day Celebration the largest and most enjoyable so far.  It will only get better.”