AND NOW THE WEATHER IS WARMING UP TODAY, AND PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY SOME NATURE. NOW, TODAY, THE CITY OF BELLEVUE IS HOSTING AN EVENT HELPING PEOPLE PROTECT AND PRESERVE NATURE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MARY REGLI IS LIVE AT BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY, SHOWING US JUST HOW ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. HEY, EDDIE AND ANNA. YEAH, BELLEVUE IS CELEBRATING EARTH DAY A LITTLE BIT EARLY TODAY, AND I’M HERE WITH RUTH RICHTER. SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF GREEN BELLEVUE. RUTH, HOW ARE YOU GUYS CELEBRATING? WELL, WE’RE HERE AT THE JOHN BEEMER MUELLER BUILDING AT BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY FROM 12 TO 4. WE HAVE OVER 30 EXHIBITS, AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON SMALL SPACE GARDENING AND ALSO COMPOSTING. WE HAVE FACE PAINTING. WE’RE DOING A COLLECTION FOR STYROFOAM. AND WE’RE ALSO DOING A CLOTHING SWAP. OKAY. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE SHARING QUITE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO GO GREEN. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO STAY EARTH FRIENDLY? WELL, I’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN AVID RECYCLER, BUT RIGHT NOW WE’RE REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING POLLINATOR GARDENS IN BELLEVUE. THERE’S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF BEES IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS THAT HAVE DIED. AND THE WAY TO KEEP THOSE AROUND IS TO HAVE HABITATS. WE’RE INTRODUCING THIS POLLINATOR SIGN AS WELL TODAY FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE RAISING THESE GARDEN BEDS FOR US. OKAY. AND WHY IS THIS EVENT SO IMPORTANT FOR THE METRO AREA TO HAVE? WELL, THERE’S A LOT OF GROUPS ALL AROUND THE LOCAL AREA, AS WELL AS THE METRO AREA THAT CAN CONGREGATE TOGETHER. WE GET TOGETHER, WE LIKE TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER WHAT WE’RE DOING, BUT THEN ALSO SHOW IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE’RE DOING THESE PROJECTS AND ENGAGING, EDUCATING. THAT’S SO IMPORTANT. OKAY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING, RUTH. AND IF YOU’D LIKE TO STOP BY THE EVENT TODAY, IT WILL BE HAPPENING FROM NOON TO FOUR HERE AT BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY