With a focus on sustainability and an opportunity for community connection, several organizations are coming together to host "Go Green, Columbia!" The all-day event will be held on Friday, April 25.

Organizers include Sahd Metal Recycling, LCSWMA, Columbia Borough, Columbia Borough Police, Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission, Columbia Park Rangers, Columbia Merchants Association and the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.

Activities will begin with the Columbia Borough Police spring cleanup, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Columbia Borough employees and community volunteers will work together to clean streets, sidewalks and parks. A large appliance collection will also take place during the cleanup, with tags for sale at the Columbia Borough office, 308 Locust St. For more information on the cleanup, contact Pam Armold at 717-684-7735 or armoldp@columbiapd.org.

As this year marks the 20th anniversary of Sahd Metal Recycling's Earth Day celebration and the 33rd annual Arbor Day observance in the borough, a combined Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration will also be part of the day's events. It will be held at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., from 5 to 7:30 p.m. And the event coincides with Columbia's 4th Friday as well, which will be held in the evening.

"Both Sahd Metal Recycling and the Shade Tree Commission realized we were doing separate events with many of the same participants, so we wanted to bundle it up and make a big town-wide celebration that could incorporate the town cleanup, 4th Friday Columbia and our event," explained Dan Sahd, team leader at Sahd Metal Recycling, noting that the festivities will be "a celebration of sustainability in a beautiful setting displaying why sustainable living is so important."

Additional activities throughout the day will include booths with local vendors and organizations, environmental education opportunities, food and music.

The first 300 people who register for the event through Sahd Metal Recycling will receive a free dinner from Rocky's BBQ. The meal will include a sandwich, chips and a soda.

People will also have a chance to win a free ice cream sundae from Coffee and Cream by being among the first 100 submissions in an Earth Day Challenge.

"Ice cream is for that event day only," Sahd explained, noting that people may complete the challenge at https://recycleyourmetal.com/earth-day/earth-day-challenge/. "The Earth Day Challenge was created to help people of all ages learn a bit more about sustainability."

At Columbia Crossing, activities will include an Arbor Day ceremony, where each year a Columbia High School senior is chosen to read the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. This year, Loudon Rupp will read the poem. Loudon, the son of Scott and Kari Rupp, is a three-year member of the Columbia High School football team. He served as captain for the 2024 season. He also earned 100 wins as a four-year member of the varsity wrestling team, played for four years on the varsity baseball team, is a member of both the National Honor Society and Student Council and serves as president for the Class of 2025. After graduation, he will attend Alvernia University to study criminal justice and has committed to join the wrestling team.

The annual Arbor Day celebration honors Columbia Borough's designation as a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Columbia Tree Society is currently in the midst of its 2025 membership drive, raising funds as the auxiliary of the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission. Residents are encouraged to support the effort to plant street trees, as well as trees in yards, parks and public spaces.

Each year, the tree society selects a distinguished resident of Columbia to serve as honorary chair for the drive. This year, Amy Evans has this honor. She and her husband, Justin, joined the effort to maintain trees in the borough when they moved to the area in 2008. Amy served as chair of the Shade Tree Commission from 2016 to 2023.

Wrapping up the events of "Go Green, Columbia!" the Columbia Merchants Association will host its monthly 4th Friday event. Activities will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout the downtown area and will include specials and promotions at numerous locations.

Although this is the first year for "Go Green, Columbia!" organizers are optimistic about its reception.

" 'Go Green, Columbia!' will provide opportunities for community members to connect and support local organizations and green initiatives and will serve as a great resource for those who are interested in finding ways to get involved and volunteer," said Julie Lehmer, chair of the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission.

Sahd agreed, adding that hosting the event in a rivertown adds to the impact of the event.

"It's free family fun, and there's no better way to expose your kids to sustainability than with hands-on exhibits at one of the largest Arbor Day celebrations in the state," he said. "We'll have contests, prizes and the ability to take in Columbia's 4th Friday with a free trolley ride to the shopping district."

For more information and to register for the giveaways, visit http://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/sahd-metal-recycling/go-green-columbia. For more information on the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission, visit http://www.columbiapa.net/government/boards_commissions_committees/shade_tree_commission.php.