Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell has proclaimed Monday, April 22, National Earth Day in Bogalusa.

After a presentation by organizer Emma Dixon, Mizell made the proclamation at the City Council meeting Tuesday.

Dixon said the first coordinated Bogalusa Earth Day event would take place starting with a presentation of the movie, “The Lorax,” at the library at 4 p.m. today.

The movie is based on a Dr. Seuss book, published in 1971, about the threat to the environment and the title character who speaks in its defense.

The library will provide popcorn, and an encore presentation will take place Monday at 4 p.m., Dixon said.

The celebration will continue at 3 p.m. Saturday when the Mother Earth Project of the Museums of Cassidy Park will host a Blessing of the Waters on the Bogue Lusa Creek near the Native American Museum.

The television commercial that features a Native American shedding a tear because of pollution will also be shown in the museum that day.

At 10 a.m. on Monday, Earth Day, the real action will begin at the Avenue U Branch of the Bogalusa YMCA where there will be a distribution of energy-saving light bulbs provided by the Green Light Project of New Orleans, plus information sheets with tips on how people can conserve water, and reduce their carbon footprints and their energy bills, Dixon said.

On that day, too, the LSU Master Gardener Program will plant edible, plants, trees and shrubs at the Y and at the Bogalusa Little League Park, she said.

Dixon encourages people to call her at 735-8035 or Elbert Buckley at 516-4736 to sign up for the free light bulbs or for additional information.

She, Buckley and Mizell urge everyone to take part in the Earth Day celebrations.

Also Tuesday, the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that authorizes the mayor to enter into an agreement with Joseph Furr Design Studio for the continuation of the Cassidy Park makeover.

The council also approved a zoning change for 400 Masonic Drive to enable construction of a sandwich shop.

Calvin Hymel said he wants to build a shop that hearkens to earlier days in Bogalusa.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” he said.

“This goes back to the days when I was growing up. I thank you all for making this possible.”