The City of Federal Way is seeking volunteers to assist in two projects on Earth Day, April 21, 2007: the clean-up of the Brooklake Blueberry Farm and a graffiti removal project entitled "Operation Cover-up".

Activities at the Blueberry Farm, which is located at 630 S. 356th St., will include tree pruning, brush and stream clean-up, removal of invasive plants, and litter pickup. All ages are welcome and you may volunteer for one hour or longer. Please wear heavy footwear, long sleeve shirts, and jeans. Leather or work gloves are recommended. If you have any garden tools to use, (loppers, hacksaws, pruners, rakes, shovels, etc.), bring them along, as well as your own bottled water. Garbage bags will be provided.

The City is also organizing "Operation Cover-Up" to be held on the same day - an effort to paint over the vandalized areas where graffiti has been identified in key locations throughout the city.

Graffiti sends the signal that nobody cares, attracting other forms of crime and street delinquency. Neighborhoods with graffiti see a decrease in property values, and a loss of business growth and tourism.

Residents who want to help paint out graffiti should call 253-835-2652, or 253-835-2654 for further instructions and information.

Earth Day began in 1970, rallying Americans to get involved in environmental concerns. It became the largest grassroots mobilization in the nation's history, leading to the first environmental legislation - the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts - in 1990.