Start collecting rain in your own barrel

Rain barrels will be available for sale in Livingston County during a one-day event later this month.

Rain barrels are useful to collect rainwater runoff from rooftops to direct to gardens and lawns. They help reduce the amount of runoff from impermeable surfaces like rooftops and pavement and reduce water usage.

The barrels will be available for $55 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 22 in two locations: the JCPenney at Green Oak Village Place, 9608 Village Place Blvd. in Brighton and the Livingston County East Complex, 2300 E. Grand River Blvd. in Howell.

Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. For more information about rain barrels, visit http://www.hrwc.org/take-action/capture-rain/buy-a-rain-barrel/. For more information about this event, call 571-552-6870.

New recalls reported for children's jewelry

Regulators believe there will be more recalls of children's jewelry as they expand a probe of products they believe contain the toxic metal cadmium, the Associated Press reports.

On Monday, the federal government announced a voluntary recall of about 19,000 "Best Friends" charm bracelets which were made in China and sold exclusively at Claire's accessory stores. The chain has announced it stopped selling the bracelet since the recall. The Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center has a database of consumer products, including those for children, which have been tested for toxic chemicals at www.healthystuff.org.

Superior Township plans Green Fair

Superior Township will hold its second annual Green Fair featuring environmentally friendly and healthy options within the township next month.

The event is planned for June 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Superior Township branch of the Ypsilanti District Library, 8975 McArthur Blvd.

The event will feature demonstrations on why it's important to recycle and information about parks and nature preserves within the township. It will also include free hot dogs and refreshments, music, games, horses, representatives from the Huron Valley Human Society and a book give-away by the Superior Township Parks Commission.

A health walk will precede the event, and there will be blood pressure screening and diabetes information available during the fair.

For more information about the event, contact Brenda McKinney, Superior Township treasurer, at 734-482-6099 or brendamckinney@superior-twp.org.

To get information about a local environment event or get an announcement mentioned in the Tuesday environment briefs, contact reporter Tina Reed at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.