Clean Streets Newsletter 3.1

News
The Harrisburg Bureau of Public Works is streamlining its garbage and recycling collection routes, moving to a four-day schedule. Generally, Tuesday pickups are for Downtown, South and Central Alison Hill, and the southern half of Midtown; Wednesday pickups are for Uptown, Riverside, and the northern half of Midtown; Thursday pickup is for the North Side and Bellevue areas; and Friday pickups are for South Side and everything else. Consult http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/Resident/Public_Works/Sanitation-Recycling.html for the specifics and information about holiday collections.

Beautification Tip
Just a few months ago, I advocated collecting litter and leaves around the home before the snow falls. It has yet to snow substantially in Harrisburg, but we have had much wind in past weeks, so I again advocate this. Think of it is recycling beautification tips.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday 5 January, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting, Midtown Cinema (250 Reily Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Thursday 13 January, 5:30 p.m., Weed and Seed meeting, YWCA (1101 Market Street), jrissler@ywcahbg.org
Wednesday 19 January, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Green Drinks Harrisburg meeting, Stage on Herr (268 Herr Street), jim.armbrust@greendrinkshbg.com 

If you want a Harrisburg beautification-oriented event put in here for next month, please let me know by the last Saturday of the month (29 January).

Shawn Westhafer
Founder and President
Harrisburg Clean Streets Project

Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee October meeting minutes

Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting agenda
13 October 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m., Midtown Cinema

Take Attendance

• Corrina Chandler
• Shawn Westhafer
• Don Barnett
• John Eidem

Old Business

• Dog waste bag dispensers:
  • can fills about 1/3 every two weeks before being emptied
  • users bring own bags, so one full roll remains
• Autumn cleanup
  • results
    • seventeen participants
    • more than thirty bags filled
    • about 4 miles of street and sidewalk covered
  • Thanks
    • Volunteers
    • HHA for meeting location
    • Mercado’s for discounted pizza
    • Classic Drycleaner for donated water

New Business

• HYP Forster Street Median Cleanup, Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., meet at 2^nd and Forster.
• Unplanting barrels
  • To be done when cannas begin to wilt.
• Wildflower mats around trees

Announcements

• Remember to renew your FOM membership. Individual memberships are $10 and household memberships are $15. Members will receive a membership card that entitles the member to a 10% discount at the Midtown Scholar, Nonna’s Deli-Sioso, the HodgePodgery, Breads ‘n Spreads, the Zynski Company, and The Soup Spot; 15% at Healthy Horizons; 10% off purchases of $5.00 or more from Midtown Media Center; and free soda with buffet purchase at Flow Buffet. FOM hopes more membership perks will follow.

Next Meeting

• To be held Wednesday 10 November 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m. at Midtown Cinema.

Clean Streets Newsletter 2.10

News
I was planning to have a cleanup in the area bound by the south side of Reservoir Park, Hale Avenue, and Berryhill and 18th streets, but I was unable to find enough interested groups in the neighborhood to ensure good turnout and I don’t feel up to having a cleanup with just die-hard participants, friends, and people with community service obligations. I will try to find some more groups in the area to partner with so that neighbors participate in a spring cleanup. As an alternative, I encourage people to participate in two worthwhile events below. The cleanup in Midtown is Saturday 2 October and the one in Uptown is 9 October. If interested, contact the respective persons listed.

Beautification Tip
Now that autumn has come, trees will soon lose their leaves. When raking your property, stay mindful of the streetsweeping schedule and try to plan accordingly. Also keep in mind that only leaves in the front of the property may be raked to the curb. Leaves in the back must be bagged and thrown away with regular trash.

Upcoming Events
Saturday 2 October, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friends of Midtown Beautification Project, start at Historic Harrisburg Resource Center (1230 North Third Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Saturday 9 October, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Uptown Neighborhood Cleanup, start at Sixth and Emerald streets, cindywagner08@gmail.com
Saturday 9 October, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wildwood Park Volunteer Work Day (100 Wildwood Way)
Wednesday 13 October, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting, Midtown Cinema (250 Reily Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Thursday 14 October, 5:30 p.m., Weed and Seed meeting, Derry Street United Methodist Church (1508 Derry Street), jrissler@ywcahbg.org
Wednesday 20 October, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Green Drinks Harrisburg meeting, Stage on Herr (268 Herr Street), jim.armbrust@greendrinkshbg.com

If you want a Harrisburg beautification-oriented event put in here for next month, please let me know by the last Saturday of the month (30 October).

Shawn Westhafer
Founder and President
Harrisburg Clean Streets Project

September 2010 Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee Meeting Minutes

Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting agenda
8 September 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m., Midtown Cinema

Take Attendance

• Don Barnett
• Shawn Westhafer
• Corrina Chandler
• Dot Montaine
• Robbie Green

Old Business

• Dog waste bag dispensers:
  • undiscussed
• Autumn cleanup planning
  • Saturday 2 October 2010 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Focus between Verbeke and Forster
  • Try to work with Midtown Square Action Council and New Fox Ridge Homeowners’ Association.
    • MAC is onboard; NFR is interested
  • Need a meeting place
    • Suggestions: Salvation Army; Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
• Fire hydrant painting
  • Revisit scheduling for mid-2011 painting and late-2011 contest
  • Schedule to have winner announced at block party at Fire Museum, September 17, 2011
    • Work backward to create proposal that spreads out painting over most of the year.
    • Ask Fire Museum volunteers if they could help monitor the hydrant painting
• Holiday decorating contest
  • categories
    • residential
    • institutional
    • best block
  • Possible awards
    • gift basket (baking supplies; New Year’s theme; champagne)
    • restaurant gift card (New Year’s Day brunch at Raspberries)
    • Nonna’s/Midtown Cinema dinner and movie passes
    • group screening of movie

New Business

• Graffiti tags near Sayford and William
  • Be certain to
• May try to have new Public Works Director Ernie Hoch visit a future meeting.

Announcements

• Remember to renew your FOM membership. Individual memberships are $10 and household memberships are $15. Members will receive a membership card that entitles the member to a 10% discount at the Midtown Scholar, Nonna’s Deli-Sioso, the HodgePodgery, Breads ‘n Spreads, the Zynski Company, and The Soup Spot; 15% at Healthy Horizons; and 10% off purchases of $5.00 or more from Midtown Media Center. FOM hopes more membership perks will follow.

Next Meeting

• To be held Wednesday 12 October 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m. at Midtown Cinema.

Clean Streets Newsletter 2.9

News
Harrisburg landlords could be facing new regulations.

Beautification Tip
Donate unwanted clothing. As summer winds down and you begin to pull out your autumn attire, consider donating unwanted clothing. Your unworn winter wardrobe would be welcome at many local nonprofits, including Shining Light Thrift Shop, the Salvation Army, Bethesda Mission, and myriad other programs and churches throughout the region. Cleaning this clutter from your closet helps you achieve mental clarity while keeping the garments out of the garbage, while concurrently helping the needy.

Upcoming Events
Wednesday 8 September, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Green Drinks Harrisburg meeting, Stage on Herr (268 Herr Street), jim.armbrust@greendrinkshbg.com
Wednesday 8 September, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting, Midtown Cinema (250 Reily Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Thursday 9 September, 5:30 p.m., Weed and Seed meeting, Joshua Farm (218 South 18th Street), jrissler@ywcahbg.org
Saturday 11 September, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wildwood Park Volunteer Work Day

If you want a Harrisburg beautification-oriented event put in here for next month, please let me know by the last Saturday of the month (25 September).

Shawn Westhafer
Founder and President
Harrisburg Clean Streets Project

August 2010 Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting minutes

Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting minutes
11 August 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m., Midtown Cinema

General Comments

It was a small meeting, but I expected this with the community debt forum occurring simultaneously. There are still a few more beautification events through the rest of the year, so I hope the next meeting has more attendees.

Take Attendance

• Shawn Westhafer
• Dave Koppenheffer
• John Eidem
• Dot Montaine

Old Business

• Dog waste bag dispensers:
  • Undiscussed
• Bulk pickup
  • Distributed notices to half of the neighborhood; other half to follow
• Autumn cleanup planning
  • Saturday 2 October 2010 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Focus between Verbeke and Forster
  • Try to work with Midtown Square Action Council and New Fox Ridge Homeowners’ Association.
  • Need a meeting place
    • Suggestions: Salvation Army; Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
• Urban Landscaping Contest
  • Nine entrants; three winners announced at summer social
    • First: Renee Swartz (235 Hamilton)
    • Second: Bryan Moore (409 Herr)
    • Third: students of the Math Science Academy (1205 North Sixth)
    • Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Jessica Sprajcar (305 Fox Ridge Court); Bill Fritz, Patrick Brady, and Chad Cavanaugh (270 Cumberland); Dot Montaine (213 Hamilton); Denise Williams (2030 Green); Eric Hoffer and Kurt Wagner (1518 Penn); Deborah Hughes (223 Herr).
• Fire hydrant painting
  • Revisit scheduling for mid-2011 painting and late-2011 contest

New Business

• Holiday decorating contest
  • Judge decorations by 18 December
  • Entries due by 11 December
  • Ask judges if photo entries should be required
  • Should there be categories?
  • What kinds of awards? If gift certificate, to where?

Announcements

• Remember to renew your FOM membership. Individual memberships are $10 and household memberships are $15. Members will receive a membership card that entitles the member to a 10% discount at the Midtown Scholar, Nonna’s Deli-Sioso, the HodgePodgery, Breads ‘n Spreads, the Zynski Company, and The Soup Spot; 15% at Healthy Horizons; and 10% off purchases of $5.00 or more from Midtown Media Center. FOM hopes more membership perks will follow.

Next Meeting

• To be held Wednesday 8 September 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m. at Midtown Cinema.

Clean Streets Newsletter 2.8

News
Every Thursday from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., Weed and Seed Coordinator Jason Rissler works with more than fifty probationers and parolees doing community cleanups. Jason is seeking community leaders to help by working with five to ten people in a specific area of the community. If there is a spot by your house, church, or organization, this would be an opportunity to clean it up every week or periodically as needed. If you are interested, e-mail jrissler@ywcahbg.org

Beautification Tip
Celebrate community by holding a block party or picnic. Last week, at least a dozen neighborhood groups organized events for National Night Out. This Thursday is Weed & Seed’s annual picnic. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and discuss how to improve the community. Just remember to clean up all the trash when you’re done.

Upcoming Events
Wednesday 11 August, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Green Drinks Harrisburg meeting, Stage on Herr (268 Herr Street), jim.armbrust@greendrinkshbg.com
Wednesday 11 August, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting, Midtown Cinema (250 Reily Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Thursday 12 August, 5:30 p.m., Weed and Seed meeting and picnic, Joshua Farm (213 South 18th Street), jrissler@ywcahbg.org
Saturday 14 August, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wildwood Park Volunteer Work Day

If you want a Harrisburg beautification-oriented event put in here for next month, please let me know by the last Saturday of the month (28 August).

Shawn Westhafer
Founder and President
Harrisburg Clean Streets Project

Friends of Midtown summer cleanup results

High temperatures. Pending rain. Midsummer vacations. Concurrent contiguous beautification project. Opening of the Latino Hispanic American Community Center. Humane Society Christmas in Summer. Despite all these countervailing factors, twenty-four neighbors chose to volunteer in Friends of Midtown’s first summer beautification project on Saturday.

With so few volunteers, we still managed to remove 81 bags of trash and weeds from five miles of streets, alleys, and sidewalks. That is the same number of bags filled as the spring cleanup, which featured twice the volunteers. Much of this consisted of high weeds from outside the vacant building at Third and Muench streets. Unfortunately, that weeding work prevented us from covering all of Third Street from Maclay to Forster, as planned. However, since FOM has never done a summer event before, I view any work we completed as an improvement on past performance.

In addition to the litter cleanup, two volunteers placed seven new planted barrels outside Midtown businesses between Verbeke and Forster streets: Midtown Scholar, Broad Street Market, Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, the HodgePodgery, Gifted Hands, Urban World, and the Soup Spot. The barrels contained canna, variegated liriope, portulaca, and vinca. Thanks to all the businesses who agreed to water these plants. These barrels were paid for with a generous gift of $500 from the Auchincloss Family Fund of the Foundation for Enhancing Communities on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. S. Sloan Auchincloss.

Thanks also to the Neighborhood Center for allowing FOM to use its facility as a meeting place and to Mercado’s on Third Street for discounted pizzas for volunteers.

In the end, however, the event would not have been successful without those who helped. I thank all of you.

If anyone has any recommendations about how we could have improved on the event, please let me know. Were routes too short or too long? Were groups too small? Should we never hold an event in the summer again?

Separately, I would like to thank the Olde Uptown neighbors for organizing a beautification event on Saturday. I don’t have numbers, but I know I saw many volunteers picking up litter in some of Olde Uptown and planting at Second and Muench and Third and Peffer. I hope in the future we could better coordinate efforts and cooperate to efficiently maximize beautification throughout all of Midtown.

Finally, the Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meets tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Midtown Cinema. Attached is the agenda. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if not a current FOM member.

Thanks for your support.

Shawn Westhafer
Beautification Chair
Friends of Midtown

Clean Streets Newsletter 2.7

News
I have tentatively selected a location for the autumn cleanup. I’m looking at the area south of Reservoir Park to Berryhill Street, from 18th Street to Hale Avenue. I must first walk the area to determine the need and whether any organizations or institutions are present to work with me on this. I also need to select a date in September or October.

Beautification Tip
When watering plants, whether flowers, vegetables, or grass, remember that morning is best. Watering in the middle of the day results in greater evaporation and evening watering increases likelihood of fungal growth. Plants require water during photosynthesis, so that water must be present when sunlight is present. Watering in the morning allows excess water to evaporate through the day so it does not contribute to overnight fungal growth.

Upcoming Events
Thursday 8 July, 5:30 p.m., Weed and Seed meeting, YWCA (1101 Market Street), jrissler@ywcahbg.org
Saturday 10 July, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friends of Midtown Summer Community Cleanup, Neighborhood Center (1801 North Third Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org
Saturday 10 July, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wildwood Park Volunteer Work Day (100 Wildwood Way)
Saturday 10 July, 10:00 a.m., Olde Uptown Neighborhood Cleanup, Muench and Green streets, oldeuptownbeautification@gmail.com
Tuesday 13 July, 6:00 p.m., Harrisburg City Council legislative session, City Government Center (10 North Second Street)
Wednesday 14 July, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Green Drinks Harrisburg meeting, Stage on Herr (268 Herr Street), jim.armbrust@greendrinkshbg.com
Wednesday 14 July, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.., Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting, Midtown Cinema (250 Reily Street), beautification@friendsofmidtown.org

If you want a Harrisburg beautification-oriented event put in here for next month, please let me know by the last Saturday of the month (31 July).

Shawn Westhafer
Founder and President
Harrisburg Clean Streets Project

June Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting minutes

Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee meeting agenda
9 June 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m., Midtown Cinema

General Comments
It was a packed agenda, but that’s what happens when enthusiastic participants make things happen in Midtown. There were fewer participants in the meeting, but I expect this through the summer as hectic schedules prevent some from participating.

Attendance
Shawn Westhafer
Judy Forshee
Dave Koppenheffer
John Eidem
Dot Montaine
Denise Williams
Stephen Bruder
Rafiyqa Muhammad

Old Business

• Dog waste bag dispensers:
  • A neighbor of the new host site near Penn and Geiger will dig a hole so the post may be planted.
  • A six-foot wooden post should cost about $7.00 and will be purchased before the next meeting.
  • We must soon move the dispenser and trash cans from the lot adopted as a community garden by Ngozi.
• Planters
  • We planted about a dozen previously existing barrels along Third Street.
  • Two barrels should be moved (away from the Taproom and Tri-State Music)
  • Possible locations for relocate or new barrels:
    • Breads ‘n Spreads
    • Broad Street Market
    • Midtown Scholar
    • Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
    • The HodgePodgery
    • one to three further south on Third Street, perhaps near Urban World bookstore, Gifted Hands barbershop, or Soup Spot/Midtown Soul.
  • What to plant
    • We discussed planting different things, but came up with nothing particular.
  • Needed materials (please donate if available)
    • brick/stone (for drainage)
    • compost
    • soil
    • water
• Urban landscaping competition and tour
  • Contest will be judged Saturday 7 August; submissions in by Sunday 1 August.
  • Use photos to narrow judging.
  • Submit by email or post.
  • Criteria for judging
    • creative use of space
    • preference for non-invasive species
    • whatever judges deem appropriate
• Public trash cans
  • not discussed
• Codes enforcement
  • not discussed
• Fire hydrant painting
  • still working on proposal
    • Did Shipoke and DID have proposal?
    • Combination of removable caulk, cotton strips, and post-painting test may alleviate safety concerns.
  • Will arrange for contest to be held in autumn.
• Penn and Sayford park improvements
  • not discussed
• Planting around Broad Street Market
  • Next spring, FOM may help plant herbs around the Broad Street Market, once HHA approves and funding is obtained.
• Bulk pickup
  • City is instituting another bulk pickup. FOM will volunteer to distribute notifications. An e-mail will go out once more information is known.
• Planning summer cleanup
  • Saturday 10 July 2010 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Meeting at the Neighborhood Center, Third and Kelker
  • Focus on area north of Kelker Street, weeding Third Street sidewalks, and possible problem in 400 block of Harris Street.
    • Because we may be doing some weeding, tools to accomplish this are encouraged.
• Tree farm
  • not discussed

New Business

• None

Announcements

• Remember to renew your FOM membership. Individual memberships are $10 and family memberships are $15. Members will receive a membership card that entitles the member to a 10% discount at the Midtown Scholar, Nonna’s Deli-Sioso, the HodgePodgery, Breads ‘n Spreads, and the Zynski Company. FOM hopes more membership perks will follow.

Next Meeting

• To be held Wednesday 14 July 2010, 6:15—7:30 p.m. at Midtown Cinema.
• Shawn: ask Gifted Hands, Urban World, Soup Spot, and Midtown Soul if they want a planted barrel; contact Governor’s Square neighbors about cleanup; finalize cleanup plans
• John: buy a post
• Denise: arrange post hole digging