February Meeting Updates

Kids + Passion = Energy; that’s how this month’s GT meeting began.

Mrs. Martha Fisher’s 3^rd grade class from Westerly Elementary School gave an awesome presentation on their rain barrel project to the Green Team. The class plans to raise awareness for storm water management by assembling and selling rain barrels this spring. This is a wonderful project that the class is undertaking—there was a lot of enthusiasm for the project by everyone there--the children, their parents, and GT members.

The Community Garden is preparing to open this spring—targeting early April to open, weather dependent. Fifty Nine plots are already assigned—a total of 130 are available. Bay community garden head Bob Shields is looking for people to chair and participate on the various sub committees. A new fence will be purchased. There are plans to hold a kickoff meeting for Community Garden participants in March. A new requirement for community garden service will be added this year.

On the waste management front... Council approved Automated Trash Pick-up with a vote of 7-0 in January. The ATP will include increased curbside recycling (of cardboard, mixed paper) and compost (yard waste in brown bags). The green team is in strong support of this initiative due to the potential to significantly increase the recycling within the city. The Green Team plans to support the ATP roll out by working with Republic to create labels for the inside, top of the containers. Bay will be the first west side community to have labels on the recycle containers—this should increase the recycle compliance. The Green Team will also publish various alternatives for using or donating your used trash can. We don’t want them going to the land fill!

Ideas include:

· Donate those in good shape to Habitat for Humanity (must be clean)

· Donate those that are blue in good shape to the Bay Schools

· Keep them for excess trash, that will be picked up monthly

· Repurpose them into compost containers. This is a great way to use a can that has holes, as holes are needed to aerate the compost. An informational link is also provided on our website for repurposing to a backyard digester in the January 2011 Meeting Update posting.

· If all else fails, recycle them. Chances are the metal or plastic can be recycled (probably not curbside)

Upcoming Events

· Wednesday, April 13, 7 PM Bay Community House—Compost Seminar with Kathy Rocco of the Solid Waste District

· Saturday, April 16, 9am to 5pm —Habitat for Humanity Pick Up at the BVPD parking lot

· Wednesday, April 27, 7 PM Bay Community House—Build a Rain Barrel with Amy Roskilly of the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District.

· Saturday, May 21, 10:30 AM to 2 PM—Project Earth Water Way Clean Up

· Saturday, May 21, 9am to 5pm—Habitat for Humanity Pick Up at the BVPD parking lot

For a complete set of Minutes from the February 8^th meeting email us at bayvillagegreenteam.com. Join us at our next regular GT meeting on Tuesday, March 8^th, 6:30 PM, at the Bay Community House—New location to note.

Make a difference, get involved!

Project Earth Club & Bay Kids Rock!!!

Big turnout of Bay High kids today for the 3rd annual Bay Village Waterway Clean Up. Adviser for Project Earth Club Eryn Whistler did a GREAT job coordinating this event. Not only was there plenty of trash, plastics, cans and stuff picked up but a dining room table and chairs were the winner for the strangest find. The four areas of clean up included Porter Creek & Lake Erie Shore, Bay Boat Club, Cahoon Creek South to North and Columbia Park. Gloves and trash bags were provided by the BV Service Department. A map with instructions and trash pick up locations were provided to all. Some groups that finished early came back and helped pull over 300 lbs. of garlic mustard plants. Even a reporter and photographer from the Westlake / Bay Village Observer stopped by for a story. After 3 hours of trash collecting and invasive plant pulling, a lunch of Subway subs, chips and H2O was provided by The Bay Village Foundation.
Big thumbs-up and good job Bay kids!!!

Recycling in Public Spaces around Town

The City of Bay Village Service Center, in conjunction with the Bay Village Green Team, are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Solid Waste District to purchase 24 indoor/outdoor recycle bins. The bins will be used to recycle bottles and cans, and will be placed strategically throughout the city in high traffic areas, such as the city parks, soccer fields, and walk ways.

Also... the Bay Village Waterways Clean Up is taking place this Saturday, May 15, from 11:am – 2:pm for trash pick up along Cahoon Creek, Columbia Park, Bay Boat Club, and other portions of the Lake Erie waterfront. Sponsored by the City of Bay Village and Bay High School’s Project Earth Club, this annual event will meet at the Gazebo by Cahoon Park and they ask that you arrive before 11am. Directions and supplies will be given promptly at 11 with groups departing to their clean up areas by 11:10. Contact Eryn Whistler at ewhist@leeca.org for more information. Be sure to dress for the weather!