Cash for Trash

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS for BACKPACK PROGRAM. Volunteers spent Saturday morning, November 14th, cleaning county roads as part of Solid Waste Management’s Cash for Trash program, earning $500 for the Backpack Program. The program sends home weekend food with over 300 needy children from our three elementary schools. To help our children, call: 859-792-8745. (L-R: Tom, Shari, Brenda, Jackie, Simon, Brad & Karla enjoy lunch at Smith’s Restaurant in Lancaster after road clean-up. Eighth volunteer, Leslie, not shown.)

GREEN AND GROWING

"Garrard's recycling program hits its stride."

Please read the lead article on the front page of The Kentucky Advocate's Sunday, November 1st, edition, outlining the history of Garrard County's Recycling Program and highlighting its growth; written by Ben Kleppinger.

http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/11/01/loc.031486.sto

Ben, thank you for your reporting and a story well written!

(Picture to left: Machine used to bail cardboard, located at The Garrard County Recycling Center, 400 S. Campbell St, Lancaster.)

Meet the Folks of Garrard County

Please check out this great 90 second promotional video. "It's Garrard County", first published on YouTube October 30^th, 2009 and share it with your friends via E-Mail, Facebook, link to this website, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9TIEGvz164.

Written/Directed by: Nathan Mick (nathan.mick@gmail.com)

Produced by: Park W. Young (www.parkerwyoung.com)

Thank you to all who who helped make The Party on the Square possible

Wow! Another year has come and gone… that is, if you count the years by “The Party on the Square”…

I want to give a great big thank you to everyone who had a part in making the party a fantastic success. Forty-nine groups/businesses/organizations played an active role in some way, not to mention the entertainers and many individual citizens. There is no way I can describe everyone’s contribution in this letter, but I do want to acknowledge four who are the foundation on which others have built.

Melvin Price, our soundman/MC, you have been with us since the very first- even when your store burned, you were there for us. (And Linda Price, for all of your behind-the-scenes work and the scores of green campaign t-shirts we see around the county.)

Roger Miller and Farmer’s National Bank- you’ve bought our all-beef hotdogs and buns for three parties and you’ve been there with your great employees, rolling up your shirtsleeves and helping out in any way you can.

Chris Thomason, Coordinator, Solid Waste Management, you were hired just before Earth Day 2007 and on June 1st of that year, we had our first party. Thanks to you, we had a second party that year and Solid Waste Management was able to help fund it and joins Farmer’s National Bank as one of our two largest financial contributors.

Shari Bivaleque and Leslie Worley from T.E.A.C.H., two of my very best friends. Thank you for always asking, “What can we do to help?”- for your encouragement since day one, and for T.E.A.C.H.’s financial support.

We’ve grown, from an idea three years ago, to this year, having four quadrants full of fun. I so much appreciate the enthusiastic thoughts expressed by so many people involved.

Everyone who helped with setup, concessions and cleanup couldn’t have worked harder, as they pulled together to get their jobs done. (My hat goes off to them a thousand times!!) But, there was one big problem. Even though, as stated above, we had 49 groups/businesses/organizations helping in some way, we did not have enough help in this area.

So that’s why, as I look forward to the third Friday in June 2010 and our annual Party on the Square, I’m sending out this S.O.S. now. We need volunteers who will commit to donating about an hour-and-a-half of their time to help with setup, concessions or cleanup. With your help, we can share the load and everyone can have a wonderful time, perhaps making new friends while volunteering and then talking to old ones while enjoying the rest of the party.

Please consider taking an active role in your community and joining those already helping with The Party on the Square. Call me at 859-792-6704 or e-mail beautifygarrard@gmail.com and ask to be added to the Party on the Square volunteer list and I’ll contact you in 2010.

Karla Sefcak, Coordinator,Beautify Garrard County, Letter to the Editor, Garrard County Central Record, June 25th.

Party on the Square June 19, 2009 Photo Album

A 20 foot banner greets motorists on 27, inviting them to The Party on the Square.

Becky Hacker, Solid Waste Committee Chairperson, explains contest to one of our guests.

We gave away 1,620 all beef hotdogs.

and over 2,000 drinks.

There was a variety of great music

and fun line dancing.

All we ask of our guests is that they come to have fun and bring a lawn chair.

Grandpa and grandsons enjoying themselves.

The bouncy house is always a hit.

All ages love Ronald McDonald. Hey Ronald, Thanks so much for coming!

Wonder if this was the first time these fellows have milked a cow?

Great photo-op for all ages.

Lancaster Mayor Don Rinthen (L) and Garrard County Judge-Executive John Wilson (R) support The Party on the Square.

Our Party theme: We (heart) Garrard County, Don't Litter.

Earth Day Festival 2009

April 25^th was the Fourth Annual Garrard County Earth Day Festival. Each year it is held at The County Fairgrounds and Solid Waste Management and The Solid Waste Committee always look forward to an active role in this community event (sponsored by T.E.A.C.H.).

Solid Waste Coordinator Chris Thomason and Solid Waste Committee Chairperson Becky Hacker standing at table beside our booth, notice the "I (heart) Garrard County Do Not Litter" banner to the right.

Dorothy DeLong, Solid Waste Committee person, helps young man with crafts. Dorothy introduced crafts to our booth this year and they were well received.

Karla Sefcak, Solid Waste Committee member, is interviewed by Charlie Perry with HomeTownRadio 1230, Danville.

Harlan Bratton, Solid Waste Committee member, talks with Festivalgoer.

Rural Heritage Festival 2009

Garrard County Solid Waste Management and The Solid Waste Committee partnered with T.E.A.C.H. to host booth and sponsor a float at Garrard County’s Annual Rural Heritage Festival Oct. 11^th & 12^th.

Our brightly colored booth attracted a lot of attention. In addition to giving away free-b’s and educational materials, Solid Waste had a drawing to give away a basket of environmentally friendly kitchen and bathroom products, and T.E.A.C.H. gave away a $25 gift certificate to Wal-Mart to the person who correctly guessed how many plastic lids were in the two gallon jar. We took turns manning the booth. In picture, L-R: Deborah Messenger and Karla Sefcak, committee members, and our friend Andy Cooper.

Here comes the parade and here comes our float… pulled by committee member Harlan Bratton in his pickup, with Chris Thomason, Solid Waste Coordinator in green shirt, and T.E.A.C.H. members Shari Bivelacque, Tom Lake and Mary Gabhart riding in the back.

T.E.A.C.H. and Dorothy DeLong, committee member, decorated our new recycling trailer to look like a giant yellow litterbug. Guess what? We didn’t loose one of those cans.

The Solid Waste Committee and T.E.A.C.H. enjoy a good working relationship. T.E.A.C.H. helps host The Party on the Square each year and Solid Waste Management has a booth and helps at The Annual Earth Day Festival hosted by T.E.A.C.H. (at the Garrard County Fair Grounds).