May 1, 2006

 

Welcome to the Arbor District and to the second edition of our 2006 newsletter.  Each edition of the newsletter will include announcements and reports of interest—please email me at mmcgnewsletter@yahoo.com by May 26 for inclusion in the June newsletter.  Each newsletter also has a special topic or focus--future issues will look at a range of topics and events: gardening; preservation; parking; neighbourhood watch; our membership meeting; the fall picnic; recycling É.and more.  Your suggestions for additional features are welcome!

 

Newsletter Distribution:  Apparently the storms that blew through on April 2 also took with them many of the paper copies left at 150 homes and apartments in the district.  We will continue delivering paper copies, but since Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate, members can request to receive their copy through our email list--please contact Mary O'Hara at maryohara@mchsi.com to be added to that electronic mailing.  (If you aren't already a member, you can join for the modest annual cost of $5.00 per person, or $10.00 per household, by sending your check made out to the "Arbor District Neighbourhood Association" to: Sandy Litecky/603 W. Walnut/Carbondale, IL 62901.) You can also read each month's newsletter on our website, designed and maintained by Jane Adams and D Gorton, at www.arbordistrict.org.

 

Fundraiser for the Dome: Thanks to all who helped with the ÒRoam Home to a Dome Fundraiser and Please Fence Me In Fundraiser." Over 250 supporters turned out to the event that featured generous and talented musicians from Southern Illinois. We took in $1000 at the door, $568 in merchandise sales, and $271.33 in donations for a total of $1839.33. We heard some ideas about things we should do next (besides fix the fence).  One idea–a lecture or film series that would either be about Fuller or some replays of his lectures--it was felt that people need to hear Bucky himself again. It was also suggested we try and connect Bucky events to Earth Day each year. Another suggestion was having a day where we collect artifacts, pictures and stories regarding the Fullers and events in the Dome. Send your ideas to maryohara@mchsi.com.  (By Mary O'Hara)

 

Neighbourhood Clean Up A Success: Twenty-three neighbours and one dog patrolled the Arbor District to pick up litter on Earth Day morning, April 22. Their effort was part of a city-wide clean-up sponsored by Keep Carbondale Beautiful. In spite of the early Saturday morning start, eight volunteers from the Hillel student group joined forces with old-time residents in a show of good neighbourliness. Thanks to all who woke up, showed up, picked up, and ate up--the homemade cookies at the end of the clean-up.  (By Hugh Muldoon)

 

Monthly Contest: Inspired by the Carbondale Times, every newsletter will include a photograph-based contest "Can You Identify Me?" related to that month's featured topic, issue, or event.  All those who correctly identify the location or event in the photo will be entered in a drawing for one of the t-shirts from our neighbourhood clean-up day.  Submit your answer to mmcgnewsletter@yahoo.com.  The winning entry will be announced in the next newsletter.  The contest begins with this issue and our featured topic "trash!"

 

 

FALL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

 

Watch this space for details on our fall general membership meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for early September. We hope to see familiar faces and new neighbours!

 

STUDY CIRCLES MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Housing and Neighbourhood Action Group is on Wednesday, May 3, at 5.00pm in Room 103 of the Carbondale Civic Centre (City Hall).

 

TRASH AND LITTER

 

Carbondale City Code requires that refuse and refuse containers not be visible from the street:

 

City Code 10-1-8C3: All residential refuse and refuse containers when not in a completely enclosed building shall be placed and kept at all times on private property adjacent to the owner and occupant's house or building or building at a location which is not between the front of the dwelling or building and the adjoining street.  If stored beside rather than behind the dwelling or building, such refuse and refuse containers shall be screened from view from the street.  In the case of a corner lot, the dwelling or building shall be considered to have two (2) fronts and the determination of side versus rear of the structure shall be by prevailing yard patterns in the block.  In the case of a "through lot" or "double frontage lot" as defined in Section 15-2A-3 of this Code, front versus rear will be determined by prevailing yard patterns.

 

Carbondale Refuse Guidelines, designated by the City Maintenance & Environmental Services Office. (A future newsletter will deal with recycling, which has its own set of guidelines to follow for curbside pick up.)

 

 

The City of Carbondale only collects refuse at curbside.

 

  • 20-35 gallon garbage cans with watertight lids and two strong handles, with contents not exceeding 50 pounds in weight, may be set at curbside no earlier than 6pm the evening prior to pick up and no later than 8am the day of pick up.
  • Heavy duty trash bags, 20-35 gallons, with contents not exceeding 25 pounds in weight, may be set at curbside no earlier than 6am. and no later than 8am. the day of pick up.  The bags must be watertight with no holes or tears and tightly fastened at the top.
  • Broken glass, sharp metal, or other sharp objects should be shielded to prevent punctures to bags and injuries to workers.
  • Furniture, rolled up carpet, and other large household items may be set at curbside for pick up as long as they can be safely picked up and carried to the truck by one person.
  • Cardboard boxes must be tied into bundles or placed in approved containers.
  • Small portions of lumber may be tied into bundles not exceeding 5 feet in length and 25 pounds.
  • Landscape waste, white goods (appliances), and tires cannot be collected as regular refuse and require special waste stickers.
  • Unapproved Containers for Garbage: Paper bags, cardboard boxes, and other similar containers are not allowed.  Residents setting out refuse in unapproved containers are subject to citation.

 

 

You Need to Know:  All building occupants (whether a homeowner or renter) are responsible for all trash, litter, and garbage on their property up to the curb.  In addition, you are also responsible for keeping your sidewalks completely clear of all litter, clippings, tree branches, and those ubiquitous sweet gum tree "gum balls"—anything that could create a hazard or an obstruction on the public right of way.  Failure to comply with these regulations may earn you a citation from the city. (And, yes, parking on lawns and to obstruct sidewalks violates city ordinances as well, and will be dealt with in a future newsletter on parking regulations.)

 

 

Can You Identify Me? This shot will be familiar to many in our neighbourhood—chances are, it is either a house near you or all too familiar from other blight spots in our district.  Correctly identify the location in an email to mmcgnewsletter@yahoo.com, by May 26 at 5pm., and you will be entered in our drawing for a t-shirt from our 2006 neighbourhood clean-up event. (You can get a better view—in colour—on our website at www.arbordistrict.org.)

 

Have a photo to submit for future issues?  Send it to me as a .jpeg or .gif.  Preservation, gardening, parking, and recycling are all being planned for upcoming issues.