GOOD TO DO
Sign up today for the Remarkable Trees of JBLE-Langley (Langley Air Force Base) Tour, May 13, 9am – noon. Email hccc@hampton.gov to register. Registration Deadline is May 8.
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Only ONE more Rain Barrel Workshop this spring! Sign up for May 13 (morning), and learn how to turn rain into rainbows of flowers at your house! Sign up at https://va-hampton2.civicplus.com/FormCenter/Hampton-Boards-Commissions-Committees-5/Rain-Barrel-Workshop-Registration-127 today! Registration is $50.
What do you have to lose? Work it out for your house – in the coming months (May through July) historically we would expect 12 inches of rain. The conversion formula for inches of rain to gallons of rain is INCHES x .6 x AREA (of house). So if you have 12 inches of rain x .6 x 1000 sq ft, you’re losing 7,200 gallons of water. Of course, you couldn’t save all that water even in rain barrels, but wouldn’t it be better to save some of it than to pay Newport News Waterworks to water your landscape?
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Hampton Community Gardens is still looking for a team of builder-type people to construct community garden raised beds - possession of and skill in use of power tools is a PLUS. Contact Wendy Iles at wendy.iles@hampton.gov. Even if you can only build a few, it would help a lot. All materials provided except the power tools. Also, community garden plots are still available – sign up before they’re all gone!
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Yard of the Month Nominations: It’s time to start nominating beautiful yards so they can win Yard of the Month! Judging occurs monthly. Nominate a yard today! http://hampton.gov/FormCenter/Hampton-Boards-Commissions--Committees-5/YARDS-Contest-Nomination-Form-53 What are you looking for? Beautiful yard, nice plants. The YARDS Judges take care of the rest.
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Join the Litter & Recycling Awareness Committee Community Cleanup on Nettles Lane on May 19 at 9am. Email hccc@hampton.gov to register. Registration Deadline is May 8.
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Canoers and kayakers, sign up for the Clean the Bay Day cleanup at Billy Woods Canal on June 3 at 9am. Email causink@hampton.gov.
GOOD TO KNOW
The next Household Chemical and Electronics Recycling Collection is May 20, 8am – Noon, Hampton Coliseum Parking Lot across from Embassy Suites, Coliseum Drive. Information about materials accepted is at http://vppsa.org/images/HHC%20COMP%20BROCHURE%202017pdf.pdf. In general, we collect materials that require special disposal, such as pesticides, fertilizers, some household cleaners, oil-based paints, glues, and other materials. No televisions are accepted at this collection. Additional collections will be held in July, September, and November.
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Many thanks to the International Children's Festival volunteers Daniel Biedron, Jackie Cannan, Gabe Diaz, Courtney Francis, Brandy Marks, Jamie Osso, Tiffany Parra, Melanie Paul, Imara Ward, and Cherie Witter!! They stuck with us through thick and thin, helping us get set up, cleaning up the festival area, and helping us take down the tent! These ten volunteers put in a total of 29 hours, cleaned up 4.5 bags of trash from the festival area, and brought smiles to many faces.
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Kudos to the following schools for inviting HCCC to provide programs: Cooper Elementary, Moton Early Childhood Center, Phenix School, and Tucker-Capps Elementary. We appreciate the opportunity to share our knowledge and enthusiasm with Hampton students!
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Moton Early Childhood Center held a fabulous recycling parade on April 21!
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Walk Hampton Clean was a wonderful success! Would you believe volunteers cleaned 48 and cleaned up 98 miles, even though rain dampened the weekend? There’s more info to come, so keep your eyes open!
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Congratulations to Dandy Haven Marina for winning the Hampton Clean & Green Businesses Award! They are a Virginia Clean Marina and do all kinds of wonderful things to keep Back River and the Chesapeake Bay Clean. More news to follow! Many, many thanks to Randy Lyall, principal of Lyall Design Architects, who talked about building for sustainability at the Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Forum on April 26.
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Just a reminder – Hampton CAN recycle food and beverage cartons now! So tie a string around your finger and remember to recycle them!
GOOD TO HELP
May 9: Family Learning Project, Virginia Air & Space Center, 600 Settlers Landing Road, 6pm – 8pm, staff children’s recycling/litter prevention booth. Sign up at hccc@hampton.gov
May 19: Community Cleanup, Nettles Lane, 9am, register at hccc@hampton.gov - one-time commitment, unless you like participating in the community cleanups!
June 3: Clean the Bay Day, all over Hampton, 9am - Noon, register at causink@hampton.gov - one-time commitment. If you’re a kayaker or canoer, we have a site for you!
GOOD TO LEARN
May 13: Rain Barrel Workshops, HCCC Office, 9am – 11am, register at http://va-hampton.civicplus.com/FormCenter/Hampton-Boards-Commissions--Committees-5/Rain-Barrel-Workshop-Registration-127.
May 13: Remarkable Trees of JBLE-Langley (Langley Air Force Base), 9am – Noon, Visit the interesting and outstanding trees on JBLE-Langley, trees that most of us don’t have an opportunity to see! Register at hccc@hampton.gov. Deadline for registration is May 8.
GOOD TO NOMINATE
UPCOMING MEETINGS
May 8: YARDS Judging, HCCC Office, 1296 Thomas Street, 8:30am, information at hccc@hampton.gov
May 8: C.H.A.N.G.E Committee Meeting, LaBodega Hampton, 22 Wine Street, 4pm, information at hccc@hampton.gov
May 9: HCCC Full Commission Meeting, HCCC Office, 1296 Thomas Street, 3:30pm, information at hccc@hampton.gov
May 11: Hampton Waterways Restoration Project Meeting, Fort Monroe Community Center, 100 Stilwell Drive, 6:30pm, information at causink@hampton.gov
May 22: C.H.A.N.G.E Committee Meeting, LaBodega Hampton, 22 Wine Street, 4pm, information at hccc@hampton.gov
June 1: Litter & Recycling Awareness Committee Meeting, Mama Rosa’s Restaurant, 617 E Mercury Blvd, 11:30am, information at hccc@hampton.gov
June 6: Clean & Green Businesses Committee Meeting, HCCC Office, 1296 Thomas Street, 3:30pm, information at hccc@hampton.gov
LOOKING FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Hampton Clean City Commission Board – oversees the programs and projects of the Hampton Clean City Commission and focuses on recognizing volunteers, board members are appointed by City Council. Contact hccc@hampton.gov for more information. Fill out a Board Bank application at https://hampton.granicus.com/boards/forms/239/apply/623877?code=34def5d9-e341-4ae1-9448-a571250065f4
- Beautification Committee – works on a variety of projects including the YARDS Contest, tree tours, beautification projects, and education. Contact hccc@hampton.gov
- C.H.A.N.G.E. Committee – works on projects and activities specifically directed toward secondary and college students to encourage civic and leadership development. Contact hccc@hampton.gov
- Clean & Green Business Committee – works on the quarterly Clean & Green Business Awards, the Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Awards breakfast, and other workplace related projects. Contact hccc@hampton.gov
- Hampton Waterways Restoration Project – works on a variety of clean waterway projects, including shoreline cleanups, water monitoring, and education. Contact causink@hampton.gov
- Litter & Recycling Awareness Committee – works on cleaning up Hampton through special cleanups and the Adopt-A-Spot program, as well as encouraging litter-free events, solid waste education efforts, and trash tours. Contact hccc@hampton.gov
- School Pride In Action Committee – educators (formal and informal) who encourage environmental lessons and activities in the classroom and on the school grounds, as well as emphasizing teacher education. Contact hccc@hampton.gov