Community Gardens Group Supporters Continue to Bring Huntington Neighborhoods Together

Eve Marcum-Atkinson, a valuable leader of the Community Gardens of Huntington organization, sent me this report on their continuing mission of developing sustainable neighborhood gardens.

Eva writes: "This project has continued to bloom, because of so many people putting-in-the- time to make it happen.

And then there’s Jennifer Williams, a powerhouse of ideas, momentum, and communication – she’s been the one who’s arranged the locations and contributors for all of our events, planting and otherwise, contacted the right people to make them happen, getting the support we needed. Jenn has created a new unit of measure for me as to what one person can accomplish in very little time.

And then there’s Casey Williams, who’s raw energy at each planting project was just what we needed to get it done. And then there’s Kelly, Ginny, Will, Stephanie, Paige, Mary, Marcella, May, Robin, Gene, and of course Tim…

Really I could make a personal list of over 40 people who have been there for us at a time when we really needed them, and I could hug them all.

My lung health of late has gotten bad again, and I wasn’t able to be there to help plant at Carter G. Woodson or at HARC’s (Huntington Area Revitalization Coalition) latest planting. One has to be able to breathe, before one can dig in the dirt. I hope to be sufficiently on the mend to attend the next large planting. I’ve managed to be quite productive in front of the computer; taking an hour, here and there, over the last 10 days when I was able; to address the many tedious parts of any organization – proposing plans & schedules, researching, organizing, working on website content, working with my hubby to build a Grants database, etc. I think you’ll be amazed at what Jenn and I post as our calendar of coming events early next week, and our list of plans for next year that I’m hoping we’ll have in a post-able format by the end of September.

Thank You Richard for all your support. It has been exactly what we’ve needed on numerous occasions, kept us inspired and kept us going."

If you want to get involved in making Huntington a better place, go to this sight and get involved:

communitygardenshunt@googlegroups.com

Another Summer 2009 Beautification Project by HARC

Huntington Area Revitalization Coalition (HARC) volunteers are busy, again, this summer of 2009 beautifying several locations in our hometown. This particular project is the Veteran Memorial, which is adjacent to the Downtown Post Office. The grounds around the memorial have long been neglected, but last summer the HARC volunteers worked to clean the grounds up and began the development of flower beds to show proper honor to our veterans - living and dead. Thank you, HARC volunteers! Huntington's pride and community spirit is showing!

Huntington Area Revitalization Coalition (HARC) Volunteers - Summer 2009 Harris Riverfront Park Creation!

The HARC volunteers have, again, created a wonderful garden spot at Harris Riverfront Park. This photo is of the turnabout at the 10th Street entrance. If you want to see the results of our citizen volunteers' efforts, visit the park. HARC's efforts are greatly appreciated by Huntington's residents and the folks who visiting our city daily. A tip of our hats to the HARC leadership and its volunteers!

Ladies and Gentlemen ... Presenting the Minton Street Community Garden!

Wow! The Minton Street Community Garden is underway! These young people have taken ownership of their own garden. Community Gardens are popping up all over town!

Huntington Community Gardens is a volunteer organization, albeit greatly supported by the City of Huntington's Weed and Seed Program that provided the first Community Gardens space at the Barnette Center, a shed for storage, a very awesome tiller, water for the plants, etc.

The work by the Community Gardens has been done solely by volunteers; all funding has been through individual and business donations, not grants.

Minton Street was the latest of three community gardens. The first two were created at Marcum Terrace and Northcott Court, and several more are underway.

So, yes, thank you, Tim White, for doing great things through the Weed and Seed. Thank you for reaching out and supporting the Community Gardens in a big way. But do not forget that it is all the volunteers who go to meetings, plan these projects, ask for donations, collect the plants, collect the mulch, bring the tools, work the lots, get their hands in the dirt, and make each new garden happen. These hard working volunteers are the Community Gardens, and we salute them - one and all!

Making Our Hometown a Better Place

Jennifer Williams is a coordinator with the City of Huntington's Weed and Seed Program. Here she is with her daugher and some of her neighborhood kids working to eliminate litter in the Minton Street neighborhood. After ensuring that the street was nice and clean, the young people worked with volunteers to create a neighborhood garden on Minton Street.

Folks in various neighborhoods are working to make Huntington (WV) a better place. Three cheers for the young people and the adult volunteers!

State of Delaware Governor Vetoes Bill to Repeal that State's Bottle Bill

WVBottleBill.org
Action Alert
July 20, 2009

Bottle Bill in the News:

Three Cheers!!! Delaware Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Have Repealed State's Bottle Bill!

Today Delaware Governor Markell vetoed the bill that would have repealed Delaware's Bottle Bill, in place since 1982. Here's a paragraph from Governor's website (the entire statement can be read at the link below.)

"By way of background, Delaware’s Bottle Bill was enacted in 1982 and places a five cent refund value on beverage bottles returned. The purpose was to reduce littering by encouraging the return, reuse and recycling of beverage bottles, and to reduce utilization of our landfills. It can be fairly said that Delaware's Bottle Bill has contributed to a reduction in litter alongside our roadways and parks, as well as reduced landfill usage. Indeed, some estimate that one-third of glass bottles are returned to retailers for recycling. House Bill 201 eliminates this initiative in its entirety, without any proposed alternative."

Thanks to all of you who contacted Delaware Govenor Markell. Bottle Bill supporters in Delaware believe that opposition to the repeal from beyond the state's borders helped persuade the governor to veto this bill. Great News!!

http://governor.delaware.gov/news/2009/07july/20090720-veto.shtml
http://www.wvbottlebill.org/

304-346-5891 Subscribe/Unsubscribe

Huntington Outdoor Theatre Company - A Quality Act!

The Huntington Outdoor Theatre Company's production of All Shook Up, which my wife, Carter Seaton, and I attended last night at the Ritter Park Amphitheatre was directed by Helen Freeman and choreographed by Patty Freeman. The musical was inspired by and featured the songs of Elvis Presley, and the live music was directed by Mark Smith. The Scenic Design and Technical Director was Steve Freeman and the Assistant Director was Shayne Gue.

We are always impressed with the quality of the vocalists ... very professional, indeed! And the children's pre-show Twistin' in the 50's, alone, was worth the price of admission!

Our evening confirmed once more that the Huntington Outdoor Theatre Company is a great community asset. My congratulations to all of the performers, musicians and production crews. For your always anticipated future productions, we know you will "Break a Leg!" Your tops in our book!

To the area residents who have not seen this quality act, there are performances on July 24, 25 and 26. For showtime and ticket information, call 302-523-8080.

Traffic Stop Study Reveals Widespread Racial Profiling in West Virginia

Here is the report:

http://blog.aclu.org/2009/07/06/traffic-stop-study-reveals-widespread-racial-profiling-in-west-virginia/

Equal justice for all?

It's the law!

Fellow neighborhood advocate, Jay Bowen, brought the following City of Huntington Ordinance to my attention. We receive numerous complaints from residents who are upset about neighbors who blow grass clippings into the gutter and/or street. It is against the law:

Ordinances of the City of Huntington, WV regarding the depositing of grass clippings in gutters and/or streets.

905.13 OBSTRUCTING GUTTERS. No person shall obstruct or cause to be obstructed in any way whatever the gutters of any street or public alley so as to prevent the free passage of water along the same. (1964 Code Sec. 31-12)

905.14 OBSTRUCTING DRAINAGE DITCHES. No person shall obstruct or cause to be obstructed, in any way whatsoever, the drainage ditches of any street, avenue, road or alley or other public place so as to prevent the free passage of water along the same. When it is found that any such drainage ditch is obstructed so as to interfere with the drainage of water, then the obstruction shall be immediately removed or altered as the case may be by the person obstructing the same; and unless the same is so removed or altered as the case may require, then the City shall remove or alter the same and the cost thereof shall be charged to the owner abutting thereon. (1964 Code Sec. 31-13)

905.99 PENALTY.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: See Section 101.99 for general Codified Ordinances penalty.)

(h) "Refuse" means garbage and rubbish collectively.
(j) "Rubbish" means all normal wastes resulting from the use or occupancy of any premises such as ashes, brush, grass, leaves or other similar substances, but does not include any building material, industrial waste, containers described in the definition of garbage, waste of a dangerous or explosive nature, or human or animal excreta.

951.10 THROWING OR SCATTERING GARBAGE OR RUBBISH. No person shall throw, place or scatter any garbage, rubbish or other refuse over or upon any premises, street or alley, either public or private, or adjacent thereto, either with or without the intent to later remove such garbage, rubbish or other refuse, or to suffer or permit any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person to become or remain offensive, littered, unsanitary, unsightly, unsafe or hazardous to public health from the accumulation of garbage or rubbish. (Ord. 7-22-85)

(b) If any person shall violate or cause to be violated any provision of Article 951 they shall be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or up to thirty days in jail.
(Ord. 11-13-01)

101.99 GENERAL PENALTY.

Whenever, in the Codified Ordinances or in any ordinance of the Municipality, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or whenever the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, where no specific penalty is otherwise provided, whoever violates any such provision shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Each day any such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

WV Film Office to Present Community-Oriented Workshop July 10th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2009
CONTACT: Pam Haynes, WV Film Office
304-558-2200, ext. 382
phaynes@wvfilm.com


State Film Office heads to Huntington with community-oriented workshop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Film Office will sponsor a half-day workshop in Huntington on July 10 on issues related to the film industry and, particularly, how communities can work with the Film Office to recruit more film production to the state.

"As West Virginia becomes a more popular place to shoot feature films, television programs, music videos and commercials because of its tax incentive program, it has become increasingly more important for the Film Office to reach out to communities and community leaders to better prepare them when their region is chosen for filming," said Pam Haynes, director of the Film Office.

“When I learned about the topics covered in this workshop, I invited the Film Office to host it in Huntington,” said Tyson Compton, president of the Cabell County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This is a very exciting opportunity and the incentives will prove to be very beneficial to our area." Compton said that he hopes to see strong community participation and support to draw in more film business into the state, and Huntington specifically.

The workshop is free and open to the public and RSVPs are requested. Haynes encourages representatives of convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, mayors and city managers, county managers and commissioners, the Huntington Regional Film Commission, film and video production companies, and freelance film crew to attend.

Jamie Cope, location services manager for the Film Office, explained that an increase in filming activity is a result of tax credit incentives recently passed by the West Virginia Legislature. "The incentives allow the Film Office to be more competitive with other states in recruiting film productions," he said.

Cope said the workshop, titled "Business of Film: Paths to Opportunity,” will provide an overview of the tax incentives and how they will benefit West Virginia businesses, how communities may become film friendly, what to expect and how to handle filming when it knocks on the door, and how to work effectively with the Film Office. A brief tutorial on location scouting also will be highlighted, and there will be an assortment of helpful handouts.

The workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. and wraps around 5 p.m. in the Kentucky Room at Pullman Plaza Hotel, 1001 Third Avenue.

Haynes said additional workshops are slated in the coming months in other cities across the state. The workshop has been previously presented in Charleston, Follansbee, Lost River, Martinsburg, Weirton and Wheeling. She added that the Film Office will conduct the workshops in any county or community where interest and participation would be significant.

To register for the workshop, contact Misty Dailey at 304-558-2200, ext. 366, or by e-mail at mdailey@wvfilm.com. The West Virginia Film Office is a section under the WV Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, and can be visited at www.wvfilm.com.