Out and ABOUT “That’s it for this week, lets go!”
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What’s Happening This Month...
When curbside recycling became a reality last year, there were a wide range of mixed emotions among city residents. Many, who had already contracted with other curbside haulers for their general trash pickup, were unhappy to lose their current contractors and be forced to utilize city-instituted providers (along with the additional fee added through their City Corp water bill.) We were among those – sad to say farewell to our faithful independent trash hauler of 20-plus years yet welcoming of expanded curbside service. While we sympathize with both sides of the issue, we were grateful to take advantage of the twice-monthly curbside pickup of our ever-increasing collection of recyclables. We welcomed a change to what had become our Saturday morning routine of collecting and dropping off the paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum we had amassed. As our diligent desire to recycle every possible piece of candidate material grew, so did our increasing stack of recyclables! And, as a direct result, our collection of ‘real’ trash dwindled in comparison to our overflowing recycle cart. By diligently sorting all possible recyclables and composting of biodegradable foodstuffs, we’ve reduced the amount to a garbage-bag full or less each week. As I drive the streets of our fair city, I notice that we are not alone. The yellowtopped trash cans provided by Waste Management are often filled to the brim, bits of paper and plastic peeking over the tops of their container. Around the holidays, I panicked. We had pushed our recycle container to the curb and returned home to find it un-emptied. Had something happened in the great trash/ recycle controversy? Had we missed the truck for that week? Recalling the 880-CART Waste Management phone number, I called and talked with representative Sherri Coffman. She quickly calmed my fears, explaining the schedule was not ‘every-other-week’ but rather ‘twice-monthly.’ She referred me to the calendar that was distributed along with our new trash containers, even offering to send me another to replace the one I had possibly misplaced. I breathed a sigh of relief.
March 1-3: Garvan Woodland Gardens’ annual Daffodil Days; 100,000 bulbs representing more than 325 varieties of daffodils and jonquils on a 210-acre botanical garden on Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs; $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 children 6-12. (800) 366-4664. March 2: Art Waves, Old Train Depot, Clarksville; first Tues of each month; open to all interested artists and patrons; info: Jim Reasoner, president, (479) 754-2399. March 6: Ballroom Dance Party, 7:30-10:30 p.m., $10 admission, dance lesson followed by open dancing; casual/dressy, reservations preferred. (479) 968-1620, 264-7287 or website: DWJstudio.com. March 7: CenturyLink High School Competition & Exhibit, Arkansas River Valley Arts Center, 1-3 p.m.; info: call (479) 968-2452. March 7: River Valley Bridal Fair and Fashion Show - Postphoned for 2010. Plans currently underway for 2011 event. Date and information forthcoming. Visit www.rivervalleybridalfair.webs.com. March 9: Transitions Bereavement Support Group, 10 a.m., Arkansas Hospice, 2405 E. Parkway; second Tuesday of each month. Info: (479) 498-2050. March 13: St. Patty’s Party, Dance with Joy Studio; traditional Irish Dinner, music, dancing and more; tickets are limited; River Valley Arts Center, (479) 968-2452. March 13: 7th Annual Monte Carlo Night, Hughes Center, 6-10 p.m.; info: CASA of the 5th Judicial District, (479) 880-1195. March 17: Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon, noon, Savanah’s Riverfront Café; info: 229-3328. March 19: C&W Dance Workshop, 7:30-10:30 p.m., $10 admission, lessons include line and partnered dances, reservations preferred. (479) 968-1620, 264-7287 or website: DWJstudio.com. March 22-26: Spring Break for area schools. March 25: Community Bingo, seniors 55 and older invited; 2-3 p.m. 4th Thurs. of each month; door prizes, grand prize, refreshments. Wildflower, 240 S. Inglewood, Russellville; 890-6709. March 29: Dwight Elementary School Fun Fair, 1300 W. 2nd Place, Russellville; 5:30-8 p.m. 968-3967. April 3: Sigma Phi Epsilon 2nd annual 5K Run/Walk, benefitting the organization’s national philanthropy YouthAIDS; registration, 9 a.m.; run begins 10 a.m., Bona Dea trails. Cost: $20 adults, $15 Tech students. Info: (479) 426-5289. http://atu-sigmaphiepsilon.allrow.com.
Personally, we’d welcome the weekly pickup of our recyclables and the twicemonthly pickup of our ‘regular’ trash. Ponder the situation of our cartoon character above, provided by talented illustrator Cliff Thomas. Anyone else there yet?
Visit www.aboutrvmag.com for a list of activities updated as they are received. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@ aboutrvmag.com or fax to (866) 757-3282. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.
Talk ABOUT... recycling
March 2010
ABOUT...the River Valley | 7