By: Claire Tribble
Oh spring, we see you coming. Spring is crazy for Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful. We have all sorts of happenings, and this year is no different. Although we don’t have some of the dates cemented yet, we have a packed schedule. We’re so ready for better weather and longer days — that means we can get more accomplished.
Right now, I’m planning the Earth Day Expo. This year, it will be April 25, in the Athens State University Ballroom. Thanks to Limestone County Water and Sewage Authority, we will have Steve Trash back in McCandless Hall. We’ll also have Rise Raptors again. TBAKI is sponsoring the student art contest again. This year, the theme is “You Belong Among the Wildflowers.” Again, this is open to any student within Limestone County. We’ll have some great prizes again, and thankfully TBAKI judges the art. After last year, that’s something I’m happy about. I heard that hard decisions had to be made. This year, we are going to have some new, fantastically fun exhibits! We don’t want to spill the beans just yet, but we are excited!
We’re planning cleanups like crazy too! We’ll hit the Tennessee and Elk Rivers like always, but there is so much to do all over Limestone County! Lookout Pest Control is continuing the Ardmore Spring Clean for March 21. We’ll meet in the parking lot of Jones Drugs as usual and disperse from there. This is such a great community event, and so very well planned. It is so beneficial to the Ardmore community. Through the many years of Ardmore Pest and Turf, thousands and thousands of pounds of trash have been removed from roadsides. We can’t wait to get more dates finalized. If you need volunteer hours, we’ve got you. And don’t forget to tell high schoolers how much having volunteer hours helps on those college applications and résumés.
And of course we’ll have the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection. I’m still waiting for a couple of people to confirm the date, but it will be in May. Like always, we’ll be taking household chemicals, paint and paint products, lawn chemicals, automotive chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, tube TVs and medications. Keep this in mind as you begin your spring cleaning because this is your one chance to ethically dispose of the chemicals for an entire year.
Just to prove how crazy we are, we are planning on having our “Let There Be Cake” fundraiser again May 29. We’ll be at the Athens State University LaunchBox during the May ‘Fridays After Five.’ Come taste some absolutely delicious cakes made by local bakers. There were so many unique and robust flavors last year, we’re still talking about them. This is a great opportunity to taste-test cakes if you have an event coming up. It’s a win-win, you can tackle your sweet tooth and help us help Limestone County at the same time!
We’re going to be busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! If you feel the need to get your hands in the dirt, fill up some big green Keep Alabama Beautiful litter bags, work at Earth Day, even direct traffic, we have options for you. Give us a call to find out about more opportunities. We’ll post on Facebook and, of course, we’ll let you know in future editions of Athens Now!
By: Claire Tribble – Executive Director
Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful
