Electronic Recycling Day Announcement

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful, Athens, Alabama - 256-233-8000

Clean and Green

Tanjie Schrimsher and Lynne Hart

Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful

Lynne Hart, Executive Coordinator, and Tanjie Schrimsher, Recycling Coordinator of Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful, Inc gave a fascinating talk on litter and recycling to residents of Bay Hill Village Sunday, May 17, 2009 in the marina’s meeting room.

Betty Harrison signs in

Lynne kicked off the program focusing on KALB’s “Clean and Green” mission, combining the topics of litter and recycling for a well-rounded community educational program. KALB works with Athens events such as the Fiddler’s Convention, Soul Stock and various vendors by providing litter bags to patrons to clean up after themselves and take responsibility for their own trash. Delightfully, she reported that although the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are fully armed with bags and pick-up-sticks, the amount of litter after each event seems to be lessening.

According to research, there are three reasons people litter:

1 – When people do not take ownership of a place they don’t take care of it.

2 – People believe someone will pick up after them.

3 – People tend to litter where litter has already accumulated.

4 – Lynne adds this to this list – LAZINESS.

Wilda Davis, Helen Kloock, Jim Starke and Sue Starke

Lynne jokingly calls plastic bags “our state bird,” because one can see these floating things in our skies as much as one can see birds. They perch in trees and swim among our waters, just like our feathered friends. That’s rather sad. She informed us about plastic bags in our waterways and oceans, telling us that sea turtles in particular try to eat plastic bags and have been found with them stuck in their throats or wrapped around their heads. Why? A sea turtles favorite food is jelly fish. A floating plastic bag looks just like a jellyfish. Albatross are becoming extinct because they are feeding their young plastic. They don’t know it’s plastic obviously, but plastic pellets look just like fish eggs, a key food of the baby albatross. Dead chicks have been found with their stomachs filled with plastic.

We all learned about an area in the South Pacific called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Lynne encouraged us to Google it, and I did this morning while writing this piece for the blog. I was sickened by the photos and narrative, so much so that I immediately went to my kitchen to see what I have in my trash. An avid recycler, I was shocked by some of the things that I had in my garbage can. I must make even more changes in my household.

Carroll Adams introduces Lynne and Tanjie while Jayne Schmidt, Mary Radant, Linda Grinde and Betty Benson look on.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is easily twice the size of Texas and may be as large as the United States. I urge you to click through the link and read about this. Who knew?

We also learned this critical information: Plastic photo-degrades, it never, ever biodegrades. Plastic will out live us.

Our landfills are so tightly compacted that the elements necessary for decomposition- light and moisture - never reach the products. 50-year-old newspapers have been unearthed intact, and can still be read.

Cigarette filters and their proper disposal gave us much to think about. Cigarette filters are made of plastic, and they take 12 years or longer to break down. However, even more importantly is that these filters collect toxins – obviously, chemical toxins from the cigarette itself. These toxins leach out of these filters into our environment. That may not sound like much but when you consider the trillions – TRILLIONS – of filters that are thoughtlessly flicked out of car windows, rubbed out under shoes and left on pavement, tossed into our waterways – it’s staggering.

Lynne told attendees about KALB’s Adopt A Spot and Community Clean-up programs. KALB helps sponsoring communities and groups with bags, vests, pick-up-sticks and other supplies. Groups can choose and area and clean it up just once, or choose to clean it more often. Call Lynne for information or head to the website.

Betty Benson looks through the KALB handout

After Lynne’s sobering message, Tanjie entertained us with Show & Tell – various recyclables and examples to pass around as she educated us about the local recycling program.

We learned a new word – “Nurdles.” Plastic pellets that are the beginning of all plastic products. Nurdles are what the albatross’s pick up and feed to their young, in addition to other shiny plastic “treats.”

Again – remember – plastic is NOT biodegradable – it is photodegradable. I was going to give you the definition of “photodegradable” via Wikipedia, but link here and read it for yourself. Reading the definition gave me a headache. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodegradation

The United States of America contains 5% of the world’s population, but we generate 19% of the world’s garbage.

Fritz Schmidt reads through the information

Tanjie shared great examples of what can and cannot be recycled at the Athens facility, and passed out a good chart to help us. We learned that our recycling bin here can be analyzed and changed according to our needs, as some were asking about magazine recycling instead of newspaper recycling.

Link here to KALB for a complete list of what can be recycled: http://www.keepathenslimestonebeautiful.com/recyclables.html

Some fascinating Recycling Facts:

http://www.keepathenslimestonebeautiful.com/recyclingfacts.html

Go here for information on recycling hazardous materials: http://earth911.com/

Participants asked about specific recycling challenges, like motor oil, paint and paint cans, batteries of all kinds, cell phones, Solo Cups, shredded office paper (bagged, please), phone books and even ELECTRONICS RECYLING.

For every ton of garbage generated 6 people are employed; for every ton of recycling generated 34 people are employed.

We all need to do our part

This was a fantastic program and we would like to thank Lynne Hart and Tanjie Schrimsher for their time and efforts. Our community really got into the subject and asked all manner of wonderful, useful questions. Thank you all for coming.

The Bay Hill Conservancy sends our sincere thanks to Lynne and Tanjie, and also to Bill Wojciechowski, the Recycling Center Manager. Athens and Limestone County are fortunate to have such a forward-thinking organization leading its citizens toward responsible stewardship. Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful!

The Bay Hill Conservancy also thanks Arnie Kloock, General Manager of Bay Hill Marina for graciously donating the meeting room for our program. We also thank Carolyn Green, Assistant Marina Manager of Bay Hill Marina, for her assistance with preparation.

No wonder I'm gaining weight!

Our thanks as well to all the Conservancy regulars who brought such tasty treats - YUMMY!!! We may have to write our own cookbook - we are blessed with fantastic bakers and cooks!!!

Spring 2009 Program Announced

Bay Hill Marina Crape Myrtle Project

From left: Wilda Davis, Jayne Schmidt, Fritz Schmidt, Carroll Adams,

Debi Bradford, Linda Grinde, Marilyn Bachelor and Dick Bachelor

The Bay Hill Conservancy pruned Bay Hill Marina's crape myrtles Sunday, February 6th. The day was MUCH warmer than our two day stint doing the same for Rivers Edge Condominiums a year ago. Temperatures were in the mid-60's with a slight breeze coming off the water - perfect for outdoor activities. As with Rivers Edge, this Conservancy activity was scheduled to thank the marina in kind for donating their meeting room for our meetings. You'll note that Carroll isn't in any of these photos, but that's because she was taking them. Due to injury she was unable to prune but took photos, hauled limbs, and was an excellent morale booster!

The Conservancy first tackled the newer crape myrtles planted by the Tidwells along Bay Village Drive. This first task was easy, taking a minimum of time and effort.

Lined up like soldiers along Bay Village Drive Linda, Wilda, Marilyn, Dick and Fritz make short work of this task.

Dick and Marilyn Bachelor show off their pruning skills, above, while Fritz Schmidt, below, ponders the proper approach.

If we only knew what loomed before us we would have brought a case of beer. Hindsight is always 20/20.

The crape myrtles closer to the docks are an entirely different story. Wilda laughs while Jayne works. "Hey...these are bigger...and tougher!!! You've got to be kidding me!"

Debi puts her back into it. Not a very flattering pose but oh well.

Jayne and Wilda have this crape myrtle under control.

Linda and Dick concentrate on their pruning methods.

What do you think...this branch? Or this one?

Linda's working hard.

Lookin' good, Wilda.

It takes a Village...

How many more do we have to prune?

Oh, my aching back...

Remember that moment in "Jaws" when Roy Scheider saw the shark for the first time and he said "We need a bigger boat...?"

Well...we needed bigger tools...

Fritz hauls the debris...

Dick prunes yet one more crape myrtle...

Holy cow...where's the beer already? Carroll?

Thankfully, Dick brought a saw for some of the larger limbs.

Fritz takes action.

Is that the beer truck I see...?

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Good job, Dick.

The weary group stops to pose for a photo - thanks, Jim. And thanks to everyone who volunteered this lovely Sunday afternoon to help our community.

REMINDER

The Next Conservancy Program will be held

Sunday, March 1st

2:00pm

Bay Hill Marina Meeting Room

Topic: Recycling

(and maybe butterflies if we have time)

Bay Hill Marina brings Recycling to the Community

Bay Hill Marina has succeeded in bringing RECYCLING to Bay Hill Village! The new Athens-Limestone Recycling Center bin is located in the parking lot of Bay Hill Marina. It's new and it's beautiful!

As you see above, this bin accepts

Newspapers,

Glass,

Plastic &

Cans.

PLEASE do not leave your recyclables in plastic bags.

One plastic bag can contaminate a large amount of paper.

For more information click here: http://www.keepathenslimestonebeautiful.com/recyclingboard.html

What's Recyclable, click here: http://www.keepathenslimestonebeautiful.com/recyclables.html

Merry Christmas from the Sign Committee

Harry Wallace and his crew from Little Cypress Natives, Florence, put in the landscaping around our new entrance signs this morning! What a nice surprise!

The design is simple. Native plants are used as they are suited for this zone and these particular plants are drought tolerant and very hardy. Signature Redbud trees are planted behind each sign, lending a pretty backdrop highlighting the signage. Three pink muhly grass plants frame each side of both signs.

Most of you are familiar with redbuds but pink muhlys may be new to you. They grow up to 3 feet in height and in the fall will exhibit the most luscious deep pink flowers. It's a clump forming grass that does not need to be trimmed back like other grasses. It's leaves are very fine and a pretty dark forest green. Below is a photo in its autumnal glory.

Merry Christmas from the Bay Hill Sign Committee!

Tony & Carolyn Green Address the Conservancy

A large crowd listens intently to Tony & Carolyn Green's visions

for Bay Hill Marina

The Bay Hill Conservancy’s autumn program was enthusiastically embraced by the community. Tony and Carolyn Green, new owners of the Bay Hill Marina and Resort, Captain’s Table Restaurant and Safe Harbor Yacht Sales were overjoyed at the crowd who came to hear about their visions for the marina’s future.

Tony began by thanking attendees for their patience this summer as the purchasing process went on longer than anticipated. However, delay turned into opportunity as Tony and Carolyn were able to observe daily operations and plan changes to implement immediately upon closing. Tony emphasized that this is a village and is advertised as such and they intend to be a part of the village.

Carolyn & Tony Green

Their motto is “Service, Service and More Service,” and they are big believers in FREE. Small things make a difference. One example Tony gave is that when boaters are filling up at the marina pump the children are given free Popsicles, and boaters are given free bags of ice. This seemingly small kindness in turn creates repeat business from happy customers. The Greens believe kindness, generosity and quality service goes full circle.

Fritz & Jayne Schmidt, Bob Rolf talk to Tony before the meeting while Ed Alexander is intent on getting some of the excellent hot wings before they were all gone!

The crowd listens as Tony & Carolyn list their visions, as follows:

New computer system, including a customer card system. These cards can be used for purchases and will allow them to track sales and offer discounts at various levels of use.

WiFi is now available at the restaurant and they will be expanding it marina wide.

They plan to change one fuel pump to diesel.

Electrical currents of boaters have been inspected. Boat owners must comply with safety standards.

Captain’s Table restaurant will remain open until the end of the year, closing January & February. They are accepting orders for smoked ham or turkey for Thanksgiving, and they WILL BE OPEN and serving Thanksgiving meals. They also provide event catering.

The store on the dock will become a convenience store, ship store and boutique.

First Order of Business is to clean up the overall site. This will take some time.

Their goal is a clean EPA Certificate.

They will become a TVA Certified Green Marina.

A recycling program at the marina and a recycling system for boaters.

Marina sewer and pump-out system are currently undergoing renovations.

Replace the barrier barges with enough rip rap to create a much larger harbor.

Expand the harbor 300 feet, adding more docks that will include a golf cart accessible convenience store and restaurant.

Talk to the Village HOAs about creating a Community District, which will allow the restaurants to have a private club license.

Employing a grant writer to help them find funding for the many opportunities they envision.

Possibly leasing Limestone Park, east of the bay from the marina, acquiring a 30 year lease and convert it to a high-end RV park and add a dock at the boat ramp.

Planning “floating cottages.” These cottages will be rentals where boaters can pull up, park and stay overnight

Planning more efficient use of boat slips and dry stack, including pull up ramps for jet skis and PWC’s.

New, well-equipped pontoons and cruisers available for rental in Spring 2009.

The pool/fitness meeting room will set up as a meeting room for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and as a boater’s lounge.

Why is it people don't like to sit on the front row?

(...except brave Jim & Sue Starke)

Must go back to our school daze.

In closing, Tony and Carolyn emphasized how happy they are to be here, and how much they love the community. They looked at many marinas but kept coming back to Bay Hill Marina because of the tremendous potential they saw. Tony opened the floor for questions, which were addressed as follows:

They will offer jet ski winterizing, and other boat services.

The pool & fitness area will be secured and security cameras installed for surveillance. The HOA at Rivers Edge is also working with Tony on security issues.

A handrail will be installed at the steps leading up to the swimming pool.

Tony proposed working with the HOA’s to keep the area attractive and to maintain the roads.

When asked if the marina plans to install a boat launch ramp Tony responded that they would like to but don’t have the space to accommodate one.

Tony wants to enforce the one way street from the marina office to the restaurant.

Tony and Carolyn thanked everyone for coming and encouraged us to stay, mingle and feast upon the ample snacks and soft drinks provided by Captain’s Table Restaurant. Bottled water was provided by Carroll Adams and Debi Bradford. Beautiful autumn decorations were provided by Patty Atha.