“Curious George Discovers Recycling” Heading to a Little Free Library Near You

Liz Swafford and Jessica Trivino display several copies of the book “Curious George Discovers Recycling” in front of a Free Little Library box. The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center donated 24 books to the Little Free Library Program hosted by the United Way of Northwest Georgia in honor of Earth Day.

Dalton, GA – A curious monkey is making his way into 22 Little Free Library locations in Whitfield County just in time for Earth Day thanks to a donation by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center. Liz Swafford, Recycling & Education Program Coordinator at the Authority, met with Jessica Trivino, United Way of Northwest Georgia’ Director of Donor Engagement & Strategy, to give 24 copies of the children’s book, “Curious George Discovers Recycling” released just this year.

In the book, George discovers that not everything in his garbage bag is really trash, some of it can be recycled and be transformed into new products. With a recycling contest underway, George is determined to help in ways only a monkey can. The full color story book for lower elementary aged kids also includes tips and crafts they can try at home. 

The purpose of the Little Free Library is to provide a place where all readers in the community can share books throughout the year. Participants can leave books to share with others in the box and take a book they would like to read. Volunteers check each box to make sure there are always books available.

To learn more about the Little Free Library program hosted by the United Way visit: www.ourunitedway.org. And, to learn more about recycling in Dalton, and Whitfield County, visit the Authority’s Recycling 101 page online: www.dwswa.org/recycling-101.

Magic of Recycling at Local Schools

The garbage monster makes a surprise appearance in the trash can held by magician Greg Allen during a special performance of the Magic of Recycling show at Pleasant Grove Elementary School on Friday, November 11.

Students look on as a rolled-up newspaper magically transforms back into a tree during the Magic of Recycling show with magician Greg Allen. The program was hosted at Pleasant Grove Elementary and six other local schools during the week of November 7.

Students enjoy a magical learning experience

(Dalton, GA, November 21, 2016) – During the week of November 7 students from seven elementary schools hosted professional magician Greg Allen for a special performance of the “Magic of Recycling”. The educational magic show brings the concept of recycling and landfills to life during an interactive 40-minute program that includes magic tricks and audience participation.

The program was sponsored by Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s recycling committee and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s recycling center in honor of America Recycles Day which is celebrated on November 15. During the month of November you can take the pledge to recycle and learn more about recycling online at www.americarecyclesday.org.

Antioch, Cedar Ridge, Brookwood, Pleasant Grove, Dawnville, Westwood, and Dug Gap Elementary school hosted either one or two performances for students from Kinder to 5th grade for a total of 12 shows. Local schools currently recycle mixed paper, cardboard, and select beverage containers with the Authority’s recycling collection program Target Recycling at School.

Recycling was shown as a way to use things again and again conserving natural resources, and saving landfill space in the process. During the program students saw a glass bottle transform into a new glass bottle, witnessed a telephone book be recycled into a new one, and more. Students enjoyed watching the show while learning about the transformative power of recycling.

Billboard Design Winner for 2016 Contest Announced

The winning billboard design by Madison Powell will be placed at two locations in Whitfield County during the month of November in celebration of America Recycles Day.

Valley Point Middle School 8th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Madison Powell, 1st place and 1st place overall; Eliezer Vasquez, 2nd place.

Pictured are students from Eastbrook Middle who each placed 3rd in their grade level in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Jazmine Ayabar, 6th grade; Melissa Trujillo, 7th grade; Elena Cabero, 8th grade. 

Valley Point Middle School 7th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Camy Rettew, 1st place; Dania Cristobal, 2nd place. 

Valley Point Middle School 6th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Macey Cook, 2nd place; Lily Woodring, 1st place. 

Valley Point Middle School 8th grader, Madison Powell, is the overall winner of the 2016 America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling at School. The winning design will be displayed on two billboards in Whitfield County along Glenwood Ave. during the month of November.

Ms. Powell’s design, which was chosen out of 91 entries, includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” one of the themes of the contest. The artwork shows an aluminum beverage can dreaming about being recycled into a space ship or rocket. Materials that are recycled are used to manufacture a variety of products. Aluminum for example may be recycled into beverage cans, construction materials, or parts for new vehicles.   

The billboard design contest, now in its seventh year, has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner from each grade level which includes 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The nine winners, listed below, received a certificate of participation and a gift bag with items made from recycled materials. The first place overall, who is the winner of the billboard, was selected from the first place design from each grade level.

6th grade:

• 1st Place – Lily Woodring, Valley Point Middle School
• 2nd Place – Macey Cook, Valley Point Middle School
• 3rd Place – Jazmine Ayabar, Eastbrook Middle School

7th grade:

• 1st Place – Camy Rettew, Valley Point Middle School
• 2nd Place – Dania Cristobal, Valley Point Middle School
• 3rd Place – Melissa Trujillo, Valley Point Middle School 

8th grade:

• 1st Place and Overall Winner – Madison Powell, Valley Point Middle School
• 2nd Place – Eliezer Vasquez, Valley Point Middle School
• 3rd Place – Elena Cabero, Eastbrook Middle School

Target Recycling at School provides recycling collection services and environmental education opportunities to schools in Whitfield County. For more information call 706-278-5001 or visit www.dwswa.org.

America Recycles Day is a community-driven event dedicated to promoting recycling awareness, commitment, and action in the U.S. thru its partnership with Keep America Beautiful. It’s celebrated annually on November 15. For more information on recycling, and to take the pledge to recycle visit www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org.   

2016 School Beautification Grants Available Thru Keep Dalton Whitfield Beautiful

(Dalton, GA, August 10, 2016) – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is pleased to announce the availability of School Beautification Grants for Fall 2016. The committee for Beautification and Community Greening has established mini-grants in celebration of National Planting Day. Beautification grants may range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $250.

Public and private schools in the Dalton, GA and Whitfield County area are invited to apply for funding that can help implement a project related to planting native plants. A school club, a single classroom, whole grade level or the entire school may organize a project.

National Planting Day is celebrated annually by Keep America Beautiful in the fall as an opportunity to encourage volunteers to plant native species restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is making these grants available to improve the visual aspects of our community through projects that beautify and clean the environment.

Knowing that children play a very important part in making this happen we want them to reap the benefits by participating in a project for their very own school. Beautification projects could include establishing or supporting a school garden, planting flowers in an outdoor space, or using plants for educational purposes.

Grant applications must be submitted online no later than Friday, September 9 at www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org using the form on the Beautification page. For questions regarding the form or any aspects of your proposed project call executive director Liz Swafford at 706-278-5001. Grant winners will be announced September 23. Projects must be completed by December 2 and a project summery is to be submitted by December 16. 

To see what the 2015 winners did with the grant visit the School Beautification Projects page. 

Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority To Be Monitoring Site for Rare Plant

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is slated to be a monitoring site for the large-flowered skullcap, a rare plant that is found in the wild only in northwest Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently meet with representatives from the Authority to establish a monitoring site and ensure the continued success of the plant. Below is an excerpt from a recent article from the DNR. 

Photo courtesy of Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

Surveys by Thomas have also uncovered other large-flowered skullcap populations and promising conservation partnerships in the region. A hardwood drainage owned by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority and protected under a conservation easement features skullcap and lanceleaf trillium, a species DNR monitors.

Although the site is not open to the public, the authority is willing to do its part for the plants, suggested Assistant Executive Director Dirk Verhoeff. “Having the skullcap located within and adjacent to a wetland conservation easement will ensure the success of these colonies,” Verhoeff said. “In addition, our staff will be on the lookout for additional colonies for future conservation.”

Such partnerships could help large-flowered skullcap win its battle to not only survive, but thrive.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE:

https://georgiawildlife.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/plant-partnerships-spur-hope-for-battlefield-survivor/