Roswell hoa newsletter
City of Roswell
Roswell, GA 30075
June 2013
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
ALIVE AFTER 5 RECYCLE PROGRAM
Alive After 5 has become THE summer event for Roswell
residents. Held the third Thursday of each month, April through
October, thousands of people attend and walk Canton Street, eat at
the restaurants and enjoy the vendors. The coordinators of Alive After 5 would like to
have recycling containers available for the cans, bottles and plastic cups used during the
events. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to be Recycling Ambassadors
for Alive After 5. Volunteers would be responsible for putting out recycling containers
and monitoring them during the evening. At the end of the evening, they would gather
the containers and bags and put them in the Away From Home Recycling Trailer provided
by the Roswell Recycling Center. Volunteers are needed from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The
dates for the remaining Alive After 5 events are:
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
Inside this Issue:
Recycling Tip
2
When it Rains…
2
National Public
Works Week
3
Snakes
4-5
2013 Sanitation
Guide
6
Important
Numbers
7
If you are interested, please contact Janet Liberman at [email protected]
LATEX PAINT RECYCLING
Did you know that Roswell residents can
bring their old latex paint cans to the
Roswell Recycling Center for recycling
everyday?
Roswell Recycling Center
11570 Maxwell Road
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770-442-8822
Hours of operation:
Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 5:30
Friday
8:30 - 5:00
Saturday
8:00 - 5:00
Mayor
Jere Wood
Councilmembers
Nancy Diamond
Rich Dippolito
Kent Igleheart
Jerry Orlans
Dr. Betty Price
Becky Wynn
City Administrator
Kay G. Love
PW/Env. Director
Stuart Moring
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 2
Recycling Tip
What should I do with…TEXTILES?
Everybody knows you can donate gently used clothing and shoes to a charity thrift shop but what about that shirt with
the stain that won’t come out or your husband’s old tattered and stretched out sweatshirt? You know – the clothing that
really isn’t usable. While they may not be desirable in their present condition, if you bring them to Goodwill, they are, in
fact, able to be recycled into many useful items. Here are a few examples:
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Stuffed toys and pillows become car seat stuffing and automobile insulation.
T-shirts, sheets, towels and clothing become wiping cloths.
Denim becomes home insulation.
Shoe soles become paving material.
Sweaters and coats become carpet padding.
Wool sweaters and material become baseball and softball filling.
Velvet materials become jewelry box lining.
Leftover fabric scraps become paper money.
The bottom line is that nearly 100% of donated textiles are recycled! The average American throws away seventy
pounds of clothing each year. Ninety-five percent of textiles worn or torn can be recycled yet only fifteen percent gets
donated or recycled. Now is your chance to be below average and reduce unnecessary waste going to our landfills.
Who knew?
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POLLUTES!
Did you know the quality of metro Atlanta’s streams, rivers, and lakes are threatened by the daily activities of residents
and businesses across the region. Over 800 stream miles in the metropolitan Atlanta area are in violation of state water
quality standards due to urban stormwater runoff.
The only way to combat the adverse effects of pollution is through knowledge and action. The leading threat to our
water quality is stormwater pollution.
10 Things You Can Do To Be A “Solution To Stormwater Pollution”
1.
Never dump anything down a storm drain or into a drainage ditch
2.
Recycle motor oil and other vehicle fluids
3.
Throw litter in its place
4.
Clean up after your pet
5.
Check your vehicles for leaks (Repair them!)
6.
Disposing of household hazardous wastes at designated locations
7.
Compost yard clippings
8.
Use fertilizer and pesticide only when needed (Read the label!)
9.
If you wash your vehicle at home, do so on the lawn rather than the pavement
10. Tell a friend/neighbor about how to prevent stormwater pollution and get involved in your community
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 3
NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK A BIG SUCCESS!
Congratulations to the following Public Works/Environmental employees who won events
during the National Public Works Week competitions!
Truck Rodeo:
Commercial Winner:
Residential Winners:
Burch Hammons
Glenn Samples
Michael Baltimore
Shan Coney
Setting up Forklift Competition
Forklift Competition:
1st place:
Public Works/Environmental
2nd place:
Transportation
Overall Winner:
Doug McPherson from the Roswell Recycling Center
Trackhoe Competition:
1st place
Transportation
2nd place
Public Works/Environmental
Overall Winner
Richard Westbrook – Transportation
Commercial Winner: Burch Hammons with Councilmember
Jerry Orlans, Director of Public Works, Stu Moring and
Councilmember Dr. Betty Price
Residential Winners: Glenn Samples, Michael Baltimore and
Shan Coney. Along with Councilmember Jerry Orlans,
Director of Public Works, Stu Moring and Councilmember
Dr. Betty Price
Thank you to all the residents that came out for our events! We hope you had as much fun as
we did! See you next year!
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 4
SNAKES
Are they Really as Bad as We Think They Are?
The sun is shining, the weather is warm… perfect time to come face to face with one of the most feared and despised
creatures of all – SNAKES!
Does the mere thought of a snake basking in your backyard send you running to find a shovel (or in some cases, a
shotgun)? It’s understandable to worry about your kids or your pets being bitten. But, arming yourself with a little
knowledge and common sense will go a long way in preventing bites.
First, some facts: Snakes are not poisonous. They are venomous. Venom must be injected, as in a snake bite. Poison
must be ingested or absorbed topically. Of the 41 snake species that occur in Georgia, only 6 are venomous. Out of
those 6, only 3 (possibly 4) occur in the metro Atlanta area.
I have handled many, many snakes, but I don’t recommend my approach to interacting with wild specimens, which is
akin to a 6-year old boy’s – TOUCH EVERYTHING!!!. I have been bitten several times, which were all well-deserved
due to my lack of self-control. Snakes can strike with astonishing speed and they’ll have their jaws clamped on your
skin faster than you can blink. But, none of the bites, not even the one from an enormous eastern king snake, broke
the skin. Far worse is a snake’s other defense mechanism, which involves oozing a foul smelling liquid from their cloaca.
Trust me when I say that smell does not wash off, even after you’ve been scrubbing your arms for 20 minutes with
bleach and a stiff bristled brush. My point isn’t to encourage you to go out and chase snakes around (please don’t!) but
to tell you, with some experience, that the majority of snake bites aren’t bad at all.
Of course, there ARE venomous snakes and being bitten by one would be, to put it lightly, unfortunate. The best way
to prevent bites is to learn to identify what you’re up against. Like I mentioned before, there are really only 3 species
you need to be aware of if you live in metro Atlanta.
Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
You’ve probably walked past many copperheads and never even realized it because
they are shy creatures that blend in shockingly well with piles of dead leaves or
Georgia red clay. Although they prefer to avoid humans, copperheads will often
“freeze” instead of slithering away like most snakes. The majority of bites happen
when a human accidently steps on them, usually only after physical contact is made.
Its venom is one of the weakest of all the pit vipers and rarely fatal. Instead of
wasting precious venom on a human far too big to eat, they will often employ a
“warning” bite with a small amount of venom, or even a “dry” bite with no venom
at all.
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 5
Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
The canebrake or timber rattler can grow to an impressive 5 feet long. Because of its size,
relatively long fangs and high venom yield, it has the capacity to be one of North America’s
most dangerous snakes. Luckily, it has a fairly mild temperament and a built in warning system in its tail. Like the copperhead, they’d prefer not to waste their venom on a non-edible
human, so they spend lots of time rattling and looking threatening before actually striking.
Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
So named “pygmy” because adults rarely exceed 18 inches in length. Their rattles are
small and produce a buzzing sound that can only be heard from a few feet away. Like
many small animals with a napoleon complex, the pygmy rattler can be feisty and will
strike if provoked or molested. Luckily, they have very small venom glands. There are
no reports of any person dying from a pygmy rattler bite, although the effects of the
venom can be very unpleasant, especially in children.
There is a fourth venomous species that has been occasionally spotted in western metro Atlanta, although their more
common range is the lower elevation coastal plain. The eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) or water
moccasin is one of the most legendary snakes in the south. I once saw a brochure for a snake gun that featured a
cartoon-like graphic of a cottonmouth rising out of a river with dripping fangs bared, looming over an unsuspecting
boater like a dragon out of myth. Common sense tells you that isn’t a likely scenario, but I digress. Cottonmouths are
rarely spotted in the Georgia Piedmont, and only then in the western part. If you see a “cottonmouth” in Roswell, it
is most likely a harmless water snake. True cottonmouths swim with their heads elevated and their bodies riding just
on the surface. They can be found basking on logs or rocks near the water’s surface. They may vibrate their tails and
gape their mouths when threatened. Contrary to popular belief, the mouth gape is not a sign of aggression, but a
warning similar to the rattling of a rattlesnake. In fact, cottonmouths are fairly docile creatures that rarely strike, even
when provoked. Non-venomous water snakes will bask in tree limbs overhanging the water and typically swim
completely submerged underwater.
Now that you know what to look out for here are some tips to stay safe:
Wear closed-toed shoes when out in the woods. Snakes are astonishingly well-camouflaged, especially against woodland floors carpeted in leaves. You may be staring straight at one and not even see it. Stay on marked paths to avoid
stepping on a snake. Avoid putting your hands into brush piles. The majority of snakes will try to get away from
humans as fast as possible and will hastily retreat to the nearest shrub pile. Some, like the copperhead, may freeze.
If you haven’t run screaming in the opposite direction, now is a great time to observe one of nature’s creatures in its
natural habitat. Odds are the snake is non-venomous but if you aren’t sure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and
stay clear of striking distance. Most bites occur on the hands and the victims are overwhelmingly men. This should
be enough to tell you that snakes rarely strike unless they feel threatened – usually when someone tries to pick them
up. If the snake is giving you warnings – a rattling tale, a gaping mouth, or jerkily moving its head, it is clearly agitated.
Step back, give it some space, and leave it alone.
If you should be bitten, do not attempt first aid on yourself. Remove any rings or other restrictive jewelry near the
bite, as there will often be swelling. Try to stay calm and get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. If you
can identify the snake that bit you, this will help determine which antivenin you need.
Story by: Vicki Culbreth, City of Roswell, Environmental Education Coordinator
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 6
2013 SANITATION/RECYCLING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 4, 2013 - Independence Day:
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
Garbage, recycling and yard waste collection as scheduled
for Thursday customers.
Monday, September 2 , 2013 - Labor Day:
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
Yard waste as usual for Monday customers.
Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 - Veteran’s Day Observed
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
Yard waste collection as usual for Monday customers.
Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29, 2013 -
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
Thanksgiving Day & Day After Thanksgiving
- Thursday customers - Garbage/recycling collection as
usual. Yard waste collection will be Friday, November 29.
- Friday customers - Garbage/recycle collection moved to
Monday, December 2, 2013. Yard waste collection as usual.
Wednesday, December 25 , 2013 - Christmas Day
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
- Wednesday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Thursday, December 26, 2013.
- Thursday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Friday, December 27, 2013.
- Friday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Saturday, December 28, 2013.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - New Year’s Day
Roswell Recycling Center Closed / City Hall Offices Closed
- Wednesday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Thursday, January 2, 2014.
- Thursday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Friday, January 3, 2014.
- Friday customers - Garbage, recycling and yard waste
collection moved to Saturday, January 4, 2014.
Roswell HOA Newsletter
June 2013
Page 7
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
WATER & DRAINAGE
City of Roswell customers:
After hours
Fulton County customers:
770-641-3707 to report a leak
770-640-4100
770-640-3040 to report a leak
To report water violations:
Roswell Water
770-641-3707
Fulton County Water
770-640-3040
Current water restriction questions:
770-641-3707
Toilet Rebate Program:
770-641-3707
FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
770-641-3759
Billing Questions
Start or Stop Service
Tax Notice Questions
SANITATION
Sanitation HELP Line / Customer Service
770-641-3961
Sanitation Questions
770-641-3807 or 770-641-3961
Missed Pick-ups for Household Garbage
Community Waste Services (CWS)
678-240-9137
Yard Waste and Curbside
Recycling Questions
Request a Recycling Bin
Roswell Recycling Center
770-442-8822