Yelle Belle’s Post

September 8th 2024 To the editor: North Toledo residents fight blight again. This year residents in North Toledo came together to combat blight and had another successful year. We call ourselves the North Toledo Coalition, neighbors coming together for neighborhood issues. We are advocates for our neighborhood who strive for better days. This year we organized three cleanup events, our first one was covered by The Blade (“Crew collects mess to clean up N. Toledo,” March 24). We measure our success by a few simple metrics, how long it takes to fill up the truck, how many abandoned tires are collected, and how many volunteers help. In previous cleanup events it would take us less than an hour to fill a truck up; we would collect over 50 tires easily at each event. This year’s three cleanups netted about 40 abandoned tires. We had several volunteers from different backgrounds participate. The goal of our events is to reduce blight; in turn that reduces crime, adds to neighborhood engagement, and offers hope to those residents that feel the neighborhood has been forgotten. Our efforts would not be possible without our partnerships. The city of Toledo has been so supportive with our projects, our volunteers consisted of church members from Salem Lutheran, a few Lowe’s employees and most importantly members of the community. We will continue our initiative into 2025 because it is successful. ALFONSO R. NARVAEZ North Toledo #CommunityService #Toledo

A colleague and I discuss how people today seem more tired and edgy. He commented that many of us are dealing with stress from all sides: job, political, financial, work, family, etc. Some days, I become quite overwhelmed -- with my negative thoughts pinging around out of control. When I feel this way, I tell myself I can't change what's going on, but I can change how I react, as well as the choices I make. (I also head out for a bike ride, which always clears my head.) One of my choices, which I post about frequently, is buying US made items whenever possible. The second choice is supporting causes I care about, one of which is the Essex Greenbelt's Osprey program. Each year I donate $100 toward it -- which may not seem like a lot, but it is. (I've been in fundraising and know any amount is always gratefully received.) Greenbelt, a non-profit land trust, conserves land in MA. I'm thrilled to learn a local woman in Haverhill (town next to mine) has donated two parcels of land totaling 90+ acres. I ride my bike past both a couple times a week and noticed the new Greenbelt sign last week. Hurrah! The parcels are adjacent to two small working farms, so it's wonderful this entire area will remain intact. For those of you who love birds, the Osprey cam in Gloucester, MA is now live: https://lnkd.in/ezwQwxu. Annie and Squam have their first egg, which is very exciting. And, here is the link about the parcels now under Greenbelt management. It may not be local to you, but it's a great example of how we can change our part of the world: https://lnkd.in/eYFc-GgY And, a link to my updated Keep It Made blog Welcome page -- about why I do what I do. This was a little scary for me to write. I'm not used to being, what is for me, so honest in saying what I think. https://lnkd.in/eJeiTYuj #blessings #smallchoices #spring

This is what sustainable innovation looks like! A much better solution to the water issues in western North Carolina than bottled water. If you want to support an initiative that REALLY matters, join Wine To Water as a volunteer, sponsor, or evangelist. Water is life. Join Doc and his team in meeting the needs for the people of WNC! Here are some options: 1. Volunteer: If you are in the NC region, you may go to the Wine To Water website and sign up to volunteer. https://lnkd.in/eHYhq-mz 2. Donate: You can literally be anywhere and give a little to keep the water flowing to those in need. https://lnkd.in/ep_Ckqsh 3. Spread the word: This is free, but don't underestimate the power of spreading the word. You have the power to let everyone in your network know about the good work of Wine To Water. Connections are powerful and the life blood for organizations such as this, whose entire purpose is to help provide access to clean water around the globe. Please re-post Doc's post so that others may know that they can help. Thank you! Western North Carolina strong!

Why DON'T we put them in charge? If I had five minutes to come up with the best ideas to save humanity, I would start with giving children more responsibility in their family and schools. Put children in charge of the care and feeding of animals. (That's right, have animals at your home and school. Animals of all kinds are good for children and they will be transformed by nurturing them). Put children in charge of the growing and harvesting of plants. (Yes- have both indoor and outdoor gardens. Have terrariums, aquariums, arboretums, and grow as many plants in your home and school as you can. ). Put children in charge of building and tending fires. (Indeed, expose children to fire and all of its benefits. Melt metal, make your own charcoal, fire clay into pottery, cook food). Put children in charge of teaching others. (We learn best from teaching others). Put children in charge of policing the playground. Put children in charge of cleaning the shores of creeks and ponds. (Make sure all children have access to creeks and ponds if possible. This is important). Put children in charge of as much of the rule-making as possible. Put children in charge of as many democratic processes as possible. Put children in charge of the maintenance and upkeep of their schools and homes. (Train them to clean, paint, scrub, shine, cut, trim, mow, sew, wax, polish, dust, and disinfect). Put children in charge and they will learn to run this world, and run it right.

Winter is fast approaching---have you put your lawn to bed for the season yet? If not, here are a few tips from the Fernie Works team to make sure you're greeted by a beautiful green lawn next spring!⁠ ⁠ ✅ Leave the leaves. Some light leaf coverage on your lawn is insulating for the grass and provides a habitat for pollinators. ⁠ ⁠ ✅ We’ve had some hard frosts, so it’s time to stop cutting your lawn. Also, if you are not noticing growth, it’s best to wait until spring to overseed or fertilize. These treatments given too late can burn the lawn (or the seed won’t take root).⁠ ⁠ ✅ Protect your plants. If you have tender shrubs and perennials, get out that mulch for extra protection. For extra windbreak, use stakes and some burlap as a shield.⁠ ⁠ When you're ready to get your lawn back into shape in the spring, reach out to the Fernie Works crew at fernieworks.ca. 🌱⁠ ⁠ #fernieyouth #caringbeyondreason #scarborough #nonprofitorganization #youthadvocacy #fernieworks #torontononprofit

Saving the train is about more than just preserving a mode of transportation – it’s about preserving our community’s lifeline. Conservancy Archives volunteer Kitty Kaar has attended recent Save the Train rallies, and here are some of her reasons why. 1️⃣ We need MORE public transit, not less. Accessible transportation is crucial for students, workers, and our environment. It’s what brought my family here and keeps us active in our community. 2️⃣ Losing the trains would devastate our local economy. Our neighborhood was built on their existence and thrives because of it. 3️⃣ The Chestnut Hill East and West lines are part of our identity. They define our neighborhood’s rich history, and losing them would be like losing a piece of ourselves. As our commitment to advocating for our community continues, follow #SEPTASaturday posts. These posts will underscore the critical importance of public transit – vital to our neighborhood and a sustainable means of transportation that provides accessibility. PA Government recently drafted a budget that would have left SEPTA facing a daunting $240 million shortfall starting July 1. This shortfall could result in severe cuts to bus and rail services, with the Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail line particularly vulnerable and the Chestnut Hill East line and bus services also at risk. Learn more at savethetrain.org. #chconservancy #savethetrain #chestnuthillpa #chestnuthillphilly #RallyAndRide #PhillyTransit #nwphilly #eastmtairy #westmtairy #phillyschools #germantown

Discover a fresh start with our hoarding cleanup services in your area. We're here to help. Each cleanup begins with a respectful and confidential assessment. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Our trained professionals sort, declutter, and organize, transforming chaos into calm. Step by step, we restore spaces. Beyond clutter, we address hidden damages. Water damage restoration is a key part of our comprehensive cleanup. Safety hazards from accumulated items are removed carefully, ensuring a safer home environment. 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻; 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. Disposal of unwanted items is done ethically and responsibly, with donations and recycling in mind. Our team works closely with you throughout the process, supporting you in making difficult decisions easier. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Our confidential hoarding cleanup service is designed to give you back your home. https://rfr.bz/la09u7u

🚦 This #RoadSafetyWeek (17-23rd November 2024), we’re proud to support Brake’s campaign, "After the Crash", which highlights the real cost of road incidents. Every year, over 1,700 people lose their lives on UK roads, with thousands more suffering life-changing injuries. Behind every statistic is a story - a family forever changed.   At Yunex Traffic, we’re committed to making roads safer and cities more liveable. This week, we’ve been reflecting on the importance of supporting road crash victims and raising awareness about road safety through powerful initiatives and events. 🚸   💡We have hosted 2 lunch and learn style sessions to explore critical road safety topics. Laura Challis, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Brake, the road safety charity shared insights into their "After the Crash" campaign and how it supports road crash victims and their families. We were then joined by Mark Cartwright, Head of Incident Prevention at National Highways who explained the shocking statistics associated with the incidents on our UK roads and how their team is working to prevent them. These sessions highlighted the collective effort needed to make our roads safer for everyone.   See how we’re making a difference:   🤝 Partnering with Brake to provide crucial support to road crash victims and their families. 🏫 Delivering educational workshops in schools to empower children with vital road safety knowledge. 🎨 Promoting road safety by showcasing stickers created by primary school children.   Together, we can build safer communities and work toward a future where road crashes are preventable.   #RoadSafety

Maintenance trust funds for memorial parks: (road works, garden landscaping, and infrastructure maintenance) Why is it important for customers? Private memorial parks are a blessing compared to the usual public cemeteries, especially when it comes to proper planning, year-round maintenance, security, extra facilities as well as after-sales services. While all these perks are great, nothing comes for free. Funding is extremely important for any memorial park for it to be continuously managed and maintained for years to come. One of the main things that bereavement care giant, Nirvana Asia Group often emphasizes on is its maintenance trust fund of up to RM100 million; but what is it really? In effect, the maintenance trust fund established by Nirvana Asia is a perpetual trust fund. Designed to operate indefinitely, an individual or entity places assets or funds in a perpetual trust with certain conditions and restrictions for how the funds are distributed or used.

We work towards a world in which pets are family and families do not have to choose between remaining housed and remaining with their pets. Ross Barker and Sara Maria Muriello from our Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, joined a powerful webinar with Don't Forget the Pets, supported by RedRover and Greater Good Charities, called "Mind the Housing Gap." Ross and Sara shared valuable knowledge, resources, and connected with fellow pet advocates working towards solutions for keeping people and pets together in housing. Learn more about this critical issue and how you can help. Watch the webinar replay: https://lnkd.in/eBmSCfDU