Latest news with #SteveWard
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City Pride volunteer projects to beautify Scranton
The Garbage Olympics and other cleanups will return in Scranton under the annual City Pride volunteer beautification program May 27 through June 7. A joint program of three nonprofits — Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania — the spring spruce-up projects make a big impact, organizers said Monday in announcing this year's edition. Last year, 4,188 volunteers participated, contributing 2,190 hours, completing 57 projects and removing 3,600 pounds of trash from city streets. A new initiative this year will have Scranton Tomorrow partnering with the Lackawanna Blind Association to create a sensory garden on June 3 at 10:30 a.m. outside the association's center at 248 Adams Ave. downtown. A sensory garden's plants are chosen for their unique textures or scents, said Steve Ward, Scranton Tomorrow's project manager of Safe, Clean, Green and Design programs, and who also is a master gardener. The sidewalk area outside the association already has one large planter and four more will be added to create the sensory garden, Ward said. Plants might include mint, basil, lamb's ear and dusty miller, he said. 'It really is an incredible thing to experience nature with your other senses, other than your sight,' Ward said. The smell of victory The third annual Garbage Olympics will take place June 7 at 10:30 a.m. Teams in West Scranton hosted by NeighborWorks and in Pine Brook hosted by UNC will speed clean their respective areas. The team that removes the most trash and debris from city streets and sidewalks in two hours wins. Parties will follow. 'It's a great way for people to come together in the spirit of friendly competition and make a difference in their neighborhood,' UNC Director of Community Revitalization Roger Young said. Since the Garbage Olympics began in 2023, 100 volunteers on Team West Scranton contributed 200 service hours to remove 3,830 pounds of trash. For the first Garbage Olympics, NeighborWorks wasn't sure what kind of community response to expect, but the event has grown into an annual spring tradition in West Scranton, said Alyssa Espinoza, NeighborWorks' Aging in Place project specialist. 'It's inspiring to see people of all ages coming together to make their community a better place to live, and they have fun, too,' Espinoza said. Individuals, families, corporate teams and community groups are encouraged to join Team Pine Brook or Team West Scranton. To learn more and register, see Scranton Tomorrow's website and click on the link for Scranton City Pride. Volunteer opportunities Additional volunteer opportunities include: • Beautification/plantings: Weed, prune, plant flowers and enhance curb appeal. • Cleanups: Remove litter, rake, sweep, and paint over graffiti in parks and green spaces. • Environmental stewardship programs: Participate in storm drain cleanups to protect the Lackawanna River Watershed or help to expand the local pollinator garden network. • Design a project: Scranton City Pride team members will help volunteers develop their own project ideas from concept to completion. Contact Steve Ward at steve@ or 570-963-5901. • Beautify the Downtown Business District: Business owners are encouraged to tidy up sidewalks and storefronts in downtown Scranton. They may also enter creative floral container arrangements in Scranton Tomorrow's Downtown Business Class Category of the Electric City Flower Show. For information on downtown floral displays, email Liz Baldi at lizbaldi@ • Be a good neighbor: Homeowners are encouraged to clean, spruce up or improve their home's exterior or front yard, and take advantage of free educational programs offered during Scranton City Pride. Local experts will offer tips on gardening, home maintenance and more. Learn more at Volunteers can register as individuals or teams representing nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations, businesses or other groups, and will be provided with work gloves and trash bags. For information or to register, see the Scranton Tomorrow website or contact Ward at his email and phone number above. Citywide City Pride Scranton Tomorrow began City Pride in the mid-1990s as an annual week of spring cleanups and plantings throughout the city. Over the years, City Pride grew into a Scranton Tomorrow signature project, annually drawing more than 1,000 volunteers pitching in on over 30 projects in parks, neighborhoods and business districts. Scranton Tomorrow eventually reduced the scope of City Pride to the downtown and the program paused in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It relaunched citywide in 2021. NeighborWorks joined in 2022 and UNC joined in 2023. Scranton City Pride is made possible with support from American Water Charitable Foundation, Pennsylvania American Water, Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Chicago Tribune
09-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Two Easter egg hunts planned for Saturday in Elgin; Elgin Community College hosting ‘Experience ECC' event
Two Easter egg hunts planned for Saturday in Elgin Easter egg hunts in Elgin will be held Saturday, April 12, by Hanover Township and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Both are free, and participants are asked to bring their own baskets or containers. The 'Hoppin' for Hanover' Easter egg hunt starts at 10 a.m. at the Hanover Township Izaak Walton Youth Center, 899 Jay St. One hour later, at 11 a.m., a hunt will be held on the grounds of St. Thomas church, 1625 Highland Ave. Participants in the township event will be divided into groups by age, according to a news release. Ages 2 to 4 will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by 5- to 7-year-olds at 11 a.m. and 8- to 10-year-olds at 11:30 a.m. In addition to the hunts, there will be games, crafts and pictures with the Easter Bunny. No registration is required. The St. Thomas More hunt also is free and open to the public. According to a social media post, participants will be divided into three age groups: infant to age 3, 4 to 7, and 8 and older. A special golden ticket will be put into one egg for one participant in each age group to find and receive a special prize. There also will be a cotton candy station. In the event of bad weather, the hunt will be rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13. South Elgin village president to hold community chat Monday South Elgin Village President Steve Ward will host a chat with residents from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, at the village's Public Safety Center, 50 S. Water St. Ward will be taking questions and discussing village issues, according to a social media post for the event. The village will provide light refreshments. For more information, call 847-742-5780. Elgin Community College hosting 'Experience ECC' event Elgin Community College will host its annual 'Experience ECC' event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, starting in the Jobe Lounge in Building B on the 1700 Spartan Drive campus. Campus tours will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by an open house at which those in attendance can learn about more than 130 degree and certificate programs offered by the school, according to the college's website. The five campus tour options are: The Skills in Action: A Career Technology Tour will look at programs offered in truck driving, welding, industrial manufacturing, HVAC and integrated systems technology. The Taste, Talent, and Vision: A Creative College Tour will explore courses offered in photography, culinary arts and hospitality program and includes a visit to the ECC Arts Center. The Pulse on the Future: A Health Professions Tour will give an overview of 18 health care programs, including medical assistance, ophthalmic technology, surgical technology and radiography. The tour features a visit the school's nursing simulation lab. The Unleash Your Curiosity: Discover Math and Science Tour will provide information about educational and career pathways available in those disciplines. Discover Your Campus! A Spanish Tour Experience will provide an overview of ECC in Spanish.
