Buzz Strong As Mosquito Fears Rise
Mosquito Awareness Week Calls Attention To West Nile Virus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Mosquitoes and warm weather go together, and with it comes the increased threat of contracting the West Nile virus.
The California State Legislature has deemed this week Mosquito Awareness Week, and is asking people to take measures to cut down on risks.
"Especially with this warm weather followed by the rain, this makes for the perfect mosquito breeding time," Luz Maria Rodriguez from the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District said.
"We ask that at least once a week you go around your yard and and empty or dump any standing water that may collect in any household -- containers, buckets, tires, wheelbarrows -- anywhere where mosquitoes can grow," Rodriguez said.
All they need is a capful of water to breed. Mosquitoes are most often out at dawn and the first two hours after sunset.
The top three things to do to cut down on bites are:
Wear long pants
Wear long-sleeved shirts
Wear insect repellant that contains DEET
Vector Control also grows mosquito fish that primarily feed on mosquitoes. They're placed in rice fields, agricultural ponds and in abandoned swimming pools in foreclosed homes. The district offers help for those who know of a neglected pool.
"It's been very effective. We've been able to go to swimming pools that have been abandoned and put the mosquito fish in," Vector Control fisheries supervisor Demetri Dokos said. "Technicians go back in a couple of months later and the mosquito fish are there and the mosquito larvae aren't."
Community Building 101 - Part 4
on Thursday, April 15, 2010
Labels:
Community Building 101
Re-believing in community participation
I recently attended a funeral of a local man. He raised four kids, stayed married for fifty years, knew success in his career, and had many remarkable traits. His eulogy was full of all the great stuff we often hear, but there was something more mentioned that was a very high compliment: he was a good neighbor. Story after story was shared about how he was known to say hi to others, pay attention to people around him, find ways to care for folks next door, talk to passersby, befriend local teenagers, and even share his roses and vegetables with neighbors.
The notion of being a contributor to the health of a community is seldom on the radar in today’s society. Somewhere along the way we lost the value for connectedness and are now more isolated and self-reliant. If we can re-believe though that it really does matter to have residents involved in neighborhood life, then our communities will thrive.
Whose responsibility is it anyway to help a neighborhood grow in the right direction? Is it the City and its programs? Council members? An HOA? Apartment managers? Local Business? Police? Code Enforcement? The answer is all of the above, but most of all it is the privilege of residents to shape the values of their tract. Just as each of us needs to eat certain foods to yield a healthy body, in neighborhoods individual households help to nourish the overall wellbeing of their area. Not everyone has a desire to be social or get to know others, and that is understandable, but as more and more residents choose to be intentional about their community, we will experience a vibrancy that no HOA fee could ever create.
When we begin to put effort into the stream of subdivision life we will see stronger relationships and a greater sense of communal vision, not to mention having a whole lot of fun. This is not about taking on big neighborhood projects, but instead buying into a belief that our individual contributions and giftedness are valuable for the soul of the neighborhood. Let’s begin to re-believe that each household has something to offer for the health of the community and then act accordingly.
You are important for your neighborhood. Do you believe that?
Bonus Material: The following are thirteen examples of residents who believe in community participation.
1. David the Photographer: He has taken pictures at neighborhood events several times.
2. Elaine the Host: Elaine has invited groups of residents into her home.
3. Janel the Garage Sale Queen: Janel planned a neighborhood garage sale.
4. Ruth, Jamie & The Beatification Posse: They grew tired of seeing two neighborhood entrance
corners looking unkempt, so they pulled out plants and got to work.
5. Gary the Painter: Gary takes the initiative to cover tagging in inconspicuous places.
6. David the Woodworker: He cut, sanded, and painted new letters which say “Cordova Towne”
for an entrance corner on Mather Field Road
7. Brandon & Jen The Organic Pool Couple: They have shared from their vegetable garden
multiple times and they hosted a pool party this Summer
8. Clark the Walker: Clark likes to hike, so he asked a few people to begin walking the
neighborhood 1-2 times per month.
9. Mark & Sarah the Prayer Duo: Last year they invited residents into their home to pray together
over a series of months.
10. Swansea Way Heroes: A number of residents on Swansea Way are putting effort into helping
their street communicate more regularly through street events.
11. Donna & Jerry the Weed & Seeders: They both sit on the Weed & Seed Steering Committee (a
federal program) which directly impacts the neighborhood.
12. Christian the Activist: He was not happy when the City added a median to block off a
neighborhood street so he passed out flyers to do something about it.
13. Helen & Lee the Pillars: They have both lived in the neighborhood for many decades and are active in the local police zone meetings.
I recently attended a funeral of a local man. He raised four kids, stayed married for fifty years, knew success in his career, and had many remarkable traits. His eulogy was full of all the great stuff we often hear, but there was something more mentioned that was a very high compliment: he was a good neighbor. Story after story was shared about how he was known to say hi to others, pay attention to people around him, find ways to care for folks next door, talk to passersby, befriend local teenagers, and even share his roses and vegetables with neighbors.
The notion of being a contributor to the health of a community is seldom on the radar in today’s society. Somewhere along the way we lost the value for connectedness and are now more isolated and self-reliant. If we can re-believe though that it really does matter to have residents involved in neighborhood life, then our communities will thrive.
Whose responsibility is it anyway to help a neighborhood grow in the right direction? Is it the City and its programs? Council members? An HOA? Apartment managers? Local Business? Police? Code Enforcement? The answer is all of the above, but most of all it is the privilege of residents to shape the values of their tract. Just as each of us needs to eat certain foods to yield a healthy body, in neighborhoods individual households help to nourish the overall wellbeing of their area. Not everyone has a desire to be social or get to know others, and that is understandable, but as more and more residents choose to be intentional about their community, we will experience a vibrancy that no HOA fee could ever create.
When we begin to put effort into the stream of subdivision life we will see stronger relationships and a greater sense of communal vision, not to mention having a whole lot of fun. This is not about taking on big neighborhood projects, but instead buying into a belief that our individual contributions and giftedness are valuable for the soul of the neighborhood. Let’s begin to re-believe that each household has something to offer for the health of the community and then act accordingly.
You are important for your neighborhood. Do you believe that?
Bonus Material: The following are thirteen examples of residents who believe in community participation.
1. David the Photographer: He has taken pictures at neighborhood events several times.
2. Elaine the Host: Elaine has invited groups of residents into her home.
3. Janel the Garage Sale Queen: Janel planned a neighborhood garage sale.
4. Ruth, Jamie & The Beatification Posse: They grew tired of seeing two neighborhood entrance
corners looking unkempt, so they pulled out plants and got to work.
5. Gary the Painter: Gary takes the initiative to cover tagging in inconspicuous places.
6. David the Woodworker: He cut, sanded, and painted new letters which say “Cordova Towne”
for an entrance corner on Mather Field Road
7. Brandon & Jen The Organic Pool Couple: They have shared from their vegetable garden
multiple times and they hosted a pool party this Summer
8. Clark the Walker: Clark likes to hike, so he asked a few people to begin walking the
neighborhood 1-2 times per month.
9. Mark & Sarah the Prayer Duo: Last year they invited residents into their home to pray together
over a series of months.
10. Swansea Way Heroes: A number of residents on Swansea Way are putting effort into helping
their street communicate more regularly through street events.
11. Donna & Jerry the Weed & Seeders: They both sit on the Weed & Seed Steering Committee (a
federal program) which directly impacts the neighborhood.
12. Christian the Activist: He was not happy when the City added a median to block off a
neighborhood street so he passed out flyers to do something about it.
13. Helen & Lee the Pillars: They have both lived in the neighborhood for many decades and are active in the local police zone meetings.
Community Building 101 - Part 3
on Thursday, January 14, 2010
Labels:
Community Building 101
The Starting Line
Improving a neighborhood can feel like trying to resurrect the Titanic, but in reality it’s more like flipping a burger with a family next door. When our prime focus is only on the problems in a community, it can start to feel discouraging and we give up, thinking “I don’t have the time or energy,” or “I can’t do this by myself”, or “I don’t even know where to begin.” I’d like to suggest though that the beginning point for strengthening a neighborhood is really about small every day choices rather than planning big events or programs.
Strengthening a community simply recognizes that relationships rather than high fences are what is most important. The truth is you do not need ample time, money, grey hair, or incredible leadership skills to make a difference in your tract. You only need to be attentive to your surroundings and intentional in some very practical ways. This is about a mindset, a lifestyle, a paradigm to live from.
Connecting with neighbors can be something very natural and it happens over time. It is not something that you have to plan for per se or worry about adding to your busy schedule. Below are some practical tips to connect (or re-connect) with neighbors:
· Sit out in your front yard or on your porch
· Wave to passersby and say “hello” to people
· Introduce yourself to new residents
· Find a resident to exercise with
· Volunteer to collect mail while your neighbor is gone
· Borrow a tool or ask for advice
· Keep your yard well kept
· Invite a few neighbors to holiday parties or have someone over for dinner
· BBQ in your front yard with one other household
· Say sorry when you need to
· Do an Easter egg hunt for your street
· Take regular walks (with your dogs and kids too because they are conversation magnets)
· Exchange phone numbers with your neighbors in case of an emergency
· Talk to another resident about your desire to see neighbors connect
· Consider parking in your driveway so that you are visible outside more often
Most of life in a neighborhood consists of non-glamorous regular moments, but these small instances present opportunity for connection and are the building blocks for the future. Mother Teresa once said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Now go and do small things.
What tips do you have to connect with neighbors?
Improving a neighborhood can feel like trying to resurrect the Titanic, but in reality it’s more like flipping a burger with a family next door. When our prime focus is only on the problems in a community, it can start to feel discouraging and we give up, thinking “I don’t have the time or energy,” or “I can’t do this by myself”, or “I don’t even know where to begin.” I’d like to suggest though that the beginning point for strengthening a neighborhood is really about small every day choices rather than planning big events or programs.
Strengthening a community simply recognizes that relationships rather than high fences are what is most important. The truth is you do not need ample time, money, grey hair, or incredible leadership skills to make a difference in your tract. You only need to be attentive to your surroundings and intentional in some very practical ways. This is about a mindset, a lifestyle, a paradigm to live from.
Connecting with neighbors can be something very natural and it happens over time. It is not something that you have to plan for per se or worry about adding to your busy schedule. Below are some practical tips to connect (or re-connect) with neighbors:
· Sit out in your front yard or on your porch
· Wave to passersby and say “hello” to people
· Introduce yourself to new residents
· Find a resident to exercise with
· Volunteer to collect mail while your neighbor is gone
· Borrow a tool or ask for advice
· Keep your yard well kept
· Invite a few neighbors to holiday parties or have someone over for dinner
· BBQ in your front yard with one other household
· Say sorry when you need to
· Do an Easter egg hunt for your street
· Take regular walks (with your dogs and kids too because they are conversation magnets)
· Exchange phone numbers with your neighbors in case of an emergency
· Talk to another resident about your desire to see neighbors connect
· Consider parking in your driveway so that you are visible outside more often
Most of life in a neighborhood consists of non-glamorous regular moments, but these small instances present opportunity for connection and are the building blocks for the future. Mother Teresa once said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Now go and do small things.
What tips do you have to connect with neighbors?
