Adult Classes

“We Can Solve It” – Solutions for Climate Change

April 30, 2008

People like us want to leave our children and children’s children a clean, livable planet. We will have to educated them to have “a range of critical-thinking skills to deal with an unprecedented future,” said Susanne Moser, Ignition, and “the ability to cooperate with others under stress to deal with the challenges.”

Medical and public health professional are “taking responsible, ethical action to protect human life,” said Bob Musil, Ignition and we need to help them. We all want healthy homes and communities and right now our laws do not adequately protect us, much less our children.

Climate change not only effects the environment around us but the environment within us – toxin levels, deformities, disabilities and the spread of disease. In 1962, during open-air nuclear testing, John F. Kennedy said, “We all love our children. We all breathe the same air. We are all mortal.” And we all need to do what we can to stop climate change.

Bob Musil, Ignition says climate change “will create serious negative effects from … flooding, wetland destruction and spread of waterborne … diseases.” Not to mention the effects of increased heat.

There is a close relationship between dirty air (high particulate levels from vehicles and power plants) and natural disasters, asthma and heat related deaths. There is also a close relationship between dirty water (pollution from pesticide runoff) and mercury poison, fish advisories and “boil” orders.

Most of us have a part of the natural world we hold dear – woods or mountains or lakes or rivers or even urban garden plots. What happens when those places of spiritual solace disappear? Who is responsible? Aren’t we Earth’s stewards?

Find a place in our community to revitalize – plant trees and involve diverse groups. Eat locally grown food and walk or bicycle to get it. Write your local, state, and federal officials to pressure them for clean energy and strong emissions policies. Speak up for your family’s health. VOTE – vote for those who have individuals’ best interest at heart and not big business’. Stand up for your right to clean air, clean water and a sustainable planet. Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescents and your appliances to Energy Star and turn them off when not in use. Caulk your windows and weather-strip your doors. Fix leaky faucets and don’t waste water. Combine driving trips and don’t idle. You are part of the solution!

Funding for grassroots organization can dramatically shift national energy policy by banding us together for a louder voice. It is ALL our individual responsibilities’ to help make giant strides against climate change for the generations to come. We can solve it! Start now.

Idea Exchange - Gave Neighbors Lots of Resources




            On Saturday March 1st, at Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Idea Exchange, 36 neighbors came together from all over the city to brainstorm and discuss hundreds of ideas! All participants were involved, caring citizens exercising their personal power to be part of the solution in their neighborhood.
            They noticed that all their neighborhoods had the same intention of being clean, beautiful and safe – just some were closer to the goal than others. There were those who were successful HOAs with bylaws and mandatory fees; others who did a lot but were voluntary neighborhood associations with not much money to work with; and still others who were deciding how to start a group or resurrect one.
            All of them have in common our City ordinances and available City neighborhood assistance programs. There were ideas about how to apply for the grants and how to get more involved in the surveillance of their neighborhoods.
            They found they had dozens of opportunities for help from Keep Carrollton Beautiful. Keep Carrollton Beautiful has made it possible for Hunter’s Creek HOA to award “Yard of the Month” with their own sign. A non-profit helping local teens, Team Me USA, is looking into adopting a “spot”. Because they are choosing a greenbelt to adopt, they will have more rustic signs than those seen around town for Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Spot program.
              Many of the groups are planning neighborhood cleanups for Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup on April 19^th. They discovered that all they have to do is come get their free supplies and bring the trash back to Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s event to avoid landfill fees.
            The attendees learned about Green Business presentations, school paper recycling programs, cell phone recycling and many other programs offered by Keep Carrollton Beautiful. You can find out about all of these programs addressing environmental issues around AIR, LAND, WATER and COMMUNITY at www.KeepCarrolltonBeautiful.org.
            Be sure to see the displays about Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s neighborhood programs and the Great American Cleanup at both libraries during March and April - so you too can become part of the solution.

   We are happy to provide a Green Business presentation for your group.
Just call 972.466.2121 to schedule.
We also offer information on recycling, stormwater, Texas SmartScape and other environmental issues.
             Sustainable Carrollton Bus Tour
July 31,2007 - Even in the pouring rain, Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s “Bus Tour” came off without a hitch. Last Tuesday, Brad Mink the Economic Development Director for Carrollton, informed 22 citizens during a tour he set up expressly for Keep Carrollton Beautiful participants.    Mr. Mink wants to get the word out about what Carrollton is planning for its future, so he’d be happy to give a presentation for your group too.
     Peter Braster, Carrollton’s Transit Oriented Development Officer, joined them to provide up-to-the minute information about the DART light rail coming through Carrollton. "I commend Carrollton for planning for future growth and development - planning not reacting," said Bob Maguire, Keep Carrollton Beautiful participant.
     All the participants found out about our many corporate citizens - how they came to Carrollton and what they do. As one participant put it - "Where else can you find Barney, Sam Moon, Chrysler and Mary Kay in one location?"
     Mr. Mink was very interested in everyone understanding who contributes to the tax base in our city. Of course without that base, all the services that residents enjoy would not be possible.
     The driving rain didn’t keep them from seeing the upgrades that the City of Carrollton has made and are making on some of the older streets and parkways. Mr. Mink explained the changes in building requirements that create a more welcoming and sustainable appearance. Richard Scott, a Keep Carrollton Beautiful volunteer said, “Until one hears about the past, current, and future developments in Carrollton, it is easy to undervalue what we have.” Everyone had plenty of opportunity to ask questions about what they thought was important.
     Underlying everything that was said was the history of how we got where we are in the first place - some of the mistakes that were made in planning and in trusting people who had only their own best interests at heart, instead of the city as a whole. Paul Heller was very appreciative of the Bus Tour. He said, “It was a great way to learn about all the economic forces, both business and residential, that have shaped the past and will shape the future of Carrollton."
    Sharon Goddard, Executive Director of Keep Carrollton Beautiful, summed up the tour by saying, “Everyone came away with a sense that we are moving TOGETHER toward a very bright future - as long as we follow all the plans that have been agreed upon for the DART light rail and Transit Oriented Development. Embracing this change will increase property values, improve regional air quality, and bring in new businesses and residents.”               Most of the people were new to Keep Carrollton Beautiful, so they were also given information about Texas Recycles Day that’s coming up on November 10^th. To find out how to participate in Texas Recycles Day or how you can get involved in Keep Carrollton Beautiful, go to www.KeepCarrolltonBeautiful.org. Sustainable Carrollton Presentation March 4, 2007     Keep Carrollton Beautiful created a venue for the City of Carrollton to make their “Sustainable Carrollton” presentation last week. Those interested citizens in attendance came away with all the facts on what the City has come through and what is planned for the future. Brad Mink, Director of Economic Development Director, joined the City of Carrollton in 1986 and currently oversees a small staff of 1 full-time employee.   Mr. Mink has been involved in bringing in excess of $300 million in new business/economic development to the City of Carrollton. Peter Braster, Carrollton’s first Transit Oriented Development Manager, will be responsible for the development and redevelopment of Carrollton immediately around the Light Rail Transit Stations and manage the use of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.      Keep Carrollton Beautiful participants learned a lot about where our City has been and where it’s going: They found out who has purchased Furneaux Creek shopping center; they found out that Beltline lowering isn’t in stone yet; they got all the details on DART – where it’s going and what’s going to be around it including trails; they also found out what is going to happen to the grain towers soon; what is going to happen to the corrugated steel buildings near Old Downtown; and they got to see the new TOD signage to brand each plaza.      Keep Carrollton Beautiful intends to create a closer community in Carrollton and this presentation really helped to get the participants up to date