Festival and Recycling Updates

Well, it has been a long, cold winter and perhaps winter is not completely through with us just yet even if the jonquils are blooming in my yard.  But it is time to mark your calendar.

The Helena Buck Creek Festival will be May 13 and 14 this year with lots of planning underway to make this one of the best festivals ever.  While all of the entertainment has not yet been locked down due to financial negotiation, the lineup is looking great.  You can keep up with all of the Buck Creek Festival news at their web site at www.buckcreekfestival.com.

Speaking of calendars, it is now one full year of recycling at our household, and I find myself somewhat staggered by the numbers.  Remember, there are only two of us in our household, but we have tried to be diligent in recycling as much as we can.  The first thing we've noticed is that the weekly garbage can is rarely full - in fact, most weeks it is nearly empty with only one or two paper bags of garbage.  Yea for less stuff in the landfill.

According to our account at www.recyclebank.com, we have recycled just a few pounds under 1,700 pounds over the last 52 weeks!!  That averages to about 65 pounds every two weeks.  WOW ! ! !  I am really awed by the amount and proud that so much did not go to the landfill.  My neighbor also mentioned in a casual conversation how much they were putting into the big blue recycle bin!  Who knows, maybe the recycled paper is some of my junk mail actually came from my recycle bin!

The number of recycle bins seen in Woodvale does not seem to have increased.  I really encourage everyone to make recycling a priority to reduce the stress on our landfills.

-Brian-

Free Trash Day Coming

Thanks to my wonderful neighbor, Teresa Givan, for forwarding a note that the Shelby County Landfill has set Saturday, October 9, 2010, for a free day.  You can take yard debris, trash, or any other discards to the landfill for no charge.  Sounds like I really ought to start working on the garage!!

Also note that Fall has arrived with a bang.  My weather station recorded several 100 degree highs during September, but then some colder air finally arrived.  September 25th was the last high above 90 and it looks like the hot summer of 2010 has finally been shut down!

-Brian-

Recycling Update

It's Wednesday, August 11th, and recycling day in Woodvale.  I drove through the neighborhood this morning around 7:30 and counted 13 recycling bins at the curbs.  So it appears the recycling effort has stabilized with no significant changes in the number of households recycling.

I signed up for the full package, so I am very pleased to be able to report that my wife and I have recycled 890 pounds of stuff.  That's not bad for a household of two plus the dog!  According to RecycleBanks web page that means we've saved a tree and 113 gallons of oil.  More importantly, I think, that means 890 pounds of stuff that did not go into a landfill.

I hope everyone in Woodvale will seriously consider recycling.  I believe it is a win-win situation for everyone and it is not very expensive to do.  Go to RecycleBank to sign up.

-Brian-

Water and a Show

Water Leak Fixed

The City of Helena Water Department was on Woodvale Drive yesterday, June 22nd, to fix a water leak as pictured below.  The water leak was in a pipe extending from the water main to a house on the south side of Woodvale Drive.  I know the leak was reported to the Water Department several days earlier.  When I talked to the Water Department folks on the scene, they said they were aware of it but had a lot of jobs that had to be done and this leak was rather small.

Upcoming Show at Helena United Methodist Church

Want a great evening of music and free refreshments?  Plan to take in the music production, Thank You for the Music, to be presented on Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, at 7 pm at Helena United Methodist Church on CR 58.  The Fine Arts Department has been working on the program since the first of the year and it features some great music, wonderful talent, and dancing, too!  Don't miss this one!  Here is a picture from the tech rehearsal last night.

-Brian-

House Fire in Woodvale

Another tragic event for our subdivision.  A house fire occurred about 9:30 to 10:00 pm or so following a thunderstorm with very intense lightning.  The thunderstorm dropped over an inch of rain on the area and was the only thunderstorm in Central Alabama for a couple of hours this evening.

The pictures below are just a couple of shots I made with my phone so they are not very good.  The Helena Fire Department responded as soon as the fire was reported and one of my neighbors noted that flames were shooting over 80 feet into the air at one point.

The house on Woodvale Road was not occupied at the time.

-Brian-

Helena News Items

Helena Market Days

If you have not been to Helena Market Days, now is the time to mark your calendar for the next several weekends.  Helena Market Days brings a wonderful collection of local producers to the Buck Creek Amphitheater Park each Saturday through September 27th.  Here is a small collection of pictures I took this past Saturday - talk about GREAT eating!  And all produced nearby!

I had never heard of papaya squash, the white corn was delicious, and the breakmaker's bread was still warm!  Check it out - you will not be sorry!

Bypass Opens

The bypass is now fully open running from Highway 52 west of Helena to CR 17 southeast of Helena.  Hopefully as the bypass becomes better known it will help to reduce traffic in the Publix/Winn Dixie area.

Trees Trimmed

Special thanks to the City of Helena for responding so quickly to my request for help in trimming the trees that were obscuring the visibility exiting from Woodvale Drive across from the Kangaroo.  Trees in both directions were nipped back allowing for greater visibility as you turn out onto CR 95.

-Brian-

Poll Change Reminder

Just a reminder to all Woodvale residents that the polling location for the upcoming primary on June 1st has changed.  Woodvale residents will now go to the Helena Civic Center on Ruffin Road to vote.

The Civic Center offers plenty of space for voting and parking to make the task a bit easier.

Remember, exercise your rights as a citizen and vote during the upcoming primary.

-Brian-

Great News

It's a little after 8 pm on Friday, March 26th, and I have just gotten off the phone with Laura Steele, daughter of Annette Weber, our Woodvale neighbor who was swept into a storm drain during the heavy rains of March 10th.

Mrs. Weber is doing much better, Laura told me.  She has had her breathing tube reduced in size so she has gotten her voice back for the first time since the accident.  She has also been moved into a regular room and is off the ventilator.  She and the family are hopeful that she may be able to come home next week.


Mrs. Weber's sister, Carole, has been posting information on the Caring Bridge web site.  Go to www.caringbridge.org and enter 'annetterweber' as the web page you want to visit.  It is likely to ask you for an email address and to create a user name and password.  Once that is done, you can read the updates and the whole story.


This is such wonderful news.


-Brian-

Happenings

Here is a quick roundup of some things happening in and around WHOA (that's Woodvale HomeOwners Association).


Pancake Breakfast
Don't forget the FREE pancake breakfast at Helena United Methodist Church this Saturday, March 27th, from 8 to 10 am.  Come on out and enjoy some pancakes and fellowship.


New Eating Place Coming
A new dining establishment will open in late April or early May in the old Elements location at the corner of Highway 58 and 95.  It will be called "The City Grill" and will served traditional southern dishes with a few surprise dishes.  Phyllis Pickle whose family is from Taiwan will showcase her skills at southern cooking and add some Asian dishes to the menu.  I understand that they plan to be open for lunch and dinner, but they may expand the schedule.


Update on Mrs. Weber
I understand that Mrs. Weber, our Woodvale neighbor who had a harrowing experience with the heavy rain in early March, continues to improve.  Praise God for that.  No exact word on when she might be back in her own home.


American Idol at LaReunion
So, have you ever wanted to be on American Idol?  Are you willing to take a chance on fame? Helena is having its very on idol contest at LaReunion.  The auditions start today and continue until March 31st.  Here's what to do:
1. Come into LaReunion in Helena's Old Town between 5 and 7 pm.2. Sing any song a cappella for 60 seconds for the camera.3. On March 31st, the judges will pick the top ten.

After that, you are in the competition and will have your first performance on April 2nd.  Entry fee to enter is $7.  Judges are Andrew Henderson, owner of Lost n Sound Studio, and Erin Trapolino, owner of Old Towne Music.

The grand prize includes a session with a music coach, recording your own demo CD, and performing at Helena's Buck Creek Festival!


That's all for now.


-Brian-

Unfortunate Happening

In the heavy rain last week, there was a near tragedy at the front of the Woodvale subdivision.  In a nutshell, Mrs. Webber was trying to collect her garbage can in her backyard, slipped, slid into the ditch which was running fast and full, and traveled through the storm drain to the other side.  Thanks to the fast action of a nearby Helena police officer, she was successfully rescued but not before suffering a heart attack and other injuries.

Probably the best way to learn about what happened is to view the story aired by ABC 3340.  You can get it here.

Please be in prayer for the Webber family.  It is my understanding that she is improving but has a long way to go in her recovery.  Jane Peters and Tobie Quick were circulating through the neighborhood over the weekend getting a card signed for Mrs. Webber.

-Brian-