I want you to think about things you could buy for $250? A tank of gas, groceries for a week and a new pair of shoes, or maybe you just need help paying rent. All you have to do for an extra $250 in your pocket is, essentially, tattle-tale on someone for illegal dumping.
After reading this you’ll think twice about just watching a broke down pick-up truck leave half a slightly-used bedroom behind Safeway near the dumpster. You might even start showing similar characteristics to Inspector Gadget. Your pen will fly from your pocket and you’ll improvise by using a receipt as your paper source.
You’ll hide your face and nonchalantly write down a quick description and his license plate number. You’ll turn that person in to the Illegal Dumping Response Team with total disregard of that poor, old sap. And this is why…
Sacramento County has put many efforts into multi-department teams, new clean-up techniques, barriers to block abused alleys, placed signs near frequent dump zones, and, bump-bada-baaaaa, created a reward program!
The reward system is how YOU can score. All you have to do is catch someone dumping a broken bed or some old tires in an alley. Make sure to get information such as the person’s licenses plate and make and model of the vehicle. A description of the person, time, date and location of the dump would also be very helpful. You want to be as helpful as possible because if your information leads to an arrest or citation you will receive $250.
To report someone who is illegally dumping call the community Assistance Resource Center hotline at:
• Local: 916-875-5656
• Toll free: 888-358-8499
• TDD: 916-875-7105
1,500 tons trash is cleaned-up by the county every year and cost county tax payers over $100,000. There have already been 14 lucky people to receive free money from the County. I guess that means there have been 14 un-lucky people that have had to pay the county, but that’s another article. Illegal dumping has decreased because of the county’s efforts and people calling in illegal dumpers.
The County has also created a program for people who have large items they want to throw. If someone wants something large removed from their home they can call the county’s waste management department and make an appointment to have a bulky-item trash picked up.
Making an appointment would be better then driving around and dumping the crap somewhere; you can dump it in front of your house and have the garbage-man come pick it up. It saves everyone a lot of time and money. The County won’t have to pick up your trash in a cramped alley, and you don’t have to pay a steep fine for leaving all your trash around the city.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Pike Take-Over
I’m a strong believer in the idea that this planet wasn’t made for humans; humans were made for this planet. No object, plant or animal, was created to serve people; I think everything works in harmony to support and serve each other.
The Pike population has recently become a problem in Sierra Lake, located in Sacramento County. Based on previous reports, California State Wildlife authorities have dumped poison into Sierra Lake as an attempt to exterminate as many unwanted Pike as possible.
Reasons why the Wildlife authorities do not want Pike in Sierra Lake and are using poison to flush them out:
1. The invading fish are considered to be a threat to the salmon runs in northern California.
2. The intrusive fish drive away the salmon, in-turn driving away the anglers and negatively affecting the local economy.
3. There is a lack of ideas to rid the fish from the lake.
4. The pike have potential to move into the San Joaquin River Delta and affect the endangered species.
With that in mind, I had to ask myself why the people in this area felt the take over of the pikes was such a negative happening. Why can’t people accept the fact that humans have advanced as a culture, and because of that advance have affected all surroundings, including Sierra Lake, and are most likely to blame?
It could be possible that nature is trying to adjust to the changes humans have implemented on the planet. One side-affect of that adjustment is pike in Sierra Lake. The planet is a touchy environment and should be treated with care. If poisoning the lake kills the pike what other affects are taking place? What is the poison is causing a similar incident in another area.
The reason for poisoning is simple; the surrounding lake areas are loosing money due to the lack of salmon, once an attraction and money making aspect for the community. The people in this community have put their own livelihood in front of the livelihood of the planet and have prioritized the lack of salmon over the wellness of the planet.
I know everyone needs money, and all communities have to do what they can to keep the economy flowing, but maybe the earth is a more powerful entity then basic economics.
The Wildlife authorities poisoned the lake once before in 1997, and the pikes returned 18 months later. What makes authorities believe poisoning a second time will work more efficiently, and what about the poison going into our fresh water system?
I think people need to realize that this isn’t a local small town issue; this is a national issue, if not global. How much poison will we allow into the lake before we realize that outside areas will be affected, or before we realize that pollutants like this are most likely the reason occurrences such as the pike take over crop up?
Some things need to be accepted as failures. Humans can’t win every battle against mother earth. If we could we would have destroyed the planet a long time ago. I think these people need to stop worrying about the fish and start concentrating on others ways of bringing money into their community. Adding more poison to the water isn’t the greatest way to attract more people with money to a community.
The Pike population has recently become a problem in Sierra Lake, located in Sacramento County. Based on previous reports, California State Wildlife authorities have dumped poison into Sierra Lake as an attempt to exterminate as many unwanted Pike as possible.
Reasons why the Wildlife authorities do not want Pike in Sierra Lake and are using poison to flush them out:
1. The invading fish are considered to be a threat to the salmon runs in northern California.
2. The intrusive fish drive away the salmon, in-turn driving away the anglers and negatively affecting the local economy.
3. There is a lack of ideas to rid the fish from the lake.
4. The pike have potential to move into the San Joaquin River Delta and affect the endangered species.
With that in mind, I had to ask myself why the people in this area felt the take over of the pikes was such a negative happening. Why can’t people accept the fact that humans have advanced as a culture, and because of that advance have affected all surroundings, including Sierra Lake, and are most likely to blame?
It could be possible that nature is trying to adjust to the changes humans have implemented on the planet. One side-affect of that adjustment is pike in Sierra Lake. The planet is a touchy environment and should be treated with care. If poisoning the lake kills the pike what other affects are taking place? What is the poison is causing a similar incident in another area.
The reason for poisoning is simple; the surrounding lake areas are loosing money due to the lack of salmon, once an attraction and money making aspect for the community. The people in this community have put their own livelihood in front of the livelihood of the planet and have prioritized the lack of salmon over the wellness of the planet.
I know everyone needs money, and all communities have to do what they can to keep the economy flowing, but maybe the earth is a more powerful entity then basic economics.
The Wildlife authorities poisoned the lake once before in 1997, and the pikes returned 18 months later. What makes authorities believe poisoning a second time will work more efficiently, and what about the poison going into our fresh water system?
I think people need to realize that this isn’t a local small town issue; this is a national issue, if not global. How much poison will we allow into the lake before we realize that outside areas will be affected, or before we realize that pollutants like this are most likely the reason occurrences such as the pike take over crop up?
Some things need to be accepted as failures. Humans can’t win every battle against mother earth. If we could we would have destroyed the planet a long time ago. I think these people need to stop worrying about the fish and start concentrating on others ways of bringing money into their community. Adding more poison to the water isn’t the greatest way to attract more people with money to a community.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Bark 'n' Splash Bash
Sacramento County has events that are totally revolved around your pets. If you’re an animal lover and think of Fluffy as a family member this may be an event you will want to check out.
The "Bark ‘n’ Splash Bash" on Saturday, Oct. 13 is an event for dogs to splash around in the pool at the Folsom Aquatic Center located at 1200 Riley St. in Folsom. The event starts at 2 and ends at 5, and can be a great way to meet your dog-loving neighbors.
This may sound strange, but dogs are pack animals, which means they are social and need to be around other dogs, or humans, all the time. Dogs love activities such as this because they get the chance to play in the water and socialize with other dogs.
Dogs will be allowed to swim and frolic in the activity pool equipped with a play structure, sure to please any canine, and easy entry into the pool. There is also a large lawn area for water shy dogs and people who want to sit back and watch their dogs run-a-muck.
Admission is $10 per dog (Human companions are free!), but you will not be allowed in without written proof of your dog’s current license and a leash. There are “off-leash” areas once you are in the facilities.
Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulations will be offering dog licenses, microchip implants ($20) and rabies vaccinations ($5).
For pool safety and health reasons, after the event the pool is drained, cleaned and prepared for the rest of the year.
Also, don’t forget your camera; there is nothing better then pictures of your dog playing with its friends and the local community pool!
Sorry cat lovers; there will not be a kitty pool party anytime soon.
The "Bark ‘n’ Splash Bash" on Saturday, Oct. 13 is an event for dogs to splash around in the pool at the Folsom Aquatic Center located at 1200 Riley St. in Folsom. The event starts at 2 and ends at 5, and can be a great way to meet your dog-loving neighbors.
This may sound strange, but dogs are pack animals, which means they are social and need to be around other dogs, or humans, all the time. Dogs love activities such as this because they get the chance to play in the water and socialize with other dogs.
Dogs will be allowed to swim and frolic in the activity pool equipped with a play structure, sure to please any canine, and easy entry into the pool. There is also a large lawn area for water shy dogs and people who want to sit back and watch their dogs run-a-muck.
Admission is $10 per dog (Human companions are free!), but you will not be allowed in without written proof of your dog’s current license and a leash. There are “off-leash” areas once you are in the facilities.
Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulations will be offering dog licenses, microchip implants ($20) and rabies vaccinations ($5).
For pool safety and health reasons, after the event the pool is drained, cleaned and prepared for the rest of the year.
Also, don’t forget your camera; there is nothing better then pictures of your dog playing with its friends and the local community pool!
Sorry cat lovers; there will not be a kitty pool party anytime soon.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Customer WAS Always Right
Bad service is everywhere these days, restaurants, bars, shopping centers; more or less everywhere. Bad service is most prevalent in youth today because the school system has neglected to teach the basics of respect in the working world and customer service. This could be for multiple reasons such as lack of funding and the necessity to teach only the basics, writing, reading and arithmetic. Or, it could be because people don’t need people anymore. Now we have computers to help us with anything we want; why should any one waist energy politely serving someone else.
An old time waitress will always remember her manners even if the customer is driving her wild with odd requests for things like garlic mayo and pickled veggies. People no longer understand such things such as politeness or customer service. That way of life is frozen within the older generation of our world and has gone out the door for the youth.
Modern technology has created a barrier between human to human interactions. Technology has made it so that people can buy, sell, trade and even feed themselves, with grocery delivery and fast food delivery, without having any human interaction. Before the creation of the computer people were forced to talk to each other and to be polite because they relied on one another to provide services such as: the operator to place a call and mail from the mailman and with that need for each other came good customer service. Now we have cell phones and e-mail. No one knows their mailman anymore or calls the operator.
Maybe this is the reason why the older generations hold on to their skill in service and the youth lacks in that department.
When people stopped talking to each other, it’s like they forgot how to be polite and think of the other person first. When someone sits down to dinner at a restaurant they expect the server to be perfect, to make sure everything they ask for is brought to them. They might even push their server around and think to themselves, “It’s their job.”
Well, it might be the server’s job to bring them their food, but that server isn’t their slave, and most likely has other tables to get to. The bad service may be a result of how the customer treats the server.
Today, any given customer will most likely be talking on their cell phone and the employee will most likely give a rat’s ass about their job. Good service is a two way street; only polite people deserve politeness.
Good service isn’t dead, but it is near extinction. I dare you to go to the any department store at the mall and scan the employees. Take note of the average age of the people in the store and how you are treated. Then Find a mom and Pop store, ran by ‘mom and pop’, and take note of the service you receive. I bet you’ll want to go back to that department store and have a few words with that lazy 17 year old.
If there are places you’ve been that have good service I suggest you tip well and continue going back, because good service is rear, and it is fading faster and faster every year. Good service is a generational thing and it was lost generations ago, people don’t have a deep seeded care for others anymore. So, if you can’t travel back in time, I suggest sticking with that corner burger shack with impeccable service, because you’re not going to find it any where else.
An old time waitress will always remember her manners even if the customer is driving her wild with odd requests for things like garlic mayo and pickled veggies. People no longer understand such things such as politeness or customer service. That way of life is frozen within the older generation of our world and has gone out the door for the youth.
Modern technology has created a barrier between human to human interactions. Technology has made it so that people can buy, sell, trade and even feed themselves, with grocery delivery and fast food delivery, without having any human interaction. Before the creation of the computer people were forced to talk to each other and to be polite because they relied on one another to provide services such as: the operator to place a call and mail from the mailman and with that need for each other came good customer service. Now we have cell phones and e-mail. No one knows their mailman anymore or calls the operator.
Maybe this is the reason why the older generations hold on to their skill in service and the youth lacks in that department.
When people stopped talking to each other, it’s like they forgot how to be polite and think of the other person first. When someone sits down to dinner at a restaurant they expect the server to be perfect, to make sure everything they ask for is brought to them. They might even push their server around and think to themselves, “It’s their job.”
Well, it might be the server’s job to bring them their food, but that server isn’t their slave, and most likely has other tables to get to. The bad service may be a result of how the customer treats the server.
Today, any given customer will most likely be talking on their cell phone and the employee will most likely give a rat’s ass about their job. Good service is a two way street; only polite people deserve politeness.
Good service isn’t dead, but it is near extinction. I dare you to go to the any department store at the mall and scan the employees. Take note of the average age of the people in the store and how you are treated. Then Find a mom and Pop store, ran by ‘mom and pop’, and take note of the service you receive. I bet you’ll want to go back to that department store and have a few words with that lazy 17 year old.
If there are places you’ve been that have good service I suggest you tip well and continue going back, because good service is rear, and it is fading faster and faster every year. Good service is a generational thing and it was lost generations ago, people don’t have a deep seeded care for others anymore. So, if you can’t travel back in time, I suggest sticking with that corner burger shack with impeccable service, because you’re not going to find it any where else.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sac County Cool Fact #1
There are a lot of interesting things about Sacramento County that might interest you. The County runs campaigns and holds events all the time. A lot of them are free, and if they're not free they're inexpensive.
One cool campaign Sacramento County's Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors is called Passports to Parks. Passports to parks is a way to raise money and allow local citizens an inexpensive way to enjoy the American River parkways.
A Passport is $40 per year/per household. The $40 parking pass allows one car to park without paying the $5 parking fee, which was just raised a dollar from $4. After just 10 visits to the park the passport pays for itself. 100 percent of the money earned from passports is spent on maintaining, patrolling and restoring the parkway.
County departments don't have much money for big projects or expensive maintenance issues, so campaigns such as this one are really helpful in the process of keeping the parkways green and safe.
Even if you walk or bike to the parkway you have the option of purchasing a sponsor pass, which is simply a $40 donation to help support parks.
The passport is also a great gift idea. if you have a friend who is an avid cyclist, or just someone who rides the bike trails for fun, buying them a passport will save them a lot of money over the course of a year.
Floating down the river on a hot summer day is great but if you have to park two cars at two locations that's a $10 fee total. With the passport parking would be cheaper for the summer and make a summer-time-float more convenient.
The message here is that the County has many things to offer the residence of Sacramento County, but people don't take advantage of them because they are uninformed. To learn more about the County keep reading my blog and enjoy the place where you live and everything it has to offer.
One cool campaign Sacramento County's Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors is called Passports to Parks. Passports to parks is a way to raise money and allow local citizens an inexpensive way to enjoy the American River parkways.
A Passport is $40 per year/per household. The $40 parking pass allows one car to park without paying the $5 parking fee, which was just raised a dollar from $4. After just 10 visits to the park the passport pays for itself. 100 percent of the money earned from passports is spent on maintaining, patrolling and restoring the parkway.
County departments don't have much money for big projects or expensive maintenance issues, so campaigns such as this one are really helpful in the process of keeping the parkways green and safe.
Even if you walk or bike to the parkway you have the option of purchasing a sponsor pass, which is simply a $40 donation to help support parks.
The passport is also a great gift idea. if you have a friend who is an avid cyclist, or just someone who rides the bike trails for fun, buying them a passport will save them a lot of money over the course of a year.
Floating down the river on a hot summer day is great but if you have to park two cars at two locations that's a $10 fee total. With the passport parking would be cheaper for the summer and make a summer-time-float more convenient.
The message here is that the County has many things to offer the residence of Sacramento County, but people don't take advantage of them because they are uninformed. To learn more about the County keep reading my blog and enjoy the place where you live and everything it has to offer.
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