Historic Kenwood

ooppss...error

I meant ''criticized''....typo!

By amy

In answer to u'r Q, Raymond...

...you cannot just move one of the city trash cans to a new location. I mean, you can, but the city will just move it back. There is a logic to where they are placed. And yes, a little thing like that can be a big deal because little things that give visual cues add up to big things--either good or bad, as far as how people act and view the neighborhood. Research into ''CPTED'' (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) for more details on what I'm talking about--space constraints prohibit getting into the whole concept here. But seriously, the two trash cans together--just a simple thing--were creating a BIG problem of people dumping. We had people driving in from other locations to dump there. It took a lot of effort and working with the city to get the one can moved. So, actually, yes, I'm pretty proud of it!!!!! It has made a real difference in how our alley looks, and in my quality of life and my next-door neighbor's quality of life (their yard is no longer a dump) and that of our block and the block along 28th Street, too. Little things mean a lot. I think I heard a statistic once that it only takes one house on a block getting really run down to bring down the whole block. On the other hand, when one get restored and fixed up, it spurrs on the others and all of a sudden, you have a rennaissance on your hands!

P.S. In fact, to illustrate...

...what a big deal the two cans together was, I should mention that two of the previous renters in the house next to me (the one that had the two cans behind it for years) actually MOVED AWAY in disgust and frustration over the situation with dumping/the two cans. That's how big of a deal getting them separated was. Raymond, it is the little things that add up. Besides, if you knew how hard it was to get the city to move that trash can 20 feet, you would understand why I'm so overjoyed to see it's fruition *lol*! And I never said I deserved the ''Great Neighbor Award for It''--hey, it was enlightened self interest as much as altruistic concern for the two blocks as a whole. On the other hand, picking up those dirty diapers the other night....I definitely feel a dinner for two at The Wine Cellar should be forthcoming there *LOL*! Peace.

More on kiddos...

That was a great idea of Diane's, wasn't it? However, I worry that such a stool would be spirited off in short order. But still, it is a fab idea! The thing about the little kids who were being evicted that got me was that their mom just slept the day away and left them to pack everything up and throw out all the trash and furniture. They were throwing it ALL OVER everywhere--everything from mattresses that they could barely drag, to baked beans, to loose trash, to roller skates, you name it, it was in the yards and alleys. What I did was offer to help and I did help. I mean, scolding them would NOT have helped anything. My heart went out to them as it was--we are talking some LITTLE kids here. Anyway, I helped them and each time they managed to hoist something INTO the can, I heaped on the praise. That's all kids need is a little positive reinforcement. But as far as being given the task of taking the trash out in H. Kenwood, I hope parents out there realize that the ones under about 10 CANNOT reach and/or open those cans, and certainly can't stuff down trash to make room if the can is full. And, while we are at it, older kids should be instructed that, if the can is full, simply go to the next one. They are all public cans--anyone can use any can. Okay, enough about trash *LOL*!