City Limits Newsletter - August 2009
A monthly newsletter for the Citizens of Waco, Texas
To view the previous issue, click here: July issue
Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Treatment Plant Update
Construction of the new Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Treatment plant, near Lake Shore Drive and Airport Road, continues at a brisk pace. Currently, construction on the state-of-the-art treatment plant is slightly ahead of schedule and under the estimated total cost of the project. Major structural concrete construction should be completed by July 31, and the project is on target for total completion in early 2011.
Dissolved Air Flotation works by releasing millions of extremely small air bubbles into the water. The air bubbles attach to particles (like algae) suspended in the raw water and float them to the surface of a tank for removal by a skimmer.
By removing the algae at the lake site before it has a chance to release taste and odor causing compounds, water quality will be significantly improved. The water will then be treated with ozone, a very powerful disinfectant, and then sent on for further treatment at the two current water treatment plants.
For more information, visit www.wacowater.com and click on the “Projects & Info” link.
Waco Cultural Arts Fest
The 6th annual Waco Cultural Arts Fest will take place Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Indian Spring Park. The festival features two days of live music, art exhibits, activities for children and a celebration of cultural arts.
Waco Cultural Arts Fest received a prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America matching grant award to bring the performing group ¡Retumba! to Waco.
¡Retumba! The all-women Afro-Caribbean troupe, composed of singers, dancers and instrumentalists, presents a high-energy uplifting performance that is sure to make the audience breathless! Interweaving traditional rhythms, beautiful ancient melodies, with their very own unique interpretation of music and dance from Africa, Europe and the Americas including Caribbean-Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Haiti and Brazil.
Arts activities will include festival favorites, easel art, wood sculpture, masks and a whole lot more. A giant caterpillar sculpture will be on hand to decorate celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Very Hungary Caterpillar. Reading books we will be given out while supplies last.
The event is free of charge thanks to the support of the Waco Cultural Art Fest sponsors and underwriters including the City of Waco. Visit www.wacoartsfest.org for more information about this year’s artists, art activities hours and live music performance times.
25th Annual Wild West Century Bike Ride
Skittles and the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department will present the 25th Annual Wild West Century Bike Ride on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Indian Spring Park.
The ride will benefit the “Be the Match”foundation for bone marrow research and will feature a 10-mile, 26-mile, 50-mile, 65-mile and 100-mile bike ride for all ages.
The scenic ride will take bikers along the banks of the Brazos River, through Cameron Park, along the Waco Dam and through downtown Waco. Registration is under way and costs vary based on distance. For more information visit www.wacowildwest.com.
Labor Day Holiday Collection Schedule
The City of Waco will not offer Solid Waste Services on Monday, Sept. 7. Monday’s routes will be picked up on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The landfill and Cobbs Recycling & Collection Center will also be closed on Sept. 7. All other routes will not change. To ask questions, call the Solid Waste Department at 299-2612.
Book Sale Donations
The Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library will be holding its 2nd annual book drive at all six area HEB locations from Sept. 1-30. Collected books will go to the annual book sale with proceeds returned to our local libraries and their programs. For more information, contact Kim Salome at 750-5974.
Safe & Spooky Community Carnival
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum staff is looking for volunteers and sponsors for the upcoming Safe and Spooky Community Carnival.
This free community event will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Waco Convention Center’s Chisholm Hall. Volunteers are needed to assist with the event, as well as setup and take down.
Please contact Tina Brumm for volunteer opportunities and Christine Walker for sponsorships at 750-8631. Volunteers will undergo a required background check.
Fall Plans for WCCC-TV
The second phase of WCCC-TV’s conversion to High Definition and expanded local programming will soon be a reality.
Using funds provided through the cable franchise agreement with Time Warner and Grande Communications, additional HD cameras and a production switcher have been received and installed. This will allow the Waco City Cable Channel to begin broadcasting City Council and Plan Commission meetings in HD this fall, as well as several new studio-based talk shows featuring various city departments, and other agencies who receive funding from the City of Waco.
New interview and talk show format programs planned include monthly activity reports from each of the three Chambers of Commerce and Keep Waco Beautiful. Other informational programs planned will be hosted by and feature employees from the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and Waco Fire and Police Departments.
City Manager Larry Groth will host a monthly program that will feature a conversation with our Mayor and City Council members. WCCC-TV continues to be the only Waco area TV station producing and airing local programming in high definition.
WCCC-TV can be seen in Standard Definition (SD) on Time Warner and Grande Channel 10, and in High Definition (HD) on Grande Channel 410. For a program schedule, visit www.waco-texas.com and click on the WCCC-TV logo.
Using Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste Carts
Carts are supplied in three colors:
- Gray: Garbage only. Use garbage bags to reduce odors, spillage, pests and windblown litter.
- Blue: Recyclables. Please rinse out containers, and do not bag materials
- Green: Yard Waste. Please do not bag materials.
For timely and safe service, please observe these guidelines:
- Place all materials inside the cart so the lid can fully close.
- Place all carts with arrows on the lid facing the street and wheels at the edge of street or curb.
- Bring carts out prior to 7 a.m. on the designated service day.
- Please keep a 5 foot distance between all carts or items to be serviced and any obstacles, such as parked vehicles, mail boxes, utility meters, overhanging trees and power lines.
- Please return carts to a storage area out of sight from the street before the next morning. They should not be left out on the street after pickup.
- If you move, please leave all carts at your old address.
To replace a damaged or missing cart, or if you have any questions, please call 299-2612.
Curbside Recycling Tips
What’s Accepted in my Recycling Cart?
|
Paper |
Clean Plastics |
Clean Metals |
Advertising circulars Magazines Carbonless paper Cardboard packaging Corrugated cardboard Envelopes Office paper Newspapers Junk mail Catalogs Phone books |
Plastic grocery bags Plastic eating utensils Plastic containers - look for the recycling symbols #1-7 on the bottom of the containers |
Steel (tin) cans and lids Aluminum cans Aluminum baking tins |
Puppy Plunge
Dogs rule the pool at Puppy Plunge on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Waco Water Park. The fun begins at 1 p.m. with swim suit contests, retrieving contests, dog demonstrations, swimming and more. Owners must show proof of current shot vaccinations for dogs to enter the park. For more information visit www.waco-texas.com.
Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes Class
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are hosting the “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” self-management series. Lessons will cover topics such as diet planning, nutrition, medications, exercise and managing diabetes complications. The class will consist of 10 lessons covered in five sessions.
The free classes are for persons with pre-diabetes, diabetes and their family members. Others interested in disease prevention are welcome, depending on space constraints.
The classes will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday in September and are held at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District located at 225 West Waco Drive. Classes fill up quickly, so call Crystal Smedley at 750-5481 or Texas AgriLife at 757-5180 to sign up today.
Fiesta Patrias
La Ley 104.1 FM and the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department invite the community to join the fun at Fiesta Patrias. The free event begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Indian Spring Park. The fiesta will feature live music, entertainment, food vendors, activities for children and more. For more information call 772-6104.
Want to know what's happening this month,
visit our our on-line Community Calendar
