By Retta Martin
The year 2013 has arrived and almost two months have passed without my thanking all of the volunteers who helped make 2012 such a success for KBB. As usual, Judy Dorsett and the Beautification Committee kept the Historic Downtown looking so pretty with plants and flowers in Bindseil Park and around on the city property. This committee has worked every Tuesday for 13 years, weather permitting, to make our town beautiful. This year took its toll on Judy and she wound up in Stone Oak Methodist one Tuesday morning with a heart attack and had to have a stent put in. We all were so relieved when it worked, and along with Bob Dorsett, said we did not know what we would do without her. Well, two weeks ago, back in she went and had to have the stent replaced with a larger one. Judy is such a survivor and again is rallying and ready to get back to work.
The “Christmas in Blanco Trail of Lights” was a big success again, thanks to so many volunteers, including the Leos and FCCLA students. We had visitors from all over the US and places unknown and heard such great comments. The town square was filled with Blanco families and tourists the night of the parade. After the parade Santa and Mrs. Claus, with their elf, were in Bindseil Park and got a very long list from the children in a very long line. The Little River Band with vocals by Judy Dorsett was entertaining everyone in the ampitheater with Christmas music.
KBB had a one day snow slide event sponsored by The Blanco National Bank. It was a fun day for our Blanco kids and maybe we will able to do this again in 2013. Darlene and Ed McGill along with other volunteers worked all day helping kids climb up the high ladder for a fun ride down on the snow.
Paul Granberg stayed busy throughout the year with the recycling center. For Texas Recycle Day, Pam Meier, the 7th grade science teacher, applied for a grant for KBB and received the funds to bus students to the recycling center at Creedmore, TX.
Pam is also working on a project to expand the compost project at the Blanco Middle School that KBB received a $3,000 HEB grant for in the past. The students will put in a raised bed vegetable garden at the middle school for the compost to feed.
Our other committees and volunteers are busy with other projects for 2013. Environment Code enforcement will be a top priority for us this year. If you drive around Blanco you will see that this is a big issue for all of our citizens.
The Mission Statement for Keep Blanco Beautiful, Inc. is “To educate and engage the citizens of Blanco to take responsibility for improving our community environment.” KBB starts 2013 with plans for the 14th annual “Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off,” the 7th annual “Blanco River Cleanup” and a citywide cleanup to be held on April 13th, 2013. We will be joining volunteers from all across our nation for The Great American Cleanup signature event for Keep American Beautiful We look forward to another busy and fun day cleaning up Blanco followed by lunch in Bindseil Park. All volunteers will receive the KBB T Shirts this year. More plans will follow as time draws close.
The KBB Vision: To benefit our community by completion and maintenance of the following initiatives, including The Great American Cleanup (March 1-May 31), Revitalization and Streetscape, Promote Youth Involvement through Schools and Churches, Fund Raising efforts to benefit the City of Blanco.
Membership Catagories are: Sponsor: $300, Patron: $150, Business: $75, Individual: $10, Student: FREE.
Come and join Keep Blanco Beautiful, Inc with your sponsorships, individual and business memberships and donations to help fulfill our vision. Our membership drive begins this week. Please call Retta Martin at 833-4720 for information.
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