Rhonda,
Debbie Blanton of Clean City Commission gathers volunteers for such projects((phone number in the book and on city web site) There was an article about 1 yr. ago about a man whom was a ciggarett butt hater,
he cleans up Barron School grounds. Perhaps she can recruit volunteers for this project.

1alpha,
Why should volunters have to pick up this horrible debris? this is the job of city government, not a group of non paid people. The city has many more resources then the common citizen. My tax dollars are spent to care for smoker's health, spend some to clean up after the smokers who can't pick up after their nasty habit. Pick up the butts!

Why can't the smokers just properly dispose of their own trash?

That is an excellent question. It may be habit, apathy, or perhaps there is no proper place to but them in the park. Perhaps the public parks, like public buildings, should be smoke free. They should still be picked up, and as long as it is in the city park, it is the city's responsibility to clean this filth up. I would do it myself, but I have had major back surgery and cannot bend well.

I've been in that park, and there are trashcans around. I feel that higher fines for littering might do it. I've never understood why people think it's ok to throw cigarette butts on the ground.

Rhonda,
Debbie(Clean City is a paid city government employee) part of her job is to recruit volunteers whom WANT to do litter/butt/debri clean up. The operative word is want/desire to/have objectives to do such.
The volunteers are the taxpayers resource,as are prisioner labor. The use of volunteer,work force labor(prisioners) is to free up your severlyreduceed paid workers to preform other work that volunteers/prisioners,scouts etc can not preform for a variety of reasons...primarily trainning/skills and of course liability.

I have no idea what this issue has to do with prisoners and volunters. And I have no idea why you mention about "severly reduced paid workers". Do you work for the City? You seem to mention things like pay cuts and low manpower alot. The end all is that it is debris in a city park, and should be addressed by the city. Why would you want prisoners in a city park? That seems very unsafe for the visitors in the park. If you work for the city, try to get someone in the park to clean this up. It is not like they are busy cutting the grass in the park, or trimming the bushes.

Rhonda

Rhonda,
1. I do not work for the city
2. I do visit the park frequently
3.Debbie Blanton of Clean City Commission a city position paid for by the taxpayer:
a, Part of her job is to recruit volunteers for litter pick-up EXAMPLES: ladies from Elizabeth Lakes
adopt areas along Fox Hill Rd, other Elizabeth Lakes ladies used to do litter along Woodland Rd
and Mercury intersection. A group out of the Andrews Blvd cooridor does Andrews Blvd From Mercury
to Woodland Rd. A group does Orcutt Ave near Sears. Several church and scouts do other areas
throughout the city. They all "Adopt-a-Spot" for various personal goals which translates into civc
pride via volunteer work.
b. Howmett of Hampton gathered their staff whom volunteered to plant trees on Aberdeen Rd and then
this past fall they planted trees at the ARC center on 50th street near Briarfield.
c. The Eagle Scouts built the refuse barricades at Gosnolds las summer
d. My wife and I volunteered with the Master Gardeners to plant at the schools several years ago
Cary,Lee,Lindsay,Mallory, Barron and Hampton High.
e. Langley Field has worked painting,litter pick up,planting and much more at Merrimack and Barron
Debbie Blanton is always availiable to sign-up volunteers.
4. Severly/reduced paid workers: let me re-phrase this.The city laborers(paid employees) have had
positions frozen(reduced),unfilled,eliminated over several years now. Last year the city severly cut more
and our city manager held town meetings at the schools asking for our input. At these meetings( which
were covered by the Daily Press) she announced to the public that in order to save Police, Fire and
schools she would have to make severe cuts to the other departments. Parks and Public works were
amongst the hardest hit. She further advised the public that if the voted for such the outcome would
result in service cuts,service delivery severly delayed. This included mowing,streets and roads,drainage
maintenance,entomologyplant bed work and more. The public voted for the cuts.
5. Prisioners: they are already in the parks and have been for over 10 years. They do work in and about
parks,roadways,alleys,the downtown business district and where ever they are needed.
Monday they were on Andrews Blvd.,working the ravine at Mercury and supporting the volunteer
ladies group I mentioned in article 1 whom had done some work on Saturday/Sunday(28th,29th).
The prisioner and volunteers have filled in tremendously as the public works and parks department
has and is struggling. Those of us whom do volunteer and frequent the parks know that the Landscape
division currently has 6 men mowing,prunning etc work loads where 2 years ago 40 could not handle.
6. It is not like they are busy cutting the grass in the park or trimming trees(your words):You are correct
they are not. They are on the road ways trinning,prunning,hauling debri from Phillips school ball field
renovations,edging the roadways, applying chemicals today on Clemmwood Pkwy, one was pulling
dead plant material at the skateboard park, and public works was pulling sand at Buckroe Park.
Last week 2 of the Tree Cew men were prunning the Live Oaks in Buckroe Park,and the lady who is on
Clemmwood was at Buckroe Park and then went down Mallory
7. The workers at Gosnolds have 3 size litter sticks:30".38" and 48" they will give one. They gave me one.
I use it when I have worked Dandy Point,Mercury,Ridgeway,Charlton Dr,Hampton Ctr Pkwy and so
forth.

Went walking this evening. Trash still there. WHO CAN I ASK FOR THE LITTER TOOL? I WOULD LIKE A NAME. IS THIS FREE? I will not pick up these butts. it is a city problem. my tax dollars pay for the park, it is there for my enjoyment. the city should keep it clean for me. that is their responsability.

Ok you will not pick up the butts, so what will you do with the litter stick?

Alpha is mad at the site, he is going around telling everyone to close the blog. I think he is affected by the posts here and wants everyone to stop doing their civic duty!!!

Well, If it is like the ones I see at Walgreens, I can use them to pick up litter and sticks in my yard, this can save the City some money so I want one. I can get something for my tax money.

Rhonda, the city picks up litter and sticks in your yard?

Very well Rhonda.. register with Debbie Blanton at clean city. Tell her where you plan to use the stick on city property and she will issue you one. If you still wish not to use it on a volunteer city job site I doubt she will issue you one.

Yes, they do pick up litter from my yard when it blows in from their property. Butts still in place where they lie at the front of the park. Alpha, Stopped a worker in the park today and was told there is no blanton that works there. I asked about the can grabber and was told that they are not given away. That proves you do not know what you are talking about. PICK UP THE BUTTS!

Rhonda you are correct,
If you stopped a worker in the Park and discovered there is no "Blanton whom works in the Park"or as you say there.

My entry below your will reveal that what I told you was "Debbie Blanton at Clean City.. a paid city employee...." I did not say Mrs X whom works at Gosnolds Hope Park.

My further blog returns to you on this "butts/litter issue at Gosnolds Hope Park" included Debbie Blanton at Clean City" not Gosnolds Hope Park. I also suggested to you that you seeek her out as she recruits volunteers to do this work to assit citizens and workers interests.

I cited several volunteeers/volunteers groups whom preform such works and told you I do such volunteer work at assigned sites.

Operative words I/Alpha volunteer, others volunteer.

I understand you choose not to for your reasons.

I volunteer, others volunteer. My groups over the years I have volunteered in schools,Public Works and schools have no city workers other than the voulentter coordinator with us.

I suggest that you have choosen to develop negative conjector from such information.

Thank you for clarifying. I feel alot better about the situation now that you have instructed me the correct way. Now go volunteer to pick up those nasty butts in MY city park.

I agree with Rhonda completely! Good answer to alpha, hope you don't mind (I am sure you don't!) I will use that when he/she replies also!!!!!!!

What a nice day today ! The weather this afternoon was plesant, my walk was very relaxing, and a very nice young man at my favorite park gave me a brand new extra long can grabber. Thank you again for your gift. (and I won't mention your name but I know you will read this!) I used it this evening to pick up gumballs that fall onto my rockgarden from the property next to mine. The butts and poo are still there in what I can only assume is their permanant home, but at least my walk was productive. Young man, you have saved me alot time on my sore hands and knees picking up those hateful gumballs.

Now if this young fellow could only get his workers to pick up those butts, One thing at a time I suppose.

Imagine how productive your walk would have been had you used the grabber to pick up some butts!

I do not want to take work from the employees, If I do their work, then they would have noting to do. They could get sent home without pay and this would put a further burden on the fragile economy. By letting them pick up the butts, I am doing my part to keep us moving forward.

And the butts are still all over the place. I also noticed today that a big healthy tree by the main road has been murdered in the park I love so much. What are they thinking???

Ask you park friend whom gave you the can grabber.

I spoke to him today between rain drops, he was very informative and a down to earth person. He gave me the name of a person to call about the litter in the park. He told me that there are employees who pick up the litter in the city and he would look into this. He also gave me a spare set of suction cups for my grabber. Thanks again!

and...what about the tree that was cut down?

Your Parks friend is responsible for the butts,and since he also does the park work he would know about the tree.
How do I know this? There are no litter/butts clean-up volunteers registered w/Clean City to work Gosnolds Hope Park..Also if there were volunteers registered to work G.H.P your friend would know t,his they would be assigned to him to supervise the work Furthermore the Clean City volunteers would be wearing the orange Clean City vests and carrying the orange Clean City "can grabbers" as required..There is no other man assigned to handle litter in the park nor to handle the volunteers for Gosnolds Hope Park. As for the tree "your parks friend" can tell you, he told me why it was cut down.

The tree was cut down for a boy scout project. They used the wood to make the new signs and the rash can holders that are being put in the park.. That is a good way to help keep hampton green. I am so very happy to see hampton taking a proactive stand in the "green" concept. I am also happy to see the park looking better. Citizens like me take pride in having a healthy park. Now if someone could get those nasty buuts up....

Rhonda,

The signs were made with purchased lumber by "your friend".

The trash can barricades were a scout project made with purchased lumber. The scouts were assisted by "your friend".

The above information was in the Mayors Public blog on the 22nd of March at noon.

The tree was rotten and split at the base. An examination of the rotted debris is evident. The remaining stem is in the last cul-de-sac next to the sand pile. It has evidence of heart rot. This would not be something to have milled for desireable lumber.

...and "your friend is responsible for the butts"

I must admit that the front road of the park is cleaner. Someone has been busy picking up like they promised. It still needs some work, but looking better. Thank you Hampton.

The lumber was cut from the tree, it was used by the Scouts. There is no base there, just some shavings from the board cutter. The information you are getting is not correct.

I have lived too many days on this earth to spend my time debating the truth with someone who cannot face it. I am well aware of what happened to the tree, the process that the wood went thru, and the end result of making the park a better place. It must really ruffle your feathers when someone questions your version of what happens on this blog. It seems cause you great discomfort when someone won't do what you want, or won't take what you say as gospel. If you are this controling on a open fourm such as this website, I can only imagine how painful it must be for you to interact with people in person. Since you seem to know all the workers and what they do every day, perhaps you could gather them to help with the duck dropping issue. I noticed this morning that it still has not been resolved.

Very good Rhonda. The new folks currently making jokes in their entries via much of the (3) of our discussions will have a field day with this last entry of yours. By the way the scouts are at the park now on another project with purchased wood, not "City" milled wood.

Please address this:
Mayors blog March22,2012..hampton.gov/chat/chat. As I told you prior this is where the public acknowledgement of the signs and scouts work is.

Read your post slowly. If what you wrote is true, then you said the same thing as I. You stated that you were there when the tree was cut and you were there when they milled the wood. You do get your feathers ruffled easy dont you! If you are in the park long enough to watch the tree cut and milled, then watch the boards used in a scout project, you must work at the park. That would explain how you seem to know so much about the workings of the city. That would also explain your misguided passon on matters of workforce and budget cuts. You are too much!

Alpha,
Is it really that hard for you to admit that you are wrong on this issue?

Just finished my walk thru the park. I must admit that the scouts put that tree to good use. Trash can holders and the new signs are a much needed boost to the park's looks. (good job Jr, wink wink!) I also like how you got rid of all the high grass in the back of the parl and smoothed out the land. You keep your word! You may have to have a stern talk to your litter man, still alot of butts in the front. I have faith that you will get it corrected. Thanks again!

I like the idea of hiring a police officer to be posted on every road every .25 miles for all three shifts. This will allow them to monitor for speeding and littering. This should take care of all the problems in the City because they can also report the potholes that form within those streets. Any thoughts on hiring another 1000+ police officers to accomplish this goal.

Oh Alpha, Just stop the drama. The park worker and his crew promised me that they would work on it. Why can't you accept the truth? You really have no idea what happens down there. You should visit the park and see what really happens there instead of guessing and pretending.

Rhonda, are you talking about the narrow walkway that borders E Little Back River Rd, or the front street of the park?

Roger,
See Kevin Donahue entry@ UNATTENDED CHILDREN" He is a blog administrator of this site
I think it is presently on Pg 1 of the blog.

See "TURNING LANE TON MERCURY NEEDS...." also pg 1

The characters(including Rhonda Millsap) are one and the same.

The characters are on the Va Bch,Norfolk,Glouscester Point,Williamsburh/James city county et al

The author is having fun on my back here, but also uses the same phrases his characters use such as"Stop Alpha","Pick-up the Butts" etc at the other city sites.

When you do not bite the character(Rhonda Millsap) goads you(me) out, then the author creates new characters.

Pardon me Roger for a moment:

Vets for a change, R. Milsap,Rhonda,Todoos,Clar,Charlie,Fellow et al, you got to many characters now and your base personality is coming out through them. This is not creative. You got Rhonda Millsap to masculine and using the "Korea/North Korea attack which belongs to another of your characters. Come on keep original personalities for each character. they are all sounding alike, even the academic ones are lacking individuality.

Back at you Roger,
Emma blog administrator in Va. Beach issued a warning many moons ago also.

This should go to the character Rhonda Millsap and Papawolf whom has been a long time blogger here. The author is welcome to continue to have fun as I prior wrote on my "butt" until the blog administration stops it. Now and through then I maintain my handle as always"1 Alpha"

Oh Alpha, you are something else. You remind me of a person who i worked with years ago when I was officiating local sporting events. You should stop this madness and seek some help!

Rhonda et al ,

We should jump in the scooner and sail to the physian together.

Sorry Alpha,
I have not set foot on a boat since I lost my husband in a boating accident. I will never get in another boat as long as I live. I would rather drive to my Doctor's apointments anyway. But since we are on the subject, I am flattered that you give me so much credit to be all these posters. I do not have the time, desire, or money to be all these fine posters. I do agree with the message of picking up the butts tho...

10-4

Litter is harmful to all of us!

Well, the Butts are still there, but not as bad. Noticed alot of burger king trash around the trash cans. Overall the gosnold park looks ok.

Issue closed. Is what it is, get over it. archive please.