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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Friday, January 5, 2018 6:37:00 AM
Winter wasted no time bringing us a healthy dose of the white stuff, allowing us to put our snow removal plan to the test! Now that you’ve seen us in action, let me tell you more about how we handle snow storms in Chesapeake. Every year before winter officially begins, the Public Works Department gets together to inspect their winter weather equipment. Plows are attached to trucks, equipment is tested, salt/sand supply is checked and employees are trained and refreshed on their responsibilities. This annual training session is very important and ensures that our plan still makes sense for our City year after year. Because we don’t get snow storms all that often in Chesapeake, our resources for snow removal ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, October 4, 2017 7:13:00 AM
Our city is no stranger to work zones. We've got a lot going on! From big, long-term projects like the Portsmouth Boulevard Widening Project to smaller, short-duration projects like pothole patching, you're bound to run into roadwork at some point on your travels. Here are a few tips we hope you'll consider. Follow the Speed Limit: Speed limits in work zones are seriously non-negotiable. Many times the limit is lowered during construction like on Dominion Blvd where the normally 55 mph roadway is now at 35 mph (25 mph in some places). And unless noted specifically on the speed limit sign, these adjusted speed limits are 24/7, not just when you see construction activities going on. Don't Tailgate: Equipment, workers ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, September 6, 2017 7:09:00 AM
Plastic bags can be handy but they’re often vilified for what they do to our environment - and for good reason. They can take as many as 1,000 years to break down and as they break down, they can contaminate soil and harm wildlife. But wait, there’s hope! Many plastic bags are easily recycled (just NOT in your blue bin). The next time you head to the grocery store, look for the plastic bag recycling bin near the entrance/exit. It’s probably full of mostly plastic grocery bags but you can actually recycle even more in the same bin. Here are a few items you might not have known about: Polyethylene stretch and shrink wrap Newspaper Sleeves Paper towel/toilet paper ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, August 23, 2017 7:10:00 AM
It’s prime mosquito time right now and one of their favorite places to hang out is wherever you have standing water. One sneaky spot for standing water that you might not even realize is inside old tires. We can help you with that. Public Works will pick up certain tires through the bulk waste program. We will accept two passenger car tires with no rims per residence per collection. Just schedule a household bulk pickup. And remember that you're limited to 12 household bulk pickups per year. While you're at it, it may be a good time to clean out some of the other items sitting around your backyard that could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Consider another bulk waste ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, August 2, 2017 8:32:00 AM
Simple maintenance of the ditches on your property can greatly impact their ability to keep stormwater flowing. As we discussed last week, ditch maintenance is a shared responsibility between homeowners and the City. Just a few small actions on your part can help maintain the system as a whole. Here are a few tips: Keep ditches clear of grass clippings, leaves, garbage, and all other debris. It is illegal to dump anything into a ditch. Do not use root or weed killer in the ditch. Vegetation is critical to keep a ditch from eroding so you don’t want to do anything to risk killing it off. Once a ditch starts to erode, sediment falls into the stormwater system and can ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 26, 2017 8:31:00 AM
There are two types of ditches in the city: public and private. Public Works Stormwater maintains public ditches and drainage pipes but we rely on a partnership with residents to maintain the private ditches. So what’s the difference between public and private? A public ditch receives runoff from public property such as streets and sidewalks. Private ditches receive runoff from private property only. Most ditches that you find in side or back yards are private. Depending on where your property line is, you might split ownership of the ditch with your neighbor(s). The City has what’s called a “drainage easement” for public ditches which basically grants us access to maintain the ditch but keeps the land ownership in your hands. ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 19, 2017 12:42:00 PM
We’re happy to provide bulk trash collection as part of your Chesapeake Waste Management service and now, we want to make the process of scheduling that collection even easier. We’ve taken out the question of whether your collection is household or yard/tree debris. Now you just schedule a bulk trash collection! If you’re like me and love to schedule these collections online through www.CityofChesapeake.net/Requests, especially since you can do that up until 11:59 p.m. the day before your trash day, then this will make that process even faster. You’ll select “Bulk Trash Collection” and then you’ll choose what item needs collected (e.g. mattress, appliance, tree limbs, bushes, etc.). Keep in mind, though, that just because ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 12, 2017 12:39:00 PM
Hurricane season is upon us - are you ready? It only takes one storm to do real damage, so it's important to be ready for anything every year, no matter what forecasts are predicting. There's plenty of hurricane preparedness information at Ready.gov. It's well worth a few minutes of prep time to make sure you, your family, your pets and your property are as prepared as possible. Not only do we ask you as a citizen to prepare, but we prepare as a City and more specifically, as the Public Works Department. Each year we simulate a hurricane and we walk through the steps in our response plan to make sure everyone understands their responsibilities. We make sure that ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 5, 2017 12:35:00 PM
Traffic engineering is a constantly evolving field, adding in new technology and adjusting to the changing needs of our roadways. One way we’re improving traffic flow and safety at select intersections here in Chesapeake is with the flashing yellow left arrow. Drivers are trained to equate red, yellow and green with stop, prepare to stop and go, respectively. On a traditional left-turn signal, the green circle tells drivers that a left turn is permissible when safe to do so. Unfortunately, many drivers just see “GO”, potentially causing an accident with oncoming traffic. Flashing yellow arrow signals solve this problem by only giving drivers a green when oncoming traffic has a red light so left turns are safe. Flashing yellow left ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Thursday, June 29, 2017 12:30:00 PM
If you’re taking advantage of Independence Day sales to get yourself a new mattress, you’ll likely have an old mattress you need to get rid of. Like with many of your larger household items, you can schedule a bulk household pickup and we’d be glad to take it off your hands. But that route will bring your old mattress to the landfill where it will take up space for decades to come. Instead of trashing the old mattress, you might consider donating it. Some local non-profits will take your mattress and give it a second life. The Salvation Army is a great example of this. They’ll even pick it up from your house. Just schedule a pickup at SATruck.org. ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 21, 2017 11:55:00 AM
Soapy water does not help clean our waterways. In fact, it’s a pollutant. While I doubt anyone washes their car directly in the river, remember that all properties in Chesapeake are connected to local waterways through the stormwater system. When you wash your car in the street or your driveway, all of that soapy water (not to mention the dirt, grease and car fluids it gets mixed up with) runs down your driveway, into the stormwater system and out to local waterways. If you’re going to wash your car at home, consider washing it over your lawn or a gravel surface instead of on concrete or asphalt. The permeable surface will act as a natural filter to clean up the ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 14, 2017 11:52:00 AM
You’ve likely read before that your yard waste, like grass clippings, leaves, small twigs, must be bagged in clear plastic bags or compostable paper bags for pickup. If you put yard waste in regular black garbage bags, we will not pick it up. We also don’t want you to put any yard waste in your automated container. So why are we being so picky about your yard clippings? We have two good reasons: the environment and the cost. Your yard waste ideally goes to a separate facility than your regular household garbage. At this facility it is composted and reused which is a much better alternative than just tossing it in the landfill. If you put yard waste in a ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 7, 2017 6:10:00 AM
Grass can be beautiful but it also requires a lot of resources like water and fertilizer. Not to mention the mowing! You might want to consider completely replacing some of your grass with mulched areas. Mulch helps retain moisture, control erosion and stabilize soil temperature. Throw a few native plants in that mulch bed and you’ve got yourself a great alternative to grass! But I know there are lots of folks out there who love that expansive green lawn look. If that’s you, make sure you’re mowing smart. You want to avoid cutting your lawn too low as this could cause your grass to fry in the summer heat. If your grass has a bit of a white hue after ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 31, 2017 6:09:00 AM
Did you know that you can now recycle food and beverage cartons? It’s the latest addition to acceptable items in your big blue bin. The types of cartons we’re talking about can vary in size and might hold refrigerated or shelf stable products. The refrigerated products might include juice, soy or almond milk, cream and egg substitute. The shelf stable products might include soup, broth and wine, to name a few. When your carton is empty and you’re ready to recycle it, you can keep the cap on. Just make sure the carton is completely empty. You don’t have to rinse it out but I personally recommend it if you want to avoid a stinky, sticky recycling bin. And don’t ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 24, 2017 6:07:00 AM
Happy Public Works Week! Every year around this time, Public Works Week is celebrated by departments nationwide and is used as an opportunity to educate the public on who we are and what we do. I hope that I do that each week for you in this article but there’s always more to learn! Here are a few facts you might not already know about your Public Works Department. There are over 460 employees in the Public Works Department. We provide over 300 separate services and receive over 133,000 service requests each year. Public Works is made up of several divisions: Waste Management, Stormwater, Engineering, Operations and Maintenance, Facilities Maintenance/Construction, Chesapeake Transportation System. We operate out of six different ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 10, 2017 6:06:00 AM
While you’re reading this, somewhere in Chesapeake, a bridge is lifting. (Okay, I can’t guarantee that but with six drawbridges within City limits, there’s a good possibility it’s true.) So why we can’t publicize every single lift? You may be surprised to find out just how busy a bridge operator is during his or her shift. They take radio calls from vessels approaching the bridge. They monitor tide and wind information as this can affect the speed of approaching marine traffic. They catalogue every vessel. They must pay very close attention as they prepare for each lift to make sure traffic has cleared, gates are in position, and the span opens properly. A bridge operator’s number one concern is ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:04:00 AM
Not every household generates the same amount of waste. A family of five will certainly create more waste than a household with just two people. Or perhaps you’re an avid recycler and your blue bin runneth over each week. We have options for you! The standard trash and recycling bins are 96 gallons. If that isn’t large enough for your weekly waste or recycling, you can purchase an additional 96-gallon bin. Maybe you just need a little extra space each week. We also have 64 and 35 gallon options in both the trash and recycling. You can purchase a total of one extra bin in any size you’d like. Keep in mind, if extra trash is the problem, you might ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Tuesday, April 25, 2017 12:09:00 PM
Public Works takes care of a lot of jobs that some people might find less than appealing. Collecting garbage, working on asphalt in the middle of traffic, wading through ditches. But when an innocent woodland creature meets its demise at the wheels of your Chevy, the ultimate in unpleasant jobs is created. Roadkill removal. Every year, dead animal removal is one of the top service requests we receive in Public Works. Night prowlers tend to be the most common (opossums, raccoons) but in years past, we’ve truly seen it all, even bears, wolves and sheep. We generally pick up around 1000 dead animals per year. We then bring them to a facility for incineration to keep things as sanitary as ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, April 12, 2017 1:04:00 PM
We love it when people get excited about recycling but sometimes that excitement can turn into extra contamination in the blue bin. Here are some of the items we see in the blue bins this time of year that shouldn’t be there. Plastic planters: Flowers are great but those plastic containers you get them in are not recyclable. Consider reusing them for future plantings. *Edited to add that a reader recently informed me that some local garden stores like McDonald's Garden Center will accept your old planters for recycling. Sounds like a great option! Hoses: Hoses, whether they’re still functioning or not, do not belong in the blue bin. Broken hoses must be tossed in the trash but if it’s ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, April 5, 2017 12:05:00 PM
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in America. Not a single litter collection event in Chesapeake goes by without finding hundreds, sometimes thousands of cigarette butts. Most people know that throwing an empty bag of chips out the window is wrong yet too many people don’t see the harm in tossing a cigarette but into the environment. Why is that? Cigarette butts don’t biodegrade under normal circumstances. When they’re tossed onto sidewalks, driveways or streets, they get swept up in rainwater, carried to ditches or storm drains and eventually make their way to local waterways. They may be eaten by wildlife, causing potentially fatal issues for innocent animals. They can also contaminate water with the many chemicals they contain. ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 29, 2017 12:12:00 PM
Mowing season has begun! As you’re dusting off that mower and getting to work on your yard, we’re also starting our mowing season for the City’s right-of-way. Two contractors are in charge of mowing with supplemental help from Sheriff’s inmate crews and Public Works staff when needed. Chesapeake mows medians, shoulders and open areas. Medians are mowed every 10-14 days, shoulders every 21-28 days and open areas around 2-3 times a year. And while you may choose to mow your own yard more often, Chesapeake is no small city so there’s a lot of ground to cover. Our two contractors mow approximately 6,900 miles of shoulders and 2000 acres of medians per season. To put it into perspective, just ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 22, 2017 11:37:00 AM
Welcome to spring, the most wonderful time of the year if I do say so myself! It’s time to get outside and work in the yard. Here are a few dos and don’ts to keep your outdoor work clean and green. DO test your soil. A soil test will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking. This will help you apply the proper type and amount of fertilizer. If you apply more than your soil needs, the excess nutrients will run off your lawn and into local waterways. Plus it’s a waste of money! You can get a soil test at your local garden store or get one from the Chesapeake Agriculture Department by calling 382-6348. DO let it ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 15, 2017 12:39:00 PM
Did you know there’s a right and wrong way to place your trash at the curb? Whether it’s in a bin, in a bag or out for bulk waste collection, here are a few notes on how to best curb your trash. Bin Spacing: Separate your garbage bin, recycling bin, and any nearby obstructions (e.g. mailboxes, utility poles) by three feet. This gives the truck room to grab the bin, dump it, and place it back on the ground. Look out below: Do not place your bulk waste piles or trash containers in ditches or on top of storm drains or utility access points. Find a place that does not block the flow of traffic or pedestrians like the ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 15, 2017 12:39:00 PM
Did you know there’s a right and wrong way to place your trash at the curb? Whether it’s in a bin, in a bag or out for bulk waste collection, here are a few notes on how to best curb your trash. Bin Spacing: Separate your garbage bin, recycling bin, and any nearby obstructions (e.g. mailboxes, utility poles) by three feet. This gives the truck room to grab the bin, dump it, and place it back on the ground. Look out below: Do not place your bulk waste piles or trash containers in ditches or on top of storm drains or utility access points. Find a place that does not block the flow of traffic or pedestrians like the ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 8, 2017 6:00:00 AM
Last week we talked about pothole repairs but what happens when a patch here or there isn’t enough? That’s when we start talking about road resurfacing. The Public Works Department maintains over 2,300 lane miles of roadway and has a limited budget each year so we have to be very systematic with how we determine which roads get repaved. Here’s how we do it. The annual resurfacing schedule is determined using three main factors: Measured pavement ratings Rate of pavement deterioration Traffic volumes served To determine pavement ratings, we use a Laser Road Surface Tester (RST) which analyzes the surface and sub-surface of the road. Data collected from the RST goes into the Pavement Management System which also takes ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 1, 2017 8:41:00 AM
It’s time for the annual Pothole Blitz! Each March the Public Works Department focuses on repairing potholes. While this is something we do every day throughout the year, March is the time of year when we see the largest number of potholes so we put extra resources towards getting them fixed. The reason we see more potholes in March is because of the wet weather and the freeze/thaw cycles. Potholes are created when moisture seeps into the pavements, freezes, expands, and then thaws. This weakens the pavement, allowing for traffic to tear it up, creating potholes. Weather not only plays a part in creating the potholes, but it also plays a part in repairs. We cannot repair a pothole when ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:24:00 PM
The Public Works Department provides a wide variety of services throughout the City. Many of them happen without you asking – like garbage collection – but sometimes we simply need a heads up that there’s an issue so that we can respond – like with potholes. Or maybe you don’t need to request a service but you have a question about something Public Works related and just don’t know who to contact about it. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “How do I request/report X, Y, Z?” then here’s your answer: the Customer Contact Center. The Customer Contact Center is a group of - in my opinion - the most knowledgeable people in the City. They know about everything ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 1, 2017 7:05:00 AM
As you may have already heard, tolling on the Dominion Boulevard Veterans Bridge will begin on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. Everything is electronic so you’ll either need to sign up for an E-ZPass (which does not require any fees, just 35 in pre-paid toll money that’s all available for you to use) or be charged by toll-by-plate. E-ZPass will give you the lowest toll rate possible so we strongly recommend it. We understand that tolls are never popular. But in some cases they are necessary. The Dominion Boulevard Improvement Project cost nearly 400 million. If you remember what it was like before the improvements (a congested, dangerous 2-lane road and the Steel Bridge that had an ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, January 11, 2017 5:17:00 AM
The New Year wasted no time in putting our snow removal plan to the test! Now that you’ve all seen us in action, let me tell you more about how we handle snow storms in Chesapeake. Every year before winter officially begins, the Public Works Department gets together to test out the snow removal plan. Plows are attached to trucks, equipment is tested, salt/sand supply is checked and employees are trained and refreshed on their responsibilities. Because we don’t get snow storms all that often in Chesapeake, this annual training session is very important and ensures that our plan still makes sense for our City. Here in southeastern Virginia, we thankfully don’t have to worry about snow storms all that ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Tuesday, December 27, 2016 8:18:00 AM
That fresh pine has served you well over the past few weeks but it’s probably starting to shed, causing you to track crunchy needles all over the house (which you only find when you’re in your bare feet - ouch). It’s time to say goodbye to the 2016 Christmas tree. So how do you get rid of it? Every year the Public Works Department offers free disposal of your Christmas tree. While we start collecting them right after Christmas, we hope most of you waited one more week! If you’re just now dragging it out to the curb, your tree will escape the landfill and will instead be “recycled”. By “recycled” I mean mulched! It gives the tree a new ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, December 21, 2016 6:04:00 AM
The holiday season comes with lots of fun but there’s an unfortunate side effect that we often ignore: waste. From gift wrap to packaging to old electronics, we end up with a lot to get rid of. Here’s how you can be smart with your holiday waste. Blue Bin Recycling: Wrapping paper, gift boxes, cardboard boxes (break down all boxes first) and holiday cards are all recyclable in your blue bin. Reuse: Save gift ribbon, bows and gift bags to reuse next year as these generally cannot be recycled and would otherwise have to go to the landfill. Plastics: Most local grocery stores have a bin at their entrance where you can recycle more than just your plastic grocery bags! ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Monday, December 19, 2016 8:48:00 AM
If you live in a neighborhood with curb and gutter, you may be familiar with the big, loud street sweeper machine. This machine comes through your neighborhood 3-4 times each year to clean up the streets and help keep litter, leaves, sand and other debris out of storm drains (which keeps it out of our waterways). We do not sweep non-curbed streets because the machines are not as effective when there isn’t a curb and gutter collecting all that debris. Street sweepers may seem simple, like big vacuum cleaners you can drive, but they are complex machines with a lot of moving parts requiring constant maintenance. A wire brush circulates on the ground to sweep up the debris while a ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, November 9, 2016 8:22:00 AM
Bridge lifts are a way of life here in Chesapeake. A necessary evil for living in a city filled with beautiful waterways! Let's revisit a few previous blogs about bridges with this quick game of True or False. The City of Chesapeake decides when to open a bridge. FALSE. The City of Chesapeake is bound by Federal regulations enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard (33 CFR 499 and 117). We work with the Coast Guard to determine restricted hours but at the end of the day, the schedule is up to them. And according to federal law, marine traffic has the right-of-way. Drawbridges should not open AT ALL during their restricted periods. FALSE. Restricted periods simply reduce the number ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Tuesday, November 1, 2016 6:56:00 AM
In just a few weeks we’re all going to be under a festive layer of colored leaves. They’re beautiful – until they wreak havoc on our stormwater system! The absolute worst thing you can do with leaves (and any yard waste for that matter) is rake or blow them into storm drains and ditches. Leaves create blockages in our stormwater system which can lead to flooding. They also become an environmental hazard for our local waterways. As the leaves in the stormwater system decay, they release excess nutrients which can lead to algae blooms and fish kills. The best way to deal with leaves is to leave them! Just mow over your leaves a few times until you get finely ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, October 19, 2016 7:59:00 AM
We’re often asked at our Chesapeake Recycles Day events if we can accept old medications with the household hazardous waste. The answer – no. Old medications are only ever accepted at DEA Drug Take Back events run by the police department. But we do care about where old drugs end up. Why? Obviously we want to help prevent pill abuse and theft but there’s also an environmental aspect of it. Medications should NEVER be flushed or washed down the drain. The wastewater treatment process cannot fully remove pharmaceutical chemicals from water before releasing it back into local rivers and streams, which can affect wildlife and the health of our waterways. Proper disposal is key. Here’s your chance! The next DEA ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, October 5, 2016 8:22:00 AM
Not all soil is created equal! There are different levels of nutrients depending on where you live and what’s been done to your land in the past. The only way to know what your soil needs when it comes to fertilizing is to test it! This can not only save you money because you’ll only be using what you need but it’ll also prevent you from contributing to local water pollution. When you apply more fertilizer than is needed, the excess washes off in stormwater and drains to local waterways leading to algae blooms. Thanks to our friends at AskHRGreen.org, during the month of October, anyone who pledges to become a Bay Star Home will be automatically entered to ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Thursday, September 29, 2016 11:12:00 AM
15.00 We try to outline what can and cannot be recycled in as much detail as we can but our partners at TFC Recycling still say they see a lot of contaminators. We've talked about why plastic bags are some of the worst contaminators, but what else makes the list? Here are a few items that are all too often found in the blue bin when they do not belong there: Clothing and clothes hangers - Clothes that could still be enjoyed by someone else should be donated to your local thrift store. Hangers of any material (plastic, wire, etc) must go in the brown bin. Rigid plastics such as toys or waste bins - Again, if the items ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, September 21, 2016 6:21:00 AM
15.00 15.00 Ditches and piped stormwater systems are designed to meet certain standards so that they can handle runoff from MOST of the rain storms we have in Chesapeake. However, there are times when a storm has such a heavy downpour or such a long duration that the system gets overwhelmed. Our stormwater system can handle about 2" of rain a day. So why don't we build ditches and pipes large enough to carry all runoff all the time? Simply put - we can't! In order to do that, the ditches in Chesapeake would have to take up a huge portion of yards and roadways and the piped system would be incredibly expensive. And at the end of ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, September 14, 2016 1:38:00 PM
Chesapeake has well over 21,000 street lights which cost over 2 million each year to operate and maintain. And while 21,000 may sound like a lot, we very often get requests for more. But there are many reason why we can't just install new lights whenever and wherever they're requested. Here are a few things we consider: Why Is It Needed - Is the request for additional lighting coming in because of traffic safety concerns? To discourage criminal activity? These reasons will be investigated to determine the need. Where is the Electricity - When your electricity is underground, adding a street light becomes much more complicated and incredibly expensive. It also might require extensive digging through private property ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Tuesday, September 6, 2016 9:44:00 AM
When our city is hit by a hurricane, tropical storm, nor'easter or sometimes even just a bad thunderstorm, the yard debris piles up. A major part of our post-storm recovery effort (in addition to opening roads and getting the City to function as usual) is handling excessive amounts of waste. We're glad to offer an easy way for you to dispose of yard debris year round through our bulk waste collection program but what happens when the entire city is under a blanket of leaves and twigs? Delays happen. The excessive amounts of waste mean several things. Garbage collectors will be making more stops in your neighborhood, which takes up time, the trucks fill up faster, meaning they need to ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Thursday, September 1, 2016 5:44:00 AM
Litter control is a never-ending battle. You pick up litter on your street and the very next day more garbage has sprouted up like weeds. We learn in elementary school that littering is bad – it’s not a difficult concept – and yet some people still do it. Our Adopt-A-Highway program empowers community groups and individuals to squash litter bugs by claiming a stretch of roadway to care for and keep clean. We can provide garbage bags and safety vests if you’ll provide the hands! That old phrase “Many hands make light work” is so the case in the fight against litter. The program is pretty simple. Once you adopt a stretch of roadway, you agree to pick up garbage ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Monday, August 22, 2016 10:48:00 AM
Mowing is a big part of what we do here in Public Works. We cover over 720 shoulder-miles and 320 acres of medians and open areas using an annual budget of over 1.2 million. It is no small task! Because of the sheer size of this job, we don't mow as often as you might mow your own property. We generally run on a 21-28 day cycle starting in March and ending in early December. The Virginia Department of Transportation takes care of interstate on/off ramps and Parks, Recreation and Tourism helps with parks and public building grounds. We also partner with the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office for other beautification projects throughout the year.
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, August 17, 2016 5:42:00 AM
We've all heard plenty about mosquitoes over the past several months so we know they're not our best friends right now. One of the main breeding grounds, particularly for the mosquitoes that could carry the Zika virus, is standing water. And where's a perfectly sneaky spot for some standing water? Old tires laying around your backyard. Did you know that Public Works will pick up certain tires through the bulk waste program? Just schedule a household bulk pickup (remember you're limited to 12 household bulk pickups per year). We will accept two passenger car tires with no rims per residence per collection. While you're at it, it may be a good time to clean out some of the other items ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, August 10, 2016 8:20:00 AM
15.00 This has to be the most disgusting topic I've ever written about: Garbage juice. It happens but it's gross. Let's plug our noses and chat about it for a second. So what is garbage juice? It's the liquid that gets pressed out of garbage when it's compressed in a rear loader truck. We see a lot more of it during rainy summer months when the trucks are full of bags of wet grass. All rear loader trucks have seals on them to, ideally, prevent this garbage juice from leaking out of the trucks and onto your street. But no piece of equipment is perfect and the seals occasionally fail, allowing juices to leak out of the truck and ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, August 3, 2016 10:28:00 AM
Our Waste Management folks need a little space. Between your garbage and recycling bins that is! There needs to be at least three feet between bins to allow room for the claw from the garbage truck to reach down, grab the can, dump it and place it back down. When your cans are too close together, the garbage truck driver has to get out and separate them, which can cause a delay in his or her schedule. And this doesn't just go for bin-to-bin space. Your bins should be at least three feet away from absolutely any obstruction! Mailboxes, fire hydrants, utility poles, vehicles, etc. We all need personal space – garbage bins are no exception. Three feet around. We ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 27, 2016 6:29:00 AM
15.00 Last time we talked about bulk yard waste. Now let's talk about bulk household waste! ACCEPTED: Things like discarded furniture (like that old couch or ratty dresser), hot-water heaters, refrigerators or other household appliances and large items. You're also allowed to put two passenger car tires with n NOT ACCEPTED: Hazardous Waste (that's got to go to SPSA), construction/demolition debris, loose or dangerous refuse. SIZE LIMIT: All of those accepted items must fit into one 4 feet by 4 feet by 10 feet pile per collection. FREQUENCY: We offer a total of 12 household bulk waste collections per year per residence. SAFETY NOTES: Please always tape any glass surfaces (oven doors, mirrors, glass table tops) as it's not ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 20, 2016 10:27:00 AM
Are you a Bay Star Home? If not, July is definitely the month to join because you could receive a free soil test kit! Hundreds of your neighbors have already joined the program. Bay Star Homes pledge to do several things that will contribute to the health of the environment. From scooping the poop, to properly disposing of hazardous waste to using reusable shopping bags, there are so many ways you can make a difference. When you pledge, you get a free Bay Star Home yard flag and access to tons of environmental tips and information about local events. If you sign up any time in the month of July, you'll be entered to win one of 75 free soil ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, July 13, 2016 12:39:00 PM
15.00 There are two types of yard waste collections you can schedule with the Public Works Department: Yard and Household. Let's talk yard waste for now. (NEW: Household bulk waste info is up here!) ACCEPTED: Sticks, twigs and branches that do not exceed 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter and other large yard waste. (Smaller yard waste bagged in clear plastic bags or compostable paper bags is accepted but does NOT need a scheduled bulk pickup. Just put them out on your regular garbage day and we'll get them without you asking!) NOT ACCEPTED: Tree trunks, stumps or contractor's limbs. Only yard waste generated by the homeowner will be accepted. SIZE LIMIT: All of ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Thursday, July 7, 2016 10:46:00 AM
15.00 Our friends at Recycling Perks posted a great blog the other day about why plastic bags are so detrimental to our recycling process. It's really worth repeating. Below is a quick synopsis but the original is worth the read - find it here. Reason 1 - Initial sorting is done by hand, meaning real live human workers have to rip open the bags, costing time and also creating potential hazards. They don't know what could be in that bag! Could be non-recyclables or could easily be broken glass. Reason 2 - Plastic bags get stuck in the machinery and can cause the entire process to shut down for repairs. If you want to line your indoor recycling bin ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 29, 2016 12:48:00 PM
15.00 There are six drawbridges within the City of Chesapeake. All of these bridges have different lift schedules and different restricted periods for several reasons. Roadway Traffic - Roadway traffic helps the U.S. Coast Guard determine when the restricted periods for each bridge will be. Generally, restricted periods are during the morning and evening rush hours but that's not the same at every bridge because it's not the same in every section of the City. Marine Traffic - Marine traffic also looks different depending on where you are in the City. At the Gilmerton Bridge there's a larger amount of commercial traffic like tugs and barges. Further south at the Centerville Bridge there's more pleasure craft traffic like ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 22, 2016 1:32:00 PM
15.00 Our friends at TFC Recycling do a great job recycling #1 and #2 plastics that are in the shape of a bottle (yes, they have to be in the shape of a bottle). But what about #3-#7 recyclables? The numbers on the bottom of plastic containers tell us the type of plastic used to make them. Not all plastics are created equal believe it or not! Some plastics are more valuable when recycled than others. Think about it. For everything we recycle, there has to be some kind of second life for them. But if no one wants a bale of recycled #4 plastic, it's not worth it for TFC to collect them because it won't move out ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 15, 2016 1:56:00 PM
This topic totally stinks. (See what I did there?) Dog poop. If you're lucky enough to be a dog parent, you know it well. But are you being a responsible dog parent by scooping the poop? Whether you're on a walk in your neighborhood, hanging at the dog park or just letting your dog out in the backyard, it's essential to scoop the poop immediately! Here's why: It's not fertilizer. I hear people compare dog poop to cow manure all the time but not only does dog poop not fertilize your lawn, it could actually kill your grass. Most dogs eat processed foods while cows gnaw on grass which means what comes out is not created equal! Dog poop ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 8, 2016 6:31:00 AM
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 This week is the first Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, a group effort between Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania to inspire citizens to care for this great natural resource. In Chesapeake, about a third of our land area drains to the Chesapeake Bay via the Elizabeth River (Find your watershed here!) Let’s use this week to remember why we care so much about the health of the Chesapeake Bay – and all bodies of water! The Chesapeake Bay provides some delicious food – fish, oysters, crabs, YUM! Polluted waters mean no food for you. In addition to the animals we eat, the Chesapeake Bay is home to a huge assortment of wildlife ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, June 1, 2016 6:33:00 AM
Hurricane season is upon us - are you ready? It only takes one storm to do real damage, so it's important to be ready for anything every year, no matter what forecasts are predicting. There's plenty of hurricane preparedness information at Ready.gov. It's well worth a few minutes of prep time to make sure you, your family, your pets and your property/belongings are as prepared as possible for any potential storms. Not only do we ask you as a citizen to prepare, but we prepare as a City and more specifically, as the Public Works Department. Each year we simulate a hurricane and we actually walk through the steps in our response plan to make sure everyone understands their ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:36:00 AM
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a great reminder for drivers on four wheels to share the road. Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the road. In 2014, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents. The Chesapeake Transportation Safety Commissions suggests the following to keep everyone safe: Be aware of your vehicle's blind spots and know that motorcycles are smaller than most vehicles and therefore less visible. Never share a lane side by side with a motorcycle. Allow extra distance when following a motorcycle to give the rider more time to maneuver or stop. And most importantly - never drive distracted! Everyone be safe out there! Normal 0 false false ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 18, 2016 7:05:00 AM
It's your trash collection day and when you get home from work at 6 p.m. your trash can is still full. First of all, don't panic. While we pride ourselves on being very reliable in our trash collection, things can happen that may delay us. Sometimes we have equipment issues or we may be low on staff that week. Regardless of what happened, we want to get your garbage for you. When we miss your trash, leave it at the curb and call 382-CITY (they're open during regular office hours of 8am-5pm so you may have to wait until the next morning.) You can also report missed trash online. Unless the Customer Contact Center tells you otherwise, leave ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 11, 2016 12:14:00 PM
There are so many great reasons to recycle but there's one particular "perk" that happens to be my favorite: Recycling Perks! The Recycling Perks program is an easy way to save money every time you pull that trash can to the curb. Just sign up at www.RecyclingPerks.com (you'll need the number printed on your recycling bin) and get started. So exactly what happens when you sign up for Recycling Perks? Every time your recycling bin is emptied, the RFID tag within the bin is read by the pickup truck and a message is sent to your Recycling Perks account awarding you points. Those points add up and can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses. There's a great ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, May 4, 2016 12:40:00 PM
Before you grab your shovel and gardening gloves, don't forget the most important step - calling Virginia 811! Underneath your yard there is potentially a maze of wires and pipes delivering services into your home. Some of these are just inches from the surface of the ground. You do not want to hit them with your shovel! Virginia state law actually requires anyone who digs to notify Virginia 811 before starting. Plan ahead by calling Miss Utility at least 3 working days before you want to dig. Once you call, someone will come out and mark your yard with different colored lines that denote different underground utilities, such as red for electric or yellow for gas/oil. Then you'll know where ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, April 27, 2016 6:48:00 AM
I hear this all the time: "The bridge lifted during restricted hours when it's not supposed to lift!" Unfortunately for motorists, that's not actually the case. Restricted periods do not equal zero bridge lifts. Restricted periods for drawbridges mean just that - openings are restricted, aka limited, but not prohibited. Bridge lift schedules are determined by the U.S. Coast Guard. The City is required by federal law to comply (33 U.S.C. 499). We work with the Coast Guard to determine when restricted hours should take place (when the roadway sees the most traffic) but at the end of the day, marine traffic has the right-of-way. During restricted periods, bridges will not open for pleasure crafts. They ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, April 20, 2016 9:09:00 AM
It's the time of year when fertilizer commercials are everywhere and all the outdoor stores are displaying massive towers of fertilizer bags. But before you load up the sedan with all those chemicals, here are a few tips that might make your spring lawn care routine quicker and cheaper. Test Your Soil: All fertilizers and yards are not created equal! Find out which nutrients your yard needs and how much by doing a soil test first. Contact the Chesapeake Extension Office at 757-382-6348 or visit your local garden store and purchase a soil test (they're not expensive - generally 10 or less). The test is easy and it'll tell you which nutrients your yard needs so that you don't buy ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, April 13, 2016 12:32:00 PM
This week we celebrate Work Zone Awareness Week to encourage safe driving through work zones. Our city is no stranger to work zones. We've got a lot going on! From big, long-term projects like the Dominion Blvd Improvement Project to smaller, short-duration projects like pothole patching, you're bound to run into roadwork at some point on your travels. Here are a few tips we hope you'll consider. Follow the Speed Limit: Speed limits in work zones are seriously non-negotiable. Many times the limit is lowered during construction like on Dominion Blvd where the normally 55 mph roadway is now at 35 mph (25 mph in some places). And unless noted specifically on the speed limit sign, these adjusted speed limits ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 30, 2016 6:45:00 AM
Last week we talked about Spring Do's to help you make the most of your time outside this spring. This week we've got a few Spring Don'ts for you. DON'T feed the geese. I personally think geese are kind of scary - they're so big and I think they could take me if it came down to it. But there are serious reasons for not feeding them. Geese are migratory birds - they go where the food is. If they get used to being fed by humans, they won't migrate when they're supposed to. More geese means more goose poop which is an environmental hazard. Plus, geese digestive systems aren't built for human food. Let them feed themselves. DON'T throw ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Monday, March 21, 2016 7:24:00 AM
Our friends at AskHRGreen.org have a wealth of information available for how you can make the most of your time outdoors this spring without wreaking havoc on the environment. Here are a few "Spring Do's" to get you started. Next week we'll tackle those "Spring Don'ts". Your two-part series starts now! DO participate in a cleanup project for Great American Cleanup. The Great American Cleanup is a grassroots community involvement program that encourages folks all over the country to do their part in keeping our community clean and healthy. There are plenty of opportunities locally to get involved. Get all the info and find ways you can help here. DO test your soil. Believe it or not, all soil ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 16, 2016 6:00:00 AM
Chesapeake Recycles Day has become a wildly popular event for our citizens. It’s a great way to recycle or properly dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste (HHW) and plastic bags. I get so excited for these events because hundreds of citizens show up, proving Chesapeake’s dedication to our environment and willingness to do the right thing! If you can’t make it to one of our six 2016 events, there are other opportunities to do the right thing with your waste outside of these events. Here’s how you can recycle outside of the blue bin: Electronics – Goodwill stores will accept your old electronics (as well as a variety of other household items) at any of their locations during regular store ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 9, 2016 10:46:00 AM
It’s time for our annual Pothole Blitz! Every year, usually in March when we start to thaw out from winter, the Public Works Department puts extra resources towards a coordinated effort to repair as many potholes as possible. Repairing potholes during the winter is a losing battle. The freeze/thaw cycle is what helps create potholes in the first place so repairs don’t always last during that time of year. But once the temperatures start to rise we can get in some more solid repairs so that’s just what we’re doing starting next week! I can tell you from first hand experience that pothole repair is not an easy job (check out the video on this page of my crash course ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, March 2, 2016 6:00:00 AM
Stop lights are always more fun when they're green than when they're red but either way, they're an important part of our transportation system. A lot goes into planning which intersections need signals versus stop signs versus yield signs versus nothing at all. When we're talking traffic signals, the Traffic Engineering Division looks into two main things: traffic count and safety. Traffic Count: When studying whether or not an intersection needs a traffic signal, traffic engineers conduct a traffic count on the mainline and the side streets entering the mainline. They look at traffic counts by hour per day to determine how often during the day the traffic on the side street has excessive delay entering the mainline. The longer ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 24, 2016 6:15:00 AM
If you drive a vehicle in Chesapeake then you have, without a doubt, sat at a bridge lift. If you have never done so - please share your secrets! I continue to stun family and friends with my uncanny ability to hit every bridge lift when they're with me in the car. Me, the girl who posts information about Chesapeake bridges lifts on the internet. So you see, none of us are exempt! Bridge lifts are a way of life around here so let's play a quick game of True or False to learn more. The City of Chesapeake decides when to open a bridge. FALSE. The City of Chesapeake is bound by Federal regulations enforced by the U.S. ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 17, 2016 11:28:00 AM
Beneath your neighborhood there's a maze of pipes weaving to and from your property, all for different purposes. Let's take a look! Stormwater Piped System: Some areas of the City have piped stormwater systems (as opposed to stormwater ditches). You may see drains in the curbs of your neighborhood - these are part of the piped stormwater system. These drains take rain water from the street to a nearby pond, river or canal which all eventually leads to the ocean! One thing NOT involved in the stormwater pipe system? A treatment plant. Everything that goes down the drain eventually reaches a major body of water, making stormwater pollution a major problem when it comes to the health of our local ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 10, 2016 6:00:00 AM
Back by popular demand and better than ever! Chesapeake Recycles Day continues to grow with a total of six events for 2016. March 12, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Southgate Plaza Shopping Center April 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Tidewater Community College June 11, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – 3316 S Military Hwy July 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Greenbrier Mall September 10, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Sam's Club, Western Branch November 12, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Tidewater Community College Bring your household hazardous waste for proper disposal through SPSA, electronics and household items for recycling through Goodwill, ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Wednesday, February 3, 2016 6:00:00 AM
Remember when we were little and our parents used to tell us to be home when the street lights came on? We all appreciate street lights for many reasons. So what happens when one goes out? First of all, let me point out that most of the street lights in Chesapeake are owned by Dominion Virginia Power. You can always report any street light outages directly to them using their online form here or by phone at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357). But we understand that sometimes you just want to tell the City about the outage so that we can take care of it from there. We're totally fine with that too! You can send in your report online through the Customer ...
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posted by: Elizabeth Vaughn at Thursday, November 12, 2015 6:00:00 AM
Our final Chesapeake Recycles Day for 2015 is this Saturday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the TCC Chesapeake Campus on Cedar Road. Bring your electronics and plastic bags for recycling, your household hazardous waste for proper disposal and your sensitive documents for shredding. Personal items only, please - we cannot take waste from businesses. Visit www.CityofChesapeake.net/RecyclesDay for a full list of what we can and cannot accept. All we ask is that you bring a canned food item for a local food pantry. These events are always really fun and, I hope, convenient. It's amazing how many people take time out of their Saturday to do the right thing by bringing their waste to ...
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