Jeff Frontz reports on a recent Clintonville Area Commission zoning and variance meeting about Kroger’s (North Broadway and High) request to install a gas station with 4 sets of pumps and a kiosk type store in the middle. He writes:

 “I created a website and posted my notes there.  http://nokrogergas.com

 Synopsis: the proposed station resembles a truck stop and would be located in the extreme northeast panhandle of the Kroger lot.  None of the 30 folks in attendance expressed support for the proposed station (save for the 4 folks representing Kroger). The mildest reaction was along the lines of “I don’t want either, but if I had to choose, I’d rather have a gas station than have you sell alcohol”. Many folks expressed criticism of the current store conditions and management.”  

You may have noticed that Columbia Gas worked in our front yard this week. Apparently someone walking past our home (540 Glenmont) smelled gas and reported it (thanks to whoever). The leak was between the street and our house and, per a recent decision from the PUCO, the Company is now responsible for repairs in this section of line whereas previously the home owner was responsible. We are now responsible only for the gas lines within the home.
They shut off our gas supply on a Wednesday and did not repair it until the following Monday (lots of cold showers). They used a backhoe to dig about 4′ -  5′ holes between the street and the sidewalk and again beside the foundation of  the house near the location of the old meter in the basement. They ran plastic pipe through the old pipe and connected it to the new meter on the outside of the house. We had no options on the location of the new meter and thus it shows unattractively from the street. “It must be 3′ away from any window and cannot be far from the entry point of the old pipe so as not to interfere with other utility piping or wiring near the house”. Others expecting the same thing to happen to their property may want to start thinking about the best place to put the new meter under these conditions. It was in before we even knew what was happening.
Also, it seems to be best to have your gas shut off early in the week so it is not off over a weekend – cold showers are tough, even in this weather.

Bob Dusterberg

Friends and Neighbors–

The COLUMBIA GAS LINE AND METER MOVEMENT work will begin EARLY FALL, not August 1st. Columbia Gas is waiting for a city permit. Letters to homeowners affected will be mailed closer to when the work is scheduled to begin, not next week as I wrote this morning.

Susan

afternoon rain

a firefly takes refuge            on the window under the eaves

This Saturday is Adena Brook Community’s annual YOUTH/FAMILY DAY clean up. One hour of volunteerism makes a huge difference to the health of our neighborhood stream. Vic Magary and his motivated and caring Metro Martial Arts classes will help us get the litter out of Adena Brook. Pizza will be shared afterward. Please join us.

DATE: July 12

TIME: 10 – 11 AM

MEET: Intersection of Yaronia and Overbrook Drive off of Indianola Avenue

RSVP, please.

Heather Dean (FLOW) and Stephanie Suter (FWSCD) share these suggestions:

Backyard conservation reduces storm water problems. 

When rains fall on roadways and rooftops, it can’t soak gently into the ground as it once did. Instead, it flows down gutters and into storm sewers, picking up pollutants as it goes. Besides affecting the quality of water in streams and rivers, this runoff can cause them to flood more quickly.

While you can’t eliminate runoff entirely, you can do your part to protect water quality and minimize the runoff from your home lot. 

*Install rain barrels to catch water from downspouts instead of running it into storm sewers. This water is ideal for watering lawns, gardens, or indoor plants because it isn’t chlorinated. Besides, it’s free!

 *Grow a rain garden in a natural depression or dig a spot for one. Plant water-tolerant plants to filter runoff as it soaks into the soil. Just make sure the spot will drain within three days to interrupt the mosquito life cycle.

 *Terrace steep slopes to slow runoff, allowing more to soak in and reducing erosion.

 *Replace paved sidewalks and driveways with materials that allow water to infiltrate, such as gravel, stones, bricks, mulch, wood chips, and ground cover plantings.

*Wash your car at a commercial car wash that treats and recycles wash water, or wash it at home over a grassy area or gravel using biodegradable, phosphorus-free soap.

*Use a drip pan to catch leaks from your car until you can get them fixed. To clean up fluid leaks or spills, soak them up with sand or cat litter. Choose non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners for your driveway.

*Bury pet waste, flush it or bag it and dispose of it in the garbage. It’s a source of bacterial contamination in runoff.

*Minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn and follow label instructions. Careful lawn management can reduce the need for these products.

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Did you read the article titled Sea Trash in the NY Times Magazine, June 22, 2008? The article highlights a clean up group working to rid an Alaskan coast of litter, litter that washes ashore from ocean currents. “The world’s oceans are filling up with bottles, wrapper, and other flotsam” and the article asks, “Is there anything better to be done than picking it up off the beaches where tons of it drift?” Here’s an excerpt: ” Plastic gets into the ocean when people throw it from ships or leave it in the path of an incoming tide, but ALSO WHEN RIVERS CARRY IT THERE (my caps), or when sewage systems and storm drains overflow. Despite the Ocean Dumping Reform Act, the U.S. still releases more than 850 billion gallons of untreated sewage and storm runoff every year, according to a 2004 E.P.A. report. 

Read the entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/magazine/22Plastics-t.html?ex=1214798400&en=541d1f4221501f26&ei=5070&emc=eta1

This article got me thinking. First, I am very grateful for the City of Columbus’ stormwater runoff improvement projects.

Then I started thinking about our group and my own behavior. The Adena Brook Community litter clean up program is more than cleaning up the neighborhood. It’s a clean water public awareness lesson. We aim to become more informed about ways each of us can contribute to a clean water solution. To be blunt: I am working to change my behavior. A few months ago I heard OSU glaciologist Lonnie Thompson talk about what he thinks humans can do to help improve our global environment. He said the biggest help would be a change in attitude, a change in our behaviors. Change is challenging, but I’m trying.

Here’s my short list:

Commit to recycle.

Keep your cloth bags in the car so they’re there when you buy groceries.

Purchase concentrated, non-toxic household cleaners.

Choose tap instead of bottled water. Tap water can be additionally filtered with reverse osmosis and distiller.

Reduce storm water runoff from my home. Install rain barrels, rain gardens, unhook gutters.

only because I was leaning back in my chair

doing nothing

I saw the summer’s first yellow butterfly