Williamsburg Notebook: Creek Clean-Up Today, Green Residents Recognized

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Today’s the perfect day to get some work done outside, and where better to start than at Williamsburg’s “College Creek Clean-Up”? On Saturday, residents can learn more about recycling, and the city recently recognized 50 residents for participating in its first Green Resident Challenge. Finally, a generous gift from the Paparis family helped train Williamsburg Police Department staff. Read on for more details.

Clean the Creek Today

The City’s Public Works Department and James City County’s General Services Department will be leading a “College Creek Clean-Up” from 8 to 11 a.m. today.

Today is Clean the Bay Day, and keeping streams clean helps keep the Chesapeake Bay clean. Staff from the two departments will remove trash and debris from the creek and stream banks, and residents are invited to join.

Plan to arrive at Neighborhood Park on Palmer Lane by 8 a.m. Palmer Lane is just off Ironbound Road between Eastern State Hospital and New Town. Please bring a shovel (if possible), gardening or work gloves and clothes you can get dirty.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 220-6140.

Neighborhood Council to meet Saturday

The Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg will discuss recycling at its 8-9:30 a.m. meeting on Saturday at the Quarterpath Recreation Center.

Tim Lee, business manager of the Tidewater Fiber Corporation, will explain the purpose of recycling and what happens to material after it’s collected.

The NCW meets the first Saturday of each month, and the mayor and one member of City Council attends the meetings. For more information, call 565-1549.

Williamsburg Police Department Honors Paparis Family

The Williamsburg Police Department has announced its “Appreciation Award” has gone to the Paparis family for their support.

Last year, Rose Paparis gave a $10,000 grant for staff leadership training in honor of her late husband, Tom Paparis. The grant allowed members of the police force to attend the Professional Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies manager training.

Tom Paparis was a police officer in Greece before he came to Williamsburg in 1952. He owned the original Ivy House and the Yorkshire Steak and Seafood Restaurant.

Green Challenge Winners Recognized

Fifty residents from across Williamsburg participated in this year’s Green Challenge. In honor of Earth Day, the city’s employee-led Green Team encouraged residents to engage in a total of at least 12 actions in four areas: Waste Reduction, Water Conservation, Energy Conservation and Transportation.

Of the 50 participants, five were chosen at random to receive a recycling container with lid and wheels filled with green items, including cleaning supplies, a bird feeder from Ace Hardware, a Gingko tree sapling, gift certificates to restaurants and more.

Last fall, 17 businesses took the first Green Business Challenge. This was the first residential challenge. A complete list of Green Residents can be found here.