Greensafe Neighbors

Dear Friends, 
After the last couple of December snow storms, I was alarmed and disappointed to note that fewer than 10% of the sidewalks in my neighborhood had been shoveled (or snow plowed) by homeowners. Apparently this has been going on for sometime; I finally woke up to it. Thus I'm launching a simple BHLF initiative called "Greensafe Neighbors." Basic Criteria: 1) shoveled sidewalks in front of your house; neighbors are encouraged to seek out each other to see who has a snow blower(s) to make it easier. (You'd be surprised to learn how many people actually walk to church, schools, and the store; we need to make it a lot safer.) 2) shoveled fire hydrants w/ attached "identification markers" for the really big storms. 3) shoveled and/or cleared out catch basins free of leaves, ice, debris which causes ponding and black ice upon "refreeze." 4) fewer than a dozen pieces of trash / litter along the adjoining streets. "Neighborhoods" to be established; but I'm thinking about 2 - 3 "zones" per precinct, something like a half dozen streets. Down the road we might add other criteria (goals) like rain barrels and rain gardens to buffer storm water runoff, organic lawn care practices, etc. Maybe the DPW or BOS could give some official recognition to "Greensafe Neighborhoods."  Hopefully I could mobilize some scout, school, and church youth groups to help w/ this initiative.
I'd be glad to conduct an informal "audit" of your neighborhood after the next big snow storm. -B Patrick Conaway