[0:00] I usually take these my own kitchen [0:03] garbage bags because these are so long. [0:05] I'm out here almost every day, weather [0:08] permitting. You know, I try to go out [0:10] early in the morning when it's a little [0:12] cooler and there isn't quite as much [0:14] traffic. There's no reason that we have [0:16] to look messy when it's just so easy to [0:20] bend over and pick it up and dispose of [0:22] it properly. So, [0:25] I need a bumper sticker that says I [0:27] break for picking up litter. I care [0:31] about the community as well as other [0:32] residents in the community. And I want [0:35] it to look nice and so trying to lead a [0:37] little bit by example. Plus, um, you [0:40] know, it's kind of good exercise for me. [0:42] I do need to exercise. So, I'm kind of [0:43] trying to kill two birds with one stone. [0:45] You know, I liken it to graffiti. you [0:47] know, when you go to a business and you [0:49] see graffiti on the wall, it just sort [0:52] of snowballs and you get more graffiti. [0:54] So, I'm kind of hoping that um you know, [0:57] if if you clean up the graffiti, then [0:59] you don't seem to catch as much [1:01] graffiti. So, I'm hoping that kind of [1:03] snowballs with the litter. If people [1:05] kind of start noticing, hey, it looks [1:08] kind of clean around here. I better not [1:09] litter. I better save this in my car [1:11] until I get home of it home and dispose [1:13] of it properly. We have a great uh group [1:16] of community volunteers, friends with [1:18] for Crystal Parks. They have a [1:21] fundraiser or two a year. One of them is [1:22] a big plant sale. And so this past year [1:25] they have used that money to purchase [1:28] litter pickerup tools and they are free [1:31] for any Crystal resident that is [1:33] interested in helping out. Please go to [1:35] the community center, pick up a litter [1:38] picker tool, and as you're out walking, [1:40] you know, uh pick up a item or two if [1:43] it's as long as it's safe. We have some [1:46] residents that, you know, often help [1:48] out. We have seasonal workers that come [1:50] and help uh from time to time, primarily [1:53] there in the parks, but um we get [1:56] sentenced to serve once a week for [1:57] during the summer now to help. And so [2:00] all of that combined is helping. You [2:02] know, it's not just me. It's I'm hoping [2:05] to get more and more. We've got the VFW [2:08] that has committed to keeping Broadway [2:10] Bass Lake clean. Crystal Lions help with [2:14] the uh with Broadway. So, we've got some [2:18] nonprofit organizations that are also [2:20] helping in the effort. And if we could [2:22] get businesses to kind of just keep keep [2:25] their lots in check, if we could get [2:28] residents in the neighborhood, if you [2:29] see a pop can or a cup in front of your [2:32] house on the street, maybe just grab it. [2:35] Um, you know, if we all work together, [2:37] we could make a big impact in how our [2:39] community looks. [2:41] For more city stories, check out [2:43] ccdia.org [2:45] or find us on social media.