Eureka Chamber Kicks off Adopt-a-Block

Allison White/The Times-Standard
Posted: 03/22/2011 01:21:15 AM PDT

The Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce launched its “Adopt-a-Block” program on Monday that aims to get community members involved in keeping the city clean.

The chamber partnered with other local agencies, including the city and Eureka Main Street, to create the program. Through the chamber, local businesses and residents can “adopt” a city block for one year and take responsibility for graffiti, trash and weed removal on that block by either cleaning with their own staffing resources or hiring a landscaping or maintenance company.

Chamber Executive Director J Warren Hockaday said at a Monday press conference that the concept stemmed from the city's budget problems last year. Due to financial constraints, the city stopped street sweeping services, and he said local businesses were willing to help take on some of those responsibilities.

”This particular program is taking off with some tremendous traction with the business community,” Hockaday said.

A few of the 27 listed blocks have already been adopted, and residents are encouraged to adopt their own blocks, even if they're not on the initial list, Hockaday said. The blocks available for adoptive cleanup will soon be available on the chamber website at www.eurekachamber.com.

Officially, Adopt-a-Block will kick off with the city of Eureka's May Day Cleanup on May 7. City Project Manager Miles Slattery, who has coordinated and run the May Day Cleanup event since 2007, said it is funded through a stormwater improvement program and usually focuses on areas along the waterfront.

The number of volunteers varies from 200 to 700 every year, but in total, around 27,000 pounds of trash has been picked up during the annual event, Slattery said. Information on the May Day Cleanup event is at www.maydaycleanup.com.

The enthusiasm has been “overwhelming” from the community for the Adopt-a-Block program, said Chuck Petrusha of Advance Security Systems who helped put the program together. He said Monday he has enjoyed working on the project and was glad the chamber could coordinate with the city's event.

Eureka Councilman Mike Newman said he appreciates the work residents and businesses are willing to put into the community.

”The cleanup spearheaded by the chamber is another part of the cohesiveness of the business community working with government,” Newman said.

Staff writer Allison White can be reached at 441-0506 or awhite@times-standard.com.