Avenue in Bloom

New business in town

2009-07-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Please welcome our newest business to town. Good as New Consignment Shop which opened at 5th and Pennsylvania Avenue this week and it looks absolutely splendid. I will be stopping in shortly to say hello and telling the newest members to our community hello.

Please tell residents and business owners up and down the Avenue that are keeping up their properties what a GREAT job they are doing. For the businesses and residents that need some work please let me know and WE can work together to clean up and pretty up those areas.

We will get a lot further in our effort if we lend a helping hand up and down the Avenue. Complaining about something without any action doesn't do any of us any good. It only makes the property owner you are complaining about less likely to do anything.

And for a little extra incentive, cleaning up the Avenue is a really good work out.

See you on one of the blocks

Robin

Breaking News on The Avenue

2009-07-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Effective this week clean up has changed to Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 9 AM. If you can't have fun with us at those times please feel free to party on your own with weed pulling and garbage picking galore.

Also ducks tickets are GOING fast so get your ticket ASAP. It will be a very fun race down the Delaware....not to be missed.

Lastly I know the River Bank is a little over grown but you can see the day lilies that were transplanted earlier this year blooming. Over the next 2 years the Bank will become a thing of beauty for all to enjoy.

Long term Goals

2009-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

Long range plans include trees of some kind on the east side of the street. Items for consideration include height, width, hardiness, messiness, number of trees and rate of growth. Cost and funding are also big items. We also need to consider variety as planting all the same kind of tree leaves us vulnerable to losing them all to an insect infestation or disease.
If anyone has any ideas or info please give it to Nancy in the Boro Office or me at Encore.
Thanks,
Robin

Scheduled Clean Up

2009-06-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

We will be out on the Avenue Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 AM till 9:00 AM. We start at the bridge and sweep, pick up garbage and pull weeds till our time is up.
We have managed to make it to 4th street each week with 4 of us and it is looking better and better every time we work. just imagine how much could be done with more bodies in motion. Anyone available to come out would be welcomed with open arms.
See you Tuesday
Robin

Everything's coming up Daisies

2009-06-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

I stopped at Jeff's Garden Shop this morning for some baskets of yellow flowers to pop on the bench in Keystone Park and as typically happens walked out with no baskets and 5 flats of flowers.

Flower planting was NOT on my agenda this morning, but I did manage to get 2 flats in the ground. The other flowers will go in Saturday morning. Since the Keystone Club is doing the "Duck Race Down the Delaware" on the fourth of July I decided all kinds of yellow flowers accented with a sprinkling of orange and a touch of white would be appropriate.
Jeff threw in the tall marigolds and the salvia so the Park should be awash with prettiness shortly.

DONATIONS

2009-06-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Want to help with the clean up effort but can't actually work? You can donate money or supplies to the Keystone Club and indicate that it is for the Pennsylvania Avenue Project. Gift cards to Home Depot, Lowes and JEFF's GARDEN SHOP are also appreciated.
We are currently looking into turning the 3 electrical panels into bulletin boards for store info, lost pets, yard sales, special events, and community groups. We will need paint and lighting when the Boro approves our plan.
Future projects include new trees, garbage cans and benches along with new flowers and landscaping along the Avenue.
I'll keep you posted on our progress and if I figure out how to do it I'll even post pictures.

Cleaning Up the Avenue Summer Version

2009-06-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

Starting the week of June 22nd, I will be out from 7 AM to 9 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays with 3 middle school students who will be helping in the clean up effort. Sean, Michael and Evan will be sweeping, raking, pulling weeds and picking up garbage all summer. If you are available during any portion of that time we would LOVE to have you work with us.
NEXT week we will be out on Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 9 AM due to prior engagements.
\

2009-06-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

The Keystone Club is sponsoring the "Ducks Down the Delaware" on July 4th at 10 AM. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased from Joanne at Wachovia in Matamoras, Janet at Pike County Licensing in Milford , Robin at Encore! or any of the other Keystone members. You don't need to be present to win...we will call you if you do.

Pennsylvania Avenue Cleanup

2009-05-24T18:18:00.001-07:00

There is less and less garbage for me to clean up on the block from the bridge to First Street. The flower bed in front of the post office is also getting spiffy as well. A few flowers have been planted by the phone pole by Dr. Stanley's office. The bed will take about 2 years to clean up and start to look good. Theresa has put out a planter by Chrissie's as well. The hanging and potted flowers will be out in front of Encore! by the end of the week. It's beginning to look a little like summer on my end of the Avenue.

Poison Ivy And Bamboo

2009-05-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

We have been working along Delaware Drive and are knee deep in poison ivy and over run with bamboo. Day lilies, daisies and salvia have been planted. Now we need to kill off the bamboo and poison ivy. Any ideas would be helpful cause I've never dealt with either plant before.

Keystone Park

2009-05-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

Replanting by the bridge is on hold until we know what Pendot has in mind for the bridge repair which will take place later this summer. I am currently playing with color schemes and flower types. If anyone has any freebie flowers they would like to donate please let me know. No flower is a bad flower...I can find a place for anything.
Robin

What do YOU see?

2009-04-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

What do YOU see as you travel up and down the Avenue?

Do you see all the places that have been worked on or do you instead focus on the places that need a little TLC?

Have you noticed the new pumps at Turkey Hill?

How about all the work on the grounds of Citizen's Bank?

Have you really looked at the River since the view has been opened up on Delaware Drive?

What about the freshly mowed grass at Dr. Hartley's or the clean up at the Kelly Building?

If we concentrate and build on the areas that are well cared for we can infect the whole avenue with charm and cheer.

See you on the Avenue with broom in hand
Robin

Ready for Color

2009-04-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you look at the park by the bridge you should pick up on 4 things....

1. The river bank has been cleared of debris and is ready for a little color .(I'm thinking along the lines of Tigerlilies, black eyed susans and ? Any other ideas?)

2. The electrical pole was moved by Voltron to a light pole down Delaware Drive. Thanks very much guys.

3. The park is in desperate need of a little clean up and a lot of color. I can hardly wait till I can put some more plants in the ground.

4. I forgot what the 4th thing was. If I remember I'll edit this post.

Robin

SOS!

2009-04-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

SOS! SOS! SOS! SOS!
Any gardeners or wanna be gardeners with design talent out there that would be willing to help with the first block of Pennsylvania Avenue?
I am looking for a cohesive plan for the whole block and I am also looking for color, LOTS of color, to spice up the Avenue.
Stop in and see me at Encore!, call me at 491-2490, leave a comment here, e-mail me at flowers18336@yahoo.com or see me on the street but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE come and see me cause otherwise I'll be left to my own devices and you might end up seeing acres and acres of petunias. ( They are really easy to take care of)
SOS (SAVE OUR STREET) from the killer petunias
Robin

IT'S GONE

2009-04-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

The pole in the bridge park is GONE thanks to Voltron. It bit the dust this afternoon. Now all I have to do is get rid of the Christmas tree pole. The view of the River is getting better all the time.

What we are up to

2009-04-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

We have started general clean up on the Avenue. If you're ready to pitch in here are some general guidelines.

1. Get green bins from beside the Boro Building. Only fill them 1/2 full and leave them curbside. Let me know where they are so I can tell the guys to pick them up.

2. Leaf and yard waste can also be put in green bins on Tuesdays for Wednesday pick up.

3. Don't mix garbage of any kind with the gravel or the yard waste. Garbage can be put in plastic bags next to the recycling bins. Only Avenue garbage please, not household garbage.

Thanks for your help

Robin

Flowers and Candy

2009-02-04T15:53:00.000-08:00

Jeff from Jeff's Garden Shop is going to plant begonias in bags for the front of the building. We are thinking that they will be a little more heat tolerant than the petunias. We'll see how it goes this summer.
Gertrude Hawk candy bars are being sold in the following locations to help the Keystone Club relight the phone poles and purchase new wreaths:
Encore! Doc Lewis's Office
Wachovia Borough Office
Chrissy's Volkswagen Place
Stewarts
Right now this is a partial list. If you know of another place that has candy let me know and I'll add them.

Spring

2009-02-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

I know it seems like spring is never going to get here, but it will and we need to be ready to pick up and clean up whatever is hiding under the snow up and down the Avenue. I am more than ready to get outside and enjoy warmer weather even if it means I am picking up garbage. Are you guys ready to tackle the cleaning?

What's new

2008-12-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

The tree is up by Citizen's Bank, the lamp posts have been installed and the Avenue is covered by a blanket of snow.
Plans for the Avenue are taking a winter hibernation while we wait for warmer weather. As weather permits please continue to remove debris and garbage from your assigned spots so the spring cleanup goes a little easier.
I am looking for landscaping ideas for the following areas:
1. the little area by the bridge
2. both sides of the river bank
3. the area by Citizen's Bank
4. the grass on both sides of Chrissie's
5. the flower bed in front of the post office
I am also working with Jeff from Jeff's Garden Shop
for flowers on the front of the building I am in (Riverside Plaza) as the petunias were beautiful but not very heat tolerant.
looking forward to the first flowers of spring
Robin

Suff We Need Help With

2008-10-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Stuff we need help with in no particular order:

Someone who can set up a website
A weed whacker
A leaf blower
Dust pans with handles
Plant material for next spring
Mulch, topsoil, and edging for next spring
People who love to garden-flower and veggie
Someone to research zoning ordinances
Someone who knows trees
Someone to work with the Keystone Club

If you can help with any of these things give me a call at 491-2490 or stop in and see me.

Robin

2008-10-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

After one month in action I am starting to see a real difference in the level of garbage from the bridge to 3rd street.
It is taking less time to maintain the areas that have been thoroughly cleaned and we have been adding small areas to our weekly clean ups.
Has any one else noticed that there are NO public trash cans on the whole of Pennsylvania Avenue?
If you also look up and down the Avenue you will notice that there is a lot less visible signage (clutter) on the fronts of a lot of businesses. THANKS Bob for your help with signage.
As I have been working in front of various properties I have been talking to people attached to said properties. ALL of them have been very receptive to helping out and a few of them have stepped up their own clean up efforts. My goal is to have all of Pennsylvania Avenue cleaned up over the next 2 to 3 years AND have a working plan to keep it clean.
Thanks to EVERYONE who is currently pushing a broom this goal will be accomplished before we know it.
Robin

T-SHIRTS

2008-10-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

T-shirts are available for $7.00 either at Encore! or at the Borough Office. They are safety green (ok, BRIGHT green so you can't be missed) with "AVENUE IN BLOOM" on the back.
Please wear them when you are cleaning up so we start to generate some real interest in our Avenue project.
If you see me working with out my bright green shirt please remind me to put it on. I usually grab my broom and dust pan and hit the street. I need to remember my shirt too.
Happy sweeping....
Robin

Clean up Update

2008-10-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

Recycling bins are at the Borough Office for you to use as clean up bins. Tell Nancy where you will be working and you can fill the bins with garbage, gravel and debris. Tim and the guys from DPW will pick the bins up, empty them and return them to the Office for use again.

2008-09-19T09:47:00.001-07:00

It is working!!!!
There have been people calling me about cleaning up the Avenue AND there have been people actually cleaning up.
Yesterday John cleaned up in front of S&T: Bob cleaned up by the Taxidermist; and Jimmy weed whacked the river bank.
Today a guy from Citizen's bank was dusting off the signs; I watered my flowers; Irma,Jane, Loretta, and Rosalyn cleaned up between 2nd and 3rd; and Nancy ordered t-shirts in safety green for people to wear as they clean.
These are the people I know about... if you helped out let me know so I can give you a heart felt THANK YOU.
Prettying up Matamoras one weed at a time
Robin

CONTACT INFO

2008-09-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Robin at Encore! 570-491-2490
Nancy at the Borough Office 570-491-2771
flowers18336@yahoo.com

Mini Park by Bridge

2008-09-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Tim and his guys from DPW ripped everthing out.

Matt and his guys from Exteriorscape added soil, mulch and pavers.

Jeff from Jeff's Garden supplied all the shrubs and flowers.

Tim and his guys came back, planted all the pretty stuff and weed-whacked the bank.

Joe from Keystone Arms sent over the water.

Many hands.......much time.......pretty blossoms.

New Beginings

2008-08-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

I want to smile as I drive down Pennsylvania Avenue to my store in the morning and I want you to smile too as you go back and forth along the Avenue. In order to do this we need to give our main street a face lift from the bridge to 84. You can help by sweeping the sidewalks and curbs, pulling weeds and planting flowers. You can contact Nancy in the Borough Office at
570-491-2771 or Robin at 570-491-2490. We are in the process of getting off the ground and your help is very important to us.
Pennsylvania Ave didn't get messy overnight and it won't be cleaned up overnight but with your help we will bring color and order back to our beloved city. If you have some free time grab a broom, dust pan and garbage bag and start cleaning. Debris can be dropped off at Encore! for now. As we get going we will have places up and down the Avenue for all the garbage and weeds you clean up.
Your first mission is to pick a spot along the Avenue from the bridge to 10th street and start cleaning. Sweep to your hearts content and pull some weeds while you are at it. Remember, you aren't committed to a certain length of time. Any length of time is greatly appreciated.

With broom in hand

Robin at Encore!

General Guidelines

2008-08-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

In no particular order:

You don't need to sign up or attend any meetings.
You just need to pick a spot on the Avenue and start cleaning.
You can clean any time that is convenient for you.
We are concentrating on cleaning up the sidewalks, curbs and weeds for now.
We will start planting in the Spring of 09.
Garbage, dirt and weeds can be dropped off to Robin at Encore! untill we have more dropoffs for debris down the Avenue.
We are open to suggestions of things to be done along the Avenue.
If you have a complaint please give us some solutions. We are here to fix problems so help us with ways to improve our Avenue.

Here's to a pretty stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue

Robin