Teri’s Notebook: Muscle Powered dancing to the tune of trash removal

Although it’s not quite a dance in the park, Muscle Powered has found a creative way to clean up local trails.

They’re calling it a “trash mob,” and inviting the community to get involved.

“The idea behind trash mobs is similar to the popular flash mobs where a group of people gather in a public place and perform some pre-arranged task for a brief time before dispersing,” explained Randy Gaa, a representative from Muscle Powered, the nonprofit group dedicated to creating a more walkable and bikeable city. “Trash mobs will involve gathering litter at a designated location for one hour in order to make the area safer and healthier for walking and biking.”

Once a month, the community will be invited to participate in a trash mob, clearing local trails of debris.

The participants will gather 8-9 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at a location that will be coordinated through social media.

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department and Carson City Public Works also are involved with the effort, assisting with the trash removal after the trash mob has gathered and bagged the trash at a designated spot.

The first mob is scheduled for July 18.

To get the Trash Mob notice on your Facebook timeline, just “like” any of the following Facebook pages: Muscle Powered, Carson City Parks & Recreation, Carson Proud, Carson City Chamber of Commerce, Visit Carson City or Carson City Public Works.

To recommend a site for a trash mob, just post to Muscle Powered’s Facebook page.

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Happy Fourth of July!

Hopefully, you get a chance to hit up the RSVP fair and watch the fireworks in Mills Park.

That’s what the founding fathers would have wanted.

John Adams wrote this to his wife Abigail:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

Of course, we now celebrate on the Fourth of July, the date on the Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Teri Vance is a journalist, freelance writer and native Nevadan. Contact her with column ideas at terivance@rocketmail.com.