Cider and Cookies Social-- Let's Talk About the Future of the GRT!

Hello all,
This is Angie, the new coordinator of the Graffiti Removal Team. I'm not so computer-savvy myself, so I apologize for delays in updating the blog. :)

Looks like the season is winding down for removing graffiti, so I'd like to thank all of you who have put in hard work cleaning up Burlington! Additionally, I'd like to welcome new AAB volunteers Greg Eplerwood, Mary Belanger, Karen Newman and Ursula Jones. In order to thank and welcome, the Graffiti Removal Team will be hosting a Cider and Cookies Social TOMORROW (Friday, October 21st) from 5:30-6:30. (Did all of the AAB members get your invitations in the mail?) The hope was that it might be convenient to drop in on your way home from work. However, I've heard from some members that their Fridays are always booked up, so I apologize to those of you who can't make it at this time.

At the meeting, we'll be discussing the future of the program... and I need as much input as possible! From about November until the beginning of April, we can't clean, and though I work on some other projects during the winter, I'll be spending a good deal of time trying to implement changes and innovations relating to GRT. I need to hear from you to know what changes seem most important. If you can't make it, please e-mail me at aspong@ci.burlington.vt.us or call at 865-7548 to let me know what you've been thinking!

In other news...volunteer crews on Saturday clean-ups have been making a lot of progress. Last Saturday, we "Elephant-Snotted" the back of the First Congregational Church on S. Winooski, and it's looking a lot better, though we're going to suggest that the church plant trees back there to keep the tagging at bay. This Tuesday and last, a fantastic group of kids from Mater Christi Catholic School gave the back of the church a second coat of "elephant snot" (the powerful cleaning goop that we like to use on brick) and also cleaned up a ton of tags on Buell and Orchard Terrace. Other prominent locations where graffiti has been cleaned include: the African Market on N. Winooski and North St. (painted), the Springflower Market on St. Paul St (painted), the Burlington Army and Navy, Brooks Pharmacy, and multiple other businesses. We've taken care of tags on several homes (including some with profanity) and mailboxes throughout the Old North End. This afternoon, an afterschool group at Wheeler will take to the streets around their school in search of signs and dumpsters with tags.

The last organized clean-up, leaving from C-CAN (82 S. Winooski Ave.), is this Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon! It's "turning tricks into treats" day. We'll clean and take pictures of tags we locate and get Halloween candy in return. Should be fun!

Sorry to have so many announcements at once! But I hope to see many of you soon. And happy cleaning for the last leg of the season!