Forecasters are calling for our first batch of winter weather this week. It’s almost impossible to say at this point whether the Evansville area will get any significant snowfall or ice, but it’s best to be prepared.
First off, if you do need to shovel snow/ice off of walkways and driveways, please do NOT dump it on your shrubs! This will cause limb breakage from the weight of the ice. Also, any salt in the snow will cause chemical burning to the stems, foliage (if evergreen), and roots. It would be safer to shovel or blow the snow into the lawn, as turfgrass is a bit more forgiving than woody plants.
When using ice-melting salts, be aware that these products can be toxic to plants in large quantities. Some of these products work at colder temperatures than others. Even the splashing of salty slush can be harmful to some plants, especially evergreens. The best advice is to try to shovel the snow off the walkways and driveways while it is still soft and fluffy, before vehicles and pedestrians have packed it down. Use the ice-melting products on the slick patches that are left, instead of trying to treat the entire walkway.
Traditional rock salt (sodium chloride) is very inexpensive, but is probably the most toxic to plants. Some of the other ice-melting chemicals are a bit safer, but more costly. The safest product that I’m aware of is calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), which is very low toxicity to plants, but pretty pricey.
More information on ice-melting products and techniques can be found here:
Ice and snow can become quite heavy as it collects on plants. Evergreens are especially vulnerable, and often bend and droop out of shape. Fortunately, most of these evergreens are very flexible, and will recover once the snow and ice melts.
However, a large amount of snow and ice can cause limb breakage. These branches will not recover, and will need to be pruned off. I would recommend waiting until the end of winter before pruning out ice-damaged branches (rather do the job once, instead of several times). However, if you have large shade trees that lose major limbs from the ice, especially if these large limbs are hanging over the house or sidewalk, I’d recommend contacting a tree pruning company immediately, to protect yourself and the public. Contact me for some recommendations.
If you are worried about your evergreens bending in the snow, you can gently brush the snow off with a broom. Avoid vigorous motions that causes the limbs to shake or bounce as the weight of the movement can cause the limbs to break. Brushing only works with powdery snow. It is best to wait for ice or frozen snow that has adhered to the limbs to melt. Brushing or knocking off the ice will break the branches and pulls off the needles causing more damage.
If you have questions or wish to have me visit your property, please contact me!
Phone and Text Messages: 812-449-7067
Email: Larry@CaplanTree.com
The Evansville Crime Prevention Unit has released their Meeting Schedule for 2022 as well as their weather policy for the meetings.
More information on the CPU can be found at evansvillepolice.com/crime-prevention-unit
All meetings will be held at the CK Newsome Center in the EPD Foundation Room at 6:00pm
January – Sector Meetings
South – January 13th
East – January 18th
West – January 20th
March – Partnership Meeting
March 2nd
May – Sector Meetings
South – May 12th
East – May 17th
West – May 19th
July – Partnership Meeting
July 6th
National Night Out – August 2nd at CK Newsome Center
September – Sector Meetings
South – September 8th
West – September 15th
East – September 20th
November – Partnership Meeting
November 2nd
If any meeting is cancelled there will not be a make-up date
Below are a list of events in January hosted by the Evansville Parks Department. Keep active in this cold month with the following events:
Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri – 8:30 – 11:30am
Tuesday Nights – 5:30 – 8:30pm
NEW – Saturdays 8:30 – 11:30am starting January 15th
For more information call 812-435-6162 or email hschneider@evansville.in.gov
January 15th, 22nd, 29th – 10:30am
Cost – $10 at the door, first class is FREE
Wednesday 3:00 – 6:00pm and Thursday 8:30 – 11:30am
All equipment provided
Cost – $2 per play or $10 monthly
This fall, during the annual Sparkplug Recognition Banquet, Neighborhood Associations honored those who have gone above and beyond to support and assist their neighbors and their neighborhood in 2019.
Join us for a year-end look back at our winners who have positively ignited others!
To all of you, thank you for all that you do to preserve, enhance, and promote the Evansville and Vanderburgh County Neighborhoods!
On December 1st, 2021, Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will resume late fees and service disconnections on Wednesday. See full press release below.
EVANSVILLE, IND. – Evansville Water and Sewer Utility did not charge late fees or disconnect services for customers who were inconvenienced by late billing issues this fall. Now that the mail distribution problem has been resolved and paper bills are arriving on schedule, late fees and service disconnections will resume on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
EWSU customers who need more time to pay the past due amount are urged to call EWSU Customer Service at 812-436-7846 before the due date to setup payment arrangements and avoid additional fees. Customers may also request payment arrangements online. Visit ewsu.com and click Account & Billing, then select Payment Arrangements. Please note: payment arrangements cannot be made after the shutoff date has passed and the account has been disconnected.
“We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding while the Utility worked through the mailing issue with our vendor,” said EWSU Executive Director Lane Young. “While this problem has been corrected, EWSU is committed to improving billing services for all of our customers – whether you choose to receive your bill by mail or opt to use one of our convenient electronic payment methods.”
EWSU customers are encouraged to go paperless by setting up automatic scheduled payments online using the MyWater EWSU portal, or download the MyWater EWSU app to set up scheduled payments using your smartphone. Customers can also use the portal and app to manage their accounts. MyWater EWSU is easy to use, saves money on postage, and customers who schedule auto payments never pay late fees.
About EWSU
Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) provides high-quality, safe and dependable water and sewer services to more than 63,000 customers in Vanderburgh County and parts of Gibson, Posey and Warrick counties. EWSU maintains more than 1,000 miles of water lines, 800 miles of sewer lines, 6,100 hydrants, eight water storage facilities, two wastewater treatment plants and one water filtration plant. The utility also manages the City’s street sweeping and trash and recycling contracts. EWSU meets or exceeds all state and federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards while protecting land and water resources for future generations.
Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) will host the first annual Holiday Used Cooking Oil Drive on Saturday, November 27, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will be held at the parking lot behind the Civic Center next to C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut Street.
EWSU is partnering with American Grease and Septic to offer a place for Evansville residents to properly dispose of used cooking oil generated while preparing this year’s Thanksgiving meal. The service is being provided at no cost to residents.
The cooking oil drive is for residential grease only, such as frying oil, meat drippings, canola oil, corn oil, lard, olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, and vegetable oil. No petroleum oil waste will be accepted.
Residents should enter the parking lot from behind the Newsome center on Elsas Ave. Representatives from American Grease and Septic will set up barrels for residents to dispose of used cooking oil, and a dumpster will be available to discard empty containers. Residents will exit the parking lot onto Walnut Street. (see map below)
“It’s important for residents to dispose of fats, oils and grease properly and not pour it down the drain and into the city’s sewer system,” said EWSU Regulatory Compliance Coordinator Matt McBride. “This type of material, called FOG, can solidify and clog sewer pipes resulting in sewer backups and costly repairs for homeowners and the Utility.”
How about some hot tips to handle the winter cold? You can improve your heating system and warm up to safety and savings.
Fuel to heat our homes can mean high bills. And heating increases the risks of fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. But a heating system that works efficiently can mean more warmth, more safety—and more money left for other things.
The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission, Evansville Fire Department, Vanderburgh County township fire departments, American Red Cross, CenterPoint Energy and your local heating and air conditioning contractors want to alert the citizens of Evansville and Southwestern Indiana to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and explosion from a malfunctioning furnace, a blocked flue or chimney, a broken gas line or inadequate air for combustion.
There may be hidden damage to your furnace, gas piping, flue or chimney. We are recommending that all citizens have their furnaces, space heaters, ranges, water heaters, gas lines, chimneys, flues and other heating equipment checked by a licensed heating contractor without delay. (You should do this every year.) You will protect yourself and your family this winter and save on heating bills.
Carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the air we breathe when fuel-burning equipment is operating and the vent or chimney is obstructed or there is not enough air to let the equipment burn fuel efficiently. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless and catches its victims unaware, sometimes as they sleep. If you suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave your home and call 911 or your local fire department.
Families in Evansville and across the country have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, and many others have become seriously ill. Symptoms may be similar to the flu, including headache, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. There may be chest pain, fatigue and confusion. But you may go to sleep and never wake up.
Always use portable generators outdoors, far away from the home and any openings. Don’t use a range or oven for heat. Candle fires also have killed families. Be careful using candles during power outages and other times! And make a family fire escape plan.
The American Red Cross reminds you to use supplemental heating sources according to directions. (Don’t use extension cords or power strips with space heaters.)
Help alert your family with working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Regularly test the alarms and change any batteries, and replace the alarms as directed. Your local fire department may be able to check your alarms and replace them free.
THEY CAN HELP
Evansville Urban Enterprise Association offers free carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms, while supplies last, to residents of the Enterprise Zone and the service areas outside the zone who have not received them in the past. Phone (812) 426-2490.
American Red Cross will provide in-home disaster and home fire safety education, test your smoke alarms and replace up to three if needed, and supply specialty alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing. Phone (888) 684-1441.
Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) handles the Indiana Weatherization Assistance Program in Vanderburgh, Posey and Gibson counties. (Every county in Indiana has an agency for the weatherization program.) CAPE may repair or replace faulty heating equipment and make other energy-efficient improvements. CAPE also helps with heating bills. CAPE has income limits. Phone (812) 425-4241.
Memorial Community Development Corp. offers emergency home repairs. The program covers repairs urgently needed to protect the residents. Homes must be owner-occupied, and there are income limits. Phone (812) 424-8627 or email housing@memorialcdc.org.
Community One assists homeowners with major home repairs, including furnace repair or replacement, roof repair or replacement and ramp construction. A homeowner must live in the home and is expected to help pay for the project as financially able. Phone (812) 213-4202 or email info@community1.org.
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee may provide loans to qualified homeowners for needed housing improvements. The program may repair or replace heating units and make other winter-related improvements. The owner must occupy the home and meet income and other qualifications. Phone the Department of Metropolitan Development at (812) 436-7823.
CenterPoint Energy has details on energy-saving products, income-qualified weatherization and energy assessments, and rebates for purchases of qualifying furnaces, programmable thermostats and insulation. Phone (866) 240-8476 or visit centerpointenergy.com/saveenergy.
Handy Helpers Home Repair, a Catholic Charities program, will change furnace filters, install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, caulk, weatherstrip, weatherproof, install storm doors and storm windows, replace entry doors, install handrails and make home repairs at a reasonable cost. Phone (812) 217-3537 or visit handyhelpersevv.com. Faith-based organizations, social agencies and township trustees may help with heating bills and needs. Phone 211 to find resources.
DEAR COMMUNITY LEADERS: Please share the following information at meetings of the groups you’re involved with, in your publications and on your websites. The text below can be copied in newsletters and handouts. You may save a life (or a whole family) and prevent some serious injuries and illnesses. Thank you!
Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring a cleanup Event in Jacobsville on Saturday November 13th from 8am – 12:30pm, with Breakfast and Lunch provided. The group will be meeting at Hope City Church at 1001 North Main. Participants are encouraged to bring their own cleanup equipment including gloves, rakes, shovels, brooms, etc. We hope to see you there.
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