You can protect water quality!

Did you know that every month, the Stormwater Division conducts water quality tests in our creeks, streams, and tributaries? Clean water is essential and disposing of anything in a storm drain is illegal! Even so, pollutants get into our waterways from a variety of sources; examples include motor fluid, cooking grease, grass clippings, paint, and even busted and/or overflowing sewer pipes.

Sometimes, commercial businesses and individuals, out of ignorance, dump liquids into our storm drains that don’t belong there. But all storm drains empty into the nearest creek or stream. That’s why we say, “only rain belongs in the storm drain.”

There are many things YOU can do to protect water quality:

Never dump anything down storm drains.
Use lawn and garden chemicals sparingly.
Pick up after your pet and dispose of waste properly.
Keep grass clippings and leaves out of the storm drain.
Wash your vehicle on the grass instead of the driveway.
Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints in an approved manner.

Please report anyone you spot putting anything which should not go into
a storm drain by calling the Stormwater Pollution Hotline at 336-727-8000
or CityLink 311. In addition, please report any creek or stream that has an
unusual smell or appearance!

We’re Thinking Orange, are you?

Think Orange is the City of Winston-Salem’s comprehensive campaign to combat hunger. The effort began in 2018 when Winston-Salem was selected as one of six cities by the National League of Cities to receive a
CHAMPS grant. At the time, the Food Research and Action Center ranked Winston-Salem seventh nationally for having the highest rate of food hardship. Think Orange set out to address this by improving access to federally funded nutrition programs, promoting farmers markets, raising awareness about hunger and more.

As part of this effort, the city’s Urban Food Policy Council received a grant to pilot an urban farmers market at the Liberty St. Market space (located at 1551 N. Liberty St). The market is being held every second and fourth Friday through October. The market prioritizes vendors who are growing within a 5-mile radius of the market.
Vendors can accept SNAP/EBT.

COVID-19 Response

Think Orange has been helping with the community’s COVID-19 response. When the pandemic began to hit North Carolina communities, Think Orange quickly brought together partners to set up distribution sites to ensure meals were available throughout
the week. Eight of the sites include city recreation centers, where we have served youth under age 18 with supper and breakfast meals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. No registration or identification is required, and youth do not have to be present for their families to collect their meals. This is made possible through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest N.C. (and its Providence family of programs) and the USDA’s federal nutrition programs. Since March 31, we have
served over 51,855 meals.

Big Sweep Waterway Cleanup - Saturday, October 17, 2020

Leaf Collection Begins November 2

City crews will start collecting leaves on Monday, Nov. 2, in the southwest quadrant of the city (quadrant 2), which is the area south of U.S. 421 and west of U.S. 52. Collection will proceed clockwise by quadrant and continue until the leaf trucks have made three passes through each neighborhood. Once leaf collection begins,
citizens can go to CityofWS.org/LeafRoutes to enter their
address for an estimate of when the leaf trucks will be in
their neighborhood and track the progress of leaf collection. Estimated collection dates
may be revised frequently, based on weather conditions, equipment problems and the
volume of leaves placed out for collection. Residents who do not have access to a computer can call CityLink at 311 and a CityLink agent will look up the estimated collection date.

To ensure that leaf collection is adequately staffed, the city previously announced that it had canceled bulky item collections for 2020. Bulky item collection was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City homeowners can apply for a free landfill permit to take bulky items to the Hanes Mill Road Landfill at no charge. The permit is good for two trips within a 12-month period. Homeowners can request permits by calling CityLink at 311 or apply online by going to CityofWS.org and searching for “landfill
permit.” Permits are available for homeowners only, not renters, and users must follow the vehicle-size guidelines printed on the permit.

Urban Forestry

The Urban Forestry Division of Vegetation Management is responsible for more than 100,000 trees in our city, and is overseen by the Urban Forester, Derek Renegar. The division plants trees in city parks and along the right of way. Our crews inspect all existing forest canopy and remove diseased, dead & hazardous trees. Crews also prune for safety and aesthetics.

Urban Forestry responds to CityLink calls during and after major snow events, spring and summer storms, as well as hurricanes such as the recent Hurricane Isaias. Heavy snow and high winds can topple trees and crew(s) are responsible for removing hazards such as large limbs and sometimes, entire trees. Large storms, such as hurricanes Florence and Michael, brought down hundreds of trees and the division partnered with the Sanitation Department to remove debris.

The division also can also provide information on proper tree planting, managing tree shrubs, and how to properly prune trees. If you have tree concerns or what educational information, call CityLink at 336-727-8000.

SOAR

Successful Outcomes After Release (SOAR), a re-entry workforce program for former offenders, successfully kicked off a new class this summer, amid the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. SOAR participants fill clerical and labor positions with the city for six months while receiving personal & professional development, mentorship and support and help them gain employment once the program ends.

Some members of the current class have been assigned to the Vegetation Management Division to put a dent in litter around our city. In previous classes, SOAR participants have been assigned to Fleet Services, Sanitation, Recreation & Parks, Community Development and Utilities. If you know someone who might benefit from the SOAR program, an interest form is available on the city’s website. For more information call CityLink at 336-727-8000.

Bee City USA

The City Council unanimously voted to affiliate Winston-Salem with Bee City USA. Bees, butterflies, and other species that pollinate our trees, shrubs and flowers are a vital part of the food chain that we depend upon. The Office of Sustainability advocates for educational outreach efforts to promote and sustain native pollinators and plants.

With the assistance of the city’s Marketing & Communications Department, the Office of Sustainability created videos with community partners that can be used by educators, parents, and organizations to use as outreach resources during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The videos are available on the city’s YouTube channel and you can copy or click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrCzyhsoAW_CXlkviBVYlfMiYS3Cui4o3