January 14, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Daniel F. Culbert, UF/IFAS Extension Horticulture Agent, Okeechobee County indianco@ufl.edu

Angela Sachson - Okeechobee Extension FYN Program 763-6469 asachson@ufl.edu

Jenny Pung - Waste Management 357-0824 ipunq@wm.com

Toni Doyle - Okeechobee Main Street 357 -6246 okms@mainstreetokeechobee.com

Waste Management, Inc. and Keep America Beautiful team up with Main Street and UF/FYN program to Improve Okeechobee.  

 Waste Management Announces Award to Support City’s Efforts

Okeechobee, FL – January 19, 2009 - As Okeechobee Main Street works to beautify Okeechobee, it now has help from national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc., and Waste Management, Inc. the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America.

Okeechobee is one of 15 community recipients of Waste Management's 2008 Keep America Beautiful Target City Awards program, a national initiative designed to improve communities, and promote sustainability.

In Okeechobee, the Target City award was presented downtown at the City’s Park #6 on Friday January 16, 2009.  The grant presentation took place during the Florida Arbor Day program presented by the University of Florida’s Florida Yards and Neighborhood (FYN) Program. It was a day of enhancement for the cherished parks in the center of our community.

Following the Arbor Day poem readings and trees plantings, Jenny Pung of Waste Management presented the $5,000 check to Maureen Burroughs of Okeechobee Main Street.  This event marked the official announcement of the installation of a colorful butterfly garden designed by UF’s Florida Yards and Neighborhood program.   

Main Street Okeechobee will use these KAB grant funds from Waste Management to supply plants for four colorful butterfly attracting areas, park benches and other amenities that will enhance the beauty and usefulness of this downtown park. 

The Butterfly garden will become a teaching garden for local residents to learn about the nine principles of Florida Friendly landscaping.  Local Master Gardeners have committed themselves to providing on-going maintenance that will be required to keep the butterfly garden looking beautiful.

"This special Waste Management awards program has been a powerful catalyst for education and environmental stewardship," said Matthew M. McKenna, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. "We are thrilled to have Waste Management sponsoring this program in Okeechobee and nationwide. This support is critical to helping keep our country clean and beautiful and to educating people about important quality-of-life issues."

Florida Yards and Neighborhood’s Angela Sachson is enlisting the participation of local nurseries that will supply plants and assist with the installation of this colorful garden. The plantings will take place on Saturday, February 14^th.  The City of Okeechobee will assist with the installation of a short-term water supply to establish the plants.

Larval and nectar plants to be planted were chosen by Florida Master Gardeners and other volunteers from Riverwoods Nature Center.  The plants selected are drought tolerant low maintenance plants adapted to the Okeechobee area. Other FYN principles such as the use of recycled mulch and low volume irrigation are part of the garden plan.

Using the grant funding, Main Street Okeechobee is securing park benches that use recycled materials.  The new benches will encourage more visitors to enjoy the park when they come downtown to support local businesses and enjoy the beauty of the gardens.

"Partnership is how we can improve the quality of life in Okeechobee," said Waste Management community relations representative Jenny Pung. "Waste Management is proud to support the extraordinary efforts of Okeechobee Main Street and the Florida Yards & Neighborhood program offered by UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension and its volunteer Master Gardeners. 

 

About Florida Yards & Neighborhood Program -   UF/IFAS Extension offers FYN educational programs to homeowners, landscapers and developers.  Programs encourage people to manage their landscapes in ways that will reduce pollutants in stormwater.  In Okeechobee, the FYN program is an integral part of the City of Okeechobee’s required efforts to reduce urban non-point source pollution. For more information about the FYN program, go to http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/Okeechobee.FYN.htm

About Waste Management, lnc.  -  Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. Based in Houston, TX, the company serves municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout North America. The company is strongly committed to a foundation of financial strength, operating excellence and professionalism. For more information about Waste Management, go to www.wm.com .

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc. Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving communities through litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification efforts. The Great American Cleanup is one of its many programs that encourage people to care for communities through volunteer participation. For additional information, visit www.kab.orq.

 About Okeechobee Main Street - Okeechobee Main Street programs seek to involve all aspects of the Okeechobee downtown district.  Focused activity is designed to improve economic management, strengthen public participation, and make downtown a fun place to visit.  Members seek to building on the downtown's inherent assets -- rich architecture, personal service, traditional values and most of all, a sense of place.  For additional information, visit http://www.mainstreetokeechobee.com

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 01/20/2009.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert