Huber Ridge Area

To the residents of Huber Ridge,

I am along time resident of Huber Ridge. I distribute the Herald and walk my dog in the Huber Ridge area.What I have seen in the last 2 weeks is disgusting. Did the littering laws get suspended?Do we no longer have any self pride much less community pride? Walking my dog last week I picked up newspapers, plastic bags, beer bottles, pop cans, candy wrappers, chip wrappers, styrofoam cups and other garbage.  All of this was in sight of the front door of  these houses.  Delivering the Herald I saw properties with dirty front entrances, chipped and peeling paint, garbage cans at the front entrance, newspapers not picked up, windows that were so brown and dirty I doubt you could see out, broken sidewalks, driveways in disrepair, and landscaping  that is in serious need of attention. 

Not to mention the cars, trailers, and boats parked in the grass and tearing up the yards. What has happened? Many of these properties were owner occupied and not rentals. What I saw was unbelievable.  Our neighborhood has been on the receiving end of some very derrogatory comments in the past and after what I saw last week they are deserved. Have you seen how much trash is at the curb on Sunday after a Friday pickup? Where is our community responsibility, our pride, our self respect?

Dear concerned resident,

Thank you, for picking up the trash you saw as you walked through the neighborhood.  I agree, we need to have more community pride.  Does anyone else have a good idea of how we can instill community pride?  I ask because the HRAA was formed (again) in 2005.  In over seven years of operation, the township has made MANY positive changes.  More have joined the HRAA - that is good, too.  The HRAA has made positive changes - we hold events and produce publications to encourage and educate the community.  I just want to say thank you, to those who have become part of the solution.

But progress within the community is slow.  Does anyone have a solid solution for what the writer above has noted?  We do not need to hear that "it took years to tear it down, it will take years to build it up."  No, it has already been years at this point.  So how do we help the community members who do not yet take pride of ownership?

Sincerely,

Pam Clegg 

P.S.  I must admit, I have a lot of work to do myself, and I am trying. 

Report the homes to Blendon Township Code Enforcement.  I had 2 large limbs in my backyard.  They put an 8.5 x 11 orange sticker on my front door requesting the limbs be removed by 3/28/13.  I didn't get them removed by that date.  I received a letter from them telling me that I had until 4/8/13 to remove them or they would put a lien on my property.  I thought that was pretty severe considering all the homes in Huber Ridge that have trash in the yards, miscellaneous furniture on the front porch, (perhaps for a future yard sale?), cars that don't run parked on the street and on and on...

I have lived in Huber Ridge for 16 years and I buy my house.  I take great pride in my yard.  Not sure who sets the "rules" for when a lien should be filed.

just saying...