One of the first things we purchased when we moved here was a utility trailer. What do we need that for? I asked my husband. He said we would need to to haul brush to the dump. (Back then we still called it the dump.) He did use it for that purpose...a lot.

In 1995 I became the one to go to the recycling center. We were remodeling and in 1995 the center still allowed residents to bring in their used building materials.

Every week I would make at least 3 trips with trailer fully loaded. I was a bit of a novelty, because there were not too many women who would drive a car with a trailer. (I got to know the guys pretty well--a few were nice.)

I've made a few trips since then, but I always needed my husband's car since he had the hitch.

But this summer, I got a trailer hitch put onto my car. That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it made me happy. Now I can go to the Recycling Center whenever they are open.

On a recent trip, my son and I watched other residents struggle shoveling mulch and dirt into their trunks and mini vans. I happily forked the mulch into my little old red trailer.

The Recycling Center has changed a great deal since my earlier visits. The new facilities for Public Works are pretty impressive. (Our tax dollars at work.) 

I must say I miss the piles of stuff and scrap lumber though. It was always fun to check those out. (Once a nice worker even let me retrieve a plaid metal lunch box from the scrap metal heap!)

Kids loved the idea of bringing home wood for a fort or tree house. It was truly a Recycling Center back then!

If you like to garden or if you have a lot of mature trees on your lot, may I recommend the humble trailer and hitch. They have more than paid for themselves at our homestead. 

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Yesterday, Brookfieldnow informed us there was a Hearing set on high school additions. That got my attention.

Could it be the board was still allowing public input on the referendum? If so, I would have requested that since Elmbrook has classes that teach global warming*, they should put into practice what they are teaching. If the district would scrap their plans to air condition both high schools, they could reduce our carbon footprint and reduce energy use. I am not a global warming-ist, but I do favor reducing costs: Air conditioning installation and operation costs money!

Alas, my hopes were dashed. The hearing is a City Plan Commission hearing being held to address landscaping and parking lot issues:

The commission’s main concerns about the plans at East revolved around landscaping. Commission member Jennifer Donze said she wants the district to address the “seas of asphalt” at East by meeting the city’s standards and including landscaping islands in the parking lot.

District officials said they would work with city staff to reach and agreement on the landscaping in the parking lot along Lilly Road in front of East’s new main entrance.

At Central, members talked about the addition of 213 parking stalls near the school’s main entrance to the southwest of the building. The plans also call for a realignment of the school’s exit to the west with a proposed extension of Civic Drive north of City Hall.

The city has asked that the connection be built within 18 months of the approval of the conditional use and revised plan for the school or the end of 2010, whichever comes first.

I don't mean to trivialize these landscape and road issues--especially if you live near the schools. If they are important to you, go voice your opinion. (The date has not been set--the Common Council votes on July 15 to schedule hearing.)

Me? At this point I just want windows that open as part of our $62.2 million.  At least then we could have the option of opening a window instead of air conditioning when electricity prices go through the roof.

*Dr. Melanie Stewart informed me Elmbrook does cover Global Warming in the AP Environmental classes, Biology Ecology unit, and a bit in middle school science classes. 

Click here to sign the DRILL HERE. DRILL NOW. PAY LESS.  domestic drilling petition and see the latest links to related oil news (updated every day).

Drill Here is now over the 1.3 million mark. The goal is 3 million signatures by the Democratic and Republican Conventions. 

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