HUMAN RELATIONS HOSTS SUMMER JUBILEE

The City of High Point Human Relations Division, along with Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASiC) of High Point, the High Point Public Library and the High Point Farmers Market, hosted the fourth-annual Summer Jubilee back-toschool celebration and backpack giveaway on Saturday, July 29, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the High Point Public Library.

There were over 3,000 people in attendance, and staff and partners gave away 786 backpacks filled with school supplies. The event included face painters and a petting zoo and ran in conjunction with the High Point Farmers Market, which featured live music.

"The Summer Jubilee is a day of fun that also provides kids with the essential resources they need for school success, from pencils and notebooks to glue sticks and markers," said City of High Point Human Relations Manager Rase McCray. "It's an incredible collaboration between local businesses, nonprofits, faith organizations and City agencies, all of whom come together each year to help even more families in need."

The Summer Jubilee began in 2019 as a collaboration between BASiC, the High Point Human Relations Division and the High Point Public Library. It has grown every year with additional partners and increased funding.

Stormwater Division Visits Latino Family Center

On June 28, the City of High Point Stormwater Division hosted a program with the Latino Family Center. Staff taught a group from their summer camp about stormwater, creek health and pollution prevention. The group assisted the Stormwater Division in marking eight storm drains on the streets near the park to inform citizens to help keep our storm drains clean. The group was then instructed on how to perform a creek crawl to determine the stream's health. Campers found crayfish, snails, fish and other aquatic life in the stream.

Summer Trash Smash Encourages Community Beautification

The sixth-annual Summer Trash Smash event will take place Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. – noon, throughout the city. The event encourages residents to clean up the exterior of their homes or property and remove litter from their neighborhood by offering a chance to win a gift card to a local business.

“The Summer Trash Smash is an effort that is beneficial in several different ways,” said City of High Point Beautification Supervisor Rebecca Coplin. “Residents are encouraged to keep their property and surrounding neighborhood clean and green and are recognized in a small but encouraging way.”

During the event, designated police and fire personnel will be driving through High Point, looking for people removing litter from their neighborhoods or beautifying the exterior of their property. When they see someone doing this, they may stop and give the resident(s) a gift card from one of the participating sponsors, including local restaurants and grocery stores.

“Police and fire personnel have the opportunity to interact with our residents in a very positive way while also helping to provide a resource to food in an area classified as a food desert,” said Coplin. “This positive interaction and effort is a wonderful thing for the community.”

Not all officers and fire personnel on duty will be distributing gift cards. Residents should discard any trash or recycling in their personal rolling carts or apartment dumpster. Larger items can be placed on the roadside for bi-weekly collection by the City's bulk collection truck.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Coplin at 336.883.3520 or rebecca.coplin@highpointnc.gov.

Household Hazardous Waste Facility Open To High Point Residents

The City of High Point will host its next Household Hazardous Waste disposal event for High Point residents at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1401 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

This event will be an opportunity for residents of the City of High Point to drop off the following household items at no charge for proper collection and disposal:

• Aerosols, batteries, bleach/cleaners, electronics, fire extinguishers, furniture polish, fluorescent bulbs, nail polish/removers

• Adhesives, gas cylinders, paints, solvents, stains/varnish, strippers/thinners, wood and metal cleaner, wood preservatives

• Antifreeze, auto batteries, brake fluid, cleaners/degreasers, diesel fuel, gasoline or mixed gas, motor oil and filters, transmission fluid

• Herbicides, lighter fluid, pesticides, poisons, pool chemicals

• Electronics and tires (limit of four tires per visitor)

City staff will direct all vehicles through and unload all materials. Disposal is for household waste only. Materials from businesses, household garbage or medical waste will not be accepted. Proof of residency will be required for all disposals. Residents are asked to have all materials to be collected in the trunk of their cars or in the bed of their pick-up trucks for easy access and removal. Updates will be provided prior to each event, or you can verify the event calendar at www.highpointnc.gov.

High Point Residents can also find a comprehensive list of common household items and their proper disposal methods by visiting www.highpointnc.gov/whatdoidowith.