bvsteel,

I applaud your comments and it's people like you that are the primary reason I live here...other cities have good people, we just seem to have more of our share. That said, the scope of this might be bigger than you or I think.

Emeril posted above mentioning the GIS aerial photo. I took a look as well (2005 aerial overlay) and I can tell you right now that this job is gonna take at least 15-20 people, 4-5 trucks with flatbed or dump trailers, and $100-$300 in landfill fees (unless BVSWMA waives the latter). And if paint, car batteries or other environmentally sensitive stuff is involved be prepared for major brain damage.

I have given my time on many things like this prior to marriage and kids, but right now I don't even have enough time to go to all the things my children are involved in, otherwise I would help. When the kids are gone, I will offer more community service like I did before.

At the same time, when I pulled up the GIS photo I immediately felt guilty...I felt like I was invading her privacy. I was surprised that I felt that way but it was very palpable. Now I find myself in the middle of the debate...privacy and private property rights vs. city codes and keeping your property clean.

I'm gonna sit this one out and watch the debate on this...and hopefully arrive at a comfortable conclusion after I see other opinions.

AgDot.. I agree. There are so many times when I walk around my own house with 7 children and 2 businesses to run and wade through all that i have to do and wonder HOW in the world I will get through.. but I always do, because I have the help of my husband and so forth.. I think that we can all over come if we have the help of loved ones and the love of of neighbors. $300.00 divided among the 20 or so people that you get to help out is not that much money.. and a few hours of time is not that much to give to someone that may have lived in this community for a so many years and in a neighborhood that they love and have given so much too...WE have so gotten away from love thy neighbor.. and are now so afraid of everyone, I just hate it. I was born and raised here and I love Bryan College Station for all that it is and for those of us that never leave and for what draws soooo many of us to come back and raise our families .. I think that there are at least 20 of us on this message board that are willing to give our time and just a few dollars each and every weekend or days of to help those that can't. I know that we all lead VERY busy lives.. But what are we as human beings if we don't help those that can't help themselves. I moved back because I love it here..this is not a city or a town this is HOME!!

If she is a prof,coudlnt she jsut hire a lawn/cleanup crew?

I would volunteer to help. I'm serious. I would give up a Saturday afternoon or morning.

those you you that really want to help please reply to bvsteel2@yahoo.com I really believe that we can make a difference.. and it starts one neighbor at a time..

emailed!

Spike... thanks...We just need about 18 more people.. I know that ya'll are out there.. come lets get this going!!

I will email you my infomation also. If I'm not signed up for an off duty job, I'll help. Also depending on the weekend you choose. I have two 18 year old sons that will help too (that is if they want to keep momma happy and it's always good to keep your momma happy).

especially if shes a cop....

Email sent...

what if she doesn't want help?

so this is why when i lived on Ashburn last year we had rat problems

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All that is left of the roof is the paper, no shingles yet he has had a pallet full of shingles in his driveway since 1988.

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this made me laugh

nevermind, I missed this up above...

[This message has been edited by code_dog (edited 1/30/2007 8:57a).]

I consider myself very fortunate in this respect. I have lived next door to the world champion packrat for about 20-25 years. Most other neighbors are not aware because for the most part his house is well maintained and his yard is free of any clutter ... but his double garage would make a feature for Believe it or Not.

That roughly 22X22X8 foot space has been packed solid for years with the oddest assortment of pure junk ever assembled. And it is not stacked, it is piled, shoved, bent around, stuffed into a unified mass. Several times over the years I have witnessed this marvel of packing when the doors were up and he was trying to find a place to put some other item he had found along the curb or in a pile of construction residue ... amazing! Last year he returned my posthole diggers he had borrowed about 15 years before. I wonder still how he found them ....

Curiosity alone keeps me living in my house. I want to be around when he someday moves to see whether he moves that junk pile to his new abode or if he finally has to part with some of his collection.

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what if she doesn't want help?

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The fact that the city says they've been working with the owner for a long time seems to suggest this.

She just may not want help from the city.

Hey, you could live in the same neighborhood as a used car dealer. At least once a week now they park a trailer on the street with several used cars on it overnight.

[This message has been edited by AGnCS (edited 1/30/2007 10:17a).]

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Funny thing - after thinking about it, I guarantee you this is the lady I see in the mornings on the way to work. She's always coming out from behind Chilis in an old Chevy Caprice that is absolutely full of junk - it's up past the windows and probably just has enough room for her to squeeze into it.

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I have seen the vehicle you speak of!

At first, I couldn't really believe what I was seeing.

I thought it was a prank gone terribly wrong. Then I saw the driver and realized that this was no prank.

I could only stand there in shock and wonder how bad the stench of the garbage must be.

the owner of 703 gilchrist is retha groom-the house was built in 1962 and has 1841 sq.ft.-it is valued on the tax rolls at $106,390.-i really think that she could use some help!!

Thirty years or so ago that was a very attractive place. It had a small sign in the front yard "Doll House." In its history it was a very special place to some family.

I'll be willing to help out.

[This message has been edited by Useful Hammer (edited 2/1/2007 9:19a).]

If someone makes contact with the lady AND she wants help with her yard, I'll put it out to my Cub Scout Pack that runs out of College Hills. We can bring anywhere from 20 - 50 boys(with moms and dads) to help out. I also have a 16'trailer that we can use.

contact me at aggieband89@hotmail.com

Might be a good Eagle scout project too?

Not enough for an Eagle project. A Life project for sure though.

[This message has been edited by dleonard (edited 2/1/2007 11:35a).]

http://abc40.com/Global/story.asp?S=6020388

"Organizers for Texas A&M's 24th annual Big Event said Wednesday they're ready to take project requests."

Just FYI....

Stopped by yesterday and no one answered the door..gonna try again tomorrow, I will keep in touch with everyone that has said they will help out

I hope y'all aren't expecting some touching story to come of this.

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I hope y'all aren't expecting some touching story to come of this.

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Talk about cynical. You know sometimes people just want to help. They don't care if a touching story comes out of it or not. If the lady wants help then great she will get it from here. I'll bet that not one of the people who volunteered to help did it for the recognition or for the story that comes out of it. Mainly - if the people on here wanted that, they would be using their real names when they post.

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I'll bet that not one of the people who volunteered to help did it for the recognition or for the story that comes out of it.

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How much are you willing to throw down?

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How much are you willing to throw down?

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Now we hear from the ultimate "glass is half empty" poster.

Yeah, okay

If pressure has indeed been put on her by the city to clean up and she hasn't touched a thing...I'm so sure she's going to hug the person knocking on her door saying "Surprise! We're here to pimp your yard!"

Something tells me that even if she does agree to let people touch her property, this will be a one-time deal. Or are all you big-hearted folks gonna do her yard work for her every week and politely police her when the crap starts piling up again?

Her place is an eyesore. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live next to it. There's some sort of psychological disconnect occuring here, but we all know what's best for other people don't we?

Good luck with your crusade.

Darlin,

I’m sorry that you’re so pessimistic. This is not a crusade…it is just an offer to help out someone that might be so physically limited that the task at hand - has gotten out of hand. The offer of help is hers to refuse if she so chooses. We all have a responsibility to help our neighbor – some want the glory…some want to make a difference.

It is just a helping hand if accepted.



Just like:

Giving a person a ride to pick up a car at the shop.

Borrowing an igloo from someone for a baseball tailgating party.

Lending a tarp to someone for a graduation party fun night.

But you keep stirring the pot…I’ll keep feeding the troll…



[This message has been edited by Useful Hammer (edited 2/5/2007 11:46a).]

If she's that physically limited then she needs to go into a home.

I'm really wondering if the clean-up crew is going to offer continuing services.

I'm not trying to "stir the pot", I'm trying to be realistic.

Do whatever y'all want to do.

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This is not a crusade…it is just an offer to help out someone that might be so physically limited that the task at hand - has gotten out of hand.

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Is that what it is?

Back in my day we called this kind of thing "sticking your nose in other people's business."