The theme for 2025:
Living Green
September 3, 2025: Annual Zero Waste Potluck Dinner
Welcome!
Thank you all for joining us for our 13th Annual ZeroWaste Potluck Dinner!
(Our very first potluck was held in 2013.)
FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.
General Task Force News & Reminders
- Introductions
- Bill Hughes, President, Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC)
- Brodie (and guest Grace), Executive Director, Beyond Plastics NEO
- Scholarship Awards
This year, we awarded $1,000 scholarships each to two graduating Mayfield High School students—both pursuing studies in environmentally focused fields. - Little Free Library
Our Little Free Library continues to be very active! Please help keep it stocked—children’s books are especially needed. - Glass Recycling
Unfortunately, the Mayor has discontinued the program. - Membership Dues: We are still accepting dues….to those who have paid 2025 dues, thanks
- Freecycle/E-Waste drive is Sunday, June 23, 10-3
- Highland Hts Community Clean-up Day was cancelled due to rain. The Mayor is considering a “Beautification Day” in September as this year’s replacement.
2025 Events Recap
- February: Presentation by Bill Hughes on the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern
- April: Green Tips shared by many of our members
- May: Presentation by Val Flors, Surfrider Foundation – Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants
- June: Another successful Freecycle/E-Waste Drive with 21 volunteers!
- Collected 1,977 lbs of e-waste
- Bringing our total to nearly 20,000 lbs over the years!
- August Field Trip: Visit to Green Paper Products on Alpha Drive — now a huge warehouse! Anyone can place orders online—check out their website.
- September: Zero waste potluck
- September: E-Waste Drive at the Southeast Community Center
- October 1: Movie and discussion night – “Into the Weeds” documentary
- October: Advisory Board Meeting – watch your emails for details
Freecycle 2026
A big thank-you to Kristi Pinkly, who has volunteered to lead next year’s Freecycle/E-Waste Drive! She shadowed the event this year and is well-prepared to take over. Expect event emails to come from Kristi next year.
August 6, 2025: Green Paper Products Field Trip
Welcome!
Thank you all for joining us today!
FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.
General Task Force News & Reminders
- Vote Required: Proposal to donate $50 (for the second consecutive year) to the Student Conservation Association.
- Upcoming Event: ZeroWaste Potluck Dinner
- Sign-up sheet available tonight
- Scheduled for September 3 in the barn
- Pill Bottle Collection
Thank you to everyone contributing to this ongoing effort!
Special thanks to Carol Mulhern, Scott Wachter, and Mary Fash for coordinating deliveries to MedWish International and Matthew 25 Ministries in Cincinnati
Please ensure all bottles:- Have labels and adhesive fully removed
- Are washed in hot, soapy water
- Are labeled “Washed and Clean”
- Have paper liners removed from caps
- Glass Recycling
The glass recycling program will be discontinued as of September 1 due to various factors. Members are encouraged to attend local council meetings to voice their opinions and advocate for continuation of the program. - Little Free Library
Thank you to Frank and Beth Popotnik for overseeing the library. Thank you to Helen Schwartz for recently restocking it. - Freecycle / E-Waste Event
This year’s event included 21 volunteers—thank you all! Kristi Pinkley has volunteered to lead next year’s Freecycle event. She shadowed the planning this year and is prepared to take over coordination. - E-Waste Results
According to Accurate IT’s Certificate of Recycling and Disposition:- 1,977 lbs of e-waste were diverted from landfills this year.
- To date, an estimated 20,000 lbs of materials have been kept out of landfills!
- Special Thanks!
A big thank-you to Aaron Saks, General Manager, for hosting us and leading today’s Green Paper Products tour.
May 7, 2025: Green Living Tips
FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.
General Task Force News & Reminders
- Prescription Pill Bottles
Thank you, everyone, for saving the bottles. Carol Mulhern and Scott Wachter take them to either Medwish or to Matthews 25 Ministry in Cincinnati. Thank you Carol and Mary Fash.
PLEASE make certain that you:- Remove all labels and adhesives
- Wash the bottles in hot soapy water and marked ‘WASHED AND CLEAN”
- Remove paper liners in caps
- Little Free Library: Thank you to Frank and Beth Popotnik for overseeing this! Helen Schwartz has restocked it.
- Glass Recycling will be cancelled as of Sept 1 due to various reasons. It was suggested by Solid Waste District that HHGTF members go to council meeting to voice their opinions on this matter.
- Membership Dues: We are still accepting dues….to those who have paid 2025 dues, thanks
- Freecycle/E-Waste drive is Sunday, June 23, 10-3
- Highland Hts Community Clean-up Day was cancelled due to rain. The Mayor is considering a “Beautification Day” in September as this year’s replacement.
EVENTS SIGN-UP: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
- Freecycle!!!! Need volunteers please
- Zero Waste Potluck Dinner at the park
Freecycle/E-waste Drive – Member Kristi Pinkley has offered to step into my shoes and take over the
Freecycle. She will be “shadowing” me this year.
HHGTF Outreach Table – Deb Kramarz & Kristi Pinkley manned our the table at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste
District’s REDUCE, REUSE(REPUPOSE), REPAIR EVENT last month……THANK YOU!!!!
TONIGHT’S PRESENTATIONS:
“Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants” Presenter: Val Flors, from Surfrider
The Surfrider Foundation is a U.S. 501 non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and
preserve the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. It focuses on plastic reduction, water quality, beach access,
beach and surf spot preservation, and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.
April 2, 2025: Green Living Tips
We Are Now Starting Year 15!!
FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.
General Task Force News & Reminders
PLEASE SIGN UP!
We need you! These events only happen through your efforts.
- Freecycle!!!! Need volunteers please
- Highland Hts Community Clean-up day. Saturday, 4/26 9-12. Attention: Ruth, Can Garden Club help again?
- Arbor Day Tree Planting, Friday, 4/25, 3 pm at the city park. Vote to donate $250 for 2025 tree?
Meet at City Hall, all supplies are supplied, best to wear boots if wet conditions
- Membership Dues
We are still accepting dues… Thank you to those who have already paid 2025 dues. - Marked them WASHED AND CLEAN
- Prescription Pill Bottles
Thank you, everyone, for saving the bottles. Carol Mulhern and Scott Wachter take them to either Medwish or to Matthews 25 Ministry in Cincinnati. Thank you Carol and Mary Fash.
PLEASE make certain that you:- Remove all labels and adhesives
- Wash the bottles in hot soapy water
- Introducing Cherie Godnavec for those who don’t know her. Cherie is a founding member and has agreed to take over as the chairman of the HHGTF, hopefully by the beginning of 2025. Thanks Cherie!
- Little Free Library Thank you to Frank and Beth Popotnik for overseeing this! Helen Schwartz said she would restock it.
- Freecycle/E-Waste drive is Sunday, June 23, 10-3
THANK YOU!!
- Member Kristi Pinkley has offered to step into my shoes and take over the Freecycle/E-Waste Drive. She will be “shadowing” me this year.
- Deb Kramarz & Kristi Pinkley manned our HHGTF outreach table at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District’s REDUCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE, REPAIR EVENT.
PRESENTATION: Green Living Tips
Presentation by members, Deb Kramarz, Carol Mulhern, Renee Sittley, Ruth Narendran, Judy Dearden.
February 5, 2025: Composting 101+
We Are Now Starting Year 15!!
FINANCIAL REPORT: We are financially in good standing.
General Task Force News & Reminders
- Membership Dues
We are still accepting dues… Thank you to those who have already paid 2025 dues. - Steering Committee Meeting
Mar 5, 2025 at the community center, time TBA
Members: Cathy Murphy, Amy Milroy, Mary Fash, Rick & Jeanette Evans, Frank Popotnik, Marilyn Wilson, Anna Hinkle, Marybeth Skala, Kristi Pinkley, Melanie Kutnik…and anyone else who would like to attend.
The discussion will be about 2025 programs/events - Prescription Pill Bottles
Thank you, everyone, for saving the bottles. Carol Mulhern and Scott Wachter take them to either Medwish or to Matthews 25 Ministry in Cincinnati. Thank you Carol and Mary Fash.
PLEASE make certain that you:- Remove all labels and adhesives
- Wash the bottles in hot soapy water
- Marked them WASHED AND CLEAN
- Little Free Library Thank you to Frank and Beth Popotnik for overseeing this!
TONIGHT’S PRESENTATIONS:
- Composting 101: a review presented by Judy Dearden
- What does Highland Hts have to do with the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern?:
Presented by FOEC Pres and Highland Hts resident, Bill Hughes
THANK YOU!!
- Member Kristi Pinkley has offered to step into my shoes and take over the Freecycle/E-Waste Drive. She will be “shadowing” me this year.
January, 2025
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
No meeting this month.