Spring brings big events, including a block party
Dear Kettering Neighbors:
Spring is coming March 19, and it’s time to prepare for longer days, beautiful blooms and warm breezes that come with it. First, remember to move clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10. Springing forward is always worth losing that hour of sleep.
With springtime comes several city events to enjoy. Be sure to update your calendars for all things spring coming your way including:
■ Summer camp registration - March 4 for Kettering residents and March 11 for non-residents;
■ Yard Debris Center: Summer hours begin March 4 (Monday through Friday – 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturday – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.);
■ Spring Leaf Collection: April 15 starting in District 1;
■ TreeFest: April 20, 9 a.m. to noon - Habitat Environmental Center;
■ TreeLove: April 20, 1 to 5 p.m. at Eudora Brewery;
■ Art on the Playground:
May 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.;
■ Community Block Party: May 29, 6 to 8 p.m.;
■ Shred Day: September 28, 9 a.m. to noon.
Although the city of Kettering is not hosting viewing events for the Solar Eclipse, preparations are being made to safely manage potentially large crowds in our city and throughout the region. For your convenience and to help others, please consider the following tips to enjoy a healthy, safe Solar Eclipse on April 8 at 3:08 p.m.:
■ Stock up on food, water, gas and prescriptions on or before April 6 and 7.
■ Find a safe viewing area. Limit travel to essential purposes as traffic may be heavy.
■ Allow for extra time for travel.
■ Keep a paper map on hand, if necessary, as cell service could be limited.
■ Use cell phone sparingly.
■ Limit phone calls for public safety assistance to emergencies (9-1-1) only.
Residents can also help our city and those throughout the region by reporting any planned viewing engagements in and around Kettering at https://arcg.is/1S9nSy1. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Our Fire and Police Departments have endorsed the use of What3Words, an app that can be used as a tool to help locate 911 callers faster in an emergency. Callers who have the “What3Words’ app on their phones automatically provide dispatchers a precise latitude and longitude location. To add this layer of protection, the public is encouraged to download and familiarize themselves with the free What3Words app. This technology has been successfully used by 911 teams in situations such as reporting fires, rescuing pets, locating injured hikers and lost kayakers with pinpoint accuracy. When an exact address is unknown, this is a great tool to use.
Consider subscribing to our CodeRed emergency notification system at www.ketteringoh.org.
We will have extra hands on deck on April 8, to assist with potential crowds and heavy traffic. This is a momentous event; and, we want to make sure everyone enjoys it safely. Thank you for helping us accomplish this!
Follow our Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts throughout the next month as details unfold, or visit www.ketteringoh.org/solar-eclipse/.
Take care.