BlueClaws Charities Announces 2022 Grant Recipients

JERSEY SHORE, NJ – BlueClaws Charities, the official 501c3 organization of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, has announced grant recipients for their 2022 grant program. 40 organizations, all of which operate at the Jersey Shore, will use the grant money to help Jersey Shore-based programs and initiatives.

BlueClaws Charities raises money throughout the year in several ways, including the daily 50/50 raffle at BlueClaws games, special jersey and other miscellaneous auctions, the sale of mystery merchandise bags in the Claws Cove, and through other initiatives.

“We’re grateful to hand out grants to these 40 deserving organizations and are proud that all of the grants will directly benefit residents of Ocean & Monmouth counties,” said Jim McNamara, Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities.

“We’d also like to thank all of the fans and supporters that contributed to our fundraising throughout 2022 to make these grants possible,” McNamara added.

Below, find the 2022 grant recipients (alphabetical order).

21, Plus Inc. – for their Main Street Greens hydroponic farm, proceeds of which benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia – for their Care Services Program to provide for patients with ALS around the Jersey Shore.

American Cancer Society – for patient service programs that assist cancer patients in Ocean & Monmouth Counties including their Road to Recovery program which provides rides for patients to and from treatments.

American Littoral Society – to their Beach Grasses in Classes program, an initiative designed to engage students in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in ecological restoration and stewardship by planting and growing beach and marsh grasses.

Barnegat / Waretown Little League – to purchase uniforms and additional equipment for players in their Challenger Division.

Bridging The Gap for Veterans – for their Hometown Heroes program which recognizes and thanks a frontline worker for their service.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey – to help defray the costs of mandatory volunteer background checks. Volunteers provide a variety of tasks for the disabled and homebound elderly in the area.

Child Care Resources of Monmouth County – to purchase diapers and wipes for families in need in helping to address diaper insecurity in Monmouth County.

Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation – to support treatment and research initiatives of Children’s Specialized Hospital including new facilities opening in Toms River and Eatontown.

Community Options – to support the Cupid’s Chase 5K race that benefits adults with developmental disabilities in their program.

David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation – to provide financial assistance for families affected by a cancer diagnosis in Ocean & Monmouth Counties. This grant will provide a special holiday for two area families.

Easterseals New Jersey – to offset the cost of fuel to help transport adults with disabilities to social activities, concerts, fitness events, museums, and festivals.

Epilepsy Services of New Jersey – to support the 12th annual Paint the Pony Purple event at the Stone Pony, a family friendly day with live bands and activities in support of people affected by epilepsy and their loved ones.

Exit 82 Theatre Company – to provide programming including both their mainstage season of four musicals/plays and creative and performing arts academy productions of three junior musicals/one high school-college musical.

Family Promise of Southern Ocean County – to provide gift cards for new outfits and toiletries for families in need in addition to haircuts for parents and potential applicants for job interviews.

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore – to support Innovation Station, an education program designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged girls so they can pursue STEAM in high education and throughout their careers.

Homes Now, Inc – to help construct and monitor quality housing, enhancing the lives of income-restricted families, veterans, individuals with special needs, seniors and women/children survivors of domestic violence.

Jake’s Got This – to help offset the cost of sending children with special needs to a week-long physical therapy program not covered by insurance.

Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America – to help underwrite the cost of Scouting for low to moderate programs that are run throughout Ocean County.

JP Party Dragon – for food that will be donated to local food pantries and people in need throughout Ocean County.

Kids Need More – to benefit their holidays program, an event for children and families in Ocean or Monmouth Counties that are dealing with a diagnosis of cancer or other life-threatening illness.

LADACIN Network – towards their Give and Take Child Care program, which offers early care and learning for children between the ages of six weeks and nine years old.

Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund – to help funding Soldier Dogs for Dennis, which provides aDA approved service dogs to wounded warriors suffering from PTSD and/or TBI injuries.

Lunch Break – to purchase Chromebooks for their Alliance for Success students, a program that promotes youth development through constructive use of time, reinforcing emotional health, building self-esteem, and fostering a commitment to learning.

Ma Deuce Deuce (Ma22) – to provide presents to children of local veterans in Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity – to build and repair homes through their Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative that provide moderate to low-income homeowners critical repairs and ADA modifications.

Ocean County Family Support Organization – to offset the cost of their youth partnership camping trip in June of 2023 for youths in Ocean County with behavioral, emotional, developmental, and mental health challenges.

Ocean County YMCA – to support the Y for All Financial Assistance Program to ensure no one is turned away from the Y due to an inability to pay.

Ocean Partnership For Children – to further support groups created by the organization such as Your Authentic Self (for LGBTQ+ youth), Girls Empowerment Group, and Boys Empowerment Group Game Changers.

Ocean’s Harbor House – for general operating support providing shelter, programs, and services for homeless and vulnerable teens and young adults in Ocean & Monmouth Counties.

Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) – to support programs in Ocean & Monmouth Counties benefiting families that include children with autism and to allow these families to access recreation in the community in a safe and tolerant atmosphere.

Raising Hope for Others – to support and offset costs related to their sixth annual golf tournament that benefits Mary’s Place by the Sea, Cancer Institute of NJ, and the Lustgarten Foundation.

RJM Sports Group – to help fund scholarships given to students that graduate from the Jackson school system each year.

Seabrook Senior Living – to help make improvements to the library at their Tinton Falls senior living facility.

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide – to support the Ocean County Youth Wellness Summit, a day-long event hosted by SPTS and designed to provide students, school administrators, and school staff with the necessary resources needed to encourage and support overall wellness, including the prevention of teen suicide.

The Arc, Ocean County Chapter – to support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their Supported Employment and Trial Work Experience programs.

The Mya Lin Terry Foundation – to provide financial and additional resources to pediatric cancer patients in the Jersey Shore community.

The TEARS Foundation, NJ Chapter – to install a cuddle cot, bassinet that is used when a family experiences the loss of their baby and placed into the room with the bereaved family, at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

The Village of Children & Families – to support local foster and adoptive families including through clothing drives, shoe drives, and diaper drives plus through Family Fun Days for adoptive families.

United Way of the Monmouth and Ocean Counties – to support their Warmest Wishes Coat Drive for local preschool, elementary, and middle school children in need.

BlueClaws Charities is the official 501c3 organization of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-

Recycle Right with Montgomery County Environmental Services and the Dayton Dragons

Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) Program Celebrates at a Dragons Game on Tuesday, August 9

Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons and Montgomery County Environmental Services have teamed up for Heater’s Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) Program. This free, fun, and educational program is for kids and families to learn about household recycling and how recycling benefits the economy and the environment. The RBI Program only requires two weeks of tracking recycling to participate, but families are encouraged to keep up the good work afterwards.

This year, participants learned about how to “recycle right,” as well as what items can and cannot be recycled. Hundreds of thousands of cans, glass, cardboard, and plastic have been saved from the landfill thanks to the recycling efforts of participants over the past ten years.

All participants will receive up to four Dragons lawn tickets to the RBI Night on Tuesday, August 9 at the Dragons game. They can also redeem exclusive RBI gifts and will be eligible to win other great Dragons prizes and experiences.

Visit www.daytondragons.com/rbi to get more information.

About Montgomery County Environmental Services

Montgomery County Environmental Services provides water and water reclamation (sewer) services to 80,000 customers, and solid waste and recycling services to 525,000 citizens in Montgomery County, Ohio. The department offers educational outreach programs for local schools, communities, and businesses that want to learn more about conservation and sustainability in the Miami Valley region. For more information, visit www.mcohio.org/departments/environmental_services/, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@mcohioes).

More Information:_ The Dayton Dragons are the affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 66-game home schedule at beautiful Day Air Ballpark_ in the heart of the Water Street District. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at [email protected], or on the web at daytondragons.com.

Celebrating Earth Day with the Spokane Indians

Spokane, WASH. – In 2019, the Spokane Indians expanded sustainability efforts with the announcement of the Zero Waste campaign and the stated goal of achieving Zero Waste Facility status at Avista Stadium. In 2021, Spokane County Regional Solid Waste joined the campaign, but the overall objective remained the same: to be an industry leader in sustainability in Minor League Baseball. In addition to waste reduction efforts, the Spokane Indians have identified energy and water initiatives as a way to round out the environmental strategy.

WASTE

Over 60 Zero Waste stations with directive signage have been installed throughout the stadium to help fans get their waste into the proper stream – Landfill, Compost, or Recycling. To educate and further engage fans, there are nightly PA announcements, radio spots, and several promotional elements tied to the zero waste efforts including a recycle-focused between inning promotion and Kids Zone games. In addition, there are dedicated waste reduction staff members called the

Green Team: One of the duties of this group is running the in-house sorting area which is located behind the right field bench seats. Sorting occurs during and after every home game in the “Compost Corner”. You will also see the Green Team wearing their Spokane County Regional Solid Waste branded shirts during the game on the inner concourse keeping the stadium clean, educating fans, and answering questions. During the 2021 season the diversion rate (recycling and compost waste that doesn’t go to a landfill) at Avista Stadium was 58%. In 2022 the Indians are looking to build on this success, switching several concession items to compostable containers and improving sorting practices.

ENERGY

The Spokane Indians have been conscious of energy usage since 2001 when game times were moved to 6:30 PM, taking advantage of natural light and reducing energy consumption. During the 2022 season Saturday games in April and May will start at 5:09 PM and all Sunday games (with the exception of the season finale) will start at 1:05 PM.

Solar panels were installed on the administrative building in 2013, and they have been providing power to the grid for over eight years now. In addition, the Spokane Indians participate in Avista Utilities programs centered around carob footprint reduction and investment in solar and other renewables. Most notably, the Spokane Indians have been a part of the Avista “My Clean Energy” program since 2010. A program that provides an avenue for customers to support renewable energy projects and offset their carbon footprint. To date, the Spokane Indians have contributed to an offset equivalent of 94.4 metric tons of CO per year.

The Spokane Indians are committed to working with Avista on improving the energy efficiency of Avista Stadium.

WATER

In 2017, the Spokane Indians Baseball team, together with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and City of Spokane introduced the Redband Rally Campaign in honor of Spokane’s signature fish, the native Redband Trout. This campaign is designed to bring awareness to the Redband trout’s habitat in the Spokane River while rallying the community to protect and keep the river clean.

To create a visible presence and to honor the native Redband trout, the baseball team introduced a new logo that is featured on apparel, signage, headbands, and artwork. In addition to in-stadium promotions, the Spokane Indians established the Redband Rally Fund to financially support local and regional projects that further the campaign’s mission. To date the fund has raised nearly $40,000 and helped to support several projects that improve Redband habitat and the health of the Spokane River.

You can help further our mission with a donation to the Redband Rally campaign through our partners at the Innovia Foundation, or by purchasing official Redband Rally merchandise as a portion of each sale is donated to the Redband Rally fund.

ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIANS

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane, Washington, and were named 2021 MiLB Organization of the Year. Avista Stadium is home to the MultiCare Kids Bench Seat. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians office and team store hours are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Monday through Thursday and 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Fridays. On game days, the office and team store are open from 10:00 AM through the end of the game.

Major Composting Effort Highlights Cannon Ballers Earth Day Initiatives

 

 (KANNAPOLIS, N.C.) – Expanding the team’s commitment to making Atrium Health Ballpark one of the “greenest” venues in Minor League Baseball, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have announced new composting efforts aimed at reducing gameday waste.

During each Cannon Ballers home game, fans will now see green composting receptacles located throughout the ballpark concourse. Although locations for trash and recycle still exist, the green bins provide an opportunity for fans to dispose of compostable items which will transform into nutrient-rich soil within a few months. Since their inaugural season, the team had already taken strides to ensure all food waste from kitchen preparations were properly composted.

Concessions at sporting events traditionally create massive amounts of waste each year. As a result, the Cannon Ballers set out to focus their efforts on utilizing more environmentally friendly products in all concession and food service areas. Partnering with Colorado-based Eco-Products, the team has migrated the majority of their food packaging to new items made out of compostable materials. Such items include food containers, beer and soda cups, straws and lids, utensils, napkins, and plastic bags. Along with any leftover food, all of these items can be diverted from landfills and redirected to composting facilities.

“We have been working diligently with all of our vendors to utilize as many compostable products as possible,” said Chris Beasley, Director of Food & Beverage at Atrium Health Ballpark. “Team leadership is deeply committed to a sustainable future and I am confident that our efforts will lead to long term impacts.”

Another key contributor to the Cannon Ballers initiative is locally based Crown Town Compost. Once items are properly placed in the composting receptacles, they are delivered to Crown Town’s Charlotte location for sorting and then redirected to their composting facility that creates soils, mulches, and other landscaping materials from the compost.

Over the course of the season, the team will be educating fans and building awareness on the impact of composting and why it is important for the environment. “Our goal is to educate the community while making it fun at the same time,” remarked Cannon Ballers General Manager Matt Millward. “We will be creating videos with our players that will be shown each night, as well as doing some interactive in-game promotions that bring awareness to what items are compostable.”

In addition to waste diversion, LED field lights and motion sensor lighting assist with energy conservation at Atrium Health Ballpark. The Cannon Ballers also have plans to further reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on strategies aimed at water conservation.

 

Drive to Host Mobility Night August 26

 

The Greenville Drive are excited to host the first-ever Upstate Mobility Night August 26 at Fluor Field. Gates open at 6 PM while first pitch is at 7:05 against the Hickory Crawdads.

Teaming up with the Drive for the event is the Upstate Mobility Alliance. They will have booths on display throughout the concourse to show the future of electric vehicles, bikes, buses and charging stations.

There will also be t-shirt and water bottle giveaways throughout the evening.

Click here to get your tickets!

Whitecaps reveal “Grand Rapids Dam Breakers” persona that will bring more awareness to Grand Rapids Whitewater project

 

Comstock Park, MI – – Saturday, July 17, 2021 – – West Michigan Whitecaps Manager Brayan Pena answered his phone. The call was from Jim Jarecki, Whitecaps VP & General Manager. Pena listens intently, then smiles. “We’re doing WHAT?”

Jarecki was calling to get some Whitecaps players set up for a photo shoot on the banks of the Grand River. They would be dressed in a new uniform; with a new name they would not recognize.

At LMCU Ballpark tonight, the West Michigan Whitecaps announced their newest alternate identity, and with a grand purpose. The Whitecaps will become the Grand Rapids Dam Breakers for one night only on Saturday, August 21**st**, at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.milb.com/west-michigan

“Efforts to restore the Grand River have been underway for over a decade” said Matt Chapman, of Grand Rapids Whitewater. “We are honored that the entire Whitecaps organization believes in the tremendous opportunity our community has with the Grand River. With the support and awareness from The Grand Rapids Dam Breakers, we will work to restore the rapids in the Grand River for everyone.”

The Grand Rapids Dam Breakers persona was created to bring awareness to the Grand River restoration project. Spearheaded by Grand Rapids Whitewater, the goal is to restore the rapids back to a 2.5 mile stretch of the Grand River.

“There’s no doubt the Whitecaps love Grand Rapids and the unique history our city and even our ballpark have with the Grand River,” said Whitecaps CEO Joe Chamberlin. “This Dam Breakers persona is an awesome opportunity for us to bring awareness to this very special project and we will be doing all that we can to highlight the efforts of Grand Rapids Whitewater. The Whitecaps are an important part of the West Michigan landscape, and we are excited to support this new vision of revitalization, economic growth and plenty of new fun for everyone in our community.”

Why?

Residents and visitors alike flock to downtown attractions on both sides of the Grand River. It makes smart economic sense to make the riverfront a central gathering place for everyone.

The Anderson Economic Group projects 230,000 net new visitor days and more than 500,000 people each year, a boon that translates up to almost $19 million in net economic impact for the city and 80-100 new jobs. In addition, $250+ million in capital investments are anticipated within 10 years of the project completion.

“By embracing the Dam Breakers brand our fans, business partners, and all of West Michigan can join us in helping to create momentum and support for this exciting project that has the potential to mean so much to our city,” Chamberlin added. “A healthy and thriving Grand River helps create a healthy and thriving Grand Rapids and through the Dam Breakers brand we invite all of our Whitecaps fans to be part of this historic movement,” Chamberlin said.

Consumers Energy is one of those business partners who embraces the message and already responded as the Grand Rapids Dam Breakers game sponsor on August 21**st**.

“Consumers Energy is proud to be part of this community effort to put the Rapids back in Grand Rapids – a project that will provide west Michigan families significant recreational, economic, and environmental benefits,” said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “We are committed to better protecting our planet for generations to come, and we applaud the Whitecaps, temporarily the Grand Rapids Dam Breakers, and Grand Rapids Whitewater in their mission to enhance the natural resources here in the Grand Rapids community.”

In early July, the Whitecaps began teasing the announcement and the new name with cryptic sounds of water, images of waves and dates on their social media. The announcement tonight was the collaborative work of the Whitecaps, Grand Rapids Whitewater, and Consumers Energy.

The Whitecaps organization plans to give a portion of the proceeds of all Grand Rapids Dam Breakers merchandise over to the Whitewater project.

The Grand River restoration project proposes to bring natural, cultural and commercial excitement back to our waterway by restoring a 2.5-mile stretch of the river to its rightful, rolling state. From Ann Street to Fulton Street, the project will reveal an 18-foot drop in spectacular fashion, snaking and snarling around boulders, stone and natural reefs. With this exciting feature at its heart, a new riverfront will rise.

About West Michigan Whitecaps: The Whitecaps minor league baseball team was established in 1994. The Whitecaps are the High- A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play in the Eastern Division of the High-A Central League. The team’s home games are played in West Michigan’s favorite, largest, outdoor, multi-purpose venue, LMCU Ballpark. For more information on Whitecaps and LMCU Ballpark visit whitecapsbaseball.com or contact Steve VanWagoner at [email protected] or 616.318.8949.

About Grand Rapids Whitewater: Grand Rapids WhiteWater (GRWW) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, formed as an outgrowth of the **Green Grand Rapids**** initiative to champion the restoration of the rapids on the Grand River. Started by Chip Richards and Chris Muller, the organization is led by Steve Heacock and Matt Chapman, and backed by an active board of directors. **

In 2013, the Grand River restoration initiative was designated an Urban Waters Federal Partnership project. Working with numerous community partners, including design experts from the River Restoration Org., GRWW has led the planning, fundraising and permitting process.

About Consumers Energy: Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Media Contacts: Katie Carey, 517-740-1739, or Brian Wheeler, 517-740-1545

Spokane Indians Earn Prestigious WSRA Recycler of the Year Award

 

SPOKANE, Wash. – On November 2nd, the Spokane Indians were recognized for their Zero Waste Campaign during the 2019 calendar year, receiving the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) Recycler of the Year Award, in the Business Generator category. The WSRA presents annual Recycler of the Year (ROY) awards to spotlight individuals, businesses, government agencies and community organizations that are making outstanding contributions to strengthening and expanding recycling and waste prevention practices across the state.

“We’re honored to receive this award and to continue building on our responsibility as an environmental leader,” said Senior Vice President Otto Klein. “We recognize that we have the opportunity to impact the community through our efforts at Avista Stadium and this award is a testament to the work that we’ve done and will continue to do.”

The Indians were nominated by Kris Major, Education Coordinator for the City of Spokane’s Solid Waste Department. “Striving towards zero waste is difficult for any business, let alone one that deals with the public in the numbers that the Spokane Indians do. This recognition is well-deserved and the organization’s hard work and commitment to sustainability can be an inspiration to us all and a model for others to follow,” said Major.

In 2019, the Indians announced their commitment to becoming a zero waste facility with the Zero Waste Campaign. 60 zero waste stations were installed throughout Avista Stadium and an investment was made in compostable items, including beer cups, Pepsi cups (including lids and straws) and utensils. In 2019 alone, the Indians increased traditional recycling by 29% and diverted 12 tons of compostable materials from the waste stream, which equates to 28% of total waste. The compostable materials collected at the stadium were then transferred to a local facility, where they were processed into a healthy, soil building compost, used in agriculture, landscape, turf, and garden applications. A portion of that compost was eventually brought back and used in flower beds at Avista Stadium, creating a closed-loop system.

“We understand the importance of doing our part to protect the environment and resources for future generations,” said Klein. “With the help of our local partners and staff who work tirelessly every day, the Zero Waste Campaign is the next chapter for how we are striving to take care of the place we all call home.”

The Spokane Indians would like to thank the presenting partner of the Zero Waste Campaign, Spokane County Regional Solid Waste, and major contributors: the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wittkopf Landscape Supply, Sunshine Disposal & Recycling, and Barr-Tech.

Tortugas High School Ambassadors plan community beach cleanup

 

Tortugas Care Foundation will also unveil new beach cleanup station

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Tortugas will host a community beach cleanup and unveil a new beach cleanup initiative on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The event is being planned and produced by the Tortugas High School Ambassadors, a group of high school students from across Volusia County who explore careers in the sports and entertainment business as part of the team’s partnership with Volusia County Schools.

The public is invited to join in Wednesday’s cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon at Sun Splash Park, 611 S. Atlantic Ave. Supplies and water will be provided, but volunteers are asked to bring reusable gloves and a reusable bucket or bag if possible. Want to participate but can’t make it to the park? Go to your local beach and do your own cleanup with family and friends! Don’t forget to post about your cleanup on social media using #TugasCleanup.

The event will also include a ceremonial unveiling of a new beach cleanup station established by the Tortugas Care Foundation. TCF has partnered with Volusia County and Fill A Bag, a Key Biscayne nonprofit organization, to create and maintain the station.

Fill A Bag stations make it easy to turn walks on the beach into meaningful cleanups. Starting Wednesday, the public is invited to grab a bucket from the station and pick up trash while walking the beach. Once finished, users should empty the collected items into the nearby trash or recycling bin and return the bucket to the station for future users.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.

ABOUT THE TORTUGAS CARE FOUNDATION

The Tortugas Care Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization of the Daytona Tortugas. It was established in 2016 and supports the community through financial and in-kind contributions with a focus on youth sports and sea turtle conservation initiatives.

Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) presented by Montgomery Count Environmental Services

Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons and Montgomery County Environmental Services are once again teaming up for the Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) Program. This free, fun, and educational program is for kids and families to learn about household recycling and how recycling benefits the economy and the environment. The RBI Program only requires two weeks of tracking recycling to participate, but families are encouraged to keep up the good work afterwards.

There are some new changes to the program this year. In addition to a new logo and brand, participants will learn about how to “recycle right,” as well as what items can and cannot be recycled.

“Not everything can be recycled, and some items that can’t be recycled may come as a surprise to many participants,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge. “It’s important that our citizens learn good recycling habits, because having better materials makes the whole recycling system more financially sustainable.”

Hundreds of thousands of cans, glass, cardboard, and plastic have been saved from the landfill thanks to the recycling efforts of participants over the past nine years.

All participants will receive up to four Dragons lawn tickets to RBI Night at a sold-out Dragons game, an exclusive RBI water bottle and recycling bin, and will be eligible to win other great Dragons prizes and experiences.

Visit www.daytondragons.com/rbi to get more information and participate.

About Montgomery County Environmental Services

Montgomery County Environmental Services provides water and water reclamation (sewer) services to 80,000 customers, and solid waste and recycling services to 525,000 citizens in Montgomery County, Ohio. The department offers educational outreach programs for local schools, communities, and businesses that want to learn more about conservation and sustainability in the Miami Valley region. For more information, visit www.mcohio.org/departments/environmental_services/, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@mcohioes).

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Dragons to Participate in Great American Cleanup

Dayton, Ohio – Montgomery County Environmental Services will host the Great American Cleanup event on Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Ft. McKinley United Methodist Church on 3721 W. Siebenthaler Ave. in Dayton.

The Dragons will kick off the event from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. with hats, raffle prizes, Dragons players, members of the Dragons Green Team, members of the front office staff, and a mascot. The cleanup of the area will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m. Dragons players, Green Team and staff will assist in the cleanup until 12:00 p.m.

At this time, 2018 Great American Cleanup registration is full, but you can still show up to the event to help cleanup and enter the raffle or organize your own cleanup. You can visit www.kmbcohio.org to organize your own event.

This is a rain or shine event. In the event of severe weather, keep an eye on the Dragons Facebook and Twitter pages for updates on the morning of May 19.

About the Great American Cleanup

The Great American Cleanup is the largest organized volunteer litter cleanup and community improvement program in the country. This long standing Keep America Beautiful event, which runs annually from March 1 until May 31, is sponsored locally by the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) program. Keep Montgomery County Beautiful provides volunteers with cleanup supplies and can assist with litter disposal. KMCB can also help coordinate cleanup events and provide other resources for large scale community projects. For more information on KMCB programs, please visit www.kmcbohio.org or call (937) 225-4999.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Free Community Shred Day Sat. May 19

Money One Federal Credit Union and the Bowie Baysox are hosting a free shred-only event that allows you to protect your identity and safely dispose of old documents with personal information on Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. (no 3-ring binders, paperclips or rubbish please)

*New* Electronic Device Recycling! Bring any old computers, monitors, printers, and cables too! This will help support employment training and community jobs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We cannot provide destruction of computer hard drives.

This event will take place at Prince George’s Stadium, home of the Baysox and will run from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

For a complete list of items that will be accepted, please CLICK HERE.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Heater’s Recycling Bin Initiative

Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons and Montgomery County Environmental Services are once again teaming up for Heater’s RBI Program (Recycling Bin Initiative). It’s a free, fun and educational program for kids and families to learn about household recycling and its benefits to the earth. It only requires two weeks of tracking recycling to participate, but families are encouraged to keep up the good work after.

This is the 8th year for the RBI program and tens of thousands of cans, glass, cardboard and plastic have been saved from the landfill thanks for the recycling efforts of participants. The best part is, all participants will receive up to four Dragons lawn tickets for an exclusive RBI Night and be eligible to win other great prizes. Visit www.daytondragons.com/rbi to get more information and participate.

The RBI kickoff event will be after the Dragons game on Sunday, April 29 when the Dragons take on the Fort Wayne Tin Caps at 2:00 p.m. Fans can pick up a 10-gallon recycling bin (1 per household while supplies last), hang out with Curby the Cardinal and get more information on the RBI program upon leaving the game. Montgomery County Commissioner, Deborah Lieberman, will also be in attendance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and encourage the recycling efforts for the RBI program.

About Montgomery County Environmental Services

Montgomery County Environmental Services is more than 300 men and women who provide high-quality drinking water, solid waste, recycling, and wastewater reclamation services to the citizens of Montgomery County. They work to preserve public health, foster economic development, and protect the environment and our natural resources for future generations. They aim to be leaders and trusted stewards of the environment focused on service, collaboration, innovation, and financial responsibility.

Montgomery County Environmental Services also offers educational programs to local schools, community organizations and businesses that want to learn more about conservation and sustainability in the Miami Valley region.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Students wanted to design Fightins’ Energy Conservation Jersey

(Reading, PA) – The Reading Fightin Phils have announced an Energy Conservation theme jersey design competition for secondary students presented by Reading Area Community College during the Energy Conservation Go Green Night sponsored by Fromm Electric Supply. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27th at 7:05 p.m. when the Fightin Phils host the Erie SeaWolves.

The Fightin Phils are accepting jersey design concepts from local students with an Energy Conservation theme tied into the jersey. Students may draw their design or use computer software programs to design the jerseys. Designs may be submitted via mail or email in the following format: .jpg, .pdg, .eps, or .ai.

The jersey will be printed in full sublimation. Artwork of the jersey requires one of the Fightin Phils logos on the left chest or center chest. Students will receive a sample template that they may use to design the jersey.

Over 400 jersey designs were submitted during the inaugural jersey design competition last season. The Fightin Phils decided instead of rewarding just one student artist, artwork and concepts were incorporated from five students in the final jersey design from the 2017 competition.

Entries may be submitted to Todd Hunsicker, Director of Promotions. His email is thunsicker@fightins.com. Entries are due by Friday, March 30th.

Each student that submits an entry will receive two free tickets to the game on Wednesday, June 27th at 7:05 p.m. The student with the winning submission will receive a Go Green Jersey, four reserved seats with all you can eat buffet, a $50 gift card to the Fightin Phils Merchandise Store and a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game on June 27th.

The specialty themed jerseys worn by the Fightin Phils will be auctioned during the game and proceeds will go to the Berks Conservancy. Tickets are available for purchase online at fightins.com or can be purchased in person at the Fightin Phils Box Office at FirstEnergy Stadium.

America’s Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region. Individual and season tickets for the 2018 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

The Redband Rally Continues: Indians’ Staff Spends Day with Spokane Tribal Fisheries

Spokane, WASH. – Not even the offseason can stop the Spokane Indians historic Redband Rally Campaign.  Last month, the Spokane Indians Baseball front office staff spent the day on Lake Roosevelt and its tributaries with biologists from the Spokane Tribal Fisheries Department to learn more about protecting the native Redband Trout.

Four fisheries research vessels, including the newest boat to the fleet called the “Big Dawg” which features the Indians baseball historic Redband logo, spent the day up and down the river gill netting and electrofishing invasive Northern Pike. Northern Pike, the primary threat to Redband Trout, were illegally introduced into the watershed years ago and have proven destructive to the ecosystem. Additionally, Indians staff participated in their long term Sturgeon Research Project (since 1995) and Water Quality Monitoring Project.

“Anytime we can assist in protecting the Redband, we have interest,” said Indians Senior VP Otto Klein. “Not only do we owe it to our partners on this project, but also to the general health of all species in the river.”

2017 was the inaugural season of the Spokane Indians Redband Rally Campaign presented by the City of Spokane.  In addition to a new alternate brand and team mascot, the campaign raises money for the native Redband Trout habitat while highlighting the City’s efforts to clean the Spokane River.

Citizens can help protect the Redband Trout and the rest of the native inhabitants of the Spokane River by donating to the Redband Rally Fund. The fund, which is administered by the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, raises money for local organizations to conserve and protect the Spokane River and its native Redband Trout.

Click here to donate to the Redband Rally Fund

To help promote the Redband Rally Campaign throughout the 2017 season, the Spokane Indians Baseball Club unveiled a new mascot at Avista Stadium named “Ribby the Redband Trout” and distributed free Redband Headbands for fans to wear during the game. Along with Ribby, Indians players wore special Redband Jerseys for six games throughout season. While the Redband Jerseys were available through an online auction during the month of September, there are multiple new Redband merchandise items currently for sale at the Spokane Indians Team Store. $5 from each piece of Redband merchandise sold will be donated to the Redband Rally Campaign.

Click here to look at the Redband Merchandise at the Spokane Indians Team Store

The Spokane Indians Baseball Club is the Short Season Class ‘A’ Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. For more information, please visit SpokaneIndians.com or call (509) 343-OTTO (6886).

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Redband Jerseys Are Up For Auction

Spokane, WASH. – The Redband Jersey Auction has moved online and it’s now time to get your bids in for these authentic game-worn jerseys! The Redband Jerseys were worn six times by the Spokane Indians throughout the 2017 season in honor of the new Redband Rally Campaign that raises money for the native Redband Trout habitat.

The City of Spokane is the presenting sponsor of the campaign in an effort to bring awareness to the huge investment the city and its citizens have made in Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tanks to help collect untreated water from entering the Spokane River.

Click here to bid on the Redband Jersey Auction

Part of the proceeds from the jersey auction will go directly to the Redband Rally Fund. The fund, which is professionally administered by the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, raises money for local organizations to conserve and protect the Spokane River and its native Redband Trout.

The auction will be open until October 1st at 5:00 PM.

Click here to bid on the Redband Jersey Auction

While the Redband Jerseys are only available through the auction, there are multiple new Redband items currently for sale at the Spokane Indians Team Store. $5 from all Redband merchandise sold will be donated to the Redband Rally Campaign.

New merchandise items for sale include:

RedbandSizeSwag

Adjustable Hat for Release 2

Fishing Shirt Blue Background

Redband Polo blue background

Redband-Waves-Navy
Reband-Light-Blue-Trout

The Spokane Indians are the Short Season Class ‘A’ Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. For more information, please visit SpokaneIndians.com or call (509) 343-OTTO (6886).

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.