Bits and Bones
Spencer treats you to some fun facts

Spencer Chews the Bone with Keebler
Like every other dog, Spencer loves attention. So he was excited to sit down with Keebler Holley, the new Education Specialist for Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District, and learn all about him. Read on to see why Spencer considers Keebler to be one of his new best friends.

1. We both have unique names. How did you get such an unusual first name? My parents were living in New York, and my mother saw the name on a Keebler Cookies delivery truck, and decided to give me that name. It means “baker” in Celtic, and I pronounce it with a short e, versus the long e sound. It’s a great name for someone who loves to cook!!!

2. What did you do before you started with HCSWMD? I worked as an Extension Educator, for The Ohio State University Extension, here in Hamilton County. My program area was 4-H Youth Development, so I got to work with youth who raised animals, and also did a lot of urban programming, such as school programs, summer gardens, and leadership activities. I was with OSU for 11 years, and I have also taught students ages 5-92, English, reading, GED, and career exploration.

3. What are you looking most forward to in your new position? Well, basically continuing the great programs led by Sue Magness, and working with the Education Team to create sustainable recycling programs and educational efforts in Hamilton County schools. And, of course, bringing my own creative twist to programming efforts and meeting all of the wonderful people involved in recycling in Hamilton County.

4. You know I'm a recycling hound. Do you recycle at home? Of course, Spencer, it’s cool to be green. One thing that I am learning with this job is the little details about recycling, such as, to take the tops off of soda bottles before they go into the recycling bin, and how to correctly vermicompost, since the last time I attempted it, I ended up killing the worms.

5. What part of the city do you live in? I live in beautiful, historic Northside.

6. What is your life philosophy? Good things come to those who wait…..patience is a virtue.

7. I really like bacon. What is your favorite food? I really love just about any type of food, but if someone were to offer me a “last supper”, it would be tough to choose between Italian and southern food. I also really love farm to table, and slow cooking.

8. Oatmeal or grits? Grits, with lots of butter. Butter, not margarine.

9. When is your birthday? I have a big one coming up in October, and I’ve already started planning for it.

10. I love chasing my tail. What are some of your hobbies? I am a non-stop reader – magazines, books, newspapers, and I’ve been known to have more than one book going at a time. I will also admit that I am a tv junkie, and I love to travel, and anything arts related.

11. Do you own any animals? No, but if I did it would have to be a Great Dane, and some horses, so that I could learn how to jump and do dressage with them.

12. Were you raised in the city or rural area? I was raised mainly on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, surrounded by beef, chicken, goat, corn, soybean and sheep farms. It’s a very historic area, with lots of plantation houses, and historic buildings and towns, and the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and the waterways that branch off of it. But unfortunately, the farms are slowly dwindling, and being replaced by houses and lots of unnecessary carbon footprints.

13. You're a pretty cool guy, but I just can't sit and stay any longer. Do you have any last comments? Thank you for a wonderful interview, Spencer. And thank you to all the teachers and students out there who do such a great job spreading the word about recycling. I am excited and invigorated and hope that each of you joins me in working to create an environment that we all take responsibility for, and do all we can to keep clean.

Students at The Seven Hills School Take a Leadership Role to Reduce Waste
The Seven Hills School decided to purchase reusable lunch trays and silverware in an effort to reduce the waste of disposable polystyrene trays and plastic flatware. While the switch to reusable silverware and lunch trays went well for the elementary school students, unfortunately a lot of the silverware ended up disappearing in the middle and high schools. When the school decided to stop investing in silverware and go back to plastic flatware the middle school students debated about the benefits and drawbacks of silverware, and through a vote, 66% of students voted to raise money to purchase more silverware. When asked why they voted for silverware, most said they did it for environmental reasons. School officials are hoping that students will now take ownership of the silverware and be more careful that it does not end up in the trash. Way to go Seven Hills Middle School Students!

Spring Cleaning Pays Off
Doing a little spring cleaning around the house? Always a good idea. Finding a rare bill worth more than $300,000 in the process? Priceless. Though the name of the bill’s finder was not released, sources say the bill literally fell from a stack of papers that were being tossed as a family cleaned out the office of a deceased relative. The exceptionally rare $500 Canadian bill dating from 1911 and featuring the likeness of Queen Mary is only the third still known in existence. It survived the Great Depression, two world wars and a potential trip to the shredder to wind up on the auction block. There the note exceeded initial final bid estimates, selling for $322,000 U.S. dollars, the largest sum ever paid for a Canadian banknote.

New Masters Program in Renewable Energy
Four universities in Ohio have collaborated to offer a new masters program in renewable energy. The two-year degree will be offered through University of Dayton, Wright State University, Central State University and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Classes in the program will focus on the development of energy-reducing design techniques, renewable energy and manufacturing systems, and improvements on solar energy, fuel cells and biofuels. For more information, please contact each school directly.