Bulky Household Waste Day
Bulky household trash day at Utopia Recycles and the county landfill. Lots of community folks participated in this event.
Tons of thanks to our many volunteers, county workers and our metal recycle team for providing the entire crew with bbq hamburgers and sausage wraps.
Successful day!
Tons of thanks to our many volunteers, county workers and our metal recycle team for providing the entire crew with bbq hamburgers and sausage wraps.
Successful day!
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
We Appreciate You! Our annual volunteer appreciation dinner was fun and flavorful! County Commissioners joined in to salute our volunteers. Mike, Mark, Roy and George were recognized as having logged the most volunteer hours.
Night Sky Friendly Business
GOOD JOB SENIOR CENTER! The board agreed to downlight their flagpoles, and have only one shielded, spotlight pointed down. Mission Accomplished!
The Gold Star Affiliate award is the highest level of membership recognition that Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) can bestow on a community affiliate. KTB is a non-profit organization that focuses on environmental and community improvement. To receive Gold Star status, affiliates must:
- Demonstrate organizational aptitude
- Have strong community support
- Share information about their mission and goals
- Answer questions about their economic development, diversity, and inclusion practices
- Participate in the Beautify Texas Awards or Governor's Community Achievement Awards programs
- Provide a letter of support from their community
Congratulations to Jay Cantu, recipient of KUB's 2024 Scholarship Award!Jay volunteered over 50 hours at the recycle center and is going to pursue a career in aviation. He plans to pursue a Bachelors of Aviation from Liberty University while simultaneously achieving his pilot licenses at the US Aviation Academy Flight School in Denton, TX.
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Leading in the Rural Hill Country
Leading in the Rural Hill Country is a partnership program of the Hill Country Alliance, Texas AgriLife Extension, and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. Our steering committee visited Utopia Recycling and learned about how Keep Utopia Beautiful and the Utopia community grew a facility that now serves four counties, as well as grabbing lunch at Postal Brews. A bonus thanks to Real and Bandera county's Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents for joining us! You can learn more here: https://hillcountryalliance.org/our-work/communities/leading-in-the-rural-hill-country/
2023 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
In 2023 Utopia Recycles shipped 70.7 tons of recyclable commodities from Utopia Recycling Center, resulting in these environmental savings for 2023:
- 1,192 trees
- 287,267 KWHrs. of electricity
- 490,455 gallons of water
- 231 cubic yards of landfill space
- 4,205 lbs of air pollution
- $2,102 estimated landfill fees
Night Sky Friendly Business
GOOD JOB BLUE FLAME / PROPANE DEPOT/ DAVID KASSAI !!
First Utopia Business to be recognized as a Dark Night-Sky Friendly Business. Way to keep our Stars at Night, Big and Bright!!
First Utopia Business to be recognized as a Dark Night-Sky Friendly Business. Way to keep our Stars at Night, Big and Bright!!
Beginning week of January 22nd. The Utopia Dark Night Sky Business Recognition program is sponsored by Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) and endorsed by the Hill Country Alliance to recognize businesses and organizations that have Dark Night Sky-Friendly outdoor lighting.
Businesses earning the award will receive a window decal type display, the right to use the program’s Dark Night-Sky Friendly Business logo in advertising, a listing as a Dark Night Sky Friendly Business on KUB and the Hill Country Alliance websites, with links to the business website, and special recognition at any Dark Night Sky Event sponsored by Keep Utopia Beautiful.
Your lights may already merit this award. If you have any adjustments to make, please read through this entire application before deciding on the changes.
Businesses earning the award will receive a window decal type display, the right to use the program’s Dark Night-Sky Friendly Business logo in advertising, a listing as a Dark Night Sky Friendly Business on KUB and the Hill Country Alliance websites, with links to the business website, and special recognition at any Dark Night Sky Event sponsored by Keep Utopia Beautiful.
Your lights may already merit this award. If you have any adjustments to make, please read through this entire application before deciding on the changes.
Utopia Spay & Neuter Fund Cat Shelters
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Donation jars are located at the Propane Depot, Lost Maples Cafe, Postal Brews, Main Street Utopia, Gallery 187, and Utopia Ranch Outpost. When enough funds are collected for spay/neuter fees, we will pay for your barn/porch or feral cat. First come, first served. Contact Barbara if you need this service.
Drop unwanted coolers at Utopia Recycling Center for refurbishing into cat shelters.
Drop unwanted coolers at Utopia Recycling Center for refurbishing into cat shelters.
Adopt-a-Highway Pick Up November 2023
We picked up trash/litter along our adopt a highway stretch with the help of 7 volunteers and collected 8 bags of trash.
Bulky Household Waste Day
KUB at Fall Fair 2023
Adopt-a-Highway Pick Up September 2023
Thank you to 7 volunteers who braved the heat to clean up our 2 mile stretch of highway. Please pay special attention to Styrofoam and cigarette butts; these are especially bad for animals. Keep trash off our roadways!
New Forklift Arrives at Utopia Recycles
Greg Harmison, Site Manager for Utopia Recycles, utilizing the new forklift (aka T-Rex)
KUB Celebrates Volunteers June 3rd
Invaluable volunteers were treated to a Thank You dinner at the Blind Boar Brewery. Excellent beer brewed by Woody Golden and BBQ catered by Ernie Moore.
April 20th was Bulky Household Trash Day at Utopia Dump & Recycling
Locals cleaned out barns, sheds, garages, property and cleaned up our area!
Thanks to the Utopia/Vanderpool Community & Volunteers for making this a successful clean up day!!
19 volunteers helped unload items!
61 vehicles brought tires, old appliances, furniture, scrap metal, card board, plastics, cans, and other recyclable items!
3 & 1/2 roll off dumpsters were filled to top!
About 6 tons of scrap metal collected!
Thanks to the Utopia/Vanderpool Community & Volunteers for making this a successful clean up day!!
19 volunteers helped unload items!
61 vehicles brought tires, old appliances, furniture, scrap metal, card board, plastics, cans, and other recyclable items!
3 & 1/2 roll off dumpsters were filled to top!
About 6 tons of scrap metal collected!
Spring Arts & Crafts Fair
hosted by Keep Utopia Beautiful
May 6 , 9-4
Bulky Household Waste Day
Thursday, April 20, 2023, 9 am – 2 pm
Utopia Area Residents Clean-Up
Bagged Household Trash - No Charge
Recyclables gratefully accepted, as always
Bulky Household Waste
Yes -- mattresses, furniture, wood and non-recyclable plastics such as
outdoor chairs and tables, toys, etc.
No -- construction debris or household hazardous items such as
paint or chemicals
No – electronic waste
Tires—(as always) regular disposal fees apply
Scrap metal (as always) includes appliances, metals of all kinds and metal & plastic
combo items (50%+ metal), non-leaky car and truck batteries, wire fencing (no wooden
posts or concrete), cable
No propane bottles (unless cut in half), leaky batteries
Questions about Bulky Household Waste Day, call Greg at 281-703-4330.
Cash donations to Keep Utopia Beautiful are always gratefully accepted
Bagged Household Trash - No Charge
Recyclables gratefully accepted, as always
Bulky Household Waste
Yes -- mattresses, furniture, wood and non-recyclable plastics such as
outdoor chairs and tables, toys, etc.
No -- construction debris or household hazardous items such as
paint or chemicals
No – electronic waste
Tires—(as always) regular disposal fees apply
Scrap metal (as always) includes appliances, metals of all kinds and metal & plastic
combo items (50%+ metal), non-leaky car and truck batteries, wire fencing (no wooden
posts or concrete), cable
No propane bottles (unless cut in half), leaky batteries
Questions about Bulky Household Waste Day, call Greg at 281-703-4330.
Cash donations to Keep Utopia Beautiful are always gratefully accepted
First Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pick-up 2023
8 volunteers collected 9 bags of trash and pieces of other trash too large/heavy for bags - just the stretch between the Senior Center and the Y. THANK YOU! Keep trash off our roadways!
Illegal Dumping
Thank you John Heideman for reporting to TxDot illegal dumping on an overlook on 337 between Leakey and Vanderpool. TxDot pulled out 20 tires and a 10yd dump truck full of trash on December 13th, 2022. They also barricaded that pull off area to keep people from pulling in there. Stay vigilant and please report illegal dumping.
2022 New Shed and Signage
The new shed creates space to store more bales, thus improving efficiency and cost/benefit ratio as we are able to send out bigger loads. New signage on the main building was funded by a much appreciated anonymous donor.
2022 Utopia ISD Scholarship Recipients
Anita (Hope) Martinez Sierra Chanack
Keep Utopia Beautiful Scholarship Eligibility and Criteria
• Must be a graduating senior who has been accepted to a college, university, or technical school in the fall.
• Must have 50 volunteer hours at Utopia Recycle or TxDOT Highway Pickup. Scholarship award will be pending if hours are not completed by scholarship deadline. Award will be given once hours are completed.
• Applications will be judged based on the following criteria: School Activities, Leadership Positions Held, Community Service, and Essay.
• Include two letters of recommendation with this application.
• Application is due to the school counselor by 3:00 pm on April 1. Please put your application in a sealed envelope.
• Scholarship Amount - $1500
2021 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
In 2021 Utopia Recycles shipped 59.55 tons of recyclable commodities from Utopia Recycling Center, resulting in these environmental savings for 2021:
- 1,012 trees
- 244,135 KWHrs. of electricity
- 416,815 gallons of water
- 197 cubic yards of landfill space
- 3,573 lbs of air pollution
- $1,786.35 estimated landfill fees
LCRA, BANDERA ELECTRIC CO-OP AWARD $9,665 GRANT TO EXPAND RECYCLING EFFORTS
UVALDE COUNTY, Texas – Thanks to a $9,665 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative, Keep Utopia Beautiful will expand its recycling operations, helping the nonprofit organization better support its ongoing beautification efforts in the Sabinal Canyon area.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with matching funds of $3,773 from Keep Utopia Beautiful, will pay for the construction of a 27,000-cubic-foot metal building. The new building will be used to store additional recycled materials at the facility, which serves residents of Uvalde, Bandera, Real and Medina counties and is located on the site of Uvalde County’s former landfill.
“We’re just really excited about this grant and this project,” said Greg Harmison, chair of the Keep Utopia Beautiful board of directors. “This will be quite a boon to us because we’ll be able to do some things much more efficiently. Right now, there are times when we just don’t have room to store this, that or the other items.”
In 2021, Keep Utopia Beautiful collected and recycled more than 66 tons of material, including cardboard, plastic bottles and cartons, steel and aluminum cans, batteries and assorted paper products. The service is free to area residents and businesses.
Harmison said the additional building will help Keep Utopia Beautiful operate more cost-effectively by providing more space for storing baled materials that are ready to be shipped directly to recycling mills. By selling directly to mills, Keep Utopia Beautiful can avoid the need to pay secondary sellers to work with mills on its behalf.
“It takes anywhere from 36 to 40 bales to make up a truckload that ships to a mill, but right now once we start getting crowded, we can spend as much time shifting things around as doing things,” Harmison said. “Having this new building will allow us to get material out of the way. As an example, with this new building, we can store enough aluminum cans to get a truckload and then we can sell them at a higher price.”
Harmison said revenue from Keep Utopia Beautiful’s recycling facility covers about a fourth of the organization’s annual operating costs, “but every extra $100 we make off those materials gives us extra money to keep up with our programs.”
Beyond its recycling center, the organization’s beautification efforts include organizing litter removal, emptying trash receptacles along Utopia’s town square, conducting educational programs for area schoolchildren and watering trees alongside RM 187.
“With this new building, we’re hoping to be able to partner with some groups that don’t have their own recycling facility,” Harmison said. “It’s going to add quite a bit of space, alleviate some pressure on us and open us up to doing more recycling in the area.”
The community grant is one of 36 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bandera Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with matching funds of $3,773 from Keep Utopia Beautiful, will pay for the construction of a 27,000-cubic-foot metal building. The new building will be used to store additional recycled materials at the facility, which serves residents of Uvalde, Bandera, Real and Medina counties and is located on the site of Uvalde County’s former landfill.
“We’re just really excited about this grant and this project,” said Greg Harmison, chair of the Keep Utopia Beautiful board of directors. “This will be quite a boon to us because we’ll be able to do some things much more efficiently. Right now, there are times when we just don’t have room to store this, that or the other items.”
In 2021, Keep Utopia Beautiful collected and recycled more than 66 tons of material, including cardboard, plastic bottles and cartons, steel and aluminum cans, batteries and assorted paper products. The service is free to area residents and businesses.
Harmison said the additional building will help Keep Utopia Beautiful operate more cost-effectively by providing more space for storing baled materials that are ready to be shipped directly to recycling mills. By selling directly to mills, Keep Utopia Beautiful can avoid the need to pay secondary sellers to work with mills on its behalf.
“It takes anywhere from 36 to 40 bales to make up a truckload that ships to a mill, but right now once we start getting crowded, we can spend as much time shifting things around as doing things,” Harmison said. “Having this new building will allow us to get material out of the way. As an example, with this new building, we can store enough aluminum cans to get a truckload and then we can sell them at a higher price.”
Harmison said revenue from Keep Utopia Beautiful’s recycling facility covers about a fourth of the organization’s annual operating costs, “but every extra $100 we make off those materials gives us extra money to keep up with our programs.”
Beyond its recycling center, the organization’s beautification efforts include organizing litter removal, emptying trash receptacles along Utopia’s town square, conducting educational programs for area schoolchildren and watering trees alongside RM 187.
“With this new building, we’re hoping to be able to partner with some groups that don’t have their own recycling facility,” Harmison said. “It’s going to add quite a bit of space, alleviate some pressure on us and open us up to doing more recycling in the area.”
The community grant is one of 36 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bandera Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
Utopia Recycles receives GOLD STAR AFFILIATE 2022 Recognition
2020 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
Total Tons of materials recycled: 53.06
Total Savings in Landfill Fees: $1,591.69
Total Savings in Cubic Yards: 175
Total Savings in Trees: 903
Total Savings in Lbs of Air Pollution: 3,183
Total Savings in Gallons of Water: 371,392
Total Savings in KWHrs: 217,530
Total Savings in Landfill Fees: $1,591.69
Total Savings in Cubic Yards: 175
Total Savings in Trees: 903
Total Savings in Lbs of Air Pollution: 3,183
Total Savings in Gallons of Water: 371,392
Total Savings in KWHrs: 217,530
If you’re interested in more information on Bandera Canyonland Alliance and SOS there will be an information booth set up this Saturday 2/27 @ the Utopia Senior Center 10AM-2PM. Stop by at your convenience. You can get signs or T-Shirts to show your support and opposition to YoungLife’s waste water disposal system.
Resolution to support ZERO Discharge into Waterways
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) serves the unincorporated community of Utopia on
the Sabinal River in far northeastern Uvalde County and other small towns and
rural areas in Uvalde, Real and Bandera Counties. Our mission is to be nurturing
stewards of our canyon-lands including its dark skies and pristine waterways.
Keep Utopia Beautiful serves as a catalyst for reducing the human footprint on
our natural world.
KUB strongly opposes Young Life's Application to obtain a wastewater discharge
permit (#WQ0015892001) and requests that the permit be denied. We further
request a TCEQ public meeting that will allow the community to express their
serious concerns about the wastewater discharge permit.
The proposed discharge would permanently and dramatically damage the
ecological balance of the Nueces River basin headwaters area, of which the
Sabinal River is a part. The discharge, containing nitrates and phosphates, will
encourage algae blooms, damage an already struggling eco-system, and pose
significant danger to fish, other wildlife, and the riparian zones of the waterways.
Degradation of water quality would have a tremendous negative impact on the
tourism economy of the entire region. Tourists and locals highly value these
pristine waterways for recreation and the solace of nature.
Mark your calendars - First-annual Hill Country Night Sky Month happening in October
(September 8, 2020) – This October, celebrate the night sky all month long during the Hill Country Alliance’s inaugural Hill Country Night Sky Month! Created to bring awareness to the importance of night sky preservation in the Texas Hill Country, Hill Country Night Sky Month will feature events and activities across the Hill Country for night sky lovers of all ages. Read More
2019 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
▪ Shipped 70.93 tons of recyclable commodities from Utopia Recycling Center in 2019 with net income of $3,057.85 in commodity sales saving 1,206 trees; 290,885 KWHrs; 496,632 gallons of water; and 4,257 lbs. of air pollution; $2,128.43 estimated landfill fees; and 234 cubic yards of landfill space.
▪ Operated the Utopia Recycles Center 52 weeks out of the year opening 155 days with 1,333 volunteer hours and served 4,032 customers.
▪ Maintained the five landscape projects and Town Square throughout the year by watering, mowing, weeding, and repairing them.
▪ Maintained the 63 Bigtooth Maple trees in the right-of-way along FM 187 south of town throughout the year – watering, weeding, mowing around the trees, and spraying for weeds and pests such as ants.
▪ Conducted the Great Utopia CleanUp in April 2019 in conjunction with the Great American CleanUp and Earth Day where more than 80 volunteers worked 198 hours to clean up 27,880 pounds of litter, debris and bulky waste.
▪ On March 6, 2019, KUB celebrated 10 years of recycling at Utopia Recycles as of January 2019 with an event attended by volunteers, the Uvalde County Judge, and CTRA. Results of 10 years of recycling were 1,068,900 pounds of recyclable commodities being shipped, saving 9,083 trees; 2,191,332 KWHrs; 3,741,299 gallons of water; and 32.070 lbs. of air pollution; $18,705.75 estimated landfill fees; and 1,653 cubic yards of landfill space.
▪ Held Bulky Household Trash Day on Thursday, April 18, 2019 and continued the “repurpose station” for reuse of items. Sixteen volunteers worked a total of 68 hours where 11.5 tons of bulky household trash and 2.0 tons of scrap metal were collected from 52 customers.
▪ Completed quarterly Adopt-a-Highway pickups – February 20, 2019 (12 volunteers/6 bags); April 10, 2019 (11 volunteers/5 bags); September 11, 2019 (8 volunteers/9 bags); and December 11, 2019 (8 volunteers/9 bags) where 39 volunteers collected 29 bags of litter on 16 miles of highway.
▪ Participated in the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off on Saturday, April 10, 2019 and received a Certificate from TxDOT for participation.
▪ UISD 3rd graders entered the Don’t Mess with Texas calendar contest.
▪ Emptied the Don’t Mess with Texas trash barrels placed in Town Square to collect trash throughout the year; put them to use at the Fall Fair.
▪ Completed First Monday Town Clean-ups for 10 months out of the year where 30 people spent 31.75 hours collecting 19 bags of trash.
▪ Continued working with business owners to get cigarette disposal receptacles in front of their businesses and replaced/emptied ash receptacles as needed.
▪ Worked with the Texas Department of Transportation on the illegal dumping at a scenic overlook on FM 337 between Vanderpool and Leakey throughout the year and was instrumental in removing a number of tires and trash.
▪ Continued recycling used motor oil and petroleum fluids; 325 gallons of used petroleum-based automotive fluids were picked up in 2019. Also 2/3rds drum of used oil filters was recycled at a cost of $45.
▪ Continued recycling batteries and cell phones where 106 pounds of rechargeable batteries and 12 pounds of alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries were collected for a total of 118 pounds.
▪ Installed new electrical switches on two newer balers, repaired brown baler, purchased new pallet jack/scale, and replaced seat on forklift.
▪ Installed/built a new bathroom (donated by KUB Chair John Heideman) for Utopia Recycles volunteers.
Recognition's
▪ Maintained Keep America Beautiful affiliate status as the nation’s smallest KAB affiliate.
▪ KUB was recognized as a Gold Star Affiliate at the Keep Texas Beautiful annual conference.
▪ KUB received a Certificate of Recognition from CTRA in 2018 which was presented by Rachel Hering to the KUB Board in March 2019 and in January 2019 for 10 years of continued partnership and dedication to the environmental and recycling efforts of CTRA for operating Utopia Recycles for 10 years.
▪ KUB received a Certificate of Recognition from CTRA for Outstanding Recycling Efforts
▪KUB received the 2019 Governor’s Community Achievement Award, Category 1, with a total score of 99.5.
▪ Operated the Utopia Recycles Center 52 weeks out of the year opening 155 days with 1,333 volunteer hours and served 4,032 customers.
▪ Maintained the five landscape projects and Town Square throughout the year by watering, mowing, weeding, and repairing them.
▪ Maintained the 63 Bigtooth Maple trees in the right-of-way along FM 187 south of town throughout the year – watering, weeding, mowing around the trees, and spraying for weeds and pests such as ants.
▪ Conducted the Great Utopia CleanUp in April 2019 in conjunction with the Great American CleanUp and Earth Day where more than 80 volunteers worked 198 hours to clean up 27,880 pounds of litter, debris and bulky waste.
▪ On March 6, 2019, KUB celebrated 10 years of recycling at Utopia Recycles as of January 2019 with an event attended by volunteers, the Uvalde County Judge, and CTRA. Results of 10 years of recycling were 1,068,900 pounds of recyclable commodities being shipped, saving 9,083 trees; 2,191,332 KWHrs; 3,741,299 gallons of water; and 32.070 lbs. of air pollution; $18,705.75 estimated landfill fees; and 1,653 cubic yards of landfill space.
▪ Held Bulky Household Trash Day on Thursday, April 18, 2019 and continued the “repurpose station” for reuse of items. Sixteen volunteers worked a total of 68 hours where 11.5 tons of bulky household trash and 2.0 tons of scrap metal were collected from 52 customers.
▪ Completed quarterly Adopt-a-Highway pickups – February 20, 2019 (12 volunteers/6 bags); April 10, 2019 (11 volunteers/5 bags); September 11, 2019 (8 volunteers/9 bags); and December 11, 2019 (8 volunteers/9 bags) where 39 volunteers collected 29 bags of litter on 16 miles of highway.
▪ Participated in the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off on Saturday, April 10, 2019 and received a Certificate from TxDOT for participation.
▪ UISD 3rd graders entered the Don’t Mess with Texas calendar contest.
▪ Emptied the Don’t Mess with Texas trash barrels placed in Town Square to collect trash throughout the year; put them to use at the Fall Fair.
▪ Completed First Monday Town Clean-ups for 10 months out of the year where 30 people spent 31.75 hours collecting 19 bags of trash.
▪ Continued working with business owners to get cigarette disposal receptacles in front of their businesses and replaced/emptied ash receptacles as needed.
▪ Worked with the Texas Department of Transportation on the illegal dumping at a scenic overlook on FM 337 between Vanderpool and Leakey throughout the year and was instrumental in removing a number of tires and trash.
▪ Continued recycling used motor oil and petroleum fluids; 325 gallons of used petroleum-based automotive fluids were picked up in 2019. Also 2/3rds drum of used oil filters was recycled at a cost of $45.
▪ Continued recycling batteries and cell phones where 106 pounds of rechargeable batteries and 12 pounds of alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries were collected for a total of 118 pounds.
▪ Installed new electrical switches on two newer balers, repaired brown baler, purchased new pallet jack/scale, and replaced seat on forklift.
▪ Installed/built a new bathroom (donated by KUB Chair John Heideman) for Utopia Recycles volunteers.
Recognition's
▪ Maintained Keep America Beautiful affiliate status as the nation’s smallest KAB affiliate.
▪ KUB was recognized as a Gold Star Affiliate at the Keep Texas Beautiful annual conference.
▪ KUB received a Certificate of Recognition from CTRA in 2018 which was presented by Rachel Hering to the KUB Board in March 2019 and in January 2019 for 10 years of continued partnership and dedication to the environmental and recycling efforts of CTRA for operating Utopia Recycles for 10 years.
▪ KUB received a Certificate of Recognition from CTRA for Outstanding Recycling Efforts
▪KUB received the 2019 Governor’s Community Achievement Award, Category 1, with a total score of 99.5.
Congratulations again on achieving Gold affiliate status with Keep Texas Beautiful for 2020!
SARA WALTERS
Program Manager | Keep Texas Beautiful
Keep Utopia Beautiful receives 2020 Award of Excellence
March 2020
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Keep Utopia Beautiful Earns Keep America Beautiful
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Utopia, Texas (February 27, 2020) – Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, presented Keep Utopia Beautiful with its 2019 President’s Circle Award recognition at the Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Conference, which recently took place in Memphis, Tennessee. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance by certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful in creating clean, green, and beautiful communities. Read More.
KUB receives Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Recycling Efforts in 2019
Utopia recognized in Beautify Texas Quarterly | Hello, 2020 Newsletter
As we gear up for GCAA 2020, we'll be featuring all ten of our 2019 GCAA recipients over the next few months on our blog. Stay tuned to learn about our other winning communities!
Category 1: Utopia
Population Up to 3,000
Landscape Award: $90,000
ktb.org/ktb-blog/gcaa-2019-category-1?utm_source=Keep+Texas+Beautiful+Contact+List&utm_campaign=b95362cfa0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_15_11_36_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1097fae09e-b95362cfa0-86113299
Category 1: Utopia
Population Up to 3,000
Landscape Award: $90,000
ktb.org/ktb-blog/gcaa-2019-category-1?utm_source=Keep+Texas+Beautiful+Contact+List&utm_campaign=b95362cfa0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_15_11_36_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1097fae09e-b95362cfa0-86113299
Utopia Recycles has a re-branded partner for marketing our recyclables
Keep Texas Recycling
Cooperative Teamwork and Recycling Assistance (CTRA) has merged to form a new program of KTB called Keep Texas Recycling (KTR). KTR will continue services to implement and expand recycling programs throughout the state. The program will provide cooperative marketing of recyclable commodities and technical assistance to underserved Texas communities and is led by Rachel Hering, CTRA's Executive Director.
Cooperative Teamwork and Recycling Assistance (CTRA) has merged to form a new program of KTB called Keep Texas Recycling (KTR). KTR will continue services to implement and expand recycling programs throughout the state. The program will provide cooperative marketing of recyclable commodities and technical assistance to underserved Texas communities and is led by Rachel Hering, CTRA's Executive Director.
Keep America Beautiful also urges people to pledge to reduce, reuse, re-purpose, and recycle in every aspect of their lives. Available online and via paper pledges at America Recycles Day events across the country, the #BeRecycled Pledge is a promise you're making to actively live a more sustainable lifestyle, by:
- Recycling at home, work, school, and on the go;
- Buying products made with recycled content; and
- Educating and encouraging friends, family and neighbors to take the #BeRecycled Pledge.
Utopia Recognized as Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful
85 Texas Communities Honored by Statewide Nonprofit Organization
UTOPIA, TEXAS - Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement non-profit organization, recently named Utopia a Gold Star Affiliate, a designation granted to 85 affiliates of KTB’s nearly 300 affiliates. Gold Star recognition is the membership recognition highest status any community affiliate can achieve. Read More
KUB Chair John Heideman and Board Member D'Nese Fly accept
Gold Star Recognition
Gold Star Recognition
Keep Utopia Beautiful Earns Keep America Beautiful
President’s Circle Award Recognition
Local Organization Recognized for Exemplary Performance, Standard of Excellence
Utopia, Texas March 18, 2019 – Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, presented Keep Utopia Beautiful with its 2018 President’s Circle Award recognition at Keep America Beautiful’s recent National Conference, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance by certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful in creating clean, green and beautiful communities. 2018 President’s Circle Award Recognition
Utopia, Texas March 18, 2019 – Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, presented Keep Utopia Beautiful with its 2018 President’s Circle Award recognition at Keep America Beautiful’s recent National Conference, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance by certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful in creating clean, green and beautiful communities. 2018 President’s Circle Award Recognition
Utopia ISD 'Gang Green' at Utopia Recycles
Lynn Scotty brought 7th graders to Utopia Recycles to learn about everything that happens at UR from collection to the end results of the product. Kudos to Greg Harmison, site manager, and Lynn for educating our youngsters.
2018 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
- Shipped 43.56 tons of recyclable commodities from Utopia Recycling Center
- 400 gallons of used petroleum-based automotive fluids
- One drum of used oil filters
- Completed First Monday Town Clean-ups for 10 months out of the year,collecting 38 bags of trash
- Completed quarterly Adopt-a-Highway pickups ,collecting 28 bags of trash
- Board members and citizens conducted additional trash/litter pickups throughout the year,collecting 32 bags of trash
- Continued working with business owners to get cigarette disposal receptacles in front of their businesses
- Worked with Marsha Jo Sheedy to place 2 recycling bins in the Utopia Park
...That's not all folks! Read about ALL 2018 accomplishments
Thank you Billie Nast, for your dedication to Utopia ISD School Garden
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Rusty Blackhaw
Utopia Recycles installs Recycling Bins at Utopia Park
Another project completed for Utopia Recycles.
Big shout out to Utopia Park and Marsha Jo Sheedy for initiating recycling in the park. Plastic bottles and aluminum cans will now have a better place to go instead of the land fill.
Big shout out to Utopia Park and Marsha Jo Sheedy for initiating recycling in the park. Plastic bottles and aluminum cans will now have a better place to go instead of the land fill.
Utopia Recycles gets New Storage Building - Thank you Donors!
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Keep Utopia Beautiful Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon For:
THE STARS of UTOPIA RECYCLES
September 10, 2018 11:30 a.m. at Utopia Senior Center
RSVP by 9/3 Linda 966-3314 or [email protected]
THE STARS of UTOPIA RECYCLES
September 10, 2018 11:30 a.m. at Utopia Senior Center
RSVP by 9/3 Linda 966-3314 or [email protected]
Thank You Billie !
A beautiful retirement gathering for Billie at the Utopia School with the first, second and third grade students. Billie is hanging up her shovel as the KUB Utopia School garden mentor. The students said farewell to a wonderful teacher. They read thank you notes and presented Billie with individual cards of thanks for all her hours dedicated to the students and the school garden. KUB presented Billie with a Rusty Black Haw tree that will be placed in the school garden in her honor.
We will have a tough time replacing this very special, caring, talented gardener. May 2018
We will have a tough time replacing this very special, caring, talented gardener. May 2018
TxDot Recognizes KUB , 2018
2017 Keep Utopia Beautiful Accomplishments
KUB Communication Tower Recommendations
Surrounded by steep mountain walls, the Sabinal River Valley is a natural paradise of clear water streams with rock bottoms, towering cypress trees, great spreading live oaks, narrow canyons lined with cedars and colorful deciduous hardwoods, limestone cliffs, pure fresh air, and dark night skies. The Sabinal River Valley is home to many species of wildlife and is on the flyway for migratory birds, including the endangered Golden Cheeked Warbler and Black Capped Vireo. It is incumbent on everyone to reduce the negative impact of the human footprint on this great natural paradise.
As a steward of the Sabinal River Valley, Keep Utopia Beautiful offers the following suggestions: CLICK HERE TO READ SUGGESTIONS
photo: http://www.davisvanguard.org/2011/12/serious-opposition-from-community-based-environmental-groups-to-proposed-radio-tower/
As a steward of the Sabinal River Valley, Keep Utopia Beautiful offers the following suggestions: CLICK HERE TO READ SUGGESTIONS
photo: http://www.davisvanguard.org/2011/12/serious-opposition-from-community-based-environmental-groups-to-proposed-radio-tower/
KEEP UTOPIA BEAUTIFUL at FALL FAIR 2017
KUB encouraged the community to recycle and to Save our Dark Night Sky by keeping lights at a minimum and pointing down. Teicher created an innovative display of re-purposed DIY crafts and useful items - Virginia loaned her Christmas tree loaded with every annual Keep Texas Beautiful ornaments. Our 'photo booth' was a fun way to interactively teach about recycling and stewardship while playing 'dress-up'. And our raffle was a big hit as always - unique items offered at a low ticket price to lucky winners - a win win. Thank You to all the volunteers and patrons who made this a fun day on the square.
See ya'll next fall!!
See ya'll next fall!!
KEEP UTOPIA BEAUTIFUL RECOGNIZED AS A GOLD STAR AFFILIATE BY
KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL
Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement organization, recently named Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) a Gold Star Affiliate, a designation conferred on just 66 of KTB’s more than 395 affiliates in 2017. Gold Star recognition is the highest status any community affiliate can achieve. Read More Here
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International Compost Awareness Week :May 7-13, 2017
Compost! Healthy Soil, Healthy Food.
Today’s environmental and economic challenges are not unique to any particular country in the world. Whether developed or developing, all nations are facing the repercussions of climate change and food waste issues. And all will benefit from the sustainable resource management strategies that include compost!
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KUB Raised $5465.00 Thanks to Generous Community Donations
Whoo Hoo! Very Successful Fundraiser
KUB participated in the BIG GIVE 2017 on-line fund raiser on May 4 and hosted an all day open house at the Utopia Memorial Library. Citizens came by to nosh on cookies & tacos, utilize the library's computers, and donate in person.
Sincere appreciation and Thank You to all donors, volunteers and the library for allowing us the space yesterday to be able to have a face-to-face presence with the community. Donors entered a raffle to win donated prizes and those will be distributed May 5.
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) serves the unincorporated community of Utopia on the Sabinal River in far northeastern Uvalde County and other small towns and rural areas in Uvalde, Real and Bandera Counties.
In total, KUB depends on receiving around $38,500 in donations annually in order to operate it's projects: Utopia Recycles * Great Utopia Cleanup * Texas Waterway Cleanup * TxDOT Adopt a Highway * Clear Stream Event Containers * "Welcome to Utopia" Landscaping * Maple Tree Project * Town and Square Beautification * Electronics Waste Collection * Educational Programs (incl. Utopia School Garden) * Stars Over Utopia (responsible outdoor lighting) *Cigarette Litter Prevention
KUB participated in the BIG GIVE 2017 on-line fund raiser on May 4 and hosted an all day open house at the Utopia Memorial Library. Citizens came by to nosh on cookies & tacos, utilize the library's computers, and donate in person.
Sincere appreciation and Thank You to all donors, volunteers and the library for allowing us the space yesterday to be able to have a face-to-face presence with the community. Donors entered a raffle to win donated prizes and those will be distributed May 5.
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) serves the unincorporated community of Utopia on the Sabinal River in far northeastern Uvalde County and other small towns and rural areas in Uvalde, Real and Bandera Counties.
In total, KUB depends on receiving around $38,500 in donations annually in order to operate it's projects: Utopia Recycles * Great Utopia Cleanup * Texas Waterway Cleanup * TxDOT Adopt a Highway * Clear Stream Event Containers * "Welcome to Utopia" Landscaping * Maple Tree Project * Town and Square Beautification * Electronics Waste Collection * Educational Programs (incl. Utopia School Garden) * Stars Over Utopia (responsible outdoor lighting) *Cigarette Litter Prevention
Keep Utopia Beautiful Earns Keep America Beautiful
President’s Circle Award Recognition
Local Organization Recognized for Exemplary Performance,
Standard of Excellence
Utopia, Texas (March 14, 2017) – Keep America Beautiful presented
Keep Utopia Beautiful with its President’s Circle Award recognition at the
Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which took place in Washington, D.C. January 24-26, 2017. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary
performance by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in creating clean, greenand beautiful communities. Read More
Standard of Excellence
Utopia, Texas (March 14, 2017) – Keep America Beautiful presented
Keep Utopia Beautiful with its President’s Circle Award recognition at the
Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which took place in Washington, D.C. January 24-26, 2017. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary
performance by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in creating clean, greenand beautiful communities. Read More
Help our community—donate to Keep Utopia Beautiful
during The Big Give
MAY 4, 2017
The Big Give 2017 will raise $6 million for South Central Texas non-profits!
Tax deductible contributions can be made on-line with credit or debit cards on the day of The Big Give, May 4th, midnight to midnight!
Go to https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/keep-utopia-beautiful to read our story and to donate $10—$10,000!
Make Utopia a great place to live, work, and play!
Tax deductible contributions can be made on-line with credit or debit cards on the day of The Big Give, May 4th, midnight to midnight!
Go to https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/keep-utopia-beautiful to read our story and to donate $10—$10,000!
Make Utopia a great place to live, work, and play!
GREAT UTOPIA CLEAN UP (GUCU)
APRIL 2017
It’s time to spruce up and clean up our town, roads, and homes! Join Keep Utopia Beautiful and Utopia Recycles for these events.
April 3 Town Clean-Up Mon. 9 am, meet at the Town Square with your work gloves. Bags & tools provided.
April 7 Texas Trash-OFF Fri. 9 am, meet at the BEC Power Station at the Big “Y” with your boots & gloves. Bags & tools provided.
April 20 Bulky Household Waste Day Thur. 9 am—2 pm at the Utopia “dump” . See posters/ flyers around town for details.
For questions email [email protected] or call Greg at 281.703.4330.
April 3 Town Clean-Up Mon. 9 am, meet at the Town Square with your work gloves. Bags & tools provided.
April 7 Texas Trash-OFF Fri. 9 am, meet at the BEC Power Station at the Big “Y” with your boots & gloves. Bags & tools provided.
April 20 Bulky Household Waste Day Thur. 9 am—2 pm at the Utopia “dump” . See posters/ flyers around town for details.
For questions email [email protected] or call Greg at 281.703.4330.
Shop with smile.amazon.com, pick your charitable organization:
'Keep Utopia Beautiful' of course!
Remember to shop at smile.amazon.com and select Keep Utopia Beautiful as your non-profit choice. Amazon has a large variety of gifts that are perfect for Valentine's Day including electronics, jewelry, clothing, and more.
smile.amazon.com/ch/26-3344645
smile.amazon.com/ch/26-3344645
Utopia Recycles Now Accepts Cartons
Shelf Stable and Refrigerated Cartons
- Take off caps and recycle them separately
- Open tops by pulling the top open or cutting it open
- Rinse and drain cartons
- Do not flatten
Shop with smile.amazon.com, pick your charitable organization:
'Keep Utopia Beautiful' of course!
Holiday shopping is easy with Amazon's Holiday Gift Guides. #StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com for your holiday gifts and Amazon donates to Keep Utopia Beautiful.
On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you need to select a charitable organization, Keep Utopia Beautiful, to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to KUB!
Gift Guide Link: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/charity/homepage.html?orig=%2Fgp%2Fbrowse.html%3Fnode%3D12745394011&ein=26-3344645
On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you need to select a charitable organization, Keep Utopia Beautiful, to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to KUB!
Gift Guide Link: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/charity/homepage.html?orig=%2Fgp%2Fbrowse.html%3Fnode%3D12745394011&ein=26-3344645
KUB highlights Utopia Recycles & Stars Over Utopia programs in 2016 Fall Fair
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Keep Utopia Beautiful Receives Grant |
Utopia, Texas (November 2, 2016) – America Recycles Day, a program of Keep America Beautiful, is a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Every year on or around November 15 (America Recycles Day) thousands of events are held across the nation to educate neighbors, friends and colleagues about recycling.
Keep Utopia Beautiful will be participating in America Recycles Day this year by holding an Electronics Recycling opportunity for Utopia and the surrounding area four different days during the month of November. The Electronics Recycling events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15; Thursday, November 17; Saturday, November 19; and Tuesday, November 22 at Utopia Recycles located on County Road 357 off of Farm to Market Road 1050. Read More
Keep Utopia Beautiful will be participating in America Recycles Day this year by holding an Electronics Recycling opportunity for Utopia and the surrounding area four different days during the month of November. The Electronics Recycling events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15; Thursday, November 17; Saturday, November 19; and Tuesday, November 22 at Utopia Recycles located on County Road 357 off of Farm to Market Road 1050. Read More
KUB and Stars Over Utopia at UTOPiAfest8
The KUB Green Team this year was the BEST ever! We worked over 500 hours to educate, recycle, and keep the grounds clean! A big responsibility taken to heart by wonderful people for wonderful people. We owe a huge thanks to everyone who came to UTOPIAfest and to all those who made our job easier. We love this event and look forward to 2017!
Thank you Green Team for everything!
Thank you Green Team for everything!
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18 sacks of sorted aluminum and plastic from Utopiafest. We had a great green team sorting on sight (SOS).
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Stars Over Utopia and Hill Country Alliance educating fest goers about preserving dark night skies.
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On the Edge of Night
Preserving the night skies of the Texas Hill Country
Stars Over Utopia, a program of Keep Utopia Beautiful, is working with Keep it Real-ly Beautiful, The Hill Country Alliance, The Hill Country River Region, and Regional Dark Sky Leaders to help preserve the dark nighttime skies.
The next meeting will be September 8, Thursday, at Garner State Park, and is open to the public.
Read Vicki Wolf's article here.
The next meeting will be September 8, Thursday, at Garner State Park, and is open to the public.
Read Vicki Wolf's article here.
Image: NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC
Keep Utopia Beautiful Wins Keep American Beautiful / Dr. Pepper/ Snapple
Bin Grant for Parks
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Utopia, Texas (September 6, 2016) Keep Utopia Beautiful has been selected to win all-weather, durable bins to be used in State and Local Parks. KUB will receive 30 bins (that retail at $369 each) for use at area parks. 20-22 will be placed at Lost Maples State Natural Area, 6-7 at City Park, 2-3 at the Town Square.
The newly formed Friends of Lost Maples State Natural Area are ready to take on the collection and reporting requirements via this much improved system. A meeting will be held prior to distribution in mid-Sept. to firm up the usage and reporting requirements. |
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Keep Utopia Beautiful Establishes Beautification Endowment
Utopia, Texas (August 20, 2016) – At its regular August board meeting, Keep Utopia Beautiful, Inc. (KUB) established the Utopia Beautification Endowment with initial funding from the Utopia Garden Club which has now been disbanded. Additional funding will be sought from company, institutional, and individual donors. Read More
Utopia Beautification Endowment Signing by KUB Treasurer Claudia Rogers (left) and Chair Doris Howdeshell (right)
Stars over Utopia exhibits at Bandera Electric Co-Op Energy Fair
May 21, 2016
Claudia Rogers and Barbara Baggett from KUB and Cliff Kaplan from Hill Country Alliance participated in BEC's Energy Fair. The booth was designed to educate BEC members about best practices for outdoor lighting. Big Thank You for Richard Rogers' invaluable assistance, and Judy Schaefer for coming out to support the volunteers. Many members stopped by to learn what is best for outdoor lighting:
Although BEC is now offering LED shielded outdoor lighting, Stars over Utopia, International and Texas Dark Sky Association and Hill Country Alliance recommend waiting until BEC is able to offer those fixtures in a less-blue light color. * Look for 2700 - 3200 Kelvin; Kelvin is a measurement of how amber or blue the light appears. LEDs that emit at or below 3200K are significantly better than those that emit light above 3200K Blue light at night is detrimental to humans and animals.
Claudia Rogers and Barbara Baggett from KUB and Cliff Kaplan from Hill Country Alliance participated in BEC's Energy Fair. The booth was designed to educate BEC members about best practices for outdoor lighting. Big Thank You for Richard Rogers' invaluable assistance, and Judy Schaefer for coming out to support the volunteers. Many members stopped by to learn what is best for outdoor lighting:
- Use lights only where needed (studies have shown no correlation between crime and lighting)
- Consider a switch, timer, or motion detector
- Point lights down, at least a 90% angle to the horizon
- Fully shield the light source
- Use only fixtures that emit light at 2700 K (optimum) or 320 0K and below*
Although BEC is now offering LED shielded outdoor lighting, Stars over Utopia, International and Texas Dark Sky Association and Hill Country Alliance recommend waiting until BEC is able to offer those fixtures in a less-blue light color. * Look for 2700 - 3200 Kelvin; Kelvin is a measurement of how amber or blue the light appears. LEDs that emit at or below 3200K are significantly better than those that emit light above 3200K Blue light at night is detrimental to humans and animals.
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Utopia School Garden 2015-2016
Dear Parents,
We would like to let you know what has been happening in the School Garden this year. We have enjoyed working with your child/children. They are a joy! They have learned many lessons about gardening this past year. Read More
Dear Parents,
We would like to let you know what has been happening in the School Garden this year. We have enjoyed working with your child/children. They are a joy! They have learned many lessons about gardening this past year. Read More
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Program aims to keep local skies bright with stars, not lights
by Lane Riggs, staff Writer, Uvalde Leader News
Members of Keep Utopia Beautiful recently joined Hill Country Alliance program director Cliff Kaplan to encourage Uvalde County Commissioners to support the preservation of dark skies in the area by reducing light pollution.
Kaplan, along with Claudia Rogers and Barbara Baggett of Keep Utopia Beautiful, spoke to commissioners May 23, ultimately convincing the county’s governing body to pass a resolution of support. Read More
by Lane Riggs, staff Writer, Uvalde Leader News
Members of Keep Utopia Beautiful recently joined Hill Country Alliance program director Cliff Kaplan to encourage Uvalde County Commissioners to support the preservation of dark skies in the area by reducing light pollution.
Kaplan, along with Claudia Rogers and Barbara Baggett of Keep Utopia Beautiful, spoke to commissioners May 23, ultimately convincing the county’s governing body to pass a resolution of support. Read More
KUB received $2325 from 21 individuals during the Big Give! Thanks to everyone who donated to support the work of KUB in 2016.
Although The Big Give SA experienced some technical difficulty, that didn't deter 21 faithful donors from contributing $2,325 to maintaining the efforts of Keep Utopia Beautiful in 2016. Thank You to all who participated, you are greatly appreciated. Our entire community will benefit. Anyone who wishes to contribute to our worthy endeavor can go to DONATIONS in the orange bar above. A PayPal button will be on that page.
Nely Munoz wins $6K TxDot Scholarship for Community Spirit!
May 5, 2016 Utopia High School senior, Nely Munoz, won a $6000 TxDot scholarship for her community spirit. Nely and senior sponsor Lynn Scotty spent many hours picking up litter along 11 miles of 187 North on both sides and organizing a follow up when she will be off to college. KUB and all of Utopia are so proud of you Nely.
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May 2, 2016 Donate to KUB each time you shop at Amazon!
KUB Participates in The Big Give S.A.
What is the Big Give S.A.?
The Big Give S.A.is a 24-hour day of giving that brings donors and nonprofits together by creating a shared region-wide experience and connecting people to the causes that matter to them the most. Last year YOU came together to raise $4.3 million dollars for 882 charitable causes in 24 hours. This year, with a goal of $6,000,000, we are hoping to do even more for South Central Texas.
Anyone can donate to their favorite nonprofits on May 3, 2016 from midnight through 11:59 p.m. on the Big Give website.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO KEEP UTOPIA BEAUTIFUL ON MAY 3
Keep Utopia Beautiful page
The Big Give S.A.is a 24-hour day of giving that brings donors and nonprofits together by creating a shared region-wide experience and connecting people to the causes that matter to them the most. Last year YOU came together to raise $4.3 million dollars for 882 charitable causes in 24 hours. This year, with a goal of $6,000,000, we are hoping to do even more for South Central Texas.
Anyone can donate to their favorite nonprofits on May 3, 2016 from midnight through 11:59 p.m. on the Big Give website.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO KEEP UTOPIA BEAUTIFUL ON MAY 3
Keep Utopia Beautiful page
April 19, 2016
Bob is the second person to win a prize recycling container in KUB's Cardboard Drive raffle.
Keep the cardboard coming in!
Bob is the second person to win a prize recycling container in KUB's Cardboard Drive raffle.
Keep the cardboard coming in!
April 4-30, 2016 Keep Utopia Beautiful is having a cardboard drive. The reason for the drive is to introduce additional Utopians to the Recycling Center. This is also part of our Great Utopia Clean Up in April.
We are having a grades K-4 class competition from the Utopia school. Each time a parent or guardian of a student brings in cardboard to the center his or her child's name will get a tally mark on a class roster. The class with the most participation by the end of the drive will win a prize.
We are also inviting everyone in our community to participate in the cardboard drive. Each time someone brings in cardboard they will be given a raffle ticket. We will have a drawing on each Saturday for a prize. Need not be present to win.
Stop by Utopia Recycles if you have any questions about the cardboard drive or to learn what else you can recycle at the center.
We are having a grades K-4 class competition from the Utopia school. Each time a parent or guardian of a student brings in cardboard to the center his or her child's name will get a tally mark on a class roster. The class with the most participation by the end of the drive will win a prize.
We are also inviting everyone in our community to participate in the cardboard drive. Each time someone brings in cardboard they will be given a raffle ticket. We will have a drawing on each Saturday for a prize. Need not be present to win.
Stop by Utopia Recycles if you have any questions about the cardboard drive or to learn what else you can recycle at the center.
Utopia HS brought in a nice load of cardboard today. It is great to see these young adults helping our community. Thanks Lynn Scotty for your never ending support.
Keep Utopia Beautiful Earns Keep America Beautiful
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Utopia, Texas (February 23, 2016) – Keep Utopia Beautiful received the 2015 Keep America Beautiful President Circle Award recognition at Keep America Beautiful’s recent National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance made by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in creating clean, green and beautiful communities.
In qualifying for a President’s Circle Award, Keep Utopia Beautiful has met Keep America Beautiful’s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio, and administering activities in the areas of litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification and community greening. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful consists of a national network of more than 600 statewide and community-based affiliates whose programs, initiatives and efforts, supported by millions of volunteers, help transform public spaces into beautiful places.
“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective tools is the work of our grassroots network of community-based affiliate organizations, which has an impact on millions of Americans each year,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Jennifer Jehn. “Our affiliates are providing real solutions that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.”
Community Appearance Index—Litter Index: The Keep America Beautiful Community Appearance Index—Litter Index is a tool used by affiliates to visually assess overall appearance of communities through indicators such as litter, illegal signs, graffiti, abandoned or junk vehicles, and outside storage. A team of community, business and government representatives conduct a visual analysis using a scoring system ranging from 1-4, with “1” rated as “no litter” to “4” being “extremely littered.” Each year, affiliates grade their communities during a drive-by examination of the same areas at the same time of the year. This provides an indication of the success of each community’s anti-littering education and other anti-littering programs. Keep Utopia Beautiful scored a litter index of 1.24 in July 2015 compared to its score of 1.51 in 2014, showing an improvement in litter over the year.
Cost/Benefit Analysis: This measurement tool enables Keep America Beautiful affiliates to demonstrate their ability to leverage community resources by determining the dollar value returned to the community for every dollar invested. “Keep Utopia Beautiful is the smallest state and national affiliate in the nation, which could translate to one with the least resources. However, we are blessed with wonderful volunteers, and our cost benefit analysis indicates that for every $1 spent, there is a return on that investment of $102,” said Doris Howdeshell, Chair of Keep Utopia Beautiful.
Keep America Beautiful’s National Conference, its premier educational and networking event, brought together more than 350 leaders from Keep America Beautiful’s national network of more than 600 state and community-based affiliates, business leaders, policymakers and other experts who shared innovative ideas and proven strategies to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities.
About Keep Utopia Beautiful
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) serves the unincorporated community of Utopia on the Sabinal River in far northeastern Uvalde County and other small towns and rural areas in Uvalde, Real, Medina, and Bandera Counties. For more information on programs and events, visit www.keeputopiabeautiful.org or like us on Facebook.
About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering in America, improve recycling in America, and beautify America’s communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.
In qualifying for a President’s Circle Award, Keep Utopia Beautiful has met Keep America Beautiful’s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio, and administering activities in the areas of litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification and community greening. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful consists of a national network of more than 600 statewide and community-based affiliates whose programs, initiatives and efforts, supported by millions of volunteers, help transform public spaces into beautiful places.
“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective tools is the work of our grassroots network of community-based affiliate organizations, which has an impact on millions of Americans each year,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Jennifer Jehn. “Our affiliates are providing real solutions that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.”
Community Appearance Index—Litter Index: The Keep America Beautiful Community Appearance Index—Litter Index is a tool used by affiliates to visually assess overall appearance of communities through indicators such as litter, illegal signs, graffiti, abandoned or junk vehicles, and outside storage. A team of community, business and government representatives conduct a visual analysis using a scoring system ranging from 1-4, with “1” rated as “no litter” to “4” being “extremely littered.” Each year, affiliates grade their communities during a drive-by examination of the same areas at the same time of the year. This provides an indication of the success of each community’s anti-littering education and other anti-littering programs. Keep Utopia Beautiful scored a litter index of 1.24 in July 2015 compared to its score of 1.51 in 2014, showing an improvement in litter over the year.
Cost/Benefit Analysis: This measurement tool enables Keep America Beautiful affiliates to demonstrate their ability to leverage community resources by determining the dollar value returned to the community for every dollar invested. “Keep Utopia Beautiful is the smallest state and national affiliate in the nation, which could translate to one with the least resources. However, we are blessed with wonderful volunteers, and our cost benefit analysis indicates that for every $1 spent, there is a return on that investment of $102,” said Doris Howdeshell, Chair of Keep Utopia Beautiful.
Keep America Beautiful’s National Conference, its premier educational and networking event, brought together more than 350 leaders from Keep America Beautiful’s national network of more than 600 state and community-based affiliates, business leaders, policymakers and other experts who shared innovative ideas and proven strategies to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities.
About Keep Utopia Beautiful
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) serves the unincorporated community of Utopia on the Sabinal River in far northeastern Uvalde County and other small towns and rural areas in Uvalde, Real, Medina, and Bandera Counties. For more information on programs and events, visit www.keeputopiabeautiful.org or like us on Facebook.
About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering in America, improve recycling in America, and beautify America’s communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.
On August 26, 2015, the Middle Rio Grande Development Council presented Keep Utopia Beautiful Board Member Claudia Rogers with a commendation in appreciation for her leadership and commitment as a member of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee in promoting a clean and safe environment throughout the Middle Rio Grande Region. The commendation was signed by the Hon. Garry A. Merritt, Board President (and Real County Judge) and Nick Gallegos MRGDC Executive Director.
A luncheon was held at House Pasture Restaurant for this annual MRGDC presentation, and the plaque was presented by State Representative Tracy O. King, Judge Garry Merritt, and Executive Director Nick Gallegos.
A luncheon was held at House Pasture Restaurant for this annual MRGDC presentation, and the plaque was presented by State Representative Tracy O. King, Judge Garry Merritt, and Executive Director Nick Gallegos.
Keep Utopia Beautiful National Certification
L to R: Kent Kepler, Evelyn Lebouf, Christine Chute Canul (trainer), John Heideman, Doris Howdeshell, Judy Schaefer, Claudia Rogers, and Peggy Duvall
Utopia, Texas (February 10, 2015) – Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB) started the new year out right by becoming one of the newest, and smallest, affiliate of Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Keep America Beautiful is a national community improvement organization comprised of local and statewide affiliated organizations and has a mission to engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environment.
The organization was founded in 1953 and focuses on litter prevention; beautification and community greening; and waste reduction and recycling. To become a KAB affiliate, KUB board members conducted a Litter Survey and a Focus Area Study, and completed classroom training. KUB was required to complete two training classes offered locally by KAB National Trainers: Read More
The organization was founded in 1953 and focuses on litter prevention; beautification and community greening; and waste reduction and recycling. To become a KAB affiliate, KUB board members conducted a Litter Survey and a Focus Area Study, and completed classroom training. KUB was required to complete two training classes offered locally by KAB National Trainers: Read More
Oct 24, 2014
Stars Over Utopia Dark Sky Program
A Hill Country Alliance & Keep Utopia Beautiful Program
Guest Speaker Bill Wren, and members of San Antonio and Uvalde astronomical clubs join to learn the value and strategies to protect our view of the night sky. Enjoy viewing the sky through telescopes and the expansive view of the Sabinal Canyon.
Stars Over Utopia Dark Sky Program
A Hill Country Alliance & Keep Utopia Beautiful Program
Guest Speaker Bill Wren, and members of San Antonio and Uvalde astronomical clubs join to learn the value and strategies to protect our view of the night sky. Enjoy viewing the sky through telescopes and the expansive view of the Sabinal Canyon.
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Sep 12-14, 2014
Keep Utopia Beautiful debuts new program 'Stars Over Utopia' in conjunction with Hill Country Alliance at Utopia Fest 2014. KUB and HCA volunteers manned 2 booths at the Festival; giving information to fest goers about both organizations. Guest speaker Bill Wren, of the McDonald Observatory gave a presentation about the value and simple strategies to protect our view of the starry skies. |
April 14, 2014
Utopia Volunteers Clean Up During Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off
April 2, 2014
Collaborative Pilot Project Uncovers Recycling Opportunities at Garner State Park
Utopia Volunteers Clean Up During Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off
April 2, 2014
Collaborative Pilot Project Uncovers Recycling Opportunities at Garner State Park
Garner State Park 2014 Spring Break Waste Audit
Prepared by Claudia Rogers, Keep Utopia Beautiful
Participants and Contributors:
Friends of Garner (FOG)
Garner State Park (GSP)
GeoFORCE, Jackson School of Geoscience, UT Austin
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB)
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
Cooperative Teamwork & Recycling Assistance (CTRA)
State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR)
Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB)
Utopia Independent School District (UISD)
“Helping to make our parks better”
T-Shirts Provided by GeoFORCE
Photo courtesy of Claudia Rogers, KUB
Objective
The objective of this waste audit was to determine the nature and volume of materials currently going into the landfill that could be recycled using existing or new collection systems at Garner State Park. This project also recorded attitudes, behaviors and beliefs about recycling held by park visitors, staff, and hosts. Each of these groups plays an important role in the success of current or future recycling programs. This report will be used to share information and to make recommendations for optimizing recycling systems at GSP and may be used as a model for future waste audits and recycling program development at other TPWD State Parks, Natural Areas and Historic Sites. See complete study
Friends of Garner (FOG)
Garner State Park (GSP)
GeoFORCE, Jackson School of Geoscience, UT Austin
Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB)
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
Cooperative Teamwork & Recycling Assistance (CTRA)
State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR)
Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB)
Utopia Independent School District (UISD)
“Helping to make our parks better”
T-Shirts Provided by GeoFORCE
Photo courtesy of Claudia Rogers, KUB
Objective
The objective of this waste audit was to determine the nature and volume of materials currently going into the landfill that could be recycled using existing or new collection systems at Garner State Park. This project also recorded attitudes, behaviors and beliefs about recycling held by park visitors, staff, and hosts. Each of these groups plays an important role in the success of current or future recycling programs. This report will be used to share information and to make recommendations for optimizing recycling systems at GSP and may be used as a model for future waste audits and recycling program development at other TPWD State Parks, Natural Areas and Historic Sites. See complete study
03 Jan, 2013
Keep Utopia Beautiful Receives Green Bag Grant from H-E-B, Central Market, and Keep Texas Beautiful
Keep Utopia Beautiful Receives Green Bag Grant from H-E-B, Central Market, and Keep Texas Beautiful
2010 Volunteer of the Year
Keep Texas Beautiful has selected O’Neil Stout of Utopia as the State of Texas 2010 Volunteer of the Year.
Mr. Stout was nominated by Keep Utopia Beautiful and is involved with and supportive of many important activities and events in Utopia. In 2010, he donated more than 900 hours to the operation and management of Utopia Recycles (UR), the flagship program of Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB). Mr. Stout also serves as president of the Waresville Cemetery Association Board and president of the Utopia Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Board. In 2010, he donated about 100 hrs to the work of the historic Cemetery and approximately 30 hrs to the business of the EMS Board. Mr. Stout is well known and greatly appreciated by the boards he provides leadership to and by the community he serves. The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Mr. Stout during the Keep Texas Beautiful state convention in June in Austin....
Keep Texas Beautiful has selected O’Neil Stout of Utopia as the State of Texas 2010 Volunteer of the Year.
Mr. Stout was nominated by Keep Utopia Beautiful and is involved with and supportive of many important activities and events in Utopia. In 2010, he donated more than 900 hours to the operation and management of Utopia Recycles (UR), the flagship program of Keep Utopia Beautiful (KUB). Mr. Stout also serves as president of the Waresville Cemetery Association Board and president of the Utopia Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Board. In 2010, he donated about 100 hrs to the work of the historic Cemetery and approximately 30 hrs to the business of the EMS Board. Mr. Stout is well known and greatly appreciated by the boards he provides leadership to and by the community he serves. The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Mr. Stout during the Keep Texas Beautiful state convention in June in Austin....
