Composting is Alive and Well at Collington

Submitted by Terry McGuire

Composting at Collington started in November 2018. For variety of reasons, that initial attempt failed. In 2020, the Compost bins located near the greenhouse had to be shut down. All compost operations were moved to the Hilltop Gardens. In April 2021, all of the commercially available plastic bins were replaced by four custom-build wooden bins. Each of these bins holds about 160 gallons of kitchen and green waste.

I have recently given talks about composting at several District meetings. It has become apparent that many residents believe that there is no composting remaining at Collington. Nothing could be further from the truth. Behind the black fence in the 5000’s is the Hilltop Garden. In the Hilltop Garden are four active compost bins that produce 100’s of gallons of rich compost each year.

All residents may use these bins. Add kitchen waste to the bins marked with green dots. There is a metal tool which you may spread out your waste into thin layer. You dig a hole in the existing leaves or add a handful of dried to cover the waste. You are done. The compost committee will take it from there.

As of April 1, 2022 residents in the apartments may deliver their kitchen waste to the green buckets (pictured above) in the recycling rooms on the first floor of the apartments. The collected waste will be delivered to the Hilltop Gardens on Tuesday and Fridays.

This post is available as a handout: Composting

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Digital Divide at Collington 2020

By Dennis Evans

This is an analysis of email addresses at Collington and email traffic on the Collington-Discussion Google Group. 

Email Addresses:  There are 379 entries in the August 2020 Telephone Directory that have contact email addresses.  The Photo Directory of the same group of residents has 463 individual photographs.  Overall, 76% of the units have email contact addresses and 24% have no email contact address.  In the Apartments about 40% have email addresses.  In the Creighton Center about 30% have email addresses.

 

 

The Collington-Discussion group was formed May 19, 2016.  The number of conversations (common topic, many with multiple email responses) posted per year were: 2016=453; 2017=1381; 2018=1591; 2019=1676; 2020=4230.  During the Covid-19 visiting restrictions the number of post more than doubled. 

Of the 463 (100%) residents listed in the August 2020 Telephone Directory, 283 (61%) were members of the discussion group.  From April 27-August 2, 2020, 167 residents (59% of members of the discussion group) posted 3705 emails to the discussion group.  The distribution of emails is shown in the graph.  The top 25% of the discussion group emails are sent by 4 individuals.  The bottom 25% of the emails are sent by 225 individuals.  There are 125 individuals who sent no emails during the report period.  There is no way to tell how many of the individuals read the emails that are sent.

Cybersecurity for Older Adults

“Cybersecurity for Older Adults”
is a video presentation By Dennis Evans,
Technology-Communications Chair, discussing:

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Older Adults
Quiz: Can You Spot an Online Scam?
Top 5 Hottest Senior Cyber Scams
Cyber Attacks: What Makes Me Vulnerable?
References / Free Software

Contact Dennis if you have any questions.