Graffiti whitewash to kick off Pride Week in Carson City

Javier Ramirez wants to celebrate Community Pride Week by reclaiming part of the community slighted by graffiti.

Ramirez, along with the rest of the Carson City Community Coalition, is organizing a graffiti cleanup for April 21. He also serves as the Carson City Citizens Outreach Coordinator.

"It's a show of unity of the community that we want Carson City to look and be a good place to live," Ramirez said.

Volunteers are asked to gather at 9 a.m. in Mills Park near the skate park and bring buckets and brushes for painting. Volunteers are also asked to wear white shirts.

"White is not a color associated with any gangs that we know of, and we want to show that we are united," Ramirez said.

Kelly Moore donated 80 gallons of paint for the event, which Ramirez said will be used to cover graffiti in several areas throughout the city.

The effort will be composed entirely of community members interested in making their community a better place to live.

"It's purely community-based. The people that show up are the ones who really care about Carson City," Ramirez said.

The coalition was formed in November after several incidents of gang violence in Carson City. The coalition's mission is to curb gang violence and spread awareness about gang activities.

Carson Pride week runs from April 20-29 and is designed to provide residents opportunities to clean and dispose of unwanted materials in their homes.

This year, pride week includes a hazardous waste cleanup, removal of junked cars, the adopt-a-block program and the senior junk haul.

As part of the event, the Carson City landfill will be free to Carson City residents April 20-22 and 27-29.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

Carson Pride Week events

• Senior Junk Haul

1-800-GOT-JUNK has volunteered to pick up three bookings of junk removal per day for elderly or disabled Carson City residents at no cost. Call 887-8898 and follow recorded instructions carefully to request a pick-up time.

• Adopt-A-Block program

Local groups will pick an area and clean it up. Heavy-duty garbage bags will be available at City Hall. Just fill 'em up, and the City Street Operations will haul them away. Call 887-2355 to schedule pick-up.

• Carson City landfill

Free to Carson City residents April 20-22 and 27-29. For information, call 887-2355 or 882-6066. The landfill also accepts recyclable materials including glass, cans, newspapers, cardboard and plastic.

• Carson City Street Operations Pickup

Carson City Street Operations will pick up bundled yard waste in the Carson City urban area put at curbside free of charge from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 23-26. Residents must call 887-2355 for pick up. Garden debris only, no furniture, appliances or lumber, ash or burned materials. Tree limbs must be bundled and no longer than 6 feet.

• Wreck Riddance

Pick-N-Pull will tow away any old vehicles to the salvage yard for free as long the VIN number is visible and the property owner signs a release. Call 882-7772.

• Household Hazardous Waste

Dispose of pesticides, gasoline, herbicides and paint at no cost by calling 887-2355.

• Open Burn

The Carson City Fire Department will allow an open burning period from March 31 to April 22. For Carson City residents, persons wishing to burn must obtain a burn permit from one of the fire stations or online at www.carson-city.nv.us/CCFD. Permission to burn is revocable at any time due to weather conditions or fire restrictions.

For more information, to volunteer your help or suggest a site that could use volunteer help, call the Carson City Offices at 887-2100.