With our local governments joining the ranks of the cash-strapped, how can they pinch pennies without skimping on services? The City of Richmond knows how: Its Tree Stewards program trains the public to help with urban forestry. Now that's synergy. We have a few more ideas:
County Lawnmower Races — When public green spaces start looking shaggy because of cutbacks, guess what? It's time for a new free event down at the local park: the County Lawnmower Races! The "mow," the merrier. (Gas and lawnmowers not provided.)
Suburban Safari Team — So you're a lover of wildlife, eh? Great! Because animal-control departments are hurtin'. Our plan: Citizen volunteers get hockey pads, a catcher's mask and a chance to shoo stray critters back into the woods. Crikey,
that's fun!
Guest Principal Corps — People are a lways griping about how they'd run their kid's school if only they had the chance. Well, here it is: While your child's school saves dough with a principal furlough,
you get to volunteer as El Jefe and call all the
shots for a day.
