HYPERLOCAL NEWS HUB BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM
Mold and Murals Topics at April Community Meeting
Danielle Wilburn/MicroMemphis Reporter
April 15, 2012
On Tuesday April 10th the Cooper-Young Community Association held its monthly neighborhood meeting.The main topics of the night were preventing and treating mold in homes as well the Barksdale mural plans.
Community Director Kristan Huntley said that mold is becoming an issue in the Cooper-Young homes. “The main goal of this presentation is to inform residents on what causes mold and how to get rid of it,” Huntley said. “This is an old neighborhood and that means the houses are old.”
The night started with MoldStoppers representative, Tyler Johnson, speaking on how mold can cause life threatening illnesses.
“Mold can be serious and people do go to the hospital because of it,” said Johnson. “The most affected people are the immunocompromised, the young and the elderly.”
During his presentation Johnson wanted Cooper-Young residents to understand the importance of getting mold tested. “All mold is allergenic,” said Johnson. “Some mold pathogenic, and some mold is toxigenic, and people could die.”
Johnson said he mainly wanted people to know that if mold is treated early on it will prevent bigger problems, and according to MoldStoppers representative. the best way to prevent an outbreak of mold is to keep the home as dry as possible.
“Moisture control is mold control,” said Johnson
The other main topic of the meeting was the Barksdale mural. The mural will be located on South Barksdale on the railroad underpass and it will be approximately 2600 square feet.
During the meeting a handout was given to residents that included the costs of paint, artist fees and volunteers information. Michelle Reeves, designer and coordinator of the mural, said “The whole design was initially designed to where it could be done with donations”
Reeves said that idea to have paint donated changed when she realized buying new pain will be cheaper in the long run because several top coats of paint would not be needed. “I spoke to several artists around town and they said you are really shooting yourself in the foot by getting used paint.”
In order to purchase paint and other materials needed, Reeves has teamed up with the Cooper-Young beautification committee. They have been asking residents for donations.
At the neighborhood’s Art’s of March event, which was held on March 23rd, the mural project goal was to reach $500. They raised about $330.00 as well as an additional $100 in promised funds.
Reeves said she’s never done a project like this mural before, but she has no doubt that Barksdale mural will happen.
“Now that more people know about maybe we can get more donations,” said Reeves. “It’s going to happen no matter what our goal is $500.. and we’re already at $430.00.”
Right now there is not a definite date set but Reeves said she would like the Barksdale mural to be done the this year’s Cooper-Young Festival.
Read more about the Barksdale mural project.
Photos and slide show by Danielle Wilburn
Danielle J. Wilburn/ MicroMemphis reporter
Danielle Wilburn covers Community for MicroMemphis.
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