Spring Is Here!

ell, we may be a few weeks early for the official change of seasons on March 21. But with temperatures in the lower 60s by the end of the week, the time of crocuses, daffodils, tulips and spring cleaning is upon us.

And the travel season isn't far behind, which means we want our town to looks its best for visitors.

This year should be good for the Touchet River Valley as a tourist destination. Waitsburg has already been mentioned in "Sunset Magazine" and will soon be featured in "Seattle Magazine."

Dayton's Main Street should see more activity with the opening of Dayton Wine Works' new grill restaurant, located in the old Jitters space, and upgrades at Woody's (soon to be known as Threshers).

The only potential damper on traffic through our area might be the rising price of gas. And, we're probably still behind the rest of the country and the state in terms of a slow economic recovery.

Either way, West Coast and even nationwide interest in the Walla Walla area as a wine and food destination continues to grow, as does its appeal as a place to go bicycling, motorcycling or going for a drive.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe says Waitsburg has a strong pride in home ownership and many residents will be starting to clean up their yards from winter storms and to get them ready for spring and summer.

To help make the most of spring cleanup, Hinchliffe notes the garbage disposal company that serves the community now charges for bags of yard waste at $5.06 each, so households are better off to either stuff the bagged yard waste in their can or pay $4.50 per month for an extra can as that will end up being more affordable.

A number of residents are starting to build yard waste piles for the annual spring cleanup organized by Waitsburg's Commercial Club, which put on the event in May last year.

Hinchliffe said he's open to doing it in April this year, partly because May is busier for city crews who prepare the cemetery for Memorial Day.

We believe an earlier spring cleanup might help get our city in shape for what is expected to be a warmer, earlier spring travel season.

On a spring-related note, city officials warned bill payers not to be surprised by their water bill that will include winter water consumption in excess of the allotted 4,000 cubic feet November - February winter pro rate. That extra consumption over the allotment gets included in the March bill.

In terms of making Waitsburg more attractive as a place to stop and visit, the city hopes to add signage on the Prescott edge of town along Highway 124 (similar to the sign on the corner of Preston and Coppei) and wants to enlarge the playground at the park with additional equipment.

The Times hopes to cover that proposed project in more depth next week, but suffice it say the city hopes to make its funding a public-private partnership to ease the burden on tax payers. The issue is expected to come up at the next council meeting on March 21, the first official day of spring.

In Dayton, city crews wait until after Memorial Day to conduct their spring cleanup program, though residents can still put their yard waste out for pickup by Basin Disposal at no extra charge, Dayton city officials said.

That pickup is on Thursdays and is limited to bagged, boxed or bundled waste no higher or longer than 5 feet, no thicker than 3-foot bundles and with branches no bigger than 2-3 inches in diameter to fit through the chipper.

The date for Dayton's spring cleanup has not yet been set by the city council.