Carbondale roundup: grants, trainings, drug take-back, leaf recycling and pool hiring

Carbondale organizers used the meeting to announce several community programs and upcoming deadlines: a community-grants program with awards up to $7,000 and an application deadline of Oct. 13 at 5 p.m.; a workers’ rights training to be held via Zoom in October; a drug take-back day on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police station; and leaf-recycling days beginning Oct. 9 and running through Nov. 13.

Organizers asked members to share the newly translated Spanish-language website materials so Spanish-speaking residents can access resources; they said the audio remains English but written materials are available in Spanish. The facilitator offered to provide sharable text for social media and encouraged school bulletins and parent communications to boost outreach.

The meeting included discussion about recruiting bilingual staff for a new municipal pool scheduled to open in 2026. Attendees asked whether bilingual fluency would be mandatory for applicants and proposed partnering with local schools and districts to distribute hiring notices. David (identified by the facilitator as the pool manager for the new facility) was said to be the point of contact for recruitment questions.

No formal town hiring decisions were made at the meeting; organizers requested community assistance in outreach and recruitment and said they would coordinate with schools and other partners.