Kids in JP and West Roxbury who dig out hydrants can get free ice cream

I live next door to a retired fireman, and all it takes is for either him or his wife to say, "the house you save may be your own, (or something to that effect)" to get the Junior Fire Patrol in gear for the season.

That the councilor to the south and west of us is sweetening the deal is really, really nice.

I agree. Kids, even trouble makers, want to be important. Easy way to get them helping. In their world fire fighters and cops are very important , for good or bad reasons, and if clearing out the hydranrs make them part of that...

I'm sick of people being down on kids these days. If there is something wrong with the youth in America it is our fault. We raised them. We gave them the examples. We tell them the world is not safe. Which means we can do the opposite.

So no neigherhood kids offer to shovel someone's house, why would they? If that adult never engaged the kid before they are just some old person who lives on the street. To a teen anyone over 25 is old. Engage the kids year round, just say hi. In the winter pull out 20s, kids love money. Include the local hydrant in your payment. When I was a kid I NEVER went door to door but I was always on snow duty. Normally my parents would get a call, they would tell me who it was and what they needed and I would pay a visit. Then my normal routine would be hit my parents house, visit the houses of my clients then hit my parents cars. I had enough clientelle on the street that I began proactively cleaning out storm drains for water because I did not want my territory to flood. The adults reached out to me because they were adults and acted like it.

Back to the councillor for a minute. Good for him! even if only ten kids do it that's ten cleared hydrants!