TALLAHASEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The City of Tallahassee’s administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Here are the following are schedule changes for the week of June 30 to July 6 for solid waste customers living inside the Tallahassee city limits, StarMetro, the Animal Service Center and City-run community centers.
Solid Waste Schedule Changes
During the holiday week, some residential garbage and recycling customers will receive service one day later than their regularly scheduled service (see changes below). The holiday will also impact red week customers for bulky items and yard waste pickup.
- Monday customers - No change
- Tuesday customers - No change
- Wednesday customers - No change
- Thursday customers - Friday, July 5
- Friday customers - Saturday, July 6
Garbage and recycling containers should both be rolled to the curb for pickup by 6:30 a.m. on collection day, with both containers returned to the home no later than the day after collection. For more information, visit Talgov.com/YOU or call 891-4968.
StarMetro Schedule Changes
StarMetro, the City's mass transit system, will change its operations for the holiday. On Thursday, July 4, fixed routes will operate on a Sunday schedule with no night service. Dial-A-Ride and Community Transportation Services will also operate a Sunday schedule.
As part of the annual Celebrate America event, StarMetro will offer free shuttles to Tom Brown Park from the Koger Office Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Passengers should park at the Koger complex on Capital Circle Southeast, just south of Old St. Augustine Road. Shuttles will load on the side of the Hartman Building facing Capital Circle and will run about every 15 minutes, with the last bus to the park leaving the Koger Center at approximately 8:30 p.m. Return shuttles back to Koger begin once the fireworks show is over.
For more information, visit Talgov.com/StarMetro or call StarMetro at 891-5200.
Animal Service Center Holiday Hours and Pet Care Tips
The Animal Service Center will be closed on Thursday, July 4. Normal hours will resume on Friday, July 5, with the center opening at 10:30 a.m. Customers needing more information, including photos of animals available for adoption, may visit Talgov.com/animals or contact the Animal Service Center at 891-2950.
City Animal Control will be available for emergency situations only on July 4 and can be reached via the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 606-5800.
The day after July 4 can be one of the busiest days of the year for animal control officers and animal shelters due to pets that have strayed from home because they were frightened by fireworks and noisy festivities. To keep your pets safe, make sure they stay indoors at home during holiday fireworks celebrations. If you lose your pet during the holidays, make sure you check for it at the animal shelter immediately.
Here are some other July 4 pet safety tips:
- Never take your pets to fireworks displays. What’s fun for you isn’t necessarily fun for pets. Large crowds and unfamiliar sights and sounds can frighten pets. Pets are not permitted at the City’s Celebrate America festivities.
- Never leave pets in a car while you enjoy summer activities. With only hot air to breathe inside the car, your pet can suffer serious health problems, even death, within minutes. Also, partially opened windows don’t provide sufficient air but do offer the opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
- Keep your pet at home inside a sheltered, quiet area during holiday festivities. Leave a TV on to provide background noise.
- Never leave animals chained outside. A frightened animal can become entangled in a chain and get injured or break the chain and flee.
- Make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag and rabies tag, which is required by law. Having your animal microchipped is also an extremely effective means by which to identify them. Tallahassee Animal Services is providing $5 rabies vaccinations and $10 microchips on July 2 from 3-5 p.m. at the Animal Service Center, located at 1125 Easterwood Drive.
Customers needing more information, including photos of animals available for adoption, may visit Talgov.com/animals or contact the Animal Service Center at 891-2950.
Community Center Closures
Community centers operated by the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department will be closed on Thursday, July 4. Community centers will resume normal hours on Friday, July 5. During the holiday week, there will be no Splash & Jam event. To learn more about the various community centers and what they offer, visit Talgov.com.