Next year, Boy Scout Troop 168 will take over the planning for the annual cleanup.
View full sizeVolunteers who participated in the townwide clean-up in 2007 include, front row, Alexandra Smith, Anna Bilotti, Karen Bilotti and Gillian Smith. Middle row, Mary Jane Russell, Jeff Lord, Stanley Hull, Phyllis Klick, Barbara Moran and Ed Maia. Top row, Nancy C. Morrell, Dorothy P. Jenkins and Jeanne A. Bailey, the project coordinator.
MONSON – The townwide clean-up day will be held Saturday, and this year residents are expected to again be out in full force cleaning up the roads after the long, hard winter.
Joanie Simmons of Boy Scout Troop 168 said the troop is working with the Monson Tourism Committee on the event, and said that next year, the troop will take over the planning. The Monson Tourism Committee is in the process of disbanding.
Jeanne A. Bailey, who has organized the clean-up through the Tourism Committee for the past 12 years, said it is time for a new group to take over. She said the committee is disbanding due to a lack of membership.
“It’s a perfect fit for the scouts,” Bailey said about the annual clean-up. “The kids need to do community service.”
Those interested in helping spruce up the town can report at 8 a.m. to the gazebo downtown at Dave Grieve Park, where they will be assigned to a road. Volunteers also will be given orange caps, gloves, garbage bags and fluorescent vests. Adams IGA supermarket will supply cold water, soda and sandwiches to participants. The event will last until about 3 p.m.
Lord Manor Bed & Breakfast donated garbage bags and gloves, and Dorsie Kovacs, a veterinarian at Monson Small Animal Clinic, donated caps for volunteers to wear.
Bailey said it amazes her how much trash they find along the roads. Discarded lottery tickets are plentiful. Once, they even found a boat.
Simmons wrote in a press release: “Keeping our roads, parks, school areas and public grounds litter free is dependent upon our citizens and dependent upon the success of this day of work. We are all well aware that the town budget cannot support the person-power required to accomplish this task and therefore we need to find willing volunteers.”
Clubs, schools and town organizations have been asked to volunteer and to adopt a road. Groups, families or individuals can sign up for a road beforehand by calling (413) 267-3996 or (413) 267-9771; or by coming to the gazebo that morning.
The following week, on May 7, the Board of Health will sponsor its spring bulk waste day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Quarry Hill Community School. Only those users current with their trash payments will be allowed to participate. Contact the Board of Health at (413) 267-4107 for information.