(Fanwood, NJ) — A dreary Saturday morning did not dampen the spirits of volunteers who came out to take part in the borough’s 36th annual Clean Community Day event on Saturday, April 26, a celebration of Earth Day and the borough’s commitment to ecology. The event was organized by Clean Community Committee and the Public Works Department.
Volunteers started gathering at the Southside Train Station parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Earth Day T-shirts were given out along with work gloves, pick-up devises, and biodegradable bags to pick up litter around town. Coffee was available along with bagels provided by The Bagel Café. Tickets for free pizza slices were also provided, courtesy of Fabio’s Bistro.
Mayor Colleen Mahr greeted everyone. Councilwomen Patricia Walsh and Erin McElroy also attended.
Green Team member Laura Lang noted the efforts of the Team including the denim recycling collection they are currently involved with three drop off locations in town for donations of jeans, jackets, shirts and skirts. The Green Team previously initiated recycling projects for crayons, shoes and Legos. Mayor Mahr noted that the Friday E-newsletter has a weekly Green Tip provided by the Green Team.
Public Works Director Clint Dicksen invited volunteers to break off into groups to begin the cleanup. Volunteers were divided into groups, led by a DPW staff member, to remove trash in a dozen or so areas of the borough including the Southside and Northside Train Station, Carriage House Park and around Borough Hall, La Grande Park, Forest Road Park, North Martine and Midway Avenues, municipal parking areas and the Nature Center led by members of the Fanwood Environmental Commission and the Green Team, where volunteers helped clean up the brook at the center.
