When spring rolls around, there are lists to compile of chores to accomplish.
President Bill Cheeseman can tick off “Tidy the Town for Earth Day” from the list for the Clifford and District Horticultural Society.
On April 28 youth, adult, and senior volunteers converged on the Rotary Park Pavillion with garbage grabbers, gloves, and bags in hand to pick a street or playground to tidy. Cigarette butts were plentiful. Plastic bottles and papers from wind blown blue boxes were strewn about and easy enough to pick and place in the bag to recycle.
There was a warning about exploding bottles, but none were discovered this day.
Karen Dowler helped Larry Grummett at the barbecue and soon everyone who stayed was enjoying hot dogs, crispie rice treats, chocolate macaroons, and cupcakes. Socks, chocolates, and mints were given as an extra gift in appreciation of their efforts.
Ten feed bags full of trash were stacked and later tossed in the garbage bin by Reinhard Lange.
Many people who walk the streets, as part of a fitness routine for themselves or their pets take a bag or two along and bend to pick up trash they find along their route every day.
The people who helped beautify the village that Saturday morning included Cheeseman, Karen Dowler, Helen Braun, Carol and Reinhard Lange, Ethel Weber, James Weber, Barbara Harris, Doris Jaunzemis, Becky Walters, Bev Walters, Irene Judge, Justin Casemore, Alyssa Casemore, Kaitlyn Densmore, Steven Densmore, Barb Densmore, Marion Pfeffer, Sadie Pfeffer, Daniel Pfeffer, Blanche and Merle Freeman, Ann Bowen, Elsie Grummett, Isabel and Don Senek, Jean Yenssen, Debbie Richardson, and Georgie and Bruce Hutchison.
Some volunteers could not make it that day, but will be on the look out for any trash in the following days right through until the next big clean up day in 2013.
Collecting all that litter makes a noticeable improvement to the streets and parks in Clifford.
The event was sponsored by the Clifford Horticultural Society, the Town of Minto, and interested citizens who donated the sweet treats, rubber gloves, feed bags, socks, and chocolates.
