An enthusiastic contingent of approximately 20 total youth/adult volunteers took to the streets this past Saturday in Ansonia as part of Mayor Dave Cassetti’s inaugural Earth Day Litter Patrol.
The idea was to create a template for future annual city-wide Earth Day cleanups that could involve more than 100 volunteers and culminate with a BBQ picnic, perhaps at Ansonia’s Nature Center.
“We have been remiss on organizing Earth Day cleanups and this was a great first step toward re-establishing it as an annual city-wide event,” said Mayor Cassetti who was seen patrolling Beaver Street toward Seymour donning a reflective vest, and armed with trash bag and “litter claw.”
“This was put together in only two weeks, and in spite of the short turnaround time, it was a rousing success,” said Cassetti.
Collectively, more than 30 50-gallon trash bags were filled with bottles, cans, paper and whatnot throughout the 2.5‑hour cleaning of pre-selected trouble spot streets and parks including Tremont Street, Woodbridge Avenue, Prospect Street, Crescent Street and Linett Park, to name a few.
Ansonia’s Public Works Department followed along each route to collect filled trash bags.
Many of the volunteers were provided by Venturing Crew 77 of Holy Rosary Church and Ansonia Girl Scout Troop 60500, and assembled by Carole Cafaro.
The event was sponsored by Big Y Supermarket in Ansonia as they provided a generous post-cleanup pizza party with beverages at the Ansonia Armory for those who participated.
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