Published in The BANAR June 2013
by Barb Sweazey
The Blackburn Spring Clean-up was another great success this year. Held on Saturday, April 27th, more than 100 volunteers from the community showed up despite the cool and overcast day. Considering this was our rain date, we were very happy with the turn out!
In all, the Spring Clean-up resulted in more than 200 volunteer hours put towards removing litter from our highways and byways, and erasing graffiti from signs and utility boxes. Lots of volunteers particularly worked along Innes and Bearbrook this year, as many residents had noticed how much attention these areas needed. We had several high school students join us too, working towards their volunteer hour requirements. Did you notice how much cleaner the community looked after all this elbow-grease!
We were also pleased to have Ecology Ottawa join us for the day. Many local citizens had an opportunity to sign their current petition against discharging sewage into the Ottawa River.
As always, we had many residents and organizations in the community that contributed to our event. Rainer Bloess contributed door prizes for all. Shelley and Howy White, the proprietors from Tim Horton’s in the Hamlet, contributed free coffee and Timbits, and Linda Platt, with Health Solutions Santé donated free samples of environmentally friendly cleaning products and massage gift certificates. Thank you!
Finally, this BCA-sponsored event could not be held without all the many volunteers who go into organizing and hosting the Hamlet’s Clean-up, including BBQ flippers, truck drivers, sign posters and registration coordinators. Thanks to all. See you next year for the 14th annual spring clean-up!