Clean Sweep

This past Saturday, May 1st, kicked off the first Clean Sweep Saturday for 2010. Clean Sweep is a program run by the city of Rochester to get citizens involved with keeping their city clean. In 2009, over 100 tons of debris was removed from the city streets. Volunteers work alongside city workers, including the mayor, to help beautify the area. They pick up and remove debris, plant flowers, prune trees, and other beautification projects. The city is divided into quadrants and each Saturday in May, these groups work in one quadrant. May 1st was the southwest quadrant. Next Saturday, May 8th, they will be working in the northeast quadrant. The northwest quadrant will be worked on May 15th and on May 22nd, they will be in the southeast quadrant. These are a great way to meet your neighbors, work as a family or a team, and to do something to beautify our city at the same time. If you are unable to volunteer, be sure to work on your own yard and bring your debris and bulk refuse to the curb for the trucks to come by and pick up.

If you are interested in volunteering, call 311 to sign up or visit the city's website. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, coffee and donuts in the morning and a picnic lunch afterwards. Tools are provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them. My family and I have signed up for the 15th and the 22nd, but I am not sure we will be able to make it on the 15th. If you do sign up, let me know and hopefully we will have the chance to meet then.