By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
North Attleborough is a lot cleaner after last weekend.
Residents across the town donned their masks and gloves and filled dozens of trash bags for a two-day Great Fall Cleanup organized by Keep North Attleborough Beautiful. Registration was not required for the cleanup, held Oct. 24 and 25, and instead people were encouraged to look to their own neighborhoods and parks to beautify.
KNAB Founder Marsha Goldstein said that taking pride in the appearance and health of the town will always be an important goal. Though the cleanup has ended, residents are encouraged to clean an area of their choosing any time, anywhere.
“We at KNAB are grateful for the volunteers who helped clean up the town during our first Great Fall Cleanup held on October 24 and 25,” wrote KNAB Founder Marsha Goldstein. “They worked hard by filling many bags of ever-present litter and trash. All volunteers reported a sense of accomplishment which is needed now more than ever during these uncertain and stressful times.”
Jennifer Stec is a regular at the cleanups and has found old televisions, mattresses, and construction material dumped around town. Over the weekend, Stec and her husband filled nine 30-gallon bags with trash found on Metcalf and Ellis roads near Wal-Mart. They had to stop when it got too dark to safely continue.
“There’s still so much more out there,” she said.
Stec said that people can continue to make a difference, even in a small way. She suggested they bring small bags when out for walks and grab any trash they see along their route.
“I feel like we make a difference,” said Stec. “Everyone should be involved.”
Below is a list of those who volunteered and the areas they cleaned up.
- Amy Arnold –cleaned Huntsbridge Road area in the southwest part of town. Among the trash collected was mattresses and and tires.
- Therese Prokop—cleaned same area and reported same items.
- Jim Mulcahey—Route 120 and Ellis Road. Mulcahey is an active cleanup volunteer
- Brooke—eighth grader at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart School, president of the National Junior Honor Society; promoted this event for several weeks among students and families.
- Griffin Gouck, junior at North Attleboro Middle School—cleaned up at Whitings Pond area because he likes to go fishing there.
- Laurie Boone, Girl Scout leader for Troop 109—The troop cleanup on Allen Avenue next to Monkey Joe’s. Ashlyn and Brayden Conlon, Ailyn Eggleston, Kendall Fisher, Sophia and Joshua Smutek, Andora Hamel, and Riley Butler. They filled 25 tall kitchen bags with the trash collected.
- John Simmons
For more information on Keep North Attleborough Beautiful, email cleanupna@gmail.com.
