Town Cleanup Day Saturday

AMENIA — In honor of Earth Day, the town will hold a townwide Cleanup Day Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers will be able to pick up trash bags and gloves at Town Hall in order to help clean up roadside litter and debris in both Amenia and Wassiac.

From there, participants with a transfer station pass will be able to take the litter to the station.

Councilwoman Vicki Doyle, who is organizing the day, said former transfer station attendant Jack Rooney started the event 17 years ago.

"It was so popular that cars would stretch from the station down the road," Doyle said. "In the comprehensive plan, the vision includes a statement about a clean, well-preserved hamlet. Beautifying is wonderful and the biggest eyesore is the litter in town."

Doyle said volunteers will split up into teams to clean up certain areas of the town.

"I think it’s great for all of the groups of people to come out to do one to two hours to make a big difference," she said. "Last year we also found some good items that otherwise were going to go to a trash bin. Last year we found 17 lawn mowers and 15 bicycles. We also found a couch that someone didn’t need and it found a new owner immediately. Seeing people clean up gives a good message to the community that it’s not good to litter."

The town asks that no paint, tires or other hazardous household materials be collected.

A permit to the transfer station is required for disposing of litter. The transfer station will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about volunteering, call Vicki Doyle at 845-373-9550, Elizabeth Whaley at 845-877-6339, call the town clerk’s office at 845-373-8118, ext. 100, or e-mail townclerk@ameniany.gov.

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