By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Organizers of Millstone Township’s 10th annual stream cleanup are seeking volunteers who want to help keep the community beautiful.
The stream cleanup is sponsored by the Millstone Township Environmental Commission and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon April 16.
Volunteers will meet in the parking lot behind the Millstone Township municipal court building, 215 Millstone Road. Groups of volunteers will be sent to locations around town to clean lakes, streams, ponds and other areas by collecting trash and debris.
All residents are welcome to volunteer for the cleanup. Groups comprised of more than 10 volunteers must register before the event by contacting Michael Pisauro, the policy director of the watershed association, at [email protected].
Volunteers are reminded to wear long pants and boots, and to bring water and work gloves. Children who attend must be accompanied by an adult. A T-shirt and light refreshments are provided to volunteers.
Doug Lischick, the vice chairman of the environmental commission, said the annual event “is an opportunity for residents to meet each other and support a good cause to clean up the township. It is also an opportunity for students to earn community volunteer hours. Residents can develop a sense of pride and ownership in the town by helping to create a cleaner community.”
Lischick said the event brings awareness to the fact that Millstone is the river source for several major waterways. As a result, volunteers try to keep the designated areas clean not just for the township’s sake, but also to preserve a cleaner water source downstream.
Marianne Heyesey, the secretary of the environmental commission, said last year’s cleanup collected more than 1,380 pounds of trash. Volunteers collected 67 bags of trash, 22 bags of recyclable materials and three tires.
“Last year’s stream cleanup was a huge success thanks to all the volunteers who helped by donating their time to make Millstone Township a cleaner place,” Heyesey said. “It was the largest turnout of volunteers, some familiar faces from the previous years as well as some new ones.”