BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer
SCOTT FRIEDMAN Ken Yeung (l) 16, and Chris Ruiz, 17, both from South Brunswick, check out the free pine tree saplings offered at Earth Day in South Brunswick on Sunday. SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Outside, there were ominous dark clouds and thick drops of rain. Inside, there was festive music, hot dogs and participants in South Brunswick’s 16th annual Earth Day cleanup.
On Sunday, the senior center hosted the Earth Day cleanup celebration for those who volunteered to help pick up litter in their communities. The event was the culmination of a month-long effort by volunteers to clean their hometown. In the 16 years that the township has done this, it was the first time the celebration had to be moved indoors due to weather.
This year’s cleanup, which began at the beginning of the month, drew 554 volunteers. While some groups’ cleanup efforts were rained out this weekend, according to Nancy Paquette, the township’s recycling coordinator, about 250 bags of garbage had been collected as of Monday. The number of volunteers signing up is about the same as last year’s number, which was down a little from the year before.
Residents participating in the cleanup contacted the township and explained how many people were going to help, as well as the area they were going to clean. Bags and gloves were then provided.
Individual families, civic and religious groups, neighborhood organizations and more all participated in the Earth Day cleanup. Of the 62 groups total that signed up, about half were affiliated with formal organizations, with the rest being individuals, families or neighbors.
“Our motivation was, I think, to keep where we clean up clean,” said Joe Sacurato. “And it’s kind of terrible that they have the Burger King and McDonald’s and they just throw all the garbage there, and it’s terrible that kids don’t care. You also find a lot of soda bottles and beer bottles.”
Sacurato has been participating in the Earth Day cleanup since its inception, working first with the local VFW chapter and then with the local American Legion chapter, which collected nearly 20 bags of garbage along the Major Road area.
According to residents, other items found thrown on the street include cans, coffee cups, plastic and bits of metal.
“It’s an area that I’ve done for the last six years, it’s in the warehouse region. The truck drivers stop there and you find everything there,” said Harold Hochstadt, who has participated in the cleanup every year since its start, and this year filled up five bags.
The rain disrupted the cleanup plans of many residents who had signed up. Those who were unable to complete their cleanup this week, according to Paquette and others, will work this week when, hopefully, the skies will be a bit more friendly.
One organization that had trouble with the rain was the neighborhood organization PRIDE, which is helping pick up litter along Raymond Road.
“We’re kind of doing it on a more piecemeal basis because of the rain,” said Maddie Stewart, a PRIDE member. “So we had, for example yesterday, three of us who cleaned up, and there was a man who came out with his little mini-tractor who gets rid of the dirt that comes onto the sidewalk, and there’s going to be another 10 people who will work today and during the week.”
Paquette was appreciative of all the groups that participated and their efforts in improving their community.
“I’m so grateful to all of them. I’m so disheartened, driving along the roadside, seeing litter. It looks so lousy, it reflects badly on our community, and to have a beautiful and clean community makes me really happy,” said Paquette.