Concerned citizens cleaning up
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 14, 2005
BURLINGTON - Sometimes a lot of hard work can produce some positive results.
That was the case Saturday at the Concerned Citizens of Burlington concluded its annual spring cleanup.
"Yesterday, we were extremely busy," said chairman Ed Moellendick. "We start at 9 a.m., but we've been busy ever since 8. We close when all the dumpsters are full."
This year, they had five dumpsters along with the trustees taking tires and getting help from the community service personnel.
"Community service is a great service," Moellendick said. "They do so much for us."
The community service workers are from the Lawrence County Municipal Court in Chesapeake, under the direction of Judge Donald Capper and Carolyn Miller, community service coordinator.
"It's a good neighborhood program and we try to work it every year," Carolyn Miller said.
Capper agreed it was a good project and he was impressed with some of the 15 workers. He worked alongside some of them, unloading trucks into the dumpsters.
Fayette Township trustees Perry Brock, Mike Finley and Donny Hackworth also volunteered their time, working all day Friday and Saturday driving trucks, unloading and taking tires from Burlington residents.
"We couldn't do it without the cooperation of these people," said Concerned Citizens President Harriette Ramsey.
Along with this being a community event, Ramsey also turned it into a family affair. Her husband, son and daughter were also helping out.
"It's really going well," Ramsey said. "Everyone usually cooperates. We do make a dent in it anyway."
Ramsey said that this is the only way Burlington residents have of cleaning up, and this is the one time of the year that they can help themselves. The organization has been around for about 20 years and members are continually working on projects.
Simultaneous with the clean-up, a rummage sale was also conducted to raise money for the Burlington Commons Playground.
"I think it's wonderful," said Mary Forgey, rummage sale chairperson said. "We do it every year and it makes a lot of money for our group."
Forgey was also taking pajamas, gowns, shirts and pants from the donated rummage sale items to take to the nursing home.
All the volunteers were served lunch as a thanks for their efforts.
"Serving lunch is a way of getting together and meeting our neighbors," Ramsey said.
The Concerned Citizens of Burlington meets at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at the Sybene Senior Center.