Hundreds clean streets, parks throughout Marlborough

By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter

Marlborough – Michael Manning, an environmental field worker in Alternative Fuels for the transportation industry, Susan Marchand, a Marlborough resident for more than 20 years, and members of? Cub Pack 41 Den 3 joined forces with teams of workers May 3 to participate in the annual citywide Project Clean Sweep, clearing trash and debris from streets and parks throughout the city.

This was the eighth year Manning, also a member of the Green Marlborough group, took part in the project, working on the entrance to the city in the Wayside Inn Road/Route 20 area.

“It is a great program, lots of teamwork and very good for community spirit,” he said.

Marchand chose her neighborhood – the Fairmount Street area – to clean, and the young Cub Scouts attended to detail in a variety of areas, laughing and filling up their bright yellow bags.

Councilor Don Landers and his team re-visited the Miles Standish area again this year as in the past. Councilors John Irish and Rob Tunnera led their group of volunteers to the French Hill area of the city.

Coordinators of the event, Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder and Ken Calder, division supervisor of streets for the Department of Public Works (DPW), were stationed at the DPW Municipal Garage on Neil Street, passing out supplies, materials, bright green t-shirts and giving out assignments.

DPW Commissioner John Ghiloni was on hand to welcome participants.

“It is a total joint effort that everyone is enjoying and demonstrating the great pride we all have in our city,” he said.

“Project Clean Sweep is our biggest city event,” said Ryder. “It is my favorite one because we get to meet so many great people who just want to help clean up and have fun, too. Some groups have been coming back each year since we started doing the organized Clean Sweep project in 2004 and new groups keep joining.”

Calder expressed gratitude to Dow Chemical for donating a $1,000 grant, entitled “Keep America Beautiful.”

“They have made this a company-wide project. This year an employee, Ken Horgan, chaired their own clean up day in advance of the May 3 date and collected 2,600 pounds of debris from throughout the city,” he said.

Among other groups and companies participating in this year's project were the Marlborough High School Spanish class, Marlborough Boys and Girls Club, Metro Church, National Grid, Raytheon, New England Primate Research Center, Colonial Football League and Fort Meadow Association.

In announcing the 2014 project, Mayor Arthur Vigeant said: “Project Clean Sweep is a wonderful way to enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise, and help make our neighborhoods look their best. It's important to take pride in how our city looks.”

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