A hearty “thumbs up” to Narrowsburg resident Linda Slocum for getting out and about last week with bag in tow to gather the trash that collects across the local landscape.

A founding member of the Narrowsburg Beautification Group, which organizes and executes projects ranging from plantings to paint spruce-ups, Slocum is a big fan of taking personal action to maintain the quality of our own neighborhoods.

Getting started is as simple as stepping out your front door and picking up any trash within eyesight, or toting a few bags along while ambling through your neighborhood. Another thing we’ve noticed lately is lots of dog waste out there. We’re big fans of our canine pals, and even bigger fans of pet owners who pick up after their pals.

Many towns have rules that regulate such matters, including Narrowsburg, but it’s in the best interest of our communities to simply clean up what our pets leave behind. Town by town, a trash-free region? It’s worth working toward.