REGION — Happy Earth Day! Litter leaders, area service clubs and many unsung heroes worked hard, picking up trash and finding surprises on and around Earth Day. 

In the river valley:

Approximately 375 volunteers participated in the fourth annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep to celebrate Earth Day ideals while spring-cleaning the river valley.

A series of land-based clean-ups took place between April 14 and 30 in the 13 Upper Delaware Council (UDC) member towns and townships of New York and Pennsylvania.

The UDC, for its part, handled fundraising; permitting; publicity to build a network of helpers; the purchase and distribution of supplies including grabbers, gloves and bags; ordering team T-shirts; assistance with safety and disposal instructions; and updating schedules.

Starting from a $2,315.60 balance carried over from last year, the 2024 Litter Sweep raised $5,558.50. Expenses came to $4,047.67; this means that $3,826.43 will become seed money for 2025.

Sullivan County Legislature chairperson and Town of Lumberland UDC representative Nadia Rajsz, legislator Matt McPhillips and legislator Catherine Scott allocated a total of $3,000 from their district’s discretionary funds.

A first-time $1,000 community impact grant came from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.

Also donating to the cause were the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway ($500); Delaware River Basin Commission ($250); Econo-Pak of Milford, PA ($250); Andy Boyar of Eldred, NY ($250); Grace Church of Callicoon, NY ($100); Perk’s Welding Co. of Port Jervis, NY ($100); Connie Lloyd of Beach Lake, PA ($60); and Brenda Farmiloe, a Cochecton clean-up volunteer ($48.50).

Litter leaders who stepped forward to organize clean-ups on these indicated dates were:

National Park Service—Corrine Hinton, volunteer ambassador for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River;

Town of Hancock—Friends of the Upper Delaware River;

Town of Fremont—Mallory Lance and the Roscoe Family Nature Club;

Town of Delaware—Delaware town clerk Tess McBeath and Zach Scheitlin from Grizzly Bagels;

Town of Cochecton—UDC representative Larry Richardson;

Town of Tusten—Narrowsburg Beautification Group, coordinated by Marie Vaz;

Town of Highland—UDC representative Christine Martin, Matt Sallusto of Next Gen Property Services, Andy Boyar and Frank Guzman;

Town of Lumberland—UDC alternate Frank Guzman;

Town of Deerpark—UDC representative and alternate, 2024 chairperson Ginny Dudko and Bill Dudko;

Damascus Township—Tusten UDC representative Evan Padua of Sweetwater Guide Service; and Damascus Horse Lovers 4H Group, coordinated by Teresa Kehagias;

Berlin Township—UDC representative Al Henry;

Lackawaxen Township—Courtney Barden from Run, Walk Lackawaxen; and Growing Lackawaxen;

Shohola Township—Ashley Briggs, coordinating a homeschool group, and UDC representative Aaron Robinson;

Westfall Township—Bethany Montana and NPS junior ranger Johnny Montana.

The 2024 Upper Delaware Litter Sweep safety-pink T-shirts worn by volunteers featured a tranquil river scene of original artwork donated by freelance graphic designer Eric Hinkley.

For information on the UDC and its activities, as well as the complete list of people who donated time and food to the litter sweep, visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org. 

In Honesdale, PA:

Honesdale Rotarians showed they care about the place we all call home. On Saturday, April 20, two days before Earth Day, club members gathered to clean up a dedicated stretch of Route 191 South between Honesdale and the Owego Turnpike turnoff. 

They collected close to 25 bags of trash, which included a few large items such as a tall plastic kitchen garbage can and a piece of PVC pipe.  

They also found a little treasure—a Deadwood U.S. Marshal badge. 

The theme of Earth Day 2024 was The Planet vs. Plastics. Rotary is playing a part in helping to clean up, recycle and even occasionally repurpose disposed-of items along our roadways.  

Honesdale Rotary picks up this part of Route 191 twice a year, in spring and fall.  

The club welcomes new members. Visit it on Facebook at Honesdale Rotary.

In Monticello, NY:

Twenty-one members of the Monticello Elks Lodge turned out to clean up. The Elks present included Jim Gerrard, Mike Brennan, Scott Cooper, Wayne Mancroni, Brian Johnson, Gene Dalpiaz, Sam Rosado, Robyn Watwood, Jay Mendels, Rosemarie Paty, Peter Kunz, Ryan Walker, Brian Bock, Pete Scannell, Barbara Urban, Julie Brennan, Lis Bringle, Rusty Welsch, Dennis Mandina, Trish Cahalan and Bill James.

Rick Conklin donated the roll-off dumpster and Gary Huebner loaned the group a pressure washer.