Time To Clean Up

Abby Thompson is doing her part

The committee for Communities in Bloom is in full swing for the 2006 season as they marked their second ‘Hot Spot’ clean up night Wednesday at On Kids Place on Algonquin Ave.

A number of committed volunteers showed up Wednesday to power through the field deciphering what is trash and what is recyclable, but the committee wants the whole community to help out. This year the committee has introduced the Adopt-A-Walk program for people who want to help but are unable to join in on the Wednesday program.

“If you’re an avid walker in a particular area, you can sign a registration form telling me where the area is, and you pick up the garbage and put it in your own garbage,” says Jess Clinch Communities In Bloom Co-ordinator.

Along with Hot Spots nights the committee also has a number of other exciting projects on the go, including the schools project and the Front Yard Garden Contest.

The school program investigates how environmentally friendly the schools are in the area, although the program started just last week, Clinch says it looks promising.

“See if they have outdoor garbage cans, if they have a recycling program, or if they’ve got their own gardens, things like that,” explains Clinch.

And while the schools get the once over by the local Communities in Bloom office, postal workers are keeping their eyes on your front yard for the national competition.

“It is part of the criteria, the Front Yard Garden Contest, so we get the post office workers involved,” says Clinch.

“Because they’re walking around and seeing all these gardens, so they nominate them and sent it back to me.”

Clinch says the media has been very generous to help get the message out about Communities in Bloom and their Hot Spots, however, she says the reason to become involved is even simpler.

“If you want your kids to enjoy the environment for when they’re older, than your have to start doing things now.”

For further information call Jess Clinch at 474-0400 x 337.