Volunteers And Town Crews Continue Cleanup Effort

By Kendra Bobowick

Nearly one month after a late October snowstorm created a mess of downed trees, limbs, and debris across town, cleanups still continue.

Residents have been dragging their branches to the curbside for a coordinated town effort to chip and remove debris. Public Works Director Fred Hurley explained, “People have been aggressive about getting debris out for pickup.”

Some homeowners were also able to seek assistance in this effort. Prior to the town and private contractors’ removal efforts, a volunteer task force — coordinated with First Selectman Pat Llodra’s support — had also been at work.

Organizer Kevin Fitzgerald, among many other helping hands, was not far from a chainsaw in recent days as he and other volunteers aided neighbors. He received more calls for assistance than anticipated, but was able to keep up with requests thanks to the many volunteers at work at homes along Alpine Drive, Hanover Road, and Orchard Hill Road during the weekend of November 19–20.

Mr Fitzgerald spent his weekend at seven different jobs, he said. Although he had expected more requests to help cut and clear prior to Thanksgiving, he said, “I do expect that after Thanksgiving jobs will drop off.”

As the town works to clear roadside piles ahead of a next snowstorm, Mr Fitzgerald looks ahead, “I have volunteers who are going to be available and we’ll wait for the next weather system.”

Clearing Schedule

The town crews are at work clearing roads and neighborhoods on a schedule, with the town divided into quadrants, Mr Hurley explained. Among volunteers involved with cleanups in recent days were Brandon Ghent, Alyssa Wade, Kory Kling, Andrew Lischuk, Matt Wolowitz, Mr Fitzgerald, Mike Switzer, John and Allison Breny, Doug, David, and Karen Pierce, Al Roznicky, and Doug Main. With the Thanksgiving holiday on November 24, he said, “We will shut down operations until Monday [November 28], then full bore until done.”

With an eye on the coming forecast, he said, “It looks like we’ll get a break with the weather and looks like we’ll get most debris done before a major storm.”

An ongoing effort will continue to clear away limbs leaning or hanging precariously over the road. Mr Hurley said, “Until they’re gone. We’ll keep at it.”

His crews will “go after” most limbs except those on wires, which will require a call to the utility company, he said.

Many Thanks

Through his outreach to homeowners asking for debris cleanup assistance, Mr Fitzgerald received a host of e-mails, some of which he shared.

In one e-mail to The Bee, Mr Fitzgerald offered an correspondence from resident Fran Denniger that said, “I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for the help today. I understand that you came by — sorry I didn’t get to say hello!”

She wrote, “Please send me the names and address of my ‘saviors.’ The least I can do is send a thank-you note. They wouldn’t even take a cup of coffee. My faith in people is renewed. It is this kind of help that truly does make it ‘Nicer in Newtown!’”

Mr Fitzgerald said the e-mail was his favorite. He wrote, “We received this thank you, and then we received her offer to volunteer the next day. And now she’s on our list. I love it!”

Ms Denniger wrote a second e-mail a day after her first that stated: “Although I cannot cut down trees or really do much physical labor, I would be very interested in volunteering in some capacity.” She offered to use her work-related skills to assist others. She wrote, “Please let me know when you are in need of my help — I truly want to ‘pay back’ and pay it forward for the wonderful help I received yesterday!”

Another e-mail to Mr Fitzgerald is from resident Cindy Miller who recently wrote, “Again thank you for taking the time to come over to my home that I lovingly call The Vineyard. People who come here feel so peaceful and it is important to me to maintain that. I am appreciative of everyone’s time and efforts as I know they have their own responsibilities and families.”

She wrote, “Time is so precious and what you all did was just that. The property looks so much better!”