Earth Day 2008—

Neighborhood Cleans Up In Time For Earth Day

By Kendra Bobowick

Rebecca Jaroszewski had gone for a walk with a friend along Great Quarter Road, where she can see Lake Zoar bordering one side, eventually reaching the Paugusett State Forest where weekend hikers can follow a footpath along the water for more than two miles. From another spot along the narrow street is a blue-blaze trail entrance leading away from a red barn and into the woods where a carpet of vinca — blue blooms popping in April — disappears in the shadows.

By late May translucent lavender clusters spill from tree limbs across from the barn in an area of forest overrun with wisteria. Although Rebecca passes these rustic markers everyday, the scenery changed before her eyes last year. “We went walking on the road and we found all this trash,” she complained. “We started picking it up.” She soon filled a garbage bag that began to split over sharp edges of debris she had stuffed inside.

The trash had bothered her, and as she quickly discovered, it also bothered her neighbors. Roughly one year later on Saturday, April 19, she was among a handful of residents who gathered at 11 am for doughnuts and coffee — intent on cleaning her scenic street. The collection of parents, children, and one dog had responded to an announcement many found taped to their mailboxes days earlier stating: “Celebrate Earth Day by joining us as we clean up Great Quarter Road.” With Earth Day mascot Buster riding between the handlebars of an all terrain vehicle and wagging his tail, homeowner Sean O’Brien drove as his wife Danica walked the roadside. The couple quickly filled bags with the empty bottles and debris caught in the leaves and brush, including one rusted bed frame that had been thrown in the woods.

Bill Stordy picked up old car parts, among other trash, that had been discarded along a slope bordering his property. Dressed in honor of Earth Day, which was Tuesday, April 22, sisters Hunter and Samantha James, who had distributed the flyers, pulled on their Earth-friendly gloves. With help from their mom, Ann Ward, the girls scrambled down the riverbanks in the state forest where broken fishing gear, bait containers, tangled fishing line, and even diapers and pieces of clothing otherwise waited to greet hikers entering the forest.

Upset by the collection of other people’s empty bottles, coffee cups, and Styrofoam, Hunter was glad to clean up in the spirit of Earth Day. To her, the day is much larger than learning to recycle and keep trash in its proper place. “The Earth comes together with nature,” she said. She was happy to “clean up the earth,” at least for the day.

Rebecca’s parents Cindy and Steve Jaroszewski traveled with the rest of the group along the road, picking up pocket-size vodka bottles, green, brown, and clear beer bottles, splintered plastic cups, faded heaps of newspaper and junk mail, and even broken bags of household trash. Although the road leading from Route 34 and ending at the forest covers barely more than one mile, the cleanup lasted past 1:30 pm and found neighbors pushing through brambles and scrambling along crumbling banks to reach that last aluminum can. The group had gathered enough trash by the early afternoon to fill the back of one pick-up truck and one Suburban, which soon headed for the town transfer station.

Residents interested in contributing to Earth Day efforts or learning more about renewable energy, the environment, Newtown’s “green” initiatives, and more, can join Newtown’s first Earth Day Celebration, taking place at the middle school Saturday, April 26.

Celebrating Earth Day

In Newtown

Sponsored by the town’s Clean Energy Task Force, the day will be filled with “something for everyone.” At 10 am an emcee and entertainment will kick off the day.

Town historian Dan Cruson will lead an ecology hike at 10:30 am. Yoga demonstrations with Graceful Planet will be at 12:30.

“Green movements” with the Housatonic Waldorf School will be at 3 pm

 Ongoing will be a Mother’s Day Mural Project — join with 250 communities throughout the country to create a mural that will be placed on display at a major press event in Washington, D.C., for Mother’s Day weekend. Plant flower or vegetable seeds in a cow pot — free take-away. Create your own bird feeder. Sign up for clean energy with the Clean Energy Task Force.

Also: From 10 am to noon on April 26 will be an educational session at the Newtown Middle School with the Candlewood Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Mark storm drains with the high school Ecology Club and Pootatuck Watershed Association; meet at 8 am at the middle school. Conservationist Pat Barkman will conduct Al’s Trail Maintenance between 10 am and 2 pm. Meet at the middle school.

Head outdoors and hike on an Ecology Walk and learn about recent open space acquisitions, backyard ecology, wetland protection, and more. Meet at the middle school at 2 pm. Those more interested in a quick lessons can enjoy the presentation, “What is an Aquifer?” in the middle school gymnasium between 10 am and 2 pm.

Also throughout the day this Saturday information will be available about alternative energy choices, green living methods and products, organic foods, and more.

Residents throughout town are urged to make an effort with their neighbors to “adopt a road” and do a roadside cleanup along their street. Task Force Chairman Dan Holmes wrote in an e-mail, “I hope many residents will find time to participate in one or more events and do their seemingly small, yet critical en-masse effort.”

These and other events appealing to children especially will fill the afternoon.