BY ANGELO LYNN
With a statewide focus to clear up every town road in the state, this year’s statewide Green Up Day campaign is challenging towns to reach the 100% goal — something that Leicester has had on its radar since last year. Leicester Town Clerk Julie Delphia and town Green Up coordinator Diane Beware said the town to about 90% of the town roads were cleaned up last year and was making a big push to clean every road in the town.
“We’re hoping residents will call us and sign up for the roads that don’t always get picked up,” Delphia said, adding that town residents have always been pretty diligent about cleaning up their own neighborhoods. “The key is for everyone to do their part,” she said. “It doesn’t take a lot when we all chip in.”
Green Up Day is Saturday, May 7 this year and in Leicester bags can be picked up anytime at the town offices (outside) and full bags can be either left on the roadside for town crews to pick up, or dropped off at the Town Garage on Fern Lake Road. A town cookout and raffle will begin at the town office at noon and go until 2 p.m.
Green Up Day got started 52 years ago under Gov. Deane Davis and has become a spring tradition for all Vermonters to help beautify the state before the summer season — and summer vegetation makes it more difficult to see and pick up litter along the roadsides.
Last year, in 2021, it was estimated that 22,000 volunteers participated in Green Up Day and were able to clean up about 75% of the state’s 13,000 miles of town roads. The challenge to reach 100% of the town roads is a fun way to motivate town coordinators and volunteers, said Kate Alberghini, executive director of Green Up Vermont.
“Everyone likes a competitive challenge,” she said. “It’s a way to have some fun with it and support our town coordinators.”
Here are the Green Up Day coordinators in area towns, how to contact them, and the details of the day as shown on the state Green Up Day website:
In Rutland County:
• Brandon: Coordinator is James Leary; phone is 802-247-9595; email is jimleary@gmail.com. Details: Pick up Green Up bags at the Gazebo. Bring full bags to transfer station or leave on the roadsides for town crew.
• Chittenden: Coordinator is Sara DeCubellis; phone is 802-483-6868; email is pixie1208@aol.com. Details: Pick up Green Up bags at the Church of the Wildwood from 8-11:30 a.m. on May 7. Leave full bags along roadsides for pick up.
• Pittsford: Coordinator is Recreation Director Jennifer Popp; phone is 802-483-6500, x 17; email is recreation@pittsfordvermont.com. Details: Green Up bags will be available at the Town Clerk’s office. Please bring full bags back to the Town Offices.
• Proctor: Coordinator is Carrie Dougherty; phone is 802-459-2837; email is doughertyc418@gmail.com. Details: We will leave a map and Green Up bags in the town gazebo and ask people to cross off the section of roads they are covering on Green Up Day or before. The town road crew will pick up full bags left on roadsides.
• Sudbury: Coordinator is Larry Rowe; phone is 802-623-6432; email is upyonder@shoreham.net. Details: Green Up bags will be available at the Town Office. Bring full bags to the Recycling Center on or before Green Up Day where volunteers will sort them.
• West Rutland: Coordinator is Stan Jagodzinski; phone is 802-438-2263; email is sjagodzinski@westrutlandvt.org. Details: Pick up Green Up bags at the Town Hall at 9 a.m. on Green Up Day. Leave full bags along roadsides for town pick-up. Refreshments for volunteers at noon at the Town Hall.
In Addison County:
• Goshen: Coordinators are Marci Hayes at 802-247-6151 at hayesm812@yahoo.com; and Dave Sabatini, 802-247-6350 at dwsabatini1@gmail.com. Details: Green Up Day BBQ for all volunteers from noon-2 p.m. on May 7. Leave bags along roadsides for pick up.
• Leicester: Coordinator is Diane Beware; phone 802-247-3786; email at dianebenware@gmail.com. Details: We encourage pellet stove owners to reuse their pellet bags for Green Up Day. Green Up Day bags are at the Town Clerk’s office anytime. Leave bags on roadsides for pick up, or bring to Town Garage on Fern Lake Road. Cookout and raffle with prizes starting at noon. Town is looking to clean up 100% of its roads, so be sure to coordinate which roads you are picking up.
• Whiting: Coordinator is Rebecca Bertrand; phone 802-349-9468; email is whitingaries@yahoo.com. Details: Bags available at the town hall. Folks can call me with questions and route assignments, 349-9468. Leave full bags along roadsides. Ice cream social after at the Town Hall at 1:00 on Green Up Day.
