Spring cleaning will be a town-wide affair as Goshen holds its first “Goshen Cleanup Day,” designed to collect and dispose of trash from around town.
On April 23, volunteers will hit the streets, sidewalks, lawns, woods and fields, picking up litter in an organized effort to spruce up the community.
According to organizer Debbie DeCarli, the new cleanup day is a way to participate in the Keep America Beautiful campaign and to honor Earth Day on April 22.
“It is a fledgling effort at this point,” DeCarli said. “Several residents have told me that they already pick up litter on their own and I thought we could make it an annual coordinated effort.”
After walking her dog in town one day, DeCarli said she was dismayed at the amount trash that she was coming across on the roadside.
“When I used to live in Vermont we had an annual ‘Green-Up Day’ where people volunteered to pick up trash and the full trash bags were picked up by the state highway crews,” DeCarli said.
This is what inspired her to go to the Select Board and pitch a similar idea of a town-wide cleanup for Goshen.
“They were very supportive of the idea,” DeCarli said. “So I went to Home Depot, Lowe’s and the Williamsburg Pharmacy and they all donated trash bags and disposable gloves for the effort.”
DeCarIi then made special stickers for bags so they could be brought to the town trash/recycling center free of charge.
From 9 a.m. until noon on April 23 people can lend a hand and pick up litter in any location they choose, whether that is front of their house or in areas of town where they have seen refuse.
Residents should pick up specially marked bags at Town Hall Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
A limited number of cleanup bags are available, so people are encouraged to pick them up soon, and also signing up for a special thank-you lunch.
“After the cleanup, a hot dog lunch will be provided at the Tilton Farm Pavilion from noon to 1:30,” DeCarIi said.
On Thursday, DeCarli said that she had not yet received a “ton of interest,” but is hopeful that word will get out and the idea will catch on.
“Even if we don’t get a lot of people at first, every little bit helps,” she said.
For more information on the Goshen cleanup, call DeCarli at 802-373-6946 or email bddecarli1714@gmail.com.
Forager and wild plant aficionado Blanche Derby will offer a presentation on wild edibles from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Meekins Library in Williamsburg.
Derby, a retired art teacher, has been incorporating wild foods into her diet since she was in her teens. She has written and illustrated three books on edible plants and has lectured and led foraging walks throughout New England.
The presentation will be held with an opportunity for questions.
This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Williamsburg Cultural Council.
The Chesterfield Council On Aging will host a square dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Chesterfield Community Center on Main Road.
This is a family event that is open to people of all ages and beginners are always welcome.
The Falltown String Band will provide live music with singing calls by Bob Livingston.
A raffle will be held during the evening and guests are encouraged to bring items to be raffled.
Refreshments will be available. For more information call 296-4743.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.