40 volunteers cleanup the river

What was in the West Branch of the Housatonic River before July 17?
by Jane Winn

Here is a partial list:
An old refrigerator, about seven shopping carts, seven bicycles, five scooters, two bowling balls, a volleyball, a frisbee, an umbrella, a boom-box, a pair of hand-cuffs, lots of tires including ones for antique cars (how long had they been in there?) and racing slicks, and lots and lots of glass bottles.

On Saturday, July 17^th a group of almost 40 people descended upon the river and hauled out all this and more. The river cleanup was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (www.thebeatnews.org), HVA and First Church (www.firstchurchpittsfield.org).

Alison Dixon, HVA outreach program manager, with some of her trash treasures.
PHOTO BY NATALIE CLIFTON

A group of 16 campers and a counselor from Lakeside Christian Camp were amazing at prying loose shopping carts and dragging bicycles from the river by Columbus Avenue in Pittsfield. Members of First Church of Christ in Pittsfield and United Methodist Church in Lenox worked on parts of the river from Fairfield Street down past Fred Garner Park on Pomeroy Ave.

The day started with coffee and Munchkins donated by Dunkin' Donuts on East Street. And when the volunteers were finished, the group gathered at Fred Garner Park for pizza donated by Papa Joe's Ristorante & Pizzeria. And thank you to the City of Pittsfield Department of Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources for having all the trash hauled away and disposed of properly.

July 17 was the second of three cleanups planned in the Berkshires. The first was held on June 19 (see below).

Last cleanup is planned for
August 14.
Details to come.

A week after the cleanup Yvonne Borsody, who not only helped with the cleanup but lives along the river said, "Yesterday there were four boys and girls playing along the riverbank for hours, along the same stretch that we cleaned last week. They reminded me of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer with their homemade fishing poles. It's nice to see kids outdoors, exploring the natural world, instead of indoors playing video games. That river really is a treasure. Thank you to HVA and BEAT for being its stewards."

(Visit BEAT's website for more photos)

3 sites cleaned along the Housatonic June 19

Leaders proudly pose with the trash collected June 19. From left, Dick Noble (First Church), Alison Dixon (HVA), Jane Winn (Executive Director of BEAT) and her husband Bruce.

Saturday, June 19 was the first of three summer river cleanups. It was a cooperative effort between Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), HVA, Westside Initiative Neighborhood Council and First Church. First Church originally contacted BEAT to help organize three cleanups. Dick Noble, a volunteer at First Church is spearheading getting church members to help in the community.

It was a great day with about 20 volunteers participating pulling out at least 20 tires, a couple of shopping carts, a microwave, two water heavy tanks and sundry other trash.

Volunteers picked up trash as they paddled down the river. People were amazed at the types of debris found in the river.

Lugging a microwave to the trash pile

Canoe laden with trash