Upper Schuylkill will be 'safe, clean and green'
BY JOHN E. USALIS News Item/Schuylkill
Saturday
10/07/2007
In a world that's getting more complicated
each day - not to mention expensive - to get things done, cooperation
is the way to go. Whether it's a couple of people planning a project,
or towns, cities, states or nations doing whatever they do, putting
heads, hands and wallets together makes the job easier and less expensive
for everybody.
On Wednesday, Upper Schuylkill Downtowns officially
unveiled its Tidy Towns program, which is named after contests held
in 2006 and 2007 to award the cleanest downtown business district
among the six USD communities. Just in case you don't know, those
towns are Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown
and Shenandoah. I've been typing those names for so long that I think
I can do it in my sleep. In fact, I just did. Wake me up when this
column is over.
"Keeping our communities clean has a lot to do
with what we're all about, which includes bringing in new businesses,
retaining our current businesses and providing a better quality of
life for our residents and visitors," said USD Executive Director
Patrice "Patty" Rader. "Through this program, our hope
is that everyone in our communities start to take a look at our main
streets and take care of the simple things, like cleaning, sweeping
up and keeping their communities nice and clean."
Rader then read a quote from anthropologist Margaret
Meade: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has."
There was an enthusiastic bunch of people in attendance
from the six towns, and part of the unveiling ceremony was the singing
of the original Tidy Towns theme song, sung by its writer, Mary Crespo
of Ashland:
"We're the Tidy Towns cleanup crew,
"Watch what wonderful things we'll do.
"Oh, we're the Tidy Towns cleanup crew,
"Making your town cleaner for you."
It sure beats, "Hi! Ho! Hi! Ho! It's off to work
we go!"
Crespo, who works part-time for USD, is the Tidy Towns
coordinator. She already has a nickname: Tidy Mary. And her job is
to go around and make sure that the downtown business districts in
the revitalization program get and stay tidy. Mary has a very, very
big job ahead of her.
The equipment unveiling, which at times seemed a lot
like the first look at prizes on "The Price is Right," provided
a first-hand look at what the six communities will be using. Displayed
were:
. The Green Machine - a high-tech sidewalk sweeper that
can pick-up most sidewalk litter and dirt, pulverize bottles and cans,
and place everything into standard trash bags. The Green Machine is
carried in its own enclosed trailer, decorated with a collage of scenes
from the Upper Schuylkill boroughs.
. The Gator - A four-wheel, two-seat utility vehicle
used to transport tools and other items. The Gator will be used as
needed in the towns, delivered in The Gator Trailer, a small flatbed
trailer.
. Tidy Town Trailer 2 - Similar to the trailer used
to carry The Green Machine, this trailer is used to carry many smaller
pieces of equipment, including: Gator 40-gallon tow-behind weed sprayer,
two John Deere Pro Series line trimmers, two John Deere Back-Pack
blowers, a leaf blower with bag, a Trusco Trueline striper-line painter,
a GRACO LineLazer 5900, two transfer shovels, two professional corn
brooms, two rough service push brooms, two edge and curb push brooms,
two 30-inch rakes, a 15-foot tree trimmer, two round shovels, two
spading forks, two scoop shovels, two bow rakes and other miscellaneous
items.
Rader added that 48 Dumor steel trash receptacles that
were delivered last week. Each borough received eight units, which
were placed in each town's downtown area.
After the unveiling of The Gator, everyone had the chance
to take "Gator rides" around the lot. Walt Logeski of Applied
Sweepers demonstrated the power and versatility of The Green Machine.
Rader thanked state Sen. James J. Rhoades, R-29, and
the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
for the funding that helped create and will sustain the Tidy Towns
program. She also thanked the Upper Schuylkill staff, the volunteers,
borough employees and the M&M Sandwich Shop in Ashland for supplying
the food for Wednesday's kickoff.
She also recognized the many partners involved with
Tidy Towns, including Demmergraphics, Home Depot, Applied Sweepers,
RP Lock Enterprises, Sherwin Williams, Kutz Farm Equipment, Reidler
Decal Corporation and George Ely Associates.
There were plenty of accolades to go around for the
cleanup program. Rose Kern and Rose Flamini of Mahanoy Downtown Inc.
said the new program would be a big boost to all six boroughs.
"I'm thrilled to see all this," said Kern.
"This should help all of our communities, and no one can say
that we don't have anything to work with, because we have more than
we can handle. Therefore, let's all get out and work."
Flamini added, "We are the promotions committee,
and we all want you to come out and help us promote and make sure
we keep our towns tidy. We are the Tidy Towns Crew."
"You can't beat this," said Ashland Borough
Council President Michael Groody. "There are some people who
say why would towns want stuff like this, but when you look at the
equipment here, you know that it's going to be used heavily. It's
fantastic. And this is only the start of it. I'm thrilled. I feel
like a little kid here at Christmas."
Shenandoah Main Street Manager Mary Luscavage said,
"I think this is just great. It's wonderful. All of this equipment
will be well used. It's well appreciated and it's something we all
need. It's going to help us get our towns cleaned up and looking good
- clean, green and safe."
Peg Milewski of Main Street Ringtown said the new equipment
will only enhance the efforts of those who are pitching in to keep
Ringtown clean and green.
"In Ringtown, we are very lucky that we have lot
of people that do pitch in," Milewski said. "However, there
will be times we can use the equipment to keep our streets safe, clean
and green."
Frackville Borough Councilman Patrick O'Boyle Sr. said
the equipment will be a big advantage in keeping the borough tidy.
"This is excellent, because of the litter problem
we have there. Since we don't have a street sweeper, the sidewalk
sweeper will still help us clean the gutters with the vacuum hose,"
said O'Boyle. "This is the best thing that happened to us with
Upper Schuylkill revitalization in the past 50 years. And if anybody
thinks that it isn't hasn't been out and around as much as we have
been."
O'Boyle said Frackville has a history of partnering
and working with its neighboring communities. The Tidy Towns initiative
makes those cooperative efforts even more tangible.
"Now that partnering is even more tangible because
we all have the same thing in mind. We're all looking at the same
goal," said O'Boyle. "I think this is super."
Rader said that getting younger people involved in the
revitalization effort is another step for the future. She said a Junior
Main Street Program is in the planning stage and will be announced
in the near future. Rader added that the Borough of Mount Carmel is
also looking into the possibility of becoming a Main Street community.
Two USD communities, Ashland and Shenandoah, are currently part of
the Pennsylvania Main Street Program.
I wonder if there's a grant program to tidy up
my desk.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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