Clean sweeping in the rain

WARWICK - It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that fewer volunteers would be out picking up trash if the weather was terrible on the scheduled date of a community roadside cleanup. The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce had announced “Operation Clean Sweep,” which it sponsors every year, well in advance of the scheduled date, Saturday, April 22. The date also conveniently coincided with the environmental and national celebration of “Earth Day.” Each year, individuals, businesses, organizations, clubs and other groups pre-register the roads they plan to police for “Operation Clean Sweep” so that the Department of Public Works can arrange for the bag pick-up. But unfortunately, this year, Mother Nature refused to cooperate. It didn’t just rain. It poured rain. Coordinator Lisa Montanaro of LM Organizing Solutions admitted that the heavy rain did discourage many of those who had signed on from picking up their collection bags that morning. But the good news was that most of the volunteers were also watching the weather reports. And, without any formal direction, they had already figured out how to make the operation a success. “Most of the people were out yesterday, when the weather was beautiful,” said Montanaro. “And others are braving the rain today or they just came to pick up their bags and they’re planning to catch up as soon as the weather improves.” Linda Glohs, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, also praised the Route 94 cleanup performed on Thursday, April 20, by volunteer inmates from Mid-Orange Correctional Facility. “They did a beautiful job,” she said.