Clutter Control

What's with all the garbage in my neighborhood? Plastic bags strewn in trees, recyclable cans by the sidewalk, cardboard boxes in ditches. Marilynn and me want to know. She's the only other neighbor I see picking up after others here in our Glenmont development.

The real question is, regardless how it got there, why are we the only two doing anything about it?

When I take Rocco for walks, it's one bag for him and one bag for the litter. It doesn't take much to beautify America. Everyday we generate a couple pounds and by the end of the week the paths and sidewalks are spic and span.

And what about parents? They bring their kids to the park to swing, slide and jump and then leave without so much as lifting a finger to keep it clean. Might they think they are above picking up after others? Might they be lazy? And what kind of eco-message does that send little Jack and Jill?

Come on people! April is volunteer month and April 22nd is Earth Day so protect Mother Earth with a little bit of elbow grease. Community Clean-Up Day should be everyday but here in Bethlehem it's officially this Saturday. Check out the TU Bethlehem blog for more information and don't forget to bring the kiddies.

For those in NYC, Wednesday, April 22, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. is the official Keep NYC Beautiful Coalition kickoff rally at Times Square's Military Triangle. If donning gloves and a Glad trash bag for an hour is not above millionaire Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, then what's your excuse?