Putting on a fresh face for spring

The city got its spring cleaning out of the way Saturday morning thanks to more than 100 volunteers who participated in the annual downtown cleanup.

This year volunteers spruced up the area in record time, starting at 8 a.m. and taking about 21/2 hours to put a polish on the business district.

"This is the best turnout we've ever had. There are so many people," said Thomas Brown, chairman of the Easthampton Development and Industrial Commission, one of the event's organizers. Next year "we may have to do a breakfast cookout instead of (offering) lunch. Every year it takes less and less time."

After each cleanup, volunteers are rewarded with a community barbecue at noon. This year, members of American Legion Post 224 were behind the grill at the Senior Center, cooking up food donated by Big E's Foodland.

Brown said the growing number of volunteers makes the work go by faster. He said that encourages more people to give a couple hours of their weekend instead of the day-long commitment required when the project started.

For eight years, EDIC, the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, Cottage Street Stations and Easthampton Rod and Gun Club have been organizing the event.

"It's real good to see people care about the community and come together to make (the city) look good," said Susan Flynn, one of 20 volunteers from Riverside Industries. "It's nice to be a part of something larger than just your regular Saturday."

Barbara Mitchell, right, of Easthampton and other Riverside Industries staff,
clean the hillside in front of One Cottage Street as part of a downtown
cleanup Saturday.

Volunteers cleaned Pulaski Park, put fresh mulch around all the trees on Main, Cottage and Union streets, raked the Historical Society's yard, cleaned the Pleasant Green playground, picked up trash at the Eugene Flaherty municipal lot and dredged up debris from the bottom of Nashawannuck Pond.

The Hammerhead divers, who handled the last chore, found TV sets, tires, light poles, barrels and a washing machine. "I like to see the pond pretty and clean. I took the weekend off to come here," said Barbara Janik, an Easthampton resident who helped plant flowers at the intersection by Nashawannuck Pond. "I like to fish down here and just hang out... it's a good way to relax."

Besides residents, many people who work in the city volunteered their time
"I think it's important to
volunteer where you work as well aswhere you live," said Glafyra Ennis- Yentsch, who lives in Northampton and
works at the Senior Center.
"I believe in public service
and unity in community.
This is a good community
and it's a great thing to participate in."

Ennis-Yentsch said she's helped in the cleanup for several years. Asked if there was a downside, she replied with a smile, "Well, why don't you ask me back the next morning?"

Riverside Industries'
Job Placement Program