Thirteen volunteers, plus municipal officials and committee members, signed in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. behind the Business Block in downtown Thomaston May 4 for the annual Town-Wide Clean-up. 

 

Volunteers were provided with gloves, bags, grabbers, and vests. Three Thomaston Conservation Commission members participated in the clean-up efforts. 

 

“We had many partners in making this event happen,” said one of the organizers, Kathleen Norton. “Flipside Coffee partnered with the Conservation Commission by offering complimentary beverages to volunteers who were identified by a ‘star’ stamp or ‘smiley face’ sticker.”

 

Public Works provided materials, such as road signs, grabbers, and vests.

 

“Thomaston Grammar School was very generous in letting us borrow a folding table for the event, which Brandon Allen, Thomaston Public Works helped us retrieve and setup,” said Norton. 

 

The primary focus areas included Dexter Street and neighborhoods. Officer Tom Eager provided a police escort safety detail on Dexter Street. The focus was to stay on town-owned roads.

 

Volunteers reported cleaning up Valley Street, behind Knox Hotel, Green Street, Kiln Park, and Maurice Avenue. A cartload of trash was collected by the volunteers.

 

Select Board member Sandy Moore stopped by towards the end.

 

“Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson continues to collect trash along New County Road (Route 1) without expectation of recognition or reward,” said Norton.  “He is out there, rain or shine, and has done so over multiple years. He collects trash along one of the most travelled ‘no-man's land’ stretches of Route 1 in front of Dragon Cement.”

 

Lastly, there was a simultaneous, separate clean-up event at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, where 12 volunteers participated.  

 

“Thank you to all who help keep Thomaston CLEAN and BEAUTIFUL,” said Norton.