What's Happening in Enfield, CT…

September 27 was the 15th annual Source to Sea Clean-Up Day at the Donald Barnes Boat launch, and 50 volunteers, government officials, and businesses from Enfield and other local communities gathered together to work on the Connecticut River.

Some of the volunteer organizations included Boy Scouts from Hazardville and the Enfield Marine Police Fish and Game unit. Volunteers recorded seeing bikes, electronics, mattresses, and a couch.

Dana Gillette of the Connecticut River Watershed Council recalled that more than 2,000 volunteers pulled nearly 50 tons of garbage out of the river the year before. She hopes that one day her council will no longer be needed, but the annual clean-up does help people see how beautiful the river is and minimizes the amount of trash thrown into it.

Past volunteer headcounts are usually around 30 to 66 and they recover about two tons of debris. Boaters use their crafts to go out into the river and get trash from the deeper ends, while skilled canoe paddlers make plywood barges to help move heavier items. Other volunteers sorted through the trash to find recyclables. Finally, the Enfield Department of Public Works took away the trash with a big claw truck.

A printing company could volunteer their services by making shirts for the volunteers to wear during the event. It would double as advertising as well.