Port Washington residents came together last Saturday to plant flowers and improve the appearance of Main Street during this year’s Clean Green Main Street.
“We’re very excited to have an annual event here in Port Washington to clean up Main Street and to celebrate earth day and really as a way to get all of the students involved at every level to see what it’s like to give back to the community and really make the town as beautiful as it is,” said Laurie Courage, vice president of Environmental Education for Residents, which co-hosted the event with the Town of North Hempstead.
“Litter is a prevalent issue on Main Street. One that detracts from the beauty of our seaside town and dampens the spirit of those who live here,” Residents Executive Director Mindy Germain said. “With this effort, we want to heighten resident pride by celebrating Port Washington and everything that makes it special: its unique history, scenic locations, schools, merchants and people. And to remind people to take good care of this great place by not littering.”
Germain said the event drew more than 200 volunteers, including Cub Scout dens, Brownie troops, Schreiber High School clubs, families, merchants and individuals who just wanted to help out.
“The turnout was fantastic. Best ever,” Germain said.
Volunteers arrived at the LIRR Station parking lot in Port Washington at 9 a.m. where they received shovels, rakes, mulch, garbage bags, plants and brooms. Volunteers then spent an hour spreading mulch, planting and cleaning tree beds, gardening areas and the sidewalks all along Main Street from the Port Washington Boulevard to the Bay.
Germain said this year was the first year Residents’ worked with a Schreiber Student Leadership Committee to plan the event.
“They had a lot of fresh ideas and certainly helped get the word out through social media and school clubs,” Germain said.
Residents For a More Beautiful Port Washington student leaders included Daniel Gersh, Sophie Germain, Matthew Marx, Zach Schor and Elizabeth Witkow.
“What makes the 2016 Main Street Cleanup different from past years is that our goal is to have more teenagers participate to demonstrate their devotion to and care for the environment, along with working with young families and serving as role models for elementary school students,” Sophie Germain said.
Kurt Von Roeschlaub, a Port Washington resident and husband of Manorhaven Trustee Priscilla Von Roeschlaub, participated in the event and said maintaining Main Street is important to him.
“I think it’s important for me to make a visible witness of my pride in this community by taking care of a piece of it,” Von Roeschlaub said.
Von Roeschlaub and Weber Middle School student Catherine Altamirano were a few of the many volunteers who planted annuals and perennials in the Dejana Foundation garden, located in front of the LIRR station.
Altamirano said she often gardens with her mom and decided to volunteer after hearing about the event from her teachers.
“Without taking care and cleaning up [Main Street] it wouldn’t be the same,” Altamirano said adding that she’ll volunteer next year.
All volunteers received a certificate of community service signed by Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington and the Town of North Hempstead.
