Saturday, April 14, 2012 was a sunny day and no signs of inclement weather. This was our 26th cleanup and new groups joined our volunteers: L&T Health and Fitness Club of Falls Church, PWC Master Gardeners, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and several Girl Scout groups. Steve Droter, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, recorded videos of the cleanup. Some of our returning volunteers again joined us: Bull Run Rotary Club, Lake Braddock Crew, Lane Construction, American Water, Woodbridge HS ROTC, Boy Scout Troops 1369 and 1365, Girl Scout Troops 3287 and 2564, and Fairfax South County HS.
Thanks to our 229 volunteers who collected over 75 bags of trash, cigarette filters, tires, barrels and various other articles including ductile iron pipes were retrieved and properly disposed. Over 28 bags of recyclables were collected.
Thanks to other groups that joined our efforts: Ed Dandar and Kelly Jimenez of the PW Trails and Streams Coalition; NVRPA provided boats and disposed of trash at their 3 Parks/Marinas; Capt. Mark of the Ms. Rivershore, ferrying volunteers around the lower Occoquan; John Houser of the Occoquan Regional Park, Jane England, manager of Lake Ridge Marina, Hafez G Al Haj, PW County Public Works, Bonnie Phillips of VA DCR.
A big thank you also goes to all who participated and to our devoted coordinators: John Rothrock; Bill Olson; Deb Buffington; Claudia Cruise; Alex and Betty Vanegas; Renate and Jackie Vanegas; and Duane DeBruyne.
Thanks to Christine Vineski for the Occoquan Regional Park pictures.
Bill Lesser riding his canoe, from Rte 28 in Centreville to the Bull Run Marina spotted an abandoned Buick sedan. Duane DeBruyne is coordinating the removal of that car, see pictures below.
One more note: Deb Buffington, science teacher at Fairfax South County HS, is retiring and will move to the West coast. She has been attending our cleanup for the past eight years.
