Earth Day clean-up brings multiple communities together

In honor of Earth Day, on April 24, assemblywoman Judy Griffin and senator Todd Kaminsky hosted a Community Clean-up in the Village of Rockville Centre of the South Pond/McDonald Pond area of Hempstead Lake Park, along with local community groups. Dozens of volunteers from Baldwin Girl Scout Troop 2210, Rockville Centre’s Boy Scout Troop 40, Boy Scout Troops 214 and 163, Brownie Troop 802, Webelos Pack 31, Girls Scouts Troops 821, 826, 2086; Freeport’s Daisy Troop 2221.  In addition, clean-up help was enlisted from the Rockville Centre Police, RVC Conservancy, RVC Friends of MLK, All Our Energy, and Vision Street Research. In total collected more than 50 bags of garbage.

“I am so grateful to the individuals, children, families, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and organizations who joined together to participate in our Earth Day Cleanup at Hempstead Lake State Park,” said assemblywoman Judy Griffin. “Together we made a difference and demonstrated why it is essential to preserve our natural resources and keep our shorelines pristine- by keeping our parks clean, beautiful, and safe, Hempstead Lake Park and the surrounding areas will remain a place for many generations to enjoy.”

“Rockville Centre Conservancy is thrilled to be able to participate in cleaning up one of our villages best resources - Hempstead Lake Park,” said Matt Cliszis a board member at the conservancy. “Part of our mission is to identify local public spaces which are in need of attention and to help do something to make it better for the community,” he concluded.

Bill Brown, the park manager at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said this was one step towards fighting the ongoing litter crisis, “Awareness and action are the best ways to fight pollution.”

The organization All Our Energy, which advocates and educates the public to support renewable energy and involve the community in environmental protection was also pulling up their sleeves to help and teach. “It is time New York addresses the root cause of it all, with mandates stopping toxics in these materials which become pollution, and to reduce, reuse, refill, and then recycle the rest,” said George Povall the director of All Our Energy.