Denise Rockenstein–Staff writer
CLEARLAKE — Clearlake is cleaner thanks to Cathy Wilson and the 49 people who volunteered to help her clean up the city on Saturday. Wilson”s “Street Cleaning Party” was a raging success with teams of volunteers seen throughout the city, sweeping, raking, pulling weeds and picking up trash.
“The event went really, really well,” Wilson said. “The people who were here were so supportive and so enthusiastic. The absolute best part is that there really are a lot of people in the community who care.”
Wilson said she not only received the support of numerous community-minded individuals but also from the local business community and city administration as well. Prior to the event, Wilson made visits to business locations on Olympic and Lakeshore drives, requesting that they tidy-up store fronts before the clean up day.
“Most of the businesses were really encouraging and most of them did go out and clean-up before the event,” Wilson said.
Wilson said support from the city was tremendous as well. “Everything that I asked, they came through with. They were here with smiles and they could not have been more helpful.” Wilson said. “I think it”s really important that the rest of community knows how much the city was behind this.”
Among the 49 volunteers who participated in Wilson”s party, were members of the Clearlake Kiwanis Club and teenage-members of its Key Club, People Services clients and personnel and a Girl Scout troop. Water district employees, members of the city council and city administration and Public Works personnel were also spotted getting their hands dirty during the clean-up and Wilson said that Volunteers in Policing (VIP) members were helpful keeping people safe.
Clear Lake Waste Solutions and owner Bruce McCracken contributed substantially to the success of the event. McCracken and his crew provided refuse containers, meeting up with each of the street cleaning teams to haul away the debris they had collected. “Bruce was really great helping us with this,” Wilson said.
Many of the supplies used for the clean-up were provided by the Keep America Beautiful Great American Clean-Up campaign. The campaign provided refuse bags, hand sanitizers, flower seeds and big banners that identified the project. The City of Clearlake and County of Lake public works departments provided collection equipment and safety vests. “That was a huge help. It was really good to have those to help keep our volunteers safe,” Wilson said. “Doug Herron (Clearlake Public Works) was helpful and accommodating. He has some really good ideas on how to clean up the city and I hope he will allow me to help him out in the future.”
Area businesses expressed support of the project by offering discounts on some merchandise. Highlands Nursery, Four Corners Builders Supply, Clearlake Janitorial, Bob”s Vacuum and Mendo Mill all offered participants discounts on cleaning equipment. Safeway, Foods, Etc. and Wal-Mart contributed with food for the barbecue that followed the clean-up.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
