To the editor:
For a person who is obsessed with picking up litter, this winter has been the worst.
Every winter, as soon as the snow drops, I get to forget for a while all the litter that needs to be picked up. I get my cross-country skis out and I head out to our city's beautiful places: Ravenswood, Dogtown and Stage Fort Park, to name a few.
At that point, the litter is no longer a problem because the snow has blanketed the ground it also covered up the litter. This is how it is supposed to work in the winter.
This winter, due to the lack of snow, litter is visible everywhere. I feel compelled to get the yellow bags out and start spring cleaning.
I have already cleaned the Emerald Forest several times with my new neighbor Marsha White, who asked for more yellow bags yesterday.
While cleaning up litter on Washington Street a couple of weeks ago, I proudly displayed my "Please Don't Litter " sign as I cleaned, educating and cleaning at the same time. What is the date again?
Sidewalk Sweeping Day — can it be moved up to get people out cleaning, making the cleaning season longer? Earth Day cleanup — forget April, let's get it done in March, more time to kayak. Talking about kayaking, we have been out on the water all winter, not much litter in the water; we will have to wait for the litterbugs to arrive this spring.
So this winter, my rest was not long, but I did dream of snow.
In the dream, the snow blanketed the ground and covered up all the litter. Ahh! Sweet dreams.
Patti Amaral
Clean City Initiative
Gloucester
