North End Clean Up A Success

It was a great day in the North End on Saturday where 150 people volunteered to do some spring cleaning.

Here's a slideshow of some of the people that were out that day. I'm sorry I didn't make it to all corners of the neighborhood with my camera....there were some great scenes to be seen.

There were volunteers from the NEAT/Wesleyan Mentoring Program, Earth Ministries and the Jonah Center out of First Church, the Middletown Garden Club, and a group of youth doing a "30 Hour Famine" from East Hampton and Haddam. There were also other individuals from Middletown who came in to lend a hand as individuals. Residents got a chance to work alongside Dan Drew, who is running for Mayor this year, and Councilman Santangelo, who is a North End resident. Even the kids had fun working alongside the principal from Macdonough School, Jon Romeo, who spent hours helping out at the Erin Street Garden.

Most importantly, though, were the many residents who organized the day, spread the word to their neighbors, and went door to door, helping to clean the sidewalks and yards of their neighbors. It was a great event that helped the community, but more importantly, helped to build community.

A big thanks to Sherwin Williams Paint in Cromwell for donating supplies, to Kim O'Rourke and the City of Middletown for picking up the extra trash and helping with logistics, to Dominoes, Sammy's Pizza and Illiano's for donating Pizza for the Lunch, and to all of those who came out to help.

Garbage Cans to Disappear

The Common Council passed a resolution to approve new sanitation rules and guidelines Monday night, but not before they got an earful about garbage can scofflaws.

Church Street resident Elizabeth Emery urged the Council to tighten rules to prevent residents from leaving garbage cans on the curb all week long (a complaint recently aired here).

"Look at that gas station on Broad and William Streets," she complained. "The garbage cans are never taken in."

During questions to departmental directors, council member Robert Santangelo directed a similar query to Public Works director William Russo.

"When we get a complaint we take care of it right away," Russo said.

Santangelo claimed that his wife had complained several times on the topic without results.

"Maybe she was dialing the wrong number," Santangelo joked. "I know this is a problem because I used to have a neighbor across the street who never took the cans in, until the house burned down. At Page and Warner (the gas station on Broad and William), you heard a member of the public testify that the cans have been on the curb how long? Three years!"

"Between the health department and me," Russo finally vowed in exasperation. "We will be out on the street tomorrow and address every garbage can issue on the streets."

After the meeting Russo promised to take immediate action on any complaints his department receives about garbage cans left on the curb on days other than collection days. His office can be reached by calling 344-3408, or by email william.russo@cityofmiddletown.com.