FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 29, 2013
Join the 1,400 clean-up volunteers already registered
Greenfield, MA. August 29, 2013. The 17th annual Source to Sea Cleanup is gearing up to be one of the biggest river clean up events along the Connecticut River yet. Hosted by the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRC), the Source to Sea Cleanup is an annual trash clean up of the Connecticut River and its tributaries all along the four-state watershed (NH, VT, MA, CT). Registration for the Cleanup is underway now. Twenty-five groups and over 1,400 volunteers from Hanover, NH to Old Saybrook, CT have already signed up to clean the rivers on Friday & Saturday, October 4 – 5.
“Some really unbelievable things have been pulled from our rivers, such as a cement mixer, parking meters, propane tanks and junk cars,” says Jacqueline Talbot, Cleanup Coordinator. “This is human produced trash that becomes river trash and then ocean trash, while making our natural spaces less safe and less welcoming for people and wildlife. We can do something about that and give a cleaner river to our neighbors downstream. To date, volunteers have prevented more than 806 tons of trash from flowing downstream, but our waterways could always use the help of those willing to work for cleaner spaces. This is a positive event with a true impact, and it is open to all.” To report a trash site in need of clean up or to participate in the cleanup event, visit ctriver.org and click on ‘Source to Sea Cleanup.’
“It’s wonderful to see this level of support for cleaning up our rivers,” says CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “There are 30 sponsors this year, many of them new. Lead sponsors Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, Lane Construction, NRG Middletown and TransCanada’s generous financial support enables us to organize the thousands of volunteers who participate in the Cleanup, and to take on complex projects that require the use of heavy equipment and professional divers. Last year we were able to pull two junk cars from the river in CT and we’ll tackle more big projects like that this year.”
Those not interested in picking up trash can still support the Cleanup by attending one of three benefit concerts happening throughout the region, September 20-22, featuring well-known artists Robin & Linda Williams and Their Fine Band from NPR’s Prairie Home Companion. They will perform their blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country music live on Friday, September 20, 7:30pm at the Pentangle Town Hall Theater in Woodstock, VT; Saturday, September 21, 7:30pm at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, MA; or Sunday, September 22, 3pm at The Kate in Old Saybrook, CT. Tickets can be purchased online at ctriver.org/news-events/concert/ or by calling 1-800-838-3006 (877-503-1286 in CT). Memorial Hall tickets can also be purchased at World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield, MA, Mocha Maya’s and Boswell’s Books in Shelburne Falls, MA.
For information about the Source to Sea Cleanup, to join a group near you, register online, or to report sites in need of cleaning visit ctriver.org and click on ‘Source to Sea Cleanup.’ Anyone with questions or a trash tip may contact CRC’s Cleanup Coordinator Jacqueline Talbot at cleanup@ctriver.org or by calling 860-704-0057.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council has been an advocate for the 11,000 square-mile watershed of the Connecticut River since 1952. CRC is a non-profit organization supported by individual members, public and private foundations, corporate sponsors and government grants. To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect the Connecticut River, visit ctriver.org or call 413-772-2020.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 29, 2013
CONTACT:
Jacqueline Talbot, CRC Cleanup Coordinator & Lower River Steward, jtalbot@ctriver.org 860-704-0057
Angela Mrozinski, CRC Outreach & Events Director amrozinski@ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext 204
