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PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Massive volunteer river cleanup set for Saturday

Greenfield, MA.  October 3, 2008.  Volunteers have registered in record numbers for the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s Source to Sea Cleanup this Saturday, taking place on the main stem Connecticut and tributaries throughout the 4-state basin.  “We’re still receiving new registrations for the Cleanup every day, and with a forecast for excellent weather, this could well be our largest cleanup effort ever,” says Christine Luis-Schultz, Cleanup Coordinator.

The Cleanup, sponsored by NRG Middletown Power, now has eighty-two volunteer groups from communities, schools, and clubs, scouting organizations, businesses and churches, set to fan out along the 410-mile length of the Connecticut River, from northernmost New Hampshire to Long Island Sound.  Last year over 50 tons of trash, debris and tires were removed from the region’s riverbanks.

The Watershed Council’s river stewards have been working to get information, trash bags and work gloves to this sizable army, “It’s quite an undertaking,” says CRC Executive Director Chelsea Gwyther, “We couldn’t get it done without these terrific volunteer groups and our generous sponsors.”  Sponsors for this year’s Source to Sea Cleanup include The Lane Construction Corporation, Northeast Utilities Transmission, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), and TransCanada NE Hydro.  Last minute volunteers and sponsors can go to ctriver.org for information and a list of registered groups across the region.

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For press information contact:

Chelsea Gwyther, CRC Exec. Director: cell: (413) 658-8552, office: 772-2020, x. 202

Christine Luis-Schultz, Cleanup Coord: cell: (413) 262-5448, off: (413) 772-2020, x. 201

* In MA: Andrea Donlon, River Steward: cell: (413) 512-1281, off: (413) 772-2020, x. 205

* In VT/NH: David Deen, River Steward: David Deen, River Steward: off: (802) 869-2792

* Also VT/NH: Richard Ewald, Dev. Dir., cell: (802) 376-3854, off: (413) 772-2020, x. 206

* In Connecticut: Megan Hearne: cell: (860) 575-8847, office: (860) 704-0057

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