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Celebrating Earth Week in Halton Hills Despite wet weather, Makeover, Clean Up Day deemed successful BRENNA MOORE Special to The IFP Garbage bag-toting residents hit the streets and parks Friday and Saturday to take part in the Town of Halton Hills' 20Minute Makeover and Annual Clean Up Day. Friday, businesses, institutions and schools sent employees and students out into their neighbourhood areas to take part in a 20-minute blitz cleanup of Halton Hills. This was the second year for the event and many were enthusiastic about the joint efforts to make Halton Hills beautiful. "The 20-Minute Makeover was a tremendous success. We had a great buy-in," said Councillor Jane Fogal, chair of the Town's Litter-Free Task Force. "(There was) fabulous participation by schools," she said. "I hope that carries the message to (students) littering is a bad thing. I think they were getting the message from what I could hear." Sixteen schools participated in this year's event, including Christ the King students who ventured into the Dominion Gardens Park for their cleanup. "It was a mess," said Clayton Schatti, a Grade 10 student. "There were cans and wrappers everywhere. We even needed to clean a wrapper from a duck's nest with an egg in it." "It's a beautiful town and we need to keep it that way," said Jason Mitterling, also a Grade 10 Christ the King student. Similar sentiments were echoed by participants from the 20 businesses that took part. "There is an unacceptable amount of garbage left around," said Helen MacCormack of Partners in Planning and the Litter Free Halton Hills Task Force. "We need to take pride in our town. It is a beautiful town and the amount of junk left lying around is embarrassing." "I got out here to help the town. The town looks so much better when it's clean," said Joanne Close of Yorkshire Enterprises Inc. at Knolcrest Plaza. Eleven groups of Town staff were also out on Friday picking up garbage in various Although Saturday ended up being cold and wet, hundreds of civic-minded residents braved the elements to help gather garbage as part of the Halton Hills Clean-up Day. Cindebarke Terrace residents (from left) Pat Fobert, Wayne Singleton, Judy Horner and Dale Auery combed the area around their neighbourhood to make sure all the garbage was picked up. Photo by Ted Brown sectors, said Fogal. Organizers estimated 6,000 kg. of garbage was collected. As well, a tandem load of scrap metal, 20 car tires and three tonnes of scrap wood were picked up. A total of 57 residents and/or groups took part, up from last year's total of 35. "Saturday (Halton Hills Clean Up Day) was a miserable day for the second year running," Fogal said, "but we still had a lot of people out. "I guess there was good news and bad news: we're very successful in picking it up but there was a lot to pick up. Someday we hope to be out of a job," said Fogal. Due to the heavy rain Hornby Rate Payers Association rescheduled its community clean-up day for this Saturday. "Not only the rain, but the amount of water in the ditches and the slipping and visibility hazards were determining factors in calling the day," said Erik Kowal, H.A.R.P. member. "We were out this morning (Saturday) picking up bags from yesterday's collection and we got more then 60 bags and at least 600 lbs of bulk stuff." Hornby residents wishing to participate should meet at 9 a.m. in the Hornby Park car park. Gloves and collection bags will be provided. A free barbecue starts at noon in the park. Students helping with the clean up will qualify for the required school `Community Service' time. Please call Peter Vaughan, 905-878-2620 or Kowal, 905-8761582 to confirm your participation. (With files from Cynthia Gamble and Lisa Tallyn, staff writers) Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette and Regional Councillor Jane Fogal were among the many who took 20 minutes on Friday to clean up the town, as they cleaned the area around the skateboard park in Georgetown. Photo by Ted Brown Town offers bargain trees for sale Saturday to celebrate Earth Day BRENNA MOORE Special to The IFP In the spirit of Earth Day, the Town of Halton Hills wants to celebrate with its residents. The Public Works Department is hosting the 7th Annual Earth Day event on Saturday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre (works yard) on Trafalgar Road. The event will include a tree sale, barbecue breakfast and lunch (served up by the mayor and councillors) and entertainment. Saplings will be sold for $5 each and average 18 inches in height. They are available in red maple, white pine, red oak, black cherry, choke cherry and more. The trees are sold in small pots to make transplanting easy. The saplings will be limited to four per person from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The limit will be removed after 10 a.m. Halton Hills to pick up the and the trees will remain on sale compost (at the event)." until 3 p.m. While the compost and "We limit the trees to make woodchips are free, donations sure there is a chance for everyare requested, which will go to one to get one," said Ted food banks in Acton and Drewlo, Manager of Public Georgetown. Works. "Most of the traffic dies A number of local groups down by 10 a.m. so we only will attend the event to inform limit until then. We have 1,000 residents and fundraise. These trees to sell. Last year we sold groups will present displays TED DREWLO about 900." and pamphlets to provide enviBring your own container for ronmental information and the free compost and woodchips con- guidance to anyone in attendance. tributed by the Region of Halton Waste The Georgetown Horticultural Society Management Site in Milton on Regional will have two or three master gardeners on Road 25. site to talk about trees and give expert "The Region of Halton has a compost- advice. Other groups attending include ing operation and every year we are given Towns Environmental Advisory Commsome to give away," said Drewlo. "They ittee (TEAC), Healthy Options for People collect yard waste and turn it into nice and the Environment (HOPE), Residential compost, then return it to residents. It Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) and makes it convenient for the residents of Willow Park Ecology Centre. The Cancer Society is returning to the event for a second year and will be selling books as a fundraiser. Draws prizes include a large tree and a energy audit on your home. Waffles and sausages will be sold for breakfast, and hotdogs and hamburgers for lunch all for $1 each. Coffee and juice will be free thanks to event sponsors Ultimate Bean, in Acton, and McDonalds. Music will be provided during lunch by Riverbend, which features Don Ablett and Brent Cooper. "We encourage people to come buy a tree and enjoy a meal at a very good price," said Drewlo. Kids are encouraged to participate on Earth Day as well. Face painting will be available and there will be a colouring contest and prizes. For more information on the Earth Day event contact Halton Hills Public Works Department at 905-873-2601 ext. 2610.