Salem Spring Cleaning: A Job For All Of Us

A long, tough winter is fading away in the rear-view mirror. Spring is here and we all look forward to a great summer. What are you doing to help clean up the sand and trash that was hidden by the accumulated snows of the season?

As a kid I worked at a landmark store in North Salem. Bill's Variety had been owned by my grandfather before he sold it to my aunt and uncle. Don Nadeau, my uncle continued a tradition begun a year earlier by my grand father, Bill Hussey.

That tradition was a simple one that required regular physical effort. As a 14-year old in the spring of 1974 I became the instrument of that tradition. My job was simple - sweep the sidewalk and the street every Saturday. I did exactly that for the next four years.

No law or ordnance existed requiring my uncle to sweep his sidewalk or the street. He did it for business reasons, he wanted his customers to see a clean property. He also did it for a singular civic inspired purpose. He liked to see his city clean and chose the corner of North Street and Orne Street where he lived and worked to apply that civic purpose and pride.

I know that kind of professional and personal pride still exists in Salem. The next few weeks will provide an opportunity to display and exercise that civic commitment.

I walked the city over the last week and took a few photo's of some places that need a little attention. Some of the locations may be seen as the city's responsibility and some as a property owner's problem. That is not the point. If it is in front of your home, or your business step up and do right. Let's all do a little cleaning and be the better for it.

Cigarette butts seem to be a consistent theme all around. They can be found in corners, under benches and around building entrances. There is frequently some sort of ash receptacle close by. Whenever a smoker  details for me how they feel disrespected and abused I mention the "littering" issue and am always assured that they are the one smoker who never leaves his dregs on the ground.

This year municipal and will run until April 22.

Prior to that city sweepers have already been out on the main streets throughout town. It has been a good start with a lot of the heavier sand and trash already cleared from the downtown area.

The Salem Beautification Committee has been hard at work on the weekends. You can see them raking and planting at various traffic islands and small green spaces throughout the city. Their main efforts this spring are focused on revamping the old Operation Clean Sweep. This year it will be known as "Clean Salem Green Salem" and will take place on Saturday May 7, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

In addition to using volunteer teams of residents to clean key municipal locations there will also be recycling drop-off points.

On the morning of May 7 I will be busy doing my part in the YMCA parking lot on Sewall Street. A spot certainly in need of a good scrubbing. If you are looking to help there will be plenty of opportunity that morning. I hope to see you there.

If you can't make it downtown that day, do a little cleaning in your neighborhood. It couldn't hurt and who knows, it may inspire a neighbor to do the same.