To the editor:
On Saturday, May 3, over three dozen volunteers carried out various activities in Lee to celebrate the 55th Earth Day. Originally focused on picking up litter, this year’s event also encompassed controlling invasives and caring for public gardens downtown.
This annual event succeeds because Lee residents, businesses, and organizations collaborate to care for our corner of the planet. Volunteers included residents and representatives from Casella, the First Congregational Church of Lee, and Lee Chamber of Commerce.
Other local businesses also supported the event, with pizza donations from Domino’s Pizza and the Locker Room, and a gift card from Big Y used to buy more pizza and other goodies. Casella also provided trash and recycling bins and processed everything the volunteers collected. The Chamber of Commerce provided mulch for the downtown gardens.
The work carried out by volunteers included weeding, pruning, and mulching some of the downtown gardens; improving the alleyway garden next to Town Hall and preparing it for more plantings; removing barberry, honeysuckle, bittersweet, and garlic mustard invasives from the Golden Hill Town Forest; and picking up litter along Woodland Road, the access roads to the Mass Pike service areas, Forest Street, and some downtown areas.
We accomplished so much on this one day, but far more still needs attention. Battling invasives, caring for downtown gardens, and removing litter are ongoing challenges. So, the Lee Greener Gateway Committee holds work days the last Saturday of the month from March through November. To learn more, please contact Valerie Bluhm at Valerie4748@gmail.com or me at pdhofman12@gmail.com.
Peter Hofman
Chair of the Lee Greener Gateway Committee
Lee
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