Library, watershed partnership join forces for litter cleanup

FINDLAY — Earth Day celebrates its 55th birthday on Tuesday. The Blanchard River Watershed Partnership and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library are once more partnering together to host a week-long litter cleanup that starts Monday and continues through April 27. "You're doing your good in the community," said Joel Mantey, assistant director of the library. "You know where your trash is at. It's a great opportunity to safely get out there and clean it up." To make the process easier, cleanup kits will be available to checkout at both the main library and the Arlington branch during open hours. Each kit – provided by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership using funds from the River Network – comes in a backpack containing trash bags, disposable gloves, sanitizing wipes, a safety vest and a folding litter grabber. "So you don't have to pick it up with your hands," Mantey said. "They do provide the gloves, too, because I know I would still want gloves on." The kits were previously made available to the library in fall 2022 and then spring 2023. "We weren't able to last year, but this year we were able to do a partnership again," he said. "So we're very excited to have them available each time." He said the watershed partnership owns the kits and stores them throughout the year. But starting Monday, about eight kits will be available to checkout at the main library's information desk. One will also be on display in circulation for people to see. Another two packs can be found at the Arlington Branch. Those interested can then spend two or three hours picking up litter in their yard, neighborhood or anywhere in the community. Dispose of the trash, disinfect the grabber using a sanitizing wipe and then return the kit to the library for the next community member who's ready for it, said Mantey. He plans to borrow a backpack himself next week and use it with his 8-year-old son. "It's definitely something you can do as a fun activity with the kids while you're helping take care of our earth," he said. The kits are available to anyone in the community. Having a library card is not required, said Mantey. The library will keep track of the number of people who checkout kits during the week. "We're definitely glad to keep it going and keep it in our community's mind and definitely have the city and the (Findlay-Hancock County Community) foundation engaged with it, too. We're glad for all the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership does to keep our Blanchard River clean. We're glad that the library can participate as well," said Mantey. Other local activities planned in support of Earth Day include: • Saturday through April 26 - Bulk Trash and Tire Drop Off, Public Works Department, 330 N. Cory St. Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday or until the dumpsters are full. Monday through Friday trash can be dropped off from 2-7 p.m. or until the dumpsters are full. The event is sponsored by the City of Findlay and the Community Foundation. Noncommercial tires must be off the rim to be accepted. Proof of residency in the City of Findlay and/or ID may be required. It is illegal to transport more than ten scrap tires at any time without obtaining a registration certificate from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency per ORC 3734.83. Unacceptable items include hazardous materials, paint, commercial tires, concrete, appliances and electronics. • Tuesday - Earth Day Litter Clean Up with the City of Findlay, meet in the Riverwalk lot in the 100 block of South Main Street along the south bank of the Blanchard River in parking lot C, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Litter cleanup backpacks will be provided. All ages are welcome. During that time, cleanup kits will not be available at the library. • April 26 – Storm Drain Marking Project, Riverside Park, shelter house #1, 1 p.m. Email Dick Kozlowski at kozkoz@woh.rr.com to register. The inaugural Earth Day dates back to April 22, 1970. Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson proposed the nation's first observance, encouraging citizens to promote environmental awareness through grassroots demonstrations. An estimated 20 million people responded, including Findlay High School students. As a major show of solidarity, the student council asked students and teachers to give up their motorized vehicles for the day. The Courier reported that the high school parking lot was considerably vacant while the mall area was crowded with bicycles. Student Council President Stan Silverstein estimated that about 50% of the students participated. Many students and teachers walked to school that day, but some used other modes of travel. Sophomore Michelle LaRiche and juniors Connie Cope and Mary Clendaniel opted to lace up their roller skates and roll their way to school. Meanwhile, John Edelbrock, Pat Rooney and Jim Mathias took to the waterways. The three boys paddled a canoe through the seven quarries in east Findlay and down Lye Creek to the Blanchard River and finally Broad Avenue, where they portaged the remainder of the way. At Wilson Vance Intermediate School on Findlay's east side, brothers Ray and Jeff Hoy, fifth grade and kindergarten respectively, rode their horses. Back at the high school, three English classes under the supervision of instructors Nellie Loertscher and Ann Smith planted trees on the then newly acquired farm of the Hancock County Humane Society. A total of 150 white pines, Norway spruce and autumn olive trees were planted in an effort to increase wildlife cover and help reduce soil erosion. Fred Crates, head of the biology department, led 40 students in cleaning up litter from a mile section of roadway in eastern Hancock County. And the World Affairs classes of Alvin Bell cleaned up the high school parking lot and a nearby creek.