Just two weeks after cleaning up Route 45, Rotary Club of Shepherdstown volunteers were back in their orange vests on Saturday, November 7, this time tackling the club’s two-mile stretch of Flowing Springs Road (Route 230) as part of our Adopt-a-Highway program.
Eleven volunteers gathered at the Hoxton Agency on a crisp, sunny fall morning, grabbed their bags and pickers, and headed out along the shoulder. A turnout like that, so soon after our last cleanup, says a lot about this club’s commitment to keeping our community clean.
A Long-Running Commitment
Our Flowing Springs Road stretch runs two miles along Route 230, from the “Y” to Alma Bea’s. It is the longest-running Adopt-a-Highway commitment in West Virginia. The club also lends a hand on two miles of Route 45, from the Berkeley County line to the Shepherdstown Fire Department. That stretch is officially sponsored by Insurance Outfitters, and Rotary provides the volunteers and support to help them meet their commitment, most recently in late October.
Fewer Fireballs, Cleaner Road
The best news of the day was what the crews didn’t find. In past years, those little “Fireball” bottles have been a regular sight along the shoulder. This year, there were virtually none, and there was less trash overall. We like to think that’s a sign our community is taking pride in its roadsides, and that steady cleanups like ours are making a difference.
By the end of the morning, the crews had filled 12 bags of trash, which were staged along the road for pickup by the highway department.
Lend a Hand Next Time
Our Adopt-a-Highway cleanups are a great way to meet fellow Rotarians, enjoy a morning outdoors, and see the difference a few hours can make. And don’t miss the fresh coffee and Burkholder’s remarkable donuts waiting for volunteers! Watch our events calendar for the next one. Many hands make light work!
Thank You
Our thanks go to Brian Palank and the Environmental Service Committee for organizing, to the Hoxton Agency for hosting our start, and to everyone who volunteered: Shannon Thomas, Dave Miljour, Judy Wilson, Jack Lantzy, Carol Hill, Brian Palank, Fred Dalauro, Bill Howard, Adam Thomas, Jim Grenfell and Steve Choi.