LOCALITIES PLAN CLEAN SWEEP OF VALLEY THIS WEEKEND

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 15, 1993                   TAG: 9304150124
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
LOCALITIES PLAN CLEAN SWEEP OF VALLEY THIS WEEKEND
A litter and trash pickup by any name is still a cleaner community, whether you call it "Broomin' & Bloomin'," "Cleanin' n' Greenin'," or simply "Clean Pulaski County Week."
On Saturday, New River Valley communities will turn out to make their corner of the world a nicer place to live.
An annual cleanup newcomer with its "Cleanin' n' Greenin' " theme, Radford will focus more on increasing public awareness this first time around than on a massive, one-day trash pickup.
"Our major emphasis this year will be public education," said Larry Amy of the city engineer's office, who is coordinating this inaugural effort.
He said activities are scheduled through April, which City Council has proclaimed Environmental Awareness Month.
Several environmentally related speakers will appear through April, and the city's school children took part in contests to design a logo for future "Cleanin' n' Greenin' " events. There also were coloring and essay contests.
The real, roll-up-your-sleeves work comes Saturday at 9 a.m. Amy said he expects 150 volunteers to assist in cleaning up public property.
Efforts will focus on a drainage area off Sundell Drive, Riverview Park and an illegal dump site at Virginia 787 and Rock Road. The city's various "Adopt a Spot" litter pickup crews will be out in force Saturday to pick up their designated areas.
City Council has made it easier on the pocketbook for individuals who might be harboring more than the average pile of junk, like an old shed that needs to be torn down or a garage full of old car parts.
The city has halved its special pickup fees from $30 to $15 for a full load. Amy said the city will pick up all compostable and mulchable materials at no charge.
Other events during the day will include a tree planting at Bisset Park sponsored by the Radford Rotary Club, and a flower planting at the Public Library coordinated by the Radford Beautification Committee.
\ "Clean Pulaski County" activities will extend through April 24. The Clean Community Council, working through the Office on Youth, is coordinating the 1993 cleanup as part of National County Government Week, April 17-24.
"Earth Day falls right in the middle of that, so it turns out really well," said Terri Gregory, Office on Youth director. Pulaski County's annual cleanup is in its fifth year. Gregory said more than two dozen groups have signed up so far to do pickups, from school and community organizations to scout troops.
In addition, the county's various "Adopt-a-Highway" groups will be out in force this weekend, and New River Trail State Park also has scheduled cleanup activities. Gregory encouraged all community groups to register with her office by Friday so county trash trucks will know where to pick up collected litter.
All registered trash-pickup groups in Pulaski County will be eligible to win the fixings for a hot dog supper; a drawing will be held at the end of the month. Dublin is supporting the countywide effort with "Clean Town of Dublin" week. Trucks will take trash at curbside.
Now in its 10th year, Montgomery County's\ "Broomin' & Bloomin' " will target illegal dump sites throughout the county. Some 1,500 volunteers have signed up so far to gather garbage from roadsides, riverbanks and other public property.
Dawn French of the Montgomery County Improvement Council, which sponsors the annual cleanup, said she's looking to Virginia Tech students to handle some of the dirtier jobs. "They willingly do some of the heaviest, dirtiest work," she said.
Virginia Tech service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega even went so far as to request front-line illegal dump site duty, she said.
This year's cleanup will include a textile recycling drive in the Montgomery County schools. Tech will donate a surplus computer to the school collecting the most textile poundage per-capita.
"Broomin' and Bloomin' " gets under way at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 1 p.m. A picnic and awards ceremony for participants will follow the countywide cleanup at Montgomery County Park shelter No. 3.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB