To the Editor:

The Buckeye Brook Coalition recently celebrated its 17th Annual Earth Day Cleanup with many participants from the community. We like to think of the people who participate in these types of events as more than volunteers, as many are also our next generation of stewards. Volunteering and learning stewardship isn’t something that a person just does; it is something one holds close to their heart.

In the case of the Buckeye Brook Watershed and the beloved buckeyes who annually migrate up the brook each spring, we were blessed with the presence of nearly 80 current and future stewards of the watershed and brook. Many of them will become future watershed management leaders. A large majority of the participants, which included Pack 1 Warwick, Troop 1 Warwick, Troop 7 Buttonwoods, Troop 77 Buttonwoods and Saint Kevin School, were led by Patty and Martin Gomm, who were team captains for the largest cleanup area. Other team captains were Paul Earnshaw’s daughter, Emily Earnshaw, Justin Barna, Daniel Calkin, Chet Sutphen and Councilman Ed Ladouceur (Ward 5), who was the team captain for his “Team Ed.”

Together they cleaned up areas of Old Warwick Avenue, Warwick Avenue, West Shore Road, Tidewater Drive, Oakland Beach Avenue, Draper Avenue, Green River Avenue and Commerce Drive. In total, more than 50 bags of trash and litter, tires, metals and carpet were removed from areas in the brook and its watershed.

Support from local businesses helped to make the day a success. Don’s Pizza supplied a delicious lunch, Sandy Lane Meat Market donated drinks, plates and napkins, and Cardi Construction Corporation supplied traffic cones, which provided for road and parking safety. The event would not have been possible without the Knights of Columbus generously providing the use of their facilities. We thank John Howell, editor/publisher of the Warwick Beacon for his journalistic excellence and article titled, “Volunteers fan out to clean up Warwick.”

One of the highlights of the event was a talk on stewardship given by Paul Earnshaw to the Scouts. They were applauded for helping to protect the watershed and natural habitat, as some watched the fish swimming up the brook while an egret flew over the scouts.

The Buckeye Brook Coalition thanks each and every one you.

Michael Zarum, President

Paul Earnshaw, Vice President

Buckeye Brook Coalition

A RI State Designated Watershed Council

& RI Rivers Council Affiliate