Port Washington Sparkles After Community Clean-Up

Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington had their work cut out for them on Saturday during their 2nd annual "Clean Green Zone" event as more than 300 residents, government officials, and several organizations alike worked together to help clean up the streets of Port Washington.

Mariann Dalmonte, the Director of Development for the Residents of a More Beautiful Port Washington, as well as Executive Director Mindy Germaine and Chairman Curt Trinko were the brilliant masterminds behind the quest to make Port Washington's streets shine.

"We acquired so much support from businesses like Port Jewelers and Frank's Pizza, organizations like Teach and Tumble Daycare, so many residents, and more," Dalmonte said. "The community is so supportive, and everyone has been getting involved. It's fantastic."

At 9:30 a.m., those in attendance gathered at the Port Washington Long Island Rail Road station where they were broken into 25 groups and equipped with all the necessary tools to plant and clean. While some teams planted flowers, mulched and weeded tree sights, others cleaned up garbage on the streets and swept the sidewalks. Each group was assigned a designated team leader, who orchestrated each task to the children and parents on their team.

The cleaning not only helped to make Port Washington absolutely sparkle, but also helped educate children, and adults about the importance of recycling, putting garbage in trash receptacles, and the plentiful rewards of community service.

"I think we got a terrific response from the community," Senator Craig Johnson said of the efforts made by the residents of Port Washington. "There was great enthusiasm, and the community really recognizes the quality of our environment. Even my 5-year-old, Sam, understands the importance of recycling and throwing away trash. It's something the younger generation needs to understand, and I think they are really doing so."

Juliane Littman, Port Washington resident and chairperson of Sousa Garden at Sousa Elementary School, supplied the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington with various gardening tools and equipment.

"I wanted to bring shovels and other things for the Girl Scout Troops, because my daughter is a Girl Scout." Littman explained. "I am really into planting, so this event is great for me. I just really wanted my daughter to be involved."

Countless Girl Scout Troops were present, but one outstanding troop was the Daisy Troop No. 429 from Sousa Elementary School. They were one of the designated planting teams, and came to the event to give their community a helping hand, as well as to earn the "Make the World a Better Place" Girl Scout badge. The girls all simultaneously shouted that they were "so excited" to get to work.

 "The girls are so cute, and they are so happy to help out Port Washington," Troop Leader Jeanine Dilillo said. "The girls have planted three times this week in honor of Earth Day, and this event is going to be a great learning experience for them."

But children weren't the only ones learning and working on Saturday. Michelle Schimel, Assemblywoman for the Town of North Hempstead, came out to help clean up Port Washington and show her support for the cause. She and her team from Manorhaven Elementary School were in charge of mulching the tree beds along Main Street in preparation for planting.

"We have the best mulching team on the block!" Schimel jokingly bragged. "And I have been picking up so many cigarette butts. It's the little things that help."

Other government officials and organizations on hand included Town Clerk Leslie Gross, Legislator Wayne Wink, Councilman Fred Pollack, the Town of North Hempstead Sanitation Department, the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District, the Port Washington Fire Department, the Green Committee, Teach and Tumble Daycare, and many more.

At the end of the event, several tired children and parents made their way to Blumenfeld Family Park for story time with Patricia Vunk, owner of Dolphin Bookstore.

Vunk read aloud "The Curious Garden," by Peter Brown, an inspiring story of how a little boy helps to make his drab community blossom. The adorable, wide-eyed children listened intently, and excitedly accepted a pack of wildflower seeds to plant around their homes as a special gift. Even the youngest kids involved in the event could really comprehend the importance of Port Washington's mission to make the town more beautiful.

Germaine, RFMBPW's executive director, and her children were present at the story reading, as well.

"You know, we really felt like everyone has been pointing fingers about why the town was getting so dirty, and nothing was getting done," she said. "If the members of the community have to scrape gum off the sidewalks, they will hopefully be less inclined to throw it there in the first place. This was a great event, and I am so thankful for everyone who helped us make Port Washington much more beautiful. "

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