Fall, 2016 East St. Clean-Up

During the late 1980s, the New York State Department of Transportation re-assessed its priorities in view of a declining work force and a reduced operating budget. DOT's first priority was then - and is now - to operate the state's highways and bridges safely and cost-effectively; for example, to resolve safety issues, to maintain pavement and guide rail or to control ice and snow. As a result, fewer and fewer resources were available for roadside beautification or other aesthetic-related activities.

 

The Rotary Club of Pittsford has signaled its commitment to keeping Pittsford beautiful by adopting East St. from Rt. 96 to Mile Sq. Rd, a 3-mile stretch, and pledging to keep it litter-free.

 

DOT outfitted us with the appropriate orange safety gear; provided trash bags for roadside clean-up; and, properly disposed of the trash that was collected. The Department also erected a blue-and-white Adopt-A-Highway sign within the adopted highway to acknowledge our efforts.

 

East St. clean-up Chairperson, Pete Crooker organized a clean-up on Saturday, October 15. Rotarians Pam Wright, Billy Pieper, Grace Soong, Roger Zanglein, Pete Crooker, Pat Mallery, Matt Wahl and Charlie Turner met at 8:00 that morning at the Pittsford Little League Baseball on East Street to pick up the DOT garbage bags, rakes, work gloves and reflectorized jackets. They divided the group into 3 teams working about 2-miles per team (both sides of the road).