The Tribune-Democrat
HARRISBURG —
PennDOT is encouraging Pennsylvanians to beautify the state by participating in Pick It Up Pa. Days through May.
”I invite all Pennsylvanians to join the thousands of volunteers who generously give of their time to beautify Pennsylvania each year,” Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler said.
“The people who participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program and these cleanup events are performing a very valuable – and appreciated – community service.”
Groups interested in adopting a section of highway can contact their local PennDOT maintenance office and ask for the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator or visit dot.state.pa.us.
Pick It Up Pa. Days, timed to coincide with Earth Day on April 22, is part of the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, a statewide effort to remove litter and trash from the state's roads, parks, riverbanks and open spaces.
PennDOT encourages its Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to do one of their four required cleanups on a Pick It Up Pa. Day.
The 7,156 groups in the Adopt-A-Highway program have two-year agreements and have adopted 16,562 roadway miles.
During the past three years, the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania has yielded more than
25 million pounds of collected trash, involved 486,620 volunteers and resulted in 48,545 miles of highways cleaned.
As part of those efforts, 273,430 Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collected more than 11.3 million pounds of litter on 30,293 miles of highway in that same period.
Events are on tap in Cambria, Somerset and surrounding counties. For times or more information, call the contact numbers below.
By county, the cleanup projects include:
Cambria
April 10-17, Ridge Road outside Carrolltown, George McNulty, 344-8787; April 17, Patton area roads, Roy Holtz, 674-5414; April 18, Vetera Road, Cambria Township, Dennis Simmers, 472-4574; April 20, Centennial Drive, Adams Township, Margaret Bubenko, 266-6665.
The following are on April 24: Geistown area, Kevin Smith, 244-1528; Benshoff Hill Road, Middle Taylor Township, James Plowchin, 536-7342; D Street, Pam Boderocco, 255-5264; Route 53, Edward Stombaugh, 886-4870; Route 56, Johnstown, Sanford Gunby, 421-6987; Berwick Road or Weaver Run, Windber, Melissa Reckner, 444-2669; Loretto area, Barbara Long, 408-2003, or Jennifer Itle, 886-7171; Belsano area, Diane Clark, 749-7116; and Gallitzin, Paul Stock, 886-4993.
April 25, Jackson Township, David Cobaugh, 322-4512; April 26-27, Northern Cambria, Melissa Bonatesta, 948-5880; May 1, Richland Township, Donna Mallory, 487-7311; May 1, Adams Township, James Bunn Jr., 659-3257.
Somerset
April 1, Rockwood area; April 3, Somerset area; and April 10, Rockwood area. Contact Tony Marich, 926-4139, for all.
Bedford
All April 10, St. Clairsville area, Pavia area and Imler area. Contact Jim Davis, 276-3576.
Indiana
April 24, Blairsville, Dianna Messenger, (724) 459-7600.
Westmoreland
Both May 1, Ligonier area, Susan Huba, (724) 238-7560, and Bolivar, Paul Alatimlus, (724) 235-2140.
