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It's time to beautify West Milford

| 28 Mar 2013 | 12:17
    There were many designs submitted but the Beautification committee chose the one on the left here, drawn by Dean, a Macopin Middle School student. Also pictured are third place winner, Anthony, center, and second place winner Jared.
    There were many designs submitted but the Beautification committee chose the one on the left here, drawn by Dean, a Macopin Middle School student. Also pictured are third place winner, Anthony, center, and second place winner Jared.
    The winning design.
    The winning design.

WEST MILFORD — Beautification Day is a bona fide event in West Milford. Over the past few years, it has grown tremendously, with over a thousand volunteers coming out to clean up the township. This year, the date for the spring Beautification Day is set for Saturday, April 27. And to kick off the event, the annual Beautification Day T-shirt design contest was held. There were many works of art contributed but the design that is gracing this year's T-shirts uses the reduce-reuse-recycle slogan and was drawn by Macopin student Dean.

David Stires, the township's recycling coordinator, instituted recycling in what was an annual event and now happens twice each year, in the spring and fall. Instead of bagging all of the debris alongside the township's roadways, much of it is recycled, bringing funds into the township. And the event, which is run by the West Milford Beautification and Recycling Committee, is totally all volunteer.

Stires is hoping for 1,300 volunteers for this spring's event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. It is followed by a picnic at Bubbling Springs for all the volunteers from noon to 3 p.m. Free hot dogs, soda and snacks are provided, thanks to donations from local businesses. Prizes are awarded to the volunteers who find the most unusual, oldest and most valuable items from the day.

Volunteers are needed and groups, such as scouts, athletic teams and religious groups, are always a big part of the day. Call Stires at 973-728-2724 to sign up and get road assignments. Trash bags for both recyclables and garbage are provided and can be picked up at the Recycling Center on Lycosky Drive between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If it rains on April 27, Beautification Day will be moved to Sunday, April 28.