On October 1, a beautiful fall Saturday, the planning team coordinated and directed the work of over 300 local volunteers collecting trash. The results of our ninth Source to Sea Cleanup in Franklin County were amazing -- two thirty-yard dumpsters were full with a multitude of mixed trash collected in bags and other refuse. Approximately 250 tires were removed from the Montague Plains and areas along the Connecticut River in Turners Falls, East Deerfield and Erving. Tires were accepted at a friendly local tire dealer and appliances like a refrigerator, two televisions, an air conditioner and a microwave oven were taken to the Montague transfer station.

We customarily have the assistance of the National Guard 181st Engineers from Pittsfield and Northampton. They have been called to Iraq and were unable to assist, so a request was made for local people with trucks to try to replace the National Guard! Eighteen local truck drivers responded to our call.