Looking for something to do this Saturday?  Join the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA)  for a Housatonic River cleanup!   The river cleanup sponsors include the City of Pittsfield and American Rivers.  Morning coffee, pastries, lunch, and goodie bags will be provided by the following local businesses: Alnasco, BlueQ, Panera Bread and Guido’s.  Work gloves and bags will also be provided.

WHEN: Saturday, June 11 from 9:00am – 1:00pm
WHERE: Meet at Wahconah Park, Wahconah Street, Pittsfield
INFO: Crews will be organized and dispersed north towards Pontoosuc Lake and south towards Linden Street. A few crews will use canoes to paddle and pick up trash (water level permitting). Please let BEAT/HVA know if you want to bring your own canoe or kayak. Old clothes, a hat, sunscreen, old sneakers or waterproof boots or chest waders, a water bottle (or two) and sunglasses are recommended.  A limited amount of waterproof boots are available to borrow. Registration is not required, but very helpful for planning crews and lunch. Let us know you are coming – please call HVA at 413-394-9796 or send an email toadixon@hvatoday.org

If you aren’t able to do the actual cleanup, volunteers are always needed to help with morning set up and breakdown – such as setting up coffee and snacks; picking up donations from Panera Bread the night before; registering volunteers; giving out gloves and bags as well as lunch set up and cleanup. We can even use help posting flyers and helping get the word out.