Local businesses support Cordova cleanup

JENNIFER GIBBINS

April 18, 2008 at 10:23AM AKST

For the Cordova Times

In preparation for Cordova Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 26, the First National Bank of Alaska has been collecting prizes from local businesses ranging from bikes and toys for children to grocery and restaurant gift certificates.

The prizes will be awarded to event volunteers at the picnic following cleanup activities. Culley Wooden, operations assistant at the First National Bank of Alaska, is sure the cleanup is a sign of spring.

"Cordova businesses are wonderfully supportive of the cleanup. We know the annual event is a success because of Cordova’s volunteer spirit and we want to encourage and recognize local volunteers," Wooden said.

A volunteer committee whose members include Nancy Titus, Lynette Calvert and Shelly Grant coordinates the cleanup.

The committee recruits volunteers to pick up trash and produce the annual picnic and works to secure donations of funding, supplies and prizes.

"This is a great way to kick off the spring season, take pride in our community and raise awareness regarding the importance of containing trash and proper disposal of waste materials," said Shelly Grant, committee member.

The committee estimates that in 2007, more than 500 bags of debris were collected, 20 large items were picked up, and dozens of residents brought loads of trash directly to the baler and landfill.

Prince William Soundkeeper works in partnership with the committee to coordinate the harbor cleanup.

The Cordova Refuse Department supports the event by assisting with coordination, staging dumpsters and offering free services on April 26 at the bailer and landfill. The Cordova Harbor Office provides a skiff and staff to support the harbor cleanup.

Each year volunteers pull hundreds of pounds of debris out of the harbor including wood, metal, plastics and car batteries. Skiff teams led by the harbormaster’s office and Eric and Sulley Manzer circulate around the harbor, collecting debris while teams patrol the shore on foot.

Prince William Soundkeeper hopes that the cleanup event raises awareness of the need to properly dispose of these materials and how easy that can be.

For example, car batteries that contain lead, acid and other toxic materials can be safely deposited anytime at no cost behind NAPA/Anchor Auto Marine located between AC, GCI and Baja Taco. NAPA bundles the used batteries and ships them out of Cordova for proper disposal.

Community members who would like to participate should plan on arriving at the Cordova High School or the harbormaster’s office at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26.

A picnic lunch and prize drawing for volunteers follows at 1 p.m. at the high school.

To schedule a large-item pickup, call the Chamber of Commerce at (907) 424-7260 by April 22.

Jennifer Gibbins is the executive director of the Prince William Soundkeeper. To volunteer, call her at (907) 424-5701.