Ontario received some spring refreshing on Wednesday as volunteers worked to clean up along some roads. Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the spring cleanup was a community effort with students from Ontario High School, the Ontario Police Department, Safety Service Director Jeff Wilson, Spitzer Motors, Directions Credit Union, Richland Bank and WalMart.
“The main target areas are the right-of-way areas (by the highways) and around Target and Meijer that area always accumulates debris,” said Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson Wednesday, as he stood with a bright orange trash bag in hand, alongside the road of the Fourth Street exit off of Ohio 30. “One of the things I wanted to do through my campaign was to try to clean up and take pride in our city.”
“We’re trying to get everyone involved,” he said. “I seen someone cleaning along Lex-Springmill so other businesses are doing it on their own. We did put the word out there via our Facebook page so we hope to build on it every year.”
Family Consumer Science teacher Melissa Vannest supervised students from Ontario High School. Students from five extra-curricular clubs volunteered: Student Council, No Use, Inc., Key Club, Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Family Consumer Science.
“I want to help out the community and make it a better place,” said Sophomore Grant Gardiner of why he volunteered to pick up trash alongside the road.
The Student Council member said he hopes to make Ontario a better place to live, work and go to school.
FCCLA member Sabrina Taylor said she volunteered, “because if we don’t do it, who else will?”
The high school junior, 16, said she didn’t mind the crisp April air. “I’ve ran track in colder air than this, so I’m used to this weather.”
Vannest said she wants the students to realize that a little bit of effort goes a long way.
“It doesn’t have to be extravagant,” she said.
Miranda Meadows, Alyssa Hull, and Lily Lin, ages 16, cleaned the area around the Lexington-Springmill Road exit off of Ohio 30.
Meadows, a sophomore, said she was surprised so much trash is thrown out of cars onto the grassy areas around the ramps to and from highways.
“I didn’t think it would be this bad,” she said.
The trio said they found unusual items such as car parts, clothes and developed film “with kids on a bus” on it.
“I kept finding those things that they put on boxes of electronics,” Hall said with a chuckle. “I found like four of them.”
Hall said she was glad to help the community by volunteering her time.
“There’s trash everywhere that shouldn’t be here,” the sophomore said. “People just throw it out of their windows and no one cleans it up.”
Lin, a student council representative, said the community collaboration was a good way to spread awareness about the scads of litter scattered along the sides of the roads.
“There’s actually a lot of trash out there,” she said. “I really couldn’t tell until I really got out here.”
Amy Nagal, the substance abuse prevention coordinator at Ontario High School, helped organize the students clubs.
“I think it’s important that we take pride in our community,” Nagal said. “Any kind of community service is a good experience, it builds character and of course, the kids wanted to get out of class.”
Nagal said she hopes community members will be mindful when they have trash not to litter.
“I think this has been eye opening for the kids,” she said. “How do you get a pizza box out of your car?”
Styrofoam, cups, bags, more car parts and even a needle were found in the woody areas along Lex-Springmill Road by Bell Stores and Meijer.
Matthew Smith, 16, said he wants to encourage everyone not to litter and recycle when possible.
“It’s kind of shocking that everyone is just too lazy to throw their trash away,” Meadows said.
The cleanup event also enjoyed support from a variety of local sponsors.
Business sponsors:
- Next Generation Films (Dan Niss) donated trash bags and bottled water
- Milliron Waste Management (Jeff DeVito) donated the dumpster for bag collection
- Bell Store donated a free drink for all participants
- Adena loaned safety vests
- Sam’s Club donated rubber gloves
Businesses that helped with clean up:
- Spitzer Motors
- Directions Credit Union
- Richland Bank
- WalMart
