Zombies set to clean up downtown

Published 10:24 pm Wednesday, October 13, 2021

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Are you haunted by litter? Then this cleanup event is for you.

Keep Suffolk Beautiful is hosting a scary zombie litter cleanup from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Zombies will meet at the Morgan Memorial Library, 443 W. Washington St., to sign in and pickup litter grabbers and bags. The cleanup will start at the library and then head towards Main Street and then loop back to the library.

There will be prizes for best zombie dress awarded after the cleanup. Prizes will be given for Most Scary, Most Original, Most Elaborate, Most Glamorous, Most Environmental and Most Recyclable.

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Kathy Russell, chairperson of Keep Suffolk Beautiful, said, “Who says picking up litter can’t be fun? It will be great to see an army of zombies descending on downtown Suffolk and leaving clean streets behind them. It is going to be a lot of fun and is open to adults and kids.”

Earlier in the day, a river cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Constant’s Wharf Marina. Volunteers can clean up on land or using a canoe, kayak or other small boat.

Organized by Keep Suffolk Beautiful, The Suffolk Nansemond Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance, the cleanup will focus on the downtown section of the Nansemond River, and volunteers will be removing litter and trash from the wetlands and surrounding area.

Volunteers assisting the land cleanup will meet in the Suffolk Shopping Center Parking Lot, located at 1401-1463 N. Main St., to get equipment and instructions.  Litter grabbers, safety vests, bags and gloves will be provided, and volunteers are asked to wear suitable clothing and footwear. Groups will then split into teams and work up and down Main Street.

Volunteers with canoes, kayaks or small boats will meet at the Constant’s Wharf Park & Marina, located at 110 E. Constance Road. Special equipment will be given to watercraft to help them reach into the wetlands from the river.

Tim Doxey, with the Izaak Walton League, said, “The success of any cleanup effort relies on good people showing up and pitching in. It is amazing how much trash and debris we remove in just a few hours. I have seen it all, from bicycles and shopping carts, to tires and TVs. Of course, there is a lot of fast food litter and packaging, too.”

Bill Farrell, with Keep Suffolk Beautiful, said, “Cleanups can be a lot of fun and a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. If anyone is in need of community service hours, this is a great opportunity.”

Organizers are also asking for businesses located on Main Street to help the effort by making sure their parking lots and trash receptacles are cleaned regularly.

For more information, contact Suffolk Litter Control by phone at 757-514-7604, by email at littercontrol@suffolkva.us, or follow Keep Suffolk Beautiful on Facebook and Instagram.