MADAWASKA, Maine — Nearly 170 people, including the student body of Madawaska Middle/High School, town employees and Beautification Committee members, gathered under a gloomy northern Maine sky Wednesday to brighten their town with a widespread cleaning effort.
“We got rained out but up until then everyone was working hard and honestly the town has a bit more of a shine to it,” Madawaska Rec Director Amy England-Baldock said.
The rec department coordinated the event along with high school principal Wayne Anderson, the Madawaska Beautification Committee and the St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The students seemed to enjoy the endeavor, according to England-Baldock.
They helped to clean many parks in the town as well as storefront windows on Main Street, Birch Point beach and the Multipurpose Center.
“They got their hands dirty and cleaned up. Everyone was really helping out; it was fantastic. Everyone should feel proud of themselves for that,” England-Baldock.
The youngsters also received whoopie pies and chocolate chip cookies for their efforts, baked by Beautification Committee member Jane Carter.
The rec director said she thinks this could be the start of a wonderful annual cleanup event involving the youth.
“Hopefully we pick non-rainy days from now on,” she joked.
