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HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2016-03-14 Keep Leesburg Beautiful Town of Leesburg News Release For Immediate Release Media Contact: Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer barnett@leesburgva.gov  703-771-2734 “Keep Leesburg Beautiful” Annual Community Clean Up Campaign Begins April 1st Leesburg, VA (March 14, 2016) – The Town of Leesburg’s 12th annual “Keep Leesburg Beautiful” community clean-up and beautification campaign will begin on April 1, 2016, and will run the entire month of April. “Keep Leesburg Beautiful is a great way for residents to show pride in our Town,” said Vice Mayor Kelly Burk, who helped found the program in 2005. “I hope to see people sporting orange vests and filling trash bags all over Town next month.” This year, the Town is asking for particular assistance with the storm sewer inlet marking program. Volunteers are needed to visually inspect inlets, place (or replace) “Betty Bass” stickers that remind people that whatever goes into the storm drain inlet eventually ends up in the Chesapeake Bay, and notify staff if the inlet needs repair or other attention. “A number of years ago, we had good success with our storm drain marking program,” said Renée LaFollette, Leesburg’s Director of Public Works and Capital Projects. “Scout troops and other volunteer groups put Betty Bass stickers on many of the storm sewer inlets, but over time some of the stickers have come off or faded. In addition, we’ve added lots of inlets where we’ve installed new storm sewers, so the Town now has over 6,000 inlets.” “A neighborhood inventory of storm sewer inlets is a great community service project for a Scout troop or neighborhood group,” she continued. “We’ll provide the stickers and a simple form to complete when they find an inlet that needs repair. In particular, we need to know about inlets that are blocked by vegetation or debris. We’re not asking groups to clear the inlets themselves, only to let us know where the problems are.” TOL PR 2016-03-14 KLB 2016 Page 2 For more information about the storm drain marking program, including how to sign up, visit the Town website at www.leesburgva.gov/KLB. The other major Keep Leesburg Beautiful program is litter collection throughout Town. Residents, neighborhood and community groups, and businesses are encouraged to participate by forming teams to collect litter along roadsides, stream beds and other public common areas. Groups and individuals interested in participating should visit the Town of Leesburg website at www.leesburgva.gov/KLB for details about how to volunteer and suggestions for litter collection locations. The Town of Leesburg will provide safety vests, gloves and trash bags and will collect the filled bags and larger items like tires and appliances. Each year, the Leesburg Town Council and Town staff hold a clean-up challenge as part of Keep Leesburg Beautiful month. The winners receive the “Golden Trash Can” award. Last year, the two groups collected a combined total of 4,660 pounds of trash. # # #