This came from Chas Street, with an addendum from me. – Lil

A few weeks back, I was part of a brave group of souls who went out on a rainy Saturday to pick up trash as part of the Annual Walpole Clean-up Day.  Even though the weather didn’t cooperate, it was very successful.  I was given a stretch of March Hill Road to do, and what I found made me cringe.  When you’re actually out there looking, it was a mess.

Unless you’re over 60, you probably don’t remember a wonderful woman named Ladybird Johnson who was the first person I remember who pointed out what was happening.   She was the first person who really energized the “Don’t Litter” campaign on our public byways even though it had become quite grotesque by then.  I remember driving up from Florida as a kid and there was trash and junk all over the highways; in fact it was the norm to throw your trash out the window instead of keeping a trash bag in the car.

Anyway, fast forward about 60 years and amazingly the highways look 100% better than they ever did back in 1965.  Somehow, even though the popuation has almost doubled in that timeframe, we integrated a cultural change to not litter that most of us have adopted.  So, on behalf of the Selectboard, the Road Department and the two folks who cut their hands picking up trash, we ask that you reiterate the importance of the eleventh commandment with your children when you discuss other important issues with them.  If you’ve forgotten it, it’s “Thou shall not throw thy beer can out thy window” on the way home.  And for you older children, we’d appreciate your cooperation too.

Thank you.  Chas Street

Whatever happened to all those, “$100 Fine for Littering” signs?  Maybe they were just ignored like the “No Parking This Side of the Street” ones along the Common. – Lil