On Saturday, October 21, 2017 nearly 100 people assembled at the Centralia, Pennsylvania municipal building. Their mission for the day was to cleanup the large amounts of trash that has been dumped illegally in the town. This is the fourth year such a cleanup day has been held in Centralia.
Under the guidance of EPCAMR (Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation) director, Bobby Hughes, the volunteers spent the day removing garbage. Hughes estimates that around $25,000 was invested in the cleanup effort, when considering the donations of food, equipment, services, and time.
The cleanup focused on the area below Laurel Street and above East Railroad Street, from the end of East Railroad Street towards Route 42/Locust Avenue. Additional trash removal occurred along Big Mine Run Road and at the Centralia Tunnel abandoned mine drainage discharge that flows into the Mahanoy Creek near Ashland, PA.
The effort was a huge success, and some 8.37 tons of were collected in the dumpsters that were graciously donated by Mostik Brothers Disposal in Mount Carmel, PA. EPCAMR covered the tipping fee for the service through a Community Aid, Inc. grant. In addition to the numerous bags of garbage, 53 tires, 1 couch, 2 recliner chairs, 12 rugs, and 2 televisions were removed.
Many thanks to all of those who contributed to the effort, including:
- Original Italian Pizza in Mount Carmel (provided pizza)
- Amy Saraka (provided pasta salad)
- Taqueria J. Zapata (provided Mexican food and food truck)
- EPCAMR (provided refreshments and ice from gift cards from Target, Wegmans, and Price Chopper, as well provided rakes and shovels)
- PennDOT, Keep PA Beautiful, Pennsylvania Environmental Council NE Office, American Rivers, National River Cleanup Week (provided garbage bags and gloves)
- Tommy Hynoski (provided use of the Centralia Borough Building, restrooms, and picnic tables in Centralia Hose Company No. 1 bay)
- Towson University, Wilkes University, and King’s College
- Dean Hooper (promoted the event through the Centralia Facebook Group)
- Mitchell Weed and Jason Korth (provided use of a 6′ x 8′ trailer to pick up trash)
- Wicked Jeeps of Central PA and Wicked Jeeps Coal Region (provided vehicles, winches, water, soda, snacks, garbage bags, and hand sanitizer)
- Joe Sapienza II (provided garbage bags, leaf bags, contractor bags, water, bug spray, and cleanup supplies, as well as video promotion of the pre and post cleanup)
- Centraliapa.org (provided publicity and outreach)
- Mr. Charles Connell (provided $100 towards the 10 pizzas from Original Italian Pizza)
- Patricia Chapman, former Centralia resident (provided a grill for lunch and charcoal for the hot dogs)
And a special thank you to everyone who volunteered their time on the cleanup day:
- Amy Williams
- Taylor Pearson
- Olivia Veno
- Matthew Raabe
- Humza Yaqoob
- Paula Araneda
- Evan O’Neal
- Luke Barragan
- Cara Figuerea
- Tara Kimsal
- Dennis Daugherty
- Addison Kimsal
- Jason Landis
- Amy Landis
- Kayla Wedlock
- Abigail Tarway
- Freddy Del Rosario
- Hussain Alramay M
- Yuleisyvilla Villarreal
- Ben Pierce
- Jose DaGrocia
- Deric Sowersby
- Mitchell Weed
- Jason Korth
- Nathan Frymyer
- Mike Frymyer
- Braiden Weber
- Kayla Morgan
- Carmine Volturo
- Brad Noll
- Xavier Noll
- Erika Noll
- Ray Sterwer
- Alan Harbaugh
- Patty Roye
- Bob Kahley
- Rob Polukis
- Kay Polukis
- Patricia Chapman
- Dean Hooper
- Bruce Forsyth
- Charles Connell
- Reagan Schlagel
- Adam Schlagel
- Kyle Fawcett
- Michelle Stauffer
- Eric Stauffer
- James Koharski
- Angelo Antonucci
- Donna Labbato
- Ashten Anthony
- Avery McCracken
- Taryn Yunginger
- Thelma Amarose
- James Sage
- Josh Heuyard
- Steffanie Bush
- Angel Dugan
- Brian Dugan
- Thomas J. Conniff
- Charles Bertzfield
- James Young
- Toni Young
- Joanne Bonn
- Vick Potts
- Karen Bowden
- Mike Grove
- Kayleigh Saraka
- Amy Saraka
- Sue Heinz
- Amie Tracy
- Erik Tracy
- Zak Zangari
- Da Ying
- Bobby Hughes
- Gabby Zawacki
- Gavin Pellitteri
- Llywellyn Westrick
- Jason Nork
