Clean Sweep

Article Photos

GLOVERSVILLE - Brooms swept their way across dusty sidewalks on Main Street. Paint brushes chock-full of fresh paint were slid along chipped streetlamps, windows were washed and a community came together to beautify its downtown Friday night.

The event, called Operation Clean Sweep, began at 8 p.m. and was intended to motivate volunteers who would help spruce up downtown. Participants met at the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry building, where they received their assignments.

They then went off to shovel dirt, pull up weeds and paint light fixtures with their various tools. More than 75 athletes and 15 coaches from Gloversville schools helped volunteer.

The school district's relationship with the city, Superintendent Robert DeLilli said, is reciprocal. The city supports the district, he said, and the cleanup was a good way for the school district to return the favor.

The downtown area was a sea of maroon at times, as coaches and players sported the school's colors as they cleaned.

"The community does a lot for us throughout the year, and the athletes and coaches wanted to do something to give back to our community," Athletic Director Mike DeMagistris said.

Gloversville High School junior Erica Alikhan helped sweep the sidewalk along Church Street.

"I feel like it's not as good as it could be," Alikhan said of her city. "It'll look a lot better if people clean up more."

City Court Judge Vincent DeSantis, while shoveling near a tree on Bleecker Street, said he was expecting about 140 volunteers in total. He said work would be done along Main Street between Prospect Avenue and Cayadutta Street, behind the Glove Performing Arts Center and in mini-parks along Main. Volunteers, he said, would work to ensure the area looked neat and was devoid of all litter, a process he said would likely last until midnight.

He said such an event creates positive feelings among those who participate.

"It makes people aware of the difference of a well maintained community, as opposed to a community that lets things go," DeSantis said.

Others said they hoped they were setting a good example. Broadalbin resident Sara Schopmeier looked at the cars passing by as she knelt next to a can of paint.

"If they can get people to come out and be proud of the community they live in, maybe people driving by will take an interest in what's going on and say, 'Hey, that's a great idea,'" Schopmeier said.

The Gloversville2020 group, the Gloversville Business Improvement District, the city Department of Public Works and the city Police Department helped lead the event. The DPW provided paint and some supplies.

Zach Subar can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com