Newburgh City Council members, firefighters, Water Department workers, volunteers, and residents all worked side-by-side this afternoon for the good of the community. The group worked as a team during a work party to clean up Lutheran Street. The event boasted a large turnout and was a great success, according to many in attendance.
The City of Newburgh wished to thank everyone who came out to help out with the city event to clean the street, located off Broadway and two blocks west of St. Luke’s Hospital.
The cleanup event was organized by Councilman Anthony Grice. “I did this event to help residents, with no expectancy of social media,” he stated.
The turnout looked grim at the start of the morning. “I knew a few residents would show up, but at 8:30ish I started thinking that it would only be us few,” Grice explained. “Then I saw one, two, three, ten firefighters walking towards me with smiles, brooms, rakes, and shovels.”
Many volunteers gave up their Saturday for the good of the community and worked hard to clean the streets. Garbage was removed from the streets as volunteers filled up an entire dumpster. They also trimmed the grass along the sidewalks.
Grice and Councilwoman Ramona Monteverde both turned out to get their hands dirty supporting the neighborhood. Other Council members were unable to attend but publicly supported the event.
Grice and Monteverde worked side-by-side with city employees and citizens who all volunteered their time to help the community. The City Code Enforcement supervisor also showed up to spend his Saturday digging in and cleaning.
Members of the City of Newburgh Fire Department put on a small barbecue for residents and volunteers. Grice noted the firefighters provided free breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and soda to the community. The Water Department was also on hand with a hydration station for both the workers and residents.
IAFF Local 589, the union representing the City of Newburgh firefighters, released a statement calling the event “a great day with some great people.” The union also stated they enjoyed “some great conversations with residents and council members.”
Grice noted, “I did come to a better understanding of the struggles of our firefighters. We will get through this as the residents deserve it. Most important, I want to thank those residents who love their block. We will do it again.”
Grice also wished to thank the City of Newburgh Planning Department for providing funds for the cleanup and Taylor Recycling for donating usage of the dumpster.
