For Immediate Release
April 18, 2008
Back

Brubaker, Boyd, state DEP Secretary McGinty and C.V. Students Wade into Conestoga River Cleanup Project 

WEST EARL TOWNSHIP – State Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Warwick Township) and state Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lampeter) were knee-deep in the Conestoga River on Friday, working alongside roughly 70 Conestoga Valley (C.V.) High School students to rid the river of debris.

The legislators, along with state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and other local officials, joined the students in cleaning up the river's bed and banks that run through West Earl Township Community Park, along Route 772 near Brownstown.

Boyd has worked with local students each year since 2003 to conduct an environmental cleanup project in observance of Earth Day, which is this Tuesday. He and Brubaker have enlisted the help of students from ecology classes at C.V., whose participation is part of a class project. C.V. High School environmental science teacher Kerrie Snavely accompanied the students and joined in the cleanup.

"Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for all of us to take an active role in protecting and preserving our natural resources," Brubaker said. "I am very excited to join Rep. Boyd again this year to clean up the Conestoga River, and it is great to see so many young people out here making a contribution to the environment."

"We are thrilled to be joined by state DEP secretary McGinty," Boyd said.  "I'm glad she could see the energy and interest of our local students rolling up their sleeves and pant legs and working to clean up our river and park."

The group labored for more than two hours cleaning the river and beautifying the park. During the afternoon, Boyd and Brubaker also helped to plant a tree in the park in observance of Arbor Day, April 25.  The tree was donated by the Pennsylvania Landscape Nursery Association.

Also attending the event were Dr. Gerald Huesken, superintendent for C.V. School District; C.V. school board officials; Chad Forcey of the Pennsylvania Landscape Nursery Association; and several West Earl Township officials.

Contact:

Julie Iddings, Outreach Coordinator
 717-627-0036