Volunteers clean up area of Potomac

Little bit of everything, anything, including kitchen sink, removed from river

CUMBERLAND — Questionable skies and chilly temperatures couldn’t discourage 47 volunteers from showing up near the railroad tracks by Canal Place to clean up that area of the Potomac River.

Organized through the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce by the Potomac River Project Steering Committee and its various subcommittees, the river cleanup commitment was not for the faint of heart. Volunteers knew they would be emerged in the effort by dredging through the river and along the banks to remove anything and everything that didn’t belong there — including a kitchen sink.

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Oct. 31 and working diligently until 2:30 p.m., the group collected 150 bags of trash, as well as tires, steel, shopping carts, chunks of Styrofoam and a few bikes. Tires removed from the river were transported to the LaVale Wal-Mart by the Cumberland Department of Public Works, and their disposal was arranged by Patty Alexander through Wal-Mart’s General Manager Jeff Corbett. Raquel Ketterman and Kolin Jan represented the River Project group at the time of tire delivery.

Kleinschmidt Associates sponsored a truck to assist with trash removal and the time and expertise of Mark Bowen to the effort. Cash contributions received during Canal Fest were used for general supplies associated with the event and there were many items donated. Lowe’s provided gloves; American Rivers offered trash bags; Boy Scouts of America delivered flotation devices; and Downtown Manager Ed Mullaney organized pizzas from Vocelli’s to feed the hard-working group.

This effort was just the first of many steps to realize the full economic benefits this natural resource provides. The Potomac River Project has already brought together individuals and agencies throughout the region and is only expected to continue to grow. The event was a success largely in part to volunteers recruited at Canal Fest through Amy Carter and Richard Sours from Frostburg State University, along with a van full of college students; Mayor Lee Fiedler; Matthew Huelskamp; Nicole Wigfield; Frank Fotia; Mark Bowen; Patty Alexander; Doug Schwab and Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab; Kelley Hallam, Dee Dee Ritchie; Ketterman; Jan; and Doug Hutchins and some accompanying family and friends.

For more information about the Potomac River Project, call the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce at (301) 722-2820.