by Marna Persechini

On Saturday, May 14, Roslindale’s annual clean-up day took place as usual with neighborhood residents, groups, and organizations, all pitching in to help sweep the streets/sidewalks and pick up the trash. Formerly named “Broom to Bloom,” the event is now called “Boston Shines.”

What at one time was an individual neighborhood effort to spruce up the Village (with similar clean-ups also held in other neighborhoods on different Saturdays in May) is now an annual event that takes place citywide in every neighborhood on the same day at the same time.

In early May, a call went out from Mayor Thomas Menino to all organizations, universities, civic groups, and residents to help in a citywide cleanup scheduled for May 7. Extreme weather conditions resulted in a postponement, and the event was rescheduled for May 14.

Working in conjunction with Roslindale Village Main Street (“RVMS”) and the City, Roslindale’s own Tom Donahue, RVMS Board member/Promotions Committee member and an outstanding organizer/volunteer, organized the day’s activities. Tom was out and about at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, setting up the tables where volunteers could sign up, pick up their equipment (trash-bags, brooms, rakes, shovels, pruning equipment, etc. furnished by Boston’s Property Division and Department of Public Works) and proceed to their assigned spots after getting tee-shirts, also furnished by the City.

Earlier in the week, Tom had identified the areas in and around Roslindale Village that were most in need of cleaning.

Nancy Chause, RVMS Promotions Committee member, and Marna Persechini manned the table, handing out tee-shirts and tools while assigning tasks to the volunteers. RVMS executive director Janice Williams was busy helping Tom coordinate everything. Other RVMS board members, among them its president Charlie McCarthy and Barbara Lottero, the executive director of the Greater Roslindale Dental and Medical Center, were picking up trash and trimming bushes, while Dr. Carol O’Neil, also from Greater Roslindale Dental and Medical Center, pitched in to help.

Despite overcast skies and threatening weather, close to 40 volunteers showed up to help make their neighborhood shine. The one comment heard over and over again from almost all the volunteers was: “Why are people such slobs? Don’t they realize that Roslindale is their home too? How can anyone stand to dump trash in his or her own front yard? It’s just as easy to use a trash basket as it is to drop trash on the streets, sometimes right in front of the trash barrel.”

Organized by various neighborhood associations, cleaning was also going on in other areas of Roslindale, including Mount Hope and Cliftondale Street. At Archdale, Healthy Roslindale’s Cathy Slade and the Rossie Reps joined forces with Casserly House, Temple Viet Nam, the Archdale Community Center and BHA. Over 30 young people had signed up at the Community Center to participate in the clean-up.

Sister Mary Ann Doyle and Jennie Nguyen were working together, sweeping and picking up trash. This clean-up was the fifth one for nine-year-old Jennie. It’s a task she loves doing. “I feel that I am contributing to keeping my home clean,” she stated proudly.

According to Sister Mary Ann Doyle and Sister Nancy Braceland, “This is more than just a clean-up. It’s a coming together, where all the pieces fit, neighbors helping neighbors, solidifying community. Even though the Temple had other plans for today, they sent paper goods and food for the cookout after the event, along with volunteers to help clean.”

Huy Lulu, a young man from the Temple who, along with his father and sister, was hard at work picking up trash, said, “This is such a great thing, and it’s such fun to work with other groups accomplishing something tangible and visible. I am very lucky to be able to participate in such events.”

While the cleaning activities were going on outside, the Community Center was the hub of much of the activity. Members were coming and going, the clean-up crew was using the facility, basketball games were taking place in the gym, and the Archdale Steppers were practicing for their performance at Boston’s upcoming Kite Festival in Franklin Park.

The Steppers are a dance troupe that has been together for a few years now, under the able direction of Michelle Bailey and Donna Moise. They perform at a variety of events in the City. Michelle and Donna, under the leadership of Cynthia Johnson, director of both the Archdale and the Roslindale Community Centers, are in the process of organizing a boy’s step team.

When asked how he thought the event went, Tom Donahue replied: “Over all, the day was a success. The volunteers, combining fun and hard work, had a great time and are looking forward to coming back next year to help Roslindale shine.”