To Pick or Not to Pick,

Is This the Question?

Twice a year members of the Onondaga Ski Club head down to Tully to have a cup or two of coffee. When we finish that, we gather our gear and head out to walk up and down Route 81. As we amble along, we often encounter bits and pieces of non-natural items that just look out of place amongst the grass, bushes and small trees that dot the landscape. With our rubber gloves on, we’ll pick up this trash and place it in the State provided plastic bags, leaving them by the highway for pickup by the DPW. Yep, it’s the Club’s semi-annual Adopt-a-Highway program making the countryside just a little bit cleaner and prettier.

This year eight of us headed out to do our part…actually it was just seven pickers ‘cause we had along one member who took it upon himself to undertake another task. Here, everyone else is picking up stuff, and this guy is putting things back on …or should I say…into the ground. It was our own “Daffy Sachs”, carrying around a heavy bag filled with daffodil bulbs that he planted here and there to add some color to the median and shoulders on the south side of Route 80 in early spring.

For two hours the crew cleaned up the area, but this time we didn’t have any real “finds” as in the past (credit cards, cell phones, ‘hash’ pipes, license plates, etc.). In fact, the area seemed fairly clean compared to other times we’ve gone out. Is it possible that society is coming around and not letting things fly out vehicle windows? Could be, but I can tell you there were quite a number of empty beer cans out there which is scary in it’s own right. Empty cigarette packs here and there, along with plastic bottles (mostly water) were in presence. On the north side of 80, we found lots of vehicle parts that didn’t look like they were simply discards. Each one had a story I’m sure. Many bits of exploded tires too, with the rusted steel belts still in the rubber. I sure would not want to be next to one of those if it let go no matter what “Myth-Busters” said.

We picked it all up, except for the millions of cig-butts. That would take a life-time, or damn near. It wouldn’t be too bad if it was the tobacco part ‘cause this will return to the soil soon…no, it’s the filter made of materials that will last, and last, right along with nuclear waste for length of time to decompose I think.

Hey, remember “Ralphi” from Paddlefest? Well, the rest of the family was down in Tully getting ready for winter. Pick up a piece of cardboard or plastic bag and there they were. As Bob Wiley and Bill Goodwin know, the little suckers can move really fast.

Our little crew was composed of Carole Adamec-Sachs, Remo Bianco, Bob Dewey, Mary Jo DiNuzzo, Oisin McGuinty, Neville Sachs, and Marilyn & Michael McCabe. We were few, but we did mighty things. Thank you all for your time and efforts.

Now, everyone ought to head down there next April to check out Neville’s handiwork, and while you’re there, stop in for coffee. Oh yeah, bring some rubber gloves too…they will come in handy.

Michael McCabe