10/08/2006: "The Town Steps Up To The Plate"

By Debbie Pigman

Let me reminisce a little………about seven years ago, when I started working with the Chamber, I received a few calls encouraging me to do "something" about litter on the sidewalks in Friday Harbor. I came up with what I thought was a wonderful idea, did a little research and presented to the community the "Adopt a Block" Program, thinking that service organizations, school clubs, families, and businesses would jump at the opportunity! They didn't.

A year or so later, the Chamber organized "Clean up Friday Harbor Days," picking one day every two weeks during the tourist season when groups would meet early in the morning at the Chamber office…..each person was handed gloves, a bag and a broom and assigned an area of town to clean. This worked for a while with the Rotarians, the scouts, real estate agents and other Chamber members participating. But, alas, this program quickly fizzled out.

Fast forward several years to this past March 2006 and the first meeting of the Chamber Downtown Forum. The first topic for action at this meeting was none other than "Aesthetics: Cleaning up the Sidewalks and Curb Areas of Friday Harbor." What started as a topic of discussion among concerned business people and others, moved quickly to businesses agreeing to take responsibility to clean the areas outside their store fronts – "Sweep in Business" was the mantra. A committee met and prepared an appeal to the Town to provide additional support for an ongoing Town clean up effort. At the same time, Lori Stokes and David Dehlendorf were sowing the seeds of the Anti- Litter Initiative, focusing on education and the clean up of the entire island! This group, too, urged the Town to put increased resources into litter removal.

And the Town is stepping up to the plate!

As a first step towards partnership and support of our concerns, the Town purchased dustpans and brooms for any Friday Harbor businesses that would use them, and the Chamber has distributed 36 to date. A hand-held sidewalk/curb vacuum was utilized the last four months, making a noticeable improvement in how our sidewalks and gutters look. The Town Council and Administrator are encouraging continued dialog among the Chamber, the business community, the Anti-Litter Initiative, the community and the Town government; this dialog will help to ensure that the Town is aware of the concerns and issues and, therefore, will have the information it needs to make litter control a priority in its allocation of resources.

It is important that all of us do our part in keeping our town clean. Why?
As stated in the Chamber Forum "Clean-up" Committee's presentation:

• A clean town makes a nicer place to live, work and visit.
• A clean town is more secure and comfortable.
• A clean town is more attractive for the benefit of those who live here as well as to visitors, whether they are tourists, family or friends.
• A clean town shows we appreciate what we have and makes the experience of showing our town to others more enjoyable.
• A clean town is good for business, which is ultimately good for the whole community!

Debbie Pigman is the Executive Director, San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce and member of the Anti-Litter Initiative Steering Committee