Conservancy decides on clean-up date

The Imperial River Conservancy met on Monday night and elected new officers for the year.

Ryan Willoughby was sworn in as president, Al Piscitelli is the new vice president and Kathy McGrath is the secretary and treasurer of the group that works to protect the Imperial River.

“We have about six meetings a year and it helps to have officers to head it all up,” said Kathy McGrath, about the meetings that are held in February, March and April.

The group works to conserve the Imperial River by monitoring it for garbage, tires, car parts and styrofoam.

“We scour the shorelines looking for all sorts of things like pieces of cars,” said McGrath of the efforts by volunteers who also donate their own boats for clean-ups sponsored by the group.

The next clean-up is schedules for March 24 and the group is looking for boat-owning volunteers.

“We collect all the trash and dump it all and then host a barbeque for all the volunteers. It’s a nice time,” McGrath said.

During the meeting, the Conservancy also awarded $100 to the best not-for-profit agency in the boat parade which benefited the American Cancer Society.

“The two winners, Debbie and Chuck Wilson and Betsy and Sam Vincent, wanted their winnings to go to the same group so we wrote the check at the meeting,” she said.

For more information on the Imperial River Conservancy call 992-7076.