Hi Joey-
These are pictures that I snapped of two opposite sides of Grapevine Road today.
I work for Annabelles PetCare and I enjoy taking (and sharing!) photos as I dog walk. There is so much beauty that surrounds us on Cape Ann that I wonder if we often take it for granted. You see, this has been the absolute worse year I can remember for the amount of litter (and dog poop) strewn along our streets, in our marshes and woods and on our beaches.
I find the lack of civic pride in the cleanliness of our City to be upsetting. Since I believe that change begins with yourself, I have made a personal pledge to pick up litter as I walk every day until April 22, Earth Day. I can’t help but wonder what the City would look like if every able Citizen in Gloucester pledged to fill just one purple Barney Bag with litter over the next few weeks. If anyone needs suggestions of where to find the litter, I have a long list. At the very least, maybe people could simply pick up around their own property as well as secure their trash/recycling in a responsible manner so that it is not blowing down the street. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
In the meantime, I plan to get busy and do my part. If you see me on the street walking dogs (and picking up litter) give me a friendly toot as you drive by. That way, I will know I am not alone in this Quest!
Best- Janet Rice
Good Morning Gloucester 
A graphic way to spread the word.
This nudge should help.
Thanks,
David
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Janet is our dog walker and she rocks! I always bring a bag or two when we walk the back shore. The litter over there, especially by Good Harbor is terrible, so sad! We do our part on our street, but it’s tough along Thatcher Road as it narrows on the way to Amelia’s. This is a nice reminder. I’ll get out there this weekend.
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Moorland, which cuts through Bass Rocks, is also remarkably littered. I have no idea what goes through a person’s mind as they toss junk from their car (which is what I presume happens). Thanks for getting out and picking up, Janet. We’ll get our family out and do the same.
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i thought of your post this morning, as i picked up the trash blowing around the Bananas environs of Main Street this morning. I noticed the Sargent House gardens need lots of help to clear the debris and litter that has accumulated there. tomorrow morning i will be a trash bag. a rake would help; but, I will be opening the store and can’t work up too much of a sweat. i’ll pick up what i can.
best,
deb.
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I actually didn’t realize how very dirty Gloucester’s streets were until I moved away about 15 years ago. Every visit since, it has been getting more and more sad looking. Get those probationers out cleaning up!
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You caught it all in the photos, Janet. Thanks for taking the time to send it to GMG. I live near and walk my dog by Oak Grove Cemetary (Grove St.) and am constantly picking up trash. I can’t believe the empty nips and cigarette butts I see every day. Drinking, driving, smoking and littering seem to be practiced by so many. I’m glad “Mr. Karma” is watching even when they think no one notices.
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I’m on a mission to find that Sutter Home wine bottle litterbug. I live on High Popples Rd. and have traced bottles starting at the Atlantic Rd. end all the way up past Fairmount. I cleaned a bunch up two months ago so I know they are new. If you’re seeing them on Grapevine then that means the litterbug likley lives on the far end of High Popples, Seaview, Michael’s or Jacques as most folks on Grapevine itself tend not to cut back through High Popples. I’m hoping this litterbug is stupid enough to put some empties in his/her own recycle bin so I can trace them back to the source. As for the dog poopy bags – the Sutter Home bug, if found will be the new owner of those.
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As I walk, I have noticed that in addition to our general litter problem, there are some areas of East Gloucester that have developed what I would term “deep” pockets of litter ,as in, never being cleaned up. Two areas that come to mind are the stretch of Thatcher Road between Long Beach Dairy and Witham street (Pond Side) and the stretch of 127 between Shaws and Witham, both sides. I am sure there are other areas of Gloucester suffering the same but are not on my walking routes. I have also noticed that many of the worst cases of deep litter are around take out, fast food and shopping areas. I am wondering if some of these places could send out some of their staff to do a clean up around their buidings before the grass grows so high you can’t see it and another year goes by. Thanks to all that are planning to pitch in to help clean up this wonderful City we call home. If we all did a little, it would make a big difference. It’s a beautiful day and I am off to walk my dogs and pick up litter. Please join me!
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