The morning of Saturday, April 8 started out cold but sunny with bright blue skies. By the time the six intrepid volunteers gathered at Penn State’s Special Services Building at 9 a.m., the temperature was in the mid-30s. Thankfully, what wind there was on the light side, at least for the beginning of our work.

As is usual, the first Libraries Adopt-a-Highway garbage pickup along Highway 550/Buffalo Run Road netted a heavy load, in about an hour and fifteen minutes we gathered eight bags of garbage in total. Admittedly, two of those bags we cannot take credit for – very sadly someone either stopped and dumped them out of their vehicle or slowed and tossed them out. We were the lucky ones to have to pick them up and make sure they ended up with our own 6 bags’ worth at the end of the day. Credit for lugging those two extra bags goes to Rob and Debbie Harris.

By the time we were completing our work both the temps and the wind were picking up, but all of us enjoyed the beautiful rural scenery (including visits from the cows!) as well as the weather. As usual, the best part of finishing this work is the feeling of satisfaction that a two-mile stretch of local highway is at least temporarily clean of trash!

With the first of four garbage pickup days completed, we have three Adopt-a-Highway events remaining in 2017. Look for the usual email CfVs (Call for Volunteers) a couple of weeks ahead of each impending date. Thanks go to fellow Libraries colleagues (and one wife): Rob and Debbie Harris, Mary Derstein, Cindy Spotts, Rose Carter, and leader Paige Andrew.

– submitted by Paige Andrew, Libraries Adopt-a-Highway Effort