#Mastrangelo’s Environmental Action #Earth Care: Part Two (Earth Day is Every Day).
Monday, April 13th, 2015Bobbi Mastrangelo’s Art and Community Involvement focus on Caring for Our Planet Earth. This is the Second in a three part series on EARTH CARE.
Bobbi Mastrangelo’s dream of a cleaner town started in the late 1980’s. Her manhole art caused her to notice the condition of streets and sidewalks. What could she do about the litter in her quaint little town?
A friend advised her to read Earl Babbie’s Book: You Can Make a Difference. “It tells how individuals started movements for change, or solved civic problems,” she explained. |
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In May of 1986, Bobbi called together Town Board Members, Highway Dept Officials, Scouts, News Reporters and Friends wanting to see a neater town. A reporter named them: C.L.E.A.N. (Committee for Litter Elimination and Neatness). |
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Beth Ann Magnuson designed C.L.E.A.N.’s logo with crossed brooms and three flower symbols underneath. |
White Bear became the mascot. Cartoons depicted a white bear sweeping and cleaning the town. During one Parade, Bobbi Mastrangelo donned the CLEAN Bear Costume, rode the Highway Truck and waved to all the crowd. Girl Scouts, other Civic Groups and individuals adopted and beautified local areas, town parks, Their Post Office Grounds and the St. James RR Station. Bobbi Mastrangelo chose the King Kullen Supermarket Area and parking lot, the local litter magnet, for her Adopt-A-Spot. |
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Children’s posters were hung at the Supermarket registers urging everyone to keep their town clean and beautiful. When the King Kullen Manager spied her, he would run out waving a large broom and grin: “OK Bobbi we are cleaning up!” CLEAN initiated annual clean-ups and sponsored coloring contests for children. Its members painted the logo on colorful vinyl trash barrels. They were donated to the Smithtown Highway Department and put out for parades and public events. |
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![]() Bobbi’s Manhole Art appealed to the Employees of The Smithtown Township Highway Department. They explained street markings to her and actually showed her the chimney support below a manhole cover. The Highway Department worked together with CLEAN Volunteers for Town Clean-ups and put out the Decorated CLEAN Trash Barrels along parade routes. |
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![]() “Paul Harris Fellow Medallion” |
Bobbi’s Environmental Art and CLEAN Initiative caught the attention of the local towns folk. Smithtown Rotary awarded Bobbi “The Paul Harris Fellow for Achievement in Arts and The Environment.”
“For her relentless effort to keep things clean in the Town of Smithtown and for the work she inspired other to do, The St. James Times recognized Bobbi Mastrangelo as Woman of the Year in Civic Affairs” in their January 5, 1989 Edition. Bobbi felt that the award should be shared with all the dedicated volunteers who adopted spots and worked on local litter clean-ups. |
![]() RJK Gardens Adopt-A-Spot |
For over a decade The CLEAN Committee was very active. Bobbi has since relocated to Florida, but she is gratified to know of one Adopt-A-Spot that is still being maintained: Richie Kuri of RJK Gardens keeps the grass mowed and flowers planted at his Adopt-A Spot adjacent to King Kullen. (Note the blooming Irises.) Here is a poem about the CLEAN Group and Their Activities: http://bobbimastrangelo.com/MyNews/?p=5020
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If anyone participated in CLEAN or knows of more active ADOPT-A-Spots, please add your comments or send photos. Thanks!