[music] Hello and welcome to Woodbridge, the best town around. My name is John McCormack. I'm the mayor of this great town and we're here today on a beautiful spring Saturday morning at Shaughnessy Park in Colonia right off Emman Avenue in Amherst. And I'm joined by Councilman Got to get used to saying [laughter] that because last time I came here you
weren't. Councilman Dan Harris, Councilwoman Debbie Me, and former Councilwoman and current chief of staff Carolyn Erlick. And we're here today for the annual Colonia Cleanup. Uh run now by Dan Harris and Debbie. And Dan, let me start with you. Give us the history of Shaughnessy Park. It being named and
the Irish Club and all about this park. >> Sure. Sure. So, there was a gentleman by the name of Charlie Shaughnessy, lifelong or longtime Colonia resident. Uh he started the Colonial Cleanup uh 35 years ago, ran it for about 20 years and unfortunately passed about 15 years ago.
Uh his family still participates. Uh but Charlie was also active not only with the school district as an employee, but uh he was a member of the American Irish Association who just had that great parade a couple weeks back. So the Irish Association adopted the park. Charlie [snorts] ran it uh a spring cleanup and
a fall cleanup. And uh you know I got involved shortly after college about 20 years ago and then after his passing myself and a guy like Ed McSherry also a member of the Irish we continued on that legacy and today we have an assortment of of volunteers who come out uh twice a
year as the mayor pointed out. We're at year 35 now >> and Deb this is a staple of of Colonia Shaughnessy Park is a staple. The cleanup is a staple. It's one of those events that just every year everybody knows it's going to be uh in in early April. Tell me about the the different groups we have out here today.
>> So, we have a whole bunch of people here and Dan does such a great great job in getting the word out there to get these different groups. Uh we have the Girl Scouts, we have the Boy Scouts, we have the schools, we have Colonia Fire Department, >> Sewali out there, >> Dewali. Yeah. So, >> the Irish themselves,
>> the mayor's advisory committee and just random neighbors that come out to make Colonia beautiful. And it's just nice. It's a great lesson to teach the children to take care of their community. And you you really do you do a fabulous job. And Charlie Shaughnessy was an amazing man. And we every time I
go by the park, I think of him when I see his name. But it's so nice that his legacy, you know, it it lives on through the park. And it's a great place to come and gather. It's always busy here, whether you're playing basketball or hockey or the parents have the kids on the screen uh the the swings. It's a
great, you know, it's just a great place to come. So yeah. >> Tell me the story about Well, I know the story, but you tell everybody else about the story about the gazebo here. Oh, so the gazebo we got that gosh is it how many years? >> 2012. >> Yeah. So it was it was for one of our
soldiers that had passed away and uh we did a fundraiser. We brought everybody down here and and you know it's really beautiful because nobody ever really bothers it and I guess because it's you know there's a memorial on there for Captain Reinhardt and
>> Kevin J. Reinhardt the Marine who passed away in Afghanistan. >> Yeah. >> Oh boy. January 19th, 2012. >> It was a sad day. We all gathered down the avenue and everybody came out to honor him and but it's just it's a staple in this park and it's a beautiful reminder of him. So, but yeah,
>> I don't bring up bad memories, but remember that day that day we were sitting in the >> the galaxy, right, >> having breakfast and I got the call from >> uh not not that Kevin passed. I got the call that >> um Mary uh what's it? Mary Jane, Mary Lou Gary
Gity. >> Yes. that her nephew passed in Afghanistan. >> And it didn't dawn on me instantly >> that Mary Lyn G's sister is Kathleen Reinhardt, who I went to high school with. >> And then then I said, "Oh my gosh, that's Kevin Reinhardt, who we all knew
because he was very active uh in the community." >> He did the park cleanup. >> That's that's what made me think. Well, plus the plus the gazebo's dedicated to him. >> But then, if you remember, we went over to their house. It was awful. >> It was >> just like within an hour of them finding out. And I felt like I like obligated to
go there, you know, some of the things you got to do. >> It was def very difficult. >> It was it it was just they were in total shock at the time and yet so composed and um >> it it just it's an awful memory that the
whole community shares. You know, we share an awful lot of good ones, but that is one that we all share. >> What's crazy stuff going on now? It makes you think about it when you see the pictures all the time of the servicemen and women who have passed. >> Yeah. Uh, but that was that was a very very bad day in Woodbridge Township history.
>> So, um, take it to now the rain garden. Now, there's a ring garden next door at the Colonial Library. >> Before I get to the rain garden, I just want to say something about the cleanup. Um, Charlie Shaughnessy, he didn't wait for special events. I think he was out here almost every day. He came by. If
there was something on the ground, he was picking it up. And so, he kept it clean. He really it it was kind of like it it was named after him because he took care of it. >> Um and um it's not once a year that we
do this because they also clean it up during National Public Lands Day and we have lots of people and I know that Dan Dan one of the things that he cares about is he wants to start a a litter patrol. He wants to take this a step
further and go throughout the town and figure out ways that we can pick up the litter. Yeah. Which is everywhere. Yeah. >> And so we're working together on that. And um I'm pretty excited because it's a beautiful town and
>> the litter just makes it look better. >> It does seem to be getting better than years ago though. The the litter seems to be not as bad as it used to be. But >> the water bottles that the kids >> Yeah, that's the problem. Right. came out one day and started picking up the water bottle. >> Put them in the can when you're done with them. >> And it's like they're two feet away. The
can's there and the bottle's there. I'm like, "What?" >> Well, they probably took a shot and missed. >> Yeah. I mean, I I saw them all one day when I was taking my walk and I went, "Oh, man." And so, I did do that. >> Yeah. The garbage is right there. It's right there. Okay. Now, when are we going to get to [laughter] the question about the >> rain gardens? So, you know, throughout
the town, we have built rain gardens as part of our green infrastructure program. And what they do um is they help with drainage. They certainly don't take care of flooding. That's a big big job. But it takes care of making sure
first of all the waters that go into the sewer is clean >> and uh helps with that first inch of rainfall that it goes down into the ground instead of out into the street. And so now with all our rain gardens, we
were having so much trouble keeping up with all of them. >> Um, we getting people to adopt them. >> And Debbie and Dan adopted the the rain garden here at the library. And when they're done here, they're going to go
over. I understand you met with Kush and Kush told you what what's a weed and what's a plant. You can't just go in and start going. >> Um, and I I appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> We all do. But here's the thing. They adopted the rain garden. They got all these people to do the work.
>> Most people who adopt the garden, you know, >> that's what makes council people very smart. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> All right. Well, we we'll take a walk around now. We'll interview some of the kids, some of the groups. But thanks for watching, folks. Colonia Cleanup sponsored by the American Iris Association run by Dan Harris,
Councilman and member of the association and former officer along with Councilwoman Debbie Mian and former Councilwoman Carol. Thanks for watching folks. >> Thank you. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music]
>> Okay, we're here now with Girl Scouts from Troop 85307 and 85302. I didn't memorize that. It's on the shirt. Uh, let me pass the microphone around. HV girls, tell me your name and >> anything else you want to tell me about yourself. Go ahead. Start with you. Pass the microphone around.
>> My name is Catalina and I love helping the universe. >> I'm Olivia L and >> I just and I'm a junior this year. >> Olivia O. >> Olivia L.
>> L. Okay. I'm Olivia A and I am a senior Girl Scout. >> Okay. >> I'm Victoria and I'm going to be a cadet next year. >> Okay. >> Um my name is Arya and um I like to raise money for the kids challenge to
save people's hearts. >> All right. >> My name is Lilianne and I love helping um pick weeds. >> Pick weeds. Okay. My name is Olivia L and I like to do sports. >> There's a lot of Olivia in this school.
>> My name is Olivia Jay and I'm a junior. >> My name is Bella J and I'm a senior. >> Now when you go home, if mom and dad say, "Come on, go outside and pick weeds." Are you going to do it? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Oh, I thought you only do it when you come out here. >> So, what are you you're picking weeds?
What else are you guys Face the camera. This is your 15 minutes of fame. Don't lose any of it. >> Um planting. >> Planting? What are you planting? Um >> like roses, tulips, and >> is Lillian plant liies? >> No. >> Possib. >> What are you What are you pl What other kind of plantings are you doing?
>> I don't know. Uh flowers. >> And you're doing mulch? >> Yeah. >> Um >> so you're taking out weeds. You're putting in mulch. You're planting flowers. What else? Turn around. [laughter] >> Now you can talk. What are you going to say? >> Uh worms. >> Oh yeah. I found I found a worm this
big. >> No way. >> I think it had poop in it. [laughter] You think the worm had poop in it? >> Yeah. >> Is that why he was so big? >> I think so. >> How do you know the worm had poop? >> I heard it from one of the >> How do they know? [laughter] >> This is how rumors start.
>> She goes, "Yeah, one pooped on me." >> This is how rumors start. Somebody says something really knuckleheady and everybody repeats it and then people think it's true. >> Maybe the worm did have poop. But the point is, we don't know. We're not wormologists. That's a joke. >> We know nothing about worms.
>> That's >> But can I borrow it in case I go fishing later? >> Yeah. >> Oh, great. Thanks. >> What else? Who's going to tell me what's your favorite merit badge? You guys getting badges for this or what? Or service? >> We're going to get a planting badge, I think. >> Planting badge. Okay. How cool is that? >> I'm not even in Girl Scout.
>> Oh, all right. What do you say? I need my space. So, you're from NASA. Okay. You're a space cadet. >> Okay. [laughter] So, what else you guys want to say about Tell me what's your favorite badge in Girl Scouts. I'll hear the song. >> Anybody? >> Disney on Ice.
>> Disney on Ice. >> Disney on Ice is a badge. That's a show. >> Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. >> Turn around. >> You get a badge for going to a show. >> Yes. >> How is that fair? >> Man, when I was in Boy Scouts, we had to do things like camp and cook and hike
and >> canoe. Yeah, we did. We love >> We did get a badge for going to a show. >> Oh, this isn't right. There's something wrong with this. Um, we're going to have um a sleepover at one of the battleships. >> That's a badge. Sleepover at the battleship. Where? Battleship New Jersey
down in Camden. >> Yeah, >> that's a cool ship. I was on it. But you know what the problem with that was? >> I'm too big to be on the ship and I kept hitting my head. The ship's made for people under six feet, not people over 6 feet. So, I'm not going on battleships anymore. That's why I never served in the Navy. I was too big when I was a
kid. >> What else? What's your favorite badge? >> Uh, the Disney on Ice. Oh my gosh. How? Who? Tell me your favorite real badge. >> Planting. >> Planting. >> What? >> Eating a lot of ice cream. >> That's not a badge.
>> No, it's not. >> Ice cream challenge. >> I >> I'm going to have to have a talk with these Girl Scout leaders. You So, so let let me ask you this. If you go to Disney on Ice and eat ice cream, do you get two badges? >> No. Well, you got to eat a lot of ice cream. >> Turn around. >> So, like, so like in the in the
>> All right. Well, I'm I'm very surprised that that you get a badge for eating ice cream. This is really >> a good badge for I think last year we did a sewing badge. >> Sewing. I can see that there's a skill involved. >> Getting bad for selling cookies. >> That's a good one. You're selling cookies. You're making money. That's good. But eating ice cream, that's it.
I've had it. This show is over. I'm not talking to Girl Scouts anymore until they stop getting badges for eating ice cream. >> Well, thank you guys for helping out. We're on a very serious note. Thanks for helping. Now, guess what? You got to go back to work. >> Y
>> [music] [music] >> D. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Okay, we're here now with Sew USA, a group of kids from an organization that helps the town all the time. A lot a lot of cleanups, a lot of highway cleanups,
uh food drives, you name it. I'm going to pass the microphone around, tell me your name, and then pass the microphone to your right or the back. >> Um I'm Tisha Thor. >> Uh my name is Oxide Thrash. Uh my name is Saiaka. >> My name's Dri Varma.
>> My name is Riddu Garaaji. >> My name is Ashika Taskcar. >> My name is Versank Sharma. My name is Isan Taskar. >> Okay. Who's going to be the spokesperson and tell me all about what COA USA means? >> I got you. >> You are. Okay. Go for it.
>> Um so SEOA is basically an organization. It's a humanitarian nonprofit where we just help people. We do a lot of community cleanups like this one here. And we also help with in like temples and religious organizations. We help with the hands of folk food pantry. And
it's more about like giving back to the community. >> Wow. Very well put. So you also do you do this every year. You do the uh highway cleanup on Route 27 every year. You have like almost like you adopted that part of the highway, right? Do you guys work on that? >> Yeah, we do a lot of highway cleanups.
>> Yep. It's a shame you have to because people just throw stuff out of the window and you don't have to do a cleanup. It's a shame you have to. You also do the food drive over at school 18, right? Indiana Avenue School. >> We do like about three food drives a year, I think. >> Oh, you do? Okay. >> Yeah. >> And that's very helpful cuz you know people shouldn't go to bed hungry.
>> How what what makes you want to do this? Tell me how you feel when you do this. Give it to somebody who wants to tell me how they feel when they help an organization, a nonprofit like like this group here. Uh, I'm all about like giving back to the community and helping however I can. So, yeah, I just love
doing this and yeah. >> All right. Anybody else? >> Everybody's too shy. All right. Well, that's >> Don't be shy, guys. >> Anybody? >> That's okay. That's okay. All right. Well, tell your leaders that we say thank you and for getting you guys out here to help out. We really appreciate it. Thanks very much. Thank you. All
right. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Okay, I'm here now with Colonia Fire volunteers. I'm going to pass the mic. Guys, tell me your name and pass it to your right. Start with you in the end.
>> I'm Brandon. My name's Anthony. Hey, my name is Andrew >> Peter Danny >> Punch and say your name. >> Addie. >> And how long have you been a fire girl? >> How long you been a fire girl? Say I'm
seven. [laughter] >> All right. So, Peter, you're the captain of this team. Tell me what uh what brings you out here today. >> Uh first of all, we hear this about the Colonia cleanup every single year, and we've always wanted to do it. Never actually got to do it. >> You're right. Will said I don't recall. Seen a fireman here before.
>> Yeah. First year. Uh we saw the flyer. I've been talking to Dan and Debbie and I'm like, what's better than getting all the firemen out here to uh put some work in, show face, and uh support the community. So beautiful day. Uh we have the Easter Bunny parade in a few hours. So I'm like the fire truck with the fire
truck up. So we're like, let's start early with the day, show our face to the community, help out as much as we can, and then get out there. And the truth is there's a lot of kids here, you know, young kids, there's teens, but you guys are much older and able to do a lot better, bigger, better, harder jobs. Very helpful. >> Exly. Exactly. Dan asked us, "What do
you guys want to do today?" I was like, "Give us the hardest job. We'll we'll get it done." >> All right. Well, thank you all very much. >> Thank you. >> And thank you. Thank you for helping. What did you do today? >> Raked. >> I break >> ra and picked up the leaves. >> And where'd you put the leaves when you picked when you Where'd you put them?
>> In the bag. >> In the bag. Oh, very good. Good job. All right, guys. Thanks very much. We appreciate you coming out. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thanks, man. >> Okay.