Perhaps our focus here at South Boston Online has been a bit wide over the past few weeks.  Certainly, our attention was riveted on the Gulf Coast and the responses surrounding the hurricanes.  We used those incidents to draw some conclusions about our energy situation and our bureaucracies – the conclusions were not complimentary.

     This week, let’s take a look at something closer to home: litter.

     Simply stated, the streets and off-street areas of South Boston are messier than they should be.  Pizza boxes, cheeseburger containers, and grocery bags are not a very appetizing sight in the early morning light.  Residents seem to be cleaning up after their dogs more frequently, but why should there be any dog droppings at all?  Often, trashcans and drop-off points are filled to overflowing.  There’s no sense to that.  Just go to the next empty one.

     And it’s residents of South Boston who are guilty.  “Outsiders” aren’t sneaking into the streets of South Boston after dark and leaving trash and dog droppings behind.  No, as ungrammatical as it sounds, it’s us.  Old timers as well as newcomers.  Where has our pride in Southie gone?

     There are many ways to prevent the problem.  Here’s an excerpted and condensed suggestion from a South Boston resident named Ed Oliver/Bohld:

     “Local Litter Lancers Patrol Shoreline

     Unlike their historic counterparts, their spear tips will never be used to do battle.  South Boston resident Ed Oliver/Bohld believes he can add romance and excitement to the mundane task of litter collection.  How?  By combining litter sticks with bicycles. 

     His approach is supported by two past successes using bicycles.  As the founder of the “County Mounties”, Ed introduced bicycles to Nightwatch, an after-midnight patrol of the streets and alleys of Back Bay.  Subsequently, police officers, rangers, and EMTs began using bicycles.

     Last year, Ed employed bicycles for anti-litter patrols in Neponset Valley from Dorchester to Milton.  Working with DCR personnel, these patrols saw to the cleanliness of the trails, as well as identifying maintenance and public safety problems.

     Volunteer anti-litter patrols of bicyclists could keep the areas from the Day Boulevard State Police barracks out to Castle Island clean and free of trash.  Priority will be given to volunteer cyclists from South Boston.  Non-residents and participants on foot are also welcome.  Students and those wanting to fulfill a community service obligation are invited to participate.

     To volunteer or for more information, please phone (617)268-2042.”

     End of release.

     You see, the effort to keep South Boston clean doesn’t have to involve a huge amount of your time and effort.  Actually, it doesn’t take much more than a bit of pride in the old hometown.  Three things will make all the difference:

     One, please clean up after your dogs.  Anything less is inexcusable.

     Two, sweep the area in front of your home or business a couple of times a week.

     Three, give Ed Oliver/Bohld a call and become a County Mountie.

You’ll be pleased at the improvement.