The Crusader Newspaper Group

1,000 volunteers participate in 2017 Blight Buster Day

By Carmen M. Woodson-Wray, Gary Crusader

For the past three years the mayor’s office has had over 1,000 volunteers during “Building Blocks” Blight Buster Day. The annual cleanup occurred Saturday, May 6, and covered Broadway from 3rd to 53rd Avenue. The initiative targets debris removal, grass cutting on vacant lots, public safety, board up and demolition.

LaShawn Brooks, Director of Constituent Services gave birth to the program. She said, “It was an opportunity to bring citizens together at one time to focus on main and heavily used streets that needed high weeds cut down, tree trimming, and boarding up of abandoned property. If funding is available, property is also torn down.”

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WHO KNEW MAYOR Freeman-Wilson had heavy construction equipment operator skills? The mayor followed instructions as a
“real” equipment operator showed her how it’s done.

The city’s Department of Green Urbanism, Storm Water Management and Recycling, partnered with Lake Michigan District’s Household Hazardous Waste program and the Lake County Solid Waste Management District to host Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Green Awareness Day in the city of Gary.

Household Hazardous Waste collection was available that day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 455 Massachusetts Street in the Hudson-Campbell parking lots.

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CARING RESIDENTS KEEP Gary looking well cared for. Gary residents came out in force on the first Saturday in May to take part in the city’s annual spring cleanup.

Residents and community groups volunteered to assist with the city’s cleanup efforts. Community groups collected old tires, computers, cell phones and other electronics for proper disposal. For more information about next year’s HHW/Green Day, contact the Gary Department of Green Urbanism at (219) 882-3000.

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