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NARROWSBURG – Nearly 525 volunteers cleaned up roadsides, riverbanks, and public spaces in communities surrounding the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River during the 6th Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep.

Pick-ups were organized in all 13 of the Upper Delaware Council’s (UDC) member municipalities, ranging from single individuals and couples to large groups, primarily during April to recognize Earth Month.

The UDC provided fluorescent t-shirts with original artwork and a “Keeping Our Country Beautiful: 250 Yrs.” slogan by Jeff George Design and Salvage, as well as trash bags, pickers, gloves, and safety equipment.

Printed by Platform Industries of Honesdale, PA, the team shirts sported the logos of 2026 media sponsor WJFF Radio Catskill 90.5 FM on the sleeve and the UDC Land-Water-People on the back.

Made possible entirely through contributions, the UDC raised $3,570.51 to add to its $2,544.01 in seed money from the 2025 Litter Sweep. Expenses were $4,093.01, leaving a balance of $2,031.51 heading into next year.

Sullivan County Legislature Chairperson and Town of Lumberland UDC Representative Nadia Rajsz allocated $2,000 of her County District 2 discretionary funds to support the cause.

Donations were gratefully received from the Delaware River Basin Commission ($500); Upper Delaware Scenic Byway ($500); Grace Church, Callicoon, NY ($100); Aaron Ingram, Narrowsburg, NY ($97.01); Connie Lloyd, Beach Lake, PA ($75); The Cooperage Project Pop-Up Club, Honesdale, PA ($50); Robert H. Yurich, Andes, NY ($50); JoAnne Merritt, Tyler Hill, PA ($48.50); and anonymous ($30). The online auction for the framed, signed heron artwork by Jeff George netted a $120 contribution from Chris Hunt of Lackawaxen, PA.

Litter Leaders who rounded up crews of helpers and occasionally donations of services or food for their clean-ups were:

Hancock – Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc.

Fremont – Roscoe Family Outdoor Club

Delaware – Tess McBeath; and UDC Executive Director Laurie Ramie

Cochecton – UDC Representative Larry H. Richardson

Tusten – Narrowsburg Beautification Group

Highland – UDC Representative Christine Martin and Cathy Daboul

Lumberland – UDC Alternate Frank Guzmán; and the Homestead School

Deerpark – National Park Service (NPS) Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Ranger Susie Kaspar with Boy Scout Pack 1071; UDC Representative and Alternate Ginny & Bill Dudko; and the Sparrowbush Engine Co.

Damascus – UDC Town of Tusten Alternate Evan Padua; and Teresa Kehagias and the Wayne County Horse Lovers 4-H Club

Berlin – UDC Representative Al Henry

Lackawaxen – NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Community Volunteer Ambassador Sophia McKinstry (with volunteer crews also sent to River Road in Beach Lake, PA; Crawford Road in Tusten, NY, and the Towpath Trail in Minisink Ford, NY)

Shohola – Homeschool Group coordinated by Ashley Briggs; and UDC Representative Aaron Robinson and Juli Fuhse

Westfall – Junior Ranger Johnny Montana and mom Bethany Montana; Patricia Russell and Jim Day

Outside the river corridor – The Cooperage Project Pop-up Afterschool Club, Honesdale and Hawley clean-ups along the Lackawaxen River

Visit the UDC’s Facebook and Instagram pages for a multitude of photos from the 6th Annual Upper Delaware Litter Sweep. For more information on the Council and its activities, visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.