Brookhaven Town is already starting to look a lot more polished as residents gear up for the annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup, scheduled for May 17.
Despite rain delays that pushed early efforts back three times, dozens of dedicated volunteers and local officials turned over the weekend to clean up Middle Country Road from Coram to Ridge, officially kicking off the town-wide beautification effort.
Dubbed “Take Back 25,” the community-led event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd determined to make a difference. Volunteers from civic organizations, scout troops, local businesses, and emergency services fanned out along the busy roadway, bagging litter and clearing debris.
“Over the next three weeks, our Parks, Waste Management, and Highway crews will be out every Saturday working across all six council districts,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico. “Thank you to everyone who helped make this cleanup a success.”
“It was great to see so many people chipping in to keep their neighborhood clean,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “Hats off to Supervisor Panico and the Town Board for supporting this great effort.”
Organized in part by Gail Lynch-Bailey, president of the Middle Island Civic Association, the Take Back 25 cleanup was a genuine team effort. Volunteers from the Coram Civic Association, local Boy and Girl Scout troops, Suffolk County Police, and area fire and ambulance companies pitched in. Brookhaven Town’s sanitation crews provided support, hauling away mountains of collected trash.
“Our goal is to maintain a clean, presentable, and safe community,” said resident Rosalie Hanson. “With the help of everyone, we are certainly succeeding.”