To the Editor:

In response to the many articles and opinion letters surrounding the topic of trash, litter, and roadkill, etc. I would like to thank the numerous volunteers - Rita Laboulier, Dick Wheeler, and Mary Bruce, to name a few - on behalf of the Onset/Wareham's Clean Streets, Parks and Beaches Campaign. I'd also like to thank Town Administrator Mark Andrews for his ongoing commitment to these issues.

It would appear our work is done. The conversation has started, the wheels are turning in a forward direction, and positive changes are being made.

On the contrary, however, this is just the beginning. The years of picking up and photographing trash and litter are hopefully behind us and the future of our community and how clean we choose to keep it is in our hands.

We need to adopt a tribe mentality and live and work in a community able to sustain our lifestyle and systematically absorb the influx of the population of visitors with the knowledge of how this directly impacts our local economy.

To echo Selectman Ellen Begley's comment during the October 18 presentation to the Board of Selectmen, "We are all individually responsible."

With this are many other unanswered questions. This is why we hope for the formation of Onset/Wareham's first ever Clean Streets, Parks and Beaches Committee, comprised of Department Heads and volunteers. The committee would include, first and foremost, an outspoken and active leader in this campaign: the Director of Municipal Maintenance, whose voice to-date has been silent.

Though the Harbormaster has been appointed by the Town Administrator as the new "Trash Guru," where is the leadership from Municipal Maintenance? Where is his outrage at the presentation? Any present and/or future director of Municipal Maintenance knows that these issues fall clearly on their desk.

Though welcomed, needed, and very appreciated, the Harbormaster's involvement and passion on this topic should only be in addition to and complimentary of an efficient Municipal Maintenance department, which we all know needs all the help they can get.

In regards to my comment at the October 17 CEDA meeting that "monies spent [on improving Main Street] would be unnecessary because the town has the inability to maintain what they already have," I stand by my statement. I use these comparisons: When the lawn grows too long in our yards, do we mow it, or rip it out and resod? When the laundry's dirty, do we wash the clothes or run out and buy more? When the carpet's soiled, do we vacuum and clean it or do we rip it out and buy new carpet?

With that said, we welcome any and all improvements made to this wonderful seaside community. It is our hope that the town steps up to its responsibilities and works together with its residents to help maintain what we have, old and new. That's all we ever wanted.

Let's keep this going so that future generations can continue to enjoy the hidden gem that is Onset/Wareham.

Anyone interested in a copy of the slideshow that was presented to the Board of Selectmen on October 18 and/or interested in joining the campaign, please feel free to e-mail tesnohouse@hotmail.com.

Sincerely,

David S. Willis
Onset