Publications & Sites 
Lake Forest needs to be cleaned up, part two
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:11AM
Following in the footsteps (literally) of Nancy Voorhees and her personal pilgrimage to keep West Deerpath clean, I am also fed up with the trash and have adopted my own 3 ½ mile space as well.
I chose to “Adopt my Block” and since the beginning of June, on a tow-four times a week basis, I too take my three Sunset garbage bags and set out on South Ridge Road, from midway between Westleigh and Everett, on my one-hour exercise/community walk. “My block” is bordered by Westleigh on the north, Everett on the South, and Ridge on the east and Waukegan on the west.
My collection of “goodies” mirrors Nancy’s but, in addition, I have a very steady (daily) collection of plastic water bottles filled with “chew spit” (which appear primarily on Ridge and Everett), beer bottles and cans and the occasional items to which I can only respond “you can’t be serious”….two florescent three-foot tube lights. The trash that is simply deposited onto our streets and yards is AN EMBARRASSEMENT to us all! But I have also been rewarded – twice I have found $1 bills as well.
I never realized it, but the amount of garbage is also truly amazing! I fill three-four bags by the time I get to Sunset, I dump the bags, wash my hands and pick up three new bags which unfortunately are filled by the time I return home to my home on Ridge…..and I can do this every other day! Is it kids, is it lawn service, is it adults or is it all by accident? Yes to all but without the leadership of someone like Nancy taking pride in her community our village and taking an action, the first impression of our village that visitors will have will not be good!
So talk to your kids and those that pass through on our streets and then show them by example. If you are out for a walk, take a Sunset bag (or two)! The walk is healthy, bending over and stretching is good exercise, the roadside will be more pristine and it will make you feel good that you are “doing your part” to support your street in your community.
See you on the road!
Tom Anderson, Lake Forest~
