Newton Citizen

CONYERS - It's just about that time again for the annual Rivers Alive cleanup in Rockdale.

Rivers Alive, sponsored by Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful, will be held Saturday. Holly Lafontaine, deputy director of public affairs and media relations with Rockdale County, also serves as the staff liaison with Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful. She said the day will begin when volunteers arrive at the pavilion located at 1400 Parker Road at 7:30 a.m. to pick up their supplies - trash bags, safety vests and safety gloves.

She said groups can select locations they want to clean up or KCRB organizers will suggest areas that need the most attention, such as the county's reservoir, the Yellow River and various places around Olde Town.

Volunteers will return to Parker Road at noon, where they can pick up their complimentary T-shirts and stay for an appreciation luncheon.

Lafontaine said more than 100 residents volunteered last year, braving rainy weather to clean up litter from roadsides and streams, and the organization is looking for as many - or more - volunteers this year.

"This is a joint cleanup effort between the county and the city through KCRB," she said.

Lafontaine said Rivers Alive is a great opportunity for Scout groups, church organizations and high school students who want to show their involvement with community service projects on their college applications.

Rivers Alive was first organized in 1992 by the state Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. The event is held annually each October and is sponsored by the state's Environmental Protection Division's Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Department of Community Affairs' Keep Georgia Beautiful.

To learn more about the local Rivers Alive cleanup, call Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful at 770-929-4076 or e-mail kcrb@rockalecounty.org. See also www.keepgeorgiabeautiful.org.

Aimee Jones can be reached at aimee.jones@rockdalecitizen.com.