Halloween Clean-Up
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A permit to help clean up the cemetery has been issued for Saturday, October 31st 2009 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. At this point in time the permit has been issued for a clean-up that will consist of trash removal. There is, however, the possibility that volunteers will have a chance to continue where the Cook County Sheriff’s S.W.A.P. team left off this past week with the removal of weeds and trees from within the cemetery.
At the moment, the main areas of attention will be the cemetery itself and the main path leading to the cemetery. To help mark this special event, with weather permitting, volunteers will be shown the foundations of the old homes west of the cemetery and help remove trash from the paths along the way.
All volunteers will be meeting inside the cemetery and due to the nature of the date chosen please locate a coordinator upon your arrival. Many of the visitors to the area may not be attending the cemetery for a clean-up so it will be a little difficult to spot new volunteers. You will be able to locate a coordinator by looking for their ID Tag hanging from their neck, or you can simply ask another volunteer for assistance. Spotting a volunteer should be as easy as looking for someone carrying a garbage bag. A coordinator will also be utilising a FRS radio to help keep in contact with volunteers so if you happen to own one please bring it with you and tune it to channel 13.
Last month police officers with S.W.A.P. had a discussion with the GRP about their past efforts with helping to maintain the cemetery and its surrounding area. They expressed their concerns with the upkeep of the cemetery and decided to lend a helping hand this year. The area is certainly looking much better with the removal of particular invasive species of plants and trees, along with general trimming of the grounds. There have been past efforts by S.W.A.P. roughly ten years ago and we look forward to more of their assistance in the future! Good work everyone!
The remaining piles of brush that were cut up and left behind by S.W.A.P. still need to be collected and disposed of. The GRP is currently waiting for possible preliminary approval by the Forest Preserve District to perform a brushpile burn to properly dispose of the material before the end of the year. A certified Master Steward from the Bachelors Grove Prairie team will lend assistance to the burn if such approval is granted. Even if such approval is not immediately granted we may still get partial approval on the 31st to gather up all of the material and place it in one large pile.
Before any other work can be approved, officials from the Forest Preserve District need to perform a on-site inspection of the area. It is also possible that you will see employees of the Forest Preserve District attending the October 31st event. As always, we will keep you updated as more information becomes available and we look forward to seeing you all on the 31st for your special Halloween event!
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