Vasona Park, Los Gatos Creek Get a Cleaning!

As part of the 28th annual National River Cleanup Day Saturday May 18, 40 local volunteers helped rid beautiful Vasona Lake, Los Gatos Creek and Oak Meadow Park of trash.

Armed with pick-up sticks, gloves, garbage bags, buckets and a can-do attitude, participants collected the high volume of cigarette butts, wrappers, bags, fishing items, etc. that pollute the areas due to inconsiderate visitors.

The cleanup effort was one of more than 40 similar ones held throughout the area, from Gilroy to Palo Alto, to help keep local creeks, lakes, streams and rivers healthy and beautiful.

Coordinating the local effort was West Valley Green Leaf Committee member Dave Lane, a Los Gatos resident.

Lane contributed the photos attached to this post and said at least nine schools were represented: Dartmouth Middle, Ida Price Middle, Leigh High, Moreland Middle, Oster Elementary, Pasitos Pre, St. Leo the Great Elementary, Stratford Elementary and Westmont High schools.

Lane said there were also volunteers from Pier 1 Imports, Cupertino, Santa Clara Valley Water District Director Brian Schmidt and Norma Camacho, chief operating officer for Watersheds; The Body Shop, Oakridge Mall in San Jose, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos, including Rev. Lisa Wiggins and Whole Foods Campbell. 

Whole Foods Campbell, 1690 S. Bascom Ave. at Hamilton Avenue, once again provided healthy fruit snacks for volunteers. 

Lane thanked Whole Foods employees Lindsey Rabbitt and Nicole Tarlton for arriving early to set up the food and also volunteering with the rest of the workers.

Those who missed out on Saturday's cleanup effort, have another opportunity to lend a helping hand during the upcoming 26th annual California Coastal/Inland Cleanup Day, 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Sept. 21.