Directors Kevin Zingler and Dave Sheridan joined other volunteers, led by the tireless Doug Smith, the unofficial "river keeper" for the Hockanum River, for the annual Union Pond clean-up. Over the course of a three-hour effort, the volunteers fished about a dozen bags of trash from the banks of the pond, as well as bicycles, old tires, children's toys, a lawnmower, and a town trash receptacle. Firefighters from the Eighth Utilities District brought their rescue boat to the pond and hauled the bags of trash back to the boat launch, where Town crews hauled it off for disposal.Director Sheridan remarked "Union Pond is certainly a natural treasure, but the real treasure is these volunteers, who give so much time and energy to keeping this Pond, and the entire Hockanum River Linear Park, clean and beautiful for all of us. Once a year Kevin and I come down and pitch in for a few hours, but they are out here year round. It's a pleasure to work alongside them, they love this river so much."
Director Zingler agreed. "Without Doug Smith and his volunteers, Union Pond is a different place. It's a shame people don't respect the pond and throw all this junk into the water. Maybe someday that will change. But until it does, everyone in Manchester owes a tremendous debt to these volunteers."
Organizer Doug Smith commented that this is the fourth year that the cleanup has occurred and "every year it gets a little better, every year the Pond seems to be a bit cleaner." One of the volunteers remarked that it's great that the clean-up occurs in the fall because that's when the Pond is at its best. "In a week or two all these leaves will turn and this will be the most beautiful place in Town, a half-mile from Buckland Hills Mall. That's something we should always preserve. I hope this Pond is here - just like this - a hundred years from now."
