Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) this week invited community volunteers to help local organizations clean up the Conestoga River and Lancaster Cemetery from 8:30 a.m. to noon September 9, which is also the United Way Day of Caring.

“I encourage everyone to take part in the United Way Day of Caring by helping us clean the Conestoga River or the Lancaster Cemetery,” Rep. Sturla said.

River cleanup volunteers will meet in Pavilion Three in the Lancaster County Central Park, off of Chesapeake and Strawberry streets. Volunteers will pick up trash along the stream banks and remove debris from the waterway. Helpers must bring their own work gloves. Sturla is co-sponsoring his traditional cleanup with the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.

The Lancaster Cemetery was established in 1845 and is located at the corner of Lemon and Lime streets. The remains of many distinguished Lancaster citizens are buried here, including statesmen, soldiers, educators, religious leaders, musicians and community benefactors.

Lancaster General Hospital will partner with Rep. Sturla by having its employees paint the iron fence that surrounds the cemetery and also by helping move headstones back that have been vandalized. Home Depot will supply the needed materials.

A thank you lunch for both cleanups will be provided by the United Way of Lancaster at the McCaskey East High School cafeteria.

To sign up for either cleanup, contact Pat Coller in Sturla’s district office at 717-295-3157 or pcoller@pahouse.net .

8/18/2006