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Volunteers prepare to make Turlock shine
turlock shines pic1
Members of the PMZ real estate team clean up the Broadway Water Park in October 2010 as part of the Turlock Shines community event. Pictured from left to right: Debbi Agresti, Laith Warda and Gloria Velasquez. - photo by Journal file photo

 

Spring cleaning is coming early in Turlock this year as service clubs get ready for Turlock Shines on Saturday. The fall clean-up event is held annually by service clubs and area volunteers who clean up highways, parks and other public spaces in Turlock. This year event coordinators hope to help clean up homes and private property for anyone who needs the help.

“Generally, we do this because we really need to make a good first impression when people visit,” said event organizer and Turlock City Council member Mary Jackson.

Groups have volunteered to clean up most of the highway on-ramps and off-ramps in town. Jackson said that these are the first places people see when they drive into Turlock and they make visitors’ first impressions of Turlock. Groups are also cleaning up Donnelly Park and the areas near Pitman and Turlock high schools, along with several medians and other public areas in town.

Jackson said this year the event is really looking for people who need help with yard work or sprucing up the outside of their home. Senior residents, people who recently had surgery, or any residents who are not physically able to do the maintenance themselves are invited to contact Turlock Shines for help.

“We have cleaned up homes in the past and it really helps people out and they are very appreciative,” Jackson said.

Volunteers will meet at Donnelly Park, area “M” near the wooden play area at 8 a.m. on Saturday for a light breakfast and send-off.  The teams will work on various projects around the city, including re-staining the wooden play park at Donnelly Park, cleaning water features at Broadway and Columbia parks, and cleaning the on-and-off-ramps along Highway 99 in Turlock.

“Come one, come all, we have plenty of places for people to clean,” Jackson said.

Groups and individuals can volunteer to help clean up Turlock by picking up an application on the second floor of City Hall. Teams can also contact Mary Jackson at Mary4Turlock@sbcglobal.net. Anyone who is interested in having Turlock Shines volunteers do yard work at their home can call Jackson at 585-7372.

To contact Andrea Goodwin, e-mail agoodwin@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2003.