Downtown Cleanup Day Brings Out Kids And Adults With A Mission

Over 100 volunteers of all ages gathered last Saturday morning to grab brooms, gloves, rakes, power washers and saws and descend on downtown Martinez to make the place shine. 

The annual downtown cleanup effort is organized by Barbara Kapsalis, who musters a cadre of politicians, students, parents and even a homeless man to put their muscles to good use. Parking lots and grassy medians are swept and mowed, litter is removed, the brick sidewalks are given a good going over with power washers, and weeds are knocked down. 

In the end, caterer Marty O and his crew serve the workers a delicious lunch, and there are rows of garbage and recycling cans ready to be picked up and hauled away. The students get credit for community service, the adults get the satisfaction of serving their community, and everyone gets a delicious tri-tip sandwich.

Meanwhile, the downtown shows off its new-found luster to residents, workers and newcomers.