My family and I moved to East Middlebury in 1965. Three more siblings were born there. We lived around Middlebury, Salisbury, and Leicester until 1974. For some reason those nine years in Vermont simply won’t leave me. I think about Vermont in some way pretty much every day.
One of my most vivid memories is participating in the very first Green Up Day in 1970. I remember being very excited to be joining several others from the Salisbury community to “green up” the area. I’ll never forget finding a $1 bill on the side of the road. I thought I was the richest kid on the planet.
When I saw the article about the poster and writing contest in the Addison Independent I just had to click and read. I saw the link to your website and of course I had to check it out. I wanted to call and tell you what an impact that experience had on me.
Two things. First, the power, and fun, of community working together. Anything can be accomplished. Second, the very important civic responsibility of volunteering for efforts that benefit the common good and are bigger than yourself.
Those things have stuck with me and influenced my life all these years. It amazes me that as an 11 year old punk I was able to figure that out. The point is, Green Up Day is way more than just picking up trash and keeping Vermont the beautiful place it is. It impacts lives.
Jeff Nicklas
Richmond, Va.