The idea was started almost four years ago when businesses wanted to clean up the turnpike area but also invest in Elmont's youth by teaching them how to run a business and provide a service. Elmont Chamber of Commerce President Chris Rosado says the idea "really has grown into a program that has had a significant impact in the business corridors, and teaches our young people how to run a service business by providing a service."
Alfano agreed with Rosado and added "the Chamber, GYO and I wanted a program that made a difference in Elmont and also fostered our young people into thinking about running a business and taking a leadership position."
Clean Sweep Co-Op is a first of a kind program in Nassau County which blends business, youth outreach and state government in an effort to enhance quality of life. Elmont is the very first community to have reaped the benefits of such an effort. Its an effort that has received great reviews from business and community alike.
This year's version of "Clean Sweep" added a new dimension to the program. Specifically, in addition to the ongoing maintenance component of the program, the chamber, GYO and Alfano identified two locations on opposite ends of Elmont to be xeriscaped.
Xeriscape is an innovative type of low maintenance drought resistance landscaping. In conjunction with a master gardener from Cornell Cooperative Extension, the team from Clean Sweep cleared weeds and debris from the chosen sites, chemically analyzed the soils and adjusted it accordingly and created an appropriate landscape design.
This new branch of the program has been a major addition to the clean sweep program, according to Rosado, "xeriscaping has brought a whole new dimension to clean sweep and has created two beautiful sites on the Turnpike by our Welcome to Elmont signs."
Alfano noted that the xeriscaping is a great addition to the program, saying, "the landscaping job the students did was terrific. The plants are growing and will be there for years to come because of their special efforts."
The xeriscaping part of the program has proven to be a significant improvement insomuch as it has added a creativity and management component to "Clean Sweep."
Moreover, the students worked directly with the Cornell Master Gardeners to create an aesthetically pleasing planting area. GYO Director Pat Boyle noted that the permanence of the landscaping gave the students a visible and lasting sense of accomplishment from their efforts. "The project is going to be here for years to come. When the students drive up the turnpike or walk past the welcome signs they can point to the landscaping and say 'I helped make this part of Elmont a better place.'"
Alfano says the program is such a success that other communities are looking to do it as well. West Hempstead will be starting the program next year through a grant Alfano was able to channel to the West Hempstead Civic Association. "The Elmont Chamber and GYO were able to develop this program into a real model of community and government partnership," said Alfano adding, "I'm really proud of the work they continue to do for the west-end community."
Pictured: GYO Director Pat Boyle, Sister Evelyn Lamorieux, Assemblyman Tom Alfano and Clean Sweepers: Tiffany Greenidge, Brandon Assoon, Marvin Balmir, Richard Balmir, Chris Reid, Kurtis Ranselle, and Annarese Hall gather in front of one of the Xeriscape Plantings at the "Welcome to Elmont" sign on Hempstead Turnpike.
