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On the River: River cleanup is on Saturday

Aspen Times writer

If you want to give something back to the Roaring Fork Valley’s namesake river, Saturday is a golden opportunity.Trout Unlimited’s Ferdinand Hayden Chapter is organzing a massive river-cleanup day, with workers based in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs.Volunteers will be sent out in teams with trash bags to collect garbage along the Roaring Fork River. Some teams will clean more than one area on the river.Organizers do not encourage folks to get in the river unless they are seasoned waders and come equipped, according to Paula Fothergill, event co-chair. She urged participants to dress appropriately for a morning outdoors. Participants must supply their own gloves, raincoat, drinking water, bug repellant and sunscreen.”This is a family event and we recognize our youngest helpers for their efforts,” Fothergill said in a prepared statement.Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. In Aspen, participants should register at the Aspen Art Museum parking lot; in Basalt, go to Lions Park next to the library; in Carbondale registration is at the Smiling Moose deli parking lot; and in Glenwood Springs participants will gather at Two Rivers Park.Crews wil leave their cleanup sites at 11:30 a.m. to gather at Arbaney Park in Basalt for a volunteer appreciation barbeque. Lunch wil be served at noon and awards will be given in a “best of trash” contest. Categories include “most toxic” and “most useful.” Winners will receive prizes. All volunteers will receive a 2006 River Cleanup canvas bag.