On Saturday, April 29th, Scituate will be celebrating its 50th Annual Ship Shape Day. The Scituation had the pleasure of sitting down with Chairperson of the Scituate Beautification Committee, Donna Bangert, to learn more about this historic day.

Started by the Beautification Committee in 1967, Ship Shape Day was primarily meant to help clear Scituate roads of sand, which was used to clear the roads of ice before the use of salt, to get the town ready for spring. Volunteers were required to supply their own trash bags, and were given one day for cleanup. While the day’s spring cleaning intentions remain the same according to Bangert, Ship Shape Day has changed to maximize volunteers’ efforts.

Ship Shape Day volunteers can now receive free pick-up materials: recycling bags, trash bags, and plastic gloves will be distributed between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Scituate Town Hall. Volunteers can even rent trash grabbers for $15 or reflective gear for late night collections. No longer a one-day event, volunteers can now pick up trash to be collected any time before the following Monday. Volunteers can form teams and choose their own routes or get route recommendations from Beautification Committee members. Scituate High School students can even get up to three community service hours for their participation in the event.

Since her involvement in 2008, Bangert has noticed a steady growth in participation, especially amongst families. Last year around 400 to 500 people mobilized to clean up yards, streets, beaches and more. This year Bangert is excited to see what Ship Shape Day’s 50th anniversary will bring. She encourages people of all ages to get out for a celebratory day for not only the town of Scituate but the environment and the progress we are able to make as a community.

Town Administrator Patricia A. Vinchesi echoed this sentiment, telling The Scituation “Ship Shape Day provides so many benefits to our community. It raises awareness about our environment and being good stewards of our land, it promotes community by bringing people together in a fun and constructive way, and it makes a visible and positive impact showcasing the beauty of our town.” More information on the event can be found on Ship Shape Day’s website, http://www.shipshapeday.info/Shipshape_Day/Welcome.html.

In conjunction with this year’s Ship Shape Day, there will also be a poster contest open to students in grades 9-12. Bangert said, “The posters should highlight one or more of the issues that Ship Shape Day addresses: litter, recycling, pollution, and/or acknowledge the contribution of the volunteers who have supported Ship Shape Day for 50 years.”

Posters should be two-dimensional, in any medium, with your name and email address on the reverse. They should be turned in at the high school main office by noon on Thursday, April 13th.

Cash prizes will be awarded to first ($50), second ($30), and third ($20) place winners.  Community Service (CS) credit can be requested by any entrant.  (CS credit will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. To request CS credit, attach a note to the contest entry, including an email address.) The winning posters will be displayed at Town Hall.

Bangert would also like people to know that “the Beautification Commission will be offering coffee, donuts, and lemonade beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Town Hall. When they pick up their supplies, volunteers will also receive a wristband entitling them to ice cream from Nona’s ice cream truck, which will be at Town Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.”