Verandah holds earth day cleanup

COURTESY PHOTO Residents and employees of Verandah recognized Earth Day by cleaning up the Orange River Residents and employees of Verandah took to the water April 20, scouring the banks of the Orange River for litter and cleaning up around the 1,456-acre community's numerous lakes. The annual cleanup, conducted in celebration of Earth Day and now in its fourth year, focused on the Fort Myers community's waterways - its 1.75-mile frontage along the Orange River and the lakes that are woven into the Old Orange and Whispering Oak golf courses.

Kym Mathe, Membership Director for Verandah Club, said about 20 volunteers participated in the cleanup, which netted nearly 100 pounds of litter, along with debris such as tires, cans, Christmas trees and construction debris. "Our residents really take pride in their community," said Mathe. "And as more people move into Verandah each year, our annual Earth Day effort continues to attract more resident volunteers."

As with past Earth Day cleanups, crews used Verandah's kayaks and canoes and launched from the community's River Village. After the cleanup, they were treated to a cookout at Blossom's Community Grill.

"This annual cleanup has really become a symbol of Verandah and Bonita Bay Group's ongoing commitment to the environment," said Mitch Hutchcraft, regional vice president of Bonita Bay Group, which is developing Verandah. "Verandah was the first green-certified land development in Florida, and we take that designation very seriously."