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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

Craig Gilliland, Scioto County Health Coalition Community Initiatives Subcommittee Chairman, said the “Reclaim 2013” project has had a successful start. A large number of companies and organizations have already become involved in the program designed to allow sponsoring groups to claim a designated area of the county and improve it.

Gilliland said, so far, 400 bags of trash have been collected with 360 hours put in to that collection effort.

“A limited number of T-shirts were made up and distributed to most of the participants thanks to SOMC’s sponsorship,” Gilliland said. “Larry Moore’s designed the shirt and additional ones can be purchased there should anyone desire to do so.”

The official T-shirt says “RECLAIM 2013” at the top with a shovel, paint brush, hammer forming a cross with a trash can lid propped up against it and “Putting Mission into Action” below the design. The sponsors and the participants that became involved before March 25 are listed on the back.

“The shovel, paint brush and hammer represent the next level we would like to take community service to with painting of houses, outward repairs or yard work for those houses on our gateways or other areas,” Gilliland said. “The ‘application process’ and a listing of projects we hope to have under way by summer are on the website.”

Gilliland said Tim Horton’s supplied morning refreshments on Thursday’s (March 28) registration at the Friends Community Center.

“Several have commented favorably about their participation, appearance and desire to make this a semi-annual event instead of just annual,” Gilliland said. “All of (Route) 23 from Rosemount Overpass to the U.S. Grant Bridge was covered, as well as (Route) 52 from the 52/104 interchange to Walmart. In addition, the hill on Rosemount Road, Tracy Park, around PHS’s new sports complex and several other side streets of Portsmouth have been covered as well. I would like to give out a big thank you to all that participated in improving our area. So much was accomplished in such a quick amount of time to pull this first annual event off. This will get bigger and better next time and each time thereafter.”

Those participating in the “Reclaim 2013” project include: CAO, City of Portsmouth, Chamber of Commerce, Clay Students, Compass Point Housing,Covert’s Furniture,Genesis Respiratory,Glockner Automotive, Interim Healthcare, KDMCO, Kiwanis of Portsmouth, Lute Supply, Main Street Portsmouth, Notre Dame Honor Students, Ohio Valley Tea Party, OSCO, Phi Mu Delta (Mu Rho Colony) – SSU Fraternity, PHS Students, Portsmouth Vision Center, Portsmouth Visitors & Convention Bureau, Rotary Club of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Seventh-day Adventist Church, Scioto Foundation, SSU Sociology Club, SOMC, South Portsmouth Church of God, Upward Bound, Village of New Boston, Wal-mart, Portsmouth West Students.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Frank on Twitter @FrankLewisPDT.