A lot of beautiful things get cast up out of the ground in the spring. When April showers permit, a walk along almost any road or highway will lead past banks of daffodils and jonquils, emerging tulips, and a full catalogue of borders in bloom. Even homely weeds put forth a valiant effort to beatify their particular patch of hardpan with a flower or two. But there in the greening grass beyond the gutter lies a bumper crop of litter — cigarette packs, bottles, cans, wrappers, and every other kind of cast off that can be conveniently ejected from a car window. In some areas of town where the littering crosses the line into illegal dumping, there are refrigerators, car parts, and full garbage bags among the flora.

Because this particular crop is so unsightly, the Newtown Lions Club is once again moving harvest time to spring in its annual “Lose the Litter Day,” scheduled this year for Sunday, April 30. The Lions will be at Newtown Middle School on that date from 9 am to 1 pm, distributing bags and gloves to volunteers who wish to clean up their neighborhoods or streets. The clean-up itself need not be done during those hours – anytime Sunday or Monday is okay. The collected trash may be dropped off in designated areas at the Botsford, Hook & Ladder, Dodgingtown, and Sandy Hook firehouses. The Newtown Highway Department will haul the trash away. The rain date is May 7.

So we urge everyone to get out for a walk on Sunday or Monday, and take along a garbage bag. Weed out the trash along our roadsides and give all the flowers room to grow.