Group hopes to ERASE blight

By Tom Fontaine
Herald Staff Writer

Local officials, clergy and citizens gathered Monday to hash out a plan to clean up a Farrell neighborhood.

The first goal of ERASE is to clean up an area around Fruit and Hamilton avenues and Idaho and Union streets. The work is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18.

The Mercer County Housing Authority is also going to help, said the Rev. Ralph T. Newell, pastor of Jesus’ Church — Faith Christian Center Ministries in Farrell.

ERASE, or Endorse Resistance of All Substance Abuse Everywhere, formed in October as an anti-drug coalition with a mission of advocating safe and healthy communities and promoting public policy that will work to erase substance abuse.

Beginning Monday before the cleanup, coalition members are going to go door to door throughout the neighborhoods and inform residents of what’s going to happen the day of the cleanup, Rev. Newell said.

He said he would like to have the city solicitor draw up a release form giving the group permission to clean up the properties of people who aren’t going to be home. When the group goes door to door, they will have the residents sign it, he said.

Residents who want to help with the cleanup are also urged to participate. Everyone at the meeting was given a neighborhood survey asking if they could help on the cleanup day and if they have tools.

Rev. Newell said they have to check with Gibbs Hauling Service to find out what kind of debris they haul. Glass and paper items as well as grass and leaf clippings and small limbs can probably be hauled away. Items such as tires, metal, toxic chemicals, appliances and furniture won’t be accepted.

In addition to the May 18 cleanup, the group is planning to plant flowers with the Girl Scouts June 2. In the future, ERASE is also hoping to get further involvement to develop a community security network, neighborhood sports teams, parent supervision on playground areas and keep porch lights on until a certain hour of the evening.

ERASE was started with a $10,000 grant from Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission. Farrell is the first target area for the project, and the group will then move into other areas of the Shenango Valley.

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