CAPE CLEANUP NEXT WEEK

Cape Girardeau takes spring cleaning a step beyond the usual curtain washing and floor scrubbing: The entire city has the chance to put on a fresh face.

Mayor Al Spradling III will declare April 15-19 Help Cape Shine Week, to be capped off with Friends of the Park Day April 20.

The annual drive encourages residents to pick up litter, pull weeds, mow lawns and paint homes. It is an opportunity for everyone to take pride in the community, organizers said, but the benefits go far beyond a few nice flowers.

John Mehner, Chamber of Commerce director, quoted the old adage, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Part of his job is to help business owners get a good, first impression when they consider moving to Cape Girardeau.

"When you bring prospects into town, you don't want to have to worry about the route you drive," Mehner said. "If people all over the city clean up, you don't have to worry about it."

He said the neighborhood in which a citizen lives or the size of his home isn't a factor; everyone can take pride in the community.

During the special week, Vision 2000, a group interested in improving the quality of life in Cape Girardeau, will oversee the placement of signs reading "Take Pride in Cape Girardeau" and "Help Keep Cape Clean."

Councilman Melvin Gately, a Vision 2000 promoter, said the signs were designed to remind people to pick up litter and think about ways to improve their surroundings.

"I don't know if we have a litter problem any more than any other city, but we have a challenge to pick it up every day," Gateley said. "It takes every citizen to do his part for a cleaner city."

Vision 2000 is asking people to make a declaration of commitment -- a six-part statement pertaining to upkeep of homes, schools, businesses, lawns and sidewalks -- to keeping the city clean.

City government will do its part during Help Cape Shine Week by providing special trash pickups. All trash must be on residents' curbs by 6 a.m. on their normal trash collection days. Workers will pick up yard waste and appliances, which normally aren't accepted.

No hazardous waste regulated by state law will be picked up, and doors should be removed from all appliances to keep children from climbing inside.

At the end of the special week, individuals, organizations and businesses will help with the 11th annual Friends of the Park Day, which attracts around 450 volunteers each year.

They will gather at 9 a.m. at Capaha Park and then receive assignments all over the city. Even in years when Friends of the Park Day has been cold or rainy, hundreds have helped with special projects.

"People have an interest in the parks," Penny Blandford, recreation supervisor, said. "They use them all year long, so if they can pick up trash for two hours one day, they are happy to do it."

That willingness to serve sets Cape Girardeau apart, Blandford said.

Adelle Kupchella, chairperson of the Chamber Beautification Committee, agreed: "I have been to many cities, and I have never seen a city organized like this one. So many people come out to make Cape Girardeau beautiful."