By SASHA JOHNS / Community Columnist

The Columbiana Beautification Board is preparing for its yearly Clean Up Day.

Each year they ask for citizen volunteers from local businesses and organizations to show up and prepare the town for Liberty Day at the end of June.

Clean Up Day is a tradition that goes back to 1989 when Fred Major, just 14 years old at the time, started Clean Up Day as his Eagle project for Boy Scouts.

The Beautification Board, which first came together two years before in 1987, took it on after that, and it has been a yearly tradition now for 30 years.
“We are very proud and humbled that Fred’s Eagle Scout Project was embraced by the citizens of Columbiana, and that it has continued for 30 years,” said Major’s mother, Linda, who still lives in Columbiana. “It is a testimony to how much we care for our city.”

“I love that the people of our town come together to do this every year,” Beautification Board member Helen Gibson said. “It’s a wonderful way to build community and pride in our city. This is also a great opportunity for high school students to earn their required volunteer hours early. The Beautification Board will have the required forms on hand to document their work.”

In addition to Clean Up Day, the Columbiana Beautification Board carries on with many other activities throughout the year to keep the county seat looking its best.

They provide the welcome signs and various holiday banners you see around town.

They award a Yard of the Month prize, decorate the town for holidays with everything from fall decor to Christmas decorations and have provided two of the town’s historic murals with restorations.
Interested parties that would like to volunteer for Clean Up Day are asked to meet at the Columbiana City Hall on June 15 at 7:30 a.m. and will work till about 9 a.m.

They will be provided with Clean Up Day T-shirts, trash bags and handheld grabbers for gathering refuse.

The Culture Club will be donating waters and cookies for the volunteers.

If you would like to help to the city’s Beautification Board financially, you can make donations at the City Hall on Mildred Street in Columbiana.