Scouts Take the Lead at Annual “Beautify Bedford” Cleanup Event 

Submitted by Bedford Scouts

The town is now a lot cleaner after the success of the annual “Beautify Bedford” event on May 5.

For many years, the “Beautify Bedford” cleanup was spearheaded by the Girl Scouts and the Cub Scouts of Bedford, although all residents were invited to take part, with Boy Scouts and 4H being the other main groups assisting. 

It is not unusual to see youth in sports uniforms and entire families signing in to help. 

In 2021, Revise Energy, with an office in Bedford, approached and asked to partner with the youth groups. Dan Carroll, a “Bedfordite” and Chief Operating Officer of Revise Energy, provided great support during the adapting Covid era, and until this year. 

This year, the Cub Scouts took a lead again in planning, working with the Bedford Department of Public Works, to provide this community service. 

The now “famous,” Scouts BSA (to be rebranded as Scouting America in 2025) Laporte Award for Most Unusual Find has been reinstated. There are always interesting finds during cleanup, but when a gold-colored Buddha was found, a trophy was built using it as the annual award. 

This year, Scoutmaster/Cubmaster Emeritus Peter Ricci and his wife Becky, another “Bedfordite,” found a large broken light fixture, squeezing out the other candidates, including Christmas tree bulbs, an old award plaque, and a petrified Blondie bar still in its wrapper. 

The light fixture’s metal was removed to be recycled later at the Carlisle Road center. 

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is a major mission in Scouting. Thanks to David Manugian, Nick Pouliot, and Rosemary Luniewicz from the DPW, and Revise Energy for supplies, and Adult Leader Mark Silver from Troop 194 and Pack 194 for leading the event. 

All residents are invited to join in next spring. Watch for this annual event, usually around Mother’s Day.