Adopted spots double after first year

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Tender Years Preschool adopted this spot on Division Street outside the Naugatuck Congregational Church, where the preschool is housed. –RA ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — Linda Ramos, chairwoman of the Beautification Committee, has four things on her holiday wish list this year.

Ramos wants concerned citizens to “adopt” the overgrown intersection at Webb and Hill roads and three rundown islands on Inga Circle, Flanders Road and Kingswood Drive.

Ramos runs the Adopt-A-Spot program, which allows residents, businesses, and groups to beautify and maintain blighted areas of the borough. Participants are not confined to Ramos’ list of areas — they are welcome to propose others.

“There’s many spots in Naugatuck that could use grooming, for sure,” Ramos said.

The initiative began in July 2011 with six adopted spots. This year, residents and groups have adopted six more spots.

“This has been a very successful project,” Ramos said. “It has given our community and businesses a chance to reach out to others and show the correct way of doing what’s right for Naugatuck.”

This year, Park Commissioner Jay Kuczenski and his family adopted an island on Summit Road, Christ the King Church adopted the corner of Water and Cedar streets, Tender Years Preschool adopted the corner of Meadow and Division streets, and MPS Landscaping adopted the island where Auburn and May streets meet.

Marcia Puc, a leader of Cub Scout Pack 109, got about 50 Cubs to clean up litter at Fairchild Park, pull weeds and plant flowers, shrubs and tall grasses. Parents donated the plants, and the pack will continue maintaining the area as an ongoing service project.

The family also adopted the island at Webb and Jones roads, around the corner from their house. That area was not on the Beautification Committee’s list of suggested spots, but Puc became interested in sprucing it up after seeing it every day covered in crabgrass and weeds.

They spent at least $100 on chrysanthemums and spring bulbs, and plan to buy more perennials and tall grasses in the spring, Puc said.

“The day we were digging and planting, we got waves and thumbs up,” Puc said. “A lot of people think it’s great, so when the sign goes in, I’m hoping it will draw some more attention into the program, too.”

Puc said she was inspired to participate in Adopt-A-Spot after driving through Middlebury and seeing the flowers planted along Route 64 by a community group there.

“It does something good for the community,” Puc said. “It helps beautify Naugatuck. It gets residents involved to keep our community clean.”

Those who adopt spots are responsible for the cost of maintenance and landscaping, as well as the standard Adopt-A-Spot sign. Landscaping plans must be approved by the borough engineering department, the sign must be approved by the zoning enforcement officer and the mayor and street commission chairman must sign off.

To adopt a spot or for more information, contact Mayoral Aide Ed Carter at (203) 720-7208 or email Ramos at lsrgigi3@aol.com.