Portsmouth cleanup to continue neighbor’s legacy

Posted 4/30/15

Above: Leanne Gablinske, who passed away last December, was a longtime volunteer during cleanup events at Common Fence Point.

PORTSMOUTH — The residents of Common Fence Point will be honoring the memory of a friend when they hold their …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Portsmouth cleanup to continue neighbor’s legacy

Posted

Above: Leanne Gablinske, who passed away last December, was a longtime volunteer during cleanup events at Common Fence Point.

PORTSMOUTH — The residents of Common Fence Point will be honoring the memory of a friend when they hold their annual Earth Day cleanup on Saturday, May 2.

Leanne Gablinske was a resident of the neighborhood for 15 years before succumbing to lung cancer last December. She and her daughter, Hailey, participated in both the Common Fence Point Improvement Association-sponsored Earth Day cleanup in the spring and the fall International Coastal Cleanup, first led by the Audubon Society and now by Save The Bay.

“Singlehandedly, some years, Leanne would clean one of the Point's filthiest beach areas — Sakonnet River Bridge beach,” said Mil Kinsella of CFPIA. “The beach can only be accessed by stairs, but that did not deter Leanne from clumping up the stairs with tires, huge pieces of construction debris and very full brown paper lawn bags to get it roadside for the Portsmouth DPW to take away.

“She never complained if she was the only one out in that area, though I tried my best to get others to pitch in. Year after year, she brought up and catalogued huge piles of debris.”

Ms. Kinsella is urging others to come out May 2 to continue Ms. Gablinske’s legacy of caring for the environment in Common Fence Point.

“She was a vibrant, kind, compassionate friend and an unwavering volunteer for our community. I am hoping that the sun will be shining so that Leanne will be able to see all of us scuttling in underbrush to clear debris from vegetation, before it leafs out, so we can feel proud when we drive under that little red railroad bridge,” said Ms. Kinsella.

She said she will be continuing the uproot of Asiatic bittersweet and invasive honeysuckle around the pond to allow the bayberry and non-poisonous sumac to flourish, “as they are excellent berry sources for our avian friends.”

Volunteers should meet in the parking lot of the CFPIA Hall, 933 Anthony Road, for the cleanup which runs from noon to 2 p.m.

Volunteers are asked to wear gloves for their own protection and consider bug spray and sunscreen.

If you’re unable to help clean up but would still like to help out, Ms. Kinsella suggested baking for the volunteers or donating water or brown paper yard waste bags.

To volunteer, call or text Ms. Kinsella at 401/633-2606, or send an e-mail to sterlingmil@cox.net.

Audubon Society, CFPIA, coastal cleanups, Common Fence Point, Leanne Gablinske, Save The Bay

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.