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Volunteers work to clean up Avery Park on Saturday morning. Wind storms in December knocked down about 70 trees in the park.

Students help clean wind-whipped park

Alpha Kappa Psi and the Arnold Air Society volunteer at Avery Park

By: Nicholas T. Brouchard

Posted: 3/5/07

In December, strong winds and rain pulled massive branches and leaves over many of the paths in Avery Park.

Part of the work required to clean the debris was handed to Steve McGettigan, the park's volunteer coordinator.

"The storm system blew from mid to late December and brought with it wind and snow. Most of the trees were blown over or put in unstable positions. We lost about 70 trees," McGettigan said.

"About 20 years ago this was a thick grove but as the trees come down they are getting increasingly vulnerable," McGettigan said.

Despite the hard times the park has faced, Saturday morning McGettigan was delighted to be working with two volunteer groups helping to clean up, Arnold Air Society and Alpha Kappa Psi.

"This work will be a safety improvement," McGettigan said.

Alpha Kappa Psi helped clear debris from the rose garden.

"Community service is a part of our chapter of AKP," said Tiffany Nofziger, a member of Alpha Kappa Psi.

"A tradition in the fraternity is the Yellow Rose Society," said Angelina Lusetti, president of Alpha Kappa Psi. By clearing the gardens they hope to help provide another year of beautiful roses.

"We hope to come back in the spring when the roses bloom and see a difference," Lusetti said.

"Most of the people that enjoy the rose garden are older and cannot help out with clearing. They will benefit from our work," Nofziger said.

The Corvallis-area Arnold Air Society, comprised of members of the OSU Air Force ROTC Detachment 685, were also busy at work clearing fallen branches.

"We want to clear everything that could be a potential hazard," said Adam Westcott, a second year cadet in the AFROTC program.

As the Arnold Air Society was pushing, pulling, sawing and trudging through the mud, the old path began to re-appear.

The work is not always fun but brings another type of reward.

"As a senior looking back … my work will help the community, but also the person I will become," said Barton Land, a fourth-year cadet in the Arnold Air Society.