This past Saturday I volunteered as part of Boston Shines and the Beacon Hill neighborhood cleanup. The City of Boston posted signs on some of the Hill's dirties streets, including Phillips, Anderson, Irving and Garden, to ask cars to move the day of the cleanup.

Many owners moved their cars, though I imagine more out of fear that they would be towed. Whatever the reason, this allowed a street cleaner to get to the curb on those streets. I must say, it's amazing how well the street cleaner can do when it can reach the curb.

For those of you out there who move your cars to make way for the street sweeper, thank you! Your efforts make a huge difference!

Mark your calendars. The City of Boston is again organizing the city-wide clean-up day, Boston Shines.

www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/bostonshines.asp

Visit the site for more info or to sign up.

As a captain for Beacon Hill, I can say this is a pretty neat event. Encourage your neighbors to come out and sweep!

Jenn Martinelli is sick of the Beacon Hill Civic Association and its bright green posters telling people not to put the trash out the night before when, as far as she can tell, there's no such city ordinance to that effect.