Annual River Clean-Up
2024-04-01 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Hallet Oak Gallery
The Second Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up, Downtown Hallettsville will be held on April 1, 2024
The Lavaca County community, including the Hallettsville Girl Scout Troop 9513 will meet at Hallet Oak Gallery at 8 am to receive a safety briefing and t-shirts, and to split into two large teams. The public is welcome to join in the clean-up. The plan is to leave Hallet Oak Gallery at 8:30 am sharp to begin picking up trash at two locations.

The clean-up is planned to start and end at two bridges simultaneously: County Road 1 Poor Farm Bridge and Hwy 77/90, starting at 9 am sharp and ending at 9:45 am with group photos being taken at 10:00 am. “This event is to make a difference by working in two separate volunteer teams to clean-up the Lavaca River in 45 minutes. Comments heard after the last years’ clean-up, was that it was fun, enjoyable, and felt good to help the river which benefits community”, said Mieko Mahi, President of Hallet Oak Foundations’ Friends of Lavaca River group.

Groups Participating:
Friends of Lavaca River Group, Hallettsville Girl Scout Troup 9513, League of Women Voters of Lavaca County, and other groups, including Individuals desiring to be a part of the clean-up. Spectators are welcome to set-up a chair and watch.
The check list of items coordinated:
Mieko Mahi, President, Hallet Oak Foundation, is providing give-away safety items from Inteplast Group. Additional items will be brought in from Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, Patrick Brzozowski, PE, General Manager and Chad Kinsfather, Director of Environmental Services, which included trash bags, T-shirts all sizes. Safety cones from City of Hallettsville for the team leaders to warn traffic of clean-up.
TxDOT items donated: wildflower seeds and 50 safety vests. Friends’ items: 50 bandanas, extra trash bags, work gloves, and safety kit. Donuts will be provided. Mieko Mahi requests these extra items are needed to be in all the team leaders’ vehicles: bottled water, Gatorade, bug spray, spray sunscreen, giveaways, and a safety kit.

Darrell Wachel and Chad Kinsfather will lead the teams on the banks at CR 1 Poor Farm Bridge and Mieko Mahi, Milton Mache, and Patrick Brzozowski, PE will lead the teams at 77/90 Bridge. Valeria Nicole Mayo and Darlene Immekus are the Troop 9513 Leaders for the Girl Scout families.
Special Appreciation Shout-Outs to:

Steven Pituch, Hallet Oak Gallery, fine art photographer for photography coverage
Grace Ward, Hallettsville City Manager, for providing trash pick-up assistance for 1 Day Trash Dumpster Use at 77/90 Bridge – All trash must be in this special provided dumpster by the end of the day. “Please take advantage that it is there and make sure it is full for this special occasion to make Hallettsville both beautiful and safer”, says, Mieko Mahi.
Inteplast Group for Caps, Safety glasses, Gloves, Whistles, Trash bags.
Lavaca-Navidad River Authority for T-Shirts: Lavaca River Clean-Up
TxDOT for Wildflower Seeds to spread out in Oct.
Judge Keith Mudd for Announcement and Proclamation for Annual Lavaca River Awareness and Clean-Up Day.
RL Bordovsky, Town & Country LLC and “Tommy” Tumis, Tumis Tire and Automotive, Hallettsville for their personal assistance to this clean-up to be successful.

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Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up & Awareness
2026-03-09 08:00 - 10:00
Announcing the Fourth Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up in Downtown Hallettsville will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026
The Lavaca County community is invited to participate in the Fourth Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in downtown Hallettsville. The event will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Hallet Oak Gallery, where participants will receive a safety briefing, t-shirts, and be divided into two teams. The public is welcome to join the effort, and the clean-up will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. as the team’s head to two locations along the river to clean simultaneously at two bridges: the County Road 1 Poor Farm Bridge and the Hwy 77/90 Bridge.
Volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., and group photos will be taken at 10 a.m.
“This event is about bringing people together for a common cause of cleaning up the Lavaca River in just 45 minutes. Feedback from last year’s clean-up showed it was a fun and rewarding experience, and participants felt good seeing the river up close and being a part of the clean-up, which benefits our community,” said Mieko Mahi, President of the Hallet Oak Foundation’s Friends of Lavaca River group.
Participating Groups:

Friends of Lavaca River Group
Hallettsville Cub Scouts Pack 223
Other non-profit groups and individuals interested in participating.

Spectators are welcome to set up chairs and watch the clean-up efforts.
Coordinated Items and Safety:
Team leaders will ensure the safety and success of the event by having extra supplies in their vehicles, including bottled water, Gatorade, bug spray, sunscreen, and safety kits.
Sponsors of the Annual Clean-Up are Inteplast Group, The Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, represented by Patrick Brzozowski and Chad Kinsfather. Additionally, TxDOT will donate safety vests, and Hallet Oak Foundation’s Friends of Lavaca River group will provide 50 bandanas. Donuts will be available for participants.
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4th Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up Downtown Hallettsville
2026-03-28 08:00 - 10:00 | Hallet Oak Gallery
Announcing the Fourth Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up in Downtown Hallettsville will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026
The Lavaca County community is invited to participate in the Fourth Annual Lavaca River Clean-Up on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in downtown Hallettsville. The event will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Hallet Oak Gallery, where participants will receive a safety briefing, t-shirts, and be divided into two teams. The public is welcome to join the effort, and the clean-up will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. as the team’s head to two locations along the river to clean simultaneously at two bridges: the County Road 1 Poor Farm Bridge and the Hwy 77/90 Bridge.
Volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., and group photos will be taken at 10 a.m.
“This event is about bringing people together for a common cause of cleaning up the Lavaca River in just 45 minutes. Feedback from last year’s clean-up showed it was a fun and rewarding experience, and participants felt good seeing the river up close and being a part of the clean-up, which benefits our community,” said Mieko Mahi, President of the Hallet Oak Foundation’s Friends of Lavaca River group.
Participating Groups:

Friends of Lavaca River Group
Hallettsville Cub Scouts Pack 223
Other non-profit groups and individuals interested in participating.

Spectators are welcome to set up chairs and watch the clean-up efforts.
Coordinated Items and Safety:
Team leaders will ensure the safety and success of the event by having extra supplies in their vehicles, including bottled water, Gatorade, bug spray, sunscreen, and safety kits.
Sponsors of the Annual Clean-Up are Inteplast Group, The Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, represented by Patrick Brzozowski and Chad Kinsfather. Additionally, TxDOT will donate safety vests, and Hallet Oak Foundation’s Friends of Lavaca River group will provide 50 bandanas. Donuts will be available for participants.
Special Thanks to:

Steven Pituch of Hallet Oak Gallery for photography coverage.
Inteplast Group for providing caps, safety glasses, gloves, whistles, and trash bags.
Lavaca-Navidad River Authority for t-shirts and support.
Judge Keith Mudd for the official announcement and proclamation of the Lavaca River Awareness and Clean-Up Day.
RL Bordovsky of Town & Country LLC and Tommy Tumis of Tumis Tire and Automotive for their personal contributions to the event’s success.
See Team Leader on where to leave bags and tires.

This annual clean-up aims to improve the Lavaca River’s condition and promote environmental awareness. We look forward to seeing you there!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR RIVER CLEAN UP
What to Wear:

Rubber boots or old cowboy boots – essential for trudging through muddy or wet terrain, and they’ll keep your feet protected.
Long jeans and long-sleeve shirt – good for protecting your legs and arms from rough brush, insects, or any debris in the environment.
Sunglasses – to protect your eyes from the sun and any flying debris.
Sunscreen – very important to avoid sunburn while out in the wilderness.
Bug spray – because it’s a wilderness area, and bugs can be a nuisance.

What to Expect:

It’s a great event that gets people of all ages involved in cleaning up the river. The volunteers tend to spread out, and sometimes they’ll encounter wildlife like snakes or turtles, which can be a memorable part of the experience.
Snakes you encounter will usually be moving away from you— watch where you step because of broken glass, large rocks and holes.
While kids are encouraged not to pick up glass, adults take on the responsibility for it, which keeps everyone safe.
This event is about more than just cleaning up; it’s about fostering a sense of community responsibility and teaching younger generations that the health of the river is something we all need to care about.

Event Schedule:

8:00 AM: Meet at Hallet Oak Gallery for check-in, receive safety gear (like gloves), and a safety briefing by Chad Kinsfather from the Lavaca Navidad River Authority.
8:30 AM: Split into teams. You’ll have the choice between working near the Hwy 77/90 Bridge or the CR 1 Poor Farm Bridge. These areas will be worked on simultaneously by two teams. Cones, trucks, and signs will direct you to your area.
9:00 AM: Clean-up begins, and there will be water and donuts provided to keep everyone fueled. Spectators are welcomed.
9:45 AM: Clean-up ends.
10:00 AM: Group photo at the Hwy 77/90 Bridge to celebrate the effort!

Previous Comments:
This event seems like a fun, rewarding experience, almost like an “Easter Egg hunt” for trash. The teamwork required for pulling out heavier items—like tires—makes it a great bonding experience. The cleanup process goes really fast when a lot of people are involved, which is key to getting the job done quickly and efficiently.
A Few Tips:

Ask and plan if teams have any special equipment to pull out tires or dumped large items that they see in advance that will require special skills/tools to remove. These are often very heavy and can be filled with sand.
If you’re in a team, make sure to stay coordinated, where to park safely off the road and too, to stay away from walking onto the roadway where oncoming traffic isn’t slowing down for pedestrians.
Enjoy the process and be proud of the tangible impact you’re making in the community!
Kids of all ages are welcome to help! If you are with young children, please stay on the walking paths where you can see their boots touching the ground. Look for small trash like paper or cans, and be safe at all times.Remember, if you’d rather watch, you can be an observer and cheer on others—this is always a big help in keeping this event going.

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