By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — After the loss of pine trees, the interest has grown in beautifying the Village Green.

Last week, Land Use Committee Chairman Dave Garcia and others addressed the bottle collection bins, which are located next to the USPS mail box.

One bin is sponsored by the Naples Lions Club. The Vineyard Church collects the redeemables from the other bin and uses the money to buy heating fuel for veterans.

In April, Naples Historical Society Museum Manager Katie Cash-Staley commented that the bins were an eyesore, with at least one of them often overflowing with bags of bottles.

During last week’s meeting, audience member Stephen LaPointe suggested tucking the bins behind the Grange Hall.

“I have had a lot of people suggest that they want to see them gone,” Garcia said.

Selectman Kevin Rogers commented.

“When they got there, they didn’t look good initially. Then people got used to them. They are for a good cause,” Roger said, asking “Where would they go?”

Audience member Stephen LaPointe suggested tucking the bins behind the Grange Hall.

Selectman Colin Brackett shared his thoughts via Zoom.

“The other suggestion that Katie made was by the American Legion,” Brackett said, adding that would make sense because money goes toward assisting veterans.

Chairman Jim Grattelo spoke. “The bins ought to be strategically located. We all agree we don’t want them there. We want to clean up the green. But the cause is good.”

The board did not come to a final decision on where to relocate the bins. As of midweek, the bins were in the same spot.

However, following the meeting on May 8, members of the Land Use Committee and other citizens walked over to the bins to size up the situation.