To the Editor:

Spring has finally arrived! With the warmer weather, the strength of our community has been on full display.

In the past few weeks in Ward 7 alone Apponaug Little League, Apponaug Girls softball, Continental, and St. Gregg’s have had their opening day celebrations. It's always great to see young ballplayers excited for a new season. At the Apponaug Girls Softball ceremony, organizers recognized a family that has been involved with the league for three generations. A grandfather coached his own daughter when she played, and now his granddaughter is in the league. This family's story is one small example of members of our community passing down traditions and sharing experiences across generations in our beloved City. 

These leagues and the memories they help create would not be possible if not for all the parents and supporters who volunteer their time to coach, manage the snack bar, maintain the fields, and run day to day operations. Our volunteers should be applauded for all the time and effort they put in to ensure the young people of Warwick have great experiences playing team sports. 

This spring has also ushered in some noteworthy cleanup efforts around the City. Individual residents from across Warwick have volunteered their time to help improve our community. Members of the First Baptist Church, members of the Warwick Historic Cemetery Commission, and a host of unaffiliated resident do-gooders volunteered on a Saturday to spruce up Brayton Cemetery in Apponaug. They spent hours picking up trash and repairing broken or fallen headstones. There have also been a number of cleanups on our coastline. People picked up trash along the shores to help keep our coastline clean, safe, and more enjoyable for all. 

Thanks to all those helping to make Warwick such a great place to live, work, and play.

Steve McAllister

City Council Ward 7