August 3, 2021 by Marisa Mecke.
SUGAR GROVE — Knee-deep in the Watauga River, volunteers picked up metal, plastic and more in a river cleanup on July 31 organized by Ted Swartzbaugh, local business owner of the Tarpestry, an outdoor goods company.
The very first recipient of micro-grant funding from Continuum Consulting Services LLC, Swartzbaugh said the cleanup day was a “pilot” for what he hopes to be a larger community event in the future.
Swartzbuagh said the idea came to him as an event the community could rally around. This year, volunteers headed out to the river in groups and enjoyed food, drinks and music by the waterside.