Cleaning up the streets
It's that time of year when everybody is praying for the snow to melt and stay melted.
But while some are hoping for the grass to green and tulips to bloom, “Washboard” Tony Frochio of Butler is hoping the snow uncovers the trash on Butler's streets and sidewalks.
Frochio said he's eager to get Operation: Butler Pickup back up and running.
Frochio said he started the volunteer street cleanup effort in June.
“We go around Butler, the town, and pick up trash to make Butler beautiful again. It's a good way to meet people, get some fresh air and sun, get in some walking,” said Frochio.
He said he got the idea after an incident on a city street last year.
“I was walking one time and I almost stepped on a needle. There are areas that really need cleaned up around here,” he said.
Using gloves and garbage bags, volunteers for Operation: Butler Pickup go over one section of Butler at a time, picking up trash, bottles and beer cans each Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon.
“It's the needles that have me the most concerned, ”he said. “There's a lot of them in the skateboard park in Father Marinaro Park on the south side.
“Last year, I was lucky if I had one person helping me. Now, I've got a whole crew of people,” he said.
“There are a lot of musicians doing this,” he said. “I know they get a bad reputation: they drink, they smoke, they stay up late. But they want to make the town look good.”
The longtime professional drummer, singer and songwriter knows a lot of local musicians, having traveled across the country performing in rock and blues bands since he graduated from Lincoln High School in Elwood City in 1984.
However, his days on the road ended in 2005 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He had to stay close to his doctors and treatments at Benbrook Medical Center.
“They found a tumor the size of a grapefruit and operated to remove it,” Frochio said. “They removed my gall bladder and appendix and fixed me with a colostomy bag.”
Frochio's cancer has been in remission for five years now, but the treatments and surgeries he's undergone have left him with health issues.
“It took a long time before I even started moving again,” said Frochio. “I was hunched over and weak.”
One unexpected, but welcome, consequence of Frochio's illness, he said, was growing closer to his son, Nic Temple, a musician in his own right.
In fact, the two will be playing a free acoustic concert at the Butler YMCA Tuesday afternoon, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
“He reached out to us about being able to perform,” said YMCA Membership Director Robert Law.
“It's nice because we have the same beliefs in cleaning up Butler, and it will be a nice benefit for the members to have a musician playing,” said Law.
His past illness, Frochio said, is why he feels so strongly about giving back.
“Being a cancer survivor, I believe in paying it forward and helping others and my community,” he said.
He's hoping that some in Tuesday's audience will support Operation: Butler Pickup, either by volunteering to do a Saturday stint once the weather breaks or by donating garbage bags, gloves or insect repellent.
What: Folk music with a twist concertWHEN: 2 to 4:30 p.m. TuesdayWHERE: Lobby of the Butler YMCA, 339 N. Washington St.INFO: “Washboard” Tony Frochio and his son, Nic Temple, will perform to raise support and donations for Operation: Butler Pickup
