Alna’s Maria Jenness always wonders when she finds a shoe on the side of the road: Where is the other one?

The trash she would see on her running route inspired Jenness, who works for Maine Island Trail Association, to spearhead a town-wide roadside cleanup this spring. She spread the word via Facebook and in selectmen’s Zoom meetings. Residents signed up for stretches of road and, whenever worked for them, picked up the recycleables and trash.

Saturday morning, Jenness was bagging cans, food containers, cigarette butts and, while Wiscasset Newspaper was with her on Route 218, a ladies dress shoe.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups wrappers’ bright orange color makes them easy to spot, she added.

Jenness estimated more than 50 people took part that day or earlier. She noted Alna Snowmobile Club helped clean up the roadsides, and was going around town Saturday picking up everyone’s filled bags.

Club Vice President Kristina Verney told Wiscasset Newspaper via email, “The (club) did a great job today picking up trash on many roads in Alna and also picked (up) all trash bags and tires ... others helped collect across town. We had multiple loads of trash!”

Jenness was pleased with all the participation. She would like to do it again next year, hopefully with an ending celebration she said was not possible this time given the pandemic.