With virtually no snow so far this winter to cover it up, roadside litter can really stand out.

“It was a mess,” Maybrook Mayor Dennis Leahy said of roadside conditions along Homestead Ave. (NYS Rt. 208). “With no snow to cover it up, it looked disgusting.”

The N.Y.S. Dept. of Transportation is responsible for keeping the sides of state roads clear of litter, but had yet to get to Homestead. Conscious of how the northern entrance into Maybrook looked to motorists, Leahy took matters into his own hands -- literally.

On a recent nice day, he went out to Homestead, from the village line to Conklin Lane, and filled multiple trash bags with discarded beverage cans and bottles and other garbage. Some passing motorists who know the mayor stopped to offer thanks and encouragement. But what Leahy’s looking for are more hands to help.

“If anyone wants to help, I’ll go out again and we can clean up together,” he said. “Just call me.”