By Matt Sutkoski
Free Press Staff Writer

WINOOSKI -- There's no sense in making a construction zone uglier than it has to be.

That is why a posse will march into downtown Winooski on Friday, armed with cleanser, paint, sponges, rags and elbow grease to remove graffiti. The spray-painted markings appeared over the past week or two on posts, signs, and concrete barriers marking the border of the city's massive reconstruction project.

"A mess. It's just a mess," said Janelle Gilbert-Fuller, director of the Winooski Justice Center. She is spearheading Friday's cleanup. "We need volunteers to clean up East Allen Street," she said. "It looks like East L.A. out there now."

The city is in the throes of a huge downtown redevelopment project. Crews are starting to build a new parking garage, a headquarters for the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. and other buildings.

The construction has temporarily made downtown Winooski a mess, and the graffiti just adds to the ugliness, Gilbert-Fuller said. Any beautification project would help, she said.

Gilbert-Fuller is going full throttle to remove, or at least hide, the graffiti. She and others in her office are calling schools, recreation program participants, Boy Scouts and community groups looking for help.

She's gone so far as to bring out color swatches to the defaced concrete barriers, trying to match hues with the graffiti, said Winooski Deputy Police Chief Rich Benoit. Volunteers will paint the barriers in a shade that hides the graffiti.

Gilbert-Fuller said she has obtained permission from state transportation officials and contractors to enter East Allen Street, which is part of Vermont 15, to rid the city of the graffiti.

Benoit said the police have not determined who spray-painted objects along East Allen Street.

Contact Matt Sutkoski at 660-1846 or msutkosk@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com

Cleaning Winooski

WHAT: Volunteers are need to clean up graffiti that recently appeared in downtown Winooski

WHEN: People should gather at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Winooski City Hall.

INFO: Volunteers should wear old clothes and bring work gloves. Cleansers and paint will be provided.

TO VOLUNTEER: People interested in volunteering should call Janelle Gilbert-Fuller at 655-6417