NEDERLAND — Finally! A dry weekend and a beautiful day for spring-cleaning.

The city of Nederland held their annual citywide Trash Bash cleanup. Angela Fanette, parks and recreation supervisor, said it was a “trash-bashy” kind of day for picking up trash.

Gage and Brooke-Lynn Harris were with Holly Broussard to pick up trash in Doornbos Park. Gage and Brooke-Lynn moved to Nederland from St. Louis, Missouri, and they attend Langham Elementary. This is their first Trash Bash.

Gage is in the Cub Scouts, and this is part of his service of giving back to the community.

The C.O. Wilson Middle School Builder Club was also out in force, painting picnic tables in the park. Sponsors Debby Frantz and Laura Zito said the club teaches leadership skills, compassion and community service.

“They’re an awesome group,” Frantz said. “They were so anxious to come out here today.”

Caleb and Jaxson Taylor were spending some father and son time together. Jaxson is also a Cub Scout and this is his volunteer community service.

“This is the first time we’ve volunteered for this,” Caleb said. “The weather is nice. We’ll work on the mulch next (after picking up trash).”

This Trash Bash also had some lagniappe — something extra.

Miranda Hollier, a sophomore at Nederland High School, painted an old newspaper box for the Little Free Library with “Alice in Wonderland” scenes.

Vicki Black, an English teacher at NHS and a sponsor for the Interact Club, which supported this service project and are donating it to the city, said she bought the box online for $100. She added that the box was formerly red and ugly.

This Interact Club has also received a presidential citation for service projects.

There’s already a Little Free Library box at the windmill at Ritter Park on Boston Avenue. This new box will stay at the parks and recreation building on Avenue H and complement the other box.

“This promotes literacy,” Black said. “We contacted the schools for a book drive from elementary schools to adult books. Enough books to keep the Little Free Library to change out books.”

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world, according to the website.

Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

“There are hundreds of Little Free Libraries. Some people make them out of refrigerators or mailboxes or they make their own,” she said. “This will be ongoing for years to come. We’ll do another book drive soon and get the city involved with drop-off spots.”

Hollier said she’s in Black’s English class where she learned about the project.

“Though I didn’t know what her theme would be, every project she has done is beautiful,” Black said.

Hollier chose “Alice in Wonderland” because it’s a well-known children’s book and she has always loved the story. She added that it was a fun project.

“I’ve always loved to draw and paint. It’s something I would like to pursue more in the future,” she said. “I earned fourth place in state for a picture I took of my cousin (Ella Hommel). I also do the year book.”

She would like to work in either graphic design or to teach.

During the creative process for the “Alice in Wonderland” box, Hollier said she had multiple ideas for the box, but narrowed it down to this theme.

She has another project coming up for her aunt too — another portrait of her younger cousin, Ella, that will be featured in her house. Hollier’s aunt said they recently repaired the damages to the house from Tropical Storm Harvey and she can’t wait to hang the picture.

In addition to drawing, painting and photography, she likes dance, music and twirling.

Fanette said Saturday was a good day in the parks and she’s very impressed with Hollier.

She said they will find the appropriate place for the box in parks and recreation.

“We’ll take good care of it,” Fanette said.