Environmental Initiatives
Dozens of volunteers work to clean Marblehead beaches
By Staff Reports
Marblehead Reporter
Posted Sep 12, 2011 @ 02:57 PM
Golf balls, auto parts, wine bottles, fishing nets, pizza boxes, lobster traps, floor mats, flip flops, candy wrappers, newspapers, boxer shorts… it was all in an afternoon’s work for the folks who turned out for the One Healthy Ocean Family Beach Cleanup Sunday in Marblehead.
The goal of the event, which was sponsored by National Grand Bank and Carol Kent Yacht Charters, was to make a clean sweep of Devereux, Riverhead, Preston, Gas House, Grace Oliver’s, Little Harbor and Fort beaches at the close of the summer bathing season.
More than 40 Marblehead residents — and a few non-residents — removed 31 bags worth of trash from the coastline. The trash was hauled away courtesy of Nash Turf and Landscape and disposed of by the Marblehead Health Department.
Participants received thank-you gifts from several Marblehead businesses, including Arabella Lingerie, Babe, Coffey Ice Cream, DS Designs, Hestia Creations, Jambu, Marblehead Antiques, O’Rama’s, Sea Gull, Shipshape, Shubie’s and Whit & Whimsy Children’s Books.
Swimmer and environmental educator Christopher Swain organized the event as part of his One Healthy Ocean campaign.
“It was great to see so many parents come out with their kids,” Swain said. “Anyone who thinks kids don’t like to work hasn’t been to one of our beach cleanups… I guess the free ice cream doesn’t hurt, either.”
For more information about Swain’s One Healthy Ocean campaign, visit OneHealthyOcean.org
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Clean sweep: Multiple-beach effort nets 57 bags of trash in Marblehead
By Anonymous
Marblehead Reporter
Posted Sep 17, 2010 @ 08:29 AM
Led by National Grand Bank pre
sident
Jim Nye and Carol Kent of Carol Kent Yacht Charters, nearly 50 people turned out last Saturday, Sept. 11 to clean Devereux, Goldthwait, Riverhead, Grace Oliver’s, Fort, and Gas House beaches in Marblehead.
During the two-hour event, participants filled 57 garbage bags with everything from carpets to Styrofoam, all of which were carefully disposed of by the Marblehead Board of Health.
According to environmental educator Christopher Swain, who organized the day’s activities, some of the smallest forms of trash collected were also among the most destructive:
“Most people don’t realize that fish, sea turtles, whales and water birds routinely mistake cigarette butts for food and that the toxic chemicals trapped inside can sicken or kill these animals,” he said. “Cigarette butts might be a pain to pick up, and they don’t take up much space in a garbage bag, but when we capture hundreds of them at a cleanup, it goes a long way toward protecting the marine web of life.”
Last Saturday’s event was just one step in the ocean education campaign that is part of Swain’s ongoing swim from Canada to Washington, D.C. This fall, with support from National Grand Bank, Swain will do assemblies and class visits at Marblehead schools, and in partnership with Carol Kent Yacht Charters, he will continue to consult with ocean-based organizations looking to reduce their environmental impact.
Eighteen Marblehead businesses supported the cleanup effort with donations of materials, equipment and thank-you gifts, including Arbella Lingerie, Babe, Bus Stop, Coffey Ice Cream, Crosby’s Markets, CVS Pharmacy, DS Designs, Eliza Mellen-Smith Acupuncture, Georgie Living, Grace Sales Co., Madam Had’em, Marblehead Outfitters, Moran Studios, Mud Puddle Toys, Scribe Paper and Gift, Shipshape, The Sea Gull and Tory’s Jewelry.
