Views of the Neighborhood – Beach Clean Up

~ John W. Howell

Beach Clean up

Each year the Texas General Land Office conducts two beach clean-up along the Gulf Coast. Since 1986 over 477,000 volunteers have collected over 17,000,000 pounds of trash. Yesterday was beach clean-up in Port Aransas. The event participants are all volunteers. Each is assigned an area and then the work is done between 9:00 and 12:00.  The day was overcast in the morning which was a blessing to the workers.

Groups participate. Pictured are the Masons.

No event would be complete without a rousing send-off from the boss. The mayor is scheduled to do the duty.

At the sign-up tent, one gets a location to clean, a trash bag and water.

The objective of the clean-up.

No, the front loader is not there to help. In fact, whoever planned its appearance did not have a clue about the clean-up day. It piled sand on the entrance to the event. (now in the process of removing)

A Texas food chain sponsor

Another sponsor. Republic Services is a waste handling and recycling company.

Port A’s most popular Mexican food restaurant.

Our local food store

Here are the guidelines for safety.

Here is a group from Incarnate Word University in San Antonio. They must have had to get up at 4:00 AM to get here.

Producer and Twiggy.

A moment between Twiggy and her fans.

72 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – Beach Clean Up”

    2. I totally agree! And I keep wondering if we humans will ever learn before we have totally destroyed this our world. Reflecting on the words I just used, maybe thinking of this world as “our” world is exactly the problem.
      A wonderful Sunday to y’alls,
      Pit

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      1. I don’t like the way we keep referring to the pollution in ‘our’ oceans, the damage to ‘our’ wildlife, and so on. I tend to agree that this proprietorial attitude is one of the factors at the root of the problem.

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  2. It’s heartwarming to see community involvement in cleaning the beach. And it is soooo sweet to see Twiggy and her fans. How do Stella and Lucy respond to the attention she attracts? 🙂

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  5. It’s unfortunate that these events are necessary, but it’s wonderful that so many people turn out to help. I can’t remember how much trash was collected last year during the Trash Bash events on Galveston Bay, but it was substantial. It’s especially good to see the young ones involved. I’ve always assumed, rightly or wrongly, that anyone who takes part in an event like this will be less likely to be part of the problem.

    As for Twiggy — well. She’s treasure, not trash!

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    1. I think you are right about participation. Those that clean it don’t trash it. I’m sure you have been amazed at how people leave the beach. Can’t tell where they were raised. Thanks, Linda.

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  6. Twiggy seems to be unimpressed with the cleanup effort but is working the audience very well.

    These are great events, John. It’s sad that we need them but it’d great that people step up. Around here, various groups will clean streams and parts of the CT River, trying to keep something from making the long journey to your beach.

    Great photos. Don’t be too hard on the payloader guy. The temptation to play in the sand is strong.

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  7. Woofer one and all. How splendid to see everyone cooperating. A pity that could not spread state to state and nation to nation. We just might have a squeaky clean world then. Good on all of you.

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  11. Great community spirit evident here – but I was blown away by the group from San Antonio! The sign sporting the IGA logo caught my attention. IGA started selling franchises in Canada in 1951 – and my grandfather bought the first one in Canada – in Toronto. He was partner with my father and my uncle. In 1955, my dad moved our family to Dundas where he bought an IGA franchise for a local food store business he had bought. So I and my sibs worked in Dad’s Dundas IGA throughout our teen years and through university. So that sign on the beach in Port A sure brings back memories. Good post, John!

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  14. Aw, ’tis easy to see that little Twiggy is stealing the show! That’s always the case when you bring tykes to adult events, isn’t it? Y’all had a great day for the cleanup. What is it they say, Many hands make small work? Bet your beaches look lovely now!

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  20. Twiggy is adorable and I’m sure was a huge hit. I think this is a terrific idea but wish the clean-up wasn’t necessary. I understand the huge mile wide vortex of trash in the Pacific is growing by leaps and bounds. When are we going to learn?

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  24. I’m always amazed that even if a beach looks clean, it’s still shocking what rubbish the human race leave behind or discard without any thought, John. It’s shocking, too, by how much plastic is being washed up. I came across a washing-up bottle from the 1970s washed up on a beach the other day. It was still al intact, with only the writing a little faded.

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  26. Great photos, John. It’s a shame people can’t clean up after themselves. My biggest gripe though is with smokers who don’t consider that throwing their butts on the ground is littering. A wonderful event for Port Aransas to keep your beaches clean.

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