Clean Ocean Advocate, May 2005
Volunteers Shine at Beach Sweeps, Despite Weather
Despite intermittent heavy rains, over 2,000 volunteers celebrated 20 years of COA Beach Sweeps on April 23rd at over 55 sites along the Jersey shore. A press conference and an award ceremony was held at Sandy Hook and was attended by US Representative Frank Pallone (D-6), NJ Senator Ellen Karcher (D-12), and NJ Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina. COA honored dear friend and noted environmental advocate, Tim Vogel, Administrator of Environmental Affairs at Wakefern Foods - ShopRite for outstanding support of the Beach Sweeps program over the past ten years. Over the years, ShopRite’s generous financial and in-kind support helped 60,000 volunteers remove 2.5 million pieces of trash from NJ’s beaches.
COA also recognized Verizon, who has generously supported the Sweeps over the past three years, and our newest sponsor, West Marine, who is committed to improving the quality of our waters for safe recreational fun.
Special thanks to Co-Sponsor, Starbucks, for their donation of pastries and coffee for over 300 Sandy Hook volunteers, and thanks to their employees who throughout the rain worked hard cleaning the beaches along Sandy Hook Bay. Co-Sponsors also included Comcast, Conectiv, NJ American Water, Prudential Premier Properties, and Surfrider
Foundation - Jersey Shore Chapter.
At Sandy Hook, special thanks to the staff of Gateway National Recreation Area - Sandy Hook, Gerry Harris and The Interact Clubs of Rotary International, and C. Rooney Produce Co.
Waves of thanks, statewide, to the 50+ Beach Captains and 2,000+ volunteers for making the Sweeps a success!
An Early Glimpse of the Sweeps - Spring 2005
- Asbury Park - Volunteers at Convention Hall collected 36 bags of trash and a freezer box (without cover or compressor) and a folding table with metal legs.
- Atlantic City - 35 people collected piles of construction debris.
- Avalon - 42 people found a shredded red, white, and blue spinnaker for a sailboat, two propane tanks, and two $1 bills.
- Cape May to the Villas – 100 Students from Lower Cape May Regional High School cleaned over five miles of beaches.
- Margate - 800 students from the local school district and Blessed Sacrament Regional School cleaned Margate beaches on April 25 as part of the Beach Sweeps.
- Middletown - 38 volunteers collected almost 1,000 pounds of trash at Ideal Beach, including a mattress, table, chairs, and wood pallets.
- Sandy Hook - An estimated 400 people swept the bay beaches, collecting three tons of trash and recyclables.
- Sea Isle City - Over 80 volunteers cleaned three miles of beach.
- Seaside Heights - An estimated 85 volunteers picked up mostly plastics.
- Ventnor - 10 people (the usual suspects), picked up mainly plastic bags, caps, filters, and balloons.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
20th Annual Fall Beach Sweeps
October 22, 2005
9AM-12:30PM
Check out the results of the 2004 cleanup efforts in the 2004 Beach Sweeps Annual Report.
In Memoriam
The staff of COA is saddened by the loss of long time Beach Sweeps Captain, Pat Campitelli, who passed away March 11. Pat coordinated beach cleanups in Brigantine since 1993. Pat’s energy and enthusiasm made the Sweeps a constant success. Through his involvement with the Clean Communities Program, Pat launched numerous pollution prevention programs to protect the ocean.
