The First Annual Angola Spring Beach Cleaning

[Jim Jowsey]

Had a long conversation with Lily Pad last night about putting together a spring beach cleaning here locally. We're thinking the Saturday after Earth Day, which would be April 25th. A couple of hours at least, say, 10am-12pm or 1pm.

We were thinking about Town Park beach, any other ideas?

I'm going to talk to Dan at the Pennysaver to get an ad in advertising the event.

Lily Pad was going to put a letter together appealing to local businesses to donate things like garbage bags, gloves, snacks, etc...

and possibly getting a dump/garbage truck from the town on site to put the bags of trash directly into.

Was also thinking about talking to one of the volunteer fire departments to get involved with a chainsaw or two to cut up the big drift wood.
Ideas?

April 25th is coming up soon but if we put our heads together we can have this thing ready to advertise by next week.

[Jim Jowsey]

Just had another idea, how about a Meet and Greet at Castaways or Stroh's that night?

[Shelly Hunt]

As you probably know, since our restaurant is open six days a week, 11 hours per day, we are usually unable to participate in area happenings, which we sorely regret. We will however pick up a large case of garbage bags from our distributors and donate a box of 500 gloves to the cause.

If you find the bag of fifty dollars bills I buried on the beach will you please return it to me? lol

[Lily Pad]

Thank you, Shelly!!!
(p.s. If I find the bag, I charge a hefty "finder's fee" ...)

[Jim Jowsey]

Thank you Shelly. Let us know as soon as you get your liquor license and we'll do some meet and greets at Desperados.

[Lily Pad]

Okay ... I did a little bit of homework today.

I spoke with Russ Manguso (Parks Crew Chief for the Town of Evans) and he welcomed the idea of volunteers getting together to clean up the public beaches and parks. He felt that a nice "Spring" clean-up was a great idea during the season when it is needed most (The Town organizes an annual Fall clean-up.

I got the GREEN light for thos to be done at Evans Town Park; Evans Beach; and Pointe Breeze Beach. These are the ones that need most focus due to the number of people they attract. He also advised that any public beach area will need clean-up.
He did advise me that the Town Employees take care of the wood and branches at the parks and beaches as their regular duties and they should be out the next two weeks taking care of that aspect of the clean-up.

So ... with the focus being a good, thorough garbage clean-up, the Town Supervisor's office supplies green trash bags for land clean-up to any individual that comes in and requests them. Mr. Manguso asked me to let him know an exact date when we will be doing the clean-up and where a designated area will be for the trash bags to be picked up. (Which I do believe we were focusing on Saturday, 4/25 - after EARTH DAY)

I really feel that with a decent PennySaver ad and a flyer to post around, we should have a pretty good turn-out. I can write a letter to different volunteer organizations asking for their participation in making this an annual event in helping out our community.

I know we only have a couple weeks, but I have confidence that we can get this together & succeed.

[Jim Jowsey]

I'll talk to Danny this weekend, he may even be following this thread. I'll put together a flyer that will be able to double as an ad in the pennysaver this weekend. We should probably stick to one beach for the first one, don't want to overextend when we have no idea what the turnout will be. If we get 50 folks showing up it'll be easy enough to send a few folks down the street on the spot, so let's stick with town park beach for advertising sake.

Saturday, April 25th would be great, rain date of the 26th...

Seems to me like the basics are taken care of. Bonuses would be some coffee, juice and donuts donated for the workers.

If we have no issues, we could start getting the word out this weekend. Yes?

[Lily Pad]

Yes ... E-mail me at my personal e-mail at any time to discuss ... I will respond via BlackBerry.
[e-mail]

(p.s. Thanks Danny for getting that PR in the edition this weekend for Hub. I appreciate it.)

[Deb]

I am watching this thread and marked the date

[Jim Jowsey]

Deb, might we ask you to take pictures?

[Deb]

I am your huckleberry for this assignment!

[Jim Jowsey]

We're set, the Pennysaver will be running an ad next week of the attached flyer. Please feel free to make copies and distribute.

[Lily Pad]

Very Cool ... I have printed on up to post in the Village Hall
I will brainstorm a list for other locations to post