Fifty-five people, two boats, an inflatable dinghy and a couple of kayaks turned out for the 28^th Annual Broward County Waterway Cleanup on March 12 in our neighborhood. It was the 13^th year that Coral Ridge Isles participated as a designated site and the third year that we were sponsored by Roma Tile, Inc. 

(Click here to see the Waterway Cleanup Honor Roll)

The volunteers in boats cruised our canals as they fished floating junk out of our waters, while others walked the shore along Northeast 14^th Avenue collecting garbage and trash of all sorts.  By the end of the morning, we filled a 20-cubic-yard dumpster.  There was lots of paper, Styrofoam and plastic, along with larger items such as shopping carts, tires, a TV console, a cash register and the obligatory automotive parts.  This year, we discovered another homeless camp, which was a makeshift tree house using shipping pallets and even some screening.

Those in boats filled plastic bags with junk and dropped them off on shore, along with stuff that could not fit in the bags.  These were then deposited on our makeshift beachfront and then into the dumpster, a three-step process!  Those who cleaned the shoreline along 14^th avenue filled their bags and left them on the shoulder of the road.  Jo Clementi and his employees from Roma Tile used their fork lift truck to haul the items to the dumpster.  Deano from Blast Off Sandblasting used his bobcat to help haul large items until it developed a hydraulic leak.

Meanwhile, Joe Clementi from Roma Tile manned his grill and provided hot dogs, Italian Sausage and peppers, and drinks for all of the workers throughout the morning. 

Thanks to the great weather and the fine turnout, it was another successful Cleanup event, and everyone pitched in and enjoyed themselves.  Bonnie and Lynne Wood from Oakland Park, Tom Smith from Lauderdale by the Sea, and students from surrounding schools joined Coral Ridge Isles residents for the effort. It was good to see all of the young folks, as the event seems to become more of a family event every year.  We owe thanks to those on the “Honor Roll” who gave up their Saturday morning to do something for our waterway and the environment.  If we misspelled any names, or missed any, we apologize.

Special thanks to Mary-Margaret Edick, who drove more than 90 miles, to join Lane Newman at the  sign-in table,.  They worked plenty hard signing in all the participants, distributing free tee-shirts and goodies, and completing the reports for submission to Committee Headquarters.  Also, thanks to CRI Homeowners Association for publicizing the event in the CRI News.

The Clean-up lasted only a bit more than three hours, but the junk will continue to be deposited and accumulate during the next year.   We really need to find a way to pay more attention to our wet streets in Coral Ridge Isles and Broward County.  Any ideas?  Any helpers?

Thanks to all,

Stacy Vesos & Tom Newman