05-02-2010, 12:00 PM
Nice to see folks organizing for Waukegan. I am amazed how much trash people leave on the beach and it isn't even summer yet. Doesn't help that the trash barrels are usually not emptied regularly.
âHidden gemâ shines after beach cleanup
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/2223968,BEACH-CLEANUP-050210.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 10.article</a><!-- m -->
May 2, 2010
By TINA JOHANSSON Special to The News-Sun
WAUKEGAN â Volunteers spruced up gardens and picked up trash from the lakefront Saturday in a cleanup effort hosted by Friends of Waukegan Beach.
About 50 people came to the north and south municipal beaches on Seahorse Drive, hauling large plastic bags and some with yard tools in tow, giving three hours of their time to help beautify the lakefront.
Former Inmates Striving Together (F.I.S.T.), help out here with friends, finding pieces of automobiles, including tires, roofs, and siding, among all the trash.
(Mark Ukena/Special to The News-Sun)
By noon a huge dumpster was filled up with bursting garbage bags, and perennial gardens near the Stiner Pavilion looked neat and orderly.
âThis was a grass-roots effort by people who really care about the lakefront,â said Lisa May, coordinator of the Friends group. âI had no expectations. We just did it.â She praised all involved including volunteers who pulled weeds and re-mulched flower beds. âThey did a fantastic job.â
She commended the 30-person crew from the not-for-profit organization FIST (Former Inmates Striving Together) which helps keep inmates from going back to prison. âThey worked really hard and did a lot in a short amount of time,â said May.
A lifelong Waukegan resident, May said she goes to the beach almost every Sunday during the summer, along with a number of friends. They spend the day enjoying the nature there, and then join together for a potluck picnic.
âWe are citizens, and we feel this is our property to use,â said May. âWe want it clean, so we just cleaned it up.â
Carrying a bag loaded with trash, was Rick Castellanos of FIST, a faith-based organization. âThis benefits this area, because kids play out here, and the cleanup makes it safer for them. It makes it safer for the wildlife too,â he said.
Volunteers picked up everything from the typical trash -- everything from glass bottles, soda and beer cans, plastic cups and diapers to an auto tire and a door from a boat. Some of the FIST members picked up litter along the roadway all the way from Grand Avenue to the beach.
Marty Golden, a Realtor from Waukegan picked up a number of tossed-away items including clothes, shoes and a torn volleyball net. âWhen I market a property, I take my clients down here to show them the beach,â he said. âThis is a fabulous place, and it really is Waukeganâs hidden gem.â
FIST founder Joe Schmitt of Waukegan said when he found out about the cleanup he jumped at the chance to get his guys and gals involved. âWe are trying to have a positive impact on the community,â he said.
Since FIST was formed one year ago, its members have worked with other community support projects for Waukegan. âThis is one thing we can do to help alleviate some of the cityâs problems,â Schmitt said.
After the cleanup, members of FIST invited the other volunteers to join them at their office at 213 Water St. for a hot dog roast. âThey ate 100 hot dogs, and we had to run out and get more,â said Schmitt.
May explained she started a Facebook page in April, hoping to connect with other citizens concerned about the beach. âIn the first month 500 members joined,â she said.
While May said she would like to have more cleanup events this year, she doesnât know when. âThe date is to be determined. Weâre waiting to see what the city is planning to do with the maintenance of the beach before we can set any dates,â she said.
A common complaint among volunteers during the cleanup was the lack of access to restrooms. The municipal beach house doors were locked.
To find out more about Friends of Waukegan Beach visit Facebook.
âHidden gemâ shines after beach cleanup
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/2223968,BEACH-CLEANUP-050210.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 10.article</a><!-- m -->
May 2, 2010
By TINA JOHANSSON Special to The News-Sun
WAUKEGAN â Volunteers spruced up gardens and picked up trash from the lakefront Saturday in a cleanup effort hosted by Friends of Waukegan Beach.
About 50 people came to the north and south municipal beaches on Seahorse Drive, hauling large plastic bags and some with yard tools in tow, giving three hours of their time to help beautify the lakefront.
Former Inmates Striving Together (F.I.S.T.), help out here with friends, finding pieces of automobiles, including tires, roofs, and siding, among all the trash.
(Mark Ukena/Special to The News-Sun)
By noon a huge dumpster was filled up with bursting garbage bags, and perennial gardens near the Stiner Pavilion looked neat and orderly.
âThis was a grass-roots effort by people who really care about the lakefront,â said Lisa May, coordinator of the Friends group. âI had no expectations. We just did it.â She praised all involved including volunteers who pulled weeds and re-mulched flower beds. âThey did a fantastic job.â
She commended the 30-person crew from the not-for-profit organization FIST (Former Inmates Striving Together) which helps keep inmates from going back to prison. âThey worked really hard and did a lot in a short amount of time,â said May.
A lifelong Waukegan resident, May said she goes to the beach almost every Sunday during the summer, along with a number of friends. They spend the day enjoying the nature there, and then join together for a potluck picnic.
âWe are citizens, and we feel this is our property to use,â said May. âWe want it clean, so we just cleaned it up.â
Carrying a bag loaded with trash, was Rick Castellanos of FIST, a faith-based organization. âThis benefits this area, because kids play out here, and the cleanup makes it safer for them. It makes it safer for the wildlife too,â he said.
Volunteers picked up everything from the typical trash -- everything from glass bottles, soda and beer cans, plastic cups and diapers to an auto tire and a door from a boat. Some of the FIST members picked up litter along the roadway all the way from Grand Avenue to the beach.
Marty Golden, a Realtor from Waukegan picked up a number of tossed-away items including clothes, shoes and a torn volleyball net. âWhen I market a property, I take my clients down here to show them the beach,â he said. âThis is a fabulous place, and it really is Waukeganâs hidden gem.â
FIST founder Joe Schmitt of Waukegan said when he found out about the cleanup he jumped at the chance to get his guys and gals involved. âWe are trying to have a positive impact on the community,â he said.
Since FIST was formed one year ago, its members have worked with other community support projects for Waukegan. âThis is one thing we can do to help alleviate some of the cityâs problems,â Schmitt said.
After the cleanup, members of FIST invited the other volunteers to join them at their office at 213 Water St. for a hot dog roast. âThey ate 100 hot dogs, and we had to run out and get more,â said Schmitt.
May explained she started a Facebook page in April, hoping to connect with other citizens concerned about the beach. âIn the first month 500 members joined,â she said.
While May said she would like to have more cleanup events this year, she doesnât know when. âThe date is to be determined. Weâre waiting to see what the city is planning to do with the maintenance of the beach before we can set any dates,â she said.
A common complaint among volunteers during the cleanup was the lack of access to restrooms. The municipal beach house doors were locked.
To find out more about Friends of Waukegan Beach visit Facebook.