Help clean up the beach on September 20

Volunteers to Conduct Sweep of Ocean State’s Coast

By ecoRI News staff

Some 2,000 volunteers from across Rhode Island will participate Sept. 20 in a global cleanup to collect trash and data at more than 80 beaches as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

Save The Bay is the Rhode Island coordinator, and volunteers can sign up on-line to help clean the state’s coastline. Volunteers typically remove about 20,000 pounds of trash and debris in Rhode Island alone, according to July Lewis, Save The Bay’s volunteer manager.

ICC volunteers remove shoreline debris and document what they find at clean-up sites worldwide. The data is compiled and published in an annual report by the Ocean Conservancy, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate for marine issues.

Policymakers working to reduce marine debris at the source use the report to inform their work and to raise awareness of the problem.

Groups, families and individuals are all welcome, Lewis said. Save The Bay will provide the bags, gloves and other supplies.

Here is the list of Rhode Island cleanups scheduled for Sept. 20:

BARRINGTON 
• Barrington Town Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by volunteers Bill and Deb Dwyer 
Meet at the end of Bay Road, in the Barrington Beach parking lot 
Approximate address for GPS: 95 Bay Road, Barrington, R.I.

BLOCK ISLAND 
• Fred Benson Town Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
7 Corn Neck Road, New Shoreham 
Led by Kim Gaffett of the Ocean View Foundation and Topher Hamblett of Save The Bay 
Meet at Fred Benson Town Beach parking lot.

BRISTOL
• Jacob’s Point (Audubon Environmental Education Center), 9 a.m.-noon 
1401 Hope St (Route 114), Bristol
Led by Jonathan Scoones of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Volunteers get free admission to the Environmental Exploration Center.

• Waypoysett at the Narrows, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Boy Scout leader Kevin Spencer and Steve Johnson 
Meet at the end of Narrows Road 
Approximate address for GPS: 175 Narrows Road, Bristol, R.I. Follow Narrows Road to the end.

• Pebble Beach/Old Ferry Road, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Led by K.C. Ferrara and the Roger Williams University Feinstein Center
Meet at the end of Old Ferry Road, at the base of the Mount Hope Bridge
Approximate address for GPS: 1 Old Ferry Road (Main entrance to Roger Williams University). If you are coming south on Routes 114 or 136, go past the main entrance to Roger Williams University and take the second entrance toward Lot A. If you are coming across the Mount Hope Bridge, take your first right after the bridge toward Roger Williams University, Lot A. Follow this road to the end.

CHARLESTOWN 
• Charlestown Breachway, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Save The Bay’s South Coast keeper Dave Prescott 
Meet at the end of Charlestown Beach Road, in the Charlestown Breachway parking lot
Approximate address for GPS: 812 Charlestown Beach Road, Charlestown, R.I.

• Charlestown Town Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
557 Charlestown Beach Road 
Led by Jim McMonigle 
Meet at Charlestown Town Beach parking lot.

EAST PROVIDENCE 
• Bold Point, 9 a.m.-noon
Led by Jackie and Marty Metzger and Save The Bay 
Meet at the end of Waterfront Drive
Approximate address for GPS: 500 Waterfront Drive, East Providence, R.I. Continue past Tockwotton Home and bear right toward Bold Point parking area.

• Sabin Point, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Melonie, Michael, Luke and Marina Massa 
Meet at Sabin Point Park, the end of Shore Road 
Approximate address for GPS: 131 Shore Road, East Providence, R.I.

JAMESTOWN 
• Fort Wetherill, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Deb Greenhalgh
Meet at Fort Wetherill Road
Approximate address for GPS: 232 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, R.I.

LITTLE COMPTON 
• South Shore Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
125 South Shore Road 
Led by Sandra Farr and the Sogkonate Garden Club.

MIDDLETOWN 
• Sachuest Point, 9 a.m.-noon 
796 Sachuest Point Road Middletown
Led by Clean Ocean Access
Meet at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge parking lot.

• Second Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
305 Sachuest Point Road
Led by Gary and Sue Paquette 
Meet at Second Beach, east of the main beach pavilion.

• Third Beach, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
Led by Matt Schenck and the Norman Bird Sanctuary
Meet at Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Third Beach Education Center, Third Beach Road
Approximate address for GPS: 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown, R.I. Continue past Norman Bird Sanctuary, through the intersection with Hanging Rock Road & Indian Avenue. Third Beach Education Center is across from Peabody Beach.

NARRAGANSETT 
• Scarborough Beach, 8-11 a.m. 
970 Ocean Road 
Led by Karen Brown and Katie Shelden
Meet at Scarborough parking lot, north pavilion.

• Aunt Carrie’s Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
1240 Ocean Road 
Led by Heather Biben 
Meet at Aunt Carrie’s Restaurant.

• Narragansett Town Beach, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
39 Boston Neck Road 
Led by Dawn Tortorelli and Dave Owens 
Meet at South pavilion parking lot.

• Point Judith Breakwater, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Julia Bancroft, Stacy Lafond and Save The Bay 
Approximate address for GPS: 1410 Ocean Road, Narragansett, R.I. Follow to this point, then turn right onto unpaved access road and follow to parking lot. If you get to the lighthouse, you’ve gone too far.

NEWPORT 
• Cliff Walk, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Clean Ocean Access 
Meet at Wetmore and Marine Avenue
Approximate address for GPS: 99 Marine Ave., Newport, R.I.

• Easton’s Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
175 Memorial Blvd.
Led by Clean Ocean Access and Save The Bay 
Meet at the parking lot near the Rotunda.

• Fort Adams State Park, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Red Godin & Giant Stride Dive Shop
Meet at the Bennington Memorial, behind the Eisenhower House
Approximate address for GPS: 1 Lincoln Drive, Newport, R.I. This will take you to the Eisenhower House; keep driving and find the memorial around the next curve on Lincoln Drive.

• King’s Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Tom Freeman 
Meet at King’s Beach, small parking lot on Ocean Avenue between Harrison Avenue and Prices Neck Road
Approximate address for GPS: 353 Ocean Ave., Newport, R.I.

NORTH KINGSTOWN 
• Rome Point, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Led by Mike Morin and the North Kingstown Land Conservancy 
Meet at John H Chafee Nature Preserve parking lot, Boston Neck Roadd (Route 1A) between Hamilton Allenton Road and Route 138 
Approximate address for GPS: 1417 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown, R.I.

PORTSMOUTH 
• Common Fence Point, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Mil Kinsella and Common Fence Point Improvement Association 
Meet at CFPIA Community Hall, 933 Anthony Road.

• Island Park, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Clean Ocean Access 
Meet at Island Park Beach parking lot on Park Avenue between Boyd’s Lane and Mason Avenue
Approximate address for GPS: 232 Park Ave., Portsmouth, R.I.

• McCorrie Point, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Clean Ocean Access 
Meet at beach access at the end of McCorrie Lane 
Approximate address for GPS: 402 McCorrie Lane, Portsmouth, R.I.

• Sandy Point, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Clean Ocean Access 
Meet at end of Sandy Point Avenue 
Approximate address for GPS: 570 Sandy Point Ave., Portsmouth, R.I.

• Teddy’s Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Clean Ocean Access 
Meet across from Stonebridge Marina, where Park Avenue turns into Point Road
Approximate address for GPS: 17 Point Road, Portsmouth, R.I.

PROVIDENCE 
• Oxford Street at Allens Avenue, 8-10 a.m. 
Led by Meredyth Whitty and Bell St. Chapel 
Meet at shoreline access area at the intersection of Allens Avenue and Oxford Street 
Approximate address for GPS: 336 Allens Ave., Providence, R.I.

• Field’s Point Beach (Save The Bay headquarters), 9 a.m.-noon 
100 Save The Bay Drive 
Led by July Lewis and Save The Bay 
Meet outside the Save The Bay building.

WARWICK 
• Conimicut Point, 9 a,m.-noon 
Led by Rebecca Yant 
Meet at Conimicut Point Park, at the end of Point Avenue 
Approximate address for GPS: 5 Point Ave., Warwick, R.I.

• Longmeadow Fishing Area/Samuel Gorton Avenue, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Gloria Krajewski and Save The Bay 
Meet at end of Samuel Gorton Avenue. Longmeadow Fishing area is on the left 
Approximate address for GPS: 5 Samuel Gorton Ave., Warwick, R.I.

• Oakland Beach, 9 a.m.-noon 
885 Oakland Beach Ave.
Led by Jonathan Stone and Save The Bay 
Meet in parking lot.

• Warwick City Park, 9 a.m.-noon
Led by Tanisha Simpson of West Bay Community Action Program
Approximate address for GPS: 185 Asylum Road, Warwick, R.I. Follow road through the park toward beach, meet at beach picnic area.

WESTERLY 
• Weekapaug Breachway, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Mark Burbelo 
Meet at parking lot on Atlantic Avenue, west side of Weekapaug Breachway, across from Seafood Haven
Approximate address for GPS: 668 Atlantic Ave., Westerly, R.I.

• Various shoreline sites, 9 a.m.-noon 
Led by Steve Cersosimo and Rhode Island Mobile Sport Fishermen 
Meet at Rhode Island Sports Fishermen’s clubhouse, 104 South Woody Hill Road. Gather at 8:15 a.m. for coffee and pastries. The group will divide up into various sites along the Westerly shore, including Quonochontaug Beach, Watch Hill and the west side of Weekapaug Breachway.

Here is a list of other coastal cleanups being held on different dates:

TIVERTON (Sept. 27) 
• Grinnell’s Beach, 1-3 p.m.
Led by Save The Bay, Mike Ryan and Coldwell Banker Guimond Realty Office 
Approximate address for GPS: 1812 Main Road, Tiverton, R.I.

• Fogland Beach, 1-3 p.m. 
Led by Save The Bay, Mike Ryan and Coldwell Banker Guimond Realty Office 
Approximate address for GPS: 1 Three Rod Road, Tiverton, R.I.

• Seapowet Marsh, 1-3 p.m. 
Led by Save The Bay, Mike Ryan and Coldwell Banker Guimond Realty Office 
Approximate Address for GPS: 752 Seapowet Ave., Tiverton, R.I. There is a small parking lot immediately north of the bridge where Seapowet Avenue goes over Seapowet Creek.

PORTSMOUTH (Oct. 4)
• Pheasant Hill Beach, 9 a.m.-noon
Led by Bob and Judy Gessler 
Meet at the right-of-way at the intersection of Pheasant Drive and Brant Road
Approximate address for GPS: 120 Pheasant Drive, Portsmouth, R.I.

WARWICK (Oct. 19)
• Rocky Point, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
Led by Marc Cardin and Save The Bay 
Meet at parking lot where Rocky Point Avenue and Palmer Avenue meet 
Approximate address for GPS: 8 Rocky Point Ave., Warwick, R.I.