And People Wonder Why I Don't Swim in the Bay!

My husband and I moved to Rhode Island in 2003.  We were in love with beaches, the water, the seafood, the proximity to other exciting places in New England and the East Coast.  We're both midwesterners, so when you can drive 4 hours and be in NYC or Maine or drive 4 hours and still be in a cornfield - yeah, we'll take the East Coast.

My husband and I are fortunate to live a couple of blocks away from Greenwich Bay.  Since we moved in to our house we would go for nightly walks on the beach until the weather got too bitter.  However, once the ahhh of taking daily strolls on the beach wore off, and I saw the coastline as it really was, I started to get a sense of how dirty the beaches were in some areas of the state.  Nothing socks you in the gut like walking along a beautiful stretch of coastline and seeing dirty diapers, condoms, tampons and broken glass everywhere.  And this was before I worked for Save The Bay.

Once I began working at STB, I really started to understand just how much work we have to do as an organization and as a state to make our Bay healthy for everyone to enjoy and our beaches safe to be open for swimming and recreation.

This video was passed to me by a coworker and it's a great eye opener for people who don't really understand the sewage overflow issues in Newport and how that relates to the closure of the beaches.

I always dread doing cleanups in Newport after rain storms - heck I dread doing clenaups ANYWHERE after a big rain storm.  If you ever attend a cleanup with me after a big storm, don't be shocked if I ask you to double up on your gloves!!  It's for your safety!

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Ask anyone who has ever participated in a beach cleanup, either with Save The Bay or another organization, and they can tell you about the amount of plastic and other debris we find on the coastlines.  It's incredible what is littered around the coastlines in Rhode Island. 

I was just forwarded this link from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island - they oversee International Coastal Cleanup Day in the state sent this out to all of the cleanup leaders.

I have since shared it with our staff here and our Community Cleanup Leaders. But I feel it is fitting to share with the general public as well.

These pictures may be a bit distrubing and graphic for some, but it speaks greatly to the problem of plastics on our coastlines and the impact these tiny bits of trash have on local marine life and animals.

Albatross Chick Photos

Who is your Hero?

Ahhh It's my favorite time of year - and I don't mean the holidays.

I mean time for CNN to honor heroes - people who are out there making a difference in their communities and around the world.

Really, if you have never watched the CNN Heroes Award Show or visited the website to read people's stories on how they are engaging their communities to make a difference, you should.  It's so heartwarming and uplifting.

I think volunteering is a great way to ensure people are making a difference in their communities.  And while these individuals may be doing more than seems possible to you (heck, me too!), don't be discouraged.  Every bit of time, energy and compassion you give to an organization or others is valuable and worthwhile.

Take a few minutes to read some of these stories and even vote for your favorite hero.

You'll be inspired and touched by the work these people are doing!

CNN Heroes

How do Cigarette Butts Impact the Environment

This is a great article from emagazine.com on the impact of cigarette butts on the environment.  Worth a quick read!

Don't Miss this PBS Special on Seniors Volunteering

There is a great special that will be airing on Veterans Day - November 11th - on PBS called "The Way We Get By."

This documentary follows 3 senior volunteers who serve as troop greeters at the airport in Bangor, Maine.  It follows their service, their lives and the feeling they have about how much time they have left in the world and the impact they are making.

The full description on the show can be found here.

I can't wait to watch this!