— from Kira Bradshaw —
Joan Vader, Emily Birky, event organizer Kira Bradshaw, and volunteer Mary Wachter at the Great Islands Clean Up. Photo courtesy Pete Moe.
The Great Islands Clean Up was a great success again this year. On Orcas we had 65 volunteers total and together we picked up 2,400 pounds of litter in 3 hours. 320 pounds were sorted and recycled. We covered town, Crescent Beach, Waterfront Park, Madrona Point, Enchanted Forest Road, Dolphin Bay Road, Orcas Road, and throughout Olga and Deer Harbor.
We had locals and visitors to the island, children and older folks. Most people came to the Village Green, but there were also meeting spots in Olga and Deer Harbor. San Juan Sanitation came by at 1pm and we all pitched a hand to get the black bags of trash in the truck. We even had a large wooden canoe we shoved in there! Recyclables were sent separately.
After the event, all volunteers were given a free drink ticket from Island Market and a beer ticket for happy hour prices at Island Hoppin Brewery. There we sat outside, ate food that was kindly donated, and talked about the day.
Prizes were handed out to volunteers who went far and beyond this year. Tom Long, Bobby King and Pete Moe were given growlers from Orcas Island Growlers for their contributions with organizing, planning, and acting as team leaders.
The Odd Fellows won a growler for the “funkiest junk” with their canoe among other many interesting finds. Dagne Krueger won a $25 gift certificate from Ray’s Pharmacy for hardest working kid, walking over 5 miles in Deer Harbor searching for litter.
So many organizations and businesses participated and supported the effort, I can’t name them all here, but here are a few: San Juan County Public Works, Orcas Recycling Services, San Juan Sanitation, Doe Bay, Island Market, Island Hoppin’ Brewery, Orcas Issues, The Sounder, The Bullocks Brothers Farmstead, Deer Harbor and Cayou Quay Marina, Deer Harbor Resort, Ray’s Pharmacy, Rose’s Bakery and the list goes on.
The total amount of litter picked up on all three islands this year (Lopez, Orcas and San Juan) was 6,232 pounds. Of that 949 pounds were recycled. Over 250 volunteers total.
A big thank you to Kira for organizing this important event. We are lucky to have someone like Kira who makes this such a priority!!