VCS Earth Day beach cleanup brightened up a dreary day

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Kris Vrooman and Peter Meleney walked along the bike path at State Beach collecting "nips" as they returned to the trash collection spot by little bridge. — Photo by Susan Safford

Undaunted by early wind and rain Saturday, close to 200 volunteers fanned out across 23 Martha’s Vineyard beaches to take part in the annual Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) Earth Day Beach Clean-up from 10 am to noon.

VCS event organizer Signe Benjamin said the list of beach trash this year included an exhaust pipe, several tires, deck chairs, syringes, large pieces of styrofoam, lots of wood scraps, beach stair cases, and even a road sign.

The Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown hosted a party after the cleanup for all the volunteers. Flatbread donated pizzas and the Scottish Bakehouse donated baked goods. The kids received free T-shirts with a Jules Feiffer drawing supplied by ShirtsbyTed.

“For over twenty years VCS has sponsored this initiative to increase local support for Earth Day and, more broadly, to encourage a greater appreciation and respect for the natural beauty of our Island year-round,” VCS said in a press release. “Together, we can take responsibility for our Island’s beaches, one of our most precious resources.”