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City wants butts off the beach

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published June 28, 2006

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Indian Rocks Beach will kick off its Cigarette Litter Prevention Pilot Program at 11 a.m. Thursday in hopes of reducing significant cigarette litter on the beach.

The program will be conducted in conjunction with the nonprofit organization, Keep America Beautiful.

"It's exciting and it's been a lot of work to get this going, but we hope that Keep Pinellas Beautiful will do this countywide beginning next year," said Susan Fenwick, the committee chairwoman and project organizer.

Cigarette litter is a serious challenge for communities across the United States, according to Keep America Beautiful, which asserts on its Web site that individuals who would never throw down beverage cans or paper packaging typically do not consider tossing cigarette butts on the ground littering.

Especially during the spring and summer, area beaches often seem awash in partially smoked cigarettes, cigarette butts, matches, lighters and packaging. It's not only an environmental hazard and eyesore, but a health risk as well.

"I have three young kids, and I have pulled cigarette butts out of their mouths at the beach - it's disgusting," Fenwick said.

Indian Rocks Beach is one of only two beach communities nationwide chosen to participate in the pilot program, which will run from July 1 to Aug. 31 and will include placement of permanent cigarette butt receptacles at beach accesses, clean-up and counting of cigarette litter, distribution of free pocket ashtrays, and installation of disposable, fire-retardant butt bags.

Fenwick, who had just two months to organize the entire program and find 25 sponsors and volunteers, said she has high hopes for the program, which has seen a 46 percent reduction in cigarette litter in other parts of the country.

The first phase already has been completed. Volunteers went out last week and cleaned the beach and counted cigarette litter. Next week they will gather and count litter again. The following week, they will scour the beach and count the cigarette litter after the 30 receptacles have been installed at beach accesses and the public education campaign has begun.

Thursday's event starts at 11 a.m. at Indian Rocks Beach at the 18th Avenue access. For more information about the program or to volunteer, call City Hall at 595-2517.

Redington Beach

Redington Beach's annual Beach Party will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. on the beach at Beach Park and Gulf Boulevard. Hot dogs and drinks will be provided, and residents are asked to bring lawn chairs and a dish to share. Games and activities will include entertainment, music and a raffle. Information: 432-1706.

St. Pete Beach

The Unwinding at Upham summer concert series continues with a performance of tunes from the '60s to today by the Spells at Upham Beach from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Bring a beach blanket or lawn chair.

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The St. Pete Beach Historic Preservation meeting will be held at 2 p.m. July 6 in the commission chambers at City Hall, 155 Corey Ave.

News for the Beaches Neighborhood Notebook may be e-mailed to SPTimes listings@yahoo.com or mailed to Lorrie Lykins, Seminole Neighborhood Notebook, P.O. Box 4954, Seminole, FL 33775. The deadline for inclusion in the Wednesday Neighborhood Times is the previous Friday.

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 08:45:39]