Monday, May 1, 2006

San Bernard River Says Thank You!!

The day after David Pope's 2006 Spring Cleanup, the San Bernard River was green and clear. It truly looked as beautiful as most of us have ever seen it. Some say it was the river's way of saying thank you to the 164 volunteers in green t-shirts who cleaned her banks and waters this year of  26,000 lbs. of junk and debris. 

For the 2nd year in a row, there were no reported injuries during cleanup. Some of the more interesting items removed this year were:

  • A bowling ball
  • A message in a bottle
  • An ostrich egg
  • A life vest with jet ski keys attached
  • 12 fridges/freezers (heavy debris team)
  • An abandoned bass boat
  • 1 computer monitor (heavy debris team)
       
Take a look at some of the numbers:
  • 164 volunteers (cleanup day)
  • 53 boats (cleanup day)
  • 6 jet ski's
  • 10,000 lbs collected 4/29 (cleanup day)
  • 4,000 lbs collected on heavy debris day
  • 12,000 lbs cleared by the county at
    "the junk yard near the RR bridge.

In addition, the Brazoria County Health Department Environmental Officers were on the river in their new boat Saturday. They issued 2 citations, 3 warnings,  and 2 investigations were opened and are underway. Thanks to Officers Rodney Garrett and Jeff Minks. These officers are definitely friends of the river.

The BBQ following the cleanup was great fun as over 100 hard-working people (and a lot of pet dogs) gathered at Nelson & Vanessa Taylor's yard on the river. Larry Vasek cooked 7 briskets to perfection for the event and his wife Erma made the fabulous BBQ sauce. Many brought dishes and drinks.

"Treasure Trash" was planted in each of the five zones this year. Three were found and presented at the BBQ. They received gift certificates to Dido's, 2J's, and Hair Inc.

The volunteers voted on the most interesting item found this year and it seemed to be a tie between the bowling ball and the ostrich egg. Mike Demland (Bartlett Motors) bought the bowling ball for $100.

Major sponsors

ConocoPhillips
Brazoria County Parks Dept.
Brazoria County Health Department
County Commissioner Dude Payne
County Commissioner Larry Stanley

Event Sponsors

2J's
X-pressions T-shirts & More
Gardner and Martin
Hair Inc.
Dido's
Custom T-shirts and Graphics
Terry Brown
Larry & Erma Vasek
Eileen Kenneda
 
Zone Captains

Tom Valliere
Vanessa Taylor
Teresa and Neal Graham
Jan and Roy Edwards
Nancy and Fred Kanter

Heavy Debris team

Pat Webb
Alan ?
Roy Edwards
Bob Bailey
Bob Bartosh
Tom and Peggy Davidson
Mike Demland
Gail Brinson
Will Myers
David Pope

Pictures!! Pictures!! Pictures!!

(If you have more pictures, feel free to send them to me (eileen@sanbernardriver.com).
I will make a CD  with all photos received, and it will be kept for posterity by David Pope)
 

Collection Sites:
BBQ Following Cleanup
Before Cleanup Day
Brazoria County Health Dept.

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Notices & Reminders What's New or Changed on the Web
  • Saturday, May 13 - Can You Dig It? Try Try Again.  The river community will come together on our pristine beach at the mouth of the river. We'll  create a human line from the river to the Gulf, then symbolically dig out the sand obstruction to let our river flow. We will have other activities for children and adults. This is an important press event for us and we hope to have a very strong showing.
    ******************************
     
  • Saturday, May 27, 2006 - Memorial Day Boat Parade. More on this coming up very soon.
     
  • If you have feedback or suggestions for the OC, don't be shy. It is the goal of the Organizing Committee to keep this organization open and inclusive in every way. If ever you recognize something that doesn't fit that goal, please contact any OC member, or leave your feedback anonymously in the "Questions for the OC" form below.
 

  • Monthly Email Update for April will go out this week to all on the email list.

    If you are not on the list, then you will not receive it.  Sign up on the lower left column of this page.

    The March update is here.