Community Corner

Earth Day Highlights: Pacifica is Sparkling Thanks to Volunteers

From beach clean-ups to restoration efforts, it was hard NOT to 'Take a Bite out of Litter' at Pacifica's Earth Day 2013 event.

 

The message this year at the Pacifica Beach Coalition (PBC)'s 9th Annual Earth Day Citywide Day of Action Event and Festival on Saturday was loud and clear: "Take a Bite out of Litter" — pick up trash and save a shark.

With the “Sharks of the Sea” theme, everyone this Earth Day weekend in Pacifica was encouraged to take the Shark Hero Pledge "to learn more about sharks, pick up litter and reduce my use of plastics."

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

People came as far as Chico and even Philadelphia, said PBC president Lynn Adams, to pick up trash (including hundreds of cigarette butts) all over Pacifica. Lots of plastic bottle caps, a pair of hiking boots, a Sponge Bob jumpy house found on Linda Mar Beach, and even a twenty dollar bill were just some of things collected.

“In our ninth year, the Pacifica Beach Coalition’s Earth Day Festival has expanded from beaches to streets to parks," said Adams. "We could expand this day of action into other communities outside of Pacifica. It just takes one person to take that on, and we would provide the support.”

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Forty volunteer crews worked all day, cleaning up beaches and parks and restoring the landscape by pulling out nonnative plants and weeds from alongside Highway 1 at Rockaway Beach to Pedro Point Headlands.

Later a festival with environmental booths, a circus, live bands, speakers and other entertainment followed the day of action. Marine biologist David McGuire — founder of the ocean health and shark conservation nonprofit Sea Stewards and the Shark Stewards project — was the keynote speaker.

"Supporting the Pacifica Beach Coalition and Sea Stewards helps reduce marine pollution and save big fish like sharks," said McGuire, who spent last week speaking to school groups in Pacifica about the cause.

It was a gorgeous sunny day, whales were spotted off of Linda Mar, and the turnout was remarkable. Here’s what some participants had to say about the event on Pacifica’s Facebook page:

Jennifer Silverman Varley It was such a fun day! And it was amazing how much garbage we collected in an hour and a half!

Karen Peterson Ervin Thank you Girl Scouts for taking such great care of Pacifica!

Richard Piergrossi there is NO BETTER place to celebrate Earth Day then P-Town!!

Mary Bonilla The drive was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

Frank da Champ love watching the waves , inspiring.

Here are some of the sights and sounds of Earth Day in Pacifica, including Adams with Pacifica city councilmembers Mike O'Neill and Karen Ervin, stating the Shark Hero Pledge.

Did you participate in any Earth Day events on Saturday? Tell us about it in the comments, or share your photos by clicking the "Upload Photos & Videos" tab above.


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