Picking up litter on Boynton's beaches may not be glamorous work, but Robyn Halasz does just that every week because she is passionate about helping the environment.
"It opened up my eyes a lot as far as the environment and what it does to the animals," she said. "It became a life purpose. … It's been a great experience."
The experience Halasz is talking about is the three years she's been volunteering with the Sand Sifters, a community organization that keeps litter off the city's beaches, parks, mangroves and intracoastal parks. She was recently recognized for her work with the first Sand Sifters Volunteer of the Year Award.
"Robyn has gone over and above the call of any responsible duty," said Gary Solomon, founder of the Sand Sifters. "Her whole heart is in it, and it shows with everything she does. She has extreme care of the environment and the organization, and it has made her an integral part of the Sand Sifters."
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WHAT'S MAKING NEWS
BOYNTON BEACH, FL-- You may have noticed more trash on the beach lately. Stephanie Bussinger, a Boynton Beach resident says, "Recently coming down I thought it was a lot more plastic bottles." And with strong onshore winds…almost anything can blow in. Now, the departments involved in picking up this trash are facing budget cuts.
More trash at the beach lately...what to do?
Reported by: James Wieland
Email: jwieland@wptv.com
Last Update: 11/06 9:12
The Town of Palm Beach has already scaled back on how much ground it covers, and Palm Beach County may reduce or even eliminate the trash pickup altogether.
That's where you and volunteer organizations like the 'Sand Sifters' come in. Gary Solomon of Sand Sifters says, "Our group comes out monthly the first Saturday of every month in Boynton Beach, we come out every Monday after the weekend also…to pick up the trash." Groups like the Sand Sifters help supplement the work cities and counties do. Solomon says, "We save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the county and cities…with the budget cuts that are going out now I believe that the county and the cities are looking for more volunteers to come out."
For beach lovers like Stephanie, all it takes is a little effort. "If everybody does there part, throwing away trash, we could actually make this place a little bit better….it's a great place…I love it…it's definitely my how and I'm proud to be a part of it." Bussinger adds. If you want to do your part, the Sand Sifters is having a beach cleanup this Saturday in Boynton Beach.
Sifter leads seaside clean-ups
July 2009 Coastal Star
In the sifting sands along the Ocean Ridge shore, there is one constant: Gary Solomon. Solomon is the founder of Sand Sifters, and one Saturday morning a month, he and volunteers he has recruited descend on the beach to pluck the cans, bottles, cigarette butts and the other detritus left by careless beachgoers and the tides. It started small, with an afternoon stroll. ''I'd always done volunteer work and one day I took a walk on the beach, noticed the trash and decided to join a group," he said. But there was no such group. Solomon, 48, decided to start one himself.
With a few friends who live near him in suburban Boynton Beach, he organized the first cleanup five years ago. Today, Sand Sifters boasts hundreds of volunteers, an e-mail list of 1,100, programs for after-school groups, and solid working relationships with governments ranging from Boynton Beach and Ocean Ridge to Palm Beach County. "One thing goes to the next," he said. "We've won awards. We take the award, smile, and then put on our gloves and go pick up more trash."
Solomon is especially proud of a deal struck with county officials to post signs and trash cans at entries to all county beachfront parks, asking people to deposit their cigarette butts before heading to the beach and on their way out. They should be in place by next month, with an official unveiling July 18 at Gulfstream Park. Cigarette butts and plastics are among the banes of beaches because of the harm they can cause to sea creatures, especially turtles. Those items, and ribbons, balloons and shards of plastic get twisted in seaweed and wash out to sea where turtles might eat them, with What's the oddest thing he's found on cleanup? "Headless chickens." Likely from some Santeria rite, he said.
Dr. Joseph Belmonte, an Ocean Ridge resident and now a frequent volunteer, is an admirer. When he moved to the town in 2001, Belmonte said, he "was very surprised to find the beaches in Ocean Ridge to be rather trashy relative to other beaches along the Florida coast. "Then, like the Lone Ranger on his beautiful white horse, along came Gary Solomon with his newly formed band of volunteers who felt that beautiful once again. "It is a sight to behold as the band of volunteers spread out along the beaches of Ocean Ridge " wearing their Sand Sifter shirts and Sand Sifter caps, gathering the unwanted trash in order to make our beaches pristine, yet at the same time leaving these beaches in their natural setting," Belmonte said. Solomon is pleased the effort so far. We’re happy. We want to keep growing and reach younger people so they can pass it on," he said. "It makes my heart feel good. People of all ages (Volunteers range from 4 to 92) come out and really want to do it."
Gary Solomon was nominated to be a Coastal Star by Ocean Ridge resident Joseph Belmonte.
Robyn Halasz & Gary Solomon of the Sand Sifters, hoping to make a difference.
July 28th, 2009
On July 18th Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation unvailed it's new signs encouraging beach goers to keep our coastal environment clean and to put out their cigarette butts in the appropriate ashtrays. The Sand Sifters were an integral part of making this happen. Thanks to the sheer perserverance and commitment of the Sand Sifters the signs were put up. Hopefully it will make beach goers aware of the continual problem of cigarette litter but also make them think twice before littering in general.
Signs at Palm Beach County Beaches to Heighten Cigarette Litter Awareness. Cities To Follow.
June 29, 2009- Gary Solomon
The Sand Sifters. the local beach cleanup group based in Boynton Beach are in discussions with the City of Boynton Beach, Town of Ocean Ridge and Palm Beach County to help them in their efforts to keep the beaches litter free. Since cigarette butts have been the biggest litter problem threatening our environment we are happy to announce that the Palm Beach Parks and Recreation Department will be placing Cigarette Litter Awareness Signs with Cigarette Receptacles at the entrance walk ways towards the beaches throughout Palm Beach County. The message will strongly encourage people to discard their cigarettes in receptacles before going down to the beach while helping to protect out coastal environment.
Smoking ban snuffed out for Palm Beach County beaches
By Andy Reid | South Florida Sun Sentinel
9:51 PM EDT, May 6, 2009
WEST PALM BEACH - Smoke 'em if you got 'em at Palm Beach County beaches. Officials this week rebuffed a push to put up "No Smoking" signs at county beaches. A beach cleanup group concerned about discarded cigarette butts littering the waterfront called for the county to put up signs just like the ones Boca Raton posted on its beaches in January.
But county attorneys concluded that state law forbids cities and counties from regulating outdoor smoking. The parks department Tuesday said there are no plans to post "No Smoking" signs. Gary Solomon, founder of Sand Sifters Beach Cleanup, said he will keep pushing for no-smoking signs on beaches up and down the coast.
The county and other communities can post the signs to spread a no-smoking message and opt not to impose fines or issue tickets to violators, Solomon said. It would instead become "self-policing," with other beachgoers encouraging smokers not to light up, he said.
Cigarette butts are the most common item found during beach cleanups, Solomon said. In addition to cleaning up litter, his group also hits the beach to pass out "pocket ashtrays" to smokers. "The problem just seems to be getting worse," he said. "If you are going to smoke, take your butts with you."
Boca Raton already prohibited smoking at city parks and in January decided to expand the ban to its beaches, Assistant City Manager Mike Woika said. The city doesn't issue citations, but city employees will ask smokers to put out their cigarettes, Woika said. "It's more of a self-enforcement" rule, Woika said.
Sarasota County also regulates smoking on its beaches and parks, but Manatee, Lake and Desoto counties are among those that agree with Palm Beach County's interpretation of the law, according to the county attorney's office. To bolster its position, the county points to a 2005 legal opinion when Gov. Charlie Crist, who was then attorney general, wrote that local attempts to regulate smoking "in any way other than that prescribed by the Legislature would be ... of no effect." "Entities other than the state aren't supposed to pass any restrictions on smoking in public places," Chief Assistant County Attorney Jim Mize said. "We try to abide by state law."
Palm Beach Post
By: Samantha Frank
April 2, 2009
Going green:
In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, Sand Sifters will hold a special cleanup. From 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday, the Boynton Beach-based group will join forces with the Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Department for the "Save the World" cleanup. The cleanup will be at Oceanfront Park, 6415 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach. Volunteers should meet at the lower parking lot pavilion.
Last year it rained during Earth Day cleanup, but about 200 people still came out. There will be free "earth-friendly" food, seedlings to plant, a botanical nature walk and a harmonica concert by residents of the Boynton Beach Senior Center. Publix also has donated 200 recyclable tote bags. Activities for children include face painting, wheelbarrow races, a soccer shootout and recycled arts and crafts projects.
Volunteers are asked to bring nonperishable food, which will be donated to the Community Caring Center. The wish list includes peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, canned vegetables and cereal. Volunteers also should bring their own hats, sunscreen and water.Community service hours will be awarded if needed.
Gary Solomon, organizer and founder of Sand Sifters, said the cleanup couldn't be coming at a better time "Sea turtle season started March 1, and we are very frustrated with what's being washed up by this weather," he said. "We have to get this stuff up or the sea turtles and birds will choke on it and die."
It's a day at the beach for kids concerned about litter
By MIKE ROTHMAN | Forum Publishing Group February 18, 2009
Children from the Boynton Beach Art Center Kids Club program are learning the importance of keeping the Earth clean and litter-free. They are learning in the classroom as well as out on the beach.
In conjunction with the Sand Sifters, a local beach cleanup group, students recently got their hands dirty at the first in a series of beach cleanup events. Other cleanups are from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday and March 5. The Sand Sifters started in conjunction with the Boynton Beach Recreation & Parks Department almost two years ago. The group, led by Gary Solomon, cleans up Oceanfront Park and its surrounding beaches at 6415 N. Ocean Blvd. once a month.
Heather Spillane, Art Center supervisor, said since the Sand Sifters work with the recreation department on the monthly cleanups, she thought it would be educational for the children to get involved with the group. The group has also tried to bring awareness to local youth through signage and educational programs to teach them about the benefits of a clean environment. "The kids can learn hands-on about how to keep the environment clean in addition to their in-class studies," Spillane said.
The activity will precede the children's studies dedicated to the environmental health of the planet and celebrating Earth Day in April. "The kids just love it and blow us kisses and thank us for letting them help," Solomon said. He said the important thing is to teach the children at a young age values about the environment. "That is what we are trying to and need to do; get them when they are young," he said.
Life's a beach for Boynton cleanup volunteers
Posted: Feb 6, 2009 06:22 AM EST
By Lindsay Cohen
OCEAN RIDGE, FL (WFLX) -- They're more concerned with flotsam and jetsam than with flip-flops and sunscreen; but their efforts along local beaches help keep Florida's coastline pristine.
"Our volunteers do this from their heart," said Gary Solomon, who heads up the beach-cleaning, volunteer-based group, Sand Sifters. "[We do this] to keep the environment and the animals clean and safe."
Every other weekend the Sand Sifters meet at Palm Beach County beaches to pick up tons of trash. Solomon says the group has found everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
"Boats and engine blocks," he said, "Christmas trees. Headless chickens."
The group, which has been around for nearly four years, is looking at expanding south to Broward County. They've been approached by the cities of Ft. Lauderdale and Hallandale Beach to create a Sand Sifters group there.
The organization gathers at Oceanfront Park in Boynton Beach for a cleanup the first Saturday of each month. They will be there Saturday morning, February 7th, at 8:00 am. Members of the public are welcome to join.
West Boynton woman honored for her efforts to keep city's beach clean
Sand Sifters honor volunteer
January 11, 2009
Halasz first heard about the Sand Sifters on the community Web forum where she lives because Solomon posted the information; they both live in the same community. "I had been looking for a couple years to get involved," she said. "I go to the beach a lot and thought something needed to be done [about the litter on the beaches] and thought it was perfect, that's exactly what I am looking for."Besides cleaning up the city's beaches, the group also does food and toy drives and gives to soldiers, Halasz said. "It's important to also reach out to the community," she said. Halasz said anyone can get involved with the Sand Sifters, with volunteers ranging from children to seniors. "You can meet somebody and help out at the same time and do something good for our city and county," she said.
The group picks up litter from Oceanfront Park the first Saturday of every month and quarterly at Gulfstream Park. They just started getting involved with Intracoastal Park too, she said. The next beach cleanup will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park. A cleanup will also take place Feb. 21 at Intracoastal Park.
