County seeks volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 15

Keep Sarasota County Beautiful (KSCB) is seeking volunteers to participate in the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup from 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Sept. 15, at sites throughout Sarasota County. Volunteers can sign up by contacting Keep Sarasota County Beautiful at 941-861-5000.

“Our beaches, waterways and parks are more than just beautiful tourist destinations; they are vital to our economy,” said Larry Alexander, Sarasota County Solid Waste Collections Manager. “People move here, work here and become a part of this community because of these natural treasures, so it’s in our best interest to take good care of them.”

The 2012 cleanup will include coastal areas and interior sites at the following locations:

Bay Island Park

Bayfront Park and Marina

Bird Key Park

Brohard Park

Caspersen Beach

Centennial Park

City Island Park

Cocoplum Waterway

Edwards Islands

Golden Beach

Ken Thompson Parkway

Lemon Bay Park

Lido Beach

Manasota Beach

Myakkahatchee Creek

Nokomis Beach

North Jetty Park

Oscar Scherer State Park

Phillippi Estate Park

Quick Point Nature Preserve

Rattlesnake Island

Ringling Causeway

Service Club Park

Siesta Beach

South Jetty Beach

South Lido Beach

Turtle Beach

Venice Beach

Venice Fishing Pier

Whitaker Bayou

Keep Sarasota County Beautiful has partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium to make this year’s event a great success. To thank Coastal Cleanup volunteers, Mote is offering one free admission ticket, good until March 2013, to the first 2,500 volunteers who sign up for the event.

“Mote has been working for coastal and marine conservation for more than five decades, so we’re happy to partner with Keep Sarasota County Beautiful on the annual Coastal Cleanup,” said Dan Bebak, Vice President of The Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory. “We welcome cleanup volunteers to The Aquarium and are happy to provide this ‘thank you’ for their help to keep our parks and beaches beautiful and debris-free.”

Coastal Cleanup volunteers will be able to pick up their supplies Sept. 10-14, 2012 at two locations:

Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota

Sarasota County Solid Waste, 4000 Knights Trail Road, Nokomis

For more information on volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net, keyword search KSCB.