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Overzealous Beach Cleanup

beachma avatar
Beach Lover
5,108 views
Happily reporting from the beach right here at Seagrove Villas :wub:! Hubby and I arrived Saturday afternoon just in time to catch the tail-end of the Seaside Community Yard Sale...what fun! Snagged a great pair of flip flops for $10 and had a relaxing, delicious lunch at Rendezvous Caf?.
We were down for a week in August with our kids and grand children...which is wonderful, but this week in October is OUR week! Yesterday we were up at 6:30 AM and down at the beach for our first morning walk. We walked a while, then came back to the beach at the Villas, dragged our chairs and umbrella down and sat together just enjoying our favorite place in the world! After a bit, we left our coffee cups at the chairs and took another walk the opposite direction...east. We passed a gentleman walking a black dog, throwing a tennis ball...and noticed that he and another woman were removing chairs & umbrella's that were set up...even going as far as to throw the umbrella's into the trash dumpsters. I thought it a bit odd since it didn't appear to me that the chairs had actually been left up through the night. We had been down on the beach late to see the gorgeous moon rise Saturday night, and by the the time we left there were very few people and items left on the beach. When we turned around to walk back to our chairs, we could see that the man we had past earlier was dragging our chairs and umbrella up the beach to the dumpster! :angry: Please sir...I don't live here and get up early to see sunrises and stay at the beach to see the sunsets...don't deprive me of beach space because you're lumping all visitors into one category! The fact that our coffee mugs were sitting right there, one full of shells we had collected on the first half of our walk, was a clear sign that our chairs hadn't been left overnight! This morning it's windy and rainy...so our walk will have to wait, but tomorrow I suppose I'll have to put a sign on my chairs or something...:idontno:

Edited

Replies

36
Gidget avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
Oh my!! What a story! That reminds me of the lady I once knew who was so compulsive about cleaning that her husband finally divorced her when she would try and make the bed with him still in it! :roll:

Yes, I would make a sign and suggest that maybe he get a chair and watch the beautiful sunrise himself. So did he actually drag your chair off?? Did you get a chance to tell him to chill?

Keep us posted and love your avatar btw.

G
Beach Lover
#3
A Local Apoligizes

On behalf of the locals, I would like to apologize for the actions of the
vigilante, arrogant people who think they own the public beach. It is folks like you - who visit in the off season, that make life better for the merchants and business people of South Walton. Thanks for coming and hopefully the weather will improve.
Topsail Transplant avatar
Beach Lover
#4
Happily reporting from the beach right here at Seagrove Villas :wub:! Hubby and I arrived Saturday afternoon just in time to catch the tail-end of the Seaside Community Yard Sale...what fun! Snagged a great pair of flip flops for $10 and had a relaxing, delicious lunch at Rendezvous Caf?.
We were down for a week in August with our kids and grand children...which is wonderful, but this week in October is OUR week! Yesterday we were up at 6:30 AM and down at the beach for our first morning walk. We walked a while, then came back to the beach at the Villas, drug our chairs and umbrella down and sat together just enjoying our favorite place in the world! After a bit, we left our coffee cups at the chairs and took another walk the opposite direction...east. We passed a gentleman walking a black dog, throwing a tennis ball...and noticed that he and another woman were removing chairs & umbrella's that were set up...even going as far as to throw the umbrella's into the trash dumpsters. I thought it a bit odd since it didn't appear to me that the chairs had actually been left up through the night. We had been down on the beach late to see the gorgeous moon rise Saturday night, and by the the time we left there were very few people and items left on the beach. When we turned around to walk back to our chairs, we could see that the man we had past earlier was dragging our chairs and umbrella up the beach to the dumpster! :angry: Please sir...I don't live here and get up early to see sunrises and stay at the beach to see the sunsets...don't deprive me of beach space because you're lumping all visitors into one category! The fact that our coffee mugs were sitting right there, one full of shells we had collected on the first half of our walk, was a clear sign that our chairs hadn't been left overnight! This morning it's windy and rainy...so our walk will have to wait, but tomorrow I suppose I'll have to put a sign on my chairs or something...:idontno:

This guy must get around I had a similar experience myself at Dune Allen. Sometimes I get up pre-sunrise, bring my chair and coffee to the beach, take a short swim, and then watch the sun rise and drink my coffee. While I was in the water one morning, this person took my coffee dumped it out and proceeded to fold my chair up ( I am assuming he was going to throw it away :bang::bang:). I yelled from the water and then asked him what he was doing. :pissed: Instead of saying he was sorry for the mistake, and for dumping out my coffee, he actually told me I shouldn't leave my chair unattended either very early in the morning or late at night. He then walked eastward and kept looking for other unsuspecting chairs. But i'm with you beachma I am only here part time and i don't want to be lumped in with those people who do leave stuff on the beach!!

Thanks for the post
beachma avatar
Beach LoverAuthor
#5
Oh my!! What a story! That reminds me of the lady I once knew who was so compulsive about cleaning that her husband finally divorced her when she would try and make the bed with him still in it! :roll:

Yes, I would make a sign and suggest that maybe he get a chair and watch the beautiful sunrise himself. So did he actually drag your chair off?? Did you get a chance to tell him to chill?

Keep us posted and love your avatar btw.

G

Yes, he actually pulled the chairs & umbrella off the beach and put them by the dumpster at the beachwalk. He left our coffee mugs in the sand...which actually was a hazard for other walkers because they were white and we had a hard time finding them. Not able to get down yet this morning because of the weather...but I believe I will attach a note to them tomorrow!
Thanx...the avatar is a picture from the last time we were able to eat at 331..I think it was June of 2006! Loved that place...miss it!
P.S. We watched him continue to walk west towards Seaside but didn't try to chase him down. We waited a bit for him to return, he never did. If we see him at all this week, we will let him know that he's being unreasonable in his efforts to keep the beaches clean!

Edited

Beach Comber
#6
Next time, call the police

Tell them you would like to press charges for criminal mischief.
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#8
I think a sign on your chairs is a good idea - most people whose chairs are on the beach at 6:30 am didn't just drag them down there.

Though one would think tossing out warm coffee would be a heckofa clue that people are actively using the chairs. :roll:

It's been a long summer of crap left on the beach, so what may seem like "overzealous" is more likely just "honestly trying to clean up after others."
Banned
#9
I applaud the man for doing his job. We cant expect our beach service folks to chase down people. Believe me, just because there was warm coffee doesnt mean in the least that it was brought to the beach that morning. Im on grayton beach every morning and you wouldnt believe whats left out that would look like people were just there. Ive seen grills with food still cooking and the list goes on. This county had to set up rules and this fella is just doing his job. Just because someone had to walk and get their chairs godforbid doesnt mean we need to smear him, call him overzealous and make a big deal of it. it is what it is and as a local, im glad the law passed is being practiced as written.
Douglas the Intrepid avatar
Beach Fanatic
#10
I applaud the man for doing his job. We cant expect our beach service folks to chase down people. Believe me, just because there was warm coffee doesnt mean in the least that it was brought to the beach that morning. Im on grayton beach every morning and you wouldnt believe whats left out that would look like people were just there. Ive seen grills with food still cooking and the list goes on. This county had to set up rules and this fella is just doing his job. Just because someone had to walk and get their chairs godforbid doesnt mean we need to smear him, call him overzealous and make a big deal of it. it is what it is and as a local, im glad the law passed is being practiced as written.


You are making the assumption that he is beach service getting paid for a job he is suppose to be doing. I strongly suspect he is just a local taking things into his own hands. If so I applaud his gumption, but question the implementation...
mikecat adjuster avatar
Beach Fanatic
#11
It would be nice if he and his wife decided to pick up cigarette butts instead! I still can't get over how many people view the sand as an ashtray. Should be no smoking on the beach.
Banned
#12
You are making the assumption that he is beach service getting paid for a job he is suppose to be doing. I strongly suspect he is just a local taking things into his own hands. If so I applaud his gumption, but question the implementation...


you could be right. could be a frustrated local. i know ive been in those shoes at times thats for sure... in the end, it was what it was, no biggie
Gidget avatar
Beach Fanatic
#13
It would be nice if he and his wife decided to pick up cigarette butts instead! I still can't get over how many people view the sand as an ashtray. Should be no smoking on the beach.

:dothewave:

I could NOT agree more. I plan on combing the sand for butts when we are living at BMB on a reg. basis. It irks me to no end that people think they aren't litter! I don't mind someone smoking but we need a sign that says DON'T LEAVE YOUR BUTTS BEHIND! (or something like that..... I haven't given it enough thought :roll:)

CigaretteLitter.Org - The Facts About Cigarette Butts and Litter - Cigarette Litter

Thanks for the suggestion Mike.

And btw, kkddbb - you wrote:
Believe me, just because there was warm coffee doesnt mean in the least that it was brought to the beach that morning.
:idontno::idontno: How could it be warm and have been left overnight? :roll: I personally think that common sense in this case did not prevail. And it happened to Topsail Transplant too. Shame one has to bring a sign to the beach that says
"Hi, I just put these chairs here this morning. I am either walking or swimming. Please leave them be."

G
Banned
#14
It would be nice if he and his wife decided to pick up cigarette butts instead! I still can't get over how many people view the sand as an ashtray. Should be no smoking on the beach.


irks me too. you also got to love traffic light intersections where theres more butts than grass. some people would rather pollute the earth than pollute their fancy car ashtray. and some call themselves environmentalists for the sake of being cool
Beach Fanatic
#15
I applaud the man for doing his job. We cant expect our beach service folks to chase down people. Believe me, just because there was warm coffee doesnt mean in the least that it was brought to the beach that morning. Im on grayton beach every morning and you wouldnt believe whats left out that would look like people were just there. Ive seen grills with food still cooking and the list goes on. This county had to set up rules and this fella is just doing his job. Just because someone had to walk and get their chairs godforbid doesnt mean we need to smear him, call him overzealous and make a big deal of it. it is what it is and as a local, im glad the law passed is being practiced as written.

The creator of this thread said that it was a man & woman walking their black dog & throwing a ball for it ... so the man wasn't "doing his job" and wasn't one of the "beach service folks."
Banned
#16
:dothewave:

I could NOT agree more. I plan on combing the sand for butts when we are living at BMB on a reg. basis. It irks me to no end that people think they aren't litter! I don't mind someone smoking but we need a sign that says DON'T LEAVE YOUR BUTTS BEHIND! (or something like that..... I haven't given it enough thought :roll:)

CigaretteLitter.Org - The Facts About Cigarette Butts and Litter - Cigarette Litter

Thanks for the suggestion Mike.

And btw, kkddbb - you wrote:
:idontno::idontno: How could it be warm and have been left overnight? :roll: I personally think that common sense in this case did not prevail. And it happened to Topsail Transplant too. Shame one has to bring a sign to the beach that says
"Hi, I just put these chairs here this morning. I am either walking or swimming. Please leave them be."

G

because not all people go to bed at sundown. believe it or not, some people stay out late sometimes.....me included. trust me on this one. i was a loud voice trying to get this law inacted and it wasnt because we felt like being jerks. its very furstrating to the locals just trying to live at the beach, especially in grayton. ive seen several events or private parties have plans on a specific part of the beach only to find a set up from the night before. and this happens more often than you think im afraid. and than people take advantage of it and it gets out of control like it did this summer. its just one of those situations i guess
Banned
#17
The creator of this thread said that it was a man & woman walking their black dog & throwing a ball for it ... so the man wasn't "doing his job" and wasn't one of the "beach service folks."


i just reread it, your correct. its wrong for those folks to do it, but it does happen daily where it was the beach service were the ones and rightfully so. myself and almost everyone i know has taken matters into our own hands at times. i guess some of us are just sick of going to the beach and finding woodstock all over again. sounds like this couple was one of them and may have been grumpy at the sametime....who knows. again, it is what it is.
NotDeadYet avatar
Beach Fanatic
#18
The beach services are not tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff or otherwise enforcing the county rule. That is the job of code enforcement. Most beach services pick up trash when they have time, but only obvious trash, like empty cans, etc.
Banned
#19
The beach services are not tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff or otherwise enforcing the county rule. That is the job of code enforcement. Most beach services pick up trash when they have time, but only obvious trash, like empty cans, etc.


yes and no. code enforcement doesnt have all the capabilities as the beach service. ive seen them both in action on grayton.
Topsail Transplant avatar
Beach Lover
#20
I too applaud someone who has the initiative to help clean up the beach:clap:. But when someone yells at you from the water 50 yards away and says thats my stuff and I'm here I would expect them to say something like I'm sorry I thought this was left here overnight just trying to keep the beach clean not you shouldn't leave your chair unattended between 10:00 p.m and 7:00 a.m While I am not a full time local I do own a house down there and try to spend about a quarter of my time down there. I :wub: sowal and wan't to see this place remain beautiful as much as anyone else but also try and remain respecful of others personal property. I will however bring my sign next time ;-).
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#21
Perhaps to clarify you should be referring to the TDC clean up crew and not beach service. Beach service is generally considered the guys who provide beach chairs and umbrellas. I'd hate for someone to think that Beach Chairs 4 U is responsible for cleaning the entire beach.
Beach Comber
#22
The beach services are not tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff or otherwise enforcing the county rule. That is the job of code enforcement.



my question is how can an enforcement department be tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff. I've never seen a police officer
write you a ticket for throwing your cigarette butt out the window and then pick it up for you. :idontno:
beachma avatar
Beach LoverAuthor
#23
The beach services are not tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff or otherwise enforcing the county rule. That is the job of code enforcement.



my question is how can an enforcement department be tasked with rearranging or discarding people's stuff. I've never seen a police officer
write you a ticket for throwing your cigarette butt out the window and then pick it up for you. :idontno:

I'm on vacation...and I'm ready to hit the beach, but I must say I don't understand this post at all. It isn't a private citizen's duty/responsibility to enforce the law. That's what South Walton pays their beach patrol people to do. I've seen items tagged and when not picked up heaved into the back of a South Walton beach patrol truck the next morning. To infer that it's ok for private citizens to carry out enforcement crosses over into dangerous territory. We weren't breaking the law by setting up our beach chairs early in the morning...but I would say that Mr. Bark Park (I've identified him by his t-shirt) was closer to breaking laws by disposing of my personal property because he felt he was doing his part to enforce a law. Picking up trash, cigarette butts, empty water bottles etc. is definitely doing the part of a conscientious citizen and I do it as a visitor. If I had the good fortune of living here, I would pick up trash...but let the proper authorities handle the enforcement of the laws. If I felt they weren't doing a good enough job, I'd make calls and attend whatever local town meetings necessary to voice my dissatisfaction! End of my rant! I'm going to the beach and will let this subject rest. I have put my signs on my chairs each morning before we leave them for a walk...so far no more incidents! :blush:
Beach Comber
#24
The guy that is taking other people's property and disposing of it is breaking the law. If a chair, cooler or umbrella has clearly been abandoned on the beach, which does happen all of the time it is commendable for a citizen to remove it as a beach cleanup volunteer. From what I read, this guy is a menace and if seen again should be reported to the beach patrol at 267-2000. I recently set up two tents at Grayton early one morning for a family outing and someone destroyed them and removed them. Probably the same guy. I confirmed that it was not Code Enforcement.. My cost= over $300. I was only gone for less than an hour.
NotDeadYet avatar
Beach Fanatic
#25
I guess my post was confusing. :confused:
My point was exactly that - that private citizens including the beach service employees are not tasked with enforcement on the beach. Enforcement of the leave no trace ordinance is the job of the county code enforcement office.
So anyone moving or discarding someone else's stuff on the beach who is not a code enforcement officer or a law enforcement officer is not authorized, is my understanding of the ordinance.
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#26
No, it's not a private citizen's responsibility to enforce the ordinance, but dealing with piles of other people's junk 365 days a year gets to you.

Noone complains about the multiple organized beach cleanups every year (especially the one on July 5th) or the many bags of trash locals clean off the beaches every year, but somehow picking up abandoned chairs and tents is akin to kicking a whole litter of puppies.

Yes, some people are getting a little aggressive about it, but I really can't blame them - it's incredibly frustrating to constantly see the increasing amounts of crap littering the beaches w/ no owners in sight.

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