Some of the greatest amenities in the entire region are those golden strands of powder beach we all know and love as as the Lake Michigan waterfront, and nobody values that stretch of real estate so much as those who make up the local real estate community. They bank on that amazing natural resources in selling homes across the region every single day. That’s why, under the banner of their “Realtors Do Make The Difference” program, members of the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors will dedicate their time toward a full scale cleaning of Silver Beach on Lake Michigan next month.
The Realtors Association and affiliate members each year volunteer their services to adopt a local Great Lakes beach, and this will be the sixth year the group has partnered with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to clean Silver Beach on Lake Michigan as a step in the critical effort to keep Lake Michigan healthy and safe for all who live in Michigan’s Great Southwest and the many visitors who frequent the area.
The Realtors are inviting anyone and everyone in the community to join them and the Alliance for the Great Lakes, sponsored by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, to help clean up Great Lakes beaches and shorelines and make them barefoot friendly.
Their fun-filled event will take place on Thursday, May 18th from 6pm until 7:30pm. Participants will scour Silver Beach picking up trash and documenting the items collected. Volunteers can register ahead of time online at www.greatlakesadopt.org. That evening, volunteers may register starting at 5:30pm at the Barefoot Wine tent which will be located near the beach playground area. If you would like more information, contact Kathy Pallas, SWMAR Administrative Assistant, at 269-983-6375.
Lori Bennett is Public Relations Chair for the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. She says, “We break into teams and then each team combs all of Silver Beach from the pier head to the end at Park Street. Every type of trash from cigarette filters to bird feathers will be picked up and recorded. Usually, the largest categories of trash recorded included cigarette filters, paper and plastic bags, and beverage containers. But there are often unusual items such as old tires and other things that are amusing for the teams to share with the group. At the end of the cleanup, the total amount of trash is weighed.”
The data and information will be entered into the Adopt-a-Beach online system, where it is used to complete a beach health assessment, educate the public, share with local beach authorities and improve beaches.
The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors, Inc. is a professional trade association for real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of Realtors and ancillary service providers for the real estate industry in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. The Association can be contacted at 269-983-6375 or through their website at www.swmar.com
The mission of the Alliance for the Great Lakes is to: “conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife.” The local Alliance is located 700 Fulton Avenue, Suite A, in Grand Haven. They can also be contacted through their web site, www.greatlakes.org.
Here’s a clickable link to register for the beach sweep:
