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Office Staff Gets 'Trashed' On Island

Tribune photo by KELVIN MA

Henry Ayers, 24, of Ruskin picks at a garbage bag that was buried in the wooded area of Beer Can Island. Ayers and a group of volunteers from Century 21 Realty canvassed the popular party spot to clean up garbage.

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - A team of 30 people piled into boats recently and sped off to Beer Can Island for an afternoon pickup game.

No, there weren't any hoops found among all the sunbathers using the privately owned island, also known as Pine Key or Paradise Island. But there is an abundance of garbage and trash.

When Richard Crannell, a real estate agent with Century 21 Beggins Enterprises, won the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce's annual honorary mayor's race in June, he said he wanted the role to be more than symbolic.

Pledging to get residents and business owners more involved in community service, he suggested cleaning the island, which the owner "generously allows the public to use," he said.

Crannell, agents Joe Marzilli and Peter Cafik, owner Craig Beggins and executive assistant Eileen Eletto began planning the cleanup. Marzilli contacted Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful and requested support. The nonprofit organization - which has a mission of creating awareness of litter prevention, recycling and beautification through community presentations, education programs and cleanups countywide - provided gloves, litter grabbers, bags and T-shirts for the event.

"We work with Joe Marzilli every year with the Great American Cleanup and coastal cleanups," said Christine Commerce, executive director of Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful. "Sometimes we are actually involved in a cleanup, but other times we partner with groups by providing supplies. We're always happy to help people get out and clean up the environment."

Despite blustery weather, the group of real estate agents, family members and friends worked three hours picking up an estimated 100 pounds of trash, which included mostly small items such as used paper plates, bottles and cans. But there were some larger items such as cinder blocks, tent stakes and metal pieces. The strangest item was a pair of small scissors that had been covered by sand.

"I think this was a good idea," said Jessica Beggins, 15, a sophomore at East Bay High School. Beggins and her friend Lauren Kelly found "a bunch of cigarette butts, paper and beer bottles.

"We came out to help Dad, but also to get community service hours."

"I love this island," said Audrey Ayers, 13, who lives in River Bend with her mother, Rachel, who works for Beggins. "It's a lot of fun and good to be cleaning it up."

Crannell said he was pleased with the turnout and hoped to organize another cleanup with the community at large in the fall.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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