CHS Emerald Keepers Club Begins Compost and Garden

Straight Outta of Compost

Let the fun begin!

The Coronado High School Emerald Keepers Club “broke ground” on the new school garden and composting facility at the newly reestablished Angela’s Garden on Village Elementary School grounds Saturday. The team assembled and started their first two composting piles under the guidance of Coronado Master Composter Laura Wilkinson on Saturday. 

Reducing food waste is one of a few climate solutions that costs almost nothing but delivers financial and environmental benefits. The average household throws out over $1300 in “food gone bad” every year, which is more than they pay for gasoline in a year according to the ReFed. According to their website, food waste accounts for more greenhouse gas than the entire airline industry. 

“I love being able to lead such an amazing project in our community. It’s so fun getting together in the morning with my peers, getting our hands dirty, and making a positive impact,” said Jesse Hill, CHS Emerald Keepers Club Co- President.  

The ongoing project will allow opportunity for Coronado students of different grade levels and community groups such as scouts to participate with plots in the garden. The composting element will set benchmarks for sustainability by measuring pounds of food and yard waste diverted from our landfills and calculate emissions prevention metrics.  

“It’s been incredible to see these kids work in such a hands-on environment. Watching them learn and problem solve at our site makes me so hopeful for the future of our planet!”  said DaniRose Hill, CHS Emerald Keepers Co-Advisor.

The CHS Emerald Keepers Club members will be working with the community to ask for your organic food waste to help build the compost. When the composting process is completed, the rich composted soil will be available for gardening and, once established, Coronado residents who would like to earn that “blue ribbon” for their garden. EDCO has kitchen composting caddies available at no charge to Coronado residents to keep handy in the kitchen to collect everything from eggshells to carrot tops to fruits and vegetables gone bad (no meat or dairy may be composted but may be dumped into your green bin for EDCO).

Marla Steele, Co-President, CHS Emerald Keepers Club, added “I am so proud of this group of young individuals who recognize how important it is to protect our Earth. It is beautiful to come together with my passionate peers and work to make a change. I have learned so much already and I cannot wait to see the impact this project makes on our school, our community, and beyond.”

For more information about the compost and garden visit www.emeraldkeepers.org. To help fund garden for the kids, please visit www.coronadogarden.com. All contributions are tax-deductible. To order your own free composting caddy, visit www.edcodisposal.com go to the Residential Services tab and click Organic Recycling. Scroll down to the “Request a Kitchen Caddy” button. Be an Emerald Keeper, reduce food waste, compost and/or participate in EDCO’s Organic Waste program.

February Emerald Keepers of the Month Awarded to The City of Coronado

The City of Coronado has been making measurable contributions to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions. They are working toward implementing sustainable best practices. 

During the past two years, the City has earned the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon Program’s Spotlight Award (Silver Level in 2019 and Gold Level in 2020) for actions in 10 areas of sustainability. Some actions celebrated by Emerald Keepers are listed below:

·      All new City buildings are required to be built to LEED silver status. LEED buildings include the animal care facility, tennis center, senior center, clubroom and boat house.

·      The City implemented mandatory green building code standards and construction and demolition ordinances. They also adopted a solar streamlining ordinance to standardize and simplify permitting procedures for residential solar systems. 

·      Coronado has been designated as “Tree City USA” every year since 1984 and the Coronado Street Tree Master Plan includes plans to plant 50 new trees every year.

·      Glorietta Bay Marina is a designated “Clean Marina” and has adopted practices to prevent pollution. 

·      Coronado has installed 14 Electric Vehicle Charging stations and purchased green vehicles and bicycles for commuting between buildings. 

·      The City conducts bike safety educational outreach and safe routes to school program to promote safe biking. Coronado has been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Silver Level. 

·      The City is converting lighting in public facilities and buildings to LED lighting for an average electric savings of 50% to 70% per lamp. To date current facilities are 35% to 60% converted to LED. 

·      Coronado provides a City-subsidized ferry service for pedestrians and bicyclists between the Coronado Ferry Landing and the Broadway Pier in San Diego. The free commuter ferry operates Monday through Friday during the morning commute with a free return trip. 

·      The City has been recognized at the Silver Level under SANDAG iCommute’s Diamond Awards Program for its commuter incentive benefits. 

·      The City operates a Waste Collection at Public Services on First Street for motor oil and used batteries. They also offer periodic ewaste recycling. 

·      The City has a golf course water savings plan as well as turf reduction and a high efficiency irrigation system.  The new computer system increases irrigation efficiency and has reduced water use by 20% for a savings of $175,000 in water and $10,000 in electricity. 

·      Coronado is building a City-operated wastewater recycling plant on the golf course to be completed in 2022. 

·      Coronado’s gas-powered leaf blower prohibition ordinance has converted all City equipment to battery power. 

·      The City actively invites community members, organizations, and local agencies to participate in ongoing conversations in the development of their Climate Action Plan.

·      Mayor Richard Bailey officially designated the month of June as Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Month. 

Additional notable actions include:  installation of over a dozen water bottle refilling stations around town; elimination of single-use plastic water bottles at City Council Meetings; and Emerald Keepers messaging signs in Glorietta Bay Park, on the free shuttle, and soon on Center Beach. The City supports Emerald Keepers’ effort to educate the community through their Community Grant program and by displaying Emerald Keepers’ banners as part of the Orange Avenue Banner Program to promote sustainable practices for an Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Coronado.

“The City of Coronado strongly supports community partnerships to address environmental sustainability,”  said City Manager, Blair King. “The City of Coronado takes pride in our efforts to adopt policies, implement programs, and embrace practices that pragmatically address environmental sustainability.  We are fortunate to be surrounded by a wild fragile aquatic ecosystem that we embrace with respect and a desire to nurture.”

Congratulations to the City of Coronado for being the February Emerald Keeper of the Month!  

Emerald Keepers Partners with Naval Base Coronado to Remove Marine Debris

Emerald Keepers proudly partnered with Naval Base Coronado’s Environmental division to clean up “Delta Beach,” bringing approximately 80 volunteers to comb the stretch of San Diego Bay between Fiddler’s Cove and the Naval Amphibious Base. 

Special thanks to Base Operations Officer, CDR Kimberly Ernst, and Planning and Conservation Branch Manager, Joyce Sisson, for coordinating this clean-up and two ocean beach clean-ups on the new Navy Coastal Campus and Breakers Beach at North Island. Thanks to YMCA Camp Surf Director, Zayanne Thompson, who provided those without base access parking for the Coastal Campus clean-up two weeks ago and encouraged Rotarians to participate.

This was the first time Delta Beach had been cleaned since Emerald Keepers’ Can the Trash in September. “I knew there was trash on the beach, but I was truly surprised at just how much there really was. We worked for three solid hours and still didn’t get it all!” said Kimberly Ernst.

The timing of the clean-up was particularly relevant as the beach is a protected nesting area for the Snowy Plover and Least Tern; nesting season begins next month. 

Volunteers picked up bottles, bags, food containers, bottle caps, jugs, buckets, crates—ALL PLASTIC—as well as personal care products, shoes, backpacks, PPE, and Styrofoam… so much Styrofoam! Littered throughout were kids’ toys, Christmas ornaments, ear plugs, micro plastics, cigarette butts, and straws galore! Volunteers even waded into the cold water and sunk into the mud to retrieve many plastic bags, bottles and jugs. 

“Along the shoreline of our beautiful San Diego Bay it was impossible to walk more than five feet without the need to bend over and pick up garbage. From pulling plastic bags and waterlogged tennis shoes out of the bay to separating pieces of micro plastic sprinkled throughout the sand to dragging larger items like mattresses and seat cushions washed ashore—it was difficult but highly rewarding work,” said Zayanne Thompson. “Knowing that we were working together to get the area ready for the nesting season of endangered birds made it all the more worthwhile.” 

Sarah Jones said, “As I filled my bucket with little pieces of plastic, I was glad I was keeping them out of the stomachs of local birds and sea life.”  

A dead sea lion washed up at the north end of the beach was testament that we can and must do better. 

Volunteers filled buckets that were dumped into large garbage bags that were picked up by Navy Seabees driving trucks up and down the beach.  Two 20-foot dumpsters were filled totaling over 2000 pounds of trash removed over a three hour period. 

Laura McNeal posted photos of the clean-up on Facebook and commented, “It was honestly therapeutic. I would do it every week for the privilege of being inside the preserve!”

“Everyone who helped is an Emerald Keeper,” said Emerald Keepers President Amy Steward. “It filled my heart with gratitude to see so many people on a such blustery day picking up all the trash. It felt hopeful.” 

Emerald Keepers encourages everyone to grab a bucket and take a walk on the beach to pick up trash. Use the Marine Debris Tracker App to double your impact by informing scientists of the debris you find. The app tutorial and information about organized beach clean-ups can be found at EmeraldKeepers.org.

Rocio Bunker, First 2021 Emerald Keeper of the Month

As a lover of the ocean, Rocio Bunker runs along the bay and ocean with her eyes cast toward her beloved water looking for small fish, rays, shells, and shore birds. On New Year’s Day, all she could see was the enormous amount of marine debris washed up on the rocks, and she sprang into action. Rocio posted her clean-up efforts to her Instagram story and tagged Emerald Keepers.  Hers was the first social media post I read on New Year’s Day.

“When I see a lot of trash I can’t continue running. I have to stop and do something. I feel responsible,” Rocio explained. “I see other people walking along with their coffee looking down at the water too. I know they see it. Maybe they are thinking, ‘I don’t have time,’ or ‘I don’t want to get wet.’ It would be easy for me to think the same, but I can’t. I want the ocean to be healthy. I would be insulting all the creatures that live there – the fish, sea mammals, and the birds. It is their home, and it is my home too.”

Rocio reminded me the migration of the Grey Whale is taking place off our coast. “They are our species. Too many people are oblivious to the risk to the whales brought on by the products they choose and their habits. Their eyes are on top of the water - not below the water. My mission is to help people see underwater. People only protect what they know.”

Originally from La Paz, Mexico, Rocio first fell in love with the ocean as a diver with “The Cortez Club”. She is currently the Chief Instructor with Ocean Enterprises Dive Team where she trains dive professionals. She was a pioneer with PADI, an organization that certifies divers, helping produce educational materials and social media content to promote diving and ocean awareness.

Today, Rocio is one of approximately 50 PADI Ambassadivers worldwide who share their love of diving and the ocean to teach and help people connect with their local waters. Rocio dives almost every day at La Jolla Shores with her sea friends – the many fish, crabs, octopus, nudibranchs, sharks, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and turtles.

Rocio stresses buoyancy control when diving—the ability to maintain a steady depth. Without excellent buoyancy control, divers bump along the bottom destroying fragile reefs and ecosystems. She encourages her students to pick up trash and tuck it securely in their buoyancy compensator (diving equivalent of a lifejacket) pocket. She spends hours teaching them to identify and understand ocean’s creatures and their individual purposes. She explained, “Everything is connected. We need to protect sea life, and that means protecting the waters they inhabit.  It is also important to vote for laws that protect the ocean.”

Last year, Rocio snorkeled from Tidelands beach to the Marriott pier.  Recalling the day as an “amazing experience,” she went on to say, “I saw two seahorses, stingrays, snails making a beautiful basket of eggs, little wentletraps snails that look so delicate like a wedding dress -- so tiny and fragile. There were so many fish, lots of seagrass, and scallops swimming among the grasses. I saw sea anemones munching on bits of algae. The sea life in the bay is amazing and beautiful... yet you never see people snorkeling there. If people feel it’s dirty, then they need to make changes. You don’t want to miss the beauty of the bay.”

Just this month, Rocio was recognized as a Level 5 Reef Surveyor by reef.org—the highest level. To receive this prestigious distinction, she catalogued over 200 species and conducted over 100 surveys while diving. There are only three Level 5 Surveyors on the west coast. Rocio’s underwater photography is as beautify as it is captivating.

Thank you, Rocio, for your selfless efforts and leading by example to make 2021 a year in which people step up and make a greater effort to be Emerald Keepers. Your spirit and dedication exemplify that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for our oceans.   Congratulations to 2021’s first Emerald Keeper of the Month!

Emerald Keepers' Banners on Orange Avenue

Thank you to the City of Coronado for selecting Emerald Keepers for the January - March Banner Program. May they remind you to use sustainable habits for the health of our oceans. Being Emerald Green, Ocean Blue means you are making a concerted effort to make positive changes for our planet. From using reusable grocery bags to picking up trash every day to driving less and walking more, everyone can commit to a bing an Emerald Keeper.

Meet Brianna Heinken - December Emerald Keeper of the Month

If you are looking to brighten your day, read the stories of Coronado’s Emerald Keepers of the Month. These are the stories of people who truly care about Coronado and our oceans. They go above and beyond for our town ­– quietly under the radar. Our final 2020 Emerald Keeper of the Month is one of these incredible unsung heroes.  

Meet Brianna Heinken, 2020 graduate of Coronado High School (CHS) who has penchant for service. A Navy Junior, Brianna moved to Coronado with her family when she was in fourth grade. Her long list of service is impressive. She was Co-President of the Coronado High School (CHS) Interact Club. She was the founder and President of the CHS Unicef Club and was the Secretary of the first CHS Emerald Keepers Club. Brianna also earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by designing a healthy lifestyles program incorporating tennis and nutrition at an orphanage in Tijuana for 50 children.

When Brianna learned about Emerald Keepers she was all in! She said, “It is important to create a more sustainable future. As we experience increasing amounts of harmful waste and pollution, Emerald Keepers’ provides crucial leadership to educate, implement projects, and advocate for the protection of our beach community and planet.” 

“I am an Emerald Keeper because Emerald Keepers inspires me to continue learning and push myself to be the best global citizen that I can be,” said Heinken. 

Brianna is the creator of Emerald Keepers’ Fact Friday found on Emerald Keepers’ social media platforms. She is always willing to write an article for Emerald Keepers to help educate her community. 

A resident of the Naval Amphibious Base, Brianna noticed the large amounts of marine debris washed up on the beach behind her home. She immediately set to work to remove the trash. Brianna cleans the beach regularly. She understands the importance of removing the debris so the animals and shore birds that live in the bay and ocean do not ingest or become entangled. 

Brianna said, “Coronado has been such a beautiful community to grow up in and helping preserve its beauty is the best way for me to give back to the community.”

Brianna is a freshman attending the University of Melbourne where she is working toward a Bachelors of Biomedicine with a major in Neurobiology. She will also receive a Diploma of Languages in Spanish. Like so many students around the world, her first semester was online. In January, Brianna will be moving to Australia to attend in-person classes. Even though she will be in the “Land Down Under,” Brianna plans to continue her work with Emerald Keepers. While the University of Melbourne may be almost 8000 miles away, the University has taken notice of her work with Emerald Keepers in Coronado. Brianna is the recipient of the University’s Leaders in Communities Award for 2020.

Yes, there are many stories to brighten your day found in our town. Brianna Heinken continues to be a shining star and will be truly missed in Coronado. She departs with a New Year’s resolution for everyone: “Sign the Emerald Keepers Pledge. Focus on small changes such as bringing utensils from home rather than using plastic utensils at work or bringing your own bags to the grocery store. These are simple ways to reduce environmental waste. Signing the Emerald Keepers’ Pledge is simply a commitment to yourself that you will do your best to take simple steps to a more sustainable life. If everyone does their part, we can make a big difference and keep our beautiful beach community clean.” To sign the Pledge, visit EmeraldKeepers.org.

Congratulations, Brianna Heinken, for being our Emerald Keeper of the Month.  We wish you safe travels and happiness as you embark on your next adventure. 

Meet Annika Laughlin – Emerald Keeper of the Month!

If you want to feel hopeful about the future, spend a few minutes chatting with Annika Laughlin, Coronado High School graduate, class of 2020!

Annika’s journey began as a budding environmentalist living by the ocean. She wanted to care for the beauty around her. It wasn’t until her junior year when she enrolled in Karoly Tippet’s AP Environmental Science class that she found her passion in sustainability. She began educating herself and expanding her knowledge. about sustainability. She read as much as she could and found inspiration in TED Talks and YouTube videos. She is a fan of Lauren Singer and her Package Free Shop.

Two years ago, while searching Pinterest for sustainable items, she came across direction to sew your own vegetable mesh bags. She bought some material and began making vegetable bags for family and friends. She now sells her vegetable bags so others may also avoid plastics. 

Living a sustainable lifestyle is important to Annika. She shops from the PackageFreeStore and thrift stores or good quality clothing stores that use sustainable practices. She stays away from prepackaged produce and uses her own reusable bags to buy loose produce. She washes her clothes in Guppy Bags to filter micro-plastic pollution and uses dryer wool balls with a dab of essential oil in lieu of dryer sheets. She only eats plant-based foods because she recognizes the meat industry is a climate change contributor. 

Annika was thinking of starting her own sustainability club with her friends when she heard about the new Emerald Keepers Club at the high school and decided to join. She served as a club officer and helped Emerald Keepers with their Late Start Thursday programs at the Coronado Public Library for elementary students until COVID hit. Following graduation, Annika had planned to take a gap year to travel and immerse herself in service learning in Costa Rica, but the pandemic precluded her from following her gap-year dream. Now a student at Mesa Community College, Annika is looking at sustainability programs at Cal Poly, SDSU, and Colorado State. 

When asked if she had advice for the people who want to become more sustainable, she said, “Just start. Educate yourself. Netflix and YouTube are great resources. Watch Life on our Planet, Game Changers, and Down to Earth. Reconnect with nature, put away your phone and take a walk on the beach or hike in the mountains. Feel the sun on your face and look up and see the clouds or mountaintops so you have a better appreciation for the Earth. Then you will want to care for it more.” 

Listening to Annika’s enthusiasm for saving our planet through personal responsibility warms my heart. It makes me feel more confident that we may very well emerge from this pandemic a little kinder with empathy for our neighbors, with an extended hand for those in needs, and a shared desire to reduce carbon emissions and plastics. 

Congratulations, Annika Laughlin, our Emerald Keeper of the Month. To purchase Annika’s reusable vegetable bags, email her at nadoannika@gmail.com. 

Welcome Aboard Boris! Emerald Keepers Partners with CYC to Skim the Bay

A small group gathered at Coronado Yacht Club (CYC) to welcome Boris, a newly installed marine skimmer, to the premises last Thursday morning. Installation of Boris is the latest step in Coronado’s Emerald Keepers’ strategy to keep Coronado and its waters clean and promote sustainability.

Funded entirely by donations and made possible by CYC’s willingness to operate and maintain Boris, the project demonstrates how partnerships between individuals and organizations can contribute significantly to creating a more sustainable environment for an Emerald Green Ocean Blue Coronado.

The floating marine skimmer --smaller than a small trash dumpster-- is attached to a CYC floating dock at the northern end of Glorietta Bay. Andrew Bleier, Senior Vice President of KECO (a local San Diego company and manufacturer of the marine skimmer), briefly described the system’s capabilities. Running 24/7/365, Boris pumps 350-400 gallons of water through its system to remove and collect floating debris and oil sheen from the water’s surface. It clarifies the water through aeration. Operation and maintenance of the system is very simple and requires minimal human interaction. 

At the small, socially-distanced event, the skimmer was christened “Boris” after a dog that loved swimming in the bay.  “Boris’ owner picked up trash and marine debris every day while Boris frolicked in the bay,” Emerald Keepers President, Amy Steward, explained.  “A few days before Boris died, he wanted to go in the water, but because the dog was so feeble, his owner restrained him. After his passing, Boris’ dad felt he had deprived Boris of his greatest joy. An anonymous major donor, Boris’ dad is very excited to have his beloved dog ‘swimming’ again and collecting marine debris. Both Boris and his dad are true Emerald Keepers, and for this reason, this marine skimmer is christened -- and will forever be known simply as -- Boris.”

Other large donors who made this $9200 skimmer possible include: The Rotary Club of Coronado, Flagship Properties and Carol Sommer. Husband – wife teams Lydia Grypma / Bob Oakley, Lisa Thompson / Tom Herman, and Team Steward also contributed.

Observing the dedication, San Diego Unified Port District Commissioner Garry Bonelli said, “It’s wonderful to see neighbors volunteering together under the leadership of Emerald Keepers to keep our bay clean. Fighting bay pollution is a top priority for the Port of San Diego.”

Coronado City Council Member Mike Donovan said, "The installation of the Marine Skimmer at the Coronado Yacht Club is just one more great example of the outstanding efforts of the Emerald Keepers team and one more step toward keeping our bays and oceans free of plastics and other litter that damages waterways and harms aquatic animals." 

During the brief ceremony Amy Steward acknowledged the on-going efforts by CYC General Manager Lou Miloiti and CYC Green Team Chair Rose Ann Krock, to make CYC more sustainable.  After thanking Fabian Arreola for his help with installation of the skimmer as well as CYC member, Fred West (who provided the crane to install the skimmer), Steward stated, “Marine Skimmers are best situated in marinas where there is staff to handle the minimal maintenance and care of the skimmer. This location is perfect. Within the first few hours of operation, Boris had already cleaned the scum and improved the water clarity. Emerald Keepers would love to put another marine skimmer at the City marina and a couple at the Cays.”

"Communities are only as special as the people who live in them,” said Coronado Rotary Club President Robin MacCartee. “We are lucky to have such an incredible group like Emerald Keepers, and the Coronado Rotary Club is proud to support them.”  

“Let’s all help Boris as well by continuing to use less plastic and recycle, said CYC Green Team Chairperson Rose Ann Krock. “Pick up trash when you come across it, especially in and around the water.”

In gifting Boris to CYC, Steward emphasized, “Emerald Keepers is a non-profit organization comprised of a group of dedicated volunteers leading a growing community-based effort to care for our coastal community and ensure Coronado’s sustainability for generations to come. Emerald Keepers welcomes everyone to join their organization.” 

Rocio Bunker - PADI Ambassadiver’s Talk

Watch Rocio’s talk here. See her beautiful local underwater videos. It is up to us to care for our waters through the choices we make to care for the creatures that inhabit the ocean.

Scott and Nina Thompson - October Emerald Keepers of the Month

Scott Thompson was moving fast, nabbing trash with his pick-up stick from the gutters on the one hundred block of B Avenue when I stopped him to talk about being an Emerald Keeper. Scott is an avid runner, but doesn’t pick up trash when he runs. Instead, he heads out with his bucket and pick-up stick three times a week to clean up the mess people leave on Coronado’s streets. Scott said, “My wife, Nina, is the one who inspired me to pick up trash. She picks it up on her run/walks. We pick up trash together when we walk our dog, Luca.”

“People often say ‘thank you’ or give me a thumbs up when I pick up trash,” he explained. “Everyone has something positive to say about what I am doing. I think it reinforces good behavior by inspiring other people to pick up trash too.” 

We agreed trash has become even more problematic since the pandemic began. He said, “You would never throw trash outside of your own home, but people come here and just dump their trash. I find cigarette butts, diapers, masks, bottles, and take-out containers. It is disgusting. Tidelands Park is a haven for trash.” 

When I spoke with Scott, I was struck by his kindness and sincerity. A resident of Coronado since 2015, he works from home giving him some flexibility to get out and pick up trash. He said, “If people would just do their part, we could keep Coronado much cleaner. Tourists, residents –everyone—can work to keep Coronado clear of trash.”

Both Scott and Nina believe in doing their part for their community. “Caring about where you live and the people who live there is what it is all about,” Scott said. “Being a good person and doing something positive every day is what we try to do.”

September Emerald Keepers of the Month

Everyone has a friend who is an early riser. Judy Clark is that friend. Judy convinced her friends Genevieve Rohan and Carol Lambert to walk with her at 5:30 am to avoid the crowds and be safe during the pandemic. “Carol and I would prefer to go much later in the morning,” conceded Genevieve Rohan, but neither Genevieve or Carol could refuse Judy.  

Friends for 15 years, the trio walks daily.  While walking under the bridge one morning, they followed the CalTrans utility road and found an inordinate amount of trash dumped along the road. As Carol relates the story, “We had to do something about this, so we returned the next day with an extender to pick up trash. We picked up three large bags of debris just along the roadway. That is how it all started.” 

In successive outings, they found large CVS bins on Tidelands beach. “We pulled them out of the water and filled them with trash,” said Genevieve.  Everywhere they looked, they found trash to pick up. 

“Then we noticed we were finding recreational toys families were bringing to the beach and leaving.” Looking for a way to recycle or reuse these items, they decided to repurpose them.  Genevieve took the collected sand toys home and washed them in her dishwasher. At first, the trio took them to neighborhood children who had small pool parties. “Soon the children were saturated with our toys,” laughed Carol. “Then we began randomly talking to strangers going to the beach asking, ‘Would you like something to take to the beach?’” It quickly became obvious a more practical solution was required.   

Carol explained what happened next. “It was a practical idea – a tree.”  One morning when the women met to walk, Judy told them to go ahead without her. She was staying back to trim a tree.  When they returned, Genevieve described the scene, “There were branches everywhere!” 

The tree trimming inspired an idea. Using copper wire hooks saved from Judy’s remodel, they “repurposed” the tree by hanging toys in a way that made them accessible to passing children.  “Botanically speaking, it is a magnolia tree,” Carol explained. “Now it is a Beach Toy tree—a Beach Tree.”

“Just the other day, seven kids pulled up and their mom let each one pluck a beach item from the tree,” said Genevieve. “At the end of the day they returned them. The kids like having toys to take to the beach.” 

Located just one block from the Landing on the 100 block of D Avenue, the Beach Tree stands festooned with beach toys for all to enjoy. “At the first suspending, I took pictures of it and sent them to my friend in England,” Carol said.  “She wrote back saying, ‘And you think the English are eccentric!’”

Genevieve commissioned River, a young neighbor and artist, to make signs for the tree so people know they can borrow the items. The variety of items has expanded to include boogie boards, a beach chair, suspended sand toys, and a surf board—all sanitized and available for people to borrow.  “It is just wonderful!” exclaimed Judy. 

Reminiscing about their morning trash pick-up walks and the people they have met, Carol said, “People will stop us and say  ‘thank you for doing this. You are being good citizens.’ It appears we have become role models for people walking early in the morning.”

“If you go out and clean up trash you will find like-minded people,” Genevieve added. “You will find good hearted people doing good things for the world and the universe. We have made the most amazing friends just picking up trash.” 

To Emerald Keepers of the Month— Genevieve, Carol, and Judy—Coronado citizens and visitors alike, thank you! 

CAN THE TRASH 2020 -- A GREAT SUCCESS

August Emerald Keeper of the Month: Helen Kupka

Twice a week, you will find Helen Kupka collecting trash left by beach-goers at Silver Strand State Beach. “I had always haphazardly picked up trash but didn’t become serious about it until I was inspired by Emerald Keepers,” explained Helen. “I asked myself, ‘What am I doing?’ Part of my week should include at least two beach clean-ups. It should be part of what I do because I live here and it all matters to me.” 

Helen Kupka and her husband, Sig, moved to the Coronado Cays ten years ago. Helen is no stranger to community service; she is currently the Chairperson for the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission. When she first arrived in Coronado, she tutored at the Monarch School, a school for homeless students. She also helped with Just in Time for Foster Youth when the organization was just beginning to grow. Knowing she was here to stay, Helen joined the Cays Home Owner’s Association (HOA) Board in 2013. The first year, she focused on learning the ropes. She then served as Vice President the next year and President for the following two years. When the Coronado Cays HOA Board unanimously determined it was time for a change in leadership, Helen agreed to stand in as General Manager while the Board searched for a replacement. The search took over 10 months. Because Kupka served in the position for free, it helped balance the budget for the Cays. “I learned so much,” said Kupka, “and found it to a growth experience.” Kupka also served as a project manager for the improvement of Montego Village.  

When Helen and Sig recently remodeled their home, they took extra care to be Emerald Green, Ocean Blue – homeowners that make sustainable choices to reduce their carbon footprint. Some of the environmentally friendly features they incorporated include building up the lot 3 feet to protect against sea level, installation of solar energy, a whole house water filtration to avoid buying water in plastic bottles, installing smart technology to control LED lighting, electrical consumption and hot water generation / circulation, as well as modular HVAC heat pump systems to heat and cool only the areas of the house that are in use. Making their home more eco-friendly is another way in which the Kupkas contribute to protecting  the environment and preserving the beautiful vistas they share every day.   

The morning Emerald Keepers took her picture picking up trash at the State Beach, Helen was surprised by the enormous amount of trash left behind. Her bag was bulging with aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and plastic food wrappers. She told the story about three young men who saw her collecting trash. They ran up to her and asked if she could take their empty beer cans. They had a good laugh when Helen directed them to the recycle bin directly behind them. 

On a more serious note, Helen said, “For a long time we have needed a group to focus on both the bay and ocean. It made no sense there wasn’t one. Filling a need that perhaps no one recognized is important. With the uptick in the pollution in the Cay’s channels, it is more important than ever.” As for picking up trash?  She answered, “It is something everyone should do!” 

Thank you, Helen Kupka, for being our August Emerald Keeper of the Month! 

September 3: Bite of History: Coronado Connection to Scripps and Our Coastal Community

A Bite of History is back! Make your own lunch or order in from any local restaurant and enjoy our Facebook Live lecture! We are partnering with Emerald Keepers to encourage you to support local community restaurants who have taken the Emerald Green, Ocean Blue pledge! Check out the participating restaurants on the Emerald Keepers website here: https://www.emeraldkeepers.org/about-emerald-keepers.

Enjoy your lunch while watching this free lecture from CHA, Thursday, September 3, at 1 p.m. CHA Historians Vickie Stone and Christine Stokes will tell the story of the early beginnings of Scripps Institute of Oceanography right here in Coronado. They will be joined by Amy Steward of Emerald Keepers, who will share about Coronado’s coastal life and the work that Emerald Keepers does to protect our oceans.

Join us on CHA's Facebook Live! To watch on Facebook Live, go to https://www.facebook.com/CoronadoMuseum/. The recording will also be made available on CHA's website after the program at coronadohistory.org.

Ann and Rick Wilcoxon – Emerald Keepers of the Month!

Five or six times a week, Coronado residents and Emerald Keepers Anne and Rick Wilcoxon can be found along Ocean Boulevard or on either end of the beach collecting trash.  They have owned a home in Coronado since 2001, but didn’t make Coronado their permanent home until four years ago when they moved from Napa County in Northern California. and Las Vegas. 

It’s little wonder that they both are passionate about keeping their hometown beach clean. Rick first became involved with picking up trash four years ago when he joined the Coronado Rotary Club and participated in their monthly beachcombing cleanup. Anne’s legacy is all about Coronado.  Both sets of her grandparents lived here. Her maternal grandmother first came to the island in 1912 to Tent City, and along with Anne’s great-grandparents, owned the first dry goods store in town. Her paternal grandfather was the architect who designed the Spreckels Park bandstand. Anne’s mother and aunt were born here, and Anne lived here until the early 70s. 

According the to Wilcoxons, chip bags, cigarette butts, and plastic water bottle tops are the most frequently found items. “Anybody can do it,” said Anne. Their best and most surprising find was two rolled up $20 bills.

Congratulations to Rick and Anne Wilcoxon for being Emerald Keepers of the Month!