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The students used these, as well as natural elements like shells and driftwood, to create their design over a paper mache foundation. Even the backdrop, a painting featuring colors of the ocean, was a discarded item repurposed for the project."After almost three decades of creating art with my students, this piece was extra special," said Ms. Swan. "The artwork makes a strong statement of love for and destruction of our waters and how items that comfort us and make our lives 'easier' are sadly found in our seas."Fabien Cousteau, an aquanaut, ocean conservationist, and documentary filmmaker related to the famous Jacques Yves-Cousteau, joined New York State Assemblywoman Melissa Miller, district officials, staff members and students for an unveiling of the project at the middle school on Dec. 14. They shared memories and reflections from the beach cleanup and described how the artistic concept came to fruition, and Assemblywoman Miller provided each student with a Certificate of Merit. "I think the students made something really nice out of it," said Cousteau. "It's very representative of this community, which is concerned for and cares about the environment."Photos courtesy of Long Beach Public Schools:(Image 1) Long Beach Middle School secretary Barbara Vahey, Isabella Silvestri, Principal Paul Romanelli, Assemblywoman Melissa Miller, art teacher Laura Swan, Board of Education Vice President Perry Bodnar, Fabien Cousteau and Scott Bochner with students Lorelai Corbett, Charlise Quigley, Nikkita Kissoon, Maryn Ascher, Matthew Raubuck and Abigail Philips. (Image 2) Matthew Raubuck, Nikkita Kissoon, Charlise Quigley, Maryn Ascher, Isabella Silvestri, Lorelai Corbett, Abigail Philips with art teacher Laura Swan and Fabien Cousteau.
Diane Forthaus, pointing at dozens of empty plastic bottles and Styrofoam cups dotting piles of driftwood. “Our children will inherit all of this.”Statistics for this year’s cleanup weren’t immediately available, but at least 85 tires were found at one cleanup location on Gravois Creek, said Roland Biehl, an engineer with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.“That’s why we do this, to protect the watershed,” Biehl said. “People can discard these things anywhere, and when the rain comes they can end up in our rivers and streams.”Last year’s event hauled in 161 old tires, 1.4 tons of scrap metal, 1.3 tons of recyclable material and 5 tons of trash from rivers and creeks, according to organizers.“People are working hard, hauling trash, but they’re laughing and smiling,” said Doug Geist, a volunteer team leader. “They’re getting to save a little bit of the world today.”After spending the morning on the river banks, volunteers reconvened at Willmore Park for bluegrass music, pizza and drinks. Prizes were awarded for the most impressive or interesting items collected, including an entire portable toilet, a cast iron skillet, a plastic statue of a child, and an unopened can of Spam.“The important thing about Spam is it’s a prize in itself,” Geist told the prize winner.Organizers include the River Des Peres Watershed Coalition, Great Rivers Greenway, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and the Missouri Stream Team.For more information on future cleanups, visit riverdesperes.org.#ndn-video-player-3.ndn_embedded .ndn_floatContainer { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }... (STLtoday.com)
