Volunteers clean up Sandusky's shoreline

SANDUSKY — After a few bites of doughnuts and a quick cup of coffee, several volunteers split up into groups armed with trash bags, gloves and litter grabbers to cover all of Sandusky's downtown waterfront. The volunteers searched the shoreline from Battery Park to Shelby Street Public Boat Launch for unsightly litter Saturday morning.Maria Salmon, the director of partnership and programs for a local charity, said that the area was worse last year when she took a group of volunteers out to do their own cleanup. "There are more trash cans out now," Salmon said as she worked through the Sandusky Bay Pavilion area. "I think that has made a huge difference."For volunteers Brian Poludniak and Kimberly Duncan, it's about giving back to the city that "has a lot to offer."The Avon Lake residents spend their summers aboard a 30-foot sailboat at Battery Park Marina. "We've been longtime boaters and just want to keep the lake and community clean," Poludniak said. "We really like downtown and the waterfront."Saturday's event was just one of several Sandusky Neighborhood Clean-Ups scheduled for 2018.Sandusky city commissioner Dave Waddington conceived the idea of a more comprehensive volunteer cleanup schedule after organizing such events on a smaller scale over the last several years. The events take place at least twice a month from May to October, with an extra day here and there. Schedule of upcoming Sandusky Neighborhoods Clean-Up events• Tuesday, July 10: Community cleanup• Saturday, July 14: South of Kilbourne neighborhood• Saturday, July 28: "Hotspot" cleanup• Saturday, Aug. 11: Garden District neighborhood• Saturday, Aug. 25: "Hotspot" cleanup• Saturday, Sept. 8: South Side neighborhood• Saturday, Sept. 22: "Hotspot" cleanup• Saturday, Oct. 13: West End neighborhood• Saturday, Oct. 27: "Hotspot" cleanupNote: The city will provide a free dumpster July 14, allowing residents living in this area to dispose of unwanted materials. All dates and locations subject to change. Doughnuts, coffee and water provided at each event.To volunteer or for more information, call Sandusky city commissioner Dave Waddington at 419-271-4736 or Talon Flohr, the city's neighborhood outreach coordinator, at tflohr@ci.sandusky.oh.us or 419-627-5730Barb Leal releases trash into a bag held by Ellen Behrendsen during Saturday's lakefront clean-up in downtown Sandusky. Sandusky firefighter Jeff Danevich helps clean up Shoreline Park in Sandusky during Saturday's lakefront pick up event.Kimberly Duncan and Brian Poludniak work together to pick up trash from the rocks at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion during the lakefront clean up volunteer event on Saturday, June 23, 2018.