September is a busy month for most families with school starting and weekends quickly filling up with activities and sporting events. So, I'm giving you a heads up on two environmental events: September 10, Backyard Composting Class At VALCORE from 10 am to Noon; September 17, Coastal Cleanup in Vallejo from 9 am to Noon.

Last week, Jennifer Kaiser, the Community Outreach Specialist from Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District; VALCORE Manager Jackie Giffin and I inspected seven of the twelve potential sites for our Coastal Cleanup. From the road most sites looked clean, but walking into the fennel and tule, we starting seeing lots of trash.

In 2004, 256 Vallejoans volunteered for three hours and picked up 9490 pounds of trash. Volunteers separate out roughly fifteen percent of the items for recycling. Recyclables included 800 pounds of tires, 1400 pounds of steel, 488 Pounds of CRV cans and bottles, 4 car batteries, 25 gallons of oil, 1 gallon of antifreeze, 2 gallons of paint, and 10 aerosol cans. Each year, beach captains tell us the most unusual Items that their crews picked up. Last year they found a robot, a 3-step wooden staircase and a teddy bear.

I know we don't have "coasts" in Vallejo, but we are an important watershed. Every little bit of trash that is dropped on the street can easily find its way down our storm drains that flow into the Napa River on its way to the San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Pacific Ocean.

Adults interested in signing on as beach captains should contact any of the coordinators listed below. If you are under the age of 18, you will need to get a parent or guardian to sign a waiver form before participating. All cleanup supplies will be provided, but volunteers should wear sun screen, sturdy shoes, a hat, and gloves. When you check in at the cleanup location, you will be given trash bags, latex gloves, and a data card to tally collected items.

VALLEJO
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Vallejo Municipal Marina located at 42 Harbor Way at 8:30 a.m. where they will be assigned to a cleanup site. For early registration, contact VALCORE at 707 55-EARTH (553-2784) or cleanup@VALCORErecycling.org. You can also contact Jennifer Kaiser at 707 644-8949 x 292 or jkaiser@vsfcd.com.

BENICIA
Volunteers can show up at 9 am at the following sites: Bottom of East Fifth, West H at West Third Cove, West 12th Street Beach, Willow Glen Park, Foot of First Street, West Ninth Street Beach, Lake Herman at Sulfur Springs Creek, Bordoni Public Access at West Sixth and I street, and two sites at Benicia State Park - West K at Military and the Picnic Area. For information contact Sue Wickham at 747-5815 or Peter Fong at 707 746-4337 or pfong@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Vallejo and Benicia will end their cleanups with lunch for their volunteers.

FAIRFIELD / SUISUN CITY / TRAVIS AFB: 707 429-8930 or dontpollute@fssd.com.

VACAVILLE: Fern Wilson at 707 469-6405 or fwilson@cityofvacaville.com.

LAKE SOLANO PARK: 530 795-2990 or ttarver@solanocounty.com.

DAVIS / WINTERS in Yolo County: 530 757-2776, coordinator@putahcreekcouncil.org.
This year's local cleanups are sponsored by the cities and county of Solano and Yolo, California Coastal Commission, VALCORE Recycling, Vallejo Garbage Service, Solano Garbage Service, Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal, Vacaville Sanitary Service, Vallejo Sanitation & Flood Control District, Fairfield/Suisun Sanitary District, Putah Creek Council, and the Watershed Stewardship Project funded by CALFED Bay Delta Program.

FREE SHOPPING BAG
This year the Coastal Conservancy asks Californians to make a Coastal Stewardship Pledge to improve our environment. They have compiled a list of ideas for reducing waste and pollution, conserving water and other resources, and becoming active in your community. These small acts can help protect and preserve our coastal and marine resources. Those who make a pledge will receive a free cloth shopping bag.
Log onto www.coastal.ca.gov for pledge details, information about cleanups in other areas of California or to Adopt a Beach.. You can also call (800) COAST-4U or email coast4u@coastal.ca.gov.