As a part time summer resident, I’ve been coming to Vashon/Maury Island for the past 60 years. Vashon is a beautiful island and I feel very fortunate to have spent time there with 5 generations of my family there.

For years I have removed plastic and debris from the beaches on Maury Island. Recently I spent a week cleaning 2 miles of Maury Island beach, and hand-carried everything back resulting in a truck load of debris (2nd time this year). I have pictures, should you want them.

Searching the internet there has been no island sponsored cleanup for all beaches. Only limited cleanups of Governors beach, KVI beach and Point Robinson. Last year Bainbridge Island started an island-wide cleanup and this September they will have it again. What a great idea.

I’m not looking for recognition for cleaning our beach, I’m just doing my part of preserving our shoreline. I have spent my life on the water and would like my decendents to have the same opportunity.

It would be nice to have a free place to dispose of the beach debris. It costs me to take it (this year over 100 lbs) to the Vashon dump. This should be free. I understand it can’t be done everytime I clean the beach, but for specific days for cleanup it would help in being more successful in preserving our beaches.

Sincerely,

— Captain Ken Wicklund