Heal the Ocean’s newly formed Junior Council has taken on the duty of stocking dog bag dispensers at many of South Santa Barbara County’s parks, open spaces and beaches!
When Heal the Ocean began receiving calls about the dog bag dispensers being empty because of Santa Barbara County’s lack of funds, the Junior Council stepped up to the plate and voted unanimously to take on the job - not only to stock the dispensers, but to hold fundraisers to raise the money to by the biodegradable dog-waste bags.
Keeping the beaches clean of dog waste is a clean-ocean project with a direct effect!
On Wednesday, June 19, 2010, a special press event at Butterfly Beach in Montecito was held during which the Junior Council was greeted and thanked by Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal and Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf, Board Chair, in an official announcement of the collaborative partnership. “To bring a group of teenagers together and have them so motivated, in so short a time, it’s truly an inspiration,” Ms. Wolf said.
Mr. Carbajal added, “These are difficult times for government in our country, and to have these kids take charge bodes well for our future,” said Mr. Carbajal. “I want to thank and celebrate you guys for stepping up and modeling the way.”
The Junior Council was created with the help of its steering committee, parents Kim Busch, Paula Stussy and Stacy Pulice, and also former HTO staffer Lindsay McTavish. The steering committee parents contributed the initial $2,600 to get the program started, but the Junior Council will begin raising funds for the bags, including a dance planned for September. The initial funds paid for 36,000 dog waste bags, made from a native cornstarch and entirely biodegradable, each one costing 6.3 cents.
In addition to Butterfly Beach, the other County parks, beaches and open space areas included in the new HTO-JC/County partnership are:
First District Locations:
- Lookout Park in Summerland
- Oceanview Park in Summerland
- Manning Park in Montecito
- Rocky Nook Park in Santa Barbara
- Loon Point in Summerland
- Posilipo Lane Beach Access in Montecito
- Toro Canyon Park in Montecito
- Butterfly Beach in Montecito
- Rincon park - upper parking lot
Second District Locations:
- Goleta Beach
- Tucker’s Grove Park in Goleta
- Tabano Hollow Open Space in Goleta
- Tarragona Open Space in Goleta
- University Circle Open Space in Goleta
- Patterson Open Space in Goleta
The County has given special thanks to the Junior Council, and the HTO Board of Directors also shouts a mighty Bravo to the Junior Council volunteers, including: Andy Busch, Max deGruy, Caleigh Hernandez, McKenna Hogue, Hannah Koper, Rose Koper, Ben Kwock, Monica Lodato, Austin Lokre, Remy Pulice, Cecily Sanchez, Elise Scheuermann, Penn Stussy, Charlie Taylor, Danielle Zola, and Jordan Zola!
At Butterfly Beach the HTO Junior Council is being thanked by 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf (far left) and 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, far right (Hawaiian shirt).
The HTO Junior Council steering committee looking on at the Butterfly Beach ceremony, L to R: Kim Busch, Paula Stussy, and Stacy Pulice.
photos by Thomas Dabney
