Beach cleanup for UMCES centennial
On Monday, May 19th, IAN celebrated the UMCES 100 challenge by picking up 100 pieces of trash from the historic Carr’s Beach in Annapolis. We all got together at the office, got our gloves, shades, and other UV protection, and carpooled to Carr’s beach. During the short walk through the forest leading to the beach, we came across some signage that discussed the significance of Carr’s Beach, once the only accessible beach for African American beachgoers during the time of segregation. The beach then went on to be an outdoor music venue that hosted hundreds of Black musical icons such as Billie Holiday, Tina Turner, The Temptations, and more. We collected many cigarette butts, foam pieces, and bottle caps, and found a few pieces of construction materials, including a rusty piece of rebar, as well as an intact chimney. We were able to collect more than 100 pieces (and pounds) of trash, and we enjoyed spending some time outside appreciating the weather.