Cleaning up and Partying Down

Living on the beaches puts people very close to one of the most beautiful ecosystems and the organizations on the beach plan to keep it that way.

Havana Slackers, and other businesses in John’s Pass are partnering up for the Madeira Beach Sweep, a beach cleanup on Sunday, June 5 at 9 a.m.

“This is a way to bring everybody out to pick up. Plus, everybody is going to get to come out to John’s Pass,” said Joel Menard, owner and president of Havana Slackers

Havana Slackers is an eco friendly sandal company with a focus on taking it easy. They moved into their location at 204 Boardwalk Place in John's Pass a few months back after Menard found a suitable building for the business.

Menard lives close by to John’s Pass and walks to work everyday. On his walks, he tries to keep an eye out for trash that may be out along the road and beach.

Shortly after moving into the location at John’s Pass, Menard got in contact with the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. The idea for the cleanup got brought and grew naturally out of the continued conversations until they decided to put it on, Menard said.

“We hope to get out there and get a lot of that could hurt or injure the birds picked up,” Menard said.

This is the first of what Menard hopes will be many sweeps. The plan is to have the same idea go on every first Sunday, Menard said. The sweep will help clean up the beach and bring more visitors out to John’s Pass.

“We have one of the best places in the world to watch a sunset at the end of the pass and nobody’s down there,” Menard said.

The route for the cleanup is going to be approximately two miles of beach in Madeira Beach, afterwards the volunteers will head back to John’s Pass for a Sunday afternoon party.

“It’s going to be fun with a purpose,” Menard said.

Anyone looking to volunteer should meet up in front of the Havana Slackers building at John’s Pass by 9 a.m. There will be free parking in Hubbard’s garage and everyone will be shuttled over to the cleanup area. After the cleanup, volunteers are encouraged to stay at John’s Pass for the party at the Hub’s Tavern, where there will be drink specials and live music by Mike Oscanyan.