Operation Clean Sweep

10/09/2026

Another look at the cleanup of Smoking Rocks Beach along the New Bedford Inner Harbor.

09/25/2026

🧵✨ Our partners at the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District and the New Bedford Free Public Library are offering a free Sashiko mending workshop on October 3.

Learn Sashiko, a traditional Japanese stitching technique used to repair textiles, strengthen worn fabric, and extend the life of clothing and other fabric items.

📅 Saturday, October 3
🕑 2:00-4:30 p.m.
📍 Wilks Library, 1911 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford

Participants will create a stitched sampler, learn the basics of Sashiko, and explore the rich cultural history behind this mending tradition. Attendees are welcome to bring a clothing item they'd like to repair during the workshop.

✅ No experience necessary
✅ All skill levels welcome
✅ Mending supplies provided

📝 Space is limited. Registration required: signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAFA622A0FBC52-65028247-theart #/

Led by Mariko Sugimori of Mona & Zoe Mending.

👕 Repairing and reusing clothing helps reduce textile waste and keeps usable items out of the trash.

09/22/2026

Never heard of Smoking Rocks Beach? I know 28 very focused volunteers that know this beach very well.

The perfect project on “World Cleanup Day” resulted in 28 Volunteers removing 1,260 pounds of debris from this historic beach. Including so much plastic, styrofoam, needles, rope and plenty of wood.

This is our 2nd cleanup on Smoking Rocks Beach this season. It was in really bad shape.

Thank you to our Sponsors;
Tim Morgado with Sid Wainer and Son, and Chefs Warehouse and TD Properties for enlisting their employees to help make this happen. An excellent team effort.

Also to Josh and Alan from Fleet Fisheries for allowing access to their property. Without their support this cleanup would not have been possible.

Special guest Volunteers; the New Bedford Rotary Club, for bringing their team to also help with the cleanup of Smokjng Rocks Beach.
NB Rotary Club is a great organization that loves giving back to the community.

And Special family guest of Andrew and his wife, and 4 impressive kids that worked non stop to remove any debris that did not belong on this beach. Such a great family focused team effort.

And thank you to our Sponsors Domino’s for providing the Pizza and to BASK for providing the coffee and donuts, and Joann also helped out with the cleanup.

Of course thanks to my Clean Sweep team of Jan, Lorraine, myself and Kristen Morgado from Sid Wainer for assisting at our Headquarters during the cleanup.

It takes many organizations to complete such a large cleanup. And we still have to go back, to remove a lot more wood from the beach. Let me know if you want to help.

Smoking Rocks Beach is now a beautiful beach once again.

Ok—-so what’s the historic significance of Smoking Rocks Beach?

Smoking Rocks is one of the oldest historically significant locations in New Bedford. It is associated with the visit of English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602—about 18 years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth. Gosnold explored Buzzards Bay, named Cape Cod, and traded with local Wampanoag people in the New Bedford area.

The exact location of Smoking Rocks has been debated, but historical sources generally place it on the New Bedford shoreline opposite Palmer Island and just north of today’s hurricane barrier.

Domino's Pizza Operation Clean Sweep Bask, Inc. Sid Wainer & Son The Rotary Club of New Bedford

09/19/2026

Now I know. Once you know, you know.

09/14/2026

What an amazing day.

9/11 Day of Caring Sponsored by The United Way of Greater New Bedford.

This year is especially special since it aligns with the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance – honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Thank you Victoria from the United Way for all you do and working with Clean Sweep to further our goal of a cleaner harbor.

The 9/11 Day of Caring goal ?
The cleanup of Marsh Island in Fairhaven which is located within the combined New Bedford / Fairhaven Harbor.

This was the second cleanup of Marsh Island since May.

There were so many organizations to be thankful for.

New Bedford based Morgan Advanced Materials (a world wide company) and their team of 31 Employees chose Clean Sweep as their choice to make a huge positive environmental difference to our New Bedford / Fairhaven Harbor. We couldn’t be more excited that they chose Clean Sweep to help remove debris from Marsh Island.

The efforts of Morgan Advanced Materials removed 1,720 pounds of debris and wood from the shoreline. That’s 32 bags of trash, rope, styrofoam, plastics, plus wood. Now that’s impressive! This is a very focused and motivated Company to help clean Marsh Island.

Special guest - Marcus Hendrigues of Fairhaven Acushnet Land Preservation Trust gave presentations at the beginning and throughout the cleanup. Marcus taught the Volunteers about the Restoration project of Marsh Island and educated us about the Wampanoag Indians and the environmental impacts of the local lands and rivers and species. In addition, Marcus took a group of Volunteers over to the other side of Marsh Island to remove more debris from the FALPT side of the island. Thank you Marcus.

Thank you to the Buzzards Bay Coalition for clearing the trail for beach access.

And of course Thank You to Domino’s Pizza for providing free Pizza to all our Volunteers. Ryan always pulls through for Clean Sweep.

And finally my Clean Sweep team of Mark Lavalee, Lynn Amicucci, and myself for helping to make all this possible for a better environmental positive difference.

Marsh Island is plastic free, and more, once again.

Clean Harbors, Clean Waters, Better Together.

Fairhaven Acushnet Land Preservation Trust Operation Clean Sweep Buzzards Bay Coalition Domino's Pizza

09/04/2026

Check this out. Spout loves fall cleanups.

Who's ready for fall cleanups? The yard waste collection schedule for the season is below. For more information, visit www.NewBedfordRecycling.org or call the Department of Facilities & Fleet Management at 508-979-1520.

09/02/2026

Going back up the river. Or maybe we should say “Giving back to the river”

A 9th trip for me with my friends Marcus with the Fairhaven Acushnet Land Preservation Trust and other Volunteers, who want to help, to continue the progress of the Acushnet River restoration to improve the migration of the river Herring.
So many other Volunteers have been involved so far.

A very challenging and difficult but very rewarding environmental project that must be completed for the continued success of the Acushnet River.
Primarily removing downed trees, clearing brush, and trash.

This will help improve water quality of the Acushnet River, increase the population of the Herring, allow for Kayak access, and improve the environmental conditions for so much other wildlife.

Reach out to Marcus at the Fairhaven Acushnet Land Preservation Trust if you want to be part of this amazing effort.