Massachusetts Beautification Bulletin | August 25, 2026
| |
It's hard to believe September 1st is just a week away! While the end of summer is bitttersweet, fall will bring more comfortable temperatures for keeping our communities beautiful. It will also bring our Massachusetts Clean Community Awards on November 5, when we'll celebrate the amazing people across Massachusetts who donate their time and talents to clean up and green up their communities. In the meantime, please scroll down for more updates on KMB programs and events.
| |
Gear Up Now For COASTSWEEP Cleanup Season!
Cooler fall temperatures—ideal for litter cleanup—will be here sooner than you realize. Start planning your own COASTSWEEP or Great Massachusetts Cleanup event now by picking a date and location, recruiting volunteers, and spreading the word.
We are proud to support COASTSWEEP 2026, a statewide program that engages volunteers to clean up our beaches, riverbanks, and coastlines. Every piece of trash collected helps to protect marine life and preserve the beauty of our shores.
Grab your supplies, rally your crew, and head to the coast (or anywhere in Massachusetts) to be a part of something that truly makes a difference!
| |
Congratulations to Our 2026 Next-Gen Environmental Leader Scholarship Recipient
Skylar Ikemoto recently received our 2026 Next-Gen Environmental Leader Scholarship! She is a first-year student studying biology and bio-chemistry at Villanova University.
As the valedictorian of her class at Newburyport High School, Skylar interned with the Alliance of Climate & Environmental Stewards (ACES), with a focus on educating the public about the need to protect pollinators and their habitats. Skylar helped secure a Newburyport Education Foundation grant to support environmental education and pollinator-related outreach. She also wrote a research-based article that was published in the Newburyport Daily News.
Skylar’s grandfather, grandmother, and uncle all worked at a nursery, where they were regularly exposed to pesticides. All three later developed Parkinson’s disease, which she believes was connected to that exposure. These experiences made her realize that environmental protection is not just about preserving beautiful landscapes or protecting wildlife — it’s also about protecting people, families, and communities from harm that can last for generations.
“I am grateful to Keep Massachusetts Beautiful for their financial support! Through my experiences, I have learned how important it is to connect environmental protection with education, because lasting change often begins with helping others understand why an issue matters.”
Congratulations to Skylar and best wishes for great success at Villanova University!
| |
Quotable: "It is the glistening autumnal side of summer. I feel a cool vein in the breeze, which braces my thought, and I pass with pleasure over sheltered and sunny portions of the sand where the summer's heat is undiminished, and I realize what a friend I am losing."
― Henry David Thoreau
| |
Join One of Our "Love, Tito’s" Cleanups
This fall, we are hosting two public cleanups that are being sponsored by Love, Tito’s.
| |
Join Us For Some Good Clean Fun on November 5
These awards recognize Massachusetts residents, KMB chapters, nonprofits, government leaders, and businesses for exceptional environmental protection and community cleanup efforts.
This year’s celebration of civic engagement and positive energy will take place at the Village Hall on the Common in Framingham on November 5.
| |
The KMB Blog: Teach Your Children Well
When we teach children not to litter, to leave a park cleaner than they found it, or to pick up a stray bottle that isn't theirs, we're teaching much more than environmental stewardship. We're teaching responsibility. Pride. Respect. Empathy. We're showing them that they have the power to leave the world just a little better than they found it.
Read our recent blog post to learn ways to teach young people about the importance of community service and caring for our environment.
| |
Make a Fashionable Statement
With cooler temperatures on the way, now is the time to order your own cozy long-sleeve tee shirt!
| |
Environmental News Worth Your Precious Time
| |
Sincerely,
Neil Rhein, Founder & Executive Director
| |
Our Visionary Partner Sponsors:
| |
Our Eco-Champion Sponsors:
| |
|
|
|
