The next time you dump your yard waste into the sound, please think about where it will end up. Each year, we spend countless hours cleaning our beach at the end of Quartermaster Harbor — where Dockton Road and Quartermaster Harbor connect. This past week we worked tirelessly to burn blackberry bushes and other yard waste that landed on our beach. We hate to burn, causing more damage to our environment, but it’s either that or push it back into the harbor for someone else to deal with. It’s just too difficult to rake it all up and take it to the dump, which would take dump truck loads.

Please be responsible and take care of your own yard waste. I’ll save another letter for the guests who stay overnight at Dockton on their boats, dumping cantaloupe rinds and other food wastes overboard. I’ve seen it done myself while walking on the dock, and I’ve dealt with it on our beach a million times.

Thank you, and I apologize (sort of) for this frustrated plea of help.

— Jennifer Spencer