GREAT VILLAGE - Danny Simpson can't believe just how selfish some people can be.
Simpson, 65, was having coffee with his mother-in-law along the bank near the end of Spencer Point Road at around 11 a.m. yesterday when an old black pickup truck caught his eye.
"I looked over and saw a man pull what looked to me like a white pole out of his truck," said Simpson, adding he started back to the house at the same time.
It was then that Simpson's mother-in-law questioned whether or not the man threw it over the bank.
"I looked over the bank and there was white glass everywhere. I was so upset," said Simpson.
The shattered glass, which looks to be from a fluorescent light bulb, covers rocks and sand below the bank, which is within sight of the Cobequid Bay.
"It was ... thoughtless, with no regard for human safety and no regard for the environment," he said.
Because Colchester County offers both a spring and fall clean up, Simpson speculated that the man, who was wearing a blue shirt, either missed the spring clean up or the bulb just burnt out and the man didn't want to wait until fall. Light bulbs, however, can be disposed of with household garbage.
"It was a totally selfish act and an act of pure laziness."
With cottage season quickly approaching, Simpson is so concerned about the safety of those who use the beach - from children to seniors and even dogs - that he's trying to clean up the mess himself.
"When the tide comes in and washes out, this could go the same way as the tide. It will spread it even more," he said. "I've got to get this cleaned up. Whoever did this has no idea of the domino effect it will create."
Looking down the beach, Simpson said there are a number of children constantly on the beach throughout the summer.
"And many older folks take off their sandals and walk along the beach, and there are people that come out to walk their dogs, so the dogs will get it in their paws too."
He hoped to have the glass cleaned up before high tide last night, however it was a long, tedious process. He started using a dustpan and hand brush, however the glass wasn't moving very well over the rock.
"One of those machines that people use to suck up leaves would be perfect," he said.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
Hey Drummer, Yes, I gladly stayed and helped Danny pick up pieces of the broken light bulb. I started picking pieces up, and he thought I was taking them home with me. But no, he held the bag open for me to place the pieces inside the bag. I love the beach as well, and clean up when and where possible. :)