New York State Senator Steve Rhoads rolled up his sleeves on August 7 to lead a community cleanup at Tackapausha Museum and Preserve in Seaford, continuing his longstanding commitment to protecting Long Island’s environment and keeping local public spaces clean. Over the years, Senator Rhoads has organized and participated in numerous community cleanups throughout the 5th Senate District, bringing residents, volunteers, and community organizations together to make a hands-on difference.

This latest effort brought together members of Senator Rhoads’ office, local volunteers, and Scouts, who collected 11 full bags of garbage from trails and public areas throughout the preserve. 

Members of Wantagh Boy Scout Troop 96 and Girl Scout Troop 3209 joined the effort, working alongside Senator Rhoads and his team to pick up bottles, cans, wrappers, plastics, and other litter. Their participation reflected the strong tradition of community service and environmental stewardship demonstrated by young people throughout the district.

Senator Rhoads recognized the leadership of his intern, Aidan Saxe, who spearheaded the initiative and played a key role in organizing the cleanup and coordinating volunteers. Fellow intern Benjamin Kugal also assisted with the organization of the event and worked alongside volunteers throughout the cleanup.

Tackapausha Museum and Preserve is an important natural and recreational resource for Seaford and surrounding communities. Its trails, habitats, and open spaces provide residents with an opportunity to enjoy Long Island’s natural environment while supporting local wildlife. Removing litter helps protect those habitats, prevents waste from reaching nearby waterways, and keeps the preserve enjoyable for visitors. 

“Environmental stewardship starts right here at home,” said Senator Steve Rhoads. “I’ve always believed that if you see a problem in your community, you shouldn’t just point it out, you should roll up your sleeves and help solve it. That’s why I’m proud to continue bringing people together for cleanups like this. Every bag of litter we remove makes a difference and helps ensure these beautiful places remain here for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

Senator Rhoads thanked the Scouts, interns, volunteers, and community members who contributed their time and effort to the cleanup, noting that their participation demonstrates the strong spirit of service throughout the 5th Senate District. 

“Protecting our environment isn’t just about big policies, it’s also about taking care of the places right outside our doors,” Rhoads said. “When we work together, we can leave our parks and public spaces better than we found them.”

Senator Rhoads looks forward to continuing to work with local residents, Scouts, and community organizations on future efforts to protect and improve Long Island’s parks, preserves, and public spaces.