NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. – This Saturday, the spotlight will shine bright on shorelines, beaches and waterways all over the world as thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves for International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Miami-Dade County boasts the third-largest of these global cleanup efforts, thanks to two South Florida residents who saw the problem and resolved to grow this important mission of protecting our most valuable resource.
Married power couple environmentalists Dave Doebler and Dara Schoenwald are the co-founders of the organization VolunteerCleanup.org, a website they both created to amplify neighborhood cleanups happing all over Miami-Dade after noticing the endless flow of litter polluting our bay.
“Every Sunday, I would just go paddling in Biscayne Bay, and I would just notice all this trash,” Doebler reflected.
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Added Schoenwald: “And I just see his kayak, and it is loaded down and strapped down with all kinds of plastic. And my first thought was, like, we either need to get him a bigger boat or a lot more help.”
That’s how Volunteer Cleanup was born. The website went live in 2014 and since then, South Florida has stepped up big time. From its inception, the heart of the mission has always been the restoration and protection of Biscayne Bay.
In fact, right before our interview, the Don’t Trash Our Treasure team found Doebler and Schoenwald diligently scooping up plastic bits from their North Bay Village backyard as a hungry manatee and her calf munched on some seagrass that had floated to the surface mixed in with those toxic ingredients.
“This is why we do this,” Doebler said as he fished out the litter. “We’ve got this glorious gem, and it’s on life support right now. It’s in really, really poor shape.”
Over the past 10 years, Doebler and Schoenwald have helped launch over 100 clean-up non-profits like Clean Miami Beach and Clean This Beach Up. Together, these 100 non-profits have recruited over 35,000 volunteers who collectively have picked up over 800,000 pounds of debris from South Florida neighborhoods and shorelines.
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“Since 2020, we’ve removed over 20 thousand pounds from (the MacArthur Causeway) alone,” said Clean This Beach Up Founder MJ Algarra.
Said Doebler: “We’ve got people who are leading one cleanup a month…we’ve got people who are leading a cleanup every single week. Some have started nonprofits because of it, but it all starts with attending their very first cleanup.”
Like the more than 70 clean-ups Doebler and Schoenwald have helped organize for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day. The worldwide effort was launched by the Ocean Conservancy back in 1986 to remove trash from our beaches and waterways.
It’s a mission that Doebler and Schoenwald have supersized locally since they took over coordination of the Miami-Dade ICC clean-ups in 2014.
“We’re just super proud of how it’s grown,” said Schoenwald. “You know, over the 10 years, from those 20 or so cleanups to a massive movement of 70 and all of the partners that we’ve been able to include. When they spend the time picking it up, something is going to shift that hopefully makes them make different decisions.”
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“It provides an eye-opening experience where people can see firsthand just how much trash is in here,” Doebler reflected.
Decisions we make as consumers, reducing or eliminating single-use plastics whenever we can, realizing that every choice we make leaves a footprint.
“Plastics you can see, and once you see it you can’t unsee it,” said Doebler. “Almost everybody will attend another cleanup…almost everybody will say that they will reduce single-use plastics.”
And you might be surprised just how good it makes you feel.
“People say that was a lot of fun, and that always surprises me that people enjoy the experience of picking up trash,” said Schoenwald. “But I think it gives people a good feeling that they’re learning something and that they’re participating actively in the betterment of our environment.”
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Since the first International Coastal Cleanup Day 38 years ago, more than 18 million volunteers have collected more than 380 million pounds of trash.
This year will be the largest ever in Miami-Dade County, with 70 clean-ups happening from Greynolds Park down to Homestead that can host up to 5,000 volunteers. If you’d like to be one of them, visit the Volunteer Cleanup website to sign up.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
It’s time for the 13th Detroit Lions OnSI mock draft roundup for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Over the last week, the Lions have increasingly prioritized finding an EDGE to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17 overall.
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Let’s take a look now at who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round.
Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
Mauigoa is presently being projected by the following:
Pro Football Network (Alec Elijah)
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EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
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Mesidor is presently being mocked by the following:
A to Z Sports (Mike Payton; Lions trade down to No. 26 overall); NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); Pro Football Focus (Jordan Plocher);CBS Sports (Garrett Podell)
As Plocher pens, “The Lions are finally able to add a consistent pass-rush threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Only one time since Hutchinson has been in Detroit has another Lions defender topped 50 hurries in a season, and that was Al-Quadin Muhammad in 2025 (53), but he left in free agency.
Mesidor was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football in 2025, amassing 13 sacks, four quarterback hits and 50 hurries on 445 pass-rush snaps. He finished the 2025 season with a 94.2 PFF pass-rushing grade against true pass sets, the second-best mark in the draft class.”
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EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
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Bain is presently being selected by the following:
FOX Sports (Joel Klatt)
As Klatt pens, “I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win.”
Offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Utah
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Lomu is presently being selected by the following:
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Pro Football Network (Jacob Infante);Pro Football Network (T.J. Randall)
As Infante explains, “Few expected the level of regression the Detroit Lions experienced in 2025. After the release of long-time starting left tackle Taylor Decker, they find themselves with a big hole along an offensive line that already took a step back after key departures the previous offseason.
Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”
Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, Georgia
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Freeling is currently being mocked by the following:
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Detroit Lions On SI (Christian Booher); FOX Sports (Ben Arthur); Sports Illustrated (Daniel Flick)
As Flick writes, “The Lions released starting left tackle Taylor Decker and now need a replacement in the draft. Freeling, who’s risen from unheralded to likely first-round pick, is an athletic mover with plenty of bend and agility. He needs to keep getting stronger, but Freeling could be a tremendous blindside blocker at the next level.”
Offensive tackle Blake Miller, Clemson
Miller is presently being mocked by the following:
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The Detroit News (Nolan Bianchi); NFL.com (Mike Band);The Draft Network (Jaime Eisner)
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As Eisner opines, “The Taylor Decker era is over in Detroit and a new left tackle is needed. Enter Blake Miller, a name that is rising up draft boards as we inch closer to April. Miller has a phenomenal college resume with good size and a ton of power. He’s played mostly right tackle, but he should have no issues moving over to the left side if needed or sticking at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving over. Miller and Sewell can form a formidable bookend tandem in Detroit.”
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Utah
Fano is presently being selected by the following:
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)
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Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
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Proctor is presently being selected by the following:
ESPN (Field Yates); NFL.com (Charles Davis); USA Today (Google Gemini); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); WalterFootball (Charlie Campbell)
As Yates opines, “Left tackle is a sizable need for Detroit with the departure of Taylor Decker after 10 seasons. Proctor is a sizable answer to the problem — literally — at 6-7, 352 pounds. He has power when he gets his hands on defenders in the running game as well.
Proctor’s tape had up-and-down moments during his final college season, as sometimes his foot quickness was overmatched by edge rushers. But the upside is immense for the 20-year-old left tackle, who started all 40 games he appeared in at Alabama.”
As tens of thousands of electronic music fans descend on downtown Miami for the Ultra Music Festival this weekend, some residents living near Bayfront Park say the celebration comes at a cost they bear year after year.
Visitors from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the three-day festival. While organizers and city leaders tout the economic and cultural impact of the event, nearby residents say road closures, limited park access, and high noise levels disrupt daily life in an area that has grown increasingly residential.
“It’s kind of stressful, and it’s definitely an imposition,” said Laura Okamura, who lives along Biscayne Boulevard near the festival grounds. “The people who suffer the most are the people who live at 50 Biscayne.”
Newer residential towers now surround Bayfront Park, a shift neighbors say city leaders and festival organizers must account for as Ultra negotiates its next contract with Miami.
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A Miami commissioner visited residents to hear their concerns
District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo visited Okamura’s building Friday night to hear concerns from residents firsthand. He said a public meeting scheduled for April 2 will allow surrounding neighbors to voice their grievances as the city considers the festival’s future.
“It seems doable,” Pardo said. “People really like this event. People in this building, people on the street, enjoy the event, but they also want to be heard. And they want to be sure their basic needs are met.”
Noise remains one of the biggest issues for nearby residents. Colby Leider, a sound engineer, said early-evening readings near the festival hovered between 80 and 85 decibels. Historically, neighbors say volumes increase as the night goes on.
“Eighty-five is a very important number in human hearing,” Leider said. “It’s the level above which exposure begins to potentially cause hearing loss.”
Residents say they want stricter noise controls and traffic mitigation plans written into Ultra’s new agreement with the city. They stress they are not pushing to cancel the festival, but want accommodations that reflect how downtown Miami has changed since Ultra began in the city.
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“It’s about understanding how a neighborhood has grown and how an event that has existed for 26 years can harmonize over time,” Pardo said.
Okamura echoed that sentiment, saying neighbors are asking festival organizers to act responsibly. “We are not asking Ultra not to have the concert,” she said. “We are asking them to be a good neighbor. This is our home. This is where we live.”
Representatives from Ultra Music Festival and the Bayfront Park Management Trust are expected to attend the April 2 meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss potential changes to the festival’s contract with the city. The meeting will take place at Live Arts Lab Theater, building 1, room 1101. Ultra Music Festival runs through the weekend at Bayfront Park, with road closures and traffic expected throughout downtown Miami.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a first look at Luna, new cruise ship setting sail from PortMiami – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
MIAMI (WSVN) – There’s a new cruise ship in town, and it is almost ready to set sail.
Luna, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, welcomed people aboard for the very first time on Tuesday.
Luna is the 21st ship in the company’s fleet. From April to October, she’ll set sail from PortMiami to the Caribbean, with room for over 3,000 guests.
“We do a seven-day Caribbean cruise, it’s out of Miami, and then we do have Dominican Republic,” said Cruise Director Alvin Oliva. “After that, we visit St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island, and then Tortola, and then we spend days at sea, and of course the prime, a lot of people are looking forward to visiting Great Stirrup Cay, which is Norwegian’s very own private island,”
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On this voyage, there is plenty to do for the whole family — fom obstacle courses and games for the children, to a luxurious two-story spa.
“There is a bi-level waterfall right there; we offer a lot of different kinds of relaxation,” said Oliva.
At the Mandara Spa, guests can get hot stone and deep tissue massages, facials, body wraps and then lounge at the thermal suite, complete with relaxing steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers.
Once you’re done relaxing, guests can enjoy a drink at the poolside bar.
For those who are feeing adventurous, one of the highlights of the ship is its Aqua Slidecoaster. It’s a water slide/roller coaster hybrid, and Norweigan said it’s the fastest and longest water slide at sea.
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“It was the best thing of my life, the best part of my day. It was amazing, 10 out of 10, I recommend,” said Ely, who rode the coaster.
People have traveled from all over to Miami to get on the new ship.
“We love it. I’s so clean, it’s so chic, our room looks amazing,” said Christina Guttuso.
“We’re excited, we’re ready to go,” said Nick Mangiaracina.
It’s a busy spring break, but well worth it for these cruisers.
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“Go cruising. Even if you’re from Minnesota like me, it’s worthwhile,” said Justin Sunbrig.
The Luna’s maiden seven-day voyage is scheduled to set sail out of PortMiami on April 4.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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