Full Breakdown
Senior Women Pull Hundreds of Pounds of Trash from Lovells Pond
7/18/2026, 1:00:39 AM
Cleanup Operation at Lovells Pond
On July 17, 2026, a group of senior volunteers known as Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage conducted a one-hour underwater cleanup of Lovells Pond in Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The women entered the pond in life jackets, kayaks, snorkels and masks after passing a swim test. Their effort focused on removing a variety of debris that had accumulated in the water, including old beer cans, wine bottles, cracked golf balls, cinder blocks, wooden pallets, a fishing pole, a fragment of a white plastic lounge chair, and a disintegrating car tire.
Participants
All participants were at least 65 years old; the youngest member was Lisa Weiss, a 65-year-old retired high school math teacher who described herself as “the baby of the group.” Weiss and the other members had scouted the pond months in advance and prepared for the dive, training specifically for the task.
Collected Debris
During the hour-long operation, the volunteers filled the storage compartments of their kayaks and secured additional items on gear loops and bows. The haul was described as substantial, though the article provides no precise weight or volume. The women transported the collected trash back to shore for disposal.
Firsthand Reaction
After completing the cleanup, the participants gathered to assess their work. Lisa Weiss summed up the experience:
> “You’re exhausted, you’re maybe a little sunburned, you’re filthy, and it’s the best feeling.”
The group expressed a sense of accomplishment despite the physical strain, highlighting the personal satisfaction derived from improving the pond’s condition.
