Santa Cruz had its countywide big beach cleanup Saturday and 2,882 volunteers removed 9,676 pounds of trash and 2,799 pounds of recyclables from the beaches.

Overall, in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, volunteers prevented a total of 17,503 pounds of pollution from entering the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, according to Save Our Shores, sponsor of the event.

The stats include:

      *Total volunteers in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties combined: 4,584
      *Total trash and recyclables removed in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties combined: 17,503
      *Total volunteers in Santa Cruz County: 2,882
      *Total trash and recyclables removed in Santa Cruz County: 12,475

Among the featured politicians were Congressman Sam Farr, who turned up in Carmel and Santa Cruz City Councilmembers David Terrazas and Hilary Bryant, who gave SOS a City Proclamation, celebrating its important campaign.

Watsonville Mayor Daniel Dodge was at the Pajaro River cleanup Saturday morning.

"There are so many young people here today which makes me excited," he told Save Our Shores. "Over one-third of the residents of Watsonville are under 18, so we really have the ability to live change by educating the youth."

Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo, also at the Pajaro River cleanup, said: "It is exciting to see such a large group of Watsonville residents helping out today, understanding that the trash we find here would otherwise end up in the Monterey Bay. This is my third year doing the cleanup and it is becoming a tradition for this community to come out and help keep the trash out of the Bay."