What’s in the Bag?

Montecito sailmaker Tim Kirshtner, who also ran a business he dubbed “The Beach Doctor Beach Cleaning Service,” has taken his love of the ocean a step further as he notices more and more litter, particularly the detritus of doggie dinners past.

Tim, 47, has been recognized for his good deeds, including the Butterfly Beach Association, the Haley McGuire Fund, and what was the Music Academy of the West.

He was also instrumental in getting the county and MarBorg to place stone trash cans along the coastline of our rarefied enclave.

Tim, who studied ecological restoration at City College, now runs Tim Kirshtner’s Custom Canvas and Sail Repair after working for the nonprofit Growing Solutions, the Restoration Education Institute for 20 years, continuing to clean the beaches on his days off, and traveling from Oxnard to the Gaviota coast.

In 2014, he founded the nonprofit Clear Waterways Organization Inc., not only clearing waterways, but roads, drains, streams, and wetlands.

More recently, with the amount of canine residue being left, Tim got tired of the amount of clearing up required. “When I see a dog bag on the side of a trail, creek, or beach I absolutely cringe,” he says.

“Luckily for many years I have saved fabric end cuts from my business as a sailmaker and decided to do something to help the environment. I also wanted to help dog owners have a place to store their dog waste until they find a trash can.”

Tim’s “doggy bags” are made to universally fit on to any dog leash and handmade with marine canvas.

If you’d like to grab a bag, they are available for a donation to the Clear Waterways Organization.

Just press the donation button on the website: https://Clearwaterways.org

Another option is through Venmo: @Kirshtner. The bags are mailed out, so do leave an address on the donation note. One bag totals a $25 donation.

Paws for thought, indeed…