Homeowner Joel Newton received recognition Tuesday from the Town of Southern Shores for his longtime service as the go-to volunteer repairman for residents’ damaged trash and recycling receptacles.  

Mayor Elizabeth Morey presented him with a Volunteer Appreciation Award during the Town Council’s meeting, thanking him for his generosity, ingenuity, dedication, and time.

“Thank you for keeping the town rolling,” she said  

Mr. Newton, who is well-known for his years of work in maintaining the Southern Shores beach crossovers, has repaired nearly 300 trash and recycling receptacles for residents by replacing or salvaging wheels, axles, lids, and other parts.

Residents pay for parts, but not for Mr. Newton’s service, which he said Tuesday is still not known to most people in town, despite its advertisement in the Town newsletter.

Since 2022, according to Town Manager Cliff Ogburn, Mr. Newton, an engineer and master carpenter, has partnered with the Town, which now supplies him with parts.  

That year, as Mr. Ogburn explained Tuesday, the Town Council strengthened the Town ordinances pertaining to solid waste (chapter 26) by requiring “residential receptacles” for trash and recycling to have “fully functional” lids and wheels. (See Town Code sec. 26-5(f)-(g).)

The Town started citing residents whose receptacles failed these requirements with violations that also advised them how to obtain repairs through Mr. Newton.

According to the Town website, anyone seeking Mr. Newton’s services may text him at (804) 892-3378. For more information about the repair program, see https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/community/page/trash-and-recycling.  

Mr. Newton’s hands-on skill in repair and maintenance of the receptables has “helped residents save money, reduced waste, and kept usable cans in service,” the Town said in a statement.

Mr. Newton also has been instrumental in the repair, maintenance, restoration, and improvement of the Southern Shores Civic Assn.’s 33 beach crossovers. 

A former longtime member of the SSCA’s Board of Directors, overseeing properties, Mr. Newton has been hands-on in crossover maintenance (e.g., clearing piles of sand after a nor’easter), repair (banging nails with other volunteers), and construction (coordinating and helping to build new ramps, walkways, and decks).

The cap that Mr. Newton, who served in the U.S. Air Force, wore Tuesday seemed to sum up his attitude toward life: “Never idle.”

Thank you, Joel Newton, for all that you do for our community.

LAST FRIDAY PICKUP: And speaking of trash receptacles, tomorrow is the last Friday trash pickup of the season. The Monday-only schedule returns on Labor Day Monday.   

By Ann G. Sjoerdsma, The Southern Shores Beacon, 9/3/26