• Not blind opposition to progress, but opposition to blind progress
Program for March 2017
What: Manatee-Sarasota Group Meeting
When: Thursday, March 9th, 7 p.m.
Where: Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. Of
the Arts
March/April 2017
Program for April 2017
What: Manatee-Sarasota Group Meeting
When: Thursday, April 13th , 7 p.m.
Where: Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. Of
the Arts
Plans To Celebrate Earth Day
Ready for 100
Kayla Evans, an Ocean Science researcher, and
student attending New College of Florida will share
plans for a satellite march in the Sarasota area for the
Scientist's March on Washington. This march
responds to the recent funding restrictions and
reduced research and reporting within the EPA,
National Parks Service, and other agencies. Marches
are a way for citizens to express their views to
legislators and raise awareness in others who share
their views. Marches give outlet to the frustrations
shared by many. We welcome student participation
and will share in their planning. Join us for this
important meeting and bring a snack to share
Last November the City of St. Petersburg became
the first city in the state of Florida to commit to
100% clean renewable energy. Now our ManateeSarasota Sierra Group is working with a number of
local organizations and the City of Sarasota to
realize a 100% renewable goal for the city of
Sarasota. Come to our April meeting to learn more
about the Sierra national campaign “Ready for
100” and learn how you can help our community
commit to becoming 100% renewable. Join us for
this important meeting and bring a snack to share
afterwards.
Sunpower for the Sunshine State
The League of Women Voters of Sarasota, along with the Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club, the Sarasota
Classified Teachers Association, the UU Church of Sarasota, the Florida House Institute, the Gulf Coast
Foundation and the Barancik Foundation have partnered in supporting the expansion of rooftop solar
installations in Sarasota County via the establishment of a solar buying co-op. The role of the partners in
this endeavor is to get the word out to local homeowners about this group-buying opportunity. The cost of
rooftop solar installations has declined by 75% over the past few years, while the cost of utility-provided
energy has continued to rise. The role of the non-profit FL SUN Co-op is to provide educational support to
the community, write a Request for Proposal to be distributed to local and State installers, and help co-op
members establish an evaluation committee to select a vendor. Although a single installer will be selected,
contractor proposals will include several options with different price-points. This will enable homeowners
to select a customized system that meets their particular requirements. In the recent past,
homeowners have saved approximately 20% by participating in this group-buying co-op. The
Sarasota FL SUN co-op launched on January 4th, with a press conference held at the Florida
House Institute. There were three heavily-attended information sessions which took place in
January and February, and a final session is scheduled for April 18th, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the
North Sarasota County Library. The cut-off for co-op sign-ups is May 1st 2017. Interested
homeowners may sign up for this session or register to participate in the co-op at
http://www.flsun.org/sarasota. Additional information is available via newsletter and emails by
registering at http://www.flsun.org/newsletterlistserv-sign-up/.
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2017 Executive Committee
Manatee Conservation Committee
Mondays, March 13th & April 10th, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Please join us at the Bradenton Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota
Blvd. Help us to build sound environmental policy in Manatee
County. Contact Sandra Ripberger at 941-794-3878 or
[email protected].
Sarasota Conservation Committee
Tuesdays, March 21st & April 18th, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Please join us at the Selby Library’s conference room, 1331 1st
Street, Sarasota. Help us to build sound environmental policy in
Sarasota County. Contact Larry Grossman 941-225-5741 or
[email protected].
Outings:
March /April 2017
Carlton Reserve Walk, Saturday, March 11
Carlton Reserve 4 mile walk 8:30 a m. Expect to see wildflowers as we walk thru this lovely wilderness under open sky.
Wear sturdy shoes, carry water, sunscreen, insect repellent. Bring
brunch if you can stay. Must reserve with Sally 484-4113.
Seasons of the Myakka, Saturday, March 18
Join us for a 6 to 8 mile morning hike that will be repeated in
June and Sept. as we watch the seasons change in hammock, prairie
and swamp. Group size limited, reserve with Bill Lewis 355-2156.
Jelks Preserve Walk, Saturday, March 25
River Road,Venice. 8:30 a m. We will walk the trail in reverse
direction, making a stop for photo ops and snack next to the Myakka
River. Carry water, wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen and insect
repellent. Must reserve with Sally 484-4113.
Myakka Wildlands Hike, Saturday, April 1
Join us for the morning as we do an 8 to 10 mile hike (depending
on hydrologic conditions) in the Myakka ecosystem. We'll explore
hammock, flatwoods, prairie and marsh. Group size limited,
reserve with Bill Lewis 355-2156.
Myakka River State Park Hike, Saturday, April 8
3-4 mile walk thru sun and shade in this fine wilderness. Wear
sturdy shoes, carry water, sunscreen, insect repellent and lunch if
you can stay. Must reserve with Sally 484-4113.
Carlton Reserve Adventure, Saturday, April 22
4 mile adventure in this wonderful wilderness park. Wear sturdy
shoes, carry water, sunscreen, insect repellent and lunch if you can
stay afterward. Must reserve with Sally 484-4113.
Suggested donation for each Outing: $5
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Group Chair: Gerry Swormstedt
941-366-9596, [email protected]
Vice-Chair/Political: Andre Mele
914-204-0030, [email protected]
Secretary: Cathy Page 941-795-8973,
[email protected]
Manatee Conservation Chair:
Sandra Ripberger 941-794-3878,
[email protected]
Co-Chairs: Stu and Judy Johnson
941-755-6110, [email protected]
Sarasota Conservation Chair:
Larry Grossman 941-225-5741,
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Krista Lohr 941-302-0610
[email protected]
Hospitality: Shar Nelson 805-320-6772,
[email protected]
Membership: Mary Sheppard
941-752-3200, [email protected]
Publicity: Gerlinde Kohl 941-474-4712,
[email protected]
Outings: Don Kirkley 941-493-3085,
[email protected]
Outreach: John Myers 941-961-7095,
[email protected]
Web Master: Lynn Nilssen 941-284-2158,
[email protected]
Programs:
Appointed Committees
ICO Chair: Sarah Mitchell 941-725-1568,
[email protected]
Newsletter Design & Production:
Bob Fellman 973-689-5556,
[email protected]
Treasurer: Bob Fellman 973-689-5556,
[email protected]
Website:
http://sierraclub.org/florida/manateesarasota
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 3485, Sarasota, FL 34236-3485
___
Executive Committee meetings are held
bimonthly. For dates and time contact Gerry
Swormstedt, Group Chair.
Boca Sierra Vol. XXI Issue 2
This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the
Manatee-Sarasota Group of the Florida Chapter of the
Sierra Club. The intent is to inform members and
interested individuals of local activities and national
environmental issues. Members of the Sierra Club
subscribe to Boca Sierra through their annual dues.
Nonmember subscriptions are available for $6
annually.
www.sierraclub.org/florida/manateesarasota
Paving the Way to Wildness
If you've ever stood on the rim of the Grand
Canyon and marveled at the awesome view of the
gorge, you have the Antiquities Act to thank. The
same is true of California's Death Valley and Mt.
Lassen National Parks, as well as Katmai and Glacier
Bay National Parks in Alaska, Zion National Park in
Utah, and many others. But this landmark
conservation law is now in jeopardy, as some
congressional Republicans—along with Interior
Secretary nominee Ryan Zinke—are threatening to
repeal or weaken it.
Learn more at
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/greenlife/antiquities-act-has-paved-way-for-someamerica-s-most-awesome-national-parks-now
Sustainable Investing for Everyone
Divesting from fossil fuels and investing in companies with strong environmental practices is an important
way to take action—especially when our government is pushing in the wrong direction. Our partner,
Aspiration, offers a 100% fossil-fuel-free investment strategy with a minimum investment of only $500.
Fossil-fuel-free investing can mean more green in your wallet and a greener planet all at the same
time—and Aspiration will make a donation to support the Sierra Club's work for each member or supporter
who invests. Learn more at: https://www.aspiration.com/partners/sierraclub
Plastic Bags: A Peril to Manatees
So many of us share the sadness and dismay that others feel over the article in the Herald Tribune about
the death of the baby manatee due the carelessness of others and lack of regulation of plastic bags.
The orphaned calf died as a result of ingesting trash as he scrounged the sea floor looking for something to
eat. According to sources, a plastic bag was protruding from his rectum.
I know from personal experience while boating that I find these plastic bags plastered up into the mangroves
and floating where manatees, sea turtles and other sea creatures eat them mistaking the bags for food. Sea
birds also become entangled in them.
I don’t think most people intentionally throw them in the water but the bags themselves blow easily in
the wind and they are rarely recycled.
Please Join Manasota 88 (http://www.manasota88.org/) and the Manatee-Sarasota Group of the Sierra
Club (www.sierraclub.org/florida/manatee-sarasota) calling for a ban in Sarasota County on these bags. It’s
a shame it takes the death of a baby manatee to have people take notice.
By Don Kirkley, Outings Chair, Manatee-Sarasota Group of the Sierra Club
Help Sierra save money!
Want to help save local Sierra dollars, ease the burden on volunteers, conserve trees, and receive the
newsletter faster and in color? Just follow the steps below to be switched from the paper copy mailing list
to the electronic mailing list.
1. Type this address into your browser:
http://lists.sierraclub.org/archives/FLORIDA-M-S-GROUP- NEWS.html
2. Click on “Subscribe/Unsubscribe.”
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NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
MANASOTA, FL
Permit NO. 510
ManateeSarasota Group
Sierra Club
P.O. Box 3485 Sarasota
FL 342363485
Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
Brunch For the Bay
Join Suncoast Waterkeeper, Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and Sierra Club's Manatee-Sarasota
Group at the Bradenton Yacht Club on March 5 for a Brunch and fundraiser to support efforts to protect our local
waterways from illegal pollution and overdevelopment. Tickets are $50.00.
We are fighting polluters that poison our waterways and developers that make huge profits by destroying our
environment. Our battle to protect our quality of life needs funding and we need your help.
This is where our money has been spent and where we need funds in the future:
•
Challenging Carlos Beruff’s Long Bar point development plans for marina and waterfront development,
including his proposed mitigation bank - being used as a ploy to destroy wetlands, sea grasses and mangroves
in Sarasota Bay; an area known as the "Kitchen" because it provides valuable habitat for seafood,
•
Defended Manatee County’s Comprehensive Plan’s coastal protections from Beruff’s “takings” challenge,
•
Challenged developer Pat Neal's permit to dredge mangroves and wetlands. We got a judge’s recommended
order to deny the permit - Neal appealed, but we continue the fight. Meanwhile we continue to sue the City
of Bradenton for ignoring their own rules thus permitting wetlands to be destroyed for houses,
•
Challenging phosphate expansion in our region, particularly into Manatee County, and
•
Forcing municipalities to fix their failing sewage systems which spill millions of gallons of sewage into our
waterways.
Good food, friends, interesting speakers, awards to environmental heros, and a raffle, price is $50.00 per person.
13th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221
WHEN: March 05, 2017 at 12pm - 3pm, WHERE: Bradenton Yacht Club, 4307
CONTACT: Justin Bloom · [email protected] · 941.275.2922
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