If you do, you are pretty darn lucky because clean water is becoming a rare commodity in the State of Florida. It's a good day for a lot of rivers and bays if there is no toxic algae blooming and people can get on or near the water without their eyes burning and having coughing fits. How did things get so bad?
(Events Calendar
HELP US SAVE WEST BAY!: 06/07/07
By Linda Young
Citizens of Florida, you are not being told the truth about the proposed new airport for Bay County. While being touted as environmentally sound, this wasteful $33l million project (corporate welfare for St. Joe) will cause serious and permanent damage to West Bay. Come to the Airport Issues Forum to learn what the Airport Authority won’t tell you about its environmental and financial impacts.
WHEN: Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Gulf Coast Community College, Student Union East, Second Floor Conference Room
SPEAKER: Dr. Steve Davis, wetlands and estuaries expert will explain the impacts the new airport will have on West Bay.
PANEL: Informational update on funding and need.
WHY: We’ll give you all the materials you need in order to let decision-makers know how you feel about this fiasco to enrich the few at the expense of the taxpayers.
Riverkeeper Roundup in Leon County: 04/14/07
On Saturday April 14, 2007, the Apalachicola Riverkeeper will hold its fourth annual "Riverkeeper Roundup" fundraiser event at the Tall Timbers Research Station, located just north of Tallahassee. The Roundup will include an afternoon and evening of nature-based activities, excellent regional food and live entertainment. Acclaimed Florida writer Diane Roberts will be the keynote speaker, and musical entertainment will be provided by The Monroe Street Band, courtesy of Gordon's String Music. Guests will be invited to eat their fill of the "low country boil", gracious gumbo and all the fresh shucked and gourmet roasted oysters you can eat. Outdoor activities will feature guided wildflower walks through the pristine Tall Timbers preserve, and paddle trips on beautiful Lake Iamonia. An auction of eclectic and interesting items and a "High Cotton" raffle of a weekend getaway in Apalachicola will round out the event.
RIVERKEEPER ROUNDUP
| WHEN: | Saturday 14 April 2007, 3:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
| WHERE: | Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County Road 12, north of Tallahassee between US Highway 319 and Meridian Road |
| WHAT: | Guided wildflower walks with Florida Native Plant Society |
| Guided kayak trips w/ The Wilderness Way on Lake Iamonia | |
| Release of rehabilitated bird of prey by St. Francis Wildlife Center | |
| Auction of art and eclectic items | |
| Raffle of weekend and dinner at High Cotton Residences in Apalachicola | |
| Old time music by Gordon's Monroe Street Band | |
| Low County Boil by LOCO + Leitman's Gracious Gumbo + fresh shucked and gourmet roasted oysters | |
| D.K. Roberts, author of DREAM STATE | |
| COST: | $60 per person, includes one High Cotton Raffle Ticket |
| $100 per couple, includes two High Cotton Raffle Tickets | |
| $125 per family, includes three High Cotton Raffle Tickets | |
| HOW: | Purchase tickets online at www.apalachicolariverkeeper.org. |
| Purchase tickets via 850-653-8936 | |
| Reservations for walks (20 per walk) at 850-653-8936 | |
| Reservations for paddling trips (10 per trip) at 850-653-8936 |
RIVERKEEPER ROUNDUP SCHEDULE:
| SATURDAY 14 April 2007 | 3:00 | Sign-in and Silent auction Begin |
| 3:15 - 6:00 | Guided Wildflower Walks & Kayak Trips | |
| 5:00 - 6:45 | Gordon's Monroe Street Band | |
| 5:00 - 7:30 | Oyster Bar & The Bars Open | |
| 5:30 - 6:45 | Low Country Boil | |
| 6:45 - 7:45 | Auction | |
| 7:45 - 8:30 | D.K. Roberts |
DESCRIPTION OF RIVERKEEPER ROUNDUP
The Apalachicola Riverkeeper will hold its 5th annual Tallahassee fundraiser on Saturday, 14 April 2007. The event has been dubbed the RIVERKEEPER ROUNDUP by naming-contest winner Bruce Platt. The Roundup will be held at the Tall Timbers Research Station north of Tallahassee. Ticket prices are $60 per person, $100 per couple and $125 for families. Please purchase your tickets by calling 850-653-8936, via Paypal at www.apalchicolariverkeeper.org.
The Magnolia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will lead wildflower walks at Tall Timbers and The Wilderness Way will lead kayak trips on beautiful Lake Iamonia. The 45-minute walks and paddling trips will start at 3:15, 4:15, and 5:15 p.m. Please make reservations via 850-653-8936, as space will be limited.
The oyster bar will open at 5:00 p.m. and will feature fresh shucked and gourmet roasted oysters. Beer and wine service, included in the ticket price will start at 5:00 p.m. as will the cash bar. LOCO will once again serve a low country boil and Steve Leitman and Randi Denker will serve Gracious Gumbo from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Feet will be tapping from 5:00 to 6:45 to tunes by Gordon's Monroe Street Band, sponsored by Gordon's String Music.
Our auction will begin at 6:45 p.m. and end at 7:45 p.m. Be prepared for marvelous art and eclectic items. At 7:30 p.m., we will draw the raffle winner for a glorious weekend at the High Cotton Residences in downtown Apalachicola. We will also have Riverkeeper t-shirts, caps and mugs, as well as the wonderful photographs, music, and DVD from the Apalachicola River: An American Treasure suite by Richard Bickel, Clyde Butcher, Sammy Tedder and Elam Stoltzfus. Richard Bickel will be on hand to sign his book faces along the river.
Our guest speaker, author D.K. Roberts, will read and speak from her writings, insights and observations about conservation and development in Florida. She will be on stage from 7:45 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
CANCELLED: Swimmable or Splashable???: 04/10/07
By Linda Young
PLEASE DISREGARD THE MESSAGE BELOW. DEP HAS CANCELLED THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10TH AND HAS NOT PROVIDED A NEW DATE. - LY
Do you want your local waters to be swimmable or just splashable? Do you like to fish in the canal in your back yard? Do your bird friends like to fish and hang there? If so, and if you live anywhere near Ft. Lauderdale, you may want to attend the next DEP workshop on a proposed change in Florida's water quality standards. DEP wants to change some of our waters to splashable instead of swimmable and boatable instead of fishable. The meeting will be on April 10th. The location is not known yet, just somewhere in Ft. Lauderdale. We'll update you asap.
Conservation awards luncheon scheduled: 03/17/07
By Linda Young
SATURDAY, March 17: The Martin County Conservation Alliance and the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County are hosting their annual Joint Conservation Awards Luncheon. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairways Restaurant at the Island Dunes Golf Club, Jensen Beach. The guest speaker is Linda Young of the Clean Water Coalition. Tickets are $15. Call (772) 334-2136 for more information.