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Janet Stanko, Chair
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208-1341
janestan@bellsouth.net
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Cindy Baker
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cindysbaker@gmail.com
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Lisa Williams
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388-6357
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Ed Schlessinger, Treasurer
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730-8148
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Julianne Mammana
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Ken Wright
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Maria Andal
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Forevertruth1206@gmail.com
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Ponte Vedra Program-
Monday, November 13 at 6.00 p.m.
Adventuring in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest
Bill Armstrong, Sierra Club outings leader and Outings Chair, will present a program on his recent travel experiences in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
All members and non-members are welcome.
The program will be held in the main meeting room of the
Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library at 101 Library Boulevard (at intersection of A1A) in Ponte Vedra Beach.
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Jacksonville Program-
Monday, November 13 2017, 6:45p.m.
Water: Our Vanishing Resource
Learn the facts of threats to our water in Northeast Florida and what we can do to establish a long-term program to sustain our water supplies. Speaker will be Dr. Vijay Satoskar, a geologist and water expert.
Please join us for our November Sierra Club meeting at
Lakewood Presbyterian Church, 2001 University Blvd W, rear of the education building.
Social time is from 6:30-7:00 with the
program starting at 7:00pm. All are welcome. Free.
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Sierra Leaders at Jacksonville's Environmental Luncheon
We recognized Bill Armstrong, Council Member Lori Boyer and the Tree Mitigation team for their outstanding accomplishments in the environmental arena.
A grateful Sierra Club thanks all of you.
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Environmental News Briefs
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Sierra Club Awards and Honors
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Lori Boyer- Transportion Sustainability
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We would not be a successful nonprofit without the help of our dedicated community members. We would like to take a moment to acknowledge some recent award recipients including Bill Armstrong and Lori Boyer. Thank you all for your hard work and tireless dedication to our cause. To view these stories and more check out the
Sierra Club Awards and Honors page on our website.
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Bill Armstrong (Outings Leader and Website Operator) and Janet Stanko (Chair)
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Member Spotlight Tom Larson, Tree Mitigation Team
"It is very gratifying that the city has committed to improving our community's "tree culture" This settlement will help us fulfill our commitment to protecting trees and the many substantial benefits they provide. These benefits include habitat for urban wildlife, cooling shade, improved air and water quality, less CO2
in the atmosphere, enhanced property values, and enhancement of the general quality of life in our city." - Tom Larson, Plaintiff and Public Trust Community Stewardship Director (Pictured Above)
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Sierra Club Fundraiser & Social on November 9
 Please mark your calendars for a Sierra Club fundraiser and social on November 9 with Madison Carr, a Jacksonville singer and songwriter who is also a Sierra Club member and activist. The event will be held at the
Mudville Grille, 3105 Beach Boulevard,
at intersection with Atlantic Boulevard. Tickets with advance reservation are $10 per person; $11 w no advance reservation, all payable at the door on the night of the performance subject to seating availability. The concert
starts at 7.00 p.m
with doors opening at 6 p.m. and happy hour until 7 p.m.
Food and drinks can be ordered at reasonable prices. If you want to eat before the concert then we suggest that you arrive when the doors open or shortly thereafter.
Proceeds go to Sierra Club including the Sierra Student Coalition.
We'll look forward to seeing a lot of Sierra Club members and friends at the concert to hear the great talent and voice of Madison.
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Coalition of U.S States Fight Attempted Rollback of Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration has continued its attack on our environmental protections by its announcement to repeal the Clean Power Plan, a key component of the U.S pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement.
Following this announcement, a coalition of 14 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, (but not including Florida), led by the governors of California, Washington and New York, are banding together, as the U.S. Climate Alliance, to slash fossil fuel emissions and boost renewable energy.
The Alliance estimates that it will collectively reduce carbon emissions by as much as 29% below 2005 levels by 2025.
The Alliance plans to collaborate on a broad range of greenhouse gas-cutting initiatives, such as creating new mechanisms for financing clean-energy projects, updating electric grids to better accommodate wind and solar power, improving construction standards to reduce electricity use by buildings, and speeding up the transition to electric vehicles. The Alliance states also plan to boost communities' resilience to the more damaging natural disasters that are a consequence of climate change, including the mapping the risks posed by sea level rise, storm surge, and extreme precipitation.
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John Muir's 1867 Walk in Florida Celebrated
The NE Florida & Nassau Chapters of the Sierra Club joined with the Timucuan Parks Foundation & the Yulee Historic Council on October 21, 2017 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of John Muir's important walk across Florida, a journey that eventually took him to California where he founded the world's modern environmental movement.
Sixty walkers met at the John Muir Ecological Park in Yulee to tread on the same path as Muir did, and to read passages from his diary, "A Thousand Mike Walk to the Gulf.". We next drove south 15 minutes to Jacksonville's Seaton Creek Historical Preserve where we heard a fascinating lecture by David Ramseur, the world expert on the 1777 Revolutionary War battle that occurred at this site. We walked 5 miles round trip enjoying wildflowers and to picnic at a lovely meadow overlooking Thomas Creek.
This was the 15th Annual John Muir Family Walk organized by Dr Todd Sack. Fellow trip leaders were Tom Larson, Warren Anderson & Felicia Boyd. Look for the 16th Annual John Muir Family Walk in November, 2018.
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2018 Legislative Session is Starting Early
Your help needed to meet with legislators
In preparation for the 2018 legislative session, we are meeting with NE Florida legislators in November and December to inform them of our top priority issues. This is our "legislative advocacy" process where we meet with legislators or their aides before session to educate them on our legislative priorities. This is not lobbying since lobbying occurs during session. We just want to get to know them, mention our 5 priority issues and give them a little detail about 2 or so of them. We might talk about proposed legislation.
These sessions include 2-4 people, including constituents in the legislator's district. I will be there as chair of Sierra Club, but I need constituents for 1 or 2 meetings with your Florida senator or representative. You will have some one-pager briefing materials to familiarize you with what will be discussed, but you don't have to talk unless you want to. It is always good to talk about how you are affected by the issues. This is a great exposure to meeting with legislators, and takes the intimidation out of the process.
Each meeting is about a half hour long in the local district, during the day. We are not in control of the timing, but we have a week or so lead time.
If you are interested in participating in this process, let me know your FL Senate and House district. If you don't know it, just provide your address and I can look it up. Remember this is only 1-2 meetings (unless you want to do more) during the day.
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$100 million for Florida Forever?
Senator Rob Bradley (Republican. Orange Park), Chairman of the State Senate's Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, has introduced a bill in the Florida Senate that would require the State to spend at least $100 million a year on Florida Forever, which in past years was the premiere land conservation program of the State.
While the proposed $100 million a year will not meet the expectations of voters who voted in favor of Amendment 1 in 2014, the money would act as a floor for the program which could be increased in future years.
Last year Florida Forever received no new funding and Senator Bradley does not want to see that happen again
Senator Bradley can be thanked for his filing of the bill by phoning his office in Orange Park at (904) 278-2085 or toll free (888) 347-3483.
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Upcoming Outings
Saturday, November 4, 10:00 a.m. Hike Hanna Park
We will hike approximately three miles along the beautiful trails of Hanna Park. We'll also take a bit of a beach walk along the way. The trail is pretty narrow with some minor elevation changes.
We will meet in the parking lot just past the entrance station. To get to the park located at 500 Wonderwood Dr, Jacksonville, 32233, take Monument Rd east from I-295 or the A1A/Mayport Rd flyover ramp north from Atlantic Blvd until you come to the park entrance at the intersection Wonderwood Dr and Old Mayport Rd.
After the hike, we can go to lunch in Mayport at Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant (4378 Ocean St #3, Atlantic Beach), or you can take full advantage of Hanna Park by taking a swim in the ocean or lake, renting a kayak or canoe, or riding the biking trails.
Restrooms available. Bring, water and insect repellent. There is a $5.00 admission fee per carload to enter the park. Please, no pets. Kids capable of a three mile hike at an adult pace are welcome.
Parking is VERY LIMITED and we share the parking lot with lots of cyclists. Form carpools on Meetup; arrive early.
RSVP on Meetup or to Outing Leader Bill Armstrong, armsfam@yahoo.com.
Thursday, November 16, 9.30 a.m.: Hiking in Guana
Weíll hike about 5 miles with good views of marshes and the inter-coastal waterway on some of Brianís favorite trails.
Please meet at 9.30 a.m. at the trail head for the Guana trails which is about 200 yards beyond the dam. The address is 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra . FL. 32082.
No pets please. Children who are capable of hiking 5 miles are welcome.
Please bring lunch, water and bug spray. Entrance fee of $3.00. Please RSVP on Meetup or to Outing Leader Brian Paradise at bgparadise@comcast.net
Saturday, November 18, 10:00 a.m.: Kayak Thomas Creek
We'll paddle for a total of about six miles on the beautiful Thomas Creek on the northside. The creek winds northeast into the Four Creeks State Forest.
The Thomas Creek Preserve boat ramp is located at 17198 Ethel Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218. Take I-295 West beltway to Exit 32 (Lem Turner Rd/SR 115). Go north on SR 115 about 5 miles. Turn right at the light on Lannie Rd and go about 3 miles. Turn left on Ethel Rd (goes between the prison and the cemetery). Follow Ethel Rd to the boat ramp.
NOTE: Following
your GPS often takes you to the prison, so use the directions above to get to the boat ramp.
Kayak rentals are available through Jax Paddle Sports for $35. Call (904) 861-9314.PFD and whistle are required. You must WEAR your PFD. Bring bug repellent and water. RSVP on Meetup or to Outing Leader Bill Armstrong, armsfam@yahoo.com.
Sunday, November 19th, 10:00 a.m.: Hike Nocatee Preserve
Nocatee Preserve is an easy 5-mile hike. Trailhead sign-in will begin at 9:45 and we will start hiking at 10:00. The trail is well-maintained, running from the northern trailhead just past Ponte Vedra High School to the Intracoastal. It is a multi-use trail. The scenery changes along the way and is both beautiful and interesting.
We will meet at the trailhead parking lot located to the left and behind Ponte Vedra Beach High School.
Bring sufficient water, sunscreen, and insect repellant. Dress for the season. Sturdy hiking boots are advised as the trail is subject to flooding near the eastern end. We will walk approximately halfway to the end and then return to trailhead, avoiding most of the flood-prone area.
Carpooling is recommended. Children capable of a moderate 5-mile hike are welcome. No pets are permitted. Restrooms are available at
the trailhead.
Directions to Nocatee Preserve: The address for the school is 460 Davis Park Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081. Coming from Jacksonville on US Hwy 1 South, take the Nocatee Parkway flyover ramp, follow it for 4.3 miles, and turn right onto Davis Park Road. After you turn, follow the signs to Nocatee Preserve. Go around the school to the LEFT and pass the football field and tennis courts to get to the trail parking lot.
From A1A: Turn onto Mickler Road. Proceed 1.5 miles to traffic circle and take second exit onto Palm Valley Road (210). Proceed 2.2 miles west on Palm Valley Road to Davis Park Road. Turn left onto Davis Park Road, proceed as above.
RSVP
on Meetup or to Outing Leader Mike DiAngelo at mfdiangelo@gmail.com.
Sunday, November 19th, 10:00 a.m.: Kayak Bulow Creek
Let's go for a leisurely paddle along one of Florida's designated historic trails: Bulow Creek. We'll Launch at Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park at
10am
Sunday, November 19
for a total paddle of 2.5 hours.
The plantation ruins take you back to the 18th century. The sugar mill, a spring house and the foundations of the mansion are all that remain of the Plantation today. The creek runs north for a few miles and south to the intercoastal for a total of 13 miles.
This waterway is affected by tides, storms and winds so watch for changes in our launch time. Paddle launch is
10 am
so please arrive by
9:30 am.
Rentals: Thanks to recent storms the park lost all but three of its rental kayaks. I have reserved all three anticipating some of you will need them. They are $40.00 for the day or 10.00 per hour. Please let me know if you need one of the kayaks and plan on paying cash when you arrive.
The park entrance fee is 4.00 and it is on the honor system. Put 4.00 in the blue envelope at the entrance, tear off the stub and put the stub on your dashboard so that it is visible to rangers.
As always, you will need, water, a snack, sunscreen, a hat and a PFD which you must wear at all times.
Directions: The address is
3501 Old Kings Road, Flagler Beach
. It is three miles west of Flagler Beach on Country Road 2001 between State Route 100 and Old Dixie Highway. From I-95 take exit 284 at SR 100 and go east. Turn right onto the first road, Old Kings Road. Bulow Ruins State Park is about 2.5 miles on the left. The plantation entrance is a dirt road that is about a mile long.
RSVP on Meetup or to Outing Leader Carla Carpenter at
drifterkayaker@mac.com
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