Hands Across Sand to protest seismic blasts
The annual Hands Across the Sand gathering will be on May 18, and this year is more important than ever, as we face the real threat of seismic testing for oil off our coast. We will gather with other environmental groups starting with registration at 9 a.m., just south of the Jacksonville Beach Pier, 503 1st St. N. The event itself begins around noon and we’ll be finished at 12:30 p.m.
It’s part of an effort by people all over the world to join hands for about 15 minutes, in silent solidarity, to say no to dirty fuels, yes to clean energy, and yes to energy policies that ensure a sustainable planet.
Seismic blasting
involves 24-hour rapidly repeating high decibel noises designed to located possible oil deposits. But the loud jarring underwater sounds disturb or kill marine life and spoil fisheries.
Join us on Saturday, May 18. We can send a powerful visual message of solidarity by making a line in the sand. For more information contact
Julianne Mammana
or go to
the main website.
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Duval run-off election May 14; early voting sites open now
In the first part Duval County's election, on March 19, two of our endorsed candidates, Michael Boyland in District 6, Mandarin, and Matt Carlucci, At-Large Group 4, won City Council seats.
Now we move to the runoff election on May 14 where three of our endorsed candidates are in hotly contested races: Sunny Gettinger, District 14, Riverside; Lisa King, At Large Group 1; and Tommy Hazouri, At Large Group 3.
Early voting
for the election opens Monday, April 29, and closes on Saturday, May 12. Here is a list of
early voting sites.
The election itself is Tuesday, May 14.
Observers generally agree that this will be a low turn-out election—the first election had fewer than 25 percent of the county’s registered voters participating—so it’s important to get as many Sierra supporters out to vote as we can, said Janet Stanko, the Northeast Florida Sierra group chair. “We’re in it to win it,” she said.
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Recycling dos and don'ts:
Pizza boxes? OK—sort of
This piece on recycling
gives a nice overview of the dos and don’ts in Jacksonville. It’s based on an interveiw with the recycling center’s manager on the city’s Northside.
Here’s an example: if you have a pizza box, chances are good that the bottom of it is greasy. You can’t recycle that part. But if the top is clean, you can recycle that: just tear off the bottom, throw it in the trash and put the top part in your recycling bin.
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All about the survey
Thanks to everyone who participated in our recent survey of our readers’ evironmental concerns and priorities.
The survey, which opened a month ago, is closed now. Your answers will be compiled, tabulated, and shared with you this summer. We’ll use the results to guide the Northeast Florida Sierra group’s work to help you explore, enjoy, and protect the planet—at least, our part of it.
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Outings chair aids reporter's walk
Bill Armstrong, our outings chair, played a big role in a reporter’s enjoyment of a hike in the Julington-Durban Creek Preserve not long ago. The reporter’s account of her walk is in the April issue of the neighborhood newspaper
Mandarin News Line.
(This is in pdf form; there’s no direct link, but the article is on page 16.)
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May 13 meet looks at friendly yards
Please note: We will have no meetings during the summer months. After May, our next meeting will be in September.
May
The top 10 things to do to make your yard wildlife friendly
, Monday, May 13, at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, 2001 University Blvd W, rear of the education building. Social time starts at 6:30 p.m. and the programs begins at 7 p.m.
Sierra board member Lisa Williams and Native and Uncommon Nursery proprieter Alfred Romeu combine to explore ways you can create a yard that provide ecosystem services and are visually appealing.
Home landscapes are part of a larger natural diverse ecosystem that is increasingly at risk. A little planning and effort can help ease that risk. The program includes the showcasing of native species that will be given away to participants.
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Going outside:
Paddles and hikes in May
There's a great lineup this month. To see a full outing description and to RSVP for any of these events, go to our
website
or
Meetup pages.
All the outings are free (except for park fees) and are open to all. Some outings require a greater level of fitness and skill than others. No pets or firearms allowed on outings. Outing participants are required to sign a waiver and release of liability at the start of the outing. Here is a copy of
the waiver form
. You'll get one to sign at the outing.
Saturday May 4, 10 a.m.
—Hike Washington Oak. We'll hike about three miles on beautiful, cool, live oak tree shaded trails at this historic site.
Thursday, May 16, 9:45 a.m.
—Kayak Trout Creek. We will paddle up Trout Creek about 3 miles and back.
Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.
—Fitness Hike at Southern Black Hammock Island. The hike will begin at the Cedar Point boat launch at the southern end of Black Hammock Island. We will hike about 7 miles at a brisk pace.
Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.
—Hike the Moses Creek Conservation Area. Join us on a 4 mile hike through the Moses Creek Conservation Area in southern St. Johns County.
Tuesday, May 21, 9:45 a.m.
—Kayak Salt Creek in St. Augustine. We will leave from the St. Augustine lighthouse boat ramp, travel south to the state park with the tide, then come back to the beach area. Paddle time will be 3-4 hours. Expeienced paddlers only.
Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m.
—Kayak Deep Creek. Join us for a 3-4 mile backwater paddle on Deep Creek in St. Johns County.
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and receive this free
insulated cooler tote bag!
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Sierra Club, Northeast Florida Group | sierrasentry@gmail.com | sierraclub.org/florida/northeast-florida
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