Volunteer Help Needed: Database Manager
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Put your Excel skills to work for the environment! We need a Database manager for our membership files. We are doing some upgrades, and need some help on cleanup. Must be a Sierra member, or can join for $15 for your initial year of membership. Contact Janet Stanko @
janestan@bellsouth.net
.
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What Part of "Forever" don’t they Understand?: Preserving Julington-Durbin Creek
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The Northeast Florida Sierra Club is absolutely opposed to a land swap proposal involving a pristine and already preserved tract in the rapidly developing Bartram Road, Julington Creek area.
It’s a bad deal for everyone who cares about the natural environment. The St. Johns Riverkeeper and Timucuan Parks Foundation have come out against it as have many other environmental groups and individuals. And now the Northeast Florida Sierra Club is joining the opposition.
“I’m so disappointed in John Delaney,” said Janet Stanko, the local club’s president. “In addition to the negatives on the face of this issue, it sets a precedent for other developers to grab land via swaps. Land preservation is forever. What part of ‘forever’ don’t they understand?”
Nearly 20 years ago, developer Tom Dodson sold 2,000 acres of undeveloped land off Julington Creek to the state (Jacksonville contributed $4.2 million of the $16.9 million purchase price) to preserve the area forever.
Now Dodson and his Eastland Corp. want to trade 403 acres the company owns on Black Hammock Island in the northeastern part of the county for 403 acres of the Julington-Durbin preserve. He wants to build another 1,400 houses in the area that already has some 7,000 houses and apartments. Dodson says he’ll throw another $1.4 million at the city to build restrooms at the preserve.
To help grease the wheels, he’s hired former mayor John Delaney—a prime mover in buying the original tract and a strong voice in preserving it forever—as a lobbyist to work for its undoing.
Even though no formal proposal has been presented to the state yet, the actual swap process would be complicated. It needs approval from the governor and the cabinet as well as the St. Johns River Water Management District board of directors, and that means public hearings and possible court challenges to any decisions made.
If you are as incensed as we are, come to the rally described below and raise your voice with ours.
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Come and Rally to Save Julington-Durbin Preserve!
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July 14 9am- 11am
Public Rally (9am)
to be held at:
13130 Bartram Park Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 32258
Post-Rally Guided Hikes:
Native Plant Hike led by Florida Native Plant Society
Native Bird Hike led by Duval Audubon Society
Kids Nature Scavenger Hunt and Hike led by St. Johns Riverkeeper and Fun 4 First Coast Kids
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St. Augustine March Against Fracking
August 4th, 11:00AM
East Side of the Bridge of Lions
On August 4th, Floridians will raise their voices to demand a statewide fracking ban. For too long, the state legislature has failed to take action against this dangerous practice.
The many risks associated with fracking have never been more clear. Groundwater contamination, oil spills, methane emissions, and toxic chemicals threaten public health and the wellbeing of future generations.
On August 4th, we will stand up to the fossil fuel industry and fight for Florida’s future. Starting from Anastasia Island, we will march over the Bridge of Lions and rally in front of city hall. We will hear statements from activists, medical professionals, and government officials, including St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver. We will conclude by participating in a mass demonstration of support for the fracking ban, which will be sent to Tallahassee.
With your support, our message will be loud enough to reach the halls of the Capitol.
Join us!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Nick Famularo at
nickfamu@icloud.com
.
The march will begin at approximately 11:30AM. Please bring your own water, but no plastic bottles!
Learn more:
Instagram: @staugmarchagainstfracking
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Come and meet fellow environmentalists at Genung’s Fish Camp...
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and commune with nature on the banks of the beautiful Matanzas River, just south of St. Augustine. Meet the Matanzas Riverkeeper and tree protection activists and find out what environmental actions are happening in St. Johns County and what you can do to help.
Event will be held August 12th from 4pm-7pm.
Bring your own pot luck dish, your drink of choice, and your chair. Beer is available for purchase at the Camp.
While there will be no formal Sierra Club outing on the river, you are free to bring your own kayak or you can rent a kayak at the Camp. Single kayak rentals are $10. per hour. You can also watch an awesome sunset over the river from this old time Florida fish camp.
The fish camp is at 291 Cubbedge Road, St. Augustine, 32080. To get there from the Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library at Library Road and AIA you drive south on A1A for approximately 35 miles until you get to the intersection with Cubbedge Road on your right. Cubbedge Road is .2 miles south of SR 206. You can also take I95 south to SR206, then drive east to A1A. Turn right and Cubbedge Road is on your right.
You can car pool by meeting in the Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library parking lot at 2.45 p.m. on August 12.
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Sierra has endorsed Bill Nelson for US Senate; we will be campaigning for him in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in volunteering in this campaign, please contact
Janet Stanko
. We will be posting volunteer opportunities and endorsements on
https://www.facebook.com/SCFNEGroup/
Please "like" us so you can get the news!
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“Judge Dodson’s ruling...is a landmark decision making it clear that amendments to Florida’s constitution are orders by the people; they aren’t suggestions which the Legislature can decide to ignore. After four years of blatant misappropriation of taxpayers’ money, the Legislature has been forced by the Florida Courts to obey the voters' mandate that it use a dedicated source of state funds to preserve and protect Florida’s natural lands.”
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Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club Florida Chapter Director
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River Rising: The Final Town Hall Series
Join St. Johns RIVERKEEPER at the upcoming River Rising: Town Hall Series to learn about rising waters in the St. Johns, how decades of dredging has increased water levels and storm surge, and what Jacksonville and coastal communities need to do to become more resilient.
TOWN HALL SERIES:
Oceanway Senior Center, 12215 Sago Ave W 32218
Jesse Ball DuPont Center, 40 E. Adams Street 32202
Intuition Ale Works, 929 E. Bay Street 32202
The town hall meetings are open and free to the public. Experts will speak and answer questions from the audience.
For more information about the meetings, contact Kelly Patton or Shannon Blankinship at 904-256-7591.
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Getting Outdoors:
You're invited
to Hike & Paddle
with Us
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To see a full outing description and to RSVP see our web site or Meetup site:
Outings are free (except for any park fees) and open to all. Some outings require a greater level of fitness and skill than others. No pets allowed on outings.
Saturday, July 7, 9:00 a.m.: Hike the Jacksonville Arboretum
About 4 easy to moderate miles.
Saturday, July 21, 9:00 a.m.: Kayak Trout Creek
About 5 miles round trip.
Saturday, July 21, 10:00 a.m.: Cedar Point Preserve Fitness Hike
About 5 miles at a fast pace.
Sunday, July 22, 9:00 a.m.: Wildlife Observation at Spoonbill Pond
A short walk and an hour or so of wildlife viewing.
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Sierra Club, Northeast Florida Group | sierrasentry@gmail.com | sierraclub.org/florida/northeast-florida
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