(Photo by David Williams)
Cleaning up
on the S-Line
The S-Line is a 4.5-mile rails to trails path that runs through downtown residential areas. It is part of the Jacksonville Emerald Trail and has the potential to be an important link in a new plan to create a majestic city park system along the St. Johns River. On August 22, a group of Sierrans met at the S-Line as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to keep a section of the path clean and clear. In this photo, just before beginning the cleanup, our outings chair, Bill Armstrong, is telling members about our alliance with Groundwork Jacksonville in working on the project.
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Meetings & events;
take a virtual hike
Sept. 14, Monday, 7 p.m. on Zoom. Climate Change: Tips for positive, hopeful conversations.
When we change what we say, we change what people hear, says presenter Lauren Watkins. Conversations about climate change can feel daunting and overwhelming, but we have some ideas. Join us for this one-hour presentation on research-based techniques and tips for communicating about climate change in a way that is less polarizing, fosters hope, and is focused on collective action.
Oct. 12, Monday, 7 p.m. on Zoom. Human Rights and the Environment.
Dr. Josh Gellers, an associate professor of political science at UNF, will explore different human rights approaches to environmental protection and discuss new frontiers at the intersection of rights and the environment—including the rights of nature initiatives in Florida.
Whenever you're in the mood, go on a virtual hike with our knowledgable guides and experience North Florida's wonderful parks and preserves, our national park systems, scenic trails, and overseas treks as well.
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Club's outgoing chair wins national Sierra award
Janet Stanko, the outgoing chair of Sierra’s Northeast Florida Group, has received the Environmental Alliance Award from the national Sierra Club.
Alliances—forging relationships with other groups with similar values—are a key to her success in leading our club.
Stanko and our local group, for example, partnered with St. Johns Riverkeeper to prevent a development that threatened the water quality of the headwaters of two creeks in Jacksonville that flowed into the St Johns River. Another alliance, with Audubon Florida and others, resulted in the successful passage of the Florida Land and Water Conservation Amendment. The Florida Conservation Coalition is an ongoing group that has evolved from that movement.
At the same time, these other groups have said they rely on connections with our club because we do not take a position on an issue or candidate without studying it thoroughly and developing a good fact base.
While Stanko and her husband are moving to the Tampa area, she has no intention of retiring from Sierra Club activites. Later, she wants to revive the Stop Single Use Plastic Campaign and stay involved with legislative and political issues.
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Crew plants great trees for free (City of Jacksonville photo)
Plant a free tree,
help the environment
and beautify your property
It’s part of a $20 million tree mitigation fund that can be used to plant trees on public property—city roads (that’s the right-of-way by your house), parks, and schools are eligible. City crews will plant the tree in the place you choose with some limits.
Just phone 630-CITY and request a tree. You will be contacted by one of the city’s arborists who will take it from there.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the city says; the second best time is right now. It will beautify your property and, at the same time, aide in the fight against global warming.
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Group elections slated; candidates still welcome
The election for two-year terms on our group’s nine-member Executive Committee is scheduled for October and November, but it’s not too late for members interested in serving to be nominated.
Contract the nominating committee chair, Brian Paradise, for full details on how you can get involved.
The excom serves as the board of directors for the Sierra Club's Northeast Florida Group. Members meet monthly to decide on the group's direction and focus, including its budget.
The only requirements to serve are a commitment to our environmental goals and a current Sierra Club membership. Serving is a great way to get more deeply involved in the Northeast Florida environmental community.
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As a vital election nears, plan to act,
then plan to vote—
here's what to do
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November’s election will decide whether we will act on climate change before it’s too late. To emphasize that theme, the national Sierra Club is organizing its Battleground plan to tackle what it calls “the most urgent task facing the nation: defeating Donald Trump.”
In addition to winning the White House, the club wants to protect the House majority, win the Senate, and
elect environmental champions to state and local offices.
The formal election day is Nov. 3, but the counties in the area that the Northeast Florida Group serves—Duval County, St. Johns County, and Clay County—offer an easy process for voting by mail. They also offer early voting from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1. Both options are worth exploring.
In Northeast Florida, our club is endorsing pro-environmental candidates and asking for members to support them with their money and with their time. Here they are:
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Joshua Hicks, Florida State
Sierra Club endorsed candidate Joshua Hicks is running against Cord Byrd for the seat.
Hicks has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector including the League of Conservation Voters and currently the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Hicks is ready to act to protect our community and the State of Florida from the devastating effects of climate change and sea level rise. He will work to protect our coastal regions, waterways, parks and communities from over development.
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Sierra-endorse candidate Dave Rogers is running against the incumbent, Cyndi Stevenson, who has a very poor environmental voting record.
Rogers’s campaign is concentrated on confronting the challenges of climate change and sea level rise, preserving what remains of Florida's natural environment, and working for better, and more responsible growth management. He will also be a progressive on the other issues like gun safety, reproductive rights, a living wage, criminal justice reform, and other progressive issues.
He needs volunteers and contributions and volunteers to help get him elected. Here is his Facebook campaign page.
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Joe McAnarney, St. Johns County Commission, District 1
Joe McAnarney is the Sierra-endorsed candidate for the St. Johns County Commission, District 1.
McAnarney is a retired architect with over 40 years of experience in working with land development codes and zoning standards.
He is running for the St. Johns County Commission on a platform of balancing development with quality of life and the environment.
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Barbara Blonder, St. Augustine City Commission, Seat 2
Barbara Blonder, the Sierra-endorsed candidate for St. Augustine City Commissioner, is an associate professor of natural sciences at Flagler College. Her goal is to push St. Augustine to become a sustainable city.
Her website goes into more detail. Sierra Club members who live in the City of St. Augustine can support her candidacy by handwriting postcards and by placing yard signs on their lawns and commercial properties. Write to Blonder for more information.
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Letter from a leader:
Deegan earns our support
As you are probably aware, the Sierra Club Northeast Florida Group has endorsed Donna Deegan for U.S. House of Representatives, Florida District 4.
We are enthusiastic about her candidacy. Deegan is knowledgeable about environmental matters and has incorporated environmental advocacy in her campaign platform.
Her knowledge, communication skills, and name recognition make her a very viable candidate to unseat the incumbent, John Rutherford.
Deegan can certainly benefit from the support of our club’s members. If you are already assisting the campaign, please redouble your efforts. If you have yet to assist the campaign, please, please do so. Information related to the Deegan Campaign options is presented below.
Go to her website to see her campaign priorities and issues. You can also donate to the campaign and volunteer for activities to help her win. For additional information, write to Katie Sutton, the campaign's volunteer director, or phone her at (904) 534-4774.
This is a rare instance where the candidate’s priorities closely align with those of the Sierra Club. The race is winnable, and the endorsed candidate is exceptional. Please don’t delay assisting the Deegan Campaign!
Sincerely,
J. Logan Cross
Group Executive Committee member and outings leader
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About the Sierra Sentry
The Sierra Sentry is the newsletter of the Sierra Club’s Northeast Florida Group. It is published every month with environmental news and activites of interest to area residents.
Contributions—photos, essays, and poems—from readers are welcomed. Questions and comments? Write to the editor, Robert Blade.
Not a member of Sierra? Go here to join and receive a free tote bag.
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