I am briefly interrupting my Chair Chat theme of talking about volunteering opportunities to introduce you to our newest Executive Committee member, Jessica Namath.
Jessica has lived in the Loxahatchee Group area her entire life. I first met Jessica while she was on the Tequesta Environmental Advisory Committee. She served with distinction during her four years on the Committee, including a stint as chair. She currently volunteers with the Guardians of Martin County. You may be familiar with her work on the “Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park” Facebook page. That Facebook page sparked so much activism and support that Governor DeSantis backed down from the outrageous proposal to put three golf courses there.
We are very excited that Jessica has agreed to fill a vacancy on our Executive Committee.
Now, back to our volunteering possibilities. Are you looking for a way to contribute to the Sierra Club, but you’re not sure what you want to do, or can do? We have many options to choose from.
This month's featured Volunteer Opportunity: the Conservation Committee
Our very active Conservation Committee educates our members and the general population on a variety of issues. The Committee also actively works to protect our natural areas, fight urban sprawl, stop the practice of sugar cane burning, fight incineration, reduce climate warming, and reduce single use plastic. The committee chair is Drew Martin, vice-chair is Gail Ladd. An example: On October 22, 2024 Palm Beach County Commissioners voted to preserve Palm Beach County’s natural areas forever through conservation easements and land trusts. This passed unanimously in part due to over 725 letters signed by local advocates within three days. The Conservation Committee created and promoted the letter and its members spoke up at the county commission meeting. If that kind of success excites you, then JOIN US.
Please contact Gail Ladd if you are interested in joining the Conservation Committee or have questions.
We still have openings for outings leaders.
From last month's call for outings volunteers we've had two great folks step up. They will be taking the online training soon and plan to offer outdoors opportunities in 2025. But let's not stop there! Let's create a great outings program. To do that we need a few more leaders. This is a simple, fulfilling way to bring like-minded friends along when you go outdoors, introduce folks to the nature around us and help meet the goals of the Sierra Club.
For more information talk to one of our current outings leaders, Ron Haines or Lisa Hanley.
The November election is here! Please vote!
See our endorsements below and vote to invest in a secure climate future now.
TICKETS ARE NEARLY GONE
FOR OUR ANNUAL GALA--UNDER THE SEA
We look forward to seeing you on November 9 from 6-10 pm
at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties. Hot and Cold Hors d’oeuvres | Wine & Beer | Music
Cocktail/Business Casual Attire
Silent Auction
This is our annual fund-raising event, with proceeds benefitting the Inspiring Connections Outdoors program, the Elaine Usherson Scholarship Program, and the Loxahatchee Group’s conservation efforts.
Make new friends, catch up with the old, and help the Loxahatchee Group continue its work.
We hope you will join us to have fun, raise some money, and congratulate our 2024 Environmental Champion, Jenny Staletovich, Environment Editor at public radio station WLRN in Miami. She has reported on many of South Florida’s major environmental stories, including impacts from climate change, Everglades restoration, invasive pythons, diseased coral, 2018’s devastating red tide and blue-green algae blooms, and a host of other critical issues around the state.
In early September, it was brought to the attention of the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group that 14 acres of land was being cleared within Palm Beach Gardens (the City). That land, specifically, was known by many residents to house gopher tortoises. Dozens of the threatened species were reportedly spotted in the months leading up to the clearing of the parcel, known as the Gardens North County District Park.
They are building an indoor fieldhouse on the property and have minimized the natural areas, leaving only a small trail on the perimeter of the land. A social media post sparked a curiosity to look into the land clearing situation.
Lo and behold, the City charged the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group $404 for public records that showed multiple discrepancies with the City’s decision and process to clear the land. It was money well spent.
Here's what we found:
- The City violated FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines by not beginning construction within 90 days of the most recent gopher tortoise survey. Therefore, the City of Palm Beach Gardens blatantly violated Chapter 68A Section 27 of the Florida Administrative Code.
- The City violated its own municipal code, specifically Section 78-303, when the City cleared the 14-acre parcel of land at District Park without applying for and obtaining the proper permits for land clearing.
- The City was not careful to follow Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines or work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), as they did not even bother to install silt fencing to prevent known gopher tortoises in the area from moving onto the development site. The silt fencing is highly recommended by the FWC.
- The City is unable to produce Gopher Tortoise Survey Reports from Phase I and II of the development of District Park. This is unacceptable and concerning. There should be records responsive to a public records request seeking the Survey Report from the Phase I and Phase II of the development.
Joel Engelhardt, a trustworthy and investigative local reporter with Stet News, explained the entire situation in a detailed account here and here.
What can be done to hold them accountable?
By using the points above, email the Palm Beach Gardens City Council and include the following, in your own words:
- Demand that they install the silt fencing to prevent gopher tortoises from moving onto the development site.
- Demand a written statement of acknowledgement for their careless actions and blatant violation of Florida Administrative Code leading up to, during, and after the clearing of the 14-acre parcel at District Park.
Overall, kudos to the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group for the tremendous effort in finding the discrepancies within the City of Palm Beach Gardens. We, as a group, put them on notice that we are watching.
A big thank you to Linda Smithe for sending the City an email that sparked the City Manager to respond directly at a Council Meeting (something he never does). In addition, thank you Drew Martin for being interviewed by Joel Engelhardt. Last but not least, thank you to Brent Fannin for providing your knowledge, resources, and connections.
As always, together we are stronger! We must continue to fight for the voiceless.
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
The #1 thing you can do for our environment VOTE!!!
Vote for the Sierra Club endorsed candidates below. Fight against the devastation of our future. Fight against the devastation of the environment. Vote for candidates who care about you and who care about the environment. Also, vote NO on Amendment 2.
We need a Blue Wave! Talk to your neighbors. Offer a ride to folks that need one.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz
President and Vice President
Paid for by Sierra Club Independent Action, www.sierraclubindependentaction.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Vote YES to Buy The Land
Preserve the county’s natural lands and water quality
Here's the ballot item:
Lands to Protect Water Quality, Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat.
Shall Martin County protect its water quality and unique character by acquiring critical natural lands in Martin Couty within the Indian River Lagoon South, Pal-Mar, Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Headwaters, Blueways areas and provide municipal infrastructure allowed by law, by levying a one-half percent (0.5%) county sales tax for 10 years starting January 1, 2025 with Annual Audit and Citizen Oversight?
Are you a tree hugger? Passionate about our environment? Love the outdoors? Do you want to share your enthusiasm with wider audience? Then volunteer at one of our community tabling events. You know, fairs, festivals and special days (like Everglades Day).
At these events we engage with people who are interested in protecting the environment but might not know what they can do. They might not even know what the Sierra Club is!
Our Sierra Club tables offer guidance, education and resources, like facts about the Sierra Club, how to save energy, how to reduce personal use of single-use-plastic and more. You can enjoy some outdoor time, share your passion and feel like you did something, you helped.
You might have these events already on your calendar, so why not spend some time volunteering at our booth and then enjoy the event.
LagoonFest 2024, Saturday, Nov. 2,
9 am - 2 pm, West Palm Beach. Discover & Explore the Lake Worth Lagoon with a day packed with fun, learning, and cool interactive activities for all ages!
Exciting Wildlife Presentations, Kayak Clean-up Tours, Guided Boat Tours, Free Kids Zone, Lawn Games, Face Painting and More!
Wildlife Celebration at Green Cay Nature Center Sat. Dec. 7, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd. Boynton Beach. Wildlife Celebration is a FREE event for all ages with the purpose of educating the public and encouraging an appreciation for nature, fostering a respect for wildlife, and of course having fun!
Everglades Day at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Natural Wildlife Refuge February 8, 10:00am-4:00pm, 10216 Lee Rd, Boynton Beach, FL.
The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 145,000 acres of land where visitors can unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.
If you can donate a couple hours to help us at any of these events, email Glenn Laufer.
Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group sponsors the League of Women Voters
Election Expo 2024
The Loxahatchee Group contributed $250 to the League of Women Voters and our volunteers staffed a Sierra Club table at the League's Election Expo 2024 on September 30.
It was gratifying to see a room full of folks seeking knowledge about the election process and the environment!
This event included:
-Free voter guides.
-One-on-one conversations with local, county, state, and national candidates.
-Information on ballot amendments to the State constitution.
-Information on the County ballot question.
-Voter registration and review of dates and deadlines.
-Demonstrations of voting equipment.
Many thanks to our volunteers, Linda, Pam, Kay, Richard and Gail.
UPCOMING OUTINGS
Loxahatchee Group Outings
Sunday Nov. 10, 10 a.m. Paddle John Prince Park in Lake Worth
This is a leisurely two-hour paddle in the backwaters of an urban park in central Palm Beach County. Please arrive in time for launch at 10 am. Use Congress Avenue entrance to John Prince Park, 4759 South Congress Ave., Lake Worth. No rentals are available. For information and registrations go here. Trip Leader: Ron Haines
Saturday Nov. 16, 10 a.m., Paddle at Okeeheelee Park South in West Palm Beach
This is a leisurely, two-hour paddle on the water trail at Okeeheelee Park South. The park is at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach. Go south from Forest Hill, NOT NORTH. Please arrive in time for launch at 10 am. No rentals are available. For information and registration go here. Trip Leader: Ron Haines
Saturday Nov. 23, 10 a.m. Paddle Winding Waters Natural Area
Leisurely two-hour paddle at Winding Waters Natural Area in West Palm Beach. Suitable for beginners and for paddle boarders. No rentals are available. No rentals are available. For information and registration go here. Trip Leader:Ron Haines
Sunday Dec. 8, 10 a.m. Paddle South Fork of St. Lucie River
Leisurely three-hour paddle on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Stuart. No rentals available, suitable for paddleboards too. Rest-stop halfway through. For information and registration go here.
Trip Leader: Ron Haines
Sunday Dec. 15, 10 a.m., Upper Loxahatchee River
Leisurely 3–4-hour paddle in the backwaters of Riverbend Park in Jupiter. Rentals available. Two portages required. For information and registration go here. Trip Leader: Ron Haines
Broward and Miami Group Outings
Saturday, November 2, 9:30 AM – Walk three short trails and have a picnic lunch close to the East entrance to the Everglades National Park near Homestead. Easy. Register here. Everglades Walk 101. Leader: Kaatje Bernabei.
Saturday, November 16, 9 AM – 3-mile wet hike on the Florida Trail from the Oasis Visitor Center of the Big Cypress National Preserve near Ochopee. Strenuous. Register here. Leader: Jordan Holaday.
Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8 – 3-day tent campground camping (near cars) in Highlands Hammock State Park near Sebring. Moderate. Register here. Leader: Jordan Holaday.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Here’s what some of our Loxahatchee members and activists have been doing lately. Let us know if you’ve done something you’d like to share with others. We’d love to read it.
--The Loxahatchee Group Executive Committee signed onto a letter in opposition to the proposed swap of 324 acres of the Withlacoochee State Forest (WSF).
--Conservation chair Drew Martin spoke about preserving the environment with the climate in mind recently to over 50 members of the Green Acres Garden Club. Drew also participated in an Everglades Coalition quarterly meeting which included a beach clean-up.
--Executive Committee member Jessica Namath attended the Miccosukee Arts and Science Symposium and a Zero Waste class.
Remember, let us know what you’ve been up to. Maybe you read a book on the environment, attended a meeting, sent a letter to an elected official or to a local paper, or went on a hike? If you want to tell others about it, send a brief description of what you did with a possible image to Linda Smithe.
SIERRA CLUB BROWARD GROUP
NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING
WHEN: Thursday Nov. 7, 2024, 7:00- 8:30 PM WHAT: The Underwater: Creative community engagement & climate action. Our speaker is Adam Roberti serves as executive director of the Xavier Cortada Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use socially engaged art to create meaningful experiences that inspire people to take collective action against our climate and ecological crises. WHERE: Online via Zoom. Register here to get the link.
Innovate! Don’t Incinerate!
There are compelling reasons to reject any new waste incinerator. Incinerators emit a slew of toxins including volatile organic compounds. Health burdens documented in environmental justice communities and that can be caused by exposure to incinerator emissions include respiratory problems, cancer, nasal and eye irritation, reproductive harm, and a host of other hazards.
We are asking you to write all the Miami-Dade Commissioners by Nov. 6, to reject the construction of any new incinerator within Miami-Dade boundaries.
Tell them the pollution from an incinerator in any Miami-Dade County location could seriously undermine the ultimate goals of Everglades restoration, Biscayne Bay water quality improvement, and resilience of the Biscayne Bay and Southeastern Everglades Restoration and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration projects.
Mention that the Everglades, coastal estuaries, and residential communities are ultimately a single ecosystem connected through water, land, and air. A threat to one segment of this ecosystem is a threat to all of it.
And stress that the solution to our wider community’s waste troubles is not to create new troubles for any of our county’s neighborhoods or county neighbors to the north. The only humane and sustainable solution is one that prioritizes waste reduction, repurposing, reusing, composting, and state-of-the-art waste recycling. We need to decrease the waste.
Save what you send! We will need it in Palm Beach County sooner than you think. The Palm Beach County Commissioners are looking into spending 1.3 Billion to replace its 1989 waste-to-energy plant.
Think of the amount of waste reduction we could achieve if that money was spent on reducing waste. Consider this a warmup for the Loxahatchee Group.
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