There are great things happening at the local Sierra Club, so please make the time to get involved.
We invite you to our General Meeting this Thursday, March 7 at 6:30 PM at the LifeSouth Community Blood Center, 1221 NW 13th St. in Gainesville, FL 32601.
At the meeting, we will present the Sierra Club Florida Chapter's Indigo Award to Nathan Crabbe, founding editor of the Invading Sea website and former news and opinion editor of the Gainesville Sun. Let’s thank Nathan for his work and congratulate him on this award!
Our speaker topic for the evening is “Don't Shoot Bears” with Katrina Shadix, who will educate us on Black Bears in Florida. There will be postcards to sign requesting Gov. DeSantis veto the "Taking of Bears" CS/HB 87 bill, which provides exemption from penalties for taking bears without permits. We need to protect bears and educate people to do the best they can to deter bear/human interactions. Killing bears is not the answer!
Additionally, we will hear from Sarah Lockhart, a UF doctoral candidate, who will update us on the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Learn what you can do to save Florida's natural wildlife from unnecessary deaths and loss of habitat.
This is a hybrid meeting and pre-registration is necessary for those wanting to join virtually to receive the link via email. You can register here.
Come early to join the SSJ Conserves! meeting which starts at 5:00 PM at the same location.
SSJ 2024 Strategy Session
Saturday, March 9
10 AM - 2:30 PM
District Headquarters
Alachua County Library
401 E University Ave, Gainesville
We also invite you to participate in our 2024 Strategy Session, Sat. March 9, 2024 at the Downtown Public Library from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Lunch will be served to all participants. Please register here with your meal preferences. This is also a hybrid meeting where you have the choice to attend virtually or in-person,
Susannah Randolph, Sierra Club Florida Chapter Executive Director, will be our meeting facilitator. Come meet Susannah and help us identify what environmental advocacy is important to your community.
You are still invited to our committee meetings even if you are unable to join the Strategy Session.
Committee Contact List:
Conservation Committee: Sarah Younger, youngersn@outlook.com
Energy and Climate Action Committee: David Hastings, dwhastings@gmail.com
Inspiring Connections Outdoors Committee, Sarah Younger, youngersn@outlook.com
If you prefer to help out by volunteering to table at an event, please choose from the events listed below and contact me at maryvonne.deven@gmail with your choice of event and time.
Tabling Events List
Sunday Mar. 24, 1 PM to 6 PM: RiverFest Song Writing Contest, fundraising event for Our Santa Fe River, at Rum 138, 2070 SW County Road 138, Fort White.
Saturday, April 20,12 PM – 6 PM: Water State Festival at Depot Park, 200 SE Depot Ave, Gainesville.
Saturday, April 27, 12 PM - 5 PM: Tree Fest at SwampHead, 3650 SW 42nd Ave, Gainesville.
Saturday and Sunday, May 4 & 5: 44th Annual Fifth Avenue Festival in Gainesville.
Thank you for joining us as we work together to make a difference in our community.
SSJ Conserves!
Thurs. Mar. 7, 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Life South Community Room
1221 NW 13th St
Gainesville, FL 32601
This is a hybrid meeting. Please register here for instructions on attending virtually.
Photo Credit: Vecteezy.com
Come and learn more about the proposed Sand Mine in Levy County that threatens the pristine Rainbow River and communities in Bronson. This important waterway would be devastated if the mine is permitted to dredge to a depth of 75 ft. for sand.
There will be updates on the campaigns to stop destructive mining that threaten the Santa Fe River as well as efforts to close the Florence Landfill in Southeast Gainesville.
This is a working meeting where everyone will have an opportunity to learn and engage in the local Sierra Club campaign to protect public health, our water and natural environment.
Come work with us on: Clean Energy, Energy Justice, and Energy Equity
The Energy and Climate Action Team is currently working on an alternative plan on how to meet electricity demand in coming decades. Will we continue to burn fossil gas or instead rely on energy efficiency upgrades, solar power and battery storage? This planning process offers an opportunity to invest in low-cost clean energy resources that save money to lower the cost of electricity for customers.
Sound interesting? It is! Come get local answers to a global question as we explore impacts of climate change in N. Central Florida, then create and expand on solutions in Alachua County. Register for the meeting and we'll send you a zoom invite. Or reach out to Jyoti Parmar at jyoti.parmar@sierraclub.org or (908) 720-6584.
We will visit the Dunnellon Community Garden. The garden established several years ago, works to educate children at the Boys and Girls Club about the importance of growing wholesome food organically.
The local residents who work in the garden, supply their homes with the fruits of their labors.
Photo Credit: David Vaina
Prairie Creek Cemetery Tour
April 12, 4:00 PM
7204 County Rd 234, Gainesville, FL 32641
Curious about a green burial? You're not alone. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, six in ten Americans have expressed an interest in natural burials. In our community, we are fortunate to have Florida’s First Certified Conservation Cemetery: Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery.
On Friday April 12 at 4PM, SSJ is partnering with Prairie Creek Conservation staff and members for an informative walk and talk on natural burial, services provided at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, land restoration efforts, and how conservation cemeteries can move communities to a more equal and sustainable burial practice. This is a free event but registration is required and limited to 15 people.
Natural or green burials are seen as more sustainable alternatives to traditional ones. According to the Green Burial Council, each cremation generates greenhouse gas emissions that are the equivalent to driving a car 500 miles. And while a green burial emits only 25 pounds of carbon, a traditional burial sequesters 250 pounds.
Levy County
Commissioners Meeting
Tues. Mar. 19 at 9 am
301 School St., Bronson
Levy Commissioners Approve Major Mining in Residential Zone
In April 2023, 2,400 residents and property owners received notice of petition for special exception to allow a major mining operation to operate on 1,100 acres for 100 years. Grassroots organizers from RURL (Residents United for Rural Levy) began research and outreach to address the many issues of concern including 150 truck trips a day on narrow winding 2-lane roads and potential impacts on the Rainbow River Springshed. The University of Florida Rosemary Hill Observatory would very possibly have to cease operation. Residents' concerns of impact on property values and public health and safety remained unaddressed.
The Levy County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the petition with 21 stipulations. Mr. Thad Barber, Planning & Zoning Commissioner, indicated that he had worked in mining many years, and said he believed that this was no place for a Sand Mine. Next was the Quasi-Judicial Hearing at the Levy BOCC in December where public comment was delayed for 5 hours. Finally as dozens of people tried to present their information, the public was cut off from further comment. The meeting was continued until Feb.6, 2024.
On February 6th, the Commission chose not to allow any more public comment and granted the Special Exception with certain revisions such as; reduction to 45 years and 100 truck trips per day. Upon the completion of the unanimous vote to approve, the capacity crowd leapt to their feet and vocally showed extreme anger and frustration.
On Tuesday, March 19th, 9 AM the Levy Board of County Commissioners will meet, and the application will be presented for final approval. Public comment will be allowed, so concerned citizens are encouraged to attend.
For all the information past and present on this issue, please visit the No Sand Mine page on Facebook. RURL will continue to provide information and engage the community. Our mission is to keep Levy County a Nice Place to Live.
Contact RURL at: RURLinfo4u@gmail.com
Tragedy of Commons
By Dr. Jay R. Bushnell
Areas set up as ‘Commons’ serve as a means of sharing areas for all to use. The problem with this has been recognizing the need to define such use. This clearly requires comprehensive management to protect the functionality and the health that defines the reasons for it to be shared in the first place. To develop a plan for use requires an understanding and recognition of the holistic fabric that makes the area worth protecting. The tragedy today is that too many humans are failing to understand the value of the ‘Commons’ of the entire planet.
Too often private interests hidden by the guise of individual property rights and profits, sabotage the very ability to maintain what is held as ‘Commons’. For those folks, consumptive use is defined in the vacuum of immediate short term gain. There is a failure to notice the irreplaceable damage to others and humanity. There is an inability to understand that one’s personal ownership of property is and should always be limited.
I am reminded of judging an elementary social studies fair some twenty years ago at a school where my wife was the principal. A blue ribbon for a poster presentation was awarded to a 5th grade student that focused on the demise of Easter Island culture. The poster was well done but what impressed the judges the most was that his analogy of what had happened on Easter Island was being repeated by the world’s consumptive technology. By the time European explorers discovered this remote Pacific Ocean island in the 1700s the culture was moribund.
The competition between kinship groups managed to bankrupt the ability of the island to support the culture. Mainly, this involved consuming the limited amount of trees to produce huge carved megaliths called Moais. When standing in the original scheme of things, the Moais faced toward each other in defiance. Eventually, they were all knocked over by opposing kinship groups for the same reason, defiance. Later, they were uprighted but facing out to sea as a supposed sign of human greatness. Actually, the Moais should be understood as a monumental cultural hubris.
As a footnote, we learned later that this student was a special needs fifth grade student. In short, he understood what so many decision makers still do not recognize!
Our Santa Fe River’s 12th Annual RiverFest
Celebrates the Beauty and Importance of the Santa Fe River
The 12th Annual RiverFest will be held throughout March 2024. RiverFest offers two guided Plant Hikes along the Santa Fe River, a ‘Springs Hop” paddle, and culminates in the annual Song Contest on Sunday March 24th at Rum 138, 2070 Southwest County Road 138, Fort White, Florida. RiverFest event details are available at oursantaferiver.org.
RiverFest month begins on March 9th with a guided Plant Hike at a new location, the Santa Fe River Preserve’s South Tract. A second guided Plant Hike will be held March 16th at Little Awesome Preserve. Plus, a Florida Naturalist Guide led ‘Springs Hop’ paddle will be hosted on March 23rd.
Tickets for the RiverFest Song Contest on March 24th are $10 for adults, and free for children under 12. The Plant Hikes are $25 per person and include admission to the Song Contest/ Silent Auction. Tickets can be purchased online at oursantaferiver.org. Tickets for the Springs Hop Paddle are $60 (includes boat and shuttle) and can be purchased by calling (386) 497-4214 (Adventure Outpost) or email: riverGuide2000@yahoo.com.
RiverFest raises awareness and funds for educational programs geared at protecting the Santa Fe River, a world-renowned spring-fed waterway that supports a rich biodiversity of plants and animals, as well as provides recreational and economic benefits to the community. The river is facing threats from over-pumping, pollution, and development, which affect its water quality and quantity.
All proceeds from these events go to support the educational programs and projects of Our Santa Fe River, Inc. For more information about the RiverFest, visit oursantaferiver.org website or Facebook page, facebook.com/oursantaferiver.
Hosted by Zero Waste Gainesville, Life Unplastic, and The Repurpose Project
In partnership with the City of Gainesville
Zero Waste Week is a week to celebrate the Zero Waste systems in place and work towards expanding those systems so Zero Waste is possible and accessible to everyone. The Repurpose Project, Life Unplastic, and Zero Waste Gainesville encourage the community to join us in working toward Zero Waste.
We celebrate the community working together to reduce consumption, reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycle, and we are committed to reducing food waste at the source and composting the rest.
We invite everyone in the City of Gainesville and surrounding areas to participate in seven days of Zero Waste education, events, and solutions.
Zero Waste Week begins with a Fixit Clinic at The Repurpose Project’s community center on March 24th from 1 – 4 pm. Find more information and register here. We end the week in celebration of the International Day of Zero Waste. Join us. Follow Zero Waste Gainesville, The Repurpose Project, and Life Unplastic for social media posts throughout Zero Waste Week.
Email zerowaste@repurposeproject.org with questions.
SSJ "Best of the Season" Nature Photo Contest
Do you enjoy taking photos while exploring the great outdoors? Share your best nature photo taken this winter by uploading it to the Sierra Club SSJ Nature Photo Contest. The entries will be judged for uniqueness, composition and quality, and must be original.
The requested format is a square photo of good quality (800 pixels X 800 pixels). Winning entries will be featured on the Sierra Club SSJ website, newsletter, and social media. Additional prizes will be announced as the competition grows with more sponsors.
