FORCE NEWSLETTER

FORCE

FRIENDS OF THE RIVERS COALITION E-NEWSLETTER

October 2014

Here's Your Chance To Learn About Election Issues

With election day looming on November 4th, the Rivers Coalition is providing a special look at some of the key choices voters will make, including Amendment One.

Dr. Paul Gray and other leaders will review the subjects at the general membership meeting on Thursday October 30th at 11 a.m. at Stuart City Hall. The issues include Amendment One to the Florida Constitution which would dedicate a portion of documentary tax revenue to purchases of property for conservation purposes.

The new acquisitions would be expected to include property for a wide variety of uses to benefit the environment such as wetlands that now collect and disperse large amounts of toxic runoff pollution.

Gray, director of Florida Audubon's Lake Okeechobee offices, is a leading expert on tracking problems caused by nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from agricultural areas.

The Rivers Coalition meeting is open to the public at no charge and there is plenty of public parking available. We'll even have coffee and donuts for you.

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Agenda for Thursday, October 30

Meeting - Thursday October 30

11:00am-12:30pm at: Stuart City Hall - Commission Chambers

121 SW Flagler Ave Stuart, Fl 34994

Business Matters

• Chairman’s Comments - Leon Abood

• Special Presentation - Dr. Paul Gray

• River Kidz of Martin County - Nic Mader/Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

• Stuart Seafood Festival - Lainey Ruskay

Government & Agency Progress Reports

• Martin County - Deborah Drum/Don Donaldson

• South Florida Water Mgmt District - Kathy LaMartina

• FDEP - Jason Storrs

Coalition Reports

• Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality - Mark Perry

• Indian Riverkeeper Update - Marty Baum

• WRAC “Water Resources Advisory Commission” - Mark Perry

• Federal & State Issues-CERP/IRL & Lake Okeechobee - Kevin Henderson/Paul Gray

• ROGER “River of Grass Estuary/Everglades Restoration” - Ted Guy/John Marshall

2014 Stuart Seafood Festival

We will be participating again in this year's Stuart Seafood Festival as the benefiting charity and with a booth to educate the public. Please join us for amazing food, live music and family fun!

Volunteers are needed for our booth, please sign up here!

River Kidz

Martin County River Kidz:

River Kidz joined up with Lines in the Lagoon on Saturday, Oct. 18th for a Catch and Release Tri-County kids fishing tournament and face-painted for the event! It was very successful with the expected 100 registered fisherman and all proceeds went to ORCA (Ocean Research Conservation Association) and The Everglades Foundation. Carl Hiassen signed his newest book for all the entered kids; a pre-teen and teen book titled Skink No Surrender! Thank you to Fenia Hiassen for including us and doing such a fantastic job with hosting the event!

The "River Kidz 2nd Edition Workbook" will be coming out this fall and Jan 2015. It is a collaboration of "kids teaching kids" as the Marine Biology Class of Crystal Lucas at Jensen Beach High School reworked the first workbook for elementary students based on their high school learning experience of the SLR/IRL.

This new art work is by artist Julia Kelly were made into bumper stickers and will be available at our event at Bluewater Editions on Saturday, November 15th that will be celebrating the completion of River Kidz second edition workbook. The event will include Julia Kelly's beautiful artwork and Justin Riney and his photography, along with lots of fun, food, drinks, games, music and raffle items. Time to be determined. Please come out and join us!!!

Who is the mascot for the new workbook? MARTY THE MANATEE!

Please check on River Kidz Facebook and Riverscoalition.org for more information.

St. Lucie County River Kidz:

The River Kidz in St. Lucie County got to participate in their Fish Halloween Party and Trunk or Treat. They made jellyfish out of plastic bags and bottles and their jellyfish actually swam in the bottles. We showed the kids just how dangerous plastic pollution can be. We had over 50 kids present who left more knowledgeable of another form of pollution that we need to work hard keeping out of the lagoon, rivers, streams and oceans.

About 25 homeschoolers from Indian River County came to Jaycee Park to learn all about the issues happening. We talked about the lagoon, the problems, the solutions and completed our day with a fun scavenger hunt. Our original plan was to go seining. Considering bacteria levels have had been all over the place, we chose to play it safe and stay on land.

Some of the River Kidz from both Martin and St. Lucie County were present during former Governor Crist visit to Sandsprits Park. They were able to ask him a questions prior to him boarding a boat to tour the St. Lucie River. Upon braving the heat that day, Zach and Hannah collected trash along the shore. No one prompted them, they just pondered on the task themselves.

Speakers Bureau

The Rivers Coalition Speaker’s Bureau had the pleasure of speaking to the Garden Club of Stuart on 10/13/14. Mark Perry provided an informative speech to an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 75 members and guests.

Thank you to everyone’s continued interest in our river!

If your organization is interested in having a speaker come to your meeting or event, you can request via email info@riverscoalition.org or by phone 772-225-6849

Rivers Coalition is an Eco-Voice Sponsor!

How to Become a Member?

Membership is free! If you are interested in helping save the environment of SW Florida, you may join Eco-Voice by going to www.eco-voice.org and selecting subscribe.

Click Here to Join Eco-Voice on FaceBook.

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Thank you for all your support.

Editors: Jessica Waugaman & Olivia Sala

PO Box 2627

Stuart, Fl 34995

772-225-6849

www.RiversCoalition.org

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