Article encourages Floridians to change habits concerning Plastic Bag Recycling
Plastic Bag Recycling
Florida’s Green Lodging program grows to 650 members
•Volunteers needed to help to assist in the roosting and capture of endangered RCWs for the purpose of translocation to support species recovery.
•Volunteers will accompany myselfor other trained personnel to specified RCW clusters. Their main function will be to help determinewhich trees juvenile RCWs are roosting in.This could mean something as simple as standing near a specified tree and determining whether or not ANY RCW is roosting in the cavityto something as detailed as IDingthe target bird’s color band combination and following it to itsroost tree.The level of assistance isbased on experience and ability.
•Roosting will begin in September and continueuntil the final capture event which should take place no later than midOctober.
•Captures take place at sunset but roosting can be conducted at either sunrise or sunset.These events take approximately 2 hours.
•Volunteers are invited to participate for as many morning and/or evenings as they are available forroost checks.
•Non-Eglin employed volunteers will be escorted by trained biologist/field technicians.
•Trained, experienced Eglin and VT employees that can conduct work unescorted will have the opportunity to earn cash for their time.
•I will hold an orientation on Wednesday September 1stat Eglin’s Jackson Guard Natural Resource office in Niceville to discuss the project activities and needs and to provide maps, data and safety information. A second meeting will be held at a private residence on Sun Sept 12that 6:30pm for anyone not able to attend the 1stmeeting.
•Non Eglin-employed volunteers and volunteers not registered with Jackson Guard’s volunteer coordinator will be required to obtain a recreation permit from Eglin’s Jackson Guard office for $12. Contact Eglin’s Jackson Guard permit sales desk at 850-882-4166 or register as a volunteer with Erica Laine, erica.laine.ctr@eglin.af.mil
•Let me know as soon as possible if you are interested and what your availability may be so that I can begin coordinating a schedule
Help Clean Up our Beautiful Beaches
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 8AM–11AM
Please Join Us At The Following Locations:
1. Beasley Park (Hwy 98 East of Brooks Bridge, Okaloosa Island)
2. Beach Park East of Surfdweller (Santa Rosa Blvd., Okaloosa Island)
3. Henderson Beach State Park (Hwy 98 East of Destin)
4. Niceville High School “Breezeway” (John Sims Pkwy)
FREE TO VOLUNTEERS:
EVENT T-SHIRT,
BOTTLED WATER
DATACARDS TRACK TRASH COLLECTED
Okaloosa Environmental Council
850-651-7131 or
emeraldcoast@co.okaloosa.fl.us
Do the right thing and help
preserve your environment.
VOLUNTEERS OF ALL
AGES WELCOME!
New FREE Program Benefits Citizens Impacted by Oil Spill
Master Money Mentors Available Through Extension Office
A new University of Florida (UF) program will help struggling families get free one-on-one help with their household finances. UF, County Extension offices in Okaloosa & Walton Counties are adopting the new Master Money Mentor program, and have trained 14 new mentors who are ready to help people who may need some information, help, or a person who can be a mentor to them.
“Locally, many people are trying to manage in tough economic times, due to the oil spill or the longstanding economic recession, leaving citizens stressed over money, jobs, and issues resulting from current economy,” said Okaloosa County Extension Agent Elaine Courtney. “This fits well with our current Okaloosa Saves,” initiative already in place. For more information, contact:
In Okaloosa County: Elaine Courtney 850-689-5850
Walton County: Kendra Zamojski 850-892-8172
“While every family’s financial picture will be different,” says Michael Gutter, an assistant professor in family financial management at UF, “I expect money mentors to help in three important areas: assisting families as they make spending and savings plans, helping them analyze their credit behavior and limit debt, and pushing families to be proactive with lenders when problems arise.”
Bank of America-Florida gave $100,000 for the program, said Bank President Mike Fields, because one of the company’s priorities is providing access to financial literacy programs in underserved and rural communities. Organizers expect to have mentors paired up with families starting September 1st.
The August 2010 Natural Awakenings issue has info about School and Healthy Snacks for Kids.
Architects of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center Receive Top Honors
at 2010 Design Awards
Freeport, Florida – The designers of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at
Nokuse Plantation received the 2010 AIA Design Award. Wallrapp Architure
and Interior Design and pv+r accepted the award Friday, July 16 at the
Lion’s Eye Institute in Ybor City Tampa, Florida. The design awards drew 54
entries this year and approximately 180 attendees were present to witness
the presentation of 15 awards of merit and honor. The awards were juried by
award-winning Fort Lauderdale architects.
The facilities and infrastructure of this year’s AIA Design Award were
designed taking into consideration the mission of the Biophilia Center,
which encourages conservation, preservation, and restoration of biodiversity
and promotes sustainable balanced ecosystems. Buildings consist of an
auditorium, nature center, and classrooms that house interpretative exhibits
about wildlife, insects, plants, and other aspects of local native
communities. Extensive nature trails curve through areas undergoing
ecological restoration on the nature preserve. The facilities were built to
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standards. The
standards were met by the designers through such design considerations as
the orientation of the buildings, use of energy efficient lighting and low
volatile organic carbon or VOC (non-toxic) paints, retention and
conservation of water, and incorporation of recycled construction debris.
Receipt of this award exemplifies what students, educators, and
conservationists have to say about their unique learning and teaching
experiences at the Center. Charles Pattison, President of 1000 Friends of
Florida said about a recent visit “What a magnificent facility! You have
created a shining example for the kind of setting that promotes the learning
experience for which E.O. Wilson has dedicated his life.”
Contact: Christina Scally
E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center Director
850-835-1824 office
850-217-2173 cell
www.eowilsoncenter.org