2014!

Happiest New Year to all! 

2013 was an exciting year in St. Marys as we continued to increase our recycling rate, inform and energize our community, and address the many challenges posed by climate-change and sea level rise.

So a new year stretches ahead…

With the NOAA Sea Grant – a powerful tool in our tool-box – we begin the work of ensuring that our extraordinary coastal community will be prepared for climate-related events and to deal with the crushing flood insurance rates that may come about as a result of the ill-advised Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act. http://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-reform-act-2012http://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-reform-act-2012

We can reduce otherwise-unaffordable insurance rates by scoring well on the Community Rating System (http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system) and I am pleased to say that our city administration is fully behind this effort.  

The work has begun: the Sea Grant teams are active in St. Marys, information is being compiled and recommendations amassed. The work that we do here will not only benefit the citizens of our town, but will serve as a blueprint for all coastal communities.  Congratulations, St. Marys.

Meanwhile, the EarthKeepers continue to promote conscientious environmental stewardship, hold Electronics-recycling events, stand guard over our river and lands, support the many “green” groups in our schools, provide information to the residents, and do what we can honor the fact that “We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.”

Alex