St. Marys Annual River Celebration

From Rick Frey:

 

"Here are the statistics for our 20th Annual St. Marys River Clean-up this past Saturday.

These are total numbers for Baker and Nassau Counties on the Florida side of the River,

and Charlton and Camden on the GA side. I have also separated out St. Marys numbers

because our participation was significant in making this event so successful.

 

715 Volunteers total: 125 volunteers from St. Marys which included 9 from the
Base and 13 from Cumberland Harbour.

31,000 lbs of trash, recyclables and tires (200) total. (2,000 lbs and 10 tires from
St. Marys).

Our volunteers cleaned up every street in downtown St. Marys south of the RR tracks

including all drainage ditches, marsh and water front accessible by foot. Dark Entry

from the dock along SR40 to entrance to Borrell Creek Resuraunt was also cleaned up,

with special thanks to Carolyn Rock from Hariett's Bluff for handling that assignment 

herself.

 

St. Marys was not the only clean-up activity in Camden County. Exceptional effort was

made in Kingsland at the I-95 Bridge, the Route 17 Bridge and in Browntown.

 

In St. Marys, the volunteer numbers have risen each year, and the amount of trash

collected has decreased. This tells us that more and more people are being educated

about the proper disposition for trash, and that more and more people are taking personal responsibility for the stewardship of their environment. I would also like to give a

"shout-out" to Bobby Marr and the public works employees of the City of St. Marys

who work hard every day keeping our downtown area clean.

 

To volunteers in St. Marys and Cumberland Harbour, t-shirts are now available.

Please call Rick Frey at 404-909-0667 to make arrangements for your pick-up.

 

Congratulations to all who have made this event so successful over the years."

 

 

 

 

Two dates to mark on your calendars:

March 16th - The Annual St. Marys River Cleanup and Celebration

This an event that spans the length of our river and involves volunteers from all four counties. (The St. Marys EarthKeepers have, in the past, represented the largest single block of volunteers). Last year's River Cleanup and Celebration brought out over 800 participants in all as volunteers retrieved approximately 54,000 pounds of trash along the river and its tributaries. The luncheon that followed - a hot dog roast at Trader’s Hill, organized by Charlton County - drew a big crowd and it is anticipated that this year's event will be an even greater success.

Please look for eblasts and media coverage leading up to the cleanup. The St. Marys "team" meets at Howard Gilman Park at 8am and, this year, will be coordinated by EarthKeepers' Board member, Rick Frey rickbfrey@gmail.com. 

Volunteers will be equipped with lunch tickets (don't forget to pick up your free t-shirt), trash bags and gloves and assigned sections of the downtown area. EarthKeepers' members will be available for golf cart "pick-up and delivery" throughout the four-hour pre-luncheon event should you need assistance. 

March 23rd - Earth Hour 2013.

For the past several years, Camden County has led the way in Georgia by being one of the only counties to have all cities sign a Joint Earth Hour Proclamation and this year is no exception. 
Hundreds of millions of people around the world turn off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, on the same night, to focus on the one thing that unites us all - our planet. Make a pledge to turn out your lights from 8:30 - 9:30 pm local time on Saturday, March 23, 2013 to show your commitment to creating a better future. To read more about Earth Hour, please visit http://www.earthhour.org/ 

Please join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/44706969520/permalink/10151474801034521/?notif_t=like 

Sea Level Rise Seminar

St. Marys Sea Level Rise Seminar (Feb. 28) was a huge success with 124 of the Theater By The Trax 150 seats filled. Attendees included local/county elected and appointed officials as well as those from neighboring counties and members of the general public.

Our sincere thanks to the crew of the Theater, the City of St. Marys and, of course, the presenters:

 

Sea Level Rise: Global Causes and Georgia Trends

Speaker: Dr. Chuck Hopkinson, Director, Georgia Sea Grant Program

Preliminary Overview of Sea Level Rise and Increased Coastal Flooding Vulnerability in the City of St. Marys

Co-Presenters: Dr. Jason Evans, Environmental Sustainability Analyst, UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government; James Nolan, Local Government Project Manager, Information Technology Outreach Services, UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government  

Georgia Coastal Hazards Program:  Applied Research and Adaptation Planning Tools

Speaker: Kelly Spratt, Georgia Sea Grant Program

SLR Seminar

The Brunswick News

2/2/2013

Is now the time to prepare for a rising sea?

Gordon Jackson

The Brunswick News Daniel Parshley has watched the sometimes raucous debate over climate change rage on for a long time. The executive director of the Glynn Environmental Coalition, an environment watchdog group in Glynn County that is supported by grants, membership fees and donations, is somewhat perplexed. He is at a lost to understand why the issue continues to generate so many sparks between people who want to respond to scientific findings with meaningful actions and those who question the validity of what they fear could lead to more government regulation.

Parshley is especially concerned when legitimate discussions of rising sea levels become garbled when associated with the term "global warming." To Parshley, seeing is believing. "All people need to do is look around," Parshley said. "I don't have a crystal ball, so I don't try to predict the future. I go with what we're seeing, and what we're seeing is more flooding on Newcastle Street every year."

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been warning coastal communities like Brunswick and the Golden Isles about rising sea levels for decades. Even the acclaimed Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, the state's flagship university, is offering to help communities prepare for higher tides in the future. It received a Georgia Sea Grant to assist cities and counties dotting the seaboard to begin thinking about measures to protect critical infrastructure from the effects of salt water.

"People just need to be more observant," Parshley said, puzzled by nonbelievers. "Look at the marshes and look at how your flood insurance is going up. Put the pieces together, folks. "I just go with what I see, and what I see is we need to be making plans for our infrastructure."

The rising sea level is predicted to be the result of the melting of the polar ice caps, which is a result of those two politically flammable words: global warming. "It's so embroiled with political hyperbole, so intermingled with other issues, and with people protecting their turf, that the message is not clear," Parshley said. "It's just so wrapped up in special interests. The politics of it all has obscured any meaningful discussion."

There have been some takers of offers of help from the Carl Vinson Institute. Tybee Island, its beaches drawing thousands of visitors who yield the small city millions of dollars in business and tax revenue annually, is receiving advice through a partnership with the institute.

To the south, in St. Marys, an environmental group wants the state to tell the Camden County community what kind of tides it might expect in the years ahead. Experts from the institute and Georgia Sea Grant will discuss the rising sea level at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne St. in St. Marys.

Alex Kearns, discussion organizer, says she invited the experts after learning about a similar presentation on Tybee Island. "St. Marys is approximately 10 feet above sea level, and so is vulnerable to both sea level and climate-related events," she said. While the seminar will address concerns specific to Camden County, Kearns says the recommendations will apply to other Coastal Georgia communities. "Given the astronomical costs associated with weather-related events - such as Superstorm Sandy - climate change and sea level rise can no longer be viewed in environmental terms alone, and must be seen as major factors that could cripple our economy, both locally and federally," Kearns said.

One of the speakers will be Jennifer Kline, coastal hazards specialist with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Kline said elected officials and residents she has met are taking the issue seriously. In Chatham County, for example, there have been growing concerns about flooding in downtown Savannah. "We're not waiting for the Feds to tell us what to do," she said. "I think we have a good idea where sea levels will be."

The seminars make recommendations on where and how coastal communities should build schools, parks, government buildings, infrastructure and residential communities. "Our approach is to continue education and outreach," Kline said. "It's just getting the public to understand what the science is."

Other areas of the Georgia coast have been quiet. Glynn County Commission Chair Mary Hunt says she will ask fellow commissioners if any of them want to attend the seminar at St. Marys to determine if the speakers should be invited to Glynn County to discuss the issue. "It sounds like something that would be of interest, because of where we're (situated)," she said.

Brunswick Mayor Bryan Thompson says no one in the city has asked for a sea-rise seminar in the city. "I understand that sea levels are indeed slowly inching up," Thompson said. "I believe that this is something we need additional information on now, so that if it continues, as some anticipate over the next several decades, we can have reasonable plans in place to appropriately address the rise in sea levels."

And continue it will. That warning resurfaced Jan. 21 in President Barack Obama's inauguration speech. The president, after being sworn in for a second term, said it is time the nation began seriously addressing "global warming" in earnest. Finding new forms of energy would be a step in that direction, he said. Finding alternative energy sources is a battle cry that has wide support among faithful Democrats like Mike Berion, chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. "In addition to cleaner water and air for future generations, it would also produce cheaper energy and create jobs," Berion said.

Some Republicans don't see eye-to-eye with that. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., says anything the president comes up with should be evaluated and its value determined before being enacted into law. "It is crucial that the Senate carefully weigh the risks and benefits of any proposed climate change legislation," Chambliss said. "I have concerns with any legislation that might increase electricity costs on Americans, send more American jobs overseas, or put our economy at a distinct disadvantage at a time when we can least afford it."

--

Recycling Fair 2013

On Saturday, Jan. 12^th the St. Marys EarthKeepers hosted our first Recycling Fair.

We’ve held electronics (“e-scrap”) events in the past but this time we decided to expand the scope of materials and included paper-shredding services and household hazardous waste collection.

The event succeeded beyond our wildest expectations. It was scheduled for 10am-4pm and yet cars and trucks began streaming into the St. Marys Aquatic Park at 9:15. The exact numbers aren’t in yet, but the staff of the companies involved estimated the following:

Electronics: 14 tons

Paper: 9,500 lbs

Household Hazardous Waste: 12.27 tons. (One county truck  - filled twice, with thanks to Mr. Street - and two large Public Works trucks were required.

My sincere thanks to the members of the EarthKeepers Board who hauled paint cans and toxic chemicals for six straight hours. Of particular note: Linda Callaway, Bob Nutter, Michael Kearns, Dick Russell and Gale Lizana. Others chipped in when they could (Jan Meriwether and Ray Valente) but those five went the distance - plus some. Quite literally, tons of paint and noxious chemicals formed a mountainous pile on the parking lot and these intrepid volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got the job done: sorting, hauling and filling trucks.

I would also like to thank City Manager Steve Crowell for so quickly responding to our "call for help" when it became apparent that the hazardous waste collected was simply too much for the county vehicle to hold. A standing ovation for Jeff Berg, Emanuel Angheluta, Shaun Maguire, and Baxter Lee, the Public Works employees who came to our rescue with two more large trucks.

Our gratitude also goes out to St. Marys City Council, Kbay Radio, the DDA Scoop and, above all, The Tribune & Georgian for their invaluable assistance with promoting this event. All electronics and paper will be 100% recycled, thus sparing the additional burden on our landfill site.

To Lannie Brant, Camden County Director of Solid Waste: my apologies, sir, for the overwhelming amount of “hazardous” material that must now be sorted. It is a great relief to know that a huge number of homes, sheds and garages are no longer filled with materials that present a fire/health hazard.

Most of all, though, our heartfelt thanks to the citizens of St. Marys and surrounding area. You took the time to sort through your homes and offices, load it all into your vehicles and bring it to us. Not only that but your generous donations have ensured that the St. Marys EarthKeepers can continue to do our utmost to protect our extraordinary and fragile environment. It is because of all of you that we’ve been able to make such a difference – from curbside recycling to educational programs, community clean-ups and Recycling Fairs. You can reach us at www.stmarysearthkeepers.com (or contact me directly). We welcome your questions, suggestions and support.

Alex Kearns

Recycling Fair

                                              

Out With The Old!

Don’t start the New Year with your house and shed full of old electronics, paper files and residential hazardous waste! The St. Marys EarthKeepers and the Tribune & Georgian present Camden County’s first Great Recycling Fair.

When: Saturday, January 12 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Where: St. Marys Aquatic Park (Herb Bauer Dr.)

What: All electronics. If it has a plug we accept it – with the exception of old tube televisions. And bring along anything that requires batteries, even the old batteries themselves.

With Sentry Data Management’s secure paper shredding, you can toss it all in without worrying about staples, paper clips etc.

Household Hazardous Waste such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides contain potentially hazardous ingredients that require special care when you dispose of them. The Camden County Solid Waste Dept. will have staff on site to collect the materials from 10 am to 3 pm.   

A suggested $5 donation to the St. Marys EarthKeepers would be greatly appreciated. Refreshments will be provided by The Restoration Church of Camden County, so stop and visit for a while!

St. Marys Airport

The plan to “relocate” St. Marys Airport to Sea Island-donated land (Site 1, Billyville Rd.)  continues to divide the community, absorb taxpayer’s funds and divert attention from far more pressing matters. In 2010, The St. Marys EarthKeepers published a resolution against the “relocation” of the St. Marys Airport to Site 1. We stand by this resolution.

Consider the following:

An airport must not be built on Site 1, (the City’s preferred location due to its donation by the Sea Island Co.) for several compelling reasons including acres of wetlands, the Satilla River, the Rose Basin, threatened species and a 100 Year Floodplain (the FAA prohibits the construction of any airport in a floodplain): http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/environmental_desk_ref/media/desk_ref_chap12.pdf

Perhaps one of the most telling reports is that of the Department of the Interior (dated Dec. 11^th, 2006 and available at City Hall). It states:

"While we understand the cost savings associated with the donation of the land at Site 1, we recommend that another site be selected for the location of the St. Marys Airport for several reasons:

1. Construction at this site would lead to greater wetlands impacts than at the other sites. More impacts at this site would be to high quality wetlands, with less impact to low quality wetlands than at the other sites. Also, the selection of Site 1 would lead to a higher level of secondary impacts as described in the draft EA (the topping and/or removal of trees and other obstructions).

Site 1 - total impacts: 228

Site 3 - total impacts: 148

Site 9 - total impacts: 115

Impact to high quality wetlands:

Site 1 - 173

Site 3 - 56

Site 9 - 11

2. Site 1 would impact approximately 59 acres within the 100-year floodplain of a river crossing the site.
3. A set of Georgia Power Company Utility lines would have to be relocated at an estimated cost of $7 million. This relocation would lead to additional impacts to natural resources.
4. Site 1 has the highest estimated construction costs as compared to Site 3 and Site 9."- (approximately $4 million more)."

This is but one of dozens of documents detailing the negative environmental costs (and financial ones) of relocation to Site 1. All are available through the City of St. Marys website http://www.ci.st-marys.ga.us/ and extensive on-line searches.

Given all of these prohibitive factors - plus the massive (? million) environmental mitigation costs required by the EPA and the USACE – why is the City is still speaking of this matter? This issue has been monitored very closely by several agencies throughout the years and they had thought it "dead" due to the overwhelming negative effects involved with Site 1. Logic would dictate that the current airport be enhanced (if needs be) and used as an asset for St. Marys (as per The Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism).

According to the Dept. of the Interior, EPA and initial USACE reports, the chance of being granted a 404 are slim to nil - and if, for some reason, it slides through it will most likely be legally challenged. Wetlands, 100 Year flood-plain, the Rose Basin, one of the most fragile points of the Satilla River, 10 threatened species (listed by the Dept of the Interior, (Dec. 11, 2006), no plans for mitigation (see below CIP report), "no cost to the citizens" as per the non-binding referendum, a multitude of "practicable alternatives" - the only thing that remains a mystery is why and how the City plans to do this. (Additionally, the FAA acknowledges concerns regarding the fact that an airport could not expand on Site 1 and that there are serious public safety issues due to the parallel lines of I-95 and U.S. 17).

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

The law places the burden of proof squarely on a permit applicant to demonstrate that the destruction of any portion of a wetland is necessary. If the proposed activity does not absolutely have to be conducted in or near the water, the permitting agency is to begin with the assumption that practicable alternatives do exist. However, in practice, it is not this burden of proof that most often deters potential applicants from pursuing a 404 permit. More often, it is the cost of mitigating environmental damage that provides the greatest disincentive to filling a wetland or altering a waterway.

Mitigation in the 404 context means to minimize the loss of an aquatic site. Mitigation can include:

creation (making a wetland where there never had been one before);
restoration (restoring a wetland, for instance by taking out old dikes or levees);
enhancement (making an existing wetland "better"); or
preservation (purchasing or otherwise protecting an existing high-quality wetland).

The EPA shares the duty of enforcing Section 404. It develops and interprets environmental criteria used in evaluating permit applications, oversees state actions, identifies activities that are exempt from regulation, and reviews and makes comments on individual permit applications. Section 404( c) of the Clean Water Act also authorizes the EPA to override a Corps decision based on "unacceptable adverse effect" on the aquatic environment.

The granting of a permit (including a general permit) is a "federal action" for purposes of the Endangered Species Act. Thus, if a listed species may be affected, a 404 permit request triggers the need for a consultation with the relevant agency (either National Marine Fisheries Service or U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, even on private land.

Processing time for individual permits can range from 6 to 24 months. The time frame is dependant on the complexity of the impacts on aquatic resources, endangered species, archaeological or tribal concerns, and on workload. Processing time may be extended due to endangered species. Applicants requiring an environmental impact statement (far less than one percent) average about 3 years to process.”

The Draft Airport CIP Report (10/30/2009) lists no funds for mitigation efforts/costs.

Further:

According to the report submitted to the City by R,S&H (Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc., 10748 Deerwood Park Blvd. South, Jacksonville, FL 32256-0597)

Site 1:

"Drainage of the Site flows southeastward to the Rose Creek Swamp, which ultimately discharges to the Satilla River. There is a sizable floodplain that crosses the northern and southern portions of the Site, as well as a significant amount of wetlands that are dominated by a seasonally flooded, forested system associated with the drainageways.

...potential disadvantages associated with the selection of this Site as the preferred alternative. Those disadvantages include:
. A large portion of the Site has been identified as being within the 100-year Floodplain.
. The Site contains a large amount of wetland areas that would potentially be impacted by construction."

"Wetlands at the Site (1) as the preferred alternative: numerous runway airfield configurations were developed in an attempt to minimize and avoid unnecessary impacts to the wetlands system. Approximately 40 acres of high quality wetlands, 19 acres of medium quality wetlands and 14 acres of low quality wetlands will need to be filled for development. In addition, secondary impacts will occur as a result of disturbance to wetlands not being filled due to the topping and or removal of trees and other obstructions to meet FAA obstruction clearance requirements. Of the disturbed wetlands (not filled) wetlands, approximately 133 acres will be of high quality, approximately 15 acres will be medium quality, and approximately seven acres will be of low quality."

http://www.ci.st-marys.ga.us/pubdocs/studies/Airport%20Study%20Website/frame.htm Final Site Selection.

The Department of the Interior has stated that further studies must be undertaken regarding the presence of the Flatwoods Salamander, the Eastern Indigo Snake, the Wood Stork, migratory birds, the rare swallow-tailed kite, Bald Eagles and other fragile species in Site 1; and recommends that another site be selected due to "greater wetlands impact than at the other sites."

Additional statement/reports:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (Oct. 20, 2006):

”Because of predicted wetlands impacts, wetlands should be further assessed to minimize and avoid additional wetland acreage. If unsuccessful, the selection of Site 1 should be re-considered for the FEA or the mitigation must be fully acceptable to the U.A. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the State of Georgia.”

Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Feb. 20, 2006):

“Examination of the Flood Insurance Rate Map indicates that sites #1 and #3 encroach on federally designated Special Flood Hazard Areas.”

Regarding Department of the Navy concerns: from Capt. W. E. Stevens, May 5, 2008,

“Although the Navy supports the relocation of the airport, no funding is available for such an initiative and I am advised that the prospects of the Navy supporting a legislative initiative for relocation are remote.”

From the Department of the Interior, Feb 27, 2006

“U.S. Department of Transportation, FAA Advisory Circular No: 150/5200-33A, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On or Near Airports,” Land use practices that attract or sustain hazardous wildlife populations on or near airports can significantly increase the potential for wildlife-aircraft collisions.”

“Of the three sites being evaluated, two are within two miles of the proposed Broadfield Mitigation Bank. Based on this information, the Service recommends that the proposed airport sites #1 and #3 be reevaluated.”

Also see: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/mitigation/banking/

"Under current regulatory programs, parties seeking permits for activities that affect wetlands must first avoid and then minimize those effects. Any remaining damage must be compensated. Historically, the regulatory preference for compensation has been on-site creation, restoration, or enhancement of a wetland. These mitigation efforts have resulted in several smaller, "postage stamp" wetlands that have had limited success in reaching full function potential.
The sequencing of avoidance, minimization, and compensation still applies prior to using credits from any mitigation bank. However, in contrast to traditional mitigation activities, mitigation banking requires that compensation--restoration, creation, enhancement, and/or preservation--occurs before a site is affected by a project. Bank projects are put in place prior to allowing unavoidable impacts by a project. Credits are generated by this up-front activity. Those credits can then be used by the bank sponsor or sold to another party to offset impacts to wetlands that occur in other locations. Again, only impacts that cannot be avoided or minimized are available for compensation through credits from a mitigation bank."

From Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. Final Site Selection Report, April 2005 

“9.4.2.1 Wetlands

Probably the most significant environmental constraint to be encountered in selecting a replacement site for the St. Marys Airport involves potential impacts to wetland areas.
Wetlands have been defined by the FAA in FAA Order 5050.4A, Airport Environmental Handbook, as those areas that are “inundated by surface or ground water with a frequency sufficient to support and under normal circumstances would support a prevalence of vegetative or aquatic life that requires saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions for growth and reproduction.” As further stated in the Airport Environmental Handbook, Department of Transportation Order 5660.1A, Preservation of the Nation’s Wetlands, provides that Federal agencies:

1. Avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the destruction or modification of wetlands and to avoid direct or indirect support of new construction in wetlands wherever there is a practicable alternative; 2. Avoid undertaking or providing assistance for new construction located in wetlands unless the head of the agency finds that:
a. There is no practicable alternative to such construction, and

b. That the proposed action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to wetlands that may result from such use.

There are, however, potential disadvantages associated with the selection of this Site (1) as the preferred alternative. Those disadvantages include:
• A large portion of the Site has been identified as being within the 100-year Floodplain.
• The Site contains a large amount of wetland areas that would potentially be impacted by construction. Prior to construction, coordination would need to occur with the various state and federal agencies to determine the applicable environmental mitigation requirements.
• The Georgia Power Line that run north-south on the Site may need to be relocated.
• The towers located both north and south of the site would need further detailed airspace analysis to determine the extent of their impacts, and may require relocation.”

See also Guidelines on the Establishment & Operation of Wetland Mitigation Banks in Georgia (http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/bankguid.htm) for USACE mitigation bank information.

From Scott Serrit (Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office) via email Wednesday, April 01, 2009 2:13 PM to Mike McKinnon

Cc: ccomer@dot.ga.gov; Larry.Clark@faa.gov; bill.shanahan@tds.net

When speaking of his action regarding the Paulding County Airport:

“We wound up "expediting" an environmental finding (by bending a few rules, damaging relationships with our counterparts in other state and federal agencies, and rendering a finding that might not have stood the test of a court challenge) so that we could honor that earmark 4 months sooner than we had promised to otherwise.” 

These are but a very few of the reports concerning the “potential environmental disaster” that would ensue should the airport be constructed on Site 1.

This proposal would result in the loss of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, bring down the censure of national organizations (and departments that exist to protect fragile environments) and profoundly tarnish the reputation of St. Marys/Camden County.

St. Marys Binational Peace Garden

On Thursday, November 1, members of City Council, City staff, the St. Marys Tree Board, the St. Marys EarthKeepers and the public held a tree-planting service at the St. Marys Binational Peace Garden. A live oak and a Red Maple (the symbol of Canada) were placed near the American and Canadian flags.

Dedicated on July 4th, 2012, The Peace Garden is the southernmost location on the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail that extends from Ontario, Canada, to St. Marys, Georgia. 

Through this initiative, St. Marys has been the focus of international media outlets and plans are being formulated to create Binational Peace Gardens in such locations as St. Simons Island, Savannah and northward along the eastern seaboard. With the opening of each Peace Garden, both in the United States and Canada, St. Marys is profiled. Further programs and events are planned for 2013.

Mayor DeLoughy spoke of the ongoing benefits of the "wonderful media exposure" in terms of tourism and economic development. His remarks were followed by messages of gratitude and congratulations from Canadian Consul (Atlanta) Robert Pengelly and Arlene White, the Executive Director of the Binational Alliance. 

St. Marys Binational Peace Garden

On Saturday, Oct. 14, Boy Scout Troop 318 once again contributed their time and effort to the upkeep of the St. Marys Binational Peace Garden. The boys and their leaders have re-mulched, weeded and planted several times and have adopted the Peace Garden as an ongoing service project.

On July 4th, 2012, The Garden officially became part of the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail that stretches from Ontario, Canada, to St. Marys, Georgia. The Trail commemorates the anniversary of the War of 1812 and two hundred years of lasting peace and cooperation between the United States and Canada.

On Thursday, Nov. 1, at 12 pm, city officials will gather to plant a red maple (donated to the City by the Canadian Consulate) and a live oak. The two trees, symbolic of Canada and Georgia, will be placed near the American and Canadian flags that fly at the Binational Peace Garden. 

SMES K-Kids Protect the Environment

The St. Marys Elementary School K-Kids, sponsored by the local Kiwanis, earned enough points to buy 9 acres of protected wildlife land.
The Drink Pouch Brigade is a group of K-Kids who collect, clean up, and package drink pouches which are sent to a company, TerraCycle, who then uses the drink pouches to make such items as backpacks, pencil cases, lunch bags and many more items. Students drop their empty drink pouches in a designated bucket in the school cafeteria. Every morning brigade members gather the pouches, squeeze out any excess juice and prepare the pouches for shipping. (A copy paper box can hold 1500+ pouches).
At the end of the school year, students voted what to do with their points. With last year’s points, students were able to purchase 9 acres of protected land. With TerraCycle (through National Wildlife Federation’s Adopt-a-Wildlife-Acre program) SMES students help protect the wild animals that are at risk of death when they roam beyond the protected borders of Yellowstone National Park.
Your donation to the Adopt-a-Wildlife-Acre program will help resolve this chronic conflict between ranchers and wildlife and support vital conservation and education programs. NWF compensates ranchers for retiring their grazing allotments in and around national parks, thereby allowing ranchers to relocate their livestock to new conflict-free locations. Ranchers are happy, their livestock can thrive and wildlife survives. To date, National Wildlife Federation has retired over 600,000 acres of land in the Yellowstone region, thereby giving wildlife the room they need to roam.
This year once again students will be able to drop their drink pouches in the bucket after lunch. Students can even bring them from home to donate. TerraCycle accepts not only the Capri Suns but Kool-Aid Jammers and any other brand of drink pouches. They don’t accept juice boxes. SMES K-Kids are sponsored by Sue Lockhart, Christy Cobb, Lynda Duchscherer, and Gale Lizana.
More information about TerraCycle can be found at:
 http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/?format=html

E-Recycling Event Hosted by The St. Marys EarthKeepers and the Tribune & Georgian. 

Due to requests from so many in our community, the EarthKeepers are hosting another E-Scrap event. Our last two resulted in the collection of over 23 tons of electronic material. Let’s see if we can beat our own record! 


Date: Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 am - 4 pm 


Location: The Tribune & Georgian parking lot, 206 Osborne St., St. Marys


Costs: A suggested donation of $5 (per vehicle) would be most appreciated. 


What: Computers, flat-screen monitors, cables etc, cell phones, copiers, keyboards, printers, DVD/CD players and other electronic equipment. DVDs, floppy discs, VCR tapes etc. (Note: TVs are no longer accepted during on-site collections). 


Details: Recycling E-Scrap is an EPA approved electronic recycling company that meets all H.I.P.P.A. requirements. The company will remove all unwanted or unused electronic equipment, including battery-operated equipment, batteries, non-ferrous metals and plastic. 


On the day of the pickup, Recycling E-Scrap contractors will supply the labor to load the equipment onto the truck. At the time of the pickup, a complete inventory list of all the items will be made followed by a secondary inventory once the items arrive at the warehouse in Jacksonville, Fl. 
The electronics materials are checked in and then completely cleansed of all data. (A "Certificate of Destruction" will then be available after the cleansing process is completed). 100% of all materials are then recycled.

Sea Turtles!

Thanks to EarthKeepers board member, Rick Frey, for this photo of the re-entry path of a sea turtle making her way back to the sea after laying her eggs. (Fernandina Beach, July 2012).

Although loggerheads are still listed as "endangered", the number of recorded nests found in Georgia has been on the rise over the last three years, with last year’s tally adding up to more than twice the number found in 2009. Cumberland Island averages more than 200 loggerhead nests annually, but this year experienced turtle-watching teams reported over 500 loggerhead nests. Although this year’s numbers on the Georgia Coast are lower than those from 2011, the nesting season is not over yet.

For only the second time in recorded history, Georgia welcomed a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle this year. The Kemp’s Ridley is the world’s most endangered sea turtle species and usually nests at beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the fate of the Kemp's Ridley seemed sealed - but there is hope.

The end of July heralded the first loggerhead hatchlings emergence from their buried nests on Tybee and other Georgia islands. The small turtles will be seen crawling across dozens of beaches in the coming weeks as they make their way home to sea so please remember the Light's Out rule if you see a female on the beach or hatchlings emerging.

During the nesting season, loggerheads can be disoriented by artificial lights such as streetlights, exterior lights on commercial building, headlights, high density dwellings and beach front homes - and the light from these man-made sources will lead them away from the ocean or deter them from nesting. People on or near the beach using flashlights, bonfires, landscape lighting or camera-flashes can also disorient loggerhead hatchlings for they require the ocean's natural light to navigate from the nest towards the sea but will crawl towards the brightest light source. So as tempting as it may be to capture a photo or get a closer look with your flashlight, please don't. A life may depend on it.

Unusual Visitors

This is the Roseate Spoonbill. We've been receiving reports of sightings in and around St. Marys: in fact, one of our board members, Bob Nutter, captured a photo of a spoonbill standing on his dock. They are startlingly beautiful creatures and we welcome them...but their presence rings the already-clamorous climate change alarm bells.

From Audubon: "Only the northern edge of the Roseate Spoonbill's range lies within the United States. This neotropical bird can be found in many areas around the Gulf of Mexico, and breeds in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Florida populations occur in the southern half of the state. Roseate Spoonbills are also found in Mexico, Central America, and South America, as well as across the West Indies and Greater Antilles."  

As We Are Now

We held our regular meeting tonight and, as always, I am amazed by the energy and dedication of the EarthKeeper's Board. The monthly committee reports include:

Naval Base (what's new and notable from our Board member on Base, Jennifer Ward-Pelar).

School Activities (from our teacher, Gale Lizana).

Communication (what's been done and what's needed).

St. Marys Curbside Recycling (the monthly rate report).

RiverWatch (all matters pertaining to the health and welfare of our river: committee Chair, Rick Frey).

And then we move on to observations, ideas and discussions.

- July's recycling results are the best we've seen for that month since the beginning of curbside recycling: 37.99 tons collected. Well done, St. Marys! But how do we increase the numbers? With the addition of junk mail and "chip board", each and every home should be placing two bins by the curb but it seems that many are unsure of what "chip board" entails. 

Think "Packaging": cereal boxes, soda boxes, beer boxes, mac & cheese boxes, Kleenex boxes...all of those cardboard items that once went into the trash are now welcomed in your recycling bin. So is Junk Mail - all of those flyers that find their way into your mailbox. If you don't have a bin, just contact mthomas@advanceddisposal.com and one will appear at your home within the week.

- We're pleased and gratified by the number of people who visit this site for updates and information and we want to make it even more informative and interactive.

E.g. one Board member who lives on the river has noted increased activity re: dolphins, roseate spoonbills and manatees.

Another (our school teacher at St. Marys Elementary) spoke of a lizard that the children found that is actually listed as an "invasive species."

The number of derelict boats in our harbor is a matter of grave concern. It is also a complex issue that involves myriad agencies.

I invite you all to contact us with such reports, concerns and observations.

- The annual January Electronic Recycling fair hosted by the EarthKeepers is a hugely popular event and I am constantly asked when our next one will be. After-Christmas has always seemed like the most reasonable time and I thank you all for holding on to your e-scrap. Given the response of the community we may need to arrange this twice-yearly...but until then, please "collect the stuff" until next January.

And now the hard part. We have hundreds of members who joined us when we were first established. We've not sent out reminders of yearly dues because your voices and support have meant all the difference between a city that doesn't recycle; a city littered by trash; a city that doesn’t act as a good steward of its extraordinary environment. As a 501c3 we have considerable insurance payments and there are costs involved in city-wide clean-ups, public service notices, providing recycling bins for all city events and so forth. 

We will continue to do our utmost to help our community to protect this precious corner of our planet as we  address your questions, provide new information and create/encourage increased environmental awareness. We ask only that you either renew your membership, join us or donate whatever you can. Thank you so much for your support over the years.
http://www.stmarysearthkeepers.com/memberform.pdf

Alex Kearns

Chair, St. Marys EarthKeepers, Inc.

Recycling List Update

Since December, 2007, St. Marys residents have enjoyed the benefits of a curbside recycling program. Each month, tons of material are collected and recycled: an effort that helps to prevent burdening our landfill site. Green groups are active in our schools, county and city officials strive to increase energy efficiency, city-wide littering appears to be less of an unsightly problem, clean-ups are held regularly and our recycling rate remains at almost twice that of the national average.

According to the St. Marys EarthKeeper’s Chair, Alex Kearns, “The recycling program is a wonderful success as, once again, the people of St. Marys are proving themselves to be forward-thinking, proactive and protective of our extraordinary environment.” Advanced Disposal continues to add more items to the recycling list with the latest addition of junk mail and chip board. Myron Thomas of Advanced Disposal states “St Mary's citizens can be proud to say that they have removed an estimated 1744 tons of recyclable material since the start of the program. This is certainly something to build on but everyone should always remember the three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Accepted:          

            

            ·Plastics #1 & #2 (numbers on bottom of containers)
·Corrugated cardboard flattened, and cut in 2 ft. by 2 ft. pieces
·Newspaper, inserts, phone books and catalogs
·Brown paper bags
·Glass bottles and jars (green, brown and clear)
·Metal and aluminum cans (remove lids)
·Junk mail
·Chip board (soda cartons, dry food packages, etc.) 

Unacceptable:

            

            ·Waxed juice or milk cartons
·Egg cartons or Styrofoam trays
·Mirrors or window glass
·Pool or other chemical containers
·Plastic bags
·Aerosol cans
·Wet newspaper
·Pizza Boxes 

Important:
·Please remove lids and empty and clean all cans, bottles and plastics.

RiverWatch

I'm pleased to announce the creation of a new St. Marys EarthKeepers initiative: RiverWatch. Throughout the past six years we have worked to inform the public (and fellow environmental agencies) about various issues that threaten the health of our river - from JEA proposed water withdrawals to the introduction of invasive species and potentially harmful industrial/development projects.

Rick Frey (a member of the EarthKeepers' board) will serve as Chair of the RiverWatch committee (comprised of Bob Nutter, Ray Valente and myself). As an avid boater, a St. Marys resident and a Georgia Master Naturalist, Rick offers expertise and dedication.

If you have concerns or questions regarding the St. Marys River, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Alex Kearns

2012 St. Marys River Clean-up

Once again, volunteers came out in force for the annual St. Marys River Clean-up on Saturday, March 17th (sponsored by the St. Marys River Management Committee). The local effort was spearheaded by the St. Marys EarthKeepers who directed a team of 70 volunteers, including Cub Scout Pack 118 from Kingsland. Over 1,650 lbs. of trash were collected by teams who scoured the river, waterfront and downtown area. The event attracted 45 first-time volunteers - 6 of whom came from out of state.

Meanwhile, 9 participants worked as a team to collect trash from the HGTV Dream Home dock around to the outer parcel at the end of the Cumberland Harbour property as well as a portion along the North River. After last year's herculean effort there was substantially less trash to be picked up but they still collected an entire truck-load of garbage from the marsh area. (Pictured: Bill Bruce, Sam Colville, Joan Edelen, David Spencer, Joyce Kirkman, Andy Kirkman, and Joe Gregory. Not pictured: Phil Hooton, Jack Halsey, Brian Timberlake)

Alex Kearns, Chair of the St. Marys EarthKeepers, stated "Once again we were thrilled by the level of participation. While there is still much work to be done in terms of the ongoing litter problem in our area, we're seeing real advances as each year. Huge thanks to all of those who came out to join in this event."

St. Marys River Clean-Up 2012

Please join the St. Marys EarthKeepers at the annual River Cleanup on Saturday, March 17. We will be at the Waterfront Park in St. Marys starting at 8:00 a.m. and will be cleaning up Downtown St. Marys. Afterward, there will be a celebration picnic (around noon) at Traders Hill in Folkston (off Hwy 121 going south out of Folkston). We hope you’ll help us make a difference and take part in this annual event. Wear comfortable clothing, bring bug spray (for yourself) and drinking water. We will provide bags and gloves.
Please let us know if you can join us by contacting alexkearns1@msn.com

Recycling Results

It gives me great pleasure to report the results of the second annual St. Marys EarthKeepers E-Scrap event, held on Sat. January 14th. This year the Tribune & Georgian also offered paper-shredding services. Citizens brought in 7,211 pounds of paper – which is a marked increase over last year’s amount of 4,259 pounds.

Over 13 tons of electrical equipment was collected for recycling. Along with last year’s 10 tons this means that in two years of holding this one event we have prevented over 23 tons (or 46,000 pounds) of electronic waste material from entering our landfill.

Given the resounding success of this event, the EarthKeepers will be organizing and hosting it every year – with plans to expand our media coverage well beyond Camden County.

Along with the obvious environmental impacts of such endeavors there is the affirmative press that our city receives and the immense sense of satisfaction felt when out community comes together to make a positive difference.

On behalf of the EarthKeepers, I’d like to thank the media outlets and the various county and city governments for helping to publicize this event, the Tribune & Georgian, the EarthKeepers volunteers who once again so generously gave of their time and efforts – and the people of Camden County for stepping up, en masse, to do the right thing.

Last year 386.64 tons of recyclable material was collected in St. Marys through Advanced Disposal’s weekly curbside recycling bin collection. That’s 773,280 pounds of material in one single year that didn’t end up in the landfill site. And that number exceeds 2010’s amount.

Our compliance rate continues to be almost twice that of the national average and awareness grows. Given these results, the interest of the citizens and our natural environment, St. Marys is uniquely positioned to attract new future residents, businesses and tourists. We are proving ourselves to be a united community in many respects – now we just need to creatively and aggressively promote our city while continuing to build upon our strengths.

Electronic Recyling Event

Second Annual E-Recycling/Paper Shredding Event Hosted by The St. Marys EarthKeepers and the Tribune & Georgian.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us look to dispose of unwanted electronics and old paper files. Please hold on to all such items until the New Year – at which time they can be collected and recycled. During last year’s event, St. Marys gathered almost 10 tons of electronic e-scrap. Let’s see if we can beat our own record!

Date: Saturday, January 14, 10 am - 4 pm

Location: The Tribune & Georgian parking lot, 206 Osborne St., St. Marys

Costs: Free except for TVs (small, $10.00. Anything over 30", $20.00)What: Computers, monitors, cables etc, cell phones, copiers, keyboards, printers and other electronic equipment, DVDs, floppy discs, VCR tapes etc.

Details: Recycling E-Scrap is an EPA approved electronic recycling company that meets all H.I.P.P.A. requirements. The company will remove all unwanted or unused electronic equipment, including battery-operated equipment, batteries, non-ferrous metals and plastic.
On the day of the pickup, Recycling E-Scrap contractors will supply the labor to load the equipment onto the truck. At the time of the pickup, a complete inventory list of all the items will be made followed by a secondary inventory once the items arrive at the warehouse in Jacksonville, Fl. The electronics materials are checked in and then completely cleansed of all data. (A "Certificate of Destruction" will then be available after the cleansing process is completed). 100% of all materials are then recycled.

Paper Shredding: The team from Sentry Data Management will be at the location to deal with all of your paper-shredding needs. The shredding process is not done on-site due to the need to remove all staples etc. and sort the material prior to recycling. The company is licensed and bonded and each person who uses the free service receives a Document of Destruction. Sentry is NAID AAA Certified and approved by the GCIC to handle sensitive records.

Our City Park

On Saturday, June 25, the City will be holding a 10th Anniversary celebration for Howard Gilman Park.

All citizens are asked to join in a Day of Service and lend their efforts to cleaning up: helping to paint, mulch, weed and remove any trash.

Work will commence at 6:30 am and continue to 12:30 pm, with a brief speech from Mayor DeLoughy to follow at 1 pm.

Whether you can help for an hour or for the entire time, your participation would be deeply appreciated.

Can Jam!

Congratulations from the St. Marys EarthKeepers! Habitat for Humanity's ReStore's Second Annual Earth Day Can Jam was, once again, a resounding success. Can Jam is an aluminum can recycling contest held between local schools to promote environmental stewardship and awareness.

“Our thanks to ReStore, the schools, the teachers and, above all, the many students who participated in Can Jam again this year.” said St. Marys EarthKeepers Chair, Alex Kearns. “The children of Camden County continue to serve as an inspiration for us all.”

This year the following schools participated: Crooked River Elementary K-Kids, David L. Rainer Elementary, Mamie Lou Gross Elementary, Mary Lee Clark Elementary, Matilda Harris Elementary, St. Marys Elementary, and Woodbine Elementary. Woodbine Elementary School is also a year round can collector for Habitat for Humanity. Each school competed for the title of “Can Jam Champion” by collecting the most bags of cans beginning on March 22nd and ending on April 22 (Earth Day).

St. Marys Elementary School has been awarded the title of “Can Jam Champion” with Mary Lee Clark Elementary following in a very close second place.

Pictured: Gale Lizana, SMES teacher and St. Marys EarthKeepers Board member proudly displays the Can Jam award.

Upcoming Events

E-Recycling event hosted by the St. Marys EarthKeepers

Date: Saturday, April 23, 10 am - 4 pm Location: The Tribune & Georgian parking lot (206 Osborne St., downtown St. Marys)

Costs: Free except for TVs (small, $10.00. Anything over 30", $20.00)

What: Computers, monitors, cables etc, copiers, keyboards, printers and other electronic equipment, DVD, floppy discs, VCR tapes etc.

Details: Recycling E-Scrap is an EPA approved electronic recycling company that meets all H.I.P.P.A. requirements. The company will remove ALL unwanted or unused electronic equipment, including battery-operated equipment, batteries, non-ferrous metals and plastic. On the day of the pickup, Recycling E-Scrap contractors will supply the labor to load the equipment onto the truck. At the time of the pickup, a complete inventory list of all the items will be made followed by a secondary inventory once the items arrive at the warehouse in Jacksonville, Fl. The electronics materials are checked in and then completely cleansed of all data. Upon completion of wiping all the computers of any remaining data a "Certificate of Destruction" is sent out to the Client. 100% of all materials are then recycled. http://www.scrapcomputers.com/