Surfrider Foundation - Sebastian Inlet Chapter
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Join Us For Our 2012 Kickoff Party & Fundraiser 1/7/2012
What
It's our annual fundraiser to raise $$$$$$ to support our nonstop efforts to help preserve our beautiful beaches.
Activities include:
- Rad Raffles including three surfboards, Billabong, FCS, Futures, Spectrum, Surf Gallery, Longboard House, MTB, and many more…
- Live Music
- Tasty Food
- Cerveza
- Comradery
- Fun
- Sun
- Beach
- Surfing (pray for waves)
When
Jan. 7, 2012 from noon until dark
Where
The large pavillion at Paradise / Howard E. Futch Beach Park in Indialantic, FL
How Much?
Entry includes food, beer/drinks, and activities (raffles separate)
- Adults: $15
- Groms (ages 10-17): $10
- Kiddies (under 10): FREE
Perkins parking GONE if we don't speak up!!
From 2ndlight.com: The diamonte sands llc wants to erect an 18 unit Assisted Living Facility on the old perkins property,
but that's not the real problem, just the cause of it.
I
reviewed the request for zoning change and the site plan package at the county zoning office.
It looks like what they want to do is take all but 15 feet of the current 45 foot park entrance and beach access, get a pass on having 30% of the lot area reserved as a breezeway as per code, make the only access to the beach park go through the entrance for the ALF, and then they want to plump the north side of their 4 story building slap on the lot line at the south side of the 15 foot wide beach access lane. I am not sure what their intention is toward the oceanside strip of park.
so what does this mean?
number 1 is no vehicle access anymore to perkins.
number 2 is to get to the beach you have to go thru the ALF entrance. how long will it take for the complaints to come in to the sheriff about "those people". that's how access can be restricted to keep out the riffraff that are disturbing the residents of the assisted living facility.
number 3 is, u can bet, no more hanging out on the boardwalk...that's loitering.
number 4 is why should the public lose 2/3 of an adequate beach park so some inland fat cat can get even fatter?
number 5 is that this sets a precedent of the taking of public land so a private business can despoil the environment and enrich itself.
A public hearing on this zoning change and proposed project is to be held on: January 10, 2011 (this coming monday) at 3:00 PM at the government center in viera bldg c . The informative note i got from planning and zoning doesn't give the room where it will be held but i will find that out. there is a small sign on the perkins property that the government put there about this. i am going to put up copies of the site plan on the boardwalk at perkins, and will try to attach copies either to this or a second post. i will be at this meeting to oppose the giveaway of the SPRA Park property. I encourage everyone who wishes to keep access at perkins (the South Patrick Recreation Area Park) as it is to attend this meeting and to peacefully voice their opposition to the proposed zoning change.
Also, i've been emailing commissioner mary bolin's office about this. She is the county commissioner for the perkins area. her email address is: D4.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us or (Mary.Bolin@brevardcounty.us)
Copies of the Diamante plan files:
Diamante 1
Diamante 2
Diamante 3
(all PDFs - one is upside down so you'll have to rotate it using Acrobat).
Chapter Survey Input Needed
Please take the time to fill out the entire survey so we can better achieve an active and outgoing chapter. Thank you! We are currently looking for all chapter positions to be filled ASAP. If you are interested to see how you can plug in go to www.surfrider.org/volunteer2.asp and click on the "volunteering menubook."
Sea-level rise/Climate change Forum
The third and final sea-level rise/climate change forum will be held on October 26th. The program will include discussion of technical results and policy recommendations contained in a final report submitted to the City of Satellite Beach and EPA Climate Ready Estuaries Program. A summary will also be provided of other climate change projects currently underway on the Space Coast. www.spacecoastclimatechange.com.
What: Public Forum - Adapting to rising seas; a final report on the EPA Climate Ready Estuaries grant awarded to the City of Satellite Beach and Indian River Lagoon National Estuaries Program
When: Tuesday, October 26, 2010; 7 - 9 pm
Where: Satellite Beach Public Library, 751 Jamaica Blvd (321 779-4004)
Cost: Free
*** more info ***
The City of Satellite Beach and Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program will convene the third and final public forum designed to inform residents of the City and Space Coast on the technical results and policy recommendations made in a final report submitted to the City and US Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Ready Estuaries Program. A grant to undertake this project was awarded to the City in the fall of 2009 and the report completed this past summer.
The forum will begin with a description of how the City would be affected by a sea-level rise of between 1 and 6 feet; water levels are expected to rise between 3 and 5 feet by the year 2100 as a consequence of melting polar ice. “The tipping point between relatively benign impacts and that which disrupts more important elements of the municipal landscape is when sea level reaches +2 ft (0.6 m) above present,” stated Randall Parkinson, the project’s principle scientist. Sea level is forecast to reach this elevation around 2050 and thus the City has about 40 years to formulate and implement an adaptation plan.
The description of municipal vulnerability will be followed by a summary of the recommendations made by the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Board, a volunteer citizen committee serving as the City’s local planning authority. If approved by the City Council, these changes to the City Comprehensive Plan will provide a legal basis for implementing specific policies designed to reduce the City’s vulnerability to sea-level rise.
The form will conclude with an overview of other projects currently being undertaken throughout the Space Coast to better understand the potential effects of climate change and the mitigation or adaptation strategies that could be implemented to minimize its effects on the built and natural landscapes of east-central Florida.
A Question & Answer session will follow to ensure Space Coast residents have time to inquire or comment about the project.
OIL Spill Response
BP Doctored images from oil spill response
BP tries to buy academic silence for upcoming oil spill legal battle
CBSR (Cocoa Beach Surfrider) is partnering with Keep Brevard Beautiful to develop a beach monitoring and response plan. Due to sensitive habitats, individual response/cleaning efforts are strongly discouraged.
Here is what you can do right now:
1. Tell President Obama to restore the moratorium on oil drilling off of our coast.
2. If you want to volunteer to work in Brevard County, call 211 or go to:
http://www.keepbrevardbeautiful.com
3. If you want to volunteer to work on the gulf coast go to:
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
4. Link to more information:
Surfrider Website on Oil Drilling
5. Donate money for water testing:
The Emerald Coast Chapter (Gulf Coast) has begun a campaign to test the local beach waters for dispersants. The reason they have chosen this test is because none of the other agencies are doing it. To find out more go to: www.SurfriderEmeraldCoast.org
Click on the "Donate" button in upper right hand corner.
Upcoming Cocoa Beach Surfrider Events
July: No meeting or events in July
August 3: Board Meeting
August 13-15: Surfrider State Conference, Cocoa Beach Hilton
August 17: Chapter Meeting, Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, 6PM
August 21: Barefoot Wine Beach Cleanup, Lori Wilson Park, 9 - 11 AM
August 21: Barefoot Wine Party, Rum Runners, 12 – 2 PM
Surfrider Membership Drive - Win Cool Stuff from Quiksilver:
Iron Surfer Presented by Quiksilver
International Surfing Day - June 20th
NexGeneration Surf School will be partnering with the Sebastian Inlet Chapter and Big Brothers - Big Sisters of Brevard to host a fun day of learning to surf on Sunday, June 20th (which is also Father's Day!).
Please join us from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the beach at Howard E. Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach. 2301 North Highway A1A
Melbourne (Indialantic), FL 32903. Google Map Link.
From Percy Snyder of BBBS - “We are proud partners of Surfrider Foundation and would like to thank NexGeneration Surf School offering the opportunity for our children to learn how to surf. We are a very active mentoring organization that is always trying to find children in need and additional mentors in the community.”
Also planned is a PhD student from the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group will be giving the Big Brothers Big Sisters a turtle lesson as part of the educational session. And Tropical Smoothies Cafe of Melbourne will be giving out FREE smoothies to participants.
Schedule:
o Registration / Welcome 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
o Environmental discussion 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
o Beach clean-up 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
o Surf clinic 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Oil Spill in the Gulf Update
KBB is looking for volunteers to monitor Brevard's beaches for the first signs of oil, dispersants, death, etc. If you check the surf often and want to be part of the alert team, click on this link:
And download the form in the top left corner.
***
There was a meeting Wednesday May 5th at the Emergency Services Bunker in Rockledge to form a plan for action if the oil slicks reach Brevard County. Attendees included representatives from State Agencies, Brevard County, Patrick AFB, Coast Guard, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Hands across the Sand organizers Amy Tidd and Tony Sasso and other representatives from environmental organizations.
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As of right now, no oil has been observed on Brevard Beaches. We are urged to volunteer under the system being set up by Brevard Emergency Management. There is training on-line. Untrained we could do more harm to the environment and wildlife. Please log onto Http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com In addition, Brevard County http://www.brevardcounty.us/oil_spill/ also has instructions. They are encouraging volunteers to work through the agencies, to ensure they have enough resources at the areas they need them. Volunteer work includes Beach watch, Beach cleanup, Animal rescue ect.
If you see an oil slick off the beaches, call 211. Do not call 911.
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NOAA is responsible for commercial fishing and will give out media information. If the oil reaches Brevard Beaches, we must be ready as in a hurricane. This will be dealing with a disaster. Volunteer Florida is leading efforts in pre shoreline cleanup. Additional info can be found at http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
| Offshore Oil Drilling In Florida & The Great Gulf Spill |
Here are the notes taken to prepare for the NPR Radio Show, Topical Currents on March 10th, 2010. The guests were me (Greg Gordon), Traci Romine from the Audobon Society, and David Mica who was a lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute. LINK to PDF document. |
April 17-18th, 2010 - Board and Waves Expo in Cocoa
“The East Coast's ONLY consumer expo for surfers”
Cocoa Expo Sports Center (I-95 & 520)
Cocoa, FL
The Expo will be held next weekend, April 17th and 18th from 10am-5pm both days. Itwill feature some of the best surfboard designers, shapers and artists in the country including world renowned surfboard artist, Drew Brophy and nationally recognized local shaper, Ricky Carroll. Exhibitors of surfboards, fins, surf accessories, StandUpPaddle and other action sports products will be in attendance.
The event is open to the public. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation and the Cocoa Beach High Surf Team.
Admission is $5.00 for adults, children under 10 are free. Price includes (1) raffle ticket for giveaways. Additional raffle tickets and Expo t-shirts can be purchased at the event.
The Cocoa Expo Sports Complex is located in Cocoa, FL off I-95 and SR520, 10 miles directly west of Cocoa Beach, site of the world-renowned Ron Jons surf shop.
For more information and a list of sponsors and exhibitors participating in the 2010 Boards & Waves Expo, go to the Expo website, www.boardsandwaves.com, or contact Dave Seehafer at 949-466-4110, email info@boardsandwaves.com .
International Surfing Day June 20th, 2010
Get involved by contacting us today if you wish to participate!
Your LAST chance to voice your concerns on the Midreach Project -
Comments only accepted until March 10th!!
Write to: brevard.mid-reach.comments@usace.army.mil
Subject - Brevard Mid Reach
The Surfrider Foundation's Sebastian Inlet chapter's official comment letter is posted here as a PDF.
Here is a summary of why Surfrider is against the project:
1. We as stakeholders were left out of process, and have the most to lose.
2. The project hurts the local economy and destroys natural habitat.
3. The mitigation reef is unproven and may not be effective.
4. The project is a waste of money, may not be effective, and may even prove dangerous to human lives.
*****
Here are the links to the GRR report and Appendix:
Read more about the proposed project HERE - (big pdf file explaining the EIS)
and the appendix is HERE - (even bigger file but has the background data)
Articles written on the subject: (Surfer Magazine)
http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/fl_bch-erosion/
This court case (Palm Beach wins dredging case) (Surfline.com)
You Are What You Fish! By Jim Harper - BBT Columnist + LINK
Dredge and Fill Projects - How to protect coastal structures and also the nearshore reef system. Read these articles by Terry Gibson
Link to your State reps to contact:
Ritch Workman
Mitch Needleman: Phone: 321.777.6150
mitchneedelm@earthlink.net
Bill Posey:
http://posey.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/
You can also write to the Brevard County Commissioners -
Robin Fisher - D1.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Chuck Nelson - chuck.nelson@brevardcounty.us
Trudie Infantini - D3.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Mary Bolin - D4.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
Andy Anderson - D5.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us
And the state representative - John Tobia - john.tobia@myfloridahouse.gov
Tell them that it is a $150 million waste of taxpayers money and will destroy a protected fish habitat and coastal reef ecosystem (with over 250 species living on it), not to mention ruin several well known surf breaks that contribute to the local economy.
We only have until March 10th!
PROTEST ALERT!
Write a letter to the editor of the Florida Today showing your opposition to the MidReach Dredgge and Fill Project. This project is going to cost over $30 million to start, and over $150 million over the next 50 years. Plus, the sand is going to wash right back into the sea, burying the nearshore reef and destroying our surf breaks.
Sample letter sent in:
Why does the county and the ACOE want to use our tax dollars to destroy three acres of Brevard reef? It's a federally designated "Essential Fish Habitat". Both the sportsfishing and commercial fishing industries rely on these reefs as hatcheries and protection for smaller fish. The reefs also provide some of the best waves in Florida, and two world champion surfers grew up surfing these beaches.
Who uses these beaches? It’s not tourists looking for large tracts of sand to tan on, but local families who like to surf, fish, or just play on the exposed rocks and reef at low tide. Why should we waste our tax dollars to bury them and degrade our own quality of living? The project is expected to last 30 years and cost over $150 million. That is if the price of gas doesn’t go up and we don’t run out of beach quality sand.
So please ask your representatives to get their heads 'out of the sand', prevent this burial of our reef, and save our tourism budget for more productive projects.
Stop Merritt Island Nasa Project
NASA is proposing two alternatives for a private spacecraft launch site which would result in significant habitat destruction on and near the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Canaveral National Seashore in Brevard County. At least one of the proposed sites could also cause closure of public access to cherished areas of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge that are some of the top birdwatching sites in the nation.
+ Take Action
Florida Open Beaches Bill signed at Roosevelt Elementary
Paddle for Clean Water 2007
Paddle for Clean Water
September 23rd at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral. At 10:00am joind Surfrider for a paddle out to raise awareness of the Casino Cruises' constant duming into our oceans.
Please attend this IMPORTANT event
Miami2Maine
This summer, Margo Pellegrino is paddling an outrigger canoe nearly 2,000 miles - from Miami, FL to Camden, ME - in the hopes that she can show her children how to make a difference in the world and inspire others to take an active role in the stewardship of our oceans.
Join her at Latham Island (Floridana Beach) on May 13th or at Whitley Bay Marina (Cocoa, FL) on May 14th.
Surfrider Sebastian Inlet Gets a Face Lift
If you haven't already noticed we have a new website!! If you have problems or find any errors, please let us know about it by dropping us an email at surfrider@cfl.rr.com.
Special thanks to Surf Guru Productions for their help!
www.surfguru.com
Five Surfrider Chapters Protest in West Palm Beach
Members from five local Surfrider Foundation chapters - including Sebastian Inlet, Central Florida, Treasure Coast, South Florida and Palm Beach - gathered on Sat., January 27, 2007 at the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach for a portside and in-ocean protest to denounce the dumping of partially treated sewage......
Gambling Boat Pollution In Florida
Did you know there are 11 day cruise gambling ships in Florida? Gambling boats transport an average of 800 people per ship, twice a day, out to international waters - about 3 miles. NOAA report estimates - 26,600 gallons of blackwater and 53,200 gallons of gray water per week (per ship) are dumped and there are no inspections or tests of the sewage being dumped.
Bal Harbour Beach Access
South Florida Surfrider’s campaign to bring back normal beach access in Bal Harbour is working! Already over 250 letters have been sent and the number is growing everyday. State officials are taking notice and agency personnel are hastily arranging meetings to show their new boss that they are responsive to Floridians concerns.
Follow Us To Get Up To The Minute News
OPEN CHAPTER MEETING
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When: Jan. 19th, 2012
Where: Thursday, 1.19.12, 7 pm Where: Indian Harbour Beach Community Center
Time: 7:00pmMISS A MEETING?
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Mission Statement
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.