August 2010

August 2010

Topics in this months newsletter

GLEE Hosts Veggie Potluck for Members at Pigeon Key

August is Healthy Living Month and GLEE is celebrating with a Veggie Potluck Bash from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Aug. 22nd at historic Pigeon Key.

To show how much we appreciate our members' support, we are grilling the veggie burgers, supplying the drinks (including lemonade rich in vitamin C, nutritious beer and healthy red wine). Please bring your favorite veggie appetizer, salad or desert. Garden-grown samples encouraged. GLEE will provide the condiments and set-ups.

Prizes and games for kids (big and small) are planned and featured speakers will be scheduled in the air conditioned classroom. Swimming and snorkeling is open to all.

Transport boats depart Knight's Key at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 pm. Return trips are at 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Please RSVP by Aug. 15 to info@keysglee.com or call Bridget at 305-923-1994 to reserve your spot. RSVPs are required for planning purposes!

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Panel Discussion Wednesday on Gulf Disaster and Impacts on the Keys

Are you interested in learning what the impact of the Gulf oil disaster will be on the Florida Keys’ habitats and wildlife? How can you help?

Please join us at a FREE scientific conference 6-10 p.m. Wed. Aug. 4 at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, 35 East Quay Road, Key West.

Leading scientists and local volunteer and response organizations will be on hand to discuss the impacts of the disaster and to answer your questions.

This event is sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Oceana. Please RSVP, as seating is limited.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Amanda Gambill, Oceana organizer, at agambill@oceana.org.

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Mini Expos: Your Inspiration Needed!

The success of the GLEE Expo is coming to an island near you in November as a part of EcoWeek. 

 

Scaled down to community-sized Expos, each geographical area will specialize in a theme to educate and inspire you - Alternative Energy, Alternative Transportation, Healthy Living, Green Homes and Sustainable Business.  We'll have workshops, exhibitors, educational booths, & more: We are only limited by what we can dream up!

 

To be successful, we need your participation and ideas.  Use this survey link to tell us what you are interested in.  Our Volunteer Coordinator Carolyn Sheets will then get you lined up with the team leader.   

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What's Bugging Your Yard?

Find Out at UF Extension Workshops in Your Area

Have you been wanting to know what creature is chewing holes in your plants or why your plant leaves are black and sticky? If the answer is YES, you can get useful information by attending any of the free four insect classes and also learn how to identify and control insect pests and identify beneficial insects. If you have any insect samples you want identified, bring them in a sealed Ziploc baggie or pill vial.

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LEED® Green Associate Exam Prep Seminar

A 2-day open-enrollment course to help prepare for the LEED Green associate exam will be held at the Florida Keys Community College (Room C114), in Key West from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. & Tues. Aug. 16 & 17. For more information click here or register now. To speak with the instructor Greg Hamra, call 888.204.8735.

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GLEE Certifies First State Bank's Big Pine Branch

First State Bank of the Florida Keys’ Big Pine Branch is the second of eleven FSB branches to become green certified in GLEE's Green Business Certification Program.

The 1,500 square-foot-facility, which has walk in and drive up service, makes good use of natural light inside, which lessens the demand for electric luminescence. Outside, an overhang partially shades the building and drive up lanes from the southern exposure. All lights, inside and out, are CFLs and lights that are not needed are turned off while excess lightbulbs have been removed to save energy and reduce the waste.

Recycling of all accepted materials is practiced, including shredded paper and toner and printer cartridges that are either reused or recycled. After conducting a waste assessment, the five-member green team has downsized their dumpster size by one-half, saving more than $60 per month. In other areas of reuse and waste reduction, staff uses the keysreuse.com website to find non-profits that can use old equipment and the Habitat for Humanity Store, which receives any furniture that still has use. Staff also encourages reuse of coin boxes and envelopes that customers bring in with deposits.

All of the paper products for the branch are ordered through a central ordering system guaranteeing recycled paper goods for all First State Bank of the Florida Keys branches, including toilet paper and paper towels. The bank is looking into replacing plastic trash liners with biodegradable ones.

The landscaping at the bank is watered through an irrigation system used every other night. This will be reduced to conserve water and a rain barrel for rainwater collection is being considered for landscaping needs.

The GBP assessment revealed that the energy efficiency of the facility is compromised by an automatic door, installed for ADA compliance that is used by all who enter. The door mechanism will be retrofitted to allow push button use for those who need it while others can open the door manually, which will reduce the amount of energy loss. Once this is achieved, the thermostat can be moved to 78 degrees, which should help reduce energy costs considerably.

Learn how you can green your workplace through the Green Business Program. Questions? Please contact us.

First State Bank Green Business

Left to right: GLEE Board Member Nicole Medina presents First State Bank-Big Pine Green Team members Velvet Malloy, Trysh Freehling, Shana Casey, and Donna Kajfasz with a GLEE Green Business Certification.

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Blue Glass Repurposing Project Tumbles Along in Key West

A new recycling effort, Key West Blue Glass, is being spearheaded by local artist and fanatic recycler Karen Wray. The blue glass, which is not accepted by recyclers, is being crushed, tumbled and made into a reusable product for landscaping, art glass, aquarium glass and other uses. According to Karen, the tumbled, smooth glass makes a perfect substitute for pea rock, and can be used for garden beds, planters and even foot paths.

"Why should we keep trucking in pea rock and mulch and trucking out our beautiful glass to be used as land fill?" says Wray, referring to the current glass recycling market, which is practically nonexistent. Because of the costs involved, glass is expensive to recycle, which is why it's usually burned or used as road bed in landfills.

Many would like to see this change and bottle deposit laws adopted here in Florida to reduce both glass and plastic waste and litter. But blue glass bottles have never been considered a recyclable resource until people like Karen began repurposing them.

Facts About Blue Glass

Blue glass is only accepted at certain recycling centers because glass colors cannot be combined during the recycling process. When colors are mixed, the result is a streaky color or a bubbling effect that weakens the glass.

Iron impurities in glass cause it to have a blue color. Manufacturers often add cobalt oxide to glass in order to make it a deeper blue color. Blue glass is often used for cosmetics, certain wines and elite drinking waters.

The Key West glass project is based at Re-Cycle Bikes, 5160 US 1, Stock Island. Blue glass bottles like SKYY vodka and clear liquor bottles - ("the glass is nice and thick" says Karen) are accepted for recycling and reuse. Pottery shards are also accepted at this location.

So far, the tumbled glass is being used by individuals working with Karen on the project. "As the project gains momentum larger quantities will be more feasible making commerce more conceivable," says Karen, who currently moves the glass on her her bike using special bags.

Drop off locations also include: Help Yourself at 829 Fleming St.; Stick N' Stein at 1126 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (Leave glass in blue bin in parking lot behind bar by fenced area.); Re-Cycle Bikes, Stock Island (Green building after bridge near Hurricane Hole - leave glass in blue bin outside on ramp to left side of building.) Glass is also being picked up from participating restaurants.

Anyone interested in helping with glass pick-up and drop-off or the sifting of tumbled glass, please shoot an email to stingwraykw@gmail.com or call Karen at 305-923-4778.

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Healthy Living Spotlight: Tobacco Free Florida Keys Offers Smoking Cessation Help and Task Force on Policy Change

The Florida Department of Health cites cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, each week 5 million Floridians are exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year 28,600 Floridians die from smoking related causes and 19,800 youth become new smokers.

In an effort to prevent initiation of tobacco use, promote cessation and prevent secondhand smoke exposure we have formed a community partnership, Tobacco Free Florida Keys. It is through policy change that we will affect the most people and eventually change the social norms that surround tobacco use. Polices to that increase restrictions on minors’ access to tobacco, reduce tobacco industry influences, establish tobacco free grounds and increase use of cessation services are proven to be successful in meeting the goals of any tobacco prevention program. To do this, we need a strong partnership of people from all walks of life.

Tobacco Free Florida Keys is looking for volunteers to help make a difference in our community. Your help is vital. Monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesdays of the month at 3 p.m. Any interested parties are welcome to attend in person at the Sheriff’s Headquarters building; 5525 College Road in Key West, or by conference call at 888-808-6959. The conference code is 8641438#. Any help that will go a long way in changing the way people think about tobacco use. If you are interested in making a difference please contact Donna Stayton, Tobacco Prevention Specialist at 305-809-5638 or donna_stayton@doh.state.fl.us.

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Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Advisory Council Applicants

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill ten primary seats and ten alternate seats on its advisory council, which represents the public’s interests in sanctuary matters and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

“Advisory Council members play a vital role in the sanctuary, acting as conduits to community stakeholders and helping inform management decisions,” said Sean Morton, acting sanctuary superintendent.

Specifically, the council's role is to provide the sanctuary superintendent with advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs. Recently, the council has focused on restoration, research, outreach and education, enforcement, maritime heritage resources surveys, marine spatial planning, and climate change.

The sanctuary is currently accepting applications for the primary member seats representing the Boating Industry, Citizen at Large/Upper Keys, Diving/Upper Keys, Charter Sports Fishing, Commercial Marine/Tropical Fishing, Recreational Fishing, Research and Monitoring, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration, Tourism/Lower Keys, and Tourism/Upper Keys.

The sanctuary is also accepting applications for the alternate seats representing the Boating Industry, Citizen at Large/Middle Keys, Citizen at Large/Upper Keys, Diving/Upper Keys, Charter Sports Fishing, Commercial Marine/Tropical Fishing, Commercial Shell/Scale Fishing, Recreational Fishing, Research and Monitoring, and Tourism/Lower Keys.

Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; and views regarding the protection and management of marine resources. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve three-year terms, pursuant to the council’s Charter.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in 1991 to assure continuous public participation in the management of the sanctuary. The volunteer council’s 40 voting members and alternates and its ex-officio members represent a variety of local user groups, the general public, and state and federal governmental jurisdictions.

Applications are due Aug. 6. To receive an application or for further information, please contact Lilli Ferguson at 305-292-0311 ext. 245, or by e-mail at Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov. Application kits are also available for download on the sanctuary’s Web site. Completed applications should be submitted to Lilli Ferguson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West, FL 33040.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,896 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, seagrass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit: http://www.noaa.gov.

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Green Business Workshops Offer Green Opportunity Education

Congratulations to all who attended the Green Business Program workshops held throughout the Keys in July. The workshops, intended to assist individuals who want to green their workplace operations, offered answers while also posing many questions.

"Things are changing quickly in the world of green," says GLEE Program Coordinator Bridget McDonald, citing the common use of CFLs, reusable shopping bags and compostable packaging and restaurant supplies as examples. "The GBP program is meeting the needs of Keys businesses while the opportunities to save green -- economically and environmentally -- are evolving daily. Developments include more readily available and affordable eco-friendly products and sustainable practices that really work, says McDonald, adding that the savings businesses can realize through implementation of Best Management Practices can add up. "Those businesses that have not begun recycling or energy saving practices have the most to gain," she explains. "But we can usually find at least one way even the greenest business can reduce expenses, usually by changing habits."

Because of their success, GLEE will continue to offer workshops on a regular basis. To find out more, contact Bridget at 305-923-1994.

Attending the Key West workshop were Christina Regante, Eco-nomic Solutions; Kathleen Ortner; Hospice/VNA; Chelsea Fussell, Cruz Animal Hospital; Doug Mayberry of Doug Mayberry R.E.; Scott Hobbs of Southernmost Hotel Collection; Chris Fogarty of Fogarty Builders; Ashley Kamen of Archeo Gallery; Steve Madson of Porter Lane Engineering; Julie Brown, Key West Visitors Center; GLEE Vice President Jody Smith Williams representing White Street Healing Arts Center; and Ty Symroski, who wanted to learn more about the program. Michel Appellis, owner of Travelers Palm, also attended the workshop and became GBP certified the following week.

Key Largo workshop participants included Ruth Schrader Grace of Eco Gone Wild; Jackie Harder, President Key Largo Chamber of Commerce; Nadia Spencer, who owns a vegetation and wildlife survey business; Jim Spencer, who works for the State of Florida; Monika Graves, a registered massage therapist; and Susan Torres, whose home businesses include propane features and green products. Also attending were Carolyn Sheets, GLEE volunteer coordinator and Karen Beal, GLEE board member.

In Marathon, GBP workshop attendees were Mary Beth Meyers and Maria Diaz of Ward & Meyers CPA; GLEE's Treasurer Jackie Grasley, representing Centennial Bank; Colleen Murphy, Monroe County Recycling Coordinator; Bob Williams, Sea Air Land Technologies (SALT); and Mary Swaney representing the Village of Islamorada.

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Thumbs Up

Obama administration announces first National Ocean Policy.

Last week the president signed an historic Executive Order that establishes a plan for conservation and sustainable use of U.S. ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. The policy emphasizes ecosystem-based management and is an important step for the long-term health of our nation’s oceans and fish, as well as communities that depend on them. Please click here for more information.

KL Chamber Promotes Sustainable Seafood Awareness

According to the Free Press, a sustainable seafood logo could be coming soon to a menu near you. An article by Steve Gibbs reports: "The concept is one of several so far to emerge from the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce’s re-branding effort, an attempt to single out what makes the island unique and to emphasize them. The logos are already attached next to specific items on menus at Sundowners and Snapper’sWaterfront Restaurant. They let customers know that when they order dolphin (often called mahi mahi in restaurants), hogfish, lobster or yellowtail snapper, they are eating a local fish that is plentiful."

'“Sustainable seafood” refers to finned fish with fast growth rates and frequent reproduction and that are caught on a line. The highly regulated stone crabs and Florida spiny lobster also are considered sustainable. Snapper’s restaurant has received positive responses from customers who recognize what they are doing and express their support, said manager Karen Taber."

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