Rally for the Rivers set for
Valentine's weekend in Palatka
The Putnam County Environmental Council invites you to come show you care about Florida's rivers, lakes, and springs at the Rally for the Rivers Valentine's Day weekend, Feb. 12-14, 2010.
Friday, Feb. 12 will be devoted to a workshop designed to bring citizens up to date on water policy, science, and plans for diverting water from north Florida rivers to serve unsustainable urban areas to the south. The all-day workshop will be held at the Quality Inn Riverfront in Palatka.
On Saturday, Feb. 13 please join us on the banks of the St. Johns at Palatka's Riverfront Park for a day of music with outstanding Florida folk musicians; Florida Storytelling Association; Florida authors and artists; Florida Heritage Experience; conservation workshops, activities, and displays; native plant sale; free rides on the river with St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon; great food from Blue Water Bay; and an evening fundraising dinner and concert. Saturday will also provide an opportunity for you to get ready for the Florida Springs Rally in Tallahassee on Feb. 16. A table for you to take action by writing a letter, making a sign, or contacting your legislator will give you an opportunity to participate even if you can't go to Tallahassee.
You will also be able to participate in "Hands Across the Sands," a state-wide demonstration to show opposition to off-shore oil drilling. On Sunday, Feb. 14, celebrate the Ocklawaha at Rodman Dam. Paddling workshops and field trips, hikes, cultural and historic displays, free rides on the river, food, music, and more!
We've secured a block of rooms at the Quality Inn Riverfront in Palatka for this event. Make your reservations now by calling 386.328.4686 . Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for fun that makes a difference! Watch for more information coming soon to www.pcecweb.org!
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Polk County glad to be part
of Winter Paddle Florida
As Paddle Florida comes to Polk County for the
Peace River Canoe Trail be sure to take some time
to enjoy Central Florida's Polk County by experiencing
our beautiful parks, rivers, lakes and nature areas.
Central Florida's Polk County is home to some of
the best-preserved nature areas in Florida. Bird
enthusiasts flock to Polk County to add birds to
their official "life lists". Popular natural
lands include Lake Kissimmee State Park, Tiger
Creek Preserve, Circle B Bar Reserve and Colt Creek
State Park. For more information on the great outdoors
in Central Florida's Polk County, visit www.visitcentralflorida.org.
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Spring Paddle Florida is just around the corner
Our third annual Spring Paddle
Florida will be held March
18-25, 2010 on the Withlacoochee
and Suwannee Rivers. Unlike
in years past, we will begin
the trip at Madison Blue Springs
State Park on the Withlacoochee
River. After paddling 12 miles
on the wondrous Withlacoochee,
and traversing some great 'fast'
water, we spend the night at
Suwannee River State Park near
the confuence of both rivers.
We will then paddle for 6 more
days until we reach Manatee
Springs State Park; 115 miles
in all.
In order to register for
our 2010 events, paddlers can
view and access details on
our homepage at www.paddleflorida.org
We have tweaked the website
a bit and now it is really easy!
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Raiford Starke
to headline
Peace River event
As we move toward final
preparations for our MLK, Jr. weekend
event on the Peace River, we have several
announcements. First, on Saturday
night, January 16th at Paynes Creek
Historic Site in Bowling Green, Raiford
Starke will bring his singular brand
of Florida music to add to our first
night on the river. On Sunday night,
local legend Rich Mistretta will entertain
us at Pioneer Park. Joining Rich will
be Danny Kushmer of the Southwest Florida
Water Management District, who will
give us an update on what is happening
waterwise, in this part of the state.
Additionally, our opening night in
Ft. Meade will feature Mark Renz, a
local expert on fossils in the Peace
River. Our inaugural Winter Paddle
Florida on the Peace River is shaping
up to be a great trip!
. . . just and ol' hombre trying to make sense of discord and chaos with my broke cherry-red WMD (Weapon of Mass Distortion) Silvertone hollow-body guitar bought in 1966 from Sears and Roebuck, and a gunny sack full of songs . . .
Raiford Starke is everyone's favorite "Renegade". He walks a thin line with a lightning bolt attached by a guitar.
Some call Raiford "the Human Juke Box".
They will tell you it's all about
having fun with the crowd and not taking
yourself too seriously. All in all
whatever your musical pleasure, you
can always find it at a Raiford Starke
Show.
Fifth Annual Paradise Coast Kayak Festival
When shivering kayakers elsewhere are
just starting to put their boats back
into chilly northern waters, Southwest
Florida will be celebrating the end
of its Winter kayaking season.
The
5th Annual Paradise Coast Kayak Festival
will be held from 9am-4pm on Sunday,
April 11, 2010 on the Isles of Capri,
near the Gulf of Mexico, the Rookery
Bay Research National Esturarine Research
Reserve and the Ten Thousand Islands
of the Everglades. The Festival is
free of charge and will offer guided
tours to remote beaches, mangroves
and winding channels.
There will be
fishing and camping demonstrations,
kayaking instruction and an informal
closed-circuit race. Last year's festival
saw over one hundred kayaks beached
on the sands behind the Capri Fish
House, whose beachside chickee hut
lounge and famous Sunday buffet offered
food and refreshments to all who attended.
The Paradise Coast Paddlers Club invites
paddlers of all abilities and interests
to visit and participate. You will
be joined by representatives of local
conservation and environmental organizations.
In addition, information will be available
on the newly-opened first phase of
the Paradise Coast Blueway (www.paradisecoastblueway.com),
Collier County's paddling trail, whose
waters are home to dolphin, manatees,
sea turtles, eagles, ospreys, herons,
egrets and many other species of wildlife
attracted to its unspoiled waters.
Rental kayaks will be available. For
directions and additional information,
fo to the Paradise Coast Paddlers website
at www.paradisecoastpaddlers.com,
or call 239.262.6149 239.262.6149 .
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