Sell-Out Crowd Attends
Save Our River Banquet - January 24, 2008

The Rivers Coalition Defense Fund's campaign to save and restore the St. Lucie
estuary received powerful community support at a banquet Jan. 24, raising some
$85,000 for the cause and providing additional momentum for river
management reform.

Surpassing expectations, several dozen late-callers couldn't be fitted into the special
event at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. More than 250 citizens enjoyed a fastmoving evening of socializing, auctions, drawings and information presentations about the periodic pollution and devastastion of the estuary mainly due to discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Many of those who couldn't attend the banquet made special contributions anyway. The Rivers Coalition urges others to make donations now as the lawsuit against the Corps of Engineers and other advocacy continues. (See Donor Honor Roll.)

The estuary thanks the host of volunteers who made the banquet click, handling a
mountain of details. They include:

EVENT :        THE RIVERS COALITION WILL BE AT BOTH EARTH DAY THEMED EVENTS!
Saturday April 5, 2008 9:00-1:00 Well Life 1st &
Sunday April 6, 2008 1:00-4:00 Jazz Fest                                    

WHEN:           Saturday April 5, 2008 Well Life 1st Event in Downtown Stuart 9:00am-1:00pm the Rivers Coalition “Slimeman” will lead the historic walk starting at 9:00am and the Rivers Coalition, Chairman, Leon Abood will be speaking and giving a presentation around 10:00am. Sunday April 6, 2008 The Rivers Coalition will be at the Jazz Fest in Downtown Stuart from 1:00pm-4:00pm.

On April 5, 2008 The Rivers Coalition will have a booth and be hosting the “Slimeman Walk” at the Flagler Recreation Center, 201 S.W. Flagler Avenue in downtown Stuart.
The month’s theme is “Earth Day” and natural wellness lifestyle options.
 9:00am

• “River*Walkers” Community Walk sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports of Stuart
• Health Assessment by IRCC and Med Tech
• Free massages by “Serendipity”
• Bike Safety Rodeo for KIDS, Stuart Police and Pro Cycle, with free helmets
• Rivers Coalition presents “Slimeman” walk.

10:00am

• Leon Abood, President of the Rivers Coalition – Speaking/Presentation
• Variety of Fresh Organic Produce and products, information and sale. Participating are: Decker Farms, Peggy’s Natural Food, Wholistic Families, Organic Produce Buying Club, Whole Foods Pharmacy, Pelican Cafe, Ken Coe and Vikki Gorny
• Lecture: “What’s in our Water?” - Culligan
• Lecture: “Introduction to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine” by Corlene Chen LAP
• Lecture/Participation: Qi Gong “Get Energized” with Master Chen
• “Kids Zone” sponsored by Stuart Parks & Recreation Department and Cookie the Clown face paint and Girl Scouts make a bird feeder.

11:00am

• “Belly Dancing” with Donell Wicklund
• “Yoga” with Sariah

Well*LIFE 1st is a free event.  For more information call the Flagler Recreation Center at 772-288-5335.

Run for the Rivers; Mike Melton, Ultra Runner, Environmental Advocate

Mike Melton: "I'm running for the river to bring attention to the critical need to restore and save the St. Lucie River. We must stop the discharges of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee that damage our estuary in wet years."
Dates:                        March 27-29, 2008
Event Name:              Sunrise to Sunset Relay
Description:               One of a kind, 170 mile “Ultra Endurance” relay event
Time:                          Early afternoon on the 28th “waves” of relay teams will start every ½ hour. Solo runners (i.e., our own local Mike Melton – see info below) will begin early on Thursday the 27th (approximately 3 AM). Runners will complete the event on Saturday the 29th at approximately 3-5 PM. Most competitors are in teams of 6-12 relay runners. Last year Mike requested to run this lengthy race alone and thus created the “solo” participant category. He is one of (3) who ran solo last year and one of two who finished it. Last year he finished in about 64 hours, 29 minutes. The course record is approximately 61 hours, 50 minutes. There are 30+ teams participating this year. 
Where:                      Beginning at Indian Riverside Park, Jensen Bch; Ending at the Edison & Ford estates in Ft. Myers. There are 36 segments to the race. They run along the roadside. Mike will have the same support team to assist him this year as last. They are Bob Pope, Hobe Sound, and Steve Strait, Jensen Beach, who are both Ultra Event runners also. They’ll man the supply and rest van following in Mike’s wake across the state.
When:                       The solo runners have earlier start times than the relay teams as they require rest breaks. Mike Melton plans (weather permitting) to leave Indian Riverside Park at 3:00 am on Thursday, March 27th.
Why:                           Personal goals – to finish the ultra run. Bring awareness to the St. Lucie & Caloosahatchee Rivers.

CONTACT PERSON:
                                    Mike Melton, Jensen Beach
                                    Ultra Distance Runner, Advocate for the Rivers Coalition
                                    Home # 772-334-3469
                                    Cell # 772-349-1704
                                    Email: mike@mcmelton.com

Boat Raffle

RIVERS COALITION DEFENSE FUND RAFFLE!

1st Prize

Fully loaded Hewes Redfisher 16’ Flats/Inshore boat.

Special thanks to Lindsay Marine for making this boat raffle possible!

Congratulations to 1st Prize Winner
Henry Westcarth, Belle Glade, FL

Click here for the full Boat Raffle Story!!

2nd Prize

Fully equipped Ocean Prowler 13’ Kayak.

Congratulations to 2nd Prize Winner
Rev. Jim Nimmo, Port St. Lucie, FL

3rd Prize

Pair of Crowder rods with matching Penn reels.

Congratulations to 3rd Prize Winner
Joe Rosetti, Delmar, NY / Jensen Bch, FL

Port Salerno Seafood Festival

We are happy to participate in the 2nd annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival on January 26, 2008.  This is a fundraising event for the Rivers Coalition lawsuit and for the Port Salerno Commericial Dock Authority to develop an environmentally friendly dock concept that allows public boat access to the Manatee Pocket Riverwalk.  The Port Salerno Commericial Dock Authority is a member of the Rivers Coalition.  Please join us as a sponsor, exhibitor, community partner or volunteer and enjoy a day of seafood by the sea, music and fun, fun, fun!

On April 14th, after 170 miles, 3 days and nights and an actual course time of 64:29:50, ultra marathon runner Mike Melton finished his “Run for the Rivers” during the first ever Sunrise To Sunset Relay Race from  Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach to the Ford/Edison Winter Estates in Fort Myers. 

The course across the state paralleled the waterways of the St. Lucie River, Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River and Mike said “It just made sense to me to try and bring some awareness to the problems we have here with the St. Lucie River Estuary".  

Thanks to Mike and his road crew, Steve Strait and Bob Pope. Run for the Rivers was featured on the radio, in the press and on television and created a lot of attention for our cause.

The Dirty River Dance (past event)

Held in on the grounds of the U.S. Sailing Center on Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach, The Dirty River Dance Rally was the first fundraising event for the newly formed Rivers Coalition Defense Fund to raise money for a legal battle to stop the discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River Estuary.

The day’s activities included Live Music by The Dirty River Band, A River Ambassadors Educational Tent feature Florida Oceanographic Society exhibits, a Kids Area including the Kids For The River donation booth, Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital Exhibits, Captains Table raffles and Silent Auctions.

Despite horrendous weather in the morning, 100 volunteers and 700 concerned citizens came out to support the fundraising efforts for the Rivers Coalition lawsuit and helped us exceed expectations by raising close to $30,000.00.

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