SIERRA

  Virginia Beach is at a cross roads. The departure of so many incumbents has opened up the Virginia Beach City Council to takeover by developers. It is believed that the developers are supporting a slate of new candidates for the council.

   Barbara Henley has a remarkable record as an incumbent. She was the primary sponsor for the Agricultural Preserve Program, which has helped control our taxes and given farmers a choice to stay in farming or move on. She was a key sponsor of the city's Open Space Initiative, which again is controlling taxes and improving our quality of life. And most recently, she was one of the earliest and key supporters of acquiring Stumpy Lake, which dramatically reduced development, controlled taxes and is providing a large natural area for a large part of the city. We strongly urge our Virginia Beach members to seriously consider voting for Barbara Henley on May the 7th. Whatever you do, get out and vote. In this election there is a choice. More development OR more progress for all citizens.

   For more information, check the web site: http://www.henleyforcouncil.com, OR call Fred at 467-2775.

   If you would like to help with a yard sign or assist at the polls, call Martha Raynor at 499-0067.

   "Recycling: The What and Why" is the subject of our May Program.

   The presenter is Debbie Devine. Debbie is the manager for recycling in Virginia Beach. VB still has an aggressive and comprehensive recycling program. My neighborhood in Virginia Beach has over 90 percent participation. She must be doing something right.

   Debbie has received a grant for a computer recycling program. There are a lot of problems with recycling programs. Some day we will have to make them work. Come and hear an expert.

   Time is 7PM on the 6th of May at the Chesapeake Central Library off Cedar Road. Note this alternate location.

   Many of you are aware that a disaster happened to the Monarchs in Mexico this winter. Approximately 250 million Monarchs died in an ice storm. This is about 75-80 percent of the population. A great deal now depends upon what kind of year the Monarchs have in North America. Each female can lay 200-400 eggs, so there is every reason to hope that there will be a rapid recovery.

   We urge members to consider raising Monarchs in the latter part of the summer and coming Fall. [Which means planting milkweed now!]

   For more information check out the web site: http://www.virginia.sierraclub.org/cbg/monarch. Don Jeffries and I have created this web site for Sierra Club's Atlantic Coast Ecoregion which has taken on the project of assisting the Monarchs' preservation for the long term.

   We do now have a limited amount of milkweed seeds available. If interested contact Fred Adams at 467-2775.

   One of the best things we have going for the group right now is our list of E-Mail Activists.

   Our approach is to have one key environmental issue per month. Last month it was supporting the winefest and this month it is getting involved in the current political race for city councils. E-Mail Activists will also be kept informed of service outings.

   There is no commitment. If the issue concerns you then you have the choice to do something. The issues will mainly be local. There are more than enough state and national level pressures on you. We are trying to stay local.

   Just contact Fred at warbler@exis.net and inform him that you want to be on the team.

   To all who signed up to do the "winefest," we can honestly say the weather was "ugly!" It was never very good. It began with a cold wind off the ocean and just got worse. Those that came early will never forget the day. I was impressed with their good spirits and ready smiles. The few customers we did serve, did their best to keep us busy. But even they faded away when the heavy and cold rains came.

   Thanks to every one who did commit to help us. We have done some great things with the funds we have earned in the past and were looking forward to more great service projects and contributions to several worthwhile causes.

   Without your good intentions and commitment we would not be having this much cold wet fun!!