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Chesapeake Bay |
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Chesapeake Bay |
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SIERRAThe Newsletter Of | ||||||||
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This is an important election. Frequently, it doesn't matter who wins because you can still talk with whoever does win. That is not the case in this election. Earley made it very clear early in the campaign that he was not going to have anything to do with either conservationists or environmentalists. Furthermore, this is consistent with his positions as the attorney general. Earley's plan is to continue Virginia's policies of supporting Sprawl, unplanned growth and tight money policies favoring special interest groups. On the other hand Mark Warner wants to invest in the people. His plan is to emphasize education and increase the size of the pie for all. Warner does not agree with us on all positions, but he talks with us, he listens to us and he tells us what he can and can not do and why. That all sounds like a reasonable candidate to the Sierra Club, so the Virginia Chapter has heartily endorsed him! We hope you will consider the facts and what is important to you and vote. The Chesapeake Bay Group along with the Virginia Chapter has endorsed two local candidates; Gerald Jones and Alshin Farashahi. Gerald Jones is a long time delegate from Norfolk. He has a good record on the environment. Gerald has been approachable and interested in issues that concern the citizens of Virginia. Education and health care have been major interests. You can't have healthy children without a good environment. The other candidate is Afshin Farashahi. Afshin is a local lawyer. One of our members has worked with him on problems with our youth and recommends him highly. We have had a long interview with him on a broad range of issues of concern to the Club. We believe that he is very promising young candidate for our issues. We also think that he is intelligent, conservative, and approachable for most of our issues. He is running against Leo Waldrup in the 83rd district. Mr. Waldrup has been a point person for the administration against most of our issues. We urge those voting in these districts to give serious consideration to the qualifications of these candidates and vote. ... Fred |
By Glen Besa, Director of the Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club.
October 16, 2001
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I am pleased to be here today representing more than 14,000 Sierra Club members in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sierra Club is a non-partisan environmental organization that endorses candidates of any party who demonstrate a commitment to the protection of our natural world. In this race for the Governorship of Virginia, one candidate, Mark Warner, has demonstrated that commitment to protecting Virginia's environment. The other, Mark Earley, has not. You need look no further than their websites to see the differences between these two candidates on environmental concerns. Mark Warner has laid out a comprehensive plan for environmental protection that provides for impartial enforcement of environmental laws, the appointment of environmental professionals to key posts in his administration and increased funding for open space protection. The other Mark, Mark Earley, doesn't even acknowledge the environment as an issue in this campaign. There are good reasons Mark Earley wants to change the subject when it comes to the environment. One need only examine his record as Attorney General and as a State Senator to understand why Mr. Earley declined to complete a candidate questionnaire for the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters and why he steers clear of discussing environmental policy. Briefly, let's look at Mr. Earley's record. In 1994 Senator Mark Earley supported $80 million dollars in highway funding giveaways to subsidize the Disney America project in Haymarket, Virginia; a project that would have decimated the rural and historic landscape of the piedmont. (HB 1294; 1994), & SB 795; 1995) In 1998 Attorney General Mark Earley joined the American Trucking Association in opposing new health-based standards for smog and soot proposed by the US EPA. As Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia Mark Earley filed a friend of the court brief before the US Supreme Court supporting the American Trucking Association's contention that health standards for air pollution should not be based solely on health effects but should include consideration of what the industry contends cleaning up will cost them. In 1999, when developers here in Tidewater Virginia were exploiting a loophole in federal law to destroy thousands of acres of wetlands without so much as a permit, Attorney General Mark Earley ignored the examples set by Maryland and North Carolina and refused to take action under state law to stop this wholesale attack on our wetlands. And throughout his administration as Attorney General, Mark Earley attempted to thwart organizations like the Sierra Club from going to court to enforce the same laws he declined to. By challenging our standing, our right to be in court, Mark Earley wasted tens of thousands of dollars in frivolous litigation attempting to deny us our day in court. Is it any wonder that Mark Earley has avoided discussing environmental concerns in this campaign? Is it any wonder that Virginians like you are gathered here today to say there is a better way? A better candidate for the environment? A better candidate for Virginia? From the Sierra Club's perspective there is only one candidate for Governor who deserves your support. That candidate is Mark Warner. From the Sierra Club's perspective there is no alternative but a Mark Warner victory on November 6th. And with your help, with the help of all Virginians who care about clean air, clean water, who care about the Chesapeake Bay, we will make that happen. Thank you! ... Glen Besa |
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For 2002, Sierra Club will offer the desk engagement calendar and the wilderness wall calendar. Each comes in a box ready for mailing. These are great for gifts. Engagement - This most popular desk calendar features a week-by-week format with 57 full-color photographs; spiral bound, gift boxed. 6 3/8 x 9 1/4". $10.00. Wilderness - Sierra's beautiful wall calendar has twelve photos showing the grandeur of North America from California to Georgia. Gift boxed; spiral bound. 11 5/16 x 13 1/2". $9.00. The calendar sale is the Chesapeake Bay Group's primary fund raiser with profits used to help print and mail our newsletters and for environmental endeavors. Come to a monthly meeting to see the beautiful calendars. Perhaps you would be willing to sell some for the group as well as buy them for your own use and for gifts. If you cannot attend a meeting, calendars can be ordered by mail with a $2.00 shipping charge PER calendar. For more information call Barbara at 483-1562.
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Reese Lukei, the local expert on Osprey, Eagles and other birds of prey, will be our presenter. Each year we try to have a program that will be of interest to young people as well as the rest of us. This is that meeting. Bring the children. If weather permits, Reese will bring a couple of hawks. There is absolutely nothing like seeing the look in the eyes of a hawk. It is the healthiest look I've ever seen. Reese will also give us an update on the status of Eagles in this area. He monitors all Eagles here for the Center for Biological Conservation. See you Monday November 5st, at 7PM at the Virginia Beach Central Library. |
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Every November we go to Fisherman's Island to sweep the beach clean. We generally gather tons 'o detritus! This is the first bit of land on the North end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We will assemble in the parking lot near the toll booths at the south end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We will proceed to the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge. A refuge ranger will guide us into Fisherman's Island. After a 2 hour hike on the beach we will return to the parking lot for our lunch. We should be back by 12:00. The day is normally crisp so dress warmly. Bring a lunch because being in the outdoors develops a great appetite. Date is the Saturday the 17th, the time will be 8:00 AM. Don't forget warm clothes and some lunch. This is a great trip. You just can't get much closer to Nature! |
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Nancy is inviting all in need of an invigorating stroll to meet in the parking area for the Mariner's Museum in Newport News for a walk along the Noland Trail. Nancy says the approximately five mile trail is breath takingly beautiful, particularly this time of year. Time & Date; 10:00 AM on Saturday the 10th. For more information, Call Nancy McAdoo (464-4483). |
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This year we have had many people come to our meetings and outings. At these events we have had little time to socialize, share concerns and ideas, and get to know one another. Our Holiday Party is a great event with time to spend together. This year's Holiday party will take place at the new home of Pamela and José Barcita. As in past years it will include a potluck dinner and lots of Sierra Club hospitality. Bring your favorite dish whether a salad, entree, or dessert. (We always seem to have a good selection.) José may be persuaded to make his famous holiday sangria. Of course we will provide several other beverages as well. And bring a friend ... the more the merrier in the spirit of the holidays. The date is Sunday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM. If you can't decide what dish to bring, call the Barcita's at 549-6450. Directions below Map. 
To get to José & Pam's "Cabin": FROM NORFOLK take 464 S. towards Chesapeake. 464 turns into Dominion Blvd. (route 104/Elizabeth city) stay on Dominion/104 till you cross Cedar Road and make your first left from Dominion/104 onto Shillelagh Road. Travel on Shillelagh Road for 3.8 miles till you get to Hallmark Way. Make a right onto Hallmark. We're the 3rd house (log cabin) on the right. From VA BEACH take I-64 towards Chesapeake. Exit at Dominion Blvd. (route 104/Elizabeth city) stay on Dominion/104 till you cross Cedar Road and make your first left from Dominion/104 onto Shillelagh Road. Travel on Shillelagh Road for 3.8 miles till you get to Hallmark Way. Make a right onto Hallmark. We're the 3rd house (log cabin) on the right. From West to East: Route 58 or 664 to I-64 towards Chesapeake. Take Exit 292 ? Great Bridge Blvd. Make RIGHT hand turn at Great Bridge Blvd. to Dominion Blvd., make RIGHT hand turn at Dominion Blvd. (route 104/Elizabeth city). Stay on Dominion/104 till you cross Cedar Road and make your first left from Dominion/104 onto Shillelagh Road. Travel on Shillelagh Road for 3.8 miles till you get to Hallmark Way. Make a right onto Hallmark. We're the 3rd house (log cabin) on the right. |