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Welcome to the 2019
Environmental Stewardship Awards Ceremony
Keep Martin Beautiful hosts the Environmental Stewardship Awards as a way to recognize
and reward notable efforts within the community to promote environmental stewardship
and innovation through education and action. The Environmental Stewardship Awards is
Keep Martin Beautiful’s key fundraising event.
Keep Martin Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer-based, community action
organization founded in 1994. We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of preserving and
enhancing the quality of life in our community through litter prevention, waste reduction,
beautification, community improvement and environmental stewardship education.
These efforts to reduce waste through public/private partnerships and strategic alliances
motivate individuals and communities to clean up, beautify and improve their environment,
while creating a safer and more livable Martin County.
Keep Martin Beautiful is the local coordinator of the
annual International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup,
the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs.
Keep Martin Beautiful
1211 SW Sunset Trail, Palm City, FL 34990
(772) 781-1222
www.keepmartinbeautiful.org.
Keep Martin Beautiful Board of Directors 2018– 2019
Craig Ahal, President Josh Ferraro, Vice President
Jennifer Stull-Wise, Treasurer Anne Ellig, Secretary
Erin Jenkins-Banas, Director Samantha Pessolano, Director
Greg Schommer, Director Stuart Trent, Director
John Vanilla, Director
2019 ESA Judging Committee
Craig Ahal, KMB President and owner of Circular Recycling
Sarah Ciampi, House of Hope Resource Development Assistant
Melissa Corbett, President of the MilCor Group
Victoria Defenthaler, Martin County School Board
Stacey Whitaker-Hetherington, Martin County Commissioner
Mike Meier, City of Stuart Commissioner
Marie Duenas-Weller, Business Development Board of Martin County Manager
Event Emcees
Edward Ciampi, Martin County Board of County Commission Chairman
Stacy Ranieri, The Firefly Group
Event Staff
A special thank you to the Firefly Group for the coordination of this
evening’s event logistics, administration and promotion:
Tiffany Smith and Melissa Zolla.
KEEP MARTIN BEAUTIFUL
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Ceremony
April 23, 2019
6:00-9:00 PM
Mariner Sands Country Club
Agenda
Registration/Silent Auction Opens/Cocktails
Opening Remarks
Presentation of Awards/Dinner
Silent Auction Winners Announced
Closing Remarks
2019 Silent Auction Items
Item #1 Surfer Beautiful Bin
Donated By: Circular Recycling & Jill Capua
Item #2 Golf Pipers Landing
Donated By: Pipers Landing
Item #3 Learn to Paint Like a Pro
Donated By: Alizarin Crimson Art Studio
Item #3 Pooch
Donated By: Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #4 Kurt Whiticar Original Painting
Donated By: Whiticar
Item #5 Sit, Fetch and Shake Fido
Donated By: Humane Society
Item #6 Corporate Adopt A Road
Donated By: KMB
Item #7 Family Adopt A Road
Donated By: KMB
Item #8 Beautiful You!
Donated By: The Lotus Room
Item #9 Gone Fishing
Donated By: The Lady Stuart
Item #10 Grow Where You're Planted Beautiful Bin
Donated By: Circular Recycling & Melissa Zolla
Item #12 Owls Howl
Donated By:Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #13 Golf Lost Lake
Donated By:Lost Lake Golf Club
Item #14 Pamper Your Pooch
Donated By: The Milcor Group, Melissa Corbett
Item #15 Her Tentacles Are Everywhere
Donated By: Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #16 Island Family Time
Donated By: Cowabunga Surf & Sport & The Florida
Oceanographic Society
Item #17 Light Tackle Big Fish
Donated By: Nightstalker Charters
Item #18 Get Fit & Have Fun
Donated By: YMCA
Item #19 Key West Hideaway
Donated By: Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #20 Art & Cocktails
Donated By: Painting with a Twist
Item #21 Ladies Night In
Item #22 House of Refuge
Donated By: Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #23 Flip It!
Donated By: Circular Recycling
Item #24 Smokey Mountain Sunset
Donated By: Stacy Weller Ranieri
Item #25 Paint Yourself Happy
Donated By: Stuart Ceramics
Item #26 Sea life Pottery Bowl
Item #27 Coastal Chic
Donated By: Gumbo Limbo
Item #28 Explore More
Donated By: Elliott Museum
Item #29 Downtown Fun
Donated By: The Lyric Theatre & Kilwins
Item #30 Earth Friendly Office Supplies
Donated By: ONYX Green
Item #31 Golf Mariner Sands
Donated By: Mariner Sands
Item #32 Old Time Fun
Item #33 Beautiful Blooms
Donated By: Jenkins Landscaping
Item #34 Journey of Grace
Item #35 Tropical Paradise Beautiful Bin
Donated By: Circular Recycling & Kathryn Kernan
Item #36 Great Odin
Donated By: Jennifer Pollack
Item #37 Sailfish Splash
Donated By: Martin County Parks & Recreation
Item #38 Sailfish Splash VIP
Donated By: Martin County Parks & Recreation
Item #39 Well Isn't that Swell
Donated By: Students4H2O
2019 Silent Auction Items
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
Abbey Harrison. After dedicating the last three years to the Martin County Green Club, Abbey Harrison is now the student president of the organization. She organizes a variety of events to help improve the quality of life in Martin County, including: “gleaning” events that bring fresh produce to the less fortunate; beach cleanups; and oyster deployments to help improve the water quality in our lagoon. She also teaches Pinewood Elementary students about a variety of environmental topics, from invasive plant species to recycling.
Amy Fredrichs. The Sustainable Studies and Garden Program at Bridges Montessori School, led by Amy Fredrichs, has fostered an environment where sustainability is a way of life for the students. She engages them in hands-on activities, such as prepping soil, planting fruits and vegetables, caring for plants, and harvesting and preparing recipes with the crops. The children also learn about recycling plastics, preserving rainwater and other conservation efforts.
Circular Recycling. As a business, and as a concept, Circular Recycling promotes environmental stewardship by recycling in creative ways to reduce the effect of products on the waste stream. Through collaboration between users, items are able to have a more useful life, from consumption all the way to livestock feeding and then composting. The volume of food recycled in 2018 was 48,000 pounds.
Citrus Grove Elementary Club Go Green. Under the leadership of Patricia Martin, Citrus Grove Elementary Club Go Green participates in a variety of hands-on projects. Activities include coordinating recycling pick-ups throughout school, hosting green book fairs, maintaining a school garden, participating in community outreach events, caring for a section of roadway through KMB’s Adopt-A-Road program and much more.
City of Stuart Kiwanis Park. In its commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation, the City of Stuart has provided an outlet for renewable energy projects. In 2018, a major new initiative was completed at Kiwanis Park in downtown Stuart. A series of projects included the installation of an FPL Solar Canopy, Tesla and universal electric vehicle chargers, shade sails for the children's playground area, and new public restroom facilities. This has improved community enjoyment of the park, while maintaining the city's commitment to innovative technology and renewable energy.
City of Stuart Public Works Department. The Public Works Department completed an installation of BlueTubes in three of its parks as part of a litter and marine debris cleanup program. BlueTubes are bright blue containers that hold clean, used plastic bags, allowing patrons to take a bag and collect litter while enjoying their visit to the outdoor area. Receptacles are regularly monitored and replenished with plastic bags by city employees, and park visitors are encouraged to donate bags as well.
Clean Earth Activists. Spearheaded by Leisa Bee, the Clean Earth Activists group aims to clean up Martin County parks at every opportunity. Members are encouraged to always have a bucket ready to pick up litter and debris whenever it’s needed, and cleanup events are scheduled regularly. Clean Earth Activists’ next goal is to involve local schools and teach children that a clean earth starts with them.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
Congressman Brian Mast. Serving his second term in Congress for the 18th District of Florida, Congressman Mast is a member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. In that role, he led the effort to secure federal authorization for the EAA Southern Storage Reservoir project. During his first term, he also secured hundreds of millions of dollars to combat harmful algal blooms, prevent toxic agricultural runoff, and restore the Everglades. Recently serving as the Chairman of Governor Ron DeSantis’ Environmental Transition Committee, Congressman Mast has prioritized public health and safety in the management of Lake Okeechobee.
Earth Savers. Founded by Valerie Gaynor, the environmentally-driven youth group Earth Savers was passed into the hands of Nicole VanderWerf and Samantha Begeman in 2012. It has evolved over the last seven years into an opportunity for high school students to earn volunteer hours, connect with the Environmental Studies Center, and help local ecosystems. The Earth Savers Crew has more than 30 high school students who participate in beach cleanups, help the Environmental Studies Center with community outreach events, and coordinate the Youth Driven Cinema film competition hosted by the Environmental Studies Center each year.
Ecological Associates Inc. For the past 25 years, Ecological Associates has been a part of Martin County's environmental community. Their sea turtle monitoring on local beaches is one of the longest data sets in the state of Florida. Ecological Associates biologists have a great passion for their work. Whether it’s rescuing stranded sea turtles or making sure construction companies abide by local, state, and federal regulation, Ecological Associates is dedicated to preserving and protecting our natural resources in Martin County.
Environmental Compliance Equipment. Environmental Compliance Equipment is a Martin County company that designs, manufactures, sells and services industrial waste water treatment equipment. The company is importing a technology from Japan that generates Nano Bubbles, which can be used to increase dissolved oxygen in the river to reduce the impact of Lake Okeechobee discharges. It can also be used to remediate algae and red tide blooms when they are present, and to reduce sludge buildup in stormwater treatment areas, lakes, and ponds.
Environmental Studies Center. Established in 1972, the beloved Environmental Studies Center is operated by the Martin County School District. Students in kindergarten through seventh grade, as well as high school marine biology and environmental science students, visit the Center each year to participate in hands-on field investigations. Students explore the St. Lucie Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Hutchinson Island beaches, mangrove swamps, freshwater ponds, and wetlands. The Center is home to a wide variety of fish and reptiles, including a loggerhead sea turtle and an alligator named Joey!
FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. The Center for Coastal and Human Health at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch utilizes leading expertise to examine the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem and associated watersheds. This in turn creates a better understanding of the connections between climate change, the local environment, algal blooms, and resulting human health issues. FAU Harbor Branch researchers continue to help the media and local officials with sharing expertise regarding the large-scale harmful algal bloom events that plague South Florida waters. The researchers serve as a valued resource to the community at large, providing individuals with up-to-date information and scientific analysis.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
Florida Oceanographic Society. Founded in 1964 with the mission to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida's coastal ecosystems through education, research, and advocacy, Florida Oceanographic Society accomplishes this by engaging the community to appreciate, understand, and fight for our environment. Its 57-acre marine life nature center on Hutchinson Island is situated between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. As a leading state and nationally recognized environmental organization, Florida Oceanographic offers educational programs to people of all ages and conducts research and res-toration programs that lead to healthy coastal ecosystems.
Florida Ranches Calendar. For the past 14 years, the Florida Ranches Calendar has presented breathtaking Florida landscapes by award-winning nature photographer Carlton Ward Jr. and has been credited for educating an increasingly urban population about the heritage and continuing importance of cattle ranches and their role in preserving our natural resources. The calendar also serves as a teaching tool for the public as well as legislators to better understand this iconic way of life and how these ranchlands benefit the environment.
GFWC Hobe Sound Women's Club. Coffee Bag Totes, developed by the GFWC Hobe Sound Women's Club are unique reusable grocery tote bags. They are a product of their Treasures from Trash workshop programs. The coffee tote bags are given out at community events, and after many years of refining, have become a signature item of the organization. They help to raise funds, increase public awareness, and stimulate interest in the GFWC Hobe Sound Women's Club.
Girl Scouts Earth Week Cleanup. The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Sea Star Service Unit demonstrate that when we work together, we can make a greater impact. More than 120 girls from 16 troops, ranging in age from elementary to high school level, cleaned 14 Martin County parks during the week of Earth Day. The week long cleanups ensured that parks were clean and ready for people to enjoy and taught the girls the impact of collaboration and teamwork, and respect and appreciation for our natural resources.
Hidden Oaks Middle School Team Green. These middle school students come one hour before school every Friday to volunteer their time to collect and sort the recycling from all classrooms at Hidden Oaks. Thanks to their efforts, massive amounts of paper and plastic water bottles that are generated at the school don’t wind up in the landfill. The students also serve as ambassadors by educating the rest of their peers and teachers about what can and cannot be recycled in the bins.
House of Hope Nutrition Gardens. Since 2017, House of Hope has been seeding Martin County with various nutrition gardens as part of the agency’s expanding nutrition initiatives. These efforts not only address food insecurity experienced by over 37,000 Martin County residents but also combat the rising rates of childhood obesity and other chronic illnesses suffered by the same local population. Creating lush, thriving spaces within Martin County’s challenged communities provides both a visual representation of the potential for change and growth, as well as an opportunity for the kind of dirt-under-one’s-fingernails empowerment that House of Hope has been offering Martin County residents for decades.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
J.D. Parker Elementary School Green Club. Led by teachers Suzanne Stout, Brittney Sapienza, and Lynn Gardner, the J.D. Parker Elementary School Green Club coordinates single stream recycling school-wide, plastic bag recycling, campus clean ups, and the Farm to School garden. Additionally, to ensure the school adheres to single stream recycling protocol, the Green Club also participates in Students4H2O’s plastic bag recycling program. Students get hands-on experience working in the Farm to School garden. The vegetables they grow are served in the school cafeteria and donated to school families in need or community organizations. They also fundraise to support green initiatives, like purchasing water bottle filling stations at the school to help cut down on the consumption of single use plastic.
JAR - The Zero Waste Shop. JAR provides a place for Martin County residents to purchase dry goods in their own jars, browse eco-friendly products that help to reduce the amount of waste generated, and inform people of the harmful effects of litter. JAR shows people you don't need to use plastic when grocery shopping and that there are more environmentally-friendly alternatives to everything.
Jenkins Landscape and the Jenkins family. For more than seventy years, the Jenkins family of horticulturists has firmly planted their landscaping roots in South Florida. Jenkins Landscape is well known in the community lending a helping hand in support of important environmental and community improvement projects. The company has also been involved in the Adopt-A-Road program for more than ten years, and their section of Bridge Road is cleaned without fail every other week – well beyond the program requirements of removing litter a minimum of six times a year.
Kim Jones, Prescription Shop of Stuart. Prescription Shop owner, Kim Jones, illustrated her dedication to historic downtown Stuart through the creation of her mural project with the students of Martin County High School. This project has not only helped to beautify the community, but also supports and engages youth. The mural at her place of business is a beautiful depiction of prominent people and landmarks in the City of Stuart’s early days of development. Through their efforts, a part of the city’s history has been preserved and showcased for the community to enjoy.
Knight Kiplinger. Over the decades, the Kiplinger family proved itself to be wise stewards of their land on Sewall’s Point. Moreover, they have fostered cultural life in Martin County, giving land for the Woman’s Club of Stuart and the county’s first library and generously supporting the Elliott Museum, Stuart Heritage Museum, Martin Health System, and the Lyric Theatre. Now Knight Kiplinger is demonstrating the family’s belief in sustainability and its understanding of the mutual dependency of a healthy economy with a healthy environment through the Pineland Prairie community on land in western Palm City. Pineland Prairie will be a model of sustainability and environmental stewardship, creating innovative solutions to better the entire community.
LeeAnn Jones, City of Stuart Calendar. Initially created as an element of a stormwater project, these beautiful calendars have become a valuable educational tool and reference guide. Past editions incorporated a photo contest, seeking local river-related photographs to be featured in the calendar. In the 2018 edition, there was a wider focus to inspire participation from shutterbugs of all ages. For the first time, middle and high school students were encouraged to explore their surroundings in the City of Stuart, photograph images of nature and the St. Lucie River, and submit their entries. Of the 99 entries received, 53 were from students!
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
Leon Abood. First Chairman and one of the founders of the Rivers Coalition in 1998, Leon Abood has dedicated two decades of his life leading the charge to stop the Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon estuaries. His involvement with the organization has inspired many actions towards protecting and preserving our local waterways. It was also under his leadership that the RiverKidz was launched so that the Coalition could groom the next generation of environmental stewards.
Lotus Room. A full-service organic hair salon in Stuart, The Lotus Room, is the only certified Green Circle Salon on the Treasure Coast and one of only 10 throughout Florida. As a Green Circle Salon, up to 95 percent of their salon waste is recycled or repurposed, which keeps it out of landfills and waterways. Blow dryers, batteries, gloves, plastic caps, hair foils, color tubes, and hair are all recycled at the salon. Hair that The Lotus Room recycles is repurposed into objects including pet beds and oil booms, which are floating barriers that can contain oil spills and filter local waterways.
Martin Correctional Institution. Through the leadership of retired Martin County Sheriff Officer Lloyd Jones, the M.O.S.E.S Project, and support from other businesses and nonprofit groups throughout the community, the once abandoned Allen Temple Gomez Pioneer Cemetery in Hobe Sound is making progress towards its restoration and sustainability. This past summer, the Martin Correctional Institution work camp was recruited to help remove overgrown exotic vegetation from the cemetery. During their time working on the cemetery, they became interested in learning about its history and were so moved by the experience they felt it was the most meaningful of all projects they had ever worked on, and an honor to be a part of.
Martin County - Clifton Perry Beach. The Clifton S. Perry Beach Preserve Project was designed to provide Martin County residents and visitors with nature-based recreational and educational opportunities on the Indian River Lagoon, encouraging students of all ages to explore the mangrove habitat - including seine netting. Martin County also partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection so that the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River could become state-designated paddling trails, and Perry Beach Preserve was one of the sites included on the Indian River Lagoon portion of the paddling trail.
Martin County Mosquito Control. Public education and outreach are critical components of Martin County Mosquito Control’s efforts in our community. Mosquito Control staff members educate residents at library events and through partnerships with local organizations, sharing with residents ways they can reduce mosquito breeding sites around their own homes and protect against bites. Another initiative, Tire Recycle Mania, a collaboration between Martin County Mosquito Control, Utilities and Solid Waste and Parks and Recreation departments, and the Florida Department of Health in Martin County, helps to collect old, unwanted tires from residents that could otherwise become hazardous mosquito breeding sites. The project collected more than ten tons of recycled tires in the past year.
Martin County Public Works, Capital Projects. Through County funds and a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, the Martin County Public Works Department successfully removed and replaced a deteriorating bridge over Britt Creek. The bridge removal and replacement was not only a necessary improvement, but also helps to keep Martin County beautiful and safe. The project included the careful replanting of mangroves, a precious natural resource.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
Martin County, Water Ambassador Program. The Water Ambassador Program is a public education program designed to increase residents’ knowledge and awareness about urban stormwater and nutrient pollution. Participants are empowered to make changes that will help reduce local stormwater pollutant levels. The Water Ambassador Program was developed in 2015 through a partnership between Martin County and the University of Florida IFAS Extension, and is delivered in collaboration with the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Health. The Water Ambassador program has become a successful model for community education and will continue to educate Martin County residents through 2019.
Mark Perry. As Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic Society for the last 40 years, Mark Perry has been involved with the organization since its founding in 1964. Growing up in Martin County and studying Marine Science at Florida Institute of Technology, Mark has always had a passion for our coastal environment and has made it his life's work to advocate for the waters he loves. Within Florida Oceanographic Society, Mark works diligently on advocacy and conservation initiatives, and he plans to continue because there is still work to be done to save our waters.
Mary Dawson. Mary Dawson has been an environmental advocate for many decades including spearheading the effort to obtain a state scenic highway designation for the beloved Martin Grade tree canopy, preserving a cherished and beautiful part of Martin County’s history. The Dawson family has also owned property in Palm City Farms at the corner of SW Citrus Blvd and Martin Highway for more than 30 years. Recently the family has built and opened a charming new marketplace there that honors the history and spirit of the Palm City Farms community. Palm City Farms Produce and Market supports the growing farm-to-table economy in Martin County by helping local growers on small farms supply Treasure Coast residents with fresh, natural foods.
Morgan Bakinowski. A Martin County native and 2018 Martin County High School graduate, Morgan Bakinowski currently attends UWC-USA, an international boarding school in New Mexico. In August of 2018, under Morgan’s leadership, a large crop of red mangrove seedlings were successfully transplanted into the Indian River Lagoon. She worked with children at Alphabet Farms, a preschool in Palm City, to plant more than 100 propagules in reused plastic milk jugs. With hard work, and the lives of the thousands of perishing fish and birds of the lagoon in mind, 100% of the initial crops survived. Morgan hopes to perpetuate a future generation of environmentally-aware leaders in Martin County and beyond.
n2 architecture + design. With a focus on green design, n2 architecture + design takes innovative approaches to solving architectural challenges and has successfully completed a wide range of projects throughout Martin County and Florida. The n2 team’s commitment to the local community includes donated and discounted architectural services to many Martin County organizations involved in community improvement such as the Golden Gate Center, US Sailing Center of Martin County, Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, Palm City Chamber of Commerce, Elev8Hope Compassion in Action, Martin County Fair Association, and Tuckahoe Mansion.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominees
New Urban Communities. Azul, New Urban Community’s apartment project, is a new addition to downtown Stuart and Martin County. Azul incorporates green building practices, using energy efficient appliances and native landscaping. Redevelopment is the greenest form of development because it requires no new roads or utilities and does not impact environmental features, such as wetlands or uplands. Azul is an excellent redevelopment model for Martin County, showing that the County can grow without the adverse impacts to the environment caused by low density sprawl.
Nic Mader, Dolphin Ecology Project. Long-time volunteer for the Dolphin Ecology Project a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to support research and education about interactions between dolphins and the environment to promote the restoration and conservation of marine and estuarine ecosystems, Nic Mader works in conjunction with Harbor Branch to photograph the unique dorsal fins of dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River. Although, much baseline information has been discovered by the scientists and field researchers from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Nic Mader has intensified the data being gathered locally to get a better picture of how water quality is affecting these local marine mammals.
Nicky Campbell. Nicky Campbell embodies what it means to be a true environmental steward. Without fanfare, each day she goes to the beach to find, collect, and remove litter and marine debris. Other beachgoers see her walking the beach, watching her care for our natural environment, and are inspired by her efforts as she chats with them about the harmful impact plastics and other litter can have on our marine life. She is truly an unsung hero.
Noa Vignone. A sixth-grade student at Stuart Middle School, Noa Vignone is passionate about our marine life and is an advocate for ending plastic litter, one bag and straw at a time. His desire to protect our environment began when he was in fourth grade at Felix A. Williams Elementary School and became a member of his school’s Green Team. In fifth grade, Noa worked on a class project on how to solve the problem of plastics in our oceans. As a result of Noa’s activism, three restaurants he solicited have stopped serving plastic straws. He continues to inspire students of all ages about how they can live eco-friendly lifestyles.
Paula Smith, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County. Partnering with families, schools, and other community organizations, the Boys & Girls Clubs offer initiatives to help Club members learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and a commitment to fitness. As the Master Gardener of the Boys & Girls Clubs, Paula Smith teaches the program Positive Sprouts, in which Club members learn how to grow and cook their own organic vegetables for a healthier lifestyle. Paula has turned an empty lot into a beautiful garden in Indiantown which is used as a hands-on activity for Club members.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominee Summaries
Sailfish Point. Sailfish Point, an association of 522 homeowner members at the southern tip of Hutchinson Island, covers approximately one square mile and includes a mile-and-a-half-long beach, an 18-hole golf course, an interior harbor, and a marina. It fronts on two rivers and the St. Lucie Inlet. It is supported by self-sustaining water, drainage, and waste utility facilities. The membership and each department have been committed to significant reductions in environmental impacts, conserving resources, enhancing our ecosystem, and restoration efforts. In addition, members are actively involved in many charitable endeavors and environmental organizations in leadership roles on fundraising committees and special events.
Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF). The Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution whose mission is to help rebuild and empower underserved and underbanked communities in Florida by providing access to affordable and innovative financing for sustainable home improvement projects. SELF provides unsecured personal loans, at below market rate, for various types of sustainable home improvement projects.
Sun Communities & The Town of Ocean Breeze. In a neighborhood revitalization that encompassed an entire town, the remaking of the Town of Ocean Breeze began from the underground up before culminating with a new, walkable community that overlooks the Indian River Lagoon. Despite being the smallest size government in Martin County, the town council of Ocean Breeze enabled large improvements for the lagoon. Ocean Breeze Indian River Lagoon Storm Water Quality Retrofit Project created bioswales that allow stormwater to slowly percolate into the ground, in turn keeping them out of the lagoon and better protecting our waterways from pollution.
Susan Shay, Palm City Palms. Susan Shay of Palm City Palms has been improving the lives of students at Pinewood Elementary School over the past two years. Last school year, Susan worked closely with the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support committee to develop and implement a Growth Mindset Grows Around Campus initiative. Approximately 900 students and staff members were provided with pots, soil, and seeds to plant and observe throughout the year. This project was built around the idea that growth mindset can change student behaviors and academic performance.
TC Trash Art. Cristina Maldonado and Rebecca Fatzinger walk our Martin County beaches every day and pick up trash left behind by beachgoers or that washes ashore. This creative duo then brings the trash home and transforms it into whimsical art. Their works of art are then shared on their Instagram and Facebook pages, TCTrashArt, for their followers to enjoy and to raise awareness about litter and marine debris. Once they dismantle the art, the plastic trash is recycled properly.
Thomas Lucido. Planner, designer, and landscape architect Tom Lucido is the founder of Stuart-based landscape architecture firm Lucido & Associates. Tom and his team have dedicated the last 30 years to projects that conserve, enhance, and bring forth the beauty of Martin County. Adhering to principles that preserve the land’s character and protect natural resources, they create profound senses of place that generations will cherish. Moreover, well before eco-awareness became in vogue, Tom shared principles of sustainability with the broader public.
2019 Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominee Summaries
Treasure Coast Wildlife Center. Founded in 1974, the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center, is 501(c)(3) a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and natural habitats. This volunteer-driven organization treats thousands of sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals each year, including bobcats, eagles and alligators. The Wildlife Center serves Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties and is renowned for its compelling and memorable public educational outreach programs.
Tyler Treadway & Treasure Coast Newspapers. As the environmental reporter for Treasure Coast newspapers and TCPalm.com, Tyler Treadway is dedicated to keeping citizens informed about our natural environment and problems facing local waterways. With his particular focus on the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River, Treadway has written countless articles with an unmatched level of depth and dedication to these issues. Given the increase in algae blooms, red tide, and other challenges affecting the health of our waterways in recent years, his work on behalf of our environment and all those who call it home is an achievement worth recognizing.
Vivian Powell. In 2014, Vivian Powell founded a service organization called LIVE WITH GRACE KIDS 4KIDS to provide opportunities for middle and high school students to volunteer in ways that benefitted other children. She created a fun and engaging organization that provides her with connection to her community alongside her friends, and is also open to anyone who wants to participate. Over the years, as the service projects have changed or evolved, they continue to remain focused on improving our environment through small acts done together that provide a bigger impact overall.
#toxic18. This Facebook group was created by Cyndi Lenz to document information regarding the algae crisis in Florida’s District 18. It serves as a place where media and politicians can easily find daily updates on the water crisis. Although it was originally intended solely for District 18, with close to 15,000 members currently, it has now spread to cover the entire state.
