THE LAGOON NEEDS YOUR HELP

from Corry Westbrook
Hi,
This is all hands on deck crisis. The IRC Commissioners think it is okay to SAY they are concerned about the lagoon - and then take actions that will harm it. This is not okay. Despite huge public outcry they had a secret vote in a budget meeting yesterday, with no public notice, that will expand the Oslo boat ramp at the expense of seagrass and our lagoon. We must tell them this behavior is unacceptable. We have to take a stand. We need a huge showing on Tuesday morning. A lot of you being invited live and work in Brevard but if you can take an hour or two to help on Tuesday, we will be forever grateful. We must make elected officials stand-up for the lagoon. No more talk and no action - or in this case say you are doing good but really be harming it. Scroll down - details below. I really hope you can attend! And please bring a friend, spouse, child - we need big numbers! Feel free to send this invite/details to your contact lists. THANK YOU!! Corry 772 539 1992

from Richard Baker
 The Lagoon REALLY NEEDS YOU ON TUESDAY in Vero Beach Sep 23, 2014 — CRUCIAL RALLY & PROTEST AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION!

They voted this week at a budget meeting to fund the ramp project despite enormous public opposition :~( PLEASE BE HERE: Tuesday 23 Sept., 8:30 am, Vero Beach (1801 27th Street, Building A)

Dear Friend of the Indian River Lagoon,

You know about the value of the lagoon. You know about the incredibly rich seagrass beds, mangrove forests, sportfish spawning habitats and manatee feeding grounds at Vero Beach’s Oslo Road boat ramp. And you know about the terribly destructive dredge, fill and pave project slated to damage all this. What you don’t know is that this week the Indian River County commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward with this project at a budget meeting– and to use local boat fees to pay for at least part of it. That means the very citizens who are rallying against this destruction – boaters and fishermen – will be footing the bill. In a county where priorities like cleaning up mold in our firehouses go unfunded, we’re outraged that the commissioners insist on spending $1 million of our public funds to further damage the lagoon.

LAGOON NEEDS YOU this Tuesday 23 September! PLEASE come to our RALLY AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING 1801 27th Street, Building A Vero Beach, Florida 8:30 am People from ALL COUNTIES are warmly welcomed and strongly encouraged to come. > We will ALL BE THERE with SIGNS AND BANNERS to tell the commissioners – both directly, and via the media – that our citizens do not want this project. Lange Sykes of the Coastal Conservation Association will speak to the rally and media about why this is such a terrible project, for taxpayers as well as the lagoon. Then at 9:00 am, we’ll all take our seats in the commission meeting, QUIETLY HOLDING OUR SIGNS UP – you can print your own, and support the community speakers who are on the agenda.

We know you’ve been helping fight this for years. And we know how busy you are. But this is ALMOST GAME OVER for the Oslo habitat and lagoon – we REALLY need to show how deeply our community feels about this. PLEASE, even if you can just come for 10 minutes, be there at 8:30 Tuesday morning.

 PLEASE send this message to all your Lagoon-loving (and tax-savvy citizen) friends, members, family and other contacts – we really need good numbers. IF YOU CAN, TAKE 10 MINUTES this weekend to call 10 people and ask them personally to be there. And please also post it on your FB pages and Twitter accounts! We need fishermen – conservationists – manatee lovers – students – taxpayers – bird watchers – scientists – retirees – teachers – and everyone who cares about the lagoon, and about how spending decisions are made in Indian River County – to be there.

IF YOU CAN'T COME ON TUESDAY - PLEASE CALL THE COMMISSIONERS Wesley S.Davis (772) 226-1442 Joseph E. Flescher (772) 226-1919 Tim Zorc (772) 226-1440 Peter D. O'Bryan (772) 226-1440 Bob Solari - Bob has been an ally and voted AGAINST funding the project :~) (772) 226-1442 For more information on the Tuesday rally: Buffy Turner – 772.480.5125 or buffy@fastmail.fm Carolyn Lange – 772.473-7982 or carolyn@langesykes.com About the Oslo Ramp project: http://www.pelicanislandaudubon.org/

Thank you for sticking up for the Lagoon! See you Tuesday!