staff reportSunday,
February 17, 2008
SEBASTIAN — Celebrate nature from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 at the Pelican Island Wildlife Festival at Sebastian’s Riverview Park.
The event, now in its 16th year, commemorates President Theodore Roosevelt’s establishing Pelican Island as the nation’s first national wildlife refuge 105 years ago.
The festival is free and is one of the best attended wildlife festivals in the state of Florida. More than 80 exhibitors will show wildlife and showcase local environmental and historical organizations.
Live music, food and arts and craft vendors will be at the event alongside the Indian River Lagoon. The event also includes a 5-kilometer run, guided kayaking and pontoon boat tours to view Pelican Island.
All funds from the festival will go toward building the new wildlife observation facility at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
For information, visit the festival Web site at www.pelicanislandfriends.org.
Call (772) 562-3909, ext. 258, for event information and volunteering; (772) 323-4550 to inquire about being an exhibitor; (772) 569-7364 for the 5-kilometer run; and (772) 794-9900 for the kayak race.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Old Trees & Such
117-year-old tree may get fresh air in Sebastian
By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Monday, January 28, 2008
SEBASTIAN — City workers are expected to take measures next week to help breathe new life into the historic Hardee oak tree.
"That is what we are shooting for," said City Manager Al Minner on Friday.
The tree, planted in 1891, is northwest of the Main Street and Indian River Drive intersection.
The tree's namesake, Capt. Robert Hardee, served on the Sebastian City Council for 11 years, starting in 1926, two years after the town was incorporated.
The tree has been attracting renewed attention recently as plans are under way to realign the intersection in connection with a controversial project to build a new parking lot for boat trailers. A new bathroom and additional car parking also would be added as part of the plan.
The condition of the oak tree had some officials and at least one arborist questioning whether the tree could be saved. For the past several months, there was discussion about replacing it with a fountain and retaining a piece of the tree's history by using acorns from the tree to grow saplings.
However, Minner said at least one arborist with Jimmy's Tree Service, which does work for the city, has indicated the tree can be saved.
Part of the process will be removing concrete and pavement near the tree to try to allow more air and water to reach its roots. Workers will be "trying to loosen the collar, so to speak," he said.
Although most of the people speaking at a recent meeting on the road project spoke in favor of saving the tree, City Councilman Eugene Wolff questioned whether a large amount of taxpayer money should be spent preserving it. He pointed out the arborist saying the tree could be saved works for a company that could benefit financially from the preservation efforts.
Wolff noted numerous other trees were taken down as part of other projects and the Hardee family name is honored in other ways throughout the city, including the local Hardee Park, and a plaque could be placed where the tree is located.
Mayor Andrea Coy said though she agreed with Wolff's position earlier, she had received numerous calls petitioning for the tree to be saved.
"That tree is important to a lot of people in the community," she said.
By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Monday, January 28, 2008
SEBASTIAN — City workers are expected to take measures next week to help breathe new life into the historic Hardee oak tree.
"That is what we are shooting for," said City Manager Al Minner on Friday.
The tree, planted in 1891, is northwest of the Main Street and Indian River Drive intersection.
The tree's namesake, Capt. Robert Hardee, served on the Sebastian City Council for 11 years, starting in 1926, two years after the town was incorporated.
The tree has been attracting renewed attention recently as plans are under way to realign the intersection in connection with a controversial project to build a new parking lot for boat trailers. A new bathroom and additional car parking also would be added as part of the plan.
The condition of the oak tree had some officials and at least one arborist questioning whether the tree could be saved. For the past several months, there was discussion about replacing it with a fountain and retaining a piece of the tree's history by using acorns from the tree to grow saplings.
However, Minner said at least one arborist with Jimmy's Tree Service, which does work for the city, has indicated the tree can be saved.
Part of the process will be removing concrete and pavement near the tree to try to allow more air and water to reach its roots. Workers will be "trying to loosen the collar, so to speak," he said.
Although most of the people speaking at a recent meeting on the road project spoke in favor of saving the tree, City Councilman Eugene Wolff questioned whether a large amount of taxpayer money should be spent preserving it. He pointed out the arborist saying the tree could be saved works for a company that could benefit financially from the preservation efforts.
Wolff noted numerous other trees were taken down as part of other projects and the Hardee family name is honored in other ways throughout the city, including the local Hardee Park, and a plaque could be placed where the tree is located.
Mayor Andrea Coy said though she agreed with Wolff's position earlier, she had received numerous calls petitioning for the tree to be saved.
"That tree is important to a lot of people in the community," she said.
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