Posts filed under ‘st. petersburg college’
Amendment 4 (Hometown Democracy) roundtable debate at SPC
Amendment 4, a topic affecting all Floridians is up for vote this November. The citizens have a huge stake in growth decisions that will influence our community’s future.
St. Petersburg College‘s Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street, Clearwater, Florida) will host an Amendment 4 round-table debate in the Fine Arts Auditorium, Monday, September 20, 2010 beginning at 11:15am.
When you visit the ballot box you need to be accurately informed and educated on both sides of the issue.
During the first half of this round-table presentation, presenters from both sides of the issue will present their case. The second half will be dedicated to audience question and answer.
For some background, please read the following in advance of the discussion.
HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY (pro-Amendment 4):
Supported by the Sierra Club of Florida
Each community has adopted its own comprehensive plan: a long-term master plan for sensible growth. Currently, elected city and county commissioners have exclusive power to make changes to the plan. They believe rising taxes, falling home values, gridlocked roads, dwindling water supplies and Florida’s disappearing beauty are just some of the devastating consequences of Florida politicians’ habit of rubber-stamping speculative plan changes.
If Amendment 4 passes, they believe all that will change by allowing voters veto power over the modification to your community’s master plan for growth.
CITIZENS FOR LOWER TAXES AND A STRONGER ECONOMY (anti-Amendment 4):
Supported by Florida Chamber of Commerce
Amendment 4 would impose a referendum requirement on all local comprehensive plan changes. They believe this subverts a well-established, open, accessible, and democratic planning process. With the Vote on Everything amendment, many Florida voters, not the representatives they elected, will be expected to decide 200 to 300 technical land-use planning amendments every year.
If Amendment 4 passes, they believe it will result in the disruption of local communities, disorder further disenfranchising Florida’s already-fatigued electorate, and astronomical costs, resulting in a system that is far worse, not better.
Come to SPC’s Clearwater Campus Monday, September 20, 2010, 11:15am to decide for yourself.
Amendment 4 (Hometown Democracy) roundtable debate at SPC
Amendment 4, a topic affecting all Floridians is up for vote this November. The citizens have a huge stake in growth decisions that will influence our community’s future.
St. Petersburg College‘s Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street, Clearwater, Florida) will host an Amendment 4 round-table debate in the Fine Arts Auditorium, Wednesday, May 26, 2010 beginning at 11:00am.
When you visit the ballot box you need to be accurately informed and educated on both sides of the issue.
During the first half of this round-table presentation, presenters from both sides of the issue will present their case. The second half will be dedicated to audience question and answer.
For some background, please read the following in advance of the discussion.
HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY (pro-Amendment 4):
Supported by the Sierra Club of Florida
Each community has adopted its own comprehensive plan: a long-term master plan for sensible growth. Currently, elected city and county commissioners have exclusive power to make changes to the plan. They believe rising taxes, falling home values, gridlocked roads, dwindling water supplies and Florida’s disappearing beauty are just some of the devastating consequences of Florida politicians’ habit of rubber-stamping speculative plan changes.
If Amendment 4 passes, they believe all that will change by allowing voters veto power over the modification to your community’s master plan for growth.
CITIZENS FOR LOWER TAXES AND A STRONGER ECONOMY (anti-Amendment 4):
Supported by Florida Chamber of Commerce
Amendment 4 would impose a referendum requirement on all local comprehensive plan changes. They believe this subverts a well-established, open, accessible, and democratic planning process. With the Vote on Everything amendment, many Florida voters, not the representatives they elected, will be expected to decide 200 to 300 technical land-use planning amendments every year.
If Amendment 4 passes, they believe it will result in the disruption of local communities, disorder further disenfranchising Florida’s already-fatigued electorate, and astronomical costs, resulting in a system that is far worse, not better.
Come to SPC’s Clearwater Campus Wednesday, May 26, 2010 to decide for yourself.
Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, June 11-12
Join the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Suncoast Sierra Club when they host North America’s largest environmental film festival, June 11-12, 2010.
Friday, June 11, 7-9 p.m.
Curtis Fundamental Elementary School
531 Beltrees Street, Dunedin, FL [map]
(Note: The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, is neither sponsoring nor affiliated with this event)
Ascending the Giants – 12 min.
John Waller
You may hug a tree, but would you climb one? Join tree lovers & climbers Brian and Will as they attempt to find Oregon’s largest Sitka Spruce trees. Through their eyes, from both ground and canopy views, we discover the breathtaking beauty of these beautiful giants. Click here for Trailer
Nourish – 26 min.
Kirk Bergstrom, Linda Davis
What we eat, where we eat, and how we eat reveals much about our relationship to food. Today, more than ever, we need to understand where our food comes from and how it reaches us. If you want change, vote three times a day–with your fork!
Division Street – 49 min.
Eric Bandick
This is not your father’s road trip. Roads and cars have fragmented wild landscapes, ushered in urban sprawl, and challenged some of the bedrock values we once took for granted. But as the transportation crisis appears to be spiraling out of control, a new generation of ecologists, engineers, city-planners, and everyday citizens are transforming the future of the American road. From pristine roadless areas to concrete jungles, follow filmmaker Eric as he tours North America, dodging Yellowstone’s grizzlies and Miami’s taxicabs, and highlighting sustainable road projects and wildlife corridors for the 21st century. www.transalt.org
…and selected “shorts”
Saturday, June 12th, 7-9 p.m.
St. Petersburg College, Seminole Campus
University Partnership Center
9200 113th Street, Seminole, FL [map]
Big River – 27 min.
Curt Ellis, Aaron Woolf
The filmmakers of King Corn are back! Curt and Ian have returned to Iowa with a new mission: to investigate the environmental impact their acre of corn has had on the people and places downstream. In a journey that extends from the American heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, the guys trade their combine for a canoe and set out to see the big world their little acre of corn has touched.
Generations: A Perspective on Climate Change – 17 min.
Steve Jones
For many, snowy winters have a deep significance–culturally, personally, and financially. Going beyond charts and numbers, this new film humanizes the debate on climate change by exploring the delicate balance of winter and the intrinsic value of snow to people across generations and cultures. http://www.tetongravity.com/
Watershed Revolution – 27 min.
Rich Reid, Paul Jenkin
What is a Watershed? The answer is explored through interviews with concerned citizens working to protect and preserve the Ventura River watershed. www.surfrider.org
…and selected “shorts”
Tickets ($10, $8 for students with ID) may be purchased after May 15 at Wilcox Nursery, 12501 Indian Rocks Road in Largo, or online here. Tickets also available at the door.
Come early for refreshments and door prizes.
For more information visit their website or call 727 667 2600.
SPC’s 2010 Earth Day activities
Thursday, April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the environment. SPC’s four environmental clubs, Emerging Green Builders, Honors College, Florida Engineering Society and SPC M.M. Bennett Libraries have come together to plan environmentally focused events everyday beginning Monday, April 19 through Saturday, April 25. No matter your home campus, we have activities for you!
Saturday, April 17
College-wide event
9:00-11:00am
North Shore Clearwater Beach clean-up (Meet at Rockaway St., Clearwater Beach)
Monday April 19
Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street)
12:30-1:30pm
“No Such Place as Away” Pinellas County Utilities recycling presentation (NM205)
College-wide event
1:45-3:00pm
Pinellas County Utilities, Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility tour (Meet at 3095 114th Avenue N., St. Pete)
Space is extremely limited; email 
green.jason@spcollege.edu to reserve a spot.
Tuesday, April 20
Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street)
12:00-1:00pm
LEED Gold Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building tour (Meet at NM building main entry)
1:00-1:30pm
NM Solar panel dedication (NM building entry)
Tarpon Springs Campus (600 Klosterman Road)
7:00-8:00pm
Community Garden Forum (FA132)
Seminole Campus (9200 113th Street N)
10:00-1:00pm
SPC Green Expo (UP building lobby)
- Tampa Bay Watch, “Bay Restoration”
- UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension, “Rain water harvesting”
- Pinellas County Utilities, “Recycling”
- Solar Source, “Solar power”
- Midori Salon and Spa, “Sustainable beauty”
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium, “Marine animal rescue”
- SPC Office for Sustainability, “SPC LEED buildings”
1:00-1:20pm
Earth Day presentations (UP building lobby)
- Dr. James Oliver, SPC Seminole Provost
- Hon. Jimmy Johnson, Seminole Mayor,
- Mr. Jeremy Hockenbury, Seminole Public Works Director
1:20-1:30pm
Second Annual Seminole Campus tree planting (Meet at UP building lobby)
Wednesday, April 21
Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street)
2:30-3:30pm
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle food production panel (TA building)
4:00-5:30pm
Food, Inc. screening (TA building)
Tarpon Springs Campus (600 Klosterman Road)
All day event
Campus garden planting (Tent at middle of campus)
Thursday, April 22
Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street)
12:00-12:15pm
Second Annual Clearwater Campus Tree planting (Quad at LA building)
12:30-1:45pm
Photovoltaic Solar Panel presentation by Rick Gilbert, President Solar Source (TA building)
Tarpon Springs Campus (600 Klosterman Road)
12:30-2:30pm
Wall-E screening (Location TBD)
6:30-8:30pm
Wall-E screening (Location TBD)
Friday, April 23
College-wide event
10:00-11:00am
Moccasin Lake Park tour (2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater)
Saturday, April 24
Tarpon Springs Campus (600 Klosterman Road)
12:30-2:30pm
Food forest project (For more information, text “food forest” to 727 271-2754)
To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu. Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.
Help clean up Clearwater Beach, April 17
The St Petersburg College environmental clubs and SPC chapter of US Green Building Council Students (you don’t have to be a member of either to participate) adopted a mile of beach (Lot 36) on North Shore Clearwater Beach, running from Rockaway St. to 880 Mandalay.
They have scheduled their next beach clean-up Saturday April 17 starting at 9am, meeting on the beach at Rockaway Street, right in front of the public parking lot. Bags and gloves will be provided, but please remember to wear a hat, sunscreen, closed toed shoes and pants for the dunes, etc.
For driving directions click here.
You can park in the public beach parking or find residential parking further down the road then just walk back.
So again, plan to meet on the beach in front of the public parking lot, April 17 at 9am. Spend a few hours picking up garbage and the rest relaxing on a clean beach.
For more information, please contact green.jason@spcollege.edu or call 727 341-3283.
Hope to see you there!
To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu. Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.
SPC carpooling/low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicle preferred parking
St Petersburg College has made environmental sustainability a top priority, and that certainly applies to the college’s facilities. One example: the availability on certain campuses of preferred parking for carpooling and low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
To be eligible for a carpool parking spot, just provide transport to Clearwater and St. Pete/Gibbs for more than one individual.
To take advantage of low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicle parking spots, view a list of eligible automobiles by visiting http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability/Documents/low_emitting_and_fuel_efficient_vehicles.pdf
Film screening and discussion about creating sustainable communities
Join Eric Stewart, SPC Tarpon Springs’ Sustainability Club president (and Code Green Community founder) for a screening of the film, Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars , and subsequent discussion at the New Port Richey Library (5939 Main Street) on Saturday, March 13th 2010, 1 pm.
Admission is free.
The 34 minute film, narrated by Robert Redford follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air. The film introduces the unlikely partners — mayors, ranchers, CEOs, community groups, legislators, lawyers, faith groups, and citizens — that have come together to oppose the construction of 19 conventional coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and were being fast-tracked by the Governor.
View the trailer here.
With the goal of sparking an international dialogue about the impacts and consequences of coal, the film uses the example of Texas to take an intimate look at today’s global energy challenge of powering communities in a way that supports the local economy and protects public health.
In America coal is the largest source of global warming pollution and coal-fired power plants are responsible for more than 30 percent of all carbon dioxide pollution, according to leading non-profit NRDC. Coal causes more damage to people and the planet than any other energy source.
According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s February 18, 2008 report 114 conventional coal-fired power plants are slated for construction in 40 U.S. states, with 47 of the 114 plants either under construction, near construction, or already permitted, and 67 of the plants in the early stages of development, having the status of being “announced.”
After the viewing, Code Green Community will discuss with the audience how to decrease electric usage and work toward encouraging the widespread utilization of renewable energy.
To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu. Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.
Sustainable home builder to present lecture at SPC
Darren Brinkley founded REAL building in 2007 and has been involved in the green building industry for more than 4 years. He currently serves on the boards of the U.S. Green Building Council‘s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and Pinellas Living Green, Inc, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio’s Environmental Roundtable, the USGBC’s Gulf Coast Chapter’s LEED for Homes committee and is a frequent speaker and participant in local green building and sustainability events, as well as an advisor to local government and media groups.
On February 18, 12:30pm-1:30pm, Darren will present a lecture at SPC’s Clearwater campus (2465 Drew Street) in NM205.
For driving directions, visit http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/campus/to_cl.htm and for a campus map, http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/CL_map.pdf
Parking in any spot not labeled “Faculty/Staff”.
See you there!
To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu. Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.
Volunteers plant 1,000 seedlings at Seminole Campus
A small army of volunteers turned out at the Seminole campus on Saturday to plant 1,000 pine trees on the north end of the campus.
Students, faculty members, college staff and volunteers from the Seminole community took part in the planting, which started at 9 a.m. and lasted into the afternoon. Staff members mapped out the planting scheme, and then volunteers took over to poke holes in the ground, place the small seedling roots in the ground, and then soak them with about a quart of water each.
The planting took place near the spot where other volunteers worked a few weeks ago to pull non-indigenous plants from the ground.
Seminole Provost Jim Olliver, who worked Saturday as one of the volunteers, said the expansive site will one day be the home of a natural habitat park.
“Of course, we’re doing all this as a beautification measure, but this will also help the natural habitat,” he said. “It will benefit migratory birds, and it will offer an opportunity for the campus to have a natural habitat park and environmental center. Work on that may start within a month, and it will include walking paths, ponds, andf a dock.”
“We envision a place where all kinds of creatures and natural plants will be able to live and thrive.
Jim Waechter, Director of Facilities Services, obtained the pine seedlings and oversaw the planting. He said the planting project is a single step in improving the 63-acre north end of the campus, which he said is called the campus’ Habitat Area.
He said the college obtained a grant two years ago to remove non-native plants, and that effort left the area looking somewhat ravaged.
“Today is the first step in a restoration project,” he said. “It will look very good 10 years from now, and those people who are around 50 years from now will be able to see the fruits of our labors.”
Clearwater’s mayor says area needs a regional rail system
The Tampa Bay area needs some sort of rail transportation system if it is to serve residents and attract new business, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard told a group of students and others Thursday at the Clearwater Campus of St. Petersburg College.
Hibbard serves on the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, a regional group that is working on plans for a regional rail transportation system.
A regional rail service would employ a “spine-and-rib” design, feeding riders from more far-flung areas to the rail stations by buses. The finished rail service would ease pressure on the region’s highway system, could tie in to a proposed Tampa-to-Orlando high speed rail service, and would be a major asset in attracting new business to the region, Hibbard said.
“We need it to attract jobs to this region – companies look for mass transit,” Hibbard said. “We are one of two top areas in the country that don’t have mass transit. Detroit is the other one.”
High-speed rail service, much discussed over the years in Florida, got a shot in the arm recently when President Obama visited the state to announce his administration’s Stimulus package would fund a high-speed rail system between Tampa Bay and Orlando.
Hibbard said that while the high-speed intercity system is important and desirable, it neither strengthens nor weakens the argument for a regional rail system. Such a system is needed, he said, whether it ties into a high-speed rail system or not.
“I support mass transit because I want an alterative to the automobile,” he said.
Hibbard said he had traveled to Japan to look at the rail systems of that country, and found them to be highly efficient. The trains in Japan, he said, “arrive within seconds of when they say they will arrive.”
Hibbard acknowledged the high cost of a regional rail system – anywhere between $40 million and $65 million per mile. But he pointed out that highway construction costs are also high; the complex new interchange near the Tampa Airport, he said, cost about three-quarters of a billion dollars. Maintenance costs for rail systems are lower than maintenance costs for highways.
About half of a new regional rail system could be paid for by the federal government, he said, and the local share might be funded by a one-cent increase in the sales tax. A significant portion of local sales taxes, he said, are paid through purchases made by tourists.
An increase in the regional sales tax might cost local residents around $143 per household, but residents could realize significant savings that could offset the higher cost and more, he said.
“What if you could do away with a second car?” Hibbard asked. “Everywhere rail has been initiated, ridership has exceeded what was anticipated.”
Hibbard’s presentation was sponsored by Clearwater Matters, an ongoing forum that examines various issues of interest to Clearwater residents. Clearwater Matters was founded by faculty and administrators at the Clearwater campus.
Audience members were encouraged to ask questions of Hibbard via their smart phones – questions were texted to him via Twitter or Facebook.
