Volume I, Issue 3
Footnotes Online
Sierra Club Endorses Cowell for Treasurer and Besse for Lt. Gov
The Sierra Club is proud to announce several endorsements in the 2008 election. The Sierra Club encourages all of its members to be civically engaged and to vote. You have the option to vote early between now and May 3 or on primary day, May 6th. We encourage you to vote for the following environmental champions: Janet Cowell for State Treasurer and Dan Besse for Lieutenant Governor as well as a slate of candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly. More endorsed candidates can be found at http://www.nc.sierraclub.org/.
OLF Victory Celebration
Opponents of the 6 year fight against the Navy's proposal to build an outlying landing field (OLF) that would land jets in Washington and Hyde Counties recently came together one last time: to celebrate.
The No-OLF group, which has taken their local fight to the nation and engaged the support of over 100 organizations, met one more time at Beasley's Machine shop in Plymouth to celebrate the Navy’s decision to drop the site. The Navy's insistence on building a training field for jet pilots next to an internationally significant wildlife refuge would have endangered the safety of both pilots and the large migratory birds that winter in the area.
Community leaders, local elected officials, environmental group leaders, and especially the public interest lawyers from Southern Environmental Law Center and pro bono attorneys from Kennedy Covington were recognized for their contribution to success. At the end of the evening, "No OLF" signs were symbolically handed over to citizens from other North Carolina communities still under consideration for the jet landing field.
The Cypress Group, along with other NC Sierra Club volunteers, were proud to be a part of the effort. Learn more about the remarkable fight against the OLF in Hyde and Washington County.
Outings Spotlight: Linville Gorge Transect
The Grand Canyon of the East as enjoyed by NC Sierrans, by Chris Plummer, Outings Chair
In April, eight Sierrans made an east to west transect of Linville Gorge. From Wolf Pit East we made an ascent through last year's burn on Shortoff Mountain. Camp saw us at the water tree spring on the mountaintop.
Day two dawned wet and foggy, with an immediate contrast in focus: the soggy trail, the amazing gorge overlooks, and the ever-present burn area along Shortoff ridge. From Chimney Gap we made a very steep, rugged ascent to the Amphitheater through new growth Loblolly pine.
Descending into the gorge, we set up camp downriver from our crossing point. After our big day of adventure we had a quick dinner and all turned in early. Night brought high winds but not extreme cold or snow.
Sunday saw us winding our way up through the massive west-rim escarpment past displays of early spring wildflowers. All in all our intrepid crew had a memorable trip to this most rugged of places in the east.
Foothills and the Cool Cities Program
The Foothills Group (based out of Winston-Salem) is working to keep energy conservation in the limelight. On April 19 at Winston Salem's Earth Day fair, the group began a postcard campaign to support a tree ordinance in the city, which is one way to lower local temperatures and protect habitat.
The group also met with Mt. Airy residents to talk about political and outings activities and to encourage them to begin a Cool Cities campaign in their community, with special focus on establishing a green building initiative in coordination with local planners. Several Cool Cities committee members will be meeting with the Forsyth County manager to introduce the Cool Counties campaign.
What's more, the town of Lewisville signed the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Foothills plans to award Lewisville Cool Cities status at a ceremony early this summer. Lewisville resident and Group Chair Terry Powell can take credit for keeping the USMCPA on the town council's agenda. Thanks to the Foothills Group for their hard work!
Go on an Outing!
Sat, May 17
Wildflower Hike - Bluff Mountain - Join the Piedmont Plateau Group in exploration of the Nature Conservancy's preserve at Bluff Mountain to appreciate the spring flowers.
Sat, May 17 - Sat, 24
Week long Backpacking trip- Nantahala National Forest 118 Mile - This strenuous, 17 miles per day backpacking trip will be hosted by the Capital Group.
Sun, May 18
Kayak Lake Jordon Backwaters - Kayak the backwater of beautiful but environmentally threatened Lake Jordan with the Orange-Chatham group.
Don't forget to register for lobby day on Tuesday, June 24. Send an email to christa.wagner@sierraclub-nc.org