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Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site hosts Christmas Candlelight Tours Dec. 14 and 15

The public is invited to enjoy an 1860s Victorian Christmas during candlelight tours of the Hunter-Dawson home. The house, aglow with the warmth of oil lamps and candles, will be decorated with fresh greenery, Christmas trees and 1860s style ornaments. Site staff will be wearing Victorian era fashions, and refreshments will be served. Daytime tours will be given Dec. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with candlelight tours from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. This event is free and open to the public.

Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site is located at 312 Dawson Road in New Madrid, in southeast Missouri. For more information, contact the site at 573-748-5340.

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Posted on December 1, 2018 in Local Events

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WebU Panel: “What did the Nov. 6 Election Mean for the Environment?”

by Don Corrigan

Democrats’ takeover of the U.S. House on Nov. 6 means that environmental issues will come to the fore, but that does not mean policies coming out of Washington, D.C., will be any greener. That is because climate change skeptics will still be in charge of the White House and the U.S. Senate where they will present roadblocks to environmental initiatives.

That assessment of post-election environmental politics came from Professor Amanda Rosen, who teaches political science at Webster University. She was on a panel entitled “What did the Nov. 6 Election Mean for the Environment?” at the university on Nov. 14. Other panelists included newly-elected St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy and Missouri Sierra Club Director John Hickey.

Clancy said that most environmental progress is going to take place at the local level, not in Jefferson City or Washington, D.C., which remain in control by politicians who are hostile to most environmental initiatives. Locally, the City of St. Louis has resolved to become a city powered by renewable energy and St. Louis County voters passed a measure on Nov. 6 to protect their parks and to prevent them from being sold without voter approval.

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Posted on November 19, 2018 in Environment, Local Events

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City of St. Louis Could Build on Previous Healthy Food Access Legislation, MCE

Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) released information about a local bill that would help regional farmers bring fresh food to the areas of St. Louis that need it most. MCE, an advocacy group, helps to bring awareness to Missouri’s environmental issues, including local access to fresh and affordable locally grown foods.

Please take a look at the latest updates below from MCE. Also, check out their website for informative information about local environmental issues.

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Posted on November 14, 2018 in Environment, Home

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How Will The Midterm Elections Impact The Environment?

Webster University and the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter will host a panel discussion about how this year’s midterm elections will effect the environment.

The event will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2018, starting at noon.

For a list of speakers, lunch details, parking information and how to register for the event please click read more below.

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Posted on November 10, 2018 in Local Events

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Missouri Bluffs Subdivision Lawsuit Update

The Katy Land Trust has been working to keep the proposed Missouri Bluffs subdivision construction from moving forward. On July 25, 2018, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center filed suit in the St. Charles County Circuit Court on behalf of Weldon Woods, Inc., and Mark Kaiser, asking the Court to void the rezoning allowing a huge subdivision to be built on wooded bluffs overlooking the Missouri River.

The Katy Land Trust has released an update about the effort:

As you know, on July 25 a lawsuit challenging the St. Charles County Council’s decision to allow the Missouri Bluffs subdivision to proceed was filed by Weldon Woods Inc. The St. Charles County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8 to 1 in opposition to the development, yet the County Council disregarded their recommendation. The Council’s action triggered this lawsuit.

On behalf of Weldon Woods Inc, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center has been hard at work on this case since they filed it last summer. Yesterday, October 29, the most recent hearing was held at the St. Charles County Courthouse and a trial date for the case was set for March 12, 2019.

Read more below…

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Posted on October 31, 2018 in Environment

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Powder Valley Nature Center to close Nov. 3-5 for managed deer hunt

Photo: MDC

Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center and its grounds will be closed Saturday, Nov. 3 through Monday, Nov. 5 to accommodate a managed archery deer hunt on the area.  During this time, the nature center building and grounds, including the surrounding trails, will not be accessible to the general public.  Powder Valley will resume normal operational hours again starting Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The goal of the three-day managed hunt is to help balance deer populations which have grown beyond what Powder Valley’s 112-acre habitat can provide for, according to MDC Urban Wildlife Biologist Erin Shank.  Using data from winter survey counts, Shank estimates the deer population is approximately five times what can comfortably exist there, given the area’s size and proximity to residences and roadways.

While visitors enjoy seeing deer and the animals are an important part of the area’s wildlife population, excessive numbers cause negative impacts to other plants and animals, which also draw visitors and are equally important to the area’s biological diversity.

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Posted on October 29, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

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St. Louis Audubon Society’s Fall Gaggle On Tap At Schlafly Tap Room Nov. 4

On November 4, the St. Louis Audubon Society will hold its Fall Gaggle, an awards celebration and auction, at the Schlafly Tap Room in downtown St. Louis. The annual gathering raises funds to further efforts to conserve the environment and educate the community about its natural wonders. Key leaders from within the organization and around the region will be celebrated for their contributions.

Forest ReLeaf of Missouri will receive the “Outstanding Conservationist” award at this year’s Fall Gaggle.  Since 1993, Forest ReLeaf has planted more than 150,000 trees in underserved communities and areas affected by major weather disasters throughout Missouri and Illinois. Forest ReLeaf staff and volunteers are dedicated to restoring and sustaining urban forests and educating people about the many benefits of trees.

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Posted on October 24, 2018 in Home, Local Events

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Anheuser-Busch Recognized for Excellence in Green Power Use in 2018 EPA Leadership Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its 18th annual Green Power Leadership Awards, recognizing 10 Green Power Partners across the country.

The winners included Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, in St. Louis for Excellence in Green Power Use.

Way to go A-B STL! Keeping St. Louis in the winning list of GREEN POWER companies making a difference!
Read more from the EPA’s news release below.

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Posted on October 21, 2018 in Environment

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MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATES TREE WEEK OCT. 29 – NOV. 4

The Missouri Botanical Garden released information about a new event and it’s just in time for Autumn – Tree Week! Check out the release below for more about the event.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is celebrating its colorful canopy at the peak of fall foliage season. Tree Week is a new campaign offering visitors the chance to learn more about the Garden’s impressive tree collection, and the staff who care for it, all while soaking in the bright red, yellow and orange hues overhead.

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Posted on October 17, 2018 in Local Events

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Don’t Miss The Peak Time For Fall Colors! Check Out The Smokey Mountains “Fall Foliage Prediction Map!”

Each year, the Smokey Mountains website publishes an interactive “Fall Foliage Prediction Map.” The foliage map can help you plan the best weeks around the U.S. to see the peak fall colors!

To view the interactive map CLICK HERE. 

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Posted on October 10, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature