Blog Archives

Image

Carl Campbell Publishes 646th Climate Letter

Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Carl Campbell, a retired petroleum investment advisor, spends every morning searching the internet for climate and environmental information.  By early afternoon, he releases an analysis of his most important finds in a daily newsletter called “Carl’s Climate Letters.”

This past week, Campbell released his 646th climate letter. Here is an excerpt from the current letter.

Continue reading

Image

Local Event: Climate Change Solutions and Communications

Pictured above: Brian Ettling.

Pictured: Brian Ettling.

The Eastern Missouri Group Sierra Club will be hosting a panel discussion on Climate Change, Climate Solutions, and How to Communicate Climate issues. The event is being held on Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m., at the Sierra Club Headquarters located at 2818 Sutton, Maplewood, MO 6314.

This is a unique opportunity, not only to learn about how to communicate climate but also to discuss it and ask questions directly to leaders and professionals about how to talk with others about climate change. (See a list of panel participants below.)

Continue reading

Image

Meet The Missouri Sierra Club Chapter Director

Pictured: John Hickey, Missouri Chapter Director of the Sierra Club.

Pictured: John Hickey, Missouri Chapter Director of the Sierra Club.

Meet John Hickey, the Missouri Chapter Director of the Sierra Club, who is the guest on this week’s “Behind the Editor’s Curtain.” Hickey shares his insights into the Missouri Sierra Club – what the organization’s environmental mission is based on, and also the organization’s political advocacy goals and stance on a few current policies.  The organization also manages to have a little fun as well, and Hickey tells Don Corrigan how important it is to get out into nature and enjoy what it has to offer.

Continue reading

Image

CALLING ALL FROG WATCHERS!

frog-803963_1280By Don Corrigan (Webster-Kirkwood Times)

When I was a boy, frogs and toads got a bad rap. I was told they give you warts. Toads would pee on you if you picked them up. Frogs were linked to being French. Moses threatened a plague of frogs on a pharaoh in Egypt.

Continue reading

Image

Grow Native! Taking Pollinator Programs To The Next Level

Sigh showcasing the Grow Native! program at the Kirkwood Earth Day Festival.

Sigh showcasing the Grow Native! program at the Kirkwood Earth Day Festival.

Grow Native! – is a one of a kind program that began right here in Missouri. The program is a native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.

Bill Ruppert, a local gardening and conservation expert, shares his insight into the diverse Grow Native! program on the informative podcast found below. Many organizations are mentioned in the podcast with either being associated with the Grow Native! program or that Ruppert is affiliated with like, the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Department of Conservation, Shaw Nature Reserve, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missourians for Monarchs, Gateway Greening, Mayor Slay’s milkweed program, and more.

Ruppert also gives a look at the new St. Louis Science Center’s new exhibit opening this summer, “GROW”  and how the Annual Kirkwood  Earth Day got its start.

Continue reading

Image

Event: Native Pollinator Symposium At Mizzou

 

Mizzou Botanic SYMPOSIUM 2016final

Image

Bird Watcher Alert! Best Places For Birders Just Got Easier To Find

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

A new super-highway of information has become available for bird watching enthusiast.

The beginner, hobbyist, and serious birders can all find something to interest them on a new website, the Great Missouri Birding Trail.

The founder is Mike Doyen, the president of the Missouri Bird Conservation Foundation. The new website offers birding trail maps for different regions of Missouri, including St. Louis. Also, birding resources including, helpful tips, equipment, identification basics, habitat information, and organizations and opportunities on how to become involved with bird conservation efforts.

Continue reading

Image

Bees Are The Focus For Kirkwood’S Earth Day

Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Photo by Diana Linsley, Webster-Kirkwood Times.

By Don Corrigan Webster-Kirkwood Times)

Experts from more than 20 green organizations will be ready to tell you about the “birds and the bees, and the flowers and the trees,” at Kirkwood’s 7th annual Earth Day on Apri1 16.

Most activities will be focused in the Farmer’s Market Greenway area, although an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony across from the city’s train station will get things started at 9 a.m.  Kirkwood in Bloom will contribute a landscape-sized Wildfire black tupelo tree for the occasion.

Read more about the honey bees struggle and Kirkwood’s Earth Day below. Also, hear Bill Ruppert share what you’ll find at the event.

Continue reading

Image

MSD: Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational

Fenton sewer plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, MSD.

Fenton sewer plant, December 2015. Photos provided by Sean Hadley, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

After months of repair work following historic flooding in December 2015, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) says operations at the Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant are fully restored.

From the MSD website: MSD crews and contractors have restored the full wastewater treatment process at the Fenton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) that is required during the recreation season from April 1- October 31.  This includes the re-establishment of wastewater disinfection using ultraviolet light.  With the restoration of full treatment, the Fenton WWTP again meets regulatory standards.  As a result, the recreation advisory for the Meramec River has been lifted.  MSD crews are in the process of removing signs. Find more information HERE.

Image

California Redwood Dreaming: Local Tree Climber Gets Chance To Help Conduct Research In Redwoods Canopy

P3180132

Pictured: David Slane climbing the Redwoods in California. All photos provided by David Slane.

 

 

 

 

“Redwoods are just amazing,” said Slane. “It was awe-inspiring to be on trees 15 feet in diameter, to be on trees that are 2,500 years old, 500 years before Jesus Christ was on this Earth. I am still mind-boggled by the whole experience.”

Continue reading