Page 4 - Hobe Sound Reflections - February '20

Page 4, Hobe Sound

in Your CommunitY

Keep Martin Beautiful Seeks quality of life. Areas of focus include:
Nominees For The 2020 community and neighborhood
revitalization; litter and marine
Environmental Stewardship debris removal; recycling programs;
river advocacy; innovation and
Awards stewardship; youth engagement and
education. Projects and activities must
have occurred in 2019. Nominations
Call For Nominations To Celebrate are due by Friday, Jan. 31.
Environmental Excellence In Martin County “As our signature fundraising
Do you know someone making a difference to improve event, the Environmental Stewardship
our environment who deserves to be recognized? Does Awards is an opportunity for Keep
your business make environmentally-conscious choices to Martin Beautiful to recognize our Tom Lucido, Chelsey Matheson and City
conserve water or energy? Has your civic or youth group community’s devotion to protecting of Stuart Commissioner Merritt Matheson Rob Ranieri, Kate Cotner and Cara Perry
been involved in a beautification project or worked to keep our natural environment. Each year,
our beaches clean? Now is your opportunity to recognize we are always impressed by the wide range of submissions Waste and Recycling Inc.; FAU Harbor Branch; FPL;
them - or even give yourself some credit! we receive, and it’s a great reminder of how folks work all Jenkins Landscape; The Kiplinger Foundation; Lucido and
Keep Martin Beautiful, a volunteer-based nonprofit year round to make a difference in Martin County,” said Associates; Martin County Commissioner Edward Ciampi –
organization, is seeking nominations for individuals, Craig Ahal, president of Keep Martin Beautiful’s Board of District Five; Martin County Solid Waste Division; METCo
businesses, civic and nonprofit groups, and government Directors. – Marine Electronics of the Treasure Coast; n2 architecture +
agencies that are improving our local environment and “This inspiring event celebrates all of the individuals and design; Sailor’s Return; Wallace Nissan; Waste Management;
organizations working so diligently to protect and beautify our and Whiticar Boat Works.
wonderful community,” said Martin County Commissioner About Keep Martin Beautiful
Ed Ciampi who will also be serving as co-emcee of Keep Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Martin Beautiful’s Environmental Stewardship Awards for community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate
the second year in a row. “I’ve supported and attended this of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and
event for many years, and it is really an honor to be a part enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter
of it,” Ciampi added. prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of
The Awards Ceremony takes place on Earth Day, solid waste management practices, and beautification and
Wednesday, April 22, at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country community revitalization activities. KMB signature events
Club in Palm City. and programs include the Environmental Stewardship
In addition to nominations, Keep Martin Beautiful is also Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great
seeking sponsors of the Environmental Stewardship Awards. American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street
Nomination and sponsorship forms, previous year’s winners, programs, and other educational and outreach activities. Find
and other details are available online at keepmartinbeautiful. KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful,
org. For more information contact Keep Martin Beautiful follow KMB on Twitter at twitter.com/KMBmartin, visit
Representatives from the Environmental Studies Center at (772) 781-1222 or events@keepmartinbeautiful.org. KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call (772) 781-1222.
accept an award (pictured from left) Marilyn Gavitt, Brook Keep Martin Beautiful appreciates the generous support
Bullock, Heather Arnold, Michelle Fowler and John Vanilla. from current sponsors including: the City of Stuart; Coastal In Your Community on page 5

Kids Corner Club news

Kids Tag Art Project Is Celebrate Black History anyone with an interest in African-American genealogy.

Abiodun, who lives in the Tampa area, is a member
Celebrating Its Second Season Month With The Martin of the Florida Genealogical Society, Daughters of Union
Veterans of the Civil War, Sons and Daughters of the
“Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our County Genealogical Society United States Middle Passage, and Daughters of the
children” Black History Month focuses on America’s rich American Revolution. She currently serves as national
Walter Elias Disney African-American heritage, but tracing ancestry requires vice chair for the NSDAR DNA Network committee
research tools and techniques that anyone can use, and state chair for the Florida Society Children of the
Kids Tag Art program, regardless of ethnicity. At the Martin County Genealogical American Revolution.
addressed to the fifth grade Society’s (MCGS) February meeting, professional Free and open to the public, the meeting is 1 to 3 p.m.,
students, teaches about genealogist Adrienne Abiodun will present a variety of Friday, Feb. 21, at the Robert Morgade Library, 5851 S.E.
the specialty plates, its old and new research methods ranging from storytelling Community Drive in Stuart. Light refreshments will be
art application in the state to DNA testing. With two decades of genealogical served. In addition to its monthly meetings – where local
commerce and the worthy experience, Adrienne specializes in African-American and national experts speak about how to explore your
causes that specialty plates genealogy, Deep South lineage societies and genetic ancestry – the society offers a variety of services at the
support. genealogy. She will present complex findings from her genealogy room in the Blake Library which is manned
As a part of the elementary own family tree, common research misconceptions, by MCGS volunteers all year long. For more information
school’s art curriculum, students utilize acquired skills and ways to overcome unique research challenges and the about membership, activities and services go to mcgsfl.
knowledge to create their own unique vanity tags that later use of genetic genealogy in combination with traditional org, visit the genealogy room or call Lisa Tompson,
can be purchased by family, friends or general public. research. She also will highlight tools and resources for MCGS president, (772) 888-2422.
All funds raised from the sales directly support art
education and are used exclusively as a supplement funding
art programs in participating schools. All proceeds of the
sale of the tag art, along with sponsorship from the business
community, go back into the classroom of each participating
school. With 100 percent of the proceeds going back to
schools, the program not only enhances art education but also
elevates the conversation about the importance of creative
expression as a part of the curriculum.
Based on the statistics and research, students who
participate in the arts, are more likely to graduate high school,
they exhibit higher levels of sought out qualities of innovative
thinking and problem solving concepts.
Although unique in its origin, the Kids Tag Art project
like many others depends on the involvement of the local
businesses working towards making arts in Florida as diverse
and inclusive as possible. It could serve as a template for
other fundraising opportunities.
Former Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet have
honored Florida Tax Collectors Association for their
innovative program as the Kids Tag Art project raised over
$1,000,000 for classroom arts education.
Prior to that, the program was recognized by the Florida
Department of the State Division of Cultural Affairs and
received the coveted Diversity and Inclusion Award for 2018.