[Bristol-Birds] Re: Public hearing re: Steele Creek Park next Tuesday (April 26)

Area Birders:

Tuesday night's 6 p.m. public hearing at the Slater Center in Bristol
Tennessee concerning problems with Steele Creek Park property certainly has
to be one of importance to area birders.  We are faced with the need to draw
a symbolic line in the dirt to show city leaders that park property must be
protected.  It is important because the original agreement with the State of
Tennessee about the use of park property has not been enforced and honored
by the city.

Now we need the help of all area birders to make a stand and make an impact.
This could be a major turning point for land conservation and landuse for
birds and other forms of wildlife.  If the wrong agreement is made between
the city and state there is no turning back. The battle could rage on for
decades to come.

Don't forget that the Bristol Bird Club has a field trip at Johnson City's
Winged Deer Park in the morning (Saturday) where we expect a city park
official to come and communicate with us about keeping doors open to prevent
park use conflicts and help us establish communications.

Larry McDaniel wrote on this list yesterday:  "Brad Jones, Naturalist for
the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Dept., has agreed to meet us at 8 AM
to give a brief talk on the park, including some of the environmental
concerns. There are continual challenges to saving the natural habitat in
city parks. This is a great opportunity to show those in responsible
positions that we care."

Our birders have a chance to help make a difference.

Don't forget that members of the Elizabethton Herndon TOS bird club joined
the Bristol Bird Club and we took an attorney with us to Kingsport several
years ago to protect wildlife habitat.  Don't forget that we drew a line in
the sand with Kingsport and state officials that night to protect our
interest at the Meadowview Wetlands.  Don't forget that we were successful
in turning back a road plan that was already engineered.  Don't forget that
the state and city fully moved that road to the Meadowview Conference Center
and we prevailed.

Don't forget that the Bristol Bird Club is playing a major roll with the
Eastman for further protection of Meadowview and three of our members
(Bristol, Blountville and Kingsport) are participating on the committee with
Kingsport officials to work on present plans for the significant wetlands.

Don't forget that our birders have worked to assure that the wildlife
birding trail and other aspects of campus use at Virginia Highlands
Community College turn out to be something really special.  We have worked
with Congressman Rick Boucher and BBC President Larry McDaniel and myself
traveled to Wytheville with college President David Wilkin to the public
hearings and continue to work for that. Don't forget our efforts in the
Virginia Birding Trail and Boucher getting l hughe Ice Tea funding.

Don't forget how hard we have worked in Johnson County.  Don't forget that
we did bird assessments and have helped stem the tide of the new U.S. 421
bypass thru the Mountain City wetlands.  Don't forget our birder's decades
of work with The Nature Cosnsevancy in Shady Valley.  How we began the
state's first ever project there.  How our members still manage those lands
and cranberry plants along with the Ruritan Club.  Don't forget the fights
we fought at Roan Mountain State Park for staffing concerns.  Don't forget
our birders up to their shoulders with efforts there.  Don't forget our
creating the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally and the Shady Valley Cranberry
Festival and the Roan Mountain Naturalist Rally.  Don't forget the work that
still goes on there.

Don't forget our influence with the Bristol Tennessee Electric System to get
the rare fern protected at South Holston Dam and how Mike Browder, the
manger, personally came and made a supreme effort with TVA to get that done.
Don't forget how we got the Bristol Tennessee Electic System to get the tree
service to volunteer to cut nesting tree tops for Bald Eagles all over the
Cherokee National Forest at South Holston Lake.

Don't forget our efforts to get the Cedar Creek Wetlands in Bristol surveyed
and into the Bristol Tennessee parks system.

Don't forget our major efforts on behalf of the Boone Lake Environmental
Impact work at Boone Lake.  Don't forget that the Bristol Bird Club did more
than anyone else.  Don't forget that TVA knew we did it.  Don't forget the
big time, line-drawing imput we made two years ago for the eventualy
reservoir drawdown with TVA at South Holston.  Don't forget our investment
in Bald Eagle restoration with the U.S. Forest Service.  Don't forget the
eventual showdown with TVA we are facing at Rankin Bottom in Cocke County.
Don't forget that birders are getting a lot done there now.

Don't forget the battle over U.S. Forest Service lands for boat dock issues
at the U.S. 421 bridge and South Holston Lake.  Don't foget that one of our
members signed the petion with "red ink" this year ;-)

NOW, it is time to remember what we need YOU here Tuesday on behalf of
Steele Creek Park lands.  Don't forget all the investment we have made over
the years at Steele Creek.  Don't forget that the first ever group to tour
the new nature center were birders. That the first nature program put on in
history at the park was by our members and it was about birds.  Don't forget
that birders furnished the nature center.  Don't forget that we built the
bookshelves.  That we provide constant seeds and fieldtrips for programs.
Don't foget how we bought a truck load of the Walmart seed at Greeneville
and hauled it to Steele Creek Park.  Don't forget that we have, for decades,
provided natural history inventories for wildlife and supported the wildlife
weekends.

Don't forget our efforts this Sunday, for the second year in a row to be a
major player at Abingdon's Arbor Day and Eart Day celebration.   Don't
forget what we do for the Mendota community Hawk Migration Festival.   Don't
forget the efforts to decorate Christmas trees at Elizabethton, floats in
4th of July parades and winning the boat regada award at South Holston and
our paint the town in front of the Paramount theatre in Bristol.  Don't
forget the good things we do.

Don't forget how we helped fund hurricane clean up with the Alabama birders
on the Alabama gullf shore.

Don't foreget what we do at Kingsport's greenway and Bays Mountain Park each
year as a signficant contribution to FunFest !  And that we will be back
this year -- our people our efforts.

Don't forget our efforts on behalf of the Tennessee State Park's at Warrior
Path and Davy Crockett state parks.  The Virginia Division of Parks with our
next second-year weekend of providing programing at Natural Tunnel State
Park.  That comes up again in just a few days.

Now, don't forget how important it is for you to come to Bristol !  Don't
forget to clear your calendars and cancel dates.  Get off work early.  Just
as you met at Erwin with the Johnson City Parks rep April 9 after our
birding banquet with the Elizabethton folks, it is time to come help us in
Bristol.

Will you answer the call and come and be seen ?  Let them know we can put
concerned people in the room.  Of course you do not have to be a resident of
Bristol Tennessee to be seen in support of Steele Creek Park.  It is
absolutely one of the largest and most significant parks in Tennessee.  It
is everyone's investment.  Don't leave it to someone else.  Do your share.
No excuses.  Bring your friends and family.  Come be seen.  Be counted.
Make a real effort.

Come from anywhere in Southwest Virginia and anywhere in Tennessee.  We will
help make a difference.

E-mail me wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and let me know if you can be there.
We need to work at this !

Draw a line in the dirt.

Call me if you need anything......(423) 764-3958,  cell (423) 360-2532,
Birdmobile (423)  335-4095 ;-)

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 4:11 PM
Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Public hearing re: Steele Creek Park next Tuesday
(April 26)


> Dear Friends of Steele Creek members and supporters,
> There will be an important public hearing next Tuesday, April 26, 6:00 pm
at
> the Slater Center, concerning the tentative agreement that the City has
> reached with the State of Tennessee over the encroachment of the Fox Ridge
> development onto park property.  We have been concerned with this issue
for
> many years, and it appears, finally, to be coming to resolution.  It is
> important that we have a good turnout, to assure that the final agreement
is
> acceptable to those of us who value the park, and to make it clear to the
> City that such encroachments can't be tolerated in the future.
>
> If you would like more information about the meeting or the issue, let me
> know by reply e-mail friendsofscncp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, or by telephone
(423-764-3336).
>
> Robin Feierabend
>
> *************************************************
>        BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST
> Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at:
> http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5
>
> This is a regional birding list sponsored by the
> Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications
> between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia
> and Northeast Tennessee.
> --------------------------------------------------
> You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds.
> To post to this mailing list, simply send an email
> to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send
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> --------------------------------------------------
>        Wallace Coffey, Moderator
>          wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>            (423)764-****
>
>


*************************************************
       BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST
Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at:
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5

This is a regional birding list sponsored by the
Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications 
between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia
and Northeast Tennessee.  
--------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds.
To post to this mailing list, simply send an email
to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send
an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
--------------------------------------------------
       Wallace Coffey, Moderator
         wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
           (423)764-****

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