celery pond

Today again in Farmers’ Market, despite the weather, more signatures on petitions came in asking to save the wetland and not to develop it into a proposed marina. Sentiments are building in many more people. Again and again, we’ve heard, “How can 5 to 7 people decide the fate of a wetland?” Surely the EPA and the MDEQ have been put in place for a reason.

Please email your ward person as the resubmitted plan is on the agenda. You can also come to the meeting on Monday night at City Hall, starting at 7:30pm and speak if you so choose. Let your elected officials know what the voting public wants and believes in.

From Native American quotes given me: “Our Wisdom Keepers tell us that nothing happens outside that doesn’t happen inside. We’re trashing the environment because we are thrashing inside.”

And, an appropriate motto for the Celery Pond Advocates fits the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Hold the vision of a wetland preserved. Hold the vision of an educational/historical museum related to the wetland and watershed. Hold to the vision of thousands of people, children and nature itself, in harmony with one another. Hold to the vision wherein we can proudly realize that in 2006 we consciously made the choice to save and preserve the last wetland on the Black River’s 287-mile watershed as it flows out through South Haven’s piers. That vision is now and can belong to the future.

Yes it is, according to the report of Tyson Edwards, a biologist from the Wildlife Habitat Office in Plainwell. He too was on the site survey of February 1, 2006, with the DNR official and the Fish and Wildlife biologist mentioned in the postings. Based on his review of information, he wrote to Michelle DeLong, DEQ, not to approve the project because of “the ecological importance of the wetland and proximity to Lake Michigan.” He also mentioned the Black River Management Plan which has “categorized this area as Priority 1 and describes it as critical. The plan states that every effort should be made to protect the remaining wetland areas in the watershed.”

Included in his report was an inventory of pond vegetation, species noted only during the inspection so it could not be a complete list. Various grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs were itemized.

He was very clear in his professional evaluation. He wrote, “The proposed marina and boardwalk will directly and negatively impact wetland habitat and the channel to Black River. The proposed work will drastically change the hydrology of this wetland by dredging out the channel and equalizing the water levels in the wetland and the Black River. “

“During years with low water levels, the remaining portions of the wetlands will be devoid of any surface water. The disturbance from the boardwalk and boat traffic will also decrease the use of any remaining wetland by wildlife species. Without a plan to control invasive species, the proposed construction will create disturbed areas that allow invasive plant species to encroach which will further degrade the area.” .

These professionals, and countless other environmental experts say the same thing. The ecological importance of the wetland is a known factor. To disturb it, to suggest that a mitigation site might be given inland as a replacement, is not a successful solution.

Ending with Tyson Edwards’ words, “This wetland…remains valuable to wildlife, due to its proximity and size. It is especially valuable for numerous migrating bird species. This type of wetland provides a roosting site in a major migration corridor along the shores of Lake Michigan. There are very few remaining natural wetlands of this size and quality in this area…..In addition, the wetland provides a floodwater storage area that acts as a filter for sediments and nutrients before entering the river.”

The Celery Pond does have ecological importance. You may think so, but remember, that enviromental professionals know this to be true and support your position. This is not a personal opinion.

I encourage you to either email your Councilman/woman or write a letter to the MDEQ on your thoughts (see yesterday’s mailing details). Be sure to look at these important issues and really think how you and everyone will be affected if the wetland is compromised to satisfy a plan of proposed marina development.

Again, it is believed that this coming Monday, October 2nd, the City Council will be looking at the resubmitted marina plan given the MDEQ by one of the developers. Please come to the meeting and speak during the allotted time. This is a time to stand up and be heard.

Mitigation is a chief concern of the MDEQ decision. Another major concern is the high or low impact such a proposed project will have on the wetland. These two main issues determine the professional evaluation of any project involving environmental quality at a state level.

The Fish and Wildlife Service in East Lansing, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior had its field supervisor, Craig A. Czarnecki write his comments to Walter Gauthier, Chief, of the Permit Evaluation Office (US Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit) in February 2006, when the permit application for the marina/channel cut was first considered. This permit, which would have been denied by the MDEQ, had 195 slips proposed in the open space of Celery Pond and a mitigation site far away, out in the country, not next to a waterway.

Pero’s resubmitted plan of August 28th has 40 less slips (taken out around the border of the Pond, next to First Choice Marina).  Pero’s resubmitted plan proposes 155 slips in a marina that would be owned by himself (145) and First Choice Marina (10). Pero’s portion, so designated, really involves the area/slips of a City marina on City land, but is waiting their approval or not. This new plan still creates major impact to the Pond by taking up the open space of water just like the first idea. Again, this plan was drawn up without Council knowledge or approval, but the Council has yet to decide on its action in regard to the reactivated MDEQ file.

What does it mean that the City Council has not officially closed the file at MDEQ? We’ve been told that this issue will be an item in this coming Monday’s agenda. If so, it is suggested that you call your ward person or email them to express your views <www.south-haven.com> or, come to Monday’s meeting to speak during the agenda discussion when public comment is given.

Just what is in the interior of the Celery Pond wetland now? The comments below were given by a biologist in the Fish and Wildlife Service who visited the site on February 1, along with Scott Hanshue from the DNR (yesterday’s post). His comments recommended “against the issuance of a permit for the proposed work.” At the same time the report supported a “replacement of the culvert at the existing road crossing.” This was based on “significant concerns ” over the first plan.

“Dredging the wetland would eliminate breeding habitat for migratory birds, amphibians and fish. While eliminating the shallow water nursery and spawning habitat for fish, deepening the wetland and connecting channel may allow for year-round use by fish, which can be a significant predator on amphibians. Further, excavating the existing channel and installing steel sheetpile would eliminate the shallow water and riparian habitat for aquatic insects and invertebrates, important elements in the aquatic food web.” Also of major impact was the fact that wetlands “disconnected from the river would not replace the functions and values lost as a result of the proposed project.”

A few less slips along the border of the pond, such as Pero now suggests, would still greatly affect Celery Pond’s wetland interior. Dredging into the Pond for 155 slips will have an impact much like the report that has been quoted above. And the new mitigation site (which now has a water stream in its new location) is even farther away from Celery Pond than the first proposal.

The City Council, instead of asking to quickly close the MDEQ file (which would have deactivated it) as was first thought would happen, has chosen to wait, ie to take a look at Pero’s resubmitted plan and discuss it. We believe this will be on the agenda this Monday night, October 2nd, with meeting starting at 7:30pm. What will be their decision of action? Will they say they want no involvement with this resubmitted plan? Or, will they take an action to consider it?

The CPA suggests that you contact your local ward representative by email or phone with specifics. The professional comments given in the past few postings are some reasons. Other reasons to oppose any marina/channel cut is that Dunkley Avenue would be no longer be an emergency road access to reach the North Beach, and the harbor is at full capacity and does not need more boat slips.

As the MDEQ file is open, you can also write to Michelle Delong, file manager <delongmc@michigan.gov> or Kameron Jordan <jordank@michigan.gov>, both at the MDEQ. Address your letter on the subject of the South Haven Marina proposed and please give the file no. for the case: DEQ File No.05-80-0061-P

If you want to write a letter, their address is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality,
Land & Water Management Quality, 7953 Adobe Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009-5026.

The 23 acres of open water, with vegetated wetland within Celery Pond connect to Black River by a small stream. Scott Hanshue, MDNR Fisheries Management Biologist in the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, gave a professional analysis of Celery Pond back in March 2006 to the MDEQ file manager, Michelle Delong, when the first application for permit was being considered. His on site review provided understanding of the situation at hand.

“During our February 1 site review, I noted that although the channel connecting the pond to the Black River is likely used by a variety of smaller fish species, in its current condition the poorly constructed road crossing may represent a barrier to larger individuals. This could be mitigated through the removal and installation of a properly designed crossing. From a landscape perspective Celery Flats Pond is locally unique and represents the only remaining habitat of this type in the lower Black River area.” Rather than dredging a large channel as reason to help the fish (argument used by one of the developers), I’ve been told by a qualified source that two aluminium poles and a wire mesh could alleviate the fish problem mentioned above.

Hanshue continued that the proposed mitigation sites “are isolated from the mainstem of the Black River and in their current condition do not exhibit characteristics of typical candidate sites. It is questionable if attempts to create wetland habitat on either site would be successful. Because these sites are isolated from the mainstem of the Black River, even successfully created wetlands could not be considered compensation for the loss of the existing resource benefits by Celery Flats Pond.”

“The proposed dredging will result in the removal of shallow habitats used as spawning and rearing habitats for fish, amphibians and reptiles. Additionally, the proposed sheet piling will represent a barrier to and from the water for amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife that require access to upland areas. Because the proposed project will result in significant impacts to the fish and other aquatic resources and the proposed mitigtion site will not compensate for the loss of these resources, I recommend MDEQ not issue a permit for the proposed project.”

Other than fewer slips in the Pond, the resubmitted plan, pending in the MDEQ file, would have similar impact because of the disturbance that would be created by a channel cut/marina dredging. As long as this file is open, you can write letters to the MDEQ expressing your concerns.

The Celery Pond Advocates meeting is tonight at 6:15pm at the public library. We hope to see you.

What does mitigation mean? It means trying to re-locate a wetland that will be disturbed from its natural balances by an artifical intrusion of man’s making such as a marina. Accurate sources have told me that the success rate in such an attempted move is not good.

After all, how do you road sign birds and animal life to an artifically created wetland out in the country, landlocked and up to 5 miles distant from the present location, as is the case in the Celery Pond mitigation sites proposed and presented to the MDEQ officials. If the birds and wetland life are in the wetland because of the moist environment of the river and lake and that uniqueness, how would the wide open spaces of farmed country attract the same. And again, how do you encourage them to move on? Or will they not survive?

The original mitigation site proposed by the three developers, the City of South Haven, 1st Choice Marine and J&B Landing, was on acreage owned by Pero off 66th/Phoenix street, a landlocked area. Matthew MacGregor, from King & Macgregor, acted on behalf of these three in the original paperwork with the MDEQ and received notice on March 8, 2006, about one month before the group withdrew their application, that “The Corps of Engineers alone is responsible for reaching a decision on the merits of your Department of the Army permit application,” written by John Konik, Chief, Regulatory Office Engineering and Technical Services, Department of the Army in Detroit offices. Prime concern given at that time by Konik, was on the impact of the wetland and the mitigation site being far from the river.

On May 18, 2006, another letter to MacGregor by the Department of the Army Project Manager, Henry Rosenfield, referred to the MDEQ letter (dated April 14, 2006, by Michelle DeLong to the City of South Haven with cced developers of Pero/Schlack included, and MacGregor and Rosenfield) which indicated that the MDEQ had “ceased processing and withdrawn your clients’ application. The MDEQ letter stated that is would resume processing if your clients submit a modified proposal with reduced impacts meeting specific criteria.”

On August 28, 2006, Barney Pero and a representative from King & MacGregor met with two MDEQ officials to present the re-submitted plan. This is what my FOIA telephone request revealed, if you remember on Friday, September 15th. The following Friday, September 22nd, with the file still open, I spoke to a MDEQ official who had been cced copy of a letter written from King & MacGregor to Kevin Anderson, apologizing for the August 28th meeting, thinking that the City of South Haven was in this go-ahead action.

To consider all these questions, please come to the next Celery Pond Advocates meeting, tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 27th at 6:15pm at the South Haven Public Library on Broadway, with parking next to it and the Post Office. This information and other matters, will be discussed.

National Wildlife Federation publishes a magazine, “Ranger Rick” with all sorts of educational information given for schoolchildren. Over the weekend someone gave me a June 2003 magazine with a neat article on “The Secret Life of Ponds.” The article, written by Elizabeth Schleichert, is not dated by any means. As the headlines to it read, “exploring a pond can open your eyes to a whole new world. See for yourself!”

The article encourages its readers to get up close to a pond to really see all the creatures living in one. The same holds true for Celery Pond. The sound of ducks and geese quaking near the Pond alert you that water is nearby. You might even hear a frog or turtle hit the water with a loud “plunk” if you’re standing near. Then too is the red-winged blackbird, so prevalent near the Pond, making its noisy kon-ka-ree sounds.

Taking the young readers to a closer look at the pond’s edge, the article points the looker to the ground to see if any tracks are near. Much like our pond, foxes, raccoons, even skunks leave marks. Of course it’s common too to see the great blue heron, perched or wading in the water, waiting for a frog or fish to come to surface to eat. If you stay long enough, you might even catch sight of dragonflies and the green frogs.

In determining if a permit should be given to a wetland project, such as the one originally proposed, or the one recently resubmitted to the MDEQ for approval, many letters of evaluation are given by various government agencies and their specialists. The letters, written in the spring are in the file on Celery Pond at the MDEQ. They were all negative to approving any permit. If you’d like a pdf copy of these official documents on the specifics of why the original permit would have been denied, please email the blog. celerypond@lycos.com

This week I’ll be giving some direct quotes from those letters. If you want to walk around the Pond, you can do so by way of Dunkley, turning at Bailey and onto Conger. As this is all privately held, with the exception of the 5 acres of City land that is mostly in the open water area (and has a small frontage on Bailey only), you can actually turn from Conger at Prospect, and just below the Animal Hospital is a nice parking area and view of the Pond. It’s my favorite spot to meditate. Songbirds are abundant at night, and swallows do figure eight patterns over the cattail reeds. You can also hearing the symphony of frog sounds.

Last Friday, after driving out east on Phoenix Road to find the first mitigation site (just off Phoenix south on 66th Street) that was suggested, I also located the new mitigation site (between 64th and 66th Street near 8th Avenue/Phoenix) which was proposed by the resubmitted plan. When seeing each site, I felt an incredible hollowness.

How can you create a wetland habitat that would be successful so far from the mainstream of Black River? It’s almost 5 miles away from Celery Pond. As one DNR official observed in his report in March 2006: “It is questionable if attempts to create wetland habitat on either site (ie.those identified) would be successful. Because these sites are isolated from the mainstream of the Black River, even successfully created wetlands could not be considered compensation for the loss of the existing resource benefits provided by Celery Flats Pond.”

In driving back to town, the 5 miles seemed a long, long way to expect the teeming life of Celery Pond to be able to move. Surely the amphibians would never make it. I spotted a magnificent blue heron, perched on one leg, in Celery Pond, and knew that the DNR official’s remarks were accurate. Also, in my heart, the answer is to the question of ever considering touching Celery Pond to accommodate a commercial need, was obvious. If, after walking the Pond, you would drive out to the areas mentioned above, I’m sure you might have a greater understanding of what mitigation really involves.

Let’s hope that today we will get an official answer on the status of the file and the position of the City Council. Any news on this status, will be posted as soon as possible.

Just a quick inventory of events to show the growing awareness that the Celery Pond Advocates have been able to organize. Two Community Walks and two Farmers’ Markets have brought in over 86 signatures, agreeing that Celery Pond should remain a wetland and the adjacent public lands should stay in public hands. Individual CPA members are also passing around petitions.

I checked in with the MDEQ on Friday to see the status of the file. The file at mid-day was still open but there is the plan to deactivate it.

There’s much ahead of us in terms of events. Please make a note that Wednesday night’s location has changed back to our usual place, the community room at the library (as the average size of our meeting attendance requires roominess with lots of chairs. ) We hope to meet at “Whimsy” for a special event like a cocktail party soon. So, mark your calendars for the next CPA meeting at 6:15p, this Wednesday at the SH Public Library.

Because of the weather, I didn’t make it down to the public lands yesterday to light sage to honor the first day of fall (equinox) and the Indians, who must have loved the magic of Black River and its twists and turns throughout the watershed. Here is another quote, from the Indian Chief, Rolling Thunder, appropriate for us every day, but particularly on Sunday:

“Yes, I still live. I sing ancient songs of spiritual man. What is he, after all, but his own song and spirit, after his body is given back to the Earth Mother and Sky Father. The nations and the great cosmic family know one of their own. They know who I am and where I dwell. Even now, at times, I come face to face with one of the nations. When they leave the ordinary world and go in search of ancient truths about the universe that only spirits can bring, they call out to me. In one magic moment, they reaffirm what they have always known. And my spirit cannot stop from darting out to them.

The Great Spirit is the Life that is in all things — all creatures and plants and even rocks and minerals. All things and I mean all things — have their own will and their own way and their own purpose.”

The words of Rolling Thunder still can echo in our hearts and minds, especially when we read his wisdom.

It is clear from the notice of the City Manager given to the MDEQ that the City Council has not been involved in the reapplication of a permit that was resubmited to the government offices on 8/28/06. This means that further meetings scheduled by MDEQ with local developers have not only been cancelled but that the whole file could be de-activated. We are waiting for that news. This information was given to the CPA members in Wednesday night’s meeting held at the Library.

The Celery Pond Advocates are beginning to expand upon their sharing of the dream of a wetland that will be preserved/restored and a Community Park. One CPA member, Margaret Amar, mentioned that it is important to always carry forward “positive thinking” to reach our goals.

In light of these events, it was reported that the Farmers’ Market and the Second Community Walk are gathering names of a growing number of people who want to keep the public lands and the wetland. (So far, 65 people have signed petitions.) CPA will be at the Farmers’ Market again this Saturday with a table full of information, petitions to sign and of course, doughnut holes from Bundies for sale. (Last week we had almost $90 from donations, going through about 2 boxes of those yummy delights!)

Put it in your calendars: The next CPA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27th at 6:15pm at the Library.

An old wisdom to remember is that the dream can be manifested as the positive thoughts create their own momentum. It’s a little like an Indian pow-wow.

Last Sunday, just before the Second Community Walk, I had gone downtown to buy a stapler. Instead, I found a wonderful furry stuffed turtle. The turtle is now our mascot and will undoubtedly end up in our official logo. The current logo, a celery stalk, doesn’t render so well on the calling cards. Some people have thought it to be a paint brush, not a bad idea, but a turtle seems well-suited for the changing times. I’ll have a sketch of that logo in the next Wednesday’s meeting.

The Mother Turtle and the Turtle Clans of Indian culture are known to represent the wisdom of the grandmother and the feminine energy. (Recommended book on that subject is by Jamie Sams, The 13 Original Clan Mothers). As we are sharing the dream with such positive thinking, we are birthing a new creation which we all can share, ie. the People themselves, not just a limited few. What a “grand-child” we’ll be awaiting, not only for our own delight but also for our children and our grand-children.

Some Indian sayings along those lines were given by another artist friend who loves to collect quotes.

“The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected, like the blood that unites one family. This we know.” Chief Seattle

“We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to outselves.” Unknown

“Treat the Earth well, it was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children.” Ancient Proverb

“First let us remove all negative thoughts from our minds so we can come together as one.”

Cherokee Prayer

Today is a Dark Moon (New Moon) at 7:45am EDT: This is a particularly good time to set an intention for the future. We can all share the dream of a lovely Community Park and nature sanctuary of the wetland. Perhaps it might even be renamed. With all these lovely thoughts and efforts forthcoming, Turtle Bay might be more appropriate for the times. After all, I did spot that small, ancient-looking turtle near Bailey on my evening walk with Sharon Mack from the Art Center. That, for me, was a blessing and a sign.

Tomorrow. September 23rd is the Equinox at 12:03am EDT: Equinox is the balance of Earth/Sky energies and also ushers in the first day of Fall. A celebration in the public lands might be a nice thing to do.

After the Farmers’ Market, I plan to go over to the public lands with sage and my walking shoes. I’ll be bringing bird and sunflower seeds, corn and whatever else seems appropriate from the Farmers’ Market to scatter on the ground and to honor the Earth-Sky connection. (The Turtle Clan Mothers would probably do the same for the 21st century.) You’ll find me parked near the Black River Park/Boat Launch around 2:30pm. Please come along for a fall welcoming. Tobacco is also appropriate to bring if you have some.

After an early morning visit to the MDEQ offices in Kalamazoo yesterday, I walked away with the most recent file entries since July 25th, my last visit. A copy of the resubmitted marina/channel cut plan was waiting in my mailbox when I got home.

In a conversation with Kameron Jordan from MDEQ, last Friday, I asked who was on that plan. All three applicants, he told me. I decided not to release this information until I had seen the Mitchell plan and investigated further. I mentioned the resubmitted plan to the Walk group and on the blog on Monday and Tuesday of this week, as well as trying to contact both City Manager Kevin Anderson and Mayor Dorothy Appleyard on the application status. They both responded that Council had not acted on it.

With all this in mind, I wanted to talk to Kameron Jordon further and he was kind enough to meet with me while I was doing my FOIA request visit. I mentioned the July 10th workshop wherein Barney Pero had talked to Council, info which was posted on the blog in early August but due to a correction and technical reasons, was not put back into the blog. It did however run for several days before it was removed. Then last week, on September 14th, I took from that August entry to quote the information on the Prism studies. What I did not re-enter was the following information and it will refresh all of our memories.

Following the chronology of events of the Prism studies (last week’s entry) I wrote: “On April 12, 2006, the three applicants met with the MDEQ officials to receive their comments. The MDEQ said that the permit would be denied in its current form, based on their review. City Manager Kevin Anderson, present at the meeting, said that “some guidance of their specific concerns was given..” with options available to the applicants as outlined by the MDEQ (from Manager’s Report ot the City Council workshop Agenda 17 on May 15, 2006)….

“To quote from Kevin Anderson’s report to the Council in May, “Given the fact that the MDEQ shared specific concerns that may be able to be addressed, the prudent decision was to withdraw application so that adequate time could be taken to decide whether or not it is worth continuing efforts to address these stated concerns. On April 14, 2006, the permit application was withdrawn by the applicants.” This means the reapplication deadline would be October 15, 2006. (Note: In Council workshop they agreed to wait on any action.)

“Anderson also advised the Council to consider completing the “Abonmarche Study.” By July 10, 2006, the Council convened in a workshop session to complete the fifth Abonmarche meeting. Topic of workshop discussion was the public land distributions in the entire area of the Dunkley Street Redevelopment. Working from “Plan A” of the latest Abonmarche document (an image which included the 60′channel cut, the interruption/dead ending of the Dunkley Street roadway, and the 187 slip marina space with added public boardwalk around its perimeter), the Council members Tim Stegeman, Dave Paull, Bill Bradley, Vikke Andersen, Janet Fahs, and moderator, Scott Smith, voted on whether to let the public land holdings go into potential private development.

“Though not unanimous, the Council voted to turn 4 of the 5 pieces over to private opportunities. They also endorsed an extension of Broadway to reach the area. They moved to allow for a wide paved turn-around to be made near the present Dunkley Ditch in case of “future” channel/marina development. (Note: Mayor Dorothy Appleyard had had a death in the family and was unable to attend this meeting.) (Also note: the 5th piece was the the Celery Pond parcel of public lands, assuming the Wastewater Treatment Plant remains in its present position.)

“Is the issue over? Apparently not, because Barney Pero asked the Council in this July 10th workshop if they were still in favor of the marina. Dave Paull responded that they had not said “no” but were discussing the future land allocations. Pero said he planned to pursue the reapplication to meet the October 15, 2006, deadline. This point was not mentioned in the Meeting Summary Notes given to the Council (and public on-line) the following week when the Council workshop met at 6:30pm on July 17, 2006, to OK the summary notes.”

I remember that Andrew Lersten had written an article for the Herald Palladium on July 8th, just before that meeting that “Some of the issues that the council will have to address at the workshop include:

• Whether the channel to the Celery Pond should be kept in the plans.
  

• Identify property in the area that should be considered for commercial and residential development, including the city-owned former sites of the public works barns on Dunkely.

Because of Pero’s remark and because of a meeting that I had had with him the day of the first Community Walk on August 15th, when I asked him permission to walk on his land that night, I felt that the marina/channel cut would be reapplied for. This is why the FOIA from MDEQ was requested last week to check on any activity might have come into the account since my July visit.

With the current situation of a reactivated MDEQ file because of a resubmission, but with one of the applicant signees, the City of South Haven, having not agreed to seek the permit and who have said that “they didn’t even know Barney Pero was trying to reactivate the application to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality” (Lersten’s September 20, 2006 Herald Palladium article), the file will be deactivated as soon as possible, according to Kameron Jordan.

Is the issue over? We are waiting to hear on the status of the file. As long as it is open, you can still send letters to express your views for public record. Due to this situation, materials from the efforts of the Celery Pond Advocates to save the wetlands have been entered into the MDEQ files.

We’re moving ahead with full intention to preserve the wetland, and possibly to preserve the public lands adjacent to it.  We will be drawing up sketches and plans to make a wonderful wetland/educational and Community Park. Notes on last night’s meeting will be posted tomorrow.

Another quote passed on by an artist friend has inspired today’s post. It reads:

“Sometimes the first duty

of intelligent men is

the restatement of the obvious.”

George Orwell

Tonight we will have another Celery Pond Advocates Meeting at the Public Library at 6pm. We hope you can come to hear the restatement of the obvious. Two Community Walks with a total of 100 people attending, with many others interested, means that people are really coming foward to say once again to the City’s elected officials: “We want to keep the public lands in public hands.”

To do this means to slow down the plans for extensive private development and it could offer space for an alternative park plan to be worked on. A Park design in the Black River properties would benefit the whole community.

The economy seems to be working for us as it is slowing down. One bank advisor in town said that the real estate market from the $200-$400K range is not moving. Forget about tax capture with this statistic, ie don’t go out taking on huge bids to do ambitious projects. This is a restatement of the obvious.

I emailed a local journalist, Andrew Lersten of the South Haven Tribune and The Herald Palladium to read the blog from the past 2 days, hoping that the news of the Community Walk would interest him, as much as the news of the revised marina/channel cut blueprint plan that is in the MDEQ file. (Last Friday in inquiring on a FOIA request, I discovered it had been received on August 28, 2006.) This has led Andrew to write a story that will run in today’s Palladium, so look for it.

While the revised blueprint holds the name of all three developers on it, (J&B Landing, First Choice Marina and the City of South Haven), the City Manager said that the Council has not taken any action on the resubmission of permit application. We will wait to see what transpires.

And to give confidence to all preserving spirits, another quote given by another artist friend:

“Do not let the fact that things are not made for you,

that conditions are not as they should be, stop you.

Go on anyway.

Everything depends on those who go on anyway.”

Robert Henri