Youth/School Programs
Jean Ferreira, Ferreira’s Fourth Grade Recycle Ink
The fourth grade ink cartridge recycling program prevents more than 600 cartridges from reaching our landfills every year.
Lynda Swift, E is for the Environmental Studies Center
Co-author/Illustrator of the book I is for Indiantown is using her talents to develop a new book, E is for the Environmental Studies Center, which will showcase illustrations from Martin County students.
Max Wallace, Environmental Studies Center Volunteer
Participation in annual beach cleanups, open houses, fundraisers, construction of a butterfly garden and ESC Counselor, member of the Jensen Beach High School Environmental Club and Envirothon participant.
Betsy Gunderson, Miss Gunderson’s Fourth Grade Class
Participation in numerous projects and activities designed to help students discover ways to help save our earth.
The Recycle Girls, “It’s Your Choice”
Developed a recycling program at Jock Leighten Park, increasing the number of recycling bins from one to 18, and studied the results.
Troop 832 Eagle Scouts, Indiantown Community Outreach Center
Spearheaded a complete overhaul of the Indiantown Community Outreach Center, including interior and exterior painting, fixing windows, repairing holes, constructing an office with a door, landscaping, debris removal and more.
Girl Scouts of America, Junior Girl Scout Troop #30357, Eco Action Ambassadors
Partnered with a local Publix and the South Florida Water Management District to display educational materials on reusable shopping bags and how to be water smart.
Bessey Creek Elementary School, BCE Team Green
Recycling program included placing recycling bins in every classroom and office area. Students in the club voluntarily give up their recess every Tuesday to empty the bins and pickup trash around campus.
Amanda Alker, Environmental Studies Center Volunteer
Participated in several projects, including beach cleanups, nursing and replanting Red Mangroves and serving as a mentor to the younger students at the Center.
Boy Scout Troup 825, Community Involvement
Helped renovate the Gertrude Walden Childcare Center and a historic home in Golden Gate, participated in numerous road cleanups, invasive exotic removal and vegetation cleanups, installed a flag pole for the Boys & Girls Club and more!
Christine Hancox, Proudly Picking Up at Parker
Class collects recycling material from each classroom at JD Parker Elementary School on every Friday. This amounts to more than two tons worth every nine weeks!!
Kathy LaMartina, 2009 Indian River Lagoon Envirothon
Hands-on event teaches children about their environment by conducting in-depth studies of aquatics, forestry, soil, wildlife and more. Over 185 students from six counties participated last year
Devon and Jessie Green, What’s it like, living green?
Environmentally-active sisters are featured in a book that is filled with stories about kids who have gone green.
Missy O’Connor, Hobe Sound Elementary Audubon Club
Forty students meet bi-monthly to learn about the environment and participate in activities such as maintaining nature trail and reading garden, making art projects out of recycled materials and more.
Unsung Hero
Betsy Gunderson, Friends of the Snowy White Doves
Dedicated to rescuing these non-native birds that have no chance of survival in the wild.
Bobby Bolden, Community Volunteer
Volunteered his personal time to renovate the Gertrude Walden Childcare Center and participated in the Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanups.
Catherine Winters, Port Salerno Post Office Beautification
Spearheaded beautification efforts at the Port Salerno Post Office—creating a lasting effect on an important gateway area of Port Salerno.
Diane Rexroad, Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens
Volunteered more than 2,000 hours in Martin County to develop the Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens—the County’s only botanical garden.
Doris Daniel, Community Volunteer
Goes the extra mile to further recycling in the community and has helped increase the number of recycling bins at a local park.
Jennifer Ferrari, Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce
Diligently worked to promote and help facilitate community improvement projects in Hobe Sound including cleanups, beautification to the A1A corridor and the Hobe Sound Mural project.
Kathy FitzPatrick, Martin County Coastal Engineering
Has helped to secure close to $50 million in grant funding for various coastal projects the provide positive benefits to Martin County residents and visitors.
Nadia Utto, Hobe Sound Murals Project
Hobe Sound resident and artist extraordinaire has created five beautiful murals through the heart of Hobe Sound. At least 100 walls have been identified as potential landmarks for the future!
Philip Kemp, Atlantic Ridge State Park
Retired Hobe Sound resident donated more than three hours every Saturday to remove invasive exotics from Atlantic Ridge State Park.
Sarah Elise Rochealu, Certified Butterfly Sanctuary
Created a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Certified Butterfly Sanctuary at her home and shares her knowledge by speaking at botanical gardens, schools and garden clubs!
Suzy DiBartolo, North River Shores beautification
Organized the planting of trees and shrubs, beautification of five parks in the North River Shores area and the replacement of entrance sign.
Kathy Roberts, Retiring Environmental Compliance Administrator
Helping developers create and follow meaningful preservation plans to help preserve the natural beauty of Martin County.
Meg Whitmer, The Reclamation Project of the Treasure Coast
Organized the local program to collect mangrove seedlings and plant mangroves along shorelines.
Non-Profit/Civic Groups
Martin County Fair Association, Environmental Expo
Over a dozen environmental displays were viewed by more than 30,000 attendees at the Martin County Fair.
Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Environmental Grantmaking
Environmental endowment fund provides resources in perpetuity dedicated to developing new approaches to the environmental challenges to our region.
Florida Oceanographic Society, Oyster Gardening and Restoration
Native oysters collected from the St. Lucie Estuary are spawned in the Florida Oceanographic Society aquaculture facility and given to oyster gardeners for nurturing. Once grown, FOS collects and deposits them in old oyster bars throughout the St. Lucie Estuary.
Martin County Anglers Club Reef Fund, Building Artificial Reefs
Helps fund artificial reef projects that provide habitats for fish and other marine organisms. Dozens of artificial reefs have become popular spots for fisherman and divers in Martin County.
Port Salerno Neighborhood Advisory Committee, Port Salerno Neighborhood Advisory Committee
A much-needed facelift was given to the Port Salerno Post office. Improvements included landscaping, debris removal, and installation of a rain barrel to irrigate the landscape.
Habitat for Humanity of Martin County, Homebuilding and Restore Efforts
Habitat beautifies the community by building new homes for deserving families. Additionally, their ReStore’s “Recycle, Reuse” program focuses on reusing home materials and goods with a commitment to green concepts.
Habitat Angels, Gertrude Walden Childcare Center Makeover
Habitat angels made the days a little brighter for 94 preschoolers at the Center thanks to an improvement project that included roof repairs, interior and exterior panting, new carpet, a new entry door, landscaping, mulching and a covered play area!
Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, Club Beautification
A large-scale beautification effort that was coordinated at three Club branches in Hobe Sound, Palm City and East Stuart has also taught children to care for their communities and their Earth.
Government Agencies
City of Stuart, Neighborhood Cleanups
On the second Saturday of each month, the City offers free collection services for yard trash, bulk items, hazardous waste and electronic waste. This encourages residents to trim their landscape and clean out their garbage or shed.
City of Stuart Public Works Department, 2009 Great American Cleanup
Team members from the Turf and Grounds, Streets and Building Maintenance Departments volunteered their lunch hour to plant trees and repair the sprinkler system at the Gertrude Walden Childcare Center. Many Public Works employees also participate din the volunteer effort on Saturday.
Martin County Coastal Engineering, Manatee Pocket Project
The dredging of the Manatee Pocket will restore the historic navigability of this important waterway and the environmental health of the Pocket.
Margo Stahl, UFWS Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Manager
Marine Debris was removed from one mile of Refuge shoreline on the Indian River Lagoon. This need was met through a local marine construction project’s environmental regulatory Public Interest requirement.
Martin County Engineering Department, Tropical Farms Stormwater Quality Improvement Project
The project is designed to capture and treat the first one-inch runoff from approximately 448 acres of property that currently has no water quality treatment.
Martin County Engineering Department, Peck Lake Restoration Project
Exotic vegetation was removed from Peck Lake Park and the 8-acre spoil area was re-vegetated with over 8,000 native maritime hammock and mangrove plants.
Micheal Yustin, Martin County and Ricardo Zambrano, FWC, MC-2 Spoil Island Spartina grasses planting
Over 1,200 Spartina grass plugs were planted on the shoreline of MC-2, a spoil island in the Indian River Lagoon that is one of the most important bird nesting areas in South Florida.
Town Commission of the Town of Jupiter Island, Door to Door Recycling Program
The door-to-door recycling program has been extremely successful with 100 percent participation by the Town’s residents, resulting in the reduction in the amount of waste going into the landfill by one-third.
Business/Professional
Abney & Abney Green Solutions, Green Home Building Services
The local, green building consulting firm is dedicated to sustainable design and construction in Florida.
All Kinds of Clean, Inc., Environmental Initiative
Janitorial service provider has gone through the process of getting Green Seal Certified and is putting their remaining products aside to use only environmentally safe products.
Annie Ryan, Department of Interiors, Certified Green Business Recipient
Received an official Green Business Certification and is committed to conserving energy, recycling and making decisions that benefit the environment in a cost-effective way.
Christopher Milu, Martin County Green Business League
The first Green Business Network in Martin County and on the Treasure Coast that is comprised of expert resources and businesses that are committed to being “green.”
Crossroads Environmental Consultants, Rio Skate Park Improvement Project
Took part in an improvement project at the Rio Skate Park that included removal of exotic plants and trees from preserve areas as well as trash and debris removal. The result was a clear path that assists local police officials with monitoring of the facility.
CSA International, Inc., Martin County Oyster Reef Restoration
Re-establishing oyster population in the St. Lucie Estuary and the Loxahatchee River. The project was one of 50 chosen out of 800 proposals seeking funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Gannescoli Family, Tropical Smoothie Café
Adopted two roads and provides reusable mugs to customers to reduce waste.
Mariner Sands Country Club, Environmental Initiatives
Every department made changes that have been ecologically impactful as well as financially sound, including reducing water consumption by planting native grasses, utilizing recycled mulch, and reducing the use of disposable cups.
Planet Ozone, Green Building
Utilizes solar panels, was made with recycled materials and features natural and organic foods in the convenience store.
Sawgrass Business Center, Environmental Efforts
Built to green standards, participates in commercial recycling and will have solar power that will provide zero utility bills for the individual owners of the space.
Sol, Inc., Solar Lighting for Charities along the Treasure Coast
Donates efficient LED lighting to selected local charities and even provides the installation services!!
Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage, Clean Marina Designation
The 200th marina in Florida to be certified by the Department of Environmental Protection as a Clean Marina.
MB Corp of Martin County, Island Water Sports Building Renovation
Transformed the condemned historical landmark into an aesthetically pleasing, functional commercial landmark.
Eric Johnson Construction, Green Building
Has worked to make green housing affordable for the average person.
Four Fish Marina, Building Renovation
Continued their restoration of an outdated Jensen Beach asset to make it a functional user-friendly boater’s oasis.
Janice and Katie Wacha, The Inn at Tilton Place
Restored and upgraded a historical downtown Jensen Beach home and make it into a bed and breakfast.
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