Staff Reporter

Coral Springs Says Water District Broke Law, ‘Misled’ Customers on Ballot Question • Coral Springs Talk

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons at Wednesday’s commission meeting. “The President of Coral Springs Improvement District decided to falsely accuse me of violating a state law all because I dared to ask people to vote Yes on the November 8th ballot…”

By Kevin Deutsch

The Coral Springs Improvement District, a quasi-governmental agency providing water to thousands of city residents, used its official newsletter this month to attack Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons and publish what the city said were false statements that violated state law, according to the city attorney.

In a letter sent to the CSID Wednesday, Coral Springs City Attorney John Hearn said a full-page article in the district’s latest newsletter—authored by CSID Board of Supervisors President Dr. Martin Shank—made a false claim about Simmons.

According to Hearn, Shank also misled ratepayers about an upcoming referendum vote that could change the way the CSID’s leaders are elected.

“Those misleading statements violate…Florida Statutes which require factual information be posted on a website,” Hearn said in his letter sent on the city’s behalf.

The public dispute stems from a Nov. 8 referendum item that, if passed, will subject the CSID’s Board of Supervisors—and leaders of all special water districts in Florida—to election by popular vote among ratepayers.

District supervisors are elected solely by landowners in their coverage area, with larger landowners given outsized influence.

The election system, an exception to “one person, one vote,” is sometimes called “one acre, one vote.”

According to Hearn, Shank’s article wrongly claimed that Simmons violated state law when he sent an email from his private email address urging residents to vote “yes” on the referendum.

In his letter to the CSID, Hearn called Shank’s allegation about Simmons false, “irresponsible, and without basis.”

At a city commission meeting Wednesday, Simmons blasted Shank for the article and called the district election system a relic of the Jim Crow era.

“Dr. Martin Shank, you are a liar…and a coward,” said Simmons. “How dare you use my assessment money that I pay to the [CSID] to send out a mailer to 14,000 people saying I violated a law.”

“You may not agree that I’m telling people to vote “yes” on this ballot initiative, but I’m sorry, I don’t think there should be a problem asking people to go and vote for those who are taking in assessment monies. And I’m not talking about just the largest landowners, which…is a Jim Crow legacy.”

“If you pay anything into an organization, and it’s supposed to be a public body, you should have a vote regardless of how much land you own or how little land you own. And that is what this initiative is doing.”

Shank on Friday said he stood by his newsletter article and maintained Simmons had broken the law with his email message.

“I stand by what I wrote in the newsletter. You should read the statute. [Simmons’] use of the title vice mayor is a violation of the statute,” said Shank.

The CSID has a $20 million budget this year and, like its counterpart agencies across Florida, can levy taxes, special assessments, and fees.

The referendum vote is the result of a slate of bills sponsored by state Rep. Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In addition to changing how supervisors are elected, it would add two members to the district board.

The local water districts impacted by the referendum serve over 40,000 residents in Coral Springs and Parkland. They include the CSID (HB 1495 ), Pine Tree Water Control District (HB 1499), Sunshine Drainage District (HB 1501 ), and North Springs Improvement District (HB 1503).

According to Hearn, the CSID also broke state law when it misled residents in a separate article published on its official website. “That article falsely claimed that “a NO vote on the amendment would mean our district will remain the same as it is now” and made several misleading claims about the referendum item, Hearn said.

According to the CSID, the agency is a public, community water agency that provides tap water to about 40,000 residents living within the 33071 ZIP code.

Formed in 1966 by the Florida State legislature as the Coral Springs Drainage District and established as the Coral Springs Improvement District in 1970, the purpose of CSID is to “provide drinking water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, flood control and canal maintenance,” according to the agency.

The CSID’S Board of Supervisors consists of Shank, a doctor of podiatric medicine, Len Okyn, the board’s vice president, and Chuck Sierra, the board’s secretary, according to the CSID website.

Send Your News to Coral Springs #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t miss reading Margate Talk, Parkland Talk, and Tamarac Talk.

Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.

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Rep. Courtney proposes legislation to address mold, issues in public housing

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, is pushing for a federal mold standard and proposing legislation to help address the living conditions at Branford Manor, a federally subsidized housing complex in the City of Groton.

Courtney said he plans to introduce legislation that would give the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development more enforcement tools to address situations, like at Branford Manor, where residents are complaining of mold. Courtney said there’s no mold regulation either at the state or the federal level, and that needs to change.

“Tenant activism really has exposed the need for the law to change,” Courtney said Friday.

Courtney explained that while current federal housing regulations provide a road map for HUD to use its enforcement powers to remediate 13 aspects of housing issues, such as indoor air quality, water supply, and lead-based paint, there is no standard for specifically remediating mold.

He said awareness of mold is much higher than it was 10 or 20 years ago, but the law has lagged behind.

HUD also is working on new standards, called the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), that prioritize “health, safety, and functional defects over appearance,” support “the adoption of sound, year-round maintenance practices,” and incorporate resident surveys, the federal agency said in a statement earlier this week.

“The Department’s focus is on ensuring safe, decent, affordable homes for all the people we serve,” the agency said in statement Friday. “The NSPIRE inspection standard that is in development now incorporates a standard for the identification and classification of “mold-like-substance” observed during the inspection. Our existing inspection standards also allow inspectors to note deficiencies related to mold.“

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, ““Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.”

Courtney’s office said in a news release that the proposed comprehensive legislation will encompass “requiring more frequent and comprehensive HUD inspections of private properties in which tenants receive federal housing vouchers, supporting property owners to make fixes needed to keep units in a state of good repair, creating a streamlined reporting system for tenants, and supporting HUD’s work to create a federal mold standard.”

Courtney, who said he will continue to stay in contact with HUD, said in a statement the Branford Manor issue “has exposed some real gaps in housing policy—chiefly, that a nationwide federal standard on mold safety has never actually been established for HUD-supported housing.”

He added that “HUD needs that sort of solid standard so that they’ve a baseline to measure remediation efforts against, and so they can take action when situations like this arise.” The legislation would provide “building owners with the resources to make fixes, and tenants with an avenue to make their voices heard if they’re living in unsafe conditions.”

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who held a press conference at Branford Manor, and Chris Murphy sent a letter to HUD this week calling for the federal agency to overhaul its standards to better detect issues in public housing.

The town and city recently voted to hold Related Companies, the owner of the housing complex, in default of a tax incentive agreement and to give the owner 30 days, from the compliance date, to address each violation.

Related said in a statement earlier this week that its “entire focus is on taking the aggressive measures necessary to ensure that the current issues at Branford Manor are addressed so that residents feel safe and comfortable in their homes. We will continue to stay in constant communication with HUD, the City and Town of Groton including the mayor, local officials and agencies, as well as state officials, regarding the comprehensive strategy and progress to ensure all of the necessary repairs are completed as quickly as possible.”

k.drelich@theday.com

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While clean water isn’t a partisan issue, it is a faith issue

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

(RNS) — Water is both sacred and the cradle of life. It connects us to one another. We all have relationships with bodies of water, whether that be with the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, a local creek, wetland or river or a nearby lake. These places are vital to our health and wellbeing but also help us spiritually connect.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act — legislation that helped clean up waterways across the nation — we must use all the tools available to ensure clean water is available in all our communities. Ensuring clean water often means properly stewarding upstream waters and wetlands. With more than 117 million people in the U.S. receiving their drinking water from public systems fed in whole or in part by intermittent, headwater, and ephemeral streams, protecting these waters is paramount.

The Clean Water Rule, which the Environmental Protection Agency put in place to designate which waterways were protected under the Clean Water Act, helps ensure safe drinking water for communities. The Clean Water Rule protects nearly one-third of all Americans’ drinking water from pollution.

Despite the reality that water is not bound to particular waterways but is connected, the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case that could change which waters are protected under the Clean Water Rule and eliminate certain wetlands and waters from protection. This would have severe repercussions to clean drinking water in Virginia and across the U.S.

In Virginia, we have a lot of water to protect: 249,000 miles of streams, 322,000 acres of lakes, 1,600 springs, and approximately 1 million acres of wetlands that provide flood protection, pollution filtration and essential wildlife habitat. For a state that values its lakes, streams and waterways, as well as public health, a robust Clean Water Rule is crucial.

Clean water is not a luxury. Clean water is integral to all human communities and the rest of the Earth. Which is why it makes common sense to ensure our common good through clean water protections. While clean water isn’t a partisan issue, it is a faith issue. Water is central to many faith traditions and most sacred ceremonies: washing, baptism, forgiveness. Religious traditions across the spectrum attend to justice and urge us to properly steward the Earth. In addition to our call to be faithful stewards of the Earth, our faith traditions teach us to care for vulnerable populations, including communities of color and low-income communities.

Regional studies and stories from across the country document the water struggles of these communities and demonstrate that there is much progress to be made before water justice is achieved in the United States. There are numerous instances where these communities are disproportionately burdened by water degradation, ranging from lack of clean drinking water to higher exposure to fish contamination.

The removal of clean water protections for wetlands, such as the Supreme Court is considering in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, leaves too much to chance. Specifically, it puts more than 117 million people at risk for pollution and would be highly detrimental to wildlife.

Protecting clean water is a moral call. The Clean Water Rule helps us, as a country, protect one of the most important elements of creation: clean water. We have a duty to care for these essential, life-giving waters.

(Cassandra Carmichael is the executive director of National Religious Partnership for the Environment. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)

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EPA Announces $3.65 Million Grant to Rural Community Assistance Partnership to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Projects will advance goals of Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan; grant funding delivers on President’s Justice40 Initiative

October 21, 2022

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 21, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the projects selected to receive over $30 million in grant funding under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, including $3.65 million to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). This grant funding, and additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make rapid progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country.

“A pillar of our work at EPA is ensuring that every person in every community has safe drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “The science on lead is settled – there is no safe level of exposure. This grant funding will help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and should be used to support underserved communities that are most at risk for exposure.”

“Region 7 is a rural region and this grant to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership is an important way EPA is investing in reducing childhood lead exposure in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister.

“RCAP plays a key role in fostering the technical, managerial, and financial capacity for our nation’s small water systems,” said Olga Morales-Pate, CEO of RCAP. “We are pleased to lead and coordinate this project to help small water systems, rural schools, and child care centers overcome systemic lead-related challenges, and we thank EPA for investing in our rural infrastructure and communities.”

Other selected projects are:

National Priority Area 1 – Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation’s Drinking Water Systems through Infrastructure and Treatment Improvements

City of Trenton, New Jersey – $5,530,000
City of Fall River, Maine – $10,000,000
Detroit, Michigan, Water and Sewerage Dept. – $5,000,000

National Priority Area 2 – Reduction of Children’s Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities

Hawaii Dept. of Health – $2,000,000
School District of Philadelphia – $4,999,658

These selected projects will assist disadvantaged communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water. These projects will work to further the goals of the Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, in addition to the Justice40 Initiative, which seeks to deliver 40% of benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities in need.

Learn more about this grant and EPA’s WIIN grant programs.

Background

Lead poses serious health risks to both children and adults – children are especially vulnerable. Low-income and other historically underserved communities typically experience high levels of lead in their drinking water because they are disproportionately served by lead service lines. The six new projects selected across the country will receive grant funding under the WIIN Act through the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water grant program.

To date, over 2,400 lead service line replacements have been completed as a result of support from that grant program.

In addition to this announcement of funding availability, the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water WIIN grant program also awarded over $1 million in grant awards toward tribal lead reduction projects coordinated through interagency agreements between Indian Health Services and EPA. Additionally, EPA is working with states, tribes, and territories to award additional grant funding through EPA’s two other drinking water grant programs established by WIIN – the Voluntary Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care grant program and the Small, Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities (SUDC) Grant.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

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Vermont Woodlands Association names Forrer executive director

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Woodlands Association recently welcomed Kate Forrer as the group’s new executive director. Kate joins the VWA after working in forestry outreach & education at the University of Vermont Extension. Through her work at UVM Extension, Kate partnered with VWA in the past on many projects that served Vermont’s forests.

Kate’s passion for forestry comes from a personal as well as a professional place as she and her husband recently became owners of 130 acres of forest in Tunbridge, VT. Stewarding and exploring their property is something she enjoys along with her husband and three children. As a woodland owner herself she understands the rewards and challenges of caring for forest land.

Kate takes over the VWA from Kathleen Wanner who faithfully led the group from its beginning. Kate is grateful for and humbled by Kathleen’s example saying, “I have learned so much from her as a friend, colleague and mentor. She has always been a strong advocate for forests in Vermont bringing integrity and passion to her work every day. I am grateful to have had her steadfast support in this transition and acknowledge that she has left me with some big boots to fill!”

Kate looks forward to bringing her own experience and passion for forestry to the group and joining it with the many VWA members who are just as dedicated and passionate about Vermont woodlands. She said of the VWA members, “Thank you for your passion for Vermont’s forests, and your continued support of Vermont Woodlands Association. I look forward to stewarding this organization into its next chapter with you!”

Kate will be at the VWA Annual Meeting on October 29th and looks forward to getting to know her fellow members. There is still time to register for the event if you would like to attend. To register click here or visit the VWA website at www.vermontwoodlands.org.

Vermont Woodlands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose mission is to advocate for the management, sustainability, perpetuation, and enjoyment of forests through the practice of excellent forestry that employs highly integrated management practices that protect and enhance both the tangible and intangible values of forests – including clean air and water, forest products, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, recreation, scenic beauty, and other resources – for this and future generations.

We strive to educate, train, and support private forest landowners in sound management practices concerning wildlife, water, wood, and recreation. We do this by managing and enhancing the American Tree Farm System® Program in Vermont. We work with all forestry-related groups to coordinate opportunities for landowners to network, meet natural resource professionals, and learn about management practices and program. VWA sponsors educational programs for teachers and students to produce future stewards of Vermont’s forests. We encourage efforts to promote and retain programs at the state and national levels to support private forestry.

RUTLAND, VT. –The Vermont Woodlands Association vermontwoodlands.org

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The effects of sugar in drinking water on Streptococcus pyogenes colonisation in a murine nasopharyngeal infection model

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

We observed a significantly higher bacterial burden in the nasopharynx of mice given 50% sucrose in their drinking water compared to controls during the first 3 days post infection. This observation was mirrored at later timepoints but was no longer significant as the bacterial burden became more heterogenous in both groups. One limitation of using bioluminescence as a surrogate for bacterial burden is the high detection limit of 104 CFU7. We therefore also used a second measure by assessing nasal shedding of bacteria by direct sampling. A corresponding, but non-significant trend was observed, where increased shedding was observed in the sucrose group.

How sucrose in drinking water increases the bacterial burden in the nasopharynx has not been addressed in this study, however, it may be that the presence of sucrose in the local environment provides optimal growth conditions for the bacteria. Indeed, S. pyogenes relies heavily on sugar fermentation for growth and energy production. Changes in environmental pH resulting from sugar fermentation can also lead to microcolony and biofilm formation, that are beneficial during the initial stages of infection8. Furthermore, sugar metabolism has also been linked to virulence gene regulation through directly affecting the activity of the Mga regulon9. The Mga regulon is a ubiquitous stand-alone regulator of S. pyogenes that influences approximately 10% of the S. pyogenes genome. These effects include regulation of important virulence genes such as emm, fba, sclA, and scpA, as well as those involved in sugar transport and utilisation10.

In our study, the primary bacterial burden was observed in the nose rather than throats of mice. While the nasal-associated lymphoid tissues (NALT) in the mouse are thought to be functionally equivalent to human tonsils11 and may act an important reservoir for bacteria, the location of the NALT in mice, on the posterior side of the palate11, begs to question the direct influence of sucrose at this location. As we noted an increase in energy intake in the sucrose group, we cannot exclude the possibility that our results are not a direct effect of sucrose, but rather a consequence of metabolic adaptions in these mice. This could be addressed in future studies by matching energy intake by pair feeding mice.

Interestingly, while previous research showed that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages was associated with increased risk of ARF6, consumption was not associated with increased risk of S. pyogenes skin and throat infection in humans12. Since our findings support the idea that sugary drinks promote S. pyogenes growth or survival in the nasopharynx, one could speculate that elevated bacterial burden maintained in a carrier state might lead to increased transmission within household members or increased chance of self-reinfection. This idea is supported by a recent classroom transmission study which pointed to ongoing transmission from asymptomatic carriers who are heavy shedders of bacteria13. Further research would be needed to investigate these potential pathways to disease.

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Biden-Harris Administration Seeks Public Input on Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Stakeholder Input Will Help Shape First-of-Its-Kind Federal Fund to Mobilize Clean Energy and Climate Projects and Reduce Pollution in Disadvantaged Communities

October 21, 2022

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a coordinated stakeholder engagement strategy to help shape the implementation of the first-of-its-kind Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. EPA’s engagement strategy includes:

Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB);
Request for Information: Issuing a public Request for Information to enable communities and the public to comment on the Fund’s design and implementation;
National Listening Session Series: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including green banks, community finance institutions, environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff on the implementation of the Fund; and
New Webpage: Creating a website as a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

These initial engagements will help ensure the Fund’s design and implementation reflect input from a variety of diverse stakeholders to ensure the full economic and environmental benefits of this historic investment are realized by all people, particularly those who have been most burdened by environmental, social, and economic injustice.

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the adoption of greenhouse gas reducing technologies and position the United States to compete and win the 21st century economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “In designing such an ambitious program, EPA is eager to hear from stakeholders across the country, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities, whose voices are critical to shaping the Fund and ensuring these historic resources reach people who need them most. Coupled with the additional resources from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Fund will deliver environmental and economic benefits across the country.”

The historic Inflation Reduction Act represents the most aggressive action to confront the climate crisis in our nation’s history. The Inflation Reduction Act established the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund – a $27 billion fund that will provide competitive grants to states, local governments, tribes and eligible non-profit financing institutions to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with an emphasis on projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities – and help advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice. EPA will seek input on the types of entities, projects and financial structures that will best achieve the program objectives.

Soliciting Expert Input from the Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB)

EPA delivered a set of formal charge questions for expert review and comment at the October 18-19th meeting of the Environmental Finance Advisory Board (EFAB). EFAB is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to EPA’s Administrator and regional and program offices on ways to lower the costs of, and increase investments in, environmental and public health protection. The EFAB includes a number of experts on clean energy and climate finance, including leaders of green banks and community financial institutions; state and local government officials; business and industry representatives; and members of environmental, tribes and non-governmental organizations, among others. The EFAB will provide its advice and recommendation on the charge questions by December 15, 2022.

Issuing a Request for Information

This week EPA published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on core design aspects of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The notice has been published on EPA’s website and on Regulations.gov. The public will have 45 days to respond to the RFI.

Launching a National Listening Session Series

In the coming weeks, EPA will commence a series of listening sessions to allow members of the public and key stakeholder groups to provide insights to EPA staff on the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

The series will begin with two public sessions in November. In addition, beyond engaging with the EFAB, EPA will meet with other expert advisory committees, including the Local Government Advisory Committee, the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and other stakeholders to solicit input on the design of the Fund.

Listening Session 1: Nov. 1 from 7:00-9:00pm ET

Listening Session 2: Nov. 9 from 7:00-9:00pm ET

Background

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amended the Clean Air Act to create a new program, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which will deploy $27 billion in competitive grants to mobilize financing for clean energy and climate projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund includes:

$7 billion for competitive grants to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy or benefit from zero-emission technologies, including distributed technologies on residential rooftops;
nearly $12 billion for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions; and
$8 billion for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

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Global Water Challenge Recognized by the Hilton Global Foundation for Efforts To Improve Travel Destinations for Future Generations, Positively Impacting the Environment and Their Local Community

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Published 2 hours ago

Submitted by Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF)

Composting at schools in the Sertão project – participants receive training and technical support for the use of modular composters in homes and schools, in addition to training for the use of solid and liquid fertilizers in vegetable gardens

WASHINGTON, October 21, 2022 /CSRwire/ – Today, Global Water Challenge (GWC) is proud to announce their selection as a 2022 Hilton Global Foundation grant recipient for their efforts to promote water security and expand universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and women’s empowerment in two countries, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. These efforts align with Hilton’s environmental, social and governance and Hilton Global Foundation priorities of destination stewardship, climate action, career development and community resilience.

The grant from the Hilton Global Foundation will support critical efforts to advance safe WASH, improve water-smart sustainable agriculture through community-based approaches and empower women through skills-building and income-generation activities.

“Water is a proven catalyst for achieving community economic transformation and resilience. We are proud to partner with the Hilton Global Foundation to advance progress on SDG 6 and partner with communities in their quest to create a more sustainable future for themselves,” said Monica Ellis, CEO of GWC.

Global Water Challenge was selected for their efforts to build a sustainable, inclusive and resilient world for future generations. “The Hilton Global Foundation was created based on the belief that travel can be a powerful positive force for good. This year, we’re proud to commit nearly $2 million, our biggest contribution to date, towards grantees who are creating a better world for travel for future generations. The 2022 Hilton Global Foundation grant recipients have shown the impact that people and organizations can have when they come together to help their people, environments and communities,” said Erica Gordon, President, Hilton Global Foundation.

“Understanding the importance of building a sustainable future, the Hilton Global Foundation is proud to support organizations doing great work in our communities and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they continue to bring.”

About Global Water Challenge
Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a coalition of leading organizations deploying expertise and networks to advance global water security and achieve universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in communities around the world. Since 2006, GWC has positively impacted nearly 3 million people across Africa, the Americas and Asia with clean water access and its campaigns, tools, data and best practices reach millions more. In collaboration with multi-sector partners, GWC engages for action – catalyzing financial resources and driving innovative programming for sustainable, local solutions. GWC established the women for water platform to mobilize collective action for clean water access for every woman and her community. Currently scaling impact in 27 countries, women for water measurably contributes to economic empowerment outcomes while raising awareness for this important issue. For more information, please visit globalwaterchallenge.org.

About Hilton Global Foundation
The Hilton Global Foundation is Hilton’s primary international philanthropic arm. The Foundation is a nonprofit established in the U.S. and is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Foundation awards grants, in alignment with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, that have a positive impact on travel destinations around the world. Foundation grants are awarded throughout the year in accordance with tax and legal requirements. Learn more about the Hilton Global Foundation at HiltonGlobalFoundation.hilton.com.

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Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF)

The Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), established in 1988, is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to accelerate sustainable development through partnerships that deliver impact at scale. GETF builds and manages high impact public-private partnerships improving the lives of over 10 million people in 65 countries through water access, sanitation and hygiene, health systems strengthening, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Partnership platforms under GETF’s management include the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), The Coca-Cola Foundation’s signature community water initiative, the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) and Project Last Mile Partnership (PLM) both partnerships between The Coca-Cola Company and USAID. GETF serves as the Secretariat for two high-impact water coalitions – Global Water Challenge and the US Water Partnership. For more information visit http://www.getf.org.

More from Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF)

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Sandy Parrill: Frosty fall days | Local News

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

I’ve always loved this quote by Albert Camus for the richness of the colorful vision it conjures in my soul — even though what he was writing about was allegorical, referring to the autumn of life (which may be more apt than I care to think about), the glorious color of the leaves showing new aspects of old ways and portals to adventures that come with aging and wisdom of life experience.

I know fall has truly arrived when the air smells of maples, wood fires and sweet, dusty musk of fallen, trampled leaves; storm windows go on the back screened porch; it is still dark and chill at 7 a.m.; coffee with Irish Crème replaces my morning iced tea; and I’m making chili instead of guacamole for lunch.

There is suddenly color all around in spite of dry withered leaves that will be just brown and down, as the saying goes, on some of our favorite trees. Maples are dressed for the season, hickories are brilliant yellow, oaks are scarlet, tawny brown and burnt orange. We won’t see the usual rich golds and crimson of our Japanese maples flashing through the woods, nor orange of sassafras. Even the ruby of dogwood leaves seems dulled from four rainless months.

We still haven’t had rain; thundering this past weekend was just a lot of noise and more empty promises. Hoses can’t be put away yet. Freeze or not, the garden needs to go into winter hydrated to protect roots of shrubs and trees as well as perennials.

One last deep watering in late fall, if we don’t get a significant amount of moisture, might make the difference whether they survive this winter. We can’t count on rain or snow in spite of all the ”spoons” lately found in persimmon seeds that in folklore predict a snowy winter.

An impending freeze as winter popped in for a brief reminder of what’s coming (I should get used to it; it’s the new normal for October in the lower Midwest, just as mums begin to bloom) stirred me into reluctant action. Back porch and greenhouse are stuffed, with only one forgotten plant.

Our big rosemary waited out the couple of cold days on the back porch. It can’t spend winter in there; it gets too warm and rosemary isn’t a houseplant. All its needles will fall off in protest and make a huge mess (ask me how I know).

I’ll have to do some rearranging in the greenhouse to make room among plants grown from toddler to teenage size in one summer so they will be comfortable, though crowded, as roommates. All were well watered as they went in, but any future watering will have to be accomplished by waving my watering wand as far as I can reach from the door with hopes I get them all and they live until spring.

Potted impatiens too pretty to let go for only two days of freezing temperatures were temporarily cheek to cheek (or pot to pot) with begonias and queen of the night cacti in the porch until winter’s visit ended and they could go out again. Outdoors, those blooming mums were tucked under blankets in hopes of protecting them from the predicted 20 degrees. Autumn isn’t down for the count yet, and I’m not ready to concede.

My living room now has a shade tree. I couldn’t bring myself to prune our biggest brugmansia while it has (I counted) 20 fat flower buds. That’s more than all summer. My fingers are crossed they don’t fall off in the warm indoor air.

Fortunately, it spread out horizontally instead of taller this summer, so it isn’t smashed against the ceiling, though I feel as if I should be wearing a jungle safari hat to sit in my recliner.

We won’t do much garden cleanup. It’s not only unnecessary in the long run, but it’s also environmentally irresponsible to keep our garden as neat as we would our living room. We don’t live outside in winter, nature does.

Not raking leaves, besides providing habitats for hibernating caterpillars, butterflies, lizards, toads and every other overwintering garden inhabitant, helps keep ground moisture from evaporating. It protects and insulates trees and plants, keeping roots warm in winter.

Leaving plant stalks standing until spring is crucial, even if it looks messy (think “winter interest” instead). Many small pollinators — tiny bees and wasps — and eggs of insect predators, wheel bugs, spiders, praying mantises and more may be in (or on) stems. Birds feed on seed heads of coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, thistles, goldenrod and many others.

Any trimming or pruning will wait until spring (unless dead, overhanging branches or dead trees need to be removed for safety’s sake). We have a huge, deceased oak too close to our house for comfort, sadly needing to be removed, but we’ll check for overwintering squirrels or other animals in a hole in the trunk that has seen continuous occupation for many years before we let a tree service take it to the ground.

It served as a roost for owls; we will miss the shade and critters that used it. In the woods, we let snags stand, as they are important habitat dead or alive. Even after trees fall and are left to decay on the ground, they provide homes and food for nearly every bird, animal and insect as well as vitally important fungi and microbial life.

I always (and unapologetically) get this way in autumn as winter looms just over the horizon. Mother Earth in me wants to protect all her children and see them safely to bed.

As it warms up again, it’s time to clean, rehang bird feeders and lay in a supply of black oil sunflower seed for our winter guests — including a feisty cardinal that didn’t seem very grateful upon being caught and rescued from the greenhouse. I still have a V-shaped mark on my finger where he bit me.

It’s always adventures in chaos at Chaos.

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Ghana has Made Major Strides in Providing Water and Sanitation to the Population – Vice President Bawumia

October 21, 2022 by Staff Reporter

Ghana has achieved very significant gains in the areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the past six years, ensuring greater access for millions of Ghanaians to safe drinking water and toilet facilities, it has been revealed.

According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census undertaken by the Ghana Statistical Service, the number of households that currently have access to toilet facilities has increased from 33% to 59.3%. The percentage of households with access to basic drinking water has seen a significant improvement from 79% in 2018 to 87.7% in 2021.

“These improvements have resulted in very significant gains. For instance, not a single case of cholera has been recorded in the past six years”, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia declared on Wednesday October 19th, 2022 in Accra.

The Vice President, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the ‘All Systems Go Forum’ organized by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, said Government has shown its commitment to addressing the water and sanitation needs of Ghanaians while meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As the Co-Chair of the Sustainable Development Goals, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has demonstrated adequate commitment to ensuring that Ghana meets the 2030 Agenda for the SDGs, with equal emphasis on SDG 6, within the stipulated time

“This is reflected in the many projects being undertaken in the WASH Sector, some of which are already completed and commissioned, whilst processes are ongoing for the others.

“Some of the projects are: Upper East Water Supply Project; Yendi Water Supply Project; Tamale Water Supply Project; Damongo Water Supply Project; Wenchi Water Supply Project; Sunyani Water Supply Project; Keta Water Supply Project; Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Project; and additional financing for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA)/Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Water and Sanitation Project.”

The interventions in the water sub-sector are expected to result in additional 4.3 million beneficiaries having access to potable water, Dr Bawumia added.

The Vice President commended the organizers and partners for the Symposium – IRC, UNICEF and the Conrad Hilton Foundation – for the programme, saying its conception and organization provides ample testimony that African WASH Experts are alive to their responsibilities.

“This Symposium is occurring at a crucial time in our development when the population of Africa keeps rising, with its attendant high demand for WASH-related services, knowing that the provision of such services has not kept pace with the increasing population.

“There is, therefore, the urgent need for action to strengthen the African WASH planning and capabilities so as to strengthen the sector for effective service delivery to the growing population… Incorporating “Systems Thinking” and technical expertise with public policy, as the theme suggests, promises to hold the key to the positive way forward in seeking a lasting solution to the challenges in the WASH Sector. There is the need to continue to improve the traditional approach adopted in the past so as to yield better results.

“This is an urgent call to our Leaders and WASH Experts to deepen their collaboration to address issues in the Sector. It is also imperative, as a Continent, to tap into the unique experiences, skills and stock of knowledge of our Experts to help chart a new course for improved WASH service delivery.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
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