In this E-letter:
HTO invited onto stakeholder committee working on the implementation plan for $650M in wastewater infrastructure projects
How to stop receiving junk mail
Quick! Last call for HTO’s Imaginary Gala 2021
PLEASE VOTE on Tuesday, November 2!
Support HTO Friday, November 5, at the Wine & Design art event featuring Paul Greene’s ocean photography!
Happy Halloween from HTO!
HTO INVITED ONTO STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE FOR STATE $650M WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
The Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 129 and Senate Bill 170) appropriated $1.55 billion to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in item 3940-106-0001 (the Infrastructure Appropriation). The budget bill specifies that $650 million is for wastewater projects, with priority given to septic-to-sewer conversions. Heal the Ocean's Executive Director is honored to be on the stakeholder committee now sorting out the Implementation Plan for this $650M.
It’s a fast-moving process wherein the State Board will vote on the Implementation Plan in February 2022, with all monies encumbered by June 2024 and liquidated by June 30, 2026. Click here to review the Fact Sheet on the process.
ECO-TIP OF THE WEEK: STOP YOUR JUNK MAIL!
Each week our mailboxes are filled with promotional flyers, coupon newsletters, and grocery mailers that many people throw away and recycle without a second thought. HTO Advisory Board member/Santa Claus Lane beach cleanup “Trash Queen” Maire Radis recently sent a great eco-tip for us to share with you: – how to stop the grocery store junk mail that lands your mailbox each week.
You can call 1-800-437-0479 or go to save.com, scroll to the bottom of the webpage, click delivery options and enter your address to be removed from the Mailer list.
Taking the time to reduce your junk mail is a great way to make a positive, earth-friendly change as an individual. Your actions will help save trees and reduce water usage. According to Ocean Futures Society, more than 100 million trees are destroyed each year for junk mail and more than 28 billion gallons of water are used to produce it.
For additional ways to reduce junk mail, read this blog post by Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council. It tells you how to stop catalogs and magazines, too.
LAST CALL FOR HTO’S IMAGINARY GALA!
Heal the Ocean’s Imaginary Gala 2021 with Surf Dog is heading for the finish line, and in fact closes on Friday, October 29, 2021…tomorrow! This has been an immensely popular, well-received Event, and you can still participate! Please go to our GoFundMe page, where you can watch a short, informative video with our Executive Director, Hillary Hauser telling you the critical work Heal the Ocean is doing now, Then, click here to donate.
Thank you to all of the Surf Dog Sponsors and Supporters who have contributed towards making this event our best event ever! Please join them in the shout-outs coming up in the Santa Barbara Independent and Montecito Journal. Thank you!
PLEASE VOTE IN THE SANTA BARBARA ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2!
Heal the Ocean urges you to turn in your ballots and vote in Santa Barbara’s November 2, 2021 election! (This coming Tuesday!) This election is important for our City and your voice is needed!
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day (Tuesday, November 2), or ballots must be returned in-person to a Voter Service Center or official ballot drop box by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Please speak up Santa Barbara, and get your vote in!
JOIN HTO AT A WINE & DESIGN ART SHOW FEATURING PAUL GREENE’S OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Join Heal the Ocean at the Home Crush studio (10 E. Islay St.) on Friday, November 5, from 4-7 PM for a Wine & Design art event featuring talented ocean photographer Paul Greene! While you enjoy some local wine and small bites, you’ll be supporting Heal the Ocean - a percentage of all art sales will be donated to HTO.
Thank you to Home Crush and Paul Greene for this collaboration! Through his photography, Paul Greene shares his life experiences as a surfer and outdoorsman.
*Please note: The event will be COVID-19 compliant with ample outdoor space, masking, and ventilation.
HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
We at HTO wish you the greatest of treats among the tricks and hope your Spooky Sunday is filled with frightful fun and lots of pumpkins!