Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/215277
Sarasota News Leader November 22, 2013 Page 75 SBEP BAY GUARDIANS WIN SEA PRESERVATION AWARD The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Bay Guardians were honored last week with the annual Sea Preservation Award from Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, the SBEP has announced. The award was presented at a dinner held Nov. 13 at the Venice Community Center. (See the related item in Siesta Seen this week.) "The Bay Guardians is the area's largest and most active volunteer program focused on Sarasota Bay," a news release says. The program is managed by SBEP in partnership with Around the Bend Nature Tours. In 2013, the Bay Guardians completed volunteer projects at Jiggs Landing and Perico Preserve in Manatee County and North Water Tower Park and Bay Walk Creek in Sarasota County, the release notes. Upcoming 2014 Bay Guardian volunteer projects include an Air Potato Vine removal at Arlington Park on Jan. 25, a native planting along the Braden River at Jiggs Landing on Feb. 8, a rain garden planting project at New College of Florida on March 15 and a joint volunteer outing with Tampa Bay Estuary Program to plant native species at Perico Preserve on April 12. "All of the projects take place in the morning followed by a picnic lunch provided by SBEP," the release notes. Each Bay Guardians family-friendly outing features environmental education, the release adds. Local school, Scout and church groups interested in volunteering may contact Stephanie Hames at info@sarasotabay.org. The Bay Guardians' efforts to protect Sarasota Bay have won the group an award from Sarasota County. Photo by Norman Schimmel