Great news!  Imperial Beach Veterinarian, Dr. Mike McCoy has been nominated and is now one of three finalists for the

“Cox Conservation Heroes”

Tell Mike know how much you appreciate his environmental advocacy and hard work over the past 40 years by following the link below and casting your vote !

http://coxconservesheroes.com/san-diego/finalists.aspx

KPBS – San Diego
 Thursday, September 20th 
Part One 9:00 pm and Part Two at 10:00 pm

California Forever is a two-part PBS television special that tells the story of California’s magnificent state parks from Yosemite in 1864 to the present day. Together the two one-hour programs remind viewers of the importance of California’s state parks as well as their priceless legacy. California Forever is scheduled to air nationally on PBS in the fall of 2012.

California Forever was written, directed and co-produced by award-winning and Oscar®-nominated David Vassar and co-produced by Sally Kaplan of Backcountry Pictures. The idea for the film was sparked after David and Sally watched the battle between conservationists and developers over the proposed Orange County Toll Road which would have paved over a portion of San Onofre State Beach. David and Sally felt compelled to tell the story of California’s State Parks as a way to remind viewers of its value and to inspire its preservation and protection.

Episode One
California Forever: The History of California State Parks highlights the discovery and creation of California’s state parks system and celebrates the individuals and groups whose passion and commitment helped preserve and protect them for future generations. It takes viewers on a scenic, cultural and historical tour of California’s state parks highlighting the people, key events and locales that made California history.

Episode Two
California Forever: Parks for the Future presents the very real challenges that state parks are currently facing in California. Among these are habitat destruction by overuse, protection of native species at the expense of recreation; reclaiming industrial brown fields to create new parks in dense urban areas; establishing historic sites that commemorate people and events from diverse cultures; and imminent park closures. California Forever: Parks for the Future is an invitation to make state parks more accessible to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds and to protect the myriad resources that countless dedicated individuals and groups have fought the last 160 years to preserve and protect.`

 From bald eagles, blue-winged teals and sandhill cranes to snow geese, puffins, boobies and purple gallinules, hundreds of birds show their colors on national wildlife refuges. Now, the public can learn all about enjoying birds on refuges on the Refuge System’s new birding Web pages, including information on special events, family activities, backyard birding and citizen science and  amazing conservation stories. The pages are available at this link. To submit birding stories, photos or other information to the pages – or for general information the Refuge System birding program – contact Mike Carlo (703-358-1938; Michael_Carlo@fws.gov) in the Branch of Visitor Services.

The newest issue of Friends Forward is now online

Friends Forward Summer 2012
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/Friends/pdfs/FriendsForwardSummer_2012.pdf

Did you know that owning a home near a national wildlife refuge increases home value?  Read the front page story in Friends Forward.

Look for Refuge Chief Jim Kurth’s discussion of Community Partnership vision implementation team projects as well as ways for Friends to be involved in refuge planning.

Find  tips on attracting volunteers and encouraging them to become Friends.

Check out the new Junior Duck Stamp curriculum and recommended books for the shelves of visitor center nature stores.

In Friend to Friend, see what Friends are doing in Florida, Nevada, Texas and Vermont.