United in the Sand: Annual Hands Across the Sand event on FMB Saturday
Organized as a way to celebrate Fort Myers Beach and promote the use of clean energy, hands will be joining along the sand during the annual Hands Across the Sand ceremony, Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Crescent Beach Family Park, 1100 Estero Blvd., featuring several local and national environmental groups, live and local music and hundreds ?if not thousands of people, joining hands to show their support of our beach and its environment.
“This year, we’re keeping it on the positive side saying ‘yes’ to clean energy rather than protesting something. It’s a celebration of the beach and all we have here, naturally and environmentally,” lead coordinator of the event Robin Curley said. “It is supporting the advancement of clean energy sources that will sustain our planet, exploring clean energy and utilizing what’s already available. This movement is not about politics; it is about protecting coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife and fisheries from the threats of expanded offshore drilling and the accidents associated with it. You can’t totally be against clean energy. We’re not saying to stop drilling tomorrow. We just want to show some ways to save energy today.”
Many environmental groups and non-profit agencies will be on-hand that day to share their knowledge of a great array of local and natural topics that pertain to our local environment and ecosystem. Some groups scheduled include FAFCO Solar, Turtle Time, Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve, the Florida Society for Eco-Tourism, Lee Co. Parks & Recreation, Pax Christi, the Happahatchee Center in Estero and the Calusa Nature Center, among others.
“Marlene Robinson and the Environmental and Peace Education Center (EPEC) will also be there,” Robin said.
As for music, you know there can’t be an island gathering without it. Renee Massie Hose will start the day with a 45-minute set of music, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Following a 15-minute hand-holding ceremony along the shoreline at noon, Steve “The Lucky Dog” Lutke will take over the tunes department, performing from 12:15 to 1 p.m., and the local drum circle will lend their beats and rhythm during the ceremony that afternoon. Sound equipment has been donated for use by Lynn Richardson Ravenschlag, offering plug-and-play technology to any other musicians who’d like to join in on the natural action that day, powered by FAFCO?Solar.
“We’re looking forward to a good day,” Robin said. “We have more organizations registered than we’ve had in the past, and it’s going to be a beautiful day on the beach. Come out and show your pride for beautiful Fort Myers Beach and its natural habitat. We urge attendance to show your appreciation of what we have here on Fort Myers Beach. Come support these wonderful local environmental agencies that have maintained the preservation of our local ecosystem for so long. It’s going to be a great day to support a great island.”
For more information, or to find out how you can help, email event coordinator Robin at RockinRobinFMB@
peoplepc.com, and be sure to find, RSVP and share the event on Facebook by searching “Hands Across the Sand Ft. Myers Beach.”