INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Marine Resources Council is thrilled to honor South Lagoon Champion Maggie Hurchalla and North Lagoon Champion Sen. Thad Altman at this year’s Midsummer Night Gala at the Lagoon House in Palm Bay, on Saturday, Aug. 2, starting at 7 p.m.
For a tax-deductible donation of $75 in advance or $85 at the door, you will enjoy an evening of lagoon legends, gourmet food and wine, live music, and a silent auction of artistic rain barrels, fun-filled gift baskets, and more.
Information or registration is available on-line at www.SavetheIRL.org or call (321) 725-7775.
Maggie Hurchalla has been a persistent, determined, intelligent, and powerful force for the Indian River Lagoon for over four decades. She grew up in south Miami and moved to Martin County in 1968, where she vowed to protect the quality of life. This led her to a seat on the Martin County commission, where she was instrumental in making Martin County the beautiful and balanced community it is today. As a major contributor to the Comprehensive Plan, she supported the county’s four-story height limit, protections for wetlands and native habitats, and the urban growth boundaries that are key to sustainable economic growth. She conducted ground-breaking research that turned the development paradigm on its head by showing that uncontrolled growth doesn’t pay for itself and is not economically sustainable.
According to another Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard, “No other individual has made a bigger contribution to what Martin County looks like and feels like than Maggy has.”
Maggy reemerged from retirement last year to rally the forces and educate a new generation about the Lake Okeechobee Discharges to the St. Lucie estuary in the south Lagoon. She spoke out against Big Sugar’s anti-regulation antics in Tallahassee and against the Lake Point mining operation, resulting in an industry Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP); a method used by large corporations to tie individual opponents up in court and effectively silence them during the permitting process. She has had a park named in her honor, she had a chapter written about her efforts to restore the everglades in “The Swamp,” by Michael Grunwald; and recently appeared on an episode of the T.V show “The Simpsons” with her sister, former U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno. She is a mother, a grandmother, a teacher, a legend, a dreamer, and above all, an activist who believes in the natural beauty of Florida. Maggy is a true Lagoon Champion and one of Florida’s best.
MRC’s North Lagoon Champion State Sen. Thad Altman has been a longtime activist at the local and state level in bringing attention and much needed funding to the Indian River Lagoon. Through his strong dedication and unwavering support, he led the efforts to secure $10 million this year to begin dredging the north end of the lagoon, $1 million of which will go to scientific research conducted by the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute at Florida Institute of Technology. Senator Altman was also successful in securing $10 million for dredging the Eau Gallie River which feeds into the lagoon and an additional $2 million to develop recommendations to improve the environmental and economic health of the coastal estuary. These were all part of a $232 million package dedicated to restoring our precious waterway.
Listen to our guest honorees while enjoying chef-inspired Mediterranean dishes from Matt’s Casbah, Nomad Café, Tuscany Grill, Pappagallo’s, and DIG Bistro and others. Valet parking will be provided by Ameristar Parking Solutions.
The Ted Moorhead Lagoon House is located on the river at 3275 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay, just south of the Melbourne boundary.
Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door. MRC members receive a discount.
Visit the website SavetheIRL.org to order tickets today.