CASLC spear-headed environmental advocacy in St. Lucie County, decades ahead of their time. Today, we are inspired and instructed on just what is possible with an exemplary group passionately dedicated to the environmental health and public welfare of St. Lucie County.

We learn of the impact of alliances with other organizations and how outreach broadened when we connected with state environmental leaders. It is to the “Founders’’ impact that we aspire.

Our advocacy work is immeasurably strengthened when we become eco-literate, especially in understanding our area’s ecology and ecosystem history. Working from this knowledge, better solutions are more apparent. (See Dr. Gary GoForth’s presentation on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, and Ernie’s Lyons essays on the St. Lucie River, for example.)

Battlefield Park Creek Cypress Kayak: Photo by John Reed

Savannas Preserve Hike: Photo by Paul J. Milette

It may be surprising that much of the conceptual work has already been done.  Positive changes that have been accomplished “have been made possible by the people who pioneered the climate and environmental movement.  The scientists, the activists, the journalists, the writers. Without them we would not stand a chance. (Now) we need everyone on board.”  Youth activist, Greta Thunberg, in The Climate Book (2023)

CASLC has undertaken to share some of these visions and strategies, and aims to do more. For example, in 2019 we co-hosted the Climate Resiliency Seminar. Discussed in the website are guiding principles and actions that can be taken for biodiversity and pollution. In terms of our energy needs, we advance exploration of “elegant” solutions waiting in the wings.

What has not yet been accomplished is the full paradigmatic shift in our society that, if embraced, would catalyze more life enhancing solutions. That is, the understanding of the Earth as a single living system, comprised of numberless interconnections, relationships and life cycles.  We need, as cultural historian, Thomas Berry writes, “to protect the Earth system as the matrix within which the human community has emerged without which human existence is unthinkable.”

What more motivation do we need than to see that we are engaged in what Thomas Berry calls the “Great Work” of our time?  

A grand task wholly consistent with CASLC’s mission. On a personal note, I’d like to acknowledge and express profound gratitude for the folks who have kept CASLC functioning as the new generation takes hold.

SHARI ANKER, PRESIDENT

Arthur R. Marshall
Marjory Stoneman Douglas championed Art Marshall and his Marshall Plan to restore the Everglades.  The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge In Palm Beach County is named for him. See Wikipedia.

Shari Anker, President

​Ms. Anker, M.S.W., is a native Floridian who as a child was privileged to explore the state’s ecosystems when they were healthier. She feels most at home in wild nature. In the 1990s while teaching sociology courses at Broward College she created a novel, forward-thinking course, “Society & the Environment.”

Simultaneously, she participated with the first-of-its-kind Environmental Demonstration Center and Earth Ethics Institute at Miami-Dade College, founded by the visionary McGregor Smith, and began her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies. Her advisor and mentor, Biology Professor, Mary E. Clark, was part of a national vanguard group of holistic and interdisciplinary educators suggesting that new perspectives are needed to adequately address global environmental and social problems. Dr. Clark’s books include: Ariadne’s’ Thread: Search for New Modes of Thinking (1989) and In Search of Human Nature (2002).

Ms. Anker was forced to interrupt her career due to developing severe environmental illness. That lived experience as a “canary in the coal mine” further instructed her that what we do to the earth we truly do to ourselves. In 2008 she published a book on an evolutionary-based paradigm shift that must occur if we are to protect the planet’s life-giving ecosystems and ourselves: The Life World: Herman’s Adventures in Sustainability (2008).

In 2014 she was honored to receive the Permelia Pryor Reed Award for Environmental Excellence, delivered by Nathaniel P. Reed.  She served as mentor for the College Summer Intern program at the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, in which she applied the new paradigm to the Florida Everglades.

Lucy Bukowski, Treasurer

​Lucy spent most of her career working in natural history, science, and art museums in financial and administrative positions.  She moved to Florida in 2005 to become the Chief Financial Officer at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Recently retired, she now has more time to enjoy outdoor activities in southern Florida and also has a strong desire to help preserve these beautiful spaces.

John Krivosheyff, Secretary

​John first learned about the Conservation Alliance in 2013 in a TCPalm.com article that highlighted the accomplishments of the organization since its inception. Impressed and inspired by the contributions and being an environmentally aware person, John knew right away that this group was for him. John has a strong interest in helping to foster wildlife and marine life habitat protection. He’s also passionate about encouraging smart growth that protects environmentally sensitive areas of St. Lucie County, and water quality measures affecting the Indian River Lagoon. He lives in Fort Pierce with his wife Sue, also active in the alliance, and is an avid nature lover, golfer, boater, cyclist, hiker, traveler and outdoor enthusiast.

Charles Grande, Board Member 

Mr. Grande is a long time resident of St. Lucie County who studied Economics and System Design and Programming at Lehman College. He is married with 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He has had a long and distinguished career in public service. He has served as a St. Lucie County Commissioner, and  on the Boards of the county Fire Dept., Planning and Zoning, Hibiscus Children’s Center, Marine Resources Council and is a current board member of the Conservation Alliance and Rivers Coalition, and the Spay and Neuter Alliance Advisory Board. Mr. Grande served in the Navy and is a member of the American Legion and MENSA.

John Reed, Board Member 

John Reed moved to Fort Pierce in 1976 when he first started as a marine biologist at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI). He is Professor Emeritus at Harbor Branch HBOI—Florida Atlantic University. He always has been active in fighting for the protection and conservation of Florida’s coral reefs, coastal habitats, and the Indian River Lagoon. He has conducted over 60 research expeditions during the past 45 years, visiting 40 countries. John’s research on the deep-water Oculina coral reefs off Florida resulted in the establishment of a 600 sq.mi. Oculina Coral Marine Protected Area, the first in the world to protect deep-water coral, and also a recently established 23,000 sq. mi. deep-water coral marine protected area from North Carolina to south Florida. He is co-editor of Coral Reefs of Cuba (Springer Nature, 2023). John also volunteers at Save the Chimps, Smithsonian Ecosystem Exhibit as a kayak guide, and the Food Bank. He has one daughter Alicia, son-in-law David, and three grandchildren in Port St. Lucie who kayak, trail bike, and snorkel with him. 

Brian Kilday, Board Member 

Brian Killday grew up on a farm in Missouri and received his MSc, specializing in Natural Products and Food Chemistry at the University of Missouri. He moved to Fort Pierce in 1989 to work in the Biomedical Marine Research Division at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, isolating potential curative compounds for cancers and other diseases from marine organisms. Brian and his wife, Shari Killday, immediately fell in love with the spectacular natural environments of the region, especially the ocean, Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and other waterways and upland habitats. They enjoy boating, kayaking, sailing, biking, and hiking. While enjoying these activities, they became aware of various projects endangering the natural beauty and sustainability of the area, including land development encroaching on waterways and other natural areas, and became acquainted with the amazing people and accomplishments of the Conservation Alliance and joined. Brian served as the Vice President of the CASLC from 1998 until 2000, when he took a job as an Applications Engineer with a scientific instrument company which involves extensive travel during the week. They live on North Hutchinson Island and remain active in helping to protect this outstanding area.

Diane Goldberg, Conservation Chair 

Diane has been engaged with a multitude of local environmental causes and organizations for many years. She is well-studied in our native flora and fauna, and is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and Florida Master Gardener. She is presently the Conservation Chair for St. Lucie County Audubon Society. Diane volunteers for both the Martin County and Indian River County Native Plant Society chapters. She offers educational lectures on gardening with Florida native plants and their critical links to native fauna. The highly endangered and endemic to our area, Lakela’s Mint,benefits from her volunteer efforts. Along with the CASLC, Diane passionately advocated for the protection of the Halpatiokee Buffer Preserve State Park. She helped survey its native species, and acted to protect its pristine wetlands.

Diane received the 2022 Volunteer Service Award for Outstanding Service to Indian River Lagoon from the Marine Resources Council, and the 2021 Environmental Educator Award from Pelican Isnad Audubon. Diane serves as an Ambassador for the Right to Clean Water Constitution Amendment initiative working to place on the 2024 ballot.

Carol Herzog, “Magnificent 7” Founding Board Member, Emerita

Carol was designated as the “Patron Saint of the Savannas” by the Alliance during the 2021 Lifetime Achievement ceremony in which both the Alliance and Florida State Parks recognized her stalwart dedication to the creation and perpetuation of the Savannas Preserve State Park. She is the longest-running volunteer of the Savannas, clocking in more hours than any other. Her plaque from the Alliance reads: “For unrelenting dedication to protecting native Florida, with gratitude for sharing her uncommon indigenous knowledge spiced with humor and pure kindness.”

A pioneer woman Carol began her life here in 1933. Her parents founded the renown Heathcote Nursery. She’s a horsewoman and artist (studying with Beanie Backus), who freely gave of her time not only to environmental but to civic groups.

She is widely revered, and has served as mentor and guide to native Florida flora, fauna and ecosystem for generations, including Americorps volunteers (who were privileged to share her home with her).

She has successfully used her storytelling talents to woo politicians and others on the values of conservation. The Savannas Preserve State Park may not exist without her remarkable talents.

Frankie Bangert, Board Member, Emerita

Frankie, and her husband, Bob served on our Board of Directors for over 20 years. Always well-informed, Frankie was known for her “incredibly discerning” evaluations of local environmental state of affairs. A “salt of the earth” person,” she used her “quiet power” and her delightful wit very effectively. She remains highly interested in the success of CASLC to this day, even at her age of 101 years. We are most fortunate for her service and commitment to us, and note, after all, she is a member of the Greatest Generation with its noble dedication to service.  

The Magnificent 7 knew in their bones that change was coming to the seaside, small town, and rural character of St. Lucie County (SLC), and with that the potential loss of the distinct identity, natural beauty and charm of the area.  Their original 2-part mission still stands today: “to protect the water, soil, air, native flora and fauna upon which all life depends,” and “to work with allies to promote the wise use and not abuse of our land and resources.” Together both could be considered a vanguard definition of sustainability. They also believed that it is “the people of St. Lucie County (who) should have the final say in how the county is to grow.”

In this spirit we offer these remembrances of our Founders, on whom former TCPalm columnist, Anthony Westbury, bestowed the title, “The Magnificent 7,” ​so that others can learn and keep their legacy going. They were Betty Lou Wells, Marjorie Silver Alder, John and Jane Brooks, Lace and Walter Vitunac, and Carol Herzog and include other long-time board members of high regard and dedicated service to the CASLC.

Lace Vitunac (1924-2018), was the daughter of Dr. Peter Kitterman of Fort Pierce. She graduated from the University of Texas at age 18, after having been named Homecoming Queen. She was an accomplished bareback horse rider, and a crack shot with a rifle. While working as a journalist for the El Paso Herald-Post, she met and married then Army Air Force Lieutenant Walter Vitunac. As a military family they were stationed at bases all over the world, however, Lace always brought the children home to summer in Fort Pierce. Their daily visits to the area now known as the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park were magical.

Almost immediately after volunteering to join the Army Air Corps Walter Vitunac (1919-2011) initiated the effort to rescue parts from airplanes as Pearl Harbor was being bombed. After becoming a navigator, flying B17s in the South Pacific, he participated in the Battle of Midway and the Solomon Islands Campaign, and was chosen to be the navigator for a highly classified mission with Admiral Bull Halsey. He flew more than 50 combat missions, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with Clusters. Post-war his assignments in Military Intelligence Services took him to Europe and Japan. He was Commander of the 6499th Support Group at Johnson Air Force in Japan. His last position was Commander of Cape Kennedy Air Force Station during the Apollo Mission, which included the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Retiring in 1971 to Fort Pierce the couple quickly commenced their next mission: to save the “North Beach,” the beloved natural treasure bordered by the Fort Pierce Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean, the site of countless family gatherings since the 1920s, from a developer’s quest to build condominiums there. After travelling the world, they had determined how unique and extraordinary it was.

By 1972, due to the couple’s leadership this 340-acre parcel was officially decreed to be the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.

In just one year, the couple helped to found the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County, along with five other forward-looking citizens, to be the tool to insure the protection in perpetuity of this refuge beloved by the entire community. Creating an alliance among a wide variety of civic groups their petition for state park designation was rapidly granted. Families forevermore could gear up with snorkels, fishing rods, surfboards, and hiking gear to be used at this all-in-one smorgasbord of native Florida. The Park remains a destination spot for surfers along the East Coast, and habitat for a wonderfully diverse array of marine and terrestrial coastal species, including the once-thought-to-be-extinct Atala butterfly.

Without pause, the Vitunacs and the Alliance embarked in 1973 on a four-year effort to “save the Savannas.” With assistance from Martin County advocates, the Savannas Preserve State Park was established in 1977. Today at more than 6,000 acres the Park protects the largest remaining freshwater coastal marsh on the East Coast, and provides critically important ecosystem services.

From then on the Alliance became known as the effective tool for protecting St. Lucie County’s environment. Guided by the mission penned by Col. Vitunac, “pledged to protect the water, soil, air, native flora and fauna, upon which all earth’s creatures depend for survival,” the Alliance directly led or participated in an astonishing number of achievements. These included: hundreds more acres in conservation land status; formation and staffing of the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve; rejection of projects harmful to the Fort Pierce Inlet, Port of Fort Pierce’s and Indian River Lagoon’s water quality; other pollution prevention and species protection initiatives, and so on. The Alliance provided fertile ground for the emergence of a good number of community leaders.

Robert Bangert was an avid environmentalist and a civic leader in St. Lucie County. Bob, who moved to Florida from New York in 1976, was a long-time activist not only during his tenure as president of the Conservation Alliance and his decades-long service on its Board of Directors, but also in his work with the St. Lucie Waterfront Council, on the County Environmental Advisory Board, and his advocacy for environmental issues around the state.

Bob was front and center in the direction and operation of the CASLC and he had a knack for detecting problems before they took full shape. That talent served the Alliance very well. His steady presence at the county commission meetings informed the priorities of the Alliance. A highly effective tool that Bob developed was a month-in-advance calendar of key issues that were to be taken up by the county or city commissions. We knew when to show up and make our voices heard!

Bob also helped institutionalize the Alliance with his marketing materials, including a comprehensive brochure listing our achievements and giant archival scrapbooks lovingly assembled by he and his wife, Frankie, that provide a sweeping history of the Alliance. He maintained his loyalty, kindness, and generosity to the Alliance to the very end. He and Frankie kept up with attending our meetings until well into their 90s. Bob passed away peacefully on April 15, 2019 at age 98.

To honor his decades-long contributions to the Alliance, we are creating a Bob Bangert seat on our Board of Directors. The person who fills this seat will pick up where Bob left off, and continue this vital function of ensuring that the Alliance can meet its mission.