Sierra Club members at Titanic Brewery in Coral Gables.

“As a special treat, during our holiday party, make one less trip to the mall and check out several tables with handcrafted jewelry, water bottle slings and other unique gifts,” said club chairperson Debbie Matthews in an e-mail. “All items are made by talented Sierra Club members! And a portion of every sale goes back to Sierra Club. Cash or check only—this is grass-root entrepreneurship at its finest!”

Matthews added that the party needs donations of wine and turkey and raffle and door prizes, plus volunteers to help set up and clean up.

Attendees are encouraged to bring dishes such as casseroles, empanadas and cupcakes to share as well. Entrace to the dinner costs $5 per person with a covered dish that can serve at least six people or $10 per person who does not bring food.

To donate goods or your time, contact Matthews at treehuggerdeb@yahoo.com.

Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places and the planet itself. It is the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. And its Miami Club members enjoy a good beer or two.

Join club members and visitors on the third Thursday of each month at Titanic Brewery in Coral Gables, which serves award-winning micro-brews. According to the chapter’s newsletter, “Come to Sierra & Beer, and get a free beer.” Attendees must be at least 21 years old.

The Sierra Club has general meetings on the second Monday of each month at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club and meetings at Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood. Members and guests regularly join up to kayak, hike and do other activities.

Visit these sites for info on a club near your home:

Florida.SierraClub.org/miami/

Florida.SierraClub.org/broward/

Florida.SierraClub.org/loxahatchee/

Viktoria Telek won last year's hot body model search.

Wilhelmina Models is hosting its second annual “hot body model search” with a stop in Miami on Nov. 7. The search is to find, according to a statement, “to find one woman and one man who epitomize beauty, health and fitness.”

Below is a press release the organizers sent to South Florida Adventures.

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Along with its partners, Shape and Men’s Fitness magazines, Wilhelmina Models invites both avid health and fitness professionals and amateurs to register online at WilhelminaModelSearch.com, or in person at the Miami open casting call on Sunday, November 7 at Shore Club.

Wilhelmina’s top model scouts and editors from Shape and Men’s Fitness will be scouring entries until the contest closes on November 17th.  Ten finalists will be brought to New York in early 2011, and two winners will be chosen to join Wilhelmina’s elite roster of models, fitness experts and professional and Olympic athletes.  

“The Wilhelmina hot body model search was such a success last year, we are even more excited to continue our search for two new healthy, beautiful winners,” said Wilhelmina’s president, Sean Patterson.  “Along with our partners Shape and Men’s Fitness, we recognize that fitness and self confidence are as important as beauty, and this year’s winners will be the perfect representatives to showcase healthy living in the marketplace and beyond. Thousands entered the search last year and we are excited to see even more beautiful bodies this year.”

Known for representing such talent as Fergie, Zoe Saldana, Gabriel Aubry, Mark Vanderloo, Alex Lundqvist, Natasha Bedingfield and Estelle, Wilhelmina Models is looking for their next superstar.  The two grand prize winners will receive a five year Wilhelmina modeling contract, an editorial appearance in both Shape and Men’s Fitness, and much more. 

“At Shape, we celebrate women who are fit, strong, and confident.  We believe that living a healthy lifestyle makes the best and most beautiful you,” says Shape editor-in-chief, Valerie Latona.  “That’s why Shape is proud to partner with Wilhelmina for the second annual Wilhelmina Hot Body Model Search; we’re looking for models that epitomize this new healthier ideal.  If you believe you’re that person, we want to meet you.”

The Search

Ideal contestants are those who celebrate a healthy, active lifestyle.

Open to men and women ages 18+.

Entry fee: $20.

Applicants will enter online at (http://www.wilhelminamodelsearch.com/), by attending in-person casting calls, or by mailing in headshots and resumes.

A panel of judges consisting of Wilhelmina talent scouts and editors from Shape and Men’s Fitness will review all entries.

The Promotion:

The search contest runs online from August 9, 2010 – November 17, 2010.

A series of three nationwide casting calls will take place.

September 25, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV –  The Olympia at the VITAMIN SHOPPE booth

October 16, 2010 –New York, NY- Wilhelmina Models Offices

November 7, 2010– Miami, FL – Shore Club

Additional open calls will be held at Wilhelmina licensee offices in Denver, CO, Austin, TX, Philadelphia, PA and Columbus, OH (others possibly to follow)

Finalist Prizes: (Ten Finalists Will Be Chosen)

2 night/3 day trip to NYC to participate in judging and finals party where the winners will be announced

Spa and grooming experience

Group training session with top Wilhelmina fitness talent

$100 Gift card to The Vitamin Shoppe

Panel of Judges for final selection:

Editor in chief of Shape magazine

Editor in chief of Men’s Fitness magazine

Top Wilhelmina scouts

In Addition To The Above, The Grand Prize Winners Will Each Receive:

Five year modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models

An  editorial feature in respective issues of Shape and Men’s Fitness

$500 Gift Card to the Vitamin Shoppe

1 year supply of Trimwater

4 night stay at Playa Grande Resort for two

THE WILHELMINA HOT BODY MODEL SEARCH is sponsored by The Vitamin Shoppe and Trimwater.

About Wilhelmina Model Agency

Wilhelmina Models, founded by supermodel Wilhelmina in 1967, represents more than 1,000 models in their New York, Miami and Los Angeles offices.  In 2008, the agency became the first ever modeling company to go public.  The agency has launched the careers of many superstars, including Angelica Huston, Whitney Houston, Lauren Hutton, Mark Vanderloo, Gabriel Aubry, Alexandra Richards, Theodora Richards and Lydia Hearst.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. is the leading publisher of celebrity journalism and health and fitness magazines in the U.S.  These include Star, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, and The National Enquirer.  In addition to print properties, AMI manages 14 different web sites.  The company also owns Distribution Services, Inc., the country’s #1 in-store magazine merchandising company.

South Florida artist and scientist Guy Harvey has joined the Angels of the Seas Conservation Initiative to stimulate the growth of marine conservation projects. Harvey will provide art prints for awards and be present for photo opportunities with the winners.

A partner with the non-profit Save Our Seas Foundation, AOS provides incentives for grass-roots organizations, individuals, conservation groups, tournaments and corporations to host conservation programs.

Founder Betty Bauman created the campaign to increase the numbers of conservation projects. “It’s kind of like the Nobel prize,” she said, “but for honors, not money. With marine conservation in the forefront, it’s time for those who make a difference to be recognized.”

AOS launched its website as a platform for contestants to post their mission and progress. Winners will be judged by their web postings.

The first entry, an initiative to support the rescue of sea turtles, has reportedly resulted in saving hundreds of turtles from inevitable death by instinctively heading toward the dangerous lights of State Road A1A and beachfront developments upon hatching. There is tremendous dialogue on the website’s forum depicting what the participants witness as they spend hundreds of hours helping baby turtles find their way safely to the sea.

The project was launched by the South Florida chapter of Bauman’s Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! Bauman said she developed the AOS initiative as the logical extension for the 6,000 graduates of the fishing seminar series devoted to women.

“We have opened this contest to the marine industry and organizations, as the more people we have starting conservation projects, the better it is for marine life,” she said.

More details on the competition are at AngelsoftheSeas.com. Entry is free for most categories.

Final awards are planned for the Miami International Boat Show, which takes place from Feb. 17-21. Interim honors will be made at the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! Islamorada seminar on Nov. 12

Marine debris on a sea whip near Miami. Photo / Christopher Boykin

The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Each year, the worldwide event collects at more than 6,000 sites and includes half a million volunteers. During the 2009 cleanup, 498,818 volunteers picked up 7.4 million pounds of marine debris in 108 countries 45 U.S. states.

Information and logistics for sites can be found in the flyers below.

Miami-Dade County ICC Flyer

Broward County ICC Flyer

Palm Beach County ICC Flyer

Martin County ICC Flyer

Urban Paradise Guild participants at Northpoint.

Below is a letter from Sam Van Leer, executive director of Urban Paradise Guild, Miami. It also recently appeared in the Miami Herald.

The letter addresses growing frustration surrounding development of Virginia Key, the island between Miami and Key Biscayne. An important part of the development is a trail system for mountain bikers.

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The Virginia Key Master Plan approved by the city of Miami in July 2010 is based largely on the consensus reached at the Virginia Key Coalition’s Charrette of September 2009.

On Northpoint it protects the unique nature preserves and recreates lost habitats inland, creating new opportunities for recreation within conservation. The modest monetary investments are wise considering the stench that sometimes comes from the sewage treatment facility next door and seasonal presence of mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

A public beach is shared by people during the day and nesting sea turtles at night. Everyone can enjoy the multiuse paths. North Ridge is planted with native vegetation selected to preserve the stunning views of the Bill Sadowski Wildlife Area, Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and the city of Miami beyond. A large area is reserved for mountain biking.

Picnic areas are along the beach and the North Ridge. Walking paths allow people to explore the different native habitats found in coastal and inland areas. The campground is on high ground, with exposure to cooling and bug-abating breezes. Services are near the already developed sewage-treatment area.

Buffers between major human uses are absolutely essential to provide visitors with more personal experiences. Quiet nature hikers and wildlife won’t be startled by fast bikers. Campers can enjoy peace without intrusion. Mountain bikers can ride challenging paths free of walking explorers. Mountain bikers were well represented at the charrette’s Northpoint planning sessions and were part of the consensus. The city planning department assures me that 30-yard buffers will be in all final plans.

Oleta River State Park (in North Miami) is frequently mentioned as an example of great mountain bike trails, and it is true that they are fun to ride. What is less understood is that bikers built trails under Australian pines, and expect that the big trees that shade their riding will be preserved. These destructive exotic trees actually kill native habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.

In addition, Oleta trails often wind so tightly that there is very little room for native habitat. The land use is so intense that it is a form of development and is not an example to follow for Virginia Key. Fortunately, there are environmentally sensitive layouts that allow for shared use between bikers and nature.

The 2009 charrette plan should be followed, and Northpoint should never be used as a dumping ground again. How many public meetings must we attend to defend it?

Listen to the will of the public, and please get on with it!

South Florida Adventures’ editor David Raterman is writing a series of celebrity fitness profiles for the Sun Sentinel. He recently interviewed Brenda Lowe, a stand-up paddleboard instructor in Miami and ex-Dolphins cheerleader who is on the new season of Survivor: Nicaragua.

Read how she worked out to prepare her body for the Central American jungle, and even worked out during production of the show. And see what she’s up to now that production ended. Click here.

Miami resident Mireya Mayor is hosting Wild Nights, a Monday evening show on National Geographic’s new cable television network Nat Geo Wild.

Wild Nights explores the animal kingdom thriving in “concrete jungles.” Mayor, a National Geographic Explorer with a Ph.D. in anthropology, has spent years traveling to exotic locations in search of rare species. She has slept in a rain forest amid poisonous snakes, cared for leopards in Namibia, and been chased by central Africa’s gorillas.

For Wild Nights Mayor visits Miami, New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. Armed with flashlights and night-vision equipment, her challenge is to locate as many wild denizens as she can in a typical 24-hour period.

With the help of local experts and residents, Mayor tracks down creatures adapted to city life by trekking through urban swamps, lagoons, traffic-heavy streets, hidden passageways and shopping districts. Along the way she discovers a surprisingly diverse range of animals.

In the Miami episode she finds manatees, alligators, Burmese pythons and more.

Mayor is a two-time Emmy Award-nominated field correspondent for National Geographic Explorer. For the History Channel, she was one of four explorers to retrace the nearly 1,000-mile trip of Henry Stanley & David Livingstone.

In an early incarnation, Mayor was a Miami Dolphins cheerleader (1992-1996).

The city of Miami drafted a master plan for Virginia Key, an ecologically rich island on which Miami Seaquarium stands, and the quickest item to implement was a system of mountain-bike trails. After all, no major buildings needed to be constructed and the cycling group that maintains Markham Park’s well-loved trails volunteered to take the lead.

“But the Virginia Key bike-trail project has instead been spinning its wheels for months,” the Miami Herald’s Andres Viglucci wrote in an awesome article today.

He quoted John Voss, a member of the cycling group, who said, “They haven’t done squat, and they haven’t let us do squat.”

Click here to read the full article.

Mosaic Outdoor Club of South Florida, a Jewish club named after Moses, “the original outdoor Jew,” has announced upcoming events for members and nonmembers. Gentiles are welcome to participate.

On Sept. 19 club members will have a kayaking adventure off Key Biscayne, an island paradise connected by bridge to hectic Miami.

A naturalist will take participants on a journey along the shores of a land that has witnessed the comings and goings of human beings for thousands of years. According to a recent Mosaic newsletter, this ranges “from the Tequesta Indians who set-up their fishing villages in the summer to the pirates that shipwrecked off shore.”

The cost is $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. RSVP through Rich Chesen: 954-449-3335 / richardchesen@gmail.com.

On Oct. 10 the club is offering a day hike at Savannas Preserve State Park. Stretching more than 10 miles from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach, this preserve is the largest and most intact remnant of Florida’s east coast savannas.

Mosaic hikers will start at the Environmental Education Center, picnic about 10 minutes from the center, and then a park ranger will lead a tour of an area not open to the general public. After that the hikers can explore the park on their own.

The cost is $4 for Mosaic members and $9 for nonmembers. No RSVP is required. Contact Robert Blum:  561-289-2228 / rob@robphone.com.

To learn about more Mosaic activities, visit its website.

Miami-based Title Sports Drink, which bills itself as the first “all-natural” isotonic sports drink, is making some noise by announcing endorsements by several NFL and NBA all-stars.

According to a statement, “The ongoing launch campaign for Title Sports Drink is considered to be the first of its kind with a distinguished stable of world-class athletes joining the Title Sports Drink movement. Today’s top athletes from the NFL and NBA, including Ronnie Brown, Vontae Davis, Terrell Owens, Channing Crowder, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Ray Buchanon, Matthew Hatchette and Derrick Brooks have each adopted the newly launched sports drink into their daily workout and training regimen, as a result of its potent and scientifically proven all-natural performance-enhancing ingredients that are collectively unlike anything previously available on the market.”

Hey, at South Florida Adventures we hydrate after workouts, and we love supporting the local endurance sports community. Good luck, Title!

We’re going to post the rest of the company’s recent statement:

“Developed for the new generation of athlete as an all-natural replenishment for today’s competitor, Title Sports Drink has the exclusive rights to 72 ionic trace minerals (Title Mineral Blend) as part of its proprietary formula. Title Sports Drink delivers all five core electrolytes—more than twice the number of electrolytes contained within any other isotonic beverage. With half the sodium of other isotonic products on the market and made with organic cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, Title Sports Drink delivers five times more magnesium and eight times more potassium than rival brands, preventing the likelihood of cramping or muscle seizure. As an additional unique point of difference, Title Sports Drink has no chemical dyes or additives with 100 percent natural coloring.

“‘Within six months of being introduced on to the market, Title Sports Drink has become an integral part of the dietary and training plan for some of the best athletes in the world today,’ says Kevin Sepe, founder of The Electric Beverage Company, producer of Title Sports Drink. ‘This is a genuine testament to the unique performance-enhancing qualities that Title Sports Drink can deliver. We also have a growing number of high school coaches that attribute Title Sports Drink to all-round improved performance. Parents have turned to Title as an all-natural and healthier alternative for their children as they develop into competitive young athletes. We are now in the process of providing the military with our product, for those based in the U.S. and who are active overseas.’

“Title capitalized on its star power for its inaugural television commercial produced in Miami by Steve Procko Productions and directed by Title founder, Kevin Sepe. The 60-second commercial spot features the Title team of professional athletes together in the gym chanting, ‘We All Still Thirst For It,’ with individual appearances by key players, each giving accounts of how they are ‘Going for the Title’ during the season ahead. The brand messaging contained in the commercial spot communicates the virtues of the product’s superior formulation and higher level of electrolytes. The television campaign premiered during the televised 2010 NFL draft and continues to be broadcast throughout the summer/fall season.

“‘NFL Hall of Fame icon, Terrell Owens, gave his own testament to the excellence of Title Sports Drink, in-between playing a lead role in the commercial production: ‘The minerals, the electrolytes and the things that Title consists of blew me out of the water.’

“The community outreach program for Title Sports Drink has become extensive, with partnership affiliations across the region. Title is approved by the School Food and Nutrition Division for both Miami-Dade and Broward County School Districts and is the exclusive sports drink sponsor for the Dade County School’s GMAC (Greater Miami Athletic Conference). The brand is developing long-term relationships and innovative programming to serve (and hydrate) the community with organizations such as the YMCA, Junior Achievement, the American Red Cross, as well as the City of Miami Parks and Recreation among others. Title is also hydrating our military troops as well as firefighters in various regions throughout Florida.

“The parent company for Title Sports Drink, The Electric Beverage Company, formulated a team of today’s leading experts in the beverage business to assist with product research and development over an eight-month period. The most acclaimed flavor chemists and nutritionists were involved in conducting in-depth analysis on the existing isotonic beverage market and concluded that an all-natural mineral-rich compound, that delivered all the essential electrolytes, had yet to be derived for the isotonic beverage category. With the exclusive rights to 72 ionic trace minerals within a formula comprising of the five core electrolytes (sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and chloride), Title was formed to provide two and a half times more conductivity to regulate the electric charge on cells and the flow of water across their membranes, thus preventing muscle seizure during exercise and providing a faster recovery rate. Title Sports Drink is the next generation of isotonic beverage and now the most optimum source of electrolyte replenishment on the market, delivering all of the essential electrolytes to the body quicker and more efficiently for a more enhanced and overall improved performance.

“Title Sports Drink is distributed exclusively by Blue Gem Enterprise (OTC Bulletin Board: BGEM) and is currently available in three flavors: orange, lemon and berry. Title Sports Drink is available at Walgreens, Sedano’s, Navarro and Albertsons stores, as well as smaller independent retail locations.

“Title Sports Drink continues to expand on its national retail distribution strategy, targeting 18-35 year-old males, as the largest consumer demographic in the isotonic beverage market, with moms as an additional primary target audience. A retail presence in the Caribbean and Canada is anticipated by the end of Summer 2010. Four additional product flavors—strawberry kiwi, passion fruit mango, fruit punch and citrus—are in development.”

For more info, click here.