Sarasota County already draws ecotourists with canopy walkway at Myakka River State Park
Canopy walkway stimulates ecotourism
I was very pleased to see that Sarasota County leadership is focusing on ecotourism as an asset of the wonderful place we live (“Sarasota County eyes increased access to preserves as part of ecotourism push,” Dec. 7).
What is also important to note − and not mentioned in the article − is that the canopy walkway in Myakka River State Park has served as an ecotourism inspiration for both visitors and conservationists.
The TREE Foundation builds canopy walkways locally and globally in order to provide economic stability to indigenous peoples, such as those in the Peruvian Amazon, through ecotourism.
But the canopy walkways also have significant scientific purpose.
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Given that 50% of the world’s biodiversity lives in tree canopies, the opportunity for citizen and professional scientists to explore the canopies is unparalleled. And, not incidentally, the walkway in Myakka Park has a very positive impact on the local economy.
Vanessa Wassenar, Venice, incoming board president, TREE Foundation
Zieglers get taste of their own medicine
Here are a few Bible verses that Bridget and Christian Ziegler should take to heart.
“Judge not, lest ye be judged.” 7 Matthew.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” 8 John.
“But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.” 6 Proverbs.
A quote attributed to Chaucer also applies: “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”
Opinion:Zieglers face a 'come to Jesus' moment
How does it feel to be on the other side of public scrutiny and judgment? Shaming others for their personal choices has come back to bite the Zieglers, hasn’t it?
Maybe they will think before casting stones and demeaning others again.
Carol J. Kennedy, Venice
Ziegler dishes it out, but can she take it?
In response to the pro-Bridget Ziegler letter Dec. 8: Anyone discussing the Sarasota County School Board should refrain from using the phrase “woke.”
What does it mean? To me it already sounds biased and bigoted.
Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler has consistently defamed and degraded the LGBTQ community. Families and other School Board members have been called horrible things, and they have been accused of being pedophiles and groomers.
This does nothing for the actual education of children, and I think Ziegler needs to step down ASAP. She doesn’t care about anything other than advancing her neo-evangelical Republican career. And now even that is crashing and burning.
Dawn Jacobson, Sarasota
Siesta Key belongs to all county residents
I would like to remind the residents of Siesta Key that while they may have purchased a plot of land on the island, they do not own it.
Siesta Key belongs to all of us.
I trust that Sarasota County will continue to make sure we all have equal access and a say in the island's future. Once we give a handful of residents’ control, we will see "Private Property" signs restricting access to more and more of the beachfront.
Keep Siesta Key accessible to all of us, not just those with pockets deep enough to live there.
Mark Grayson, Gulf Gate, Sarasota