Sierra Club members and the general public are invited to the following event to be held at Lake Macbride on Aug. 26. The Iowa City Area Group of the Sierra Club is helping with the event and is an affiliated group of the main sponsor, the Lake Macbride Water Sports Safety Group. We hope you can attend! Becky [log in to unmask] This is a personal e-mail account held privately through the UI. It is not a UI work account. Public invited to first-ever "Lake Macbride Sail and Paddle Celebration" SOLON, Iowa -The public is invited to attend the first-ever "Lake Macbride Sail and Paddle Celebration" on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Lake Macbride State Park near Solon. The Lake Macbride Water Sports Safety Group, which advocates maintaining the lake's 10 h.p. summer-month motor limit regulation, is sponsoring the celebration, with several sports and environmental groups hosting the events. This celebration comes just before a lake-lowering project by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), scheduled after Labor Day, to repair the lakeshore and fishing habitats. Hiking, educational and water sports events will be offered for participants and spectators, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Events are free and do not require pre-registration, except for participation in the All Iowa Sailing Regatta. Signs will be posted in and near the park for the events. Park facilities will be available for public use as usual. Events scheduled include: At 9 a.m. a Wetlands Discovery Nature Walk, sponsored by Environmental Advocates, will meet at the the boat ramp accessed off of Hwy #382 - 4 miles west of Solon. Gail Clingerman, wetlands specialist, will conduct a 45 minute tour. Long pants and hiking boots are recommended. A "2000 All Iowa Sailing Regatta", sponsored by the Lake Macbride Sailing Club, will be held on the north arm of the lake. Skippers' meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., with morning races beginning at 10:30 a.m., and afternoon races beginning at 1:30 p.m.. The regatta can be viewed from the shores off of Hwy #382, or three miles west of Solon on CRF-28 (5th Street). To enter the regatta, contact Jim Brust at 319-377-5121. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Sail Rides will be available to the public at the regatta sailing area, on an availability basis. The Lake Macbride Yacht Club is hosting the rides. From the public swimming beach, accessed from Hwy 382, two afternoon events will be available to be viewed. At 2:30 p.m. the Iowa City Old Capitol Crew Team will present a Crewing Race, and at 3:30 p.m. a kayak demonstration will be offered by Fin & Feather of Iowa City. Free Sailing Lessons will be offered by the University of Iowa Sailing Club from noon to 5 p.m. on a first-served basis. The Sailing Club dock is located in the Macbride Nature & Recreation Area, off of Mehaffey Bridge Road. The sponsoring Lake Macbride Water Sports Safety Group is composed of over 150 members from the Solon, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids areas, as well as out-of-state lake users. The Group was formed in 1992 of a common concern regarding proposed legislation that would eliminate the summertime 10 hp limit on the lake, endangering educational group programs and family low-impact water activity. Supporting groups include Doctors for Sports Safety, Environmental Advocates, University Club Investors, and the Cottage Reserve Association and Hostess Club. The Iowa City Area Group of the Sierra Club also is affiliated. "As the refill of Lake Macbride for the 2001 season is dependent on rains as well as the progress of the lake repair project - this is a perfect time to enjoy the lake", says Jo Wasta, a Solon resident who helped to spearhead the effort forming the Group. "We hope this event gives everyone a chance to enjoy this beautiful park and to see firsthand why keeping Lake Macbride safe for sail and paddle sports is an asset for eastern Iowans." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]