In praise of Harbor friends, "the village parallel"

Dear True,
I'd like to suggest to your readers that they become members of the nonprofit organization "Harbor Friends." With 900 plus members, about half Cook County residents, Friends seek to educate and advocate for a small expanded marina in Grand Marais harbor.
After repeated attempts to work with the DNR and the city council were rebuffed, despite broad public support for their concept, despite the environmental depradations of a large marina, despite the loss of beach and public space and damage to the RV park that would ensue, despite any vestige of reasonable economics to support the DNR concept, the council forges ahead.
In response, the Friends have only increased their education and outreach efforts about the true impact of a large marina, and the advantages of their smaller-scale plan. They were awarded two prestigious grants for their work on behalf of the Great Lakes Basin. One, from Blandin Foundation, will be used for a study of existing marinas around Lake Superior by a hired consultant "to provide real world information about how marinas in their area operate." The other, from Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund, will support the Friends' efforts toward grassroots and citizen initiatives benefitting the lake. Both grants support the outreach and educational efforts by the Friends and their intensive volunteer efforts to achieve a public consensus for a sustainable harbor.
Please check out the website: www.harborfriends.org and/or email harborfriends@boreal.org to get on their mailing list. Membership is a one-time fee of $1.00, such a deal.
Sincerely,
Jane Marple ("I find in a village, the worst gossip is so often true.")