Jono Miller to be guest speaker
On March 10, at Gulf Gate Library in Sarasota, the Council of Neighborhood Associations of Sarasota County (CONA) will feature Jono Miller, “a leading environmental educator, advocate, volunteer, and consultant in Sarasota for more than 50 years,” as its guest speaker, the nonprofit has announced.
“As Sarasota faces growing concerns about overdevelopment, shrinking green space, and the paving of vital wetlands, the role of everyday citizens has never been more important,” a CONA news release says. “Protecting our natural environment is not just the responsibility of planners and officials — it belongs to all of us,” the release continues. “We can stay informed, attend public meetings, support conservation efforts, and most importantly, make our voices heard at the ballot box this November.”
Referring to the November 2026 Sarasota County ballot question on extending the Land Acquisition and Management Program, the release further notes, “By voting thoughtfully in the upcoming referendum and advocating for responsible growth, we help safeguard our water, wildlife, and quality of life. The future of Sarasota’s natural beauty depends on community action today.”
The release adds that guest speaker Miller is a graduate of New College with a degree in environmental studies who “later directed the college’s Environmental Studies Program for many years.”
“Throughout his career,” the release continues, “Miller has combined scholarship with grassroots action. He has written a book on Florida’s iconic cabbage palm, helped lead the effort to legalize backyard chickens in Sarasota County, and has served on the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council for four decades — including terms as chair.”
The CONA meeting will be held in Room A of the Gulf Gate Library, which stands at 7112 Curtiss Ave. in Sarasota. The session has been planned to start at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m.