Photo contest winners

Congratulations go out again to winners in our recently completed photography contest

Best of Show: Autumn Leaves, Brianna Motley

Runner Up: River in Snow, Daniel Hancock

See you in 2012

Please check back here soon for details about our upcoming activities including upcoming photography contests. 

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, January 3 and Tuesday, February 7 for our next meetings.

Our meetings normally start at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle) - meeting on the first Tuesday of each month.

Meetings are free and open to the public. For questions, contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

December update

Welcome

Some of the items covered in this update include:

* Thanks for the holiday party, fundraiser, and recognition
* See you in 2012

If you have any input for this update or any questions please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Thanks for the holiday party - a great end to a great year
Our annual fundraiser and holiday party took place Tuesday, December 6. Thanks go to all involved.

The image of American Holly comes from the http://www.wildflower.org/ gallery.

See you in 2012

Please check back here soon for details about our upcoming activities. Mark your calendar for January 3 and February 7.

Our meetings normally start at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle).

Meetings are free and open to the public.

See the FOEC Year in Review video

Click on the following to see the wonderful video from Frank Skala.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQfSgljby4Y

Visit these interesting sites often

See these wonderful sites for interesting information about environmental issues related to the Euclid Creek watershed.

http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm
Thank you to Claire Posius for providing these newsletters.

http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/index.htm-
Thank you to Meiring Borchers for maintaining our web site.

http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/

Thank you to Judy Dearden and all else who contribute to the Highland Heights Green Task Force and its informative web site.

Check out the presentation on energy efficient lighting recently presented by FOEC member Rick Evans at a Highland Heights Green Task Force meeting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMLarjHZLl4

Award winners

Here is the list of FOEC awards for this year presented at the FOEC holiday party.

Volunteer awards

• David Roache - David is President of Richmond Heights Council and a staunch leader and supporter of FOEC. He is a leader in the establishment of the Greenwood Farms restoration and community participation in the life of the center.


• Rick Evans - An unperturbed fixer and dependable volunteer, Rick is a good natured member of the steering committee. Rick can be counted on to deal with our electronics and volunteer with outreach activities.


• Lou Rifici - On the staff of Cuyahoga Community College, Lou is an environmental science teacher who graciously gives of his time to train our volunteers in the science of water quality monitoring.


• Barb Pophal - Barb has been the coordinator for almost 10 years of our holiday party and the auction. She does a great job each year and this this year she has taken us from our annual potluck party to a nicely catered affair.

Tom Jenkins Award
Ken Messinger Rapport

Ken does a great job as the FOEC finance manager. He is also on the FOEC steering committee. FOEC has been blessed with really good treasurers beginning with Tom Jenkins who we still miss because he was an outstanding member and citizen in every way. This award is made in his name, and Ken is surely deserving of being the recipient.

Ken quietly does the work and is on top of all of its elements. Finance manager is often a thankless job because it is so demanding but Ken is a totally reliable volunteer. In addition, he is a terrific public citizen like Tom Jenkins. Ken's work on gas fracking and his efforts to educate the city and state governments as well as his FOEC friends are remarkable. We are grateful for his dedication. Congratulations, Ken!

Pioneer Award

Lee Gase

Lee is worthy of special recognition, and we're happy to make a presentation to a member who deserves it. Lee is someone who has the imagination and energy to be a leader in preservation and restoration that creates the quality of life in a community and deserves the Pioneer award. Lee is a longtime public official first a City Councilman and then Council President in Richmond Heights. Now as development director, Lee goes the extra mile in finding ways to provide a quality-of-life environment.

Lee has been with FOEC from the beginning and contributed in many ways. He saw the potential for Greenwood Farms to become a center for the history of Richmond Heights and the rallying point for the city's preservation and restoration. He had the imagination to develop names for unnamed creeks and record those with the USGS to identify areas of the watershed. He is a real leader, and we are enriched by the work he gives to us and to Richmond Heights

Heartfelt congratulations go to all FOEC reward recipients.

Steering committee

Here are the notes from the December steering committee meeting. 

The committee met on Wednesday, December 22, at 7:00PM at the South Euclid Library. 

In attendance were Frank Skala, Barb Holtz, Rick Evans, and Jeanette Evans.  

Speakers and programs  

Discussed speakers and programs for first half of 2012 to include:  

• 1) Meiring Borcherds speaking on climate change affecting County health issues.
• 2) Judy Wollen, CSU, Microcistene in Lake Erie
• 3) Members speaking to Members forum (3,5 or 10 minute speeeches) - including a possible presentation by Barb on No Child Left Inside (unless she takes this as a subject for a monthly meeting)
• 4) Cuyahoga County Brownfields especially in Euclid Creek watershed speaker Ginny.
• 5) Dusty goldenrod meadow field trip
• 6) Christie Myers from Ohio environmental council could speak and dangers to ground water supply and quality of water in Lake Erie from Gaswell fracking.
• 7) What is on the computer for friends of Euclid Creek website, Euclid Creek news blog site, Soil water conservation District.
• 8) Euclid Creek manager could speak on the issues of Euclid Creek Metropark and how the role of friends of Euclid Creek could help out.
• 9) Could have water testing results presented to us by Ken Radie and his student group.
• 10) What is the next step in identifying and protecting land areas that we have have designated as interesting areas in the Euclid Creek watershed?
• 11) How about an update from the sewer district possibly frank Greenland on the Euclid Creek tunnel project and the latest information on cities opposing and suing the sewer district on storm water tax increase assessment?
• 12) How about a field trip to Wildwood state park and Oxbow Island that is being redesigned. We could couple that with a site visit to the property at Marcella and Lakeshore Boulevard.

A possible schedule through December could include:

• Jan. - Park manager,  Frank Greenland, or Barb Holtz (depending on availability)
• Feb. - Meiring Borcherds
• March - Members speaking
• April - Park manager,  Frank Greenland, or Barb Holtz (depending on availability)
• May - Spring wildflower walk with Barb Holtz
• June  - Ginny on brownfields
• July - Summer picnic
• August - Judy Woolen, depending on availability
• Sept. - Dusty goldenrod meadow walk with Barb Holtz
• Oct. - Water testing with Ken Radie, depending on availability
• Nov. - Possible speaker bureau presentation
• December - Holiday party 

Recap of holiday party

• We want to do another video provided by Frank. 
• Catering was a good option.  
• Chinese auction name may change.
• Software and other items we could auction off at an upcoming meeting.  

Equipment

• Rick Evans to buy a jump drive and extension cord.

Awards

• Where do the awards to Dave Roche and Lee Gase stand? Frank will follow up on this. 
• Jeanette gave Lou Rifici him his award. 
• We should invite winners to the holiday party next year.  

Photo contest

• We agreed with would like to do another contest.
• Stu Pearl would like to be involved from the beginning of the process.

Newsletter

• Barb to provide a sample and time the newsletter to the membership drive. 

Scholarship

• We could provide a $500 scholarship for a student interested in environmental studies.
• Jeanette to research other scholarships and provide ideas to Frank.  

Year in review video

To see the wonderful video that Frank Skala created and showed at our holiday party, please see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQfSgljby4Y

Committee photo

Thank you to Meiring Borcherds for taking this photo at our holiday party.

Front left - Barb Holtz, Carolyn Suguichi, Fran Hogg
Center (holding plaque) - Ken Messinger-Rapport
Back left - Frank Skala, Gary Bloom, Stephen Albro
Right - Rick Evans, Jeanette Evans, Lou Drasler, Larry McFadden

Festive holiday party

Celebrate the season by joining us for this festive fundraising event

Friends of Euclid Creek Holiday Gathering

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New this year ----

Dinner will be catered by California Salads

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Dinner at 7:00 p.m

Mayfield Village Community Center

Enter off SOM Center Road ~

behind Mayfield Village Fire Department

(NW corner of Rte. 91 and Wilson Mills Road)

Good company, good food and good music for a great cause

$22.00 per person advance reservation

$25.00 per person at the door

Chinese Raffle --- great prizes!

Questions? Please call Barb Pophal at (216) 481-4397

Your raffle donations are always welcome.

The image of American Holly comes from the http:/wildflower.org gallery.

Contest winners

Best of Show  Congratulations!

Autumn Leaves - Brianna Motley

2010 / 2011 Photo Contest complete list:

Plants and Animals:

3^rd Place #40 Red Leaf Pearl Ernat

2^nd Place #36 Mushroom Jim Bowser

1^st Place #27 Chipmonk Rock Peter Shenk

Recreation:

3^rd Place #3 Everybody Enjoys Walk Mary Bode

2^nd Place #1 Dad and Daughter Kathleen Fleming

1^st Place #8 Walker on Bridge Mary Bode

Cultural and Historic Places:

3^rd Place #4 Quarry Creek #2 Jim Bowser

2^nd Place #2 Monticello Bridge D. Mason

1^st Place #3 Quarry Creek Jim Bowser

Black and White:

3^rd Place #9 I Stand Alone Derrick Mason

2^nd Place #8 Rocks Elizebeth Jacob

1^st Place #2 Bowl of Plenty Susane Sande

Round of applause for paticipants and Judges

Best of Show:

#12 Autumn Leaves Brianna Motley $100

Best of Show Runner Up:

#16 River in Snow Daniel Hancock $25

2010/ 2011 Photo Contest Winners

Under 17 Plants and Animals:

3rd Place #3 Euclid Creek #1 Anna Russ

2^nd Place #16 River in Snow Daniel Hancock

1^st Place #12 Autum Leaves Brianna Motley

Under 17 Recreation

No Entries

Under 17 Cultural and Historic Sites

3^rd Place #35 Creek Building Rob Spielman

2^nd Place #30 Second Bridge Nicole Blatchford

1^st Place #1 Richmond Rd Bridge Hanna Keyerleber

Under 17 Black and White

3^rd Place #28 Euclid Creek Cori Smith

2^nd Place #7 Bee Brendan Ryan

1^st Place White Flowers Nicole Blatchford

Best of show

Congratulations to our best of show winners

Best of Show:

Autumn Leaves
Brianna Motley

Best of Show Runner Up:
River in Snow
Daniel Hancock

Holiday donations

Thank you so much for your donations 

Master List for FOEC Chinese Auction 12-5-2011

Tee fees for four people; no carts

Donor:  Cleveland MetroParks

Winner:  Fran Hogg

Four Zoo/Rainforest Passes

Donor:  Cleveland MetroParks

Winner:  Judy Dearden

The two items above were obtained via Barb Holtz

Bucket of wine, peanut butter nuggets, and whole cashews

Donor:  Barb Pophal

Winner:  Larry and Chris McFadden

Book “Marley and Me” by John Grogan in basket with LED reading light, mug, and container of Ghirardelli Double Hot Cocoa

Donor:  Barb Pophal

Winner:  Virginia Aveni

Waterford Holiday Heirloom Quilted Sparkle Stocking & Snow Crystals Pierced Ornament

Donor:  Georgine Welo, Mayor of South Euclid

Winner:  Steve and Joan Albro

One-Year Cleveland Botanical Garden Family Membership

Donor:  Cleveland Botanical Garden

Winner:  Barbara Langlots

The membership above was obtained via Connie Herron

$25.00 Trader Joe’s gift certificate and Trader Joe’s bag with bottle of  Johnson Estate Red Ipocras Lake Erie Wine

Donor:  Connie Herron

Winner:  Theresa Bloom

$50.00 Gift Card to Playhouse Square (good for 3 years)

Donors:  Gary and Theresa Bloom

Winner:  Christine McFadden

“My Rotisserie” including Cutting Board box, Silicone Glove, & recipe book

Donor:  Lillian Houser

Winner:  Christine McFadden

Four Abuelo’s Complimentary Entrée cards (divided into two sets of two)

Donor:  Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant

Winners:  Paulette Paluso, Madeline Watts

Set of 4 Floral Designer Mugs

Donor:  Virginia Aveni

Winner:  Carolyn Sugiuchi

2010 and 2011 “America The Beautiful” State Parks Quarters Proof Sets and a set of Holiday Votive Candles

Donors:  Rick and Jeanette Evans

Winner:  Mike Granito

Wild Bird’s “Feed the Birds Basket”

Donor:  Wild Birds Unlimited

Obtained by:  Steve and Joan Albro

Winner:  Paulette Paluso

Wild Bird’s Unlimited 20 pounds Deluxe Bird Seed, and 4 Suet Cakes

Donor:  Carolyn Sugiuchi

Winner:  Shirley Wozniak

Five framed photos taken at National Parks:

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata), Glacier National Park, Montgana

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis), Mt. Howard, Oregon

Avalanceh Lily (Drythronium montanum), Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Wallowa Lake, Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon

Donor and photographer:  Anna Julnes

Winners:  Frank Skala won the Blanket Flower photo and Mary K. Evans won the other four photos.

Two musical birds (Holiday Cardinal and American Robin) from Wild Birds Unlimited, a Wild Birds Unlimited 2012 calendar, and an 18 oz bag of pistachio nuts

Donor:  Frank and Marybeth Skala

Winner:  Shirley Wozniak

Two $25.00 Yogurt V (Legacy Village) Gift Certificates

Donor:  Hoi Ling Cheung

Yogurt V

Obtained by Barb Holtz

Two Winners:  Lillian Houser and Lou Drasler

Two separate items- Tabletop Gas Grill

Bamboo Knife Set with Cutting Board box (originally from Green Street Solutions in Oakwood Village)

Donor:  Judy Dearden

Winner:  Marybeth Skala won both items

Two $25.00 Yogurt V (Legacy Village) Gift Certificates

Donor:  Hoi Ling Cheung

Yogurt V

Value:  $50.00

Obtained by Barb Holtz

Two Winners:  Lillian Houser and Lou Drasler

Two photo albums and a decorative picture frame

Donor:  Fran Hogg

Winner:   Larry and Chris McFadden

Bushnell Binocular, 12 x 32

Donor:  Chris and Larry McFadden

Winner:  Carolyn Sugiuchi

Whose Water is This?

Part of LWV Whose Democracy Is This? series:

Whose Water is This? The State of Water in the State of Ohio

Speaker:

Jane Goodman, Executive Director, Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization

Date, time and location:

Thursday, December 1, 7-9 pm, Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Blvd., Cleveland Heights 44118.

November update

Welcome
December meeting is our party/fund raiser

Be sure to attend our holiday party and fund raiser at the Mayfield Village Community Center on the first Tuesday of December. Please contact Frank Skala, Barb Pophal, or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net for details about our December meeting and to donate to our Chinese raffle.

The cost for the event is $25 at the door or $22 in advance and includes a chicken or vegetable entree. Come prepared to bid on our Chinese raffle fund raiser.

Donations for the raffle are always welcome.

November meeting showcases photo contest winners
Our November meeting recognized the awesome winners of our photo contest. Check back soon for more details. Thank you to photo contest judges - Bob Hinkle, Cleveland Metroparks, and Stuart Pearl, Stuart Pearl Photography. The exciting November program included announcing the winners and awarding cash prizes.

Youth corps installs rain garden
Thank you to all involved at Mayfield High School and FOEC for completion of this project at the Cuyahoga County Airport.

Congratulations to our photo contest winners

Plants and Animals:

3^rd Place #40 Red Leaf Pearl Ernat

2^nd Place #36 Mushroom Jim Bowser

1^st Place #27 Chipmonk Rock Peter Shenk

Recreation:

3^rd Place #3 Everybody Enjoys Walk Mary Bode

2^nd Place #1 Dad and Daughter Kathleen Fleming

1^st Place #8 Walker on Bridge Mary Bode

Cultural and Historic Places:

3^rd Place #4 Quarry Creek #2 Jim Bowser

2^nd Place #2 Monticello Bridge D. Mason

1^st Place #3 Quarry Creek Jim Bowser

Black and White:

3^rd Place #9 I Stand Alone Derrick Mason

2^nd Place #8 Rocks Elizebeth Jacob

1^st Place #2 Bowl of Plenty Susane Sande

Best of Show:

#12 Autumn Leaves Brianna Motley $100

Best of Show Runner Up:

#16 River in Snow Daniel Hancock $25

Under 17 Plants and Animals:

3rd Place #3 Euclid Creek #1 Anna Russ

2^nd Place #16 River in Snow Daniel Hancock

1^st Place #12 Autum Leaves Brianna Motley

Under 17 Recreation

No Entries

Under 17 Cultural and Historic Sites

3^rd Place #35 Creek Building Rob Spielman

2^nd Place #30 Second Bridge Nicole Blatchford

1^st Place #1 Richmond Rd Bridge Hanna Keyerleber

Under 17 Black and White

3^rd Place #28 Euclid Creek Cori Smith

2^nd Place #7 Bee Brendan Ryan

1^st Place White Flowers Nicole Blatchford

Please visit regularly
See these wonderful sites for interesting information about environmental issues related to the Euclid Creek watershed.

Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation District Enews-Letter at http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm- Thank you Claire!

FOEC website at http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/index.htm- Thank you Meiring!

Highland Heights Green Task force meeting minutes at http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/

Photo contest winner

Best of Show (see above)
Autumn Leaves - Brianna Motley
Congratulations!

Some contest entries

Year in review

Thank you to Frank Skala and all else involved. Here is a listing of programs provided in the 2010-2011 term.

Sept. 2010 - Meiring Borcherds, FOEC web site update
October 2010 -Claire Posius, Barb Holtz, watershed issues

November 2010 -Dianne Bickett, Director of Solid Waste District, recycling
December 2010 -Barb Pophal, holiday party/fund raiser

Jan. 2011 -Claire Posius, Watershed Planning Guide review
Feb. 2011 -Ginny Avemi, mapping future watershed projects

March 2011 -Tom Evans, URS, watershed planning
April 2011 -Claire Posius, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation update

May 2011 -Cleveland Metroparks Staff, Master Plan update
June 2011 -Ken Messinger-Rapport, gas well drilling, Gasland

July 2011 -Summer picnic, Euclid Creek Reservation
August 2011 -Lou Rifici, water quality monitoring in Euclid Creek

September 2011 -Joe Logan, Ohio Environmental Council, water quality
October 2011 -Tour of Mayfair Country Club

November 2011 - Larry McFadden, photography contest recognition
December 2011 - Barb Pophol, holiday party/fund raiser

Steering committee meeting

The steering committee met on November 16 at the South Euclid Community Center. Frank Skala called the meeting to order around 7:00 PM.

Present at the meeting were Claire, Larry, Fran, Rick, Jeanette, Lou, Ginny, Frank, Carolyn, Gary, and Ken.

Topics discussed include the following.

Planning for 2012

Claire asked that we look at events for the coming year. Ideas include Lyndhurst events, healthy habits for hourseholds workshop, Wildwood plantings, community home days, school events, stream monitoring.

We discussed speakers to cover topics such as harmful algae blooms (speaker from CSU), heavy rainfall (Meiring), climate change, potpourri, brownfields (Ginny), dusty goldenrold walk (Barb Holtz).

Holiday party

We discussed invitations, Ken to build list of who will attend, projector, year in review slide show, screen, catering, desserts, drinks, awards, music.

Raffle tickets are to be $1 each or 6 for $5.

Photo contest

Larry is to look at prices for note cards. We agreed we do not want calendars.

Treasurer reports

Ken updated on tax return.

Sign in sheets

Jeanette to send sign in sheets to Frank.

Some photo contest entries

Some contest entries

October update

Welcome
Thank you to Frank Skala for providing the photo of the ravine and waterfall at Greenwood Farm, where FOEC conducted ravine walks during the Greenwood Farm Family Fun Fest held on September 24. Thank you to all who helped including Ron Puera, Barb Pophol, Frank Skala, Mary Kay Evans, Steve Albro, Joan Albro, Barb Holtz, and Rick Evans.

September canoe trip
"The canoe ride was a big success. Nobody fell in. The 15 of us in canoes were the last ones to see the present island up close." So said Frank Skala of the FOEC canoe ride event that took place in September. Thank you to all involved.

Thank you for a great October meeting
A big thank you goes out to all involved in the field trip to the former Mayfair Country Club.

November meeting to recognize winners
Our November 1 meeting will recognize winners of our photography contest.

The butterfly picture is one entry.

See the 50-plus entries for our current contest at:

http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/photocontest.htm

November 1 meeting starts at 6:30 PM
South Euclid Community Center
1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle)
The November meeting is free and open to the public.

FOEC Youth Corps to install rain garden

Key Club at Mayfield High School is working with members of FOEC to install a rain garden at the Cuyahoga County Airport. This is the first activity with the youth corps. Special thanks to all involved including Meiring Borcherds for designing the garden.

More about the Greenwood Farm ravine
The following are notes from naturalist Barb Holtz about the ravine.

Geology:
Looks like Cleveland Shale to me. About 300-400 million years old. Trees: Mostly sugar maple but also saw white oak, black cherry, beech (at top of ravine). Hemlock trees plentiful on slope and near to creek on rock edges. Very typical for northeastern Ohioforests - hemlocks prefer low light, moist, cool habitat that ravine offers.

Flowers:
All white wildflower (doesn't really have petals) is white snakeroot. Small aster (white petals with purplish center) is heart-leaved aster. Lots of Vinca or myrtle by the house continuing sown the slope. Great example of invasive plant - escapes readily from home landscapes and creates carpet in natural areas.

What is a watershed?
The land that drains to a common body of water (like Euclid Creek). That water carries with it whatever is on the land like fertilizers, pesticides, oil, etc. As storm water runoff increases in the watershed due to impermeable surfaces, the creek takes on a more and more water. This can scour the creek and increase erosion.

Floodplain:
Important natural feature! People will be standing on it when by the creek. This is the land area on either side of the creek banks that acts as a sponge or holding tank for the creek. It detains flood water and releases it slowly to curtail flooding downstream.

Please visit regularly
See these wonderful sites for interesting information about environmental issues related to the Euclid Creek watershed.

Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation District Enews-Letter at http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm- Thank you Claire!

FOEC website at http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/index.htm- Thank you Meiring!

Highland Heights Green Task force meeting minutes at http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/

See the 50-plus entries for our current photo contest at
http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

Some pictures
Lou Drasler and Ann Marie Mills participated in the canoe rides that started at Wildwood Park in September. Other pictures are from our October walk in Richmond Heights at the site of the former Mayfair Swim Club. Thank you to Frank Skala for providing the pictures.

Some photo contest entries

Another contest entry

October steering committee

October 19 the steering committee met with Frank, Barb Pophol, Gary, Steve Albro, Larry, Fran Hogg, Jeanette, Rick, Lou, Carolyn, Barb Holtz, Ginny, and Ken attending.

Holiday party

Barb Pophol discussed catering options through California Salads. The price is to be $25 at the door and $20 in advance. Mayfield Village Community Center is the location. People are to bring desserts and items for the Chinese auction. Ginny has the list of individuals for awards.

Membership list

Fran Hogg discussed the membership list maintained by Ken. Fran will send out invitations to the holiday party to the membership list plus elected officials.

Sign in sheets

Jeanette is to get sign in sheets for meetings from Claire.

Newsletter

We discussed newsletter mailings. Barb Holtz provided an example of a newsletter format.

Photo contest

Larry reported on details of the contest winners and meeting.

Speaker's bureau

Barb Holtz updated on her progress regarding the presentation.

Youth corps

We discussed issues related to the youth corps and the rain garden installation at the Cuyahoga County Airport.

September update

Welcome

Remember that the last day to enter our photo contest is October 5.

The photo of the leaf is the winner of our last contest. See the 50-plus entries for our current contest at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

September canoe trip

Lou Drasler (left) and Ann Marie Mills (right) were among those who participated in the canoe trip that FOEC organized to start at Wildwood Park. Thank you to all who helped make this event happen, especially with the weather cooperating.

Thanks for a great September meeting

Thank you to Joe Logan with the Ohio Environmental Council for the excellent presentation.

Mark your calendar

Our November 1 meeting will recognize winners of our photo contest. Stay tuned for details.

Our holiday party/fund raiser is coming

Please let Barb Pophol or Jeanette Evans at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net know if you can help with the party. Donations for our raffles and auctions are always welcome and encouraged. Don't miss this wonderful event. Stay tuned for details.

FOEC photo contest judges

Thank you to the following for being our judges:

• Bob Hinkle, Cleveland Metroparks
• Michael Mann, Dodd Camera
• Stuart Pearl, Stuart Pearl Photography

October 4 meeting is a field trip starting at 6:00

Join us when our regular monthly meeting for October will be a field trip to the former Mayfair Swim Club in Richmond Hts.

We have special permission from the police department and the Cuyahoga airport to enter the property. The entrance to the property is located on the north side of Highland Rd, east of Cary Jay Blvd, between the 3rd and 4th houses east of Cary Jay Blvd. Proceed down the very long drive to the parking lot and lake.

Attendees discuss interests at September meeting

At our September meeting attendees discussed their interests in FOEC programs.

The following shows interests discussed:

• Conduct a dusty golden rod meadow walk (several individuals expressed interest, a suggestion is to meet at Highland Heights Pavilion)
• Continue with educational programming (several individuals mentioned this interest)
• Focus on conservation and environmental issues (several individuals)
• Work with city councils on environmental friendly ordinances and laws (such as weed laws)
• Have a geologist speak at an upcoming meeting

Other interests discussed:

• Greenwood Farm
• landscape design
• native plants
• infrastructure
• climate change
• gardening
• what is in the water
• rain barrels

September steering committee meeting

On September 21 the following were in attendance at the South Euclid Library: Frank, Barb Holtz, Gary, Rick, Jeanette, Carolyn, Larry, Ken, Steve. Frank called the meeting to order around 7:05PM.

Awards

We discussed who will get the year-end awards.

Greenwood Farms

Volunteers for the event are Barb Pophol, Mary Kay Evans, Steve Albro, Joan Albro, Rick Evans, Frank Skala, Ron Puera, and Jeanette Evans. Barb Holtz will prepare a script. Ron Puera will set up the tent. Evans will pick up the materials at the end of the event.

Photo awards

Larry will organize a follow up meeting. Barb Holtz will handle refreshments for the meeting. The location is the South Euclid Community Community Center. Committee members include Meiring, Ginny, and Larry.

Treasurer's report

Ken provided the report.

Newsletter

Barb agreed to prepare a newsletter near the beginning of next year. It could be distributed as an insert along with Claire's newsletter.

Lyndhurst Home Days

We discussed follow up of the people who signed up to get more information. Barb Holtz suggested having a rain barrel workshop on the tennis court next year.

New members

We discussed follow up from other events including the photo contest meeting in November.

Welcome letters

Gary prepared a welcome letter for new members.

Stickers

Barb Holtz has stickers that will go with the welcome letter for new members.

Sept. 22 canoe ride

Frank to notify attendees of any cancellations.

Airport rain garden and youth corps

September 29 at 3:00-5:00PM will be our first event working with the youth corps. Meiring designed the rain garden. Larry will email about the location at the Cuyahoga County Airport. At least 10 students will be there from the Key Club at Mayfield High School. Nick DeFranco is the Key Club contact. Claire will be there.

Mayfair Swim Club

October 4 at 6:00PM we will have our regular meeting at the Mayfair Swim Club on Highland Road on the north side of the street, three doors east of Cary Jay. Kevin Delaney is the airport manager and is to meet us there. Lee Gates is a Richmond Heights historian who will lead the discussion. Claire is to bring the Euclid Creek Event signage.

Nov. meeting

Photo contest winners will be recognized at this meeting at the South Euclid Community Center. Ginny is to speak as is Frank. Barb Holtz will handle refreshments. Larry will email the photo contest entrants of the location.

Dec. holiday party

Barb Pophal is organizing this event again and reserved the Mayfield Village Community Center. We discussed invitations, awards, musicians, food, prizes, fund raising.

SWCD grant

Claire received the award for $35,000.

Speakers' bureau

Barb Holtz got material from Clair and is working on the presentation. Potential speakers should get together to review the presentation. Frank, Rick, Larry, and Ken are interested in attending.

Thank you to Frank Skala for providing this picture from the Greenwood Farm ravine walk.

Aug. steering committee notes

On Wednesday, August 17 the steering committee met at the South Euclid Library.

In attendance were Larry, Gary, Frank, Rick, Jeanette, Barb, and Lou. Frank called the meeting to order around 7:05PM.

Youth corps

Larry explained about working with Jerry Turk of the Mayfield High School Key Club and Claire on a rain garden project. Meiring and Larry looked at sites for the rain garden.

Photo contest

Seventy entries are available for judging. Larry discussed who will judge.

North Chagrin Nature Center Interpretive Plan

Barb explained the plan for the Euclid Creek Reservation

Greenspace plans

Barb discussed how to encourage communities to have conservation development ordinances and greenspace plans

Insurance

Ken looked at insurance costs. We agreed to keep the insurance we now have.

Future speakers

We discussed having Bill Zawicki at a future meeting.

Upcoming plans

• Aug. 24 Sierra Club Cruise on Goodtime
• Sept. 6 - general meeting with Kristy Meyers
• Sept. 9 to 11 - Lyndhurst Home Days
• Sep. 22 - Canoe Ride
• Oct. 4 - 6PM, Mayfair Swim Club outing instead of regular meeting
• Nov. 1 - General meeting with photo contest winners, no speaker
• Dec. 6 - Holiday party
• Jan. 3 - Speaker L. Clark on brownfields
• Feb. 7 - General meeting where members share with members

Misc.

• Barb is making progress on the speaker's bureau slide show
• Barb could lead a dusty goldenrod walk in the spring

July update

Welcome
Thank you for a great July picnic
Our July meeting included a picnic near the dam removal site in the Metroparks location near the Highland Road entrance.

The image of the purple coneflower - a good native choice for Ohio landscapes - comes from The Wild Ones. Coneflowers attract butterflies and birds. The image of the tree comes from our photo contest.

August meeting
Come to our Tuesday, August 2 meeting to hear guest speaker Lou Rifici talk about water quality monitoring in the Euclid Creek.
Our meetings normally start at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle). Meetings are free and open to the public.

FOEC to be at Lyndhurst Home Days

Mark your calendars for Sept. 9-11. Let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you can help at our table.

Upper Cuyahoga River Tour - Sat., June 18

Thank you to Ginny Aveni and everyone else for planning this event.

Euclid Beach Blast!
FOEC plans to sponsor a table at this wonderful July 16 event.

FOEC officers and directors
Congratulations go to Ken and Carolyn as they were voted in at our July meeting to continue in their positions in September. Here is a list of current officers.


Current Officers
President: Frank Skala
1st Vice President: Larry McFadden
2nd Vice President: Gary Bloom
Secretary: Jeanette Evans
Treasurer: Ken Messinger-Rapport

Please visit regularly
See these wonderful sites for interesting information about environmental issues related to the Euclid Creek watershed.

Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation District Enews-Letter athttp://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm - Thank you Claire! Please send comments and contibutions to Claire at http://us.mc1803.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org

FOEC website at http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/index.htm - Thank you Miering! Please send comments and contributions to Miering at http://us.mc1803.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=friendsofeuclidcreek@gmail.com

Highland Heights Green Task force meeting minutes http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/

Thank you to Lou Rifici

Lou Rifici makes a huge contribution to our efforts at monitoring quality of the the Euclid Creek. He scheduled pickup of the equipment and performs calibration and setup for the volunteers who complete stream monitoring at the various designated locations along the Euclid Creek.

If you would like more information about how to become a volunteer in this important program, please contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Lou has also agreed to speak to our group about stream monitoring. Here is some information about Lou's impressive background.

Louis M. Rifici is a biologist, environmental scientist, and assistant professor of Environmental, Health and Safety Technology and Biology at Cuyahoga Community College in Northeastern Ohio. Mr. Rifici worked as an environmental scientist (1989 - 1999) prior to joining the faculty of Cuyahoga Community College. He focused on freshwater ecology as an undergraduate and particularly enjoyed field work in rivers and streams.

He entered the working world as a research technician and worked for two Cleveland chemical companies, before leaving for graduate studies in ecotoxicology. As a graduate student he learned to bioassay industrial effluents and evaluate their toxicity and ecological effects.

He worked with fellow graduate students and professors to gain hands-on experience with a variety of field evaluation techniques at wastewater sources like coal-fired power plants and paper mills. His graduate thesis describes his study of fathead minnow larvae, a commonly-used bioassay organism. A portion of his thesis was published in the international journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (Volume 15, Issue 8 (August 1996)).

After graduation, Mr. Rifici was employed as an ecotoxicologist with environmental consulting firms in Virginia, Florida, and Ohio and a chemical manufacturer in Pennsylvania. His duties varied and included performing laboratory bioassay or toxicity testing of wastewaters, commercial products, and pesticides.

He is currently involved in local protection efforts in the Euclid Creek (Ohio) and Mill Creek watersheds.