FOEC News - Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC)

Feb. 7 meeting

2012-01-28T06:59:00.001-08:00

Be sure to attend the February 7 meeting where FOEC member Meiring Borcherds talks about climate change and the Euclid Creek watershed. The meeting starts at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center.

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

Meetings are free and open to the public.

Coming up

2012-01-17T02:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome

Photo is from Daniel Hancock, a winner from our recent photo contest.

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net..

Our meetings normally start at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle) on the first Tuesday of the month. Meetings are free and open to the public. Coming up are the following meetings:

February meeting - The speaker for the February general meeting will be Meiring Borcherds talking about climate change and the impact on the Great Lakes and the Euclid Creek watershed. He will be doing this from the perspective of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
March meeting- The speaker for the March meeting will be Frank Greenland from the Regional Sewer District. He will be addressing the status of the Euclid Creek tunnel project and the status of the proposed sewer rate increase.
April meeting - April's meeting will feature our member to member forum.

Scholarship planning
If you would like to be on the committee for a proposed scholarship to be sponsored by FOEC to support environmental studies, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Jim Bell

2012-01-17T02:23:00.001-08:00

Thank you so much to Jim Bell for speaking at our January meeting, pictured with Barb Holtz.

Jim Bell, Park Manager of Euclid Creek Metropark spoke at our January meeting, presenting park information and opening up the discussion to questions about the park, its programs, and perhaps opportunities for FOEC to participate in future events.

Meeting minutes

2012-01-03T18:59:00.000-08:00

Happy new year from the FOEC steering committee!

Thank you to Meiring Borcherds for taking this photo at our 2011 holiday party.

Front row from left - Barb Holtz, Carolyn Suguichi, Fran Hogg

Ken Messinger-Rapport (center, with plaque), Rick Evans, Jeanette Evans, Lou Drasler, Larry McFadden

Back row from left - Frank Skala, Gary Bloom, Stephen Albro

Meeting minutes - January 18 - Steering Committee Meeting

Mary Kay, Carolyn, Barb Holtz, Ken, Lou, Jane Goodman, Fran Hogg, Jeanette, Rick Evans, and Frank Skala attended. Frank called the meeting to order and asked for a volunteer to run the meeting. Fran agreed to run the meeting and asked Jane Goodman to discuss grants.

Grants
Jane Goodman discussed grants opportunities for our group and will forward information about available grants to the individuals who signed the list she circulated.

Scholarship

We discussed that this should be for high school seniors and looked at a proposed draft. Jeanette to work with Fran to schedule another meeting to work out more details.

Treasurer's Report
Ken provided a report.

Newsletter
Barb Holtz discussed ideas for a newsletter. Fran Hogg can do the printing and mailing.

--
Be sure to attend the February 7 meeting where FOEC member Meiring Borcherds talks about climate change and the Euclid Creek watershed. The meeting starts at 6:30PM at the South Euclid Community Center.

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net..

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

Meetings are free and open to the public. Let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.

Photo is from Daniel Hancock.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

The Tuesday, January 3, 2012 is at 6:30 at the South Euclid Community Center.

The program includes speaker Jim Bell, Park Manager of Euclid Creek Metropark presenting park information and opening up the discussion to questions about the park, its programs, and perhaps opportunities for FOEC to participate in future events.

Bring your questions about Euclid Creek Metropark.

Click on the following link for a map of the park which may help remind you of questions you wish to ask.

http://www.clemetparks.com/visit/index.asp?ispopup=yes&action=rmaps&reservations_id=1009

"Euclid Creek Reservation is named for the Euclid Creek which runs the length of the reservation. It features wooded hillsides where the rare rock chestnut oak grows.

The reservation is located in Euclid, South Euclid and Richmond Heights. The southern portion of the reservation is the site of a 'ghost town.'

The village of Bluestone flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s when its populace quarried the blue-gray siltstone for use in building sidewalks and other construction.

Today, the only remaining exposure of bluestone is in Quarry Picnic Area.

Deer, fox and other wildlife have relocated to the reservation because of the diminishing open spaces in adjacent areas."

Happy new year from the FOEC steering committee!

Thank you to Meiring Borcherds for taking this photo at our 2011 holiday party.

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

February 7 meeting

Be sure to attend the February meeting where FOEC member Meiring Borcherds talks about climate change and the Euclid Creek watershed.

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net..

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

Meetings are free and open to the public. Let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.

Photo contest winners

2011-12-26T07:02:00.001-08:00

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

2011-12-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-22T15:09:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-18T22:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-16T15:22:00.001-08:00

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: JudyDearden

The two items above were obtained via Barb Holtz

Bucket of wine, peanut butter nuggets, and whole cashews

Donor: BarbPophal

Winner: Larryand Chris McFadden

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

Donor: BarbPophal

Winner: VirginiaAveni

Waterford Holiday Heirloom Quilted Sparkle Stocking &Snow Crystals Pierced Ornament

Donor: GeorgineWelo, Mayor of South Euclid

Winner: Steveand Joan Albro

One-Year Cleveland Botanical Garden Family Membership

Donor: Cleveland Botanical Garden

Winner: BarbaraLanglots

The membership above was obtained via Connie Herron

$25.00 Trader Joe’s gift certificate and Trader Joe’s bagwith bottle of Johnson Estate RedIpocras Lake Erie Wine

Donor: ConnieHerron

Winner: TheresaBloom

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

Donors: Garyand Theresa Bloom

Winner: ChristineMcFadden

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

Donor: LillianHouser

Winner: ChristineMcFadden

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

Donor: Abuelo’sMexican Restaurant

Winners: PaulettePaluso, Madeline Watts

Set of 4 Floral Designer Mugs

Donor: VirginiaAveni

Winner: CarolynSugiuchi

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

Donors: Rickand Jeanette Evans

Winner: MikeGranito

Wild Bird’s “Feed the Birds Basket”

Donor: WildBirds Unlimited

Obtained by: Steve and Joan Albro

Winner: PaulettePaluso

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

Donor: CarolynSugiuchi

Winner: ShirleyWozniak

Five framed photos taken at National Parks:

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

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

Avalanceh Lily (Drythronium montanum), Mount RainierNational Park, Washington

Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Wallowa Lake, Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon

Donor and photographer: Anna Julnes

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

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

Donor: Frank andMarybeth Skala

Winner: ShirleyWozniak

Two $25.00 Yogurt V (Legacy Village) Gift Certificates

Donor: Hoi LingCheung

Yogurt V

Obtained by Barb Holtz

Two Winners: LillianHouser and Lou Drasler

Two separate items- Tabletop Gas Grill

Bamboo KnifeSet with Cutting Board box (originally from Green StreetSolutions in Oakwood Village)

Donor: JudyDearden

Winner: MarybethSkala won both items

Two $25.00 Yogurt V (Legacy Village) Gift Certificates

Donor: Hoi LingCheung

Yogurt V

Value: $50.00

Obtained by Barb Holtz

Two Winners: LillianHouser and Lou Drasler

Two photo albums and a decorative picture frame

Donor: FranHogg

Winner: Larry and Chris McFadden

Bushnell Binocular, 12 x 32

Donor: Chrisand Larry McFadden

Winner: CarolynSugiuchi

Whose Water is This?

2011-11-08T08:09:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-03T03:08:00.001-07:00

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

2011-11-02T12:56:00.001-07:00

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

Some contest entries

2011-11-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

Year in review

2011-11-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

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

2011-11-01T12:10:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Some contest entries

2011-10-14T16:18:00.001-07:00

October update

2011-10-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-08T05:51:00.000-07:00

Another contest entry

2011-10-08T04:30:00.001-07:00

October steering committee

2011-10-08T04:28:00.001-07:00

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.

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

2011-09-10T06:19:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-10T06:18:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-02T03:23:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

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.

July steering committee

2011-07-06T07:53:00.001-07:00

July steering committee meeting notes

On July 20, Frank Skala called the meeting to order around 7PM at the South Euclid Library.

In attendance were Frank, Lou, Jeanette, Rick, Larry, Barb Holtz, Ken, Gary, Ginny, Claire Posius, and Carolyn.

Director position voting
By unanimous vote we approved Barb Holtz to fill the vacant position.

August meeting

Lou Rifici will talk about Euclid Creek volunteer water monitoring.

Operating support grant

Claire discussed the draft

Signage

We discussed the need for more Euclid Creek signs in the watershed

Tee shirts

Claire asked if we want Euclid Creek tee shirts.

Insurance

Jeanette to look at quotes with no deductible.

Youth corps

Mr. Turk at Mayfield High School is in charge of Key Club and interested in working with us. Larry and Ginny plan to follow up.

Euclid Historical Society Rain Barrel Workshop

Larry gave Claire a list of attendees.

FOEC stickers

Barb showed samples. We voted unanimously to spend $54.95 on an order.

Speaker's bureau

Claire will provide Barb with slides. Barb will customize for a FOEC presentation.

Derek Shaefer of West Creek Land Trust

The steering committee is to meet with Derek one half hour before our regular August meeting.

Photography tips

2011-06-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Meiring Borcherds for these tips

Three Tips On Telephoto Photography One of the most exciting aspects of photography is working with Telephoto and Super Telephoto lenses. While out of the price range for most to buy, this lens family is easily accessible through lens rental services online or through local camera stores. Telephoto and super telephoto lenses enable photographers to explore a variety of subjects in new ways. Such lenses are often used in wildlife photography, but they can be used for a variety of subjects. Here are 3 tips and ideas for great telephoto photography: 1. Use A Tripod For Sharp Photos

By and large the vast majority of subjects photographed with telephoto and super telephoto lenses need to be tack sharp. Due to the narrow field of view and magnification of telephoto lenses ever so slight movements has an impact on image sharpness. The first thing you can do to ensure that you’ll capture sharper images is to use a tripod and a tripod head that can support the weight of your equipment. While this is not the only step that you can take to ensure sharper images it is an essential first step. 2. Tightly Frame Your Subject

The most obvious use of a telephoto lens is to magnify a subject so as to close the distance between you and what you’re photographing. This is of extremely value if you’re photographing insects, mammals and/or birds. But you can also use your telephoto lens to give you a creative edge. This can be done by getting extremely close to your subject in some instances. This is particularly useful in highlighting details that would otherwise be lost with shorter focal length lenses. 3. Think Macro Photography

If you’re not into getting close with the bugs and the fungi then an alternate way to shoot macro photography is to use a telephoto lens. Extension tubes in combination with super telephoto lenses shorten the closest focusing distance of a lens. Working with a larger lens will not give you every vantage point that a smaller lens can provide, but it will enable you to obtain other unique perspectives all while saving you from getting your hands dirty.

Bonus Tip:

If your camera has a Mirror Lock-up function this in addition to the use of a shutter release will remove much of the mechanical vibration your camera itself can create. The mirror in the camera box of your DSLR allows you to see from the viewfinder out your lens. When you trigger the shutter the mirror will flip up out of the way so that light coming through your lens hits the sensor or film in your camera body. Mirror Lock-up will prompt you to trigger the shutter twice, first to move the mirror into a ready position and second to open the shutter. After the first trigger of the shutter you should wait 2-5 seconds for the internal mechanics of your camera and resulting vibration of your camera to settle to the point of being still before you trigger the shutter a second and final time.

Now get out into the Euclid Creek Watershed and get creative. Remember to enter our 2011 Photo Contest at http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/photocontest.htm to win some great prizes and build on your photography skills.

June 2011 update, 2010-11 recap

2011-06-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome
If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. The image with the frogs is from our current photography contest. For more images, see http://picasaweb.google.com/

FriendsofEuclidCreek/ 2011PhotoContestEntries#

Our regular 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.

Thank you to environmental attorney and FOEC member Ken Messinger-Rapport for leading the discussion at our June meeting that included a viewing of Gasland, a 2010 American documentary film that focuses on communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Upper Cuyahoga River Tour - Sat., June 18
Meet us at 8:30 AM at the Mayfield/SOM parking lot for Walmart. We can car pool from there. Please contact Frank Skala or Ginny Aveni for details.

Come to our July 5 picnic
Bring a dish. FOEC will provide pizza. The picnic starts at 6PM near the dam removal site at the Highland Road entrance to the Euclid Creek Reservation. Please contact Frank Skala or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net for details.

Euclid Beach Blast! Join our FOEC booth on Saturday, July 16
We are still looking for volunteers. Please let Frank Skala know if you can help.

Call for nominations - FOEC officers and directors
Please let Frank Skala (or me at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net) know if you have someone to nominate or are interested in becoming an officer or director to join the steering committee as we currently have openings and are accepting nominees. Here is our current list of board members including officers and directors.

Officers

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

Six directors

Steve Albro
Lou Drasler
Rick Evans
Frank Hogg
Kathy Schaefer
Carolyn Sugiuchi

Year in review
As our current officers complete the 2010-2011 term, here is a summary of the meetings held and speakers featured. Thank you to Frank Skala and all involved in making it such an interesting and productive year.

Sept. 2010 - Meiring Borcherds, FOEC web site update
October 2010 -Claire Posius, Barb Holtz, watershed issues update
November 2010 -Dianne Bickett, Director of Solid Waste District, recycling and related issues
December 2010 -Barb Pophal, holiday party at Mayfield Village Community Center
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 (planned)

Please visit regularly

Please visit regularly Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation District Enews-Letter at
http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm
Thank you Claire! Please send comments and contibutions to Claire at cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org

Please visit regularly the FOEC website at http://friendsofeuclidcreek.nhlink.net/index.htm
Thank you Miering! Please send comments and contributions to Miering at friendsofeuclidcreek@gmail.com.

June steering committee meeting

2011-06-04T01:03:00.000-07:00

In attendance at the June 15 steering committee meeting were Fran Hogg, Lou, Rick, Frank, Carolyn, and Jeanette. Frank called the meeting to order around 7:05PM.

Bishop Road conservation easement
We discussed how Derek Schaefer was pursuing this grant.

Picnic
Tuesday, July 5 is the date of the picnic. Barb Holtz reserved the location near the former dam site. Everyone is to bring something for the potluck. We should feel free to invite any council people. Fran is to bring pizza. We had about 50 people last year. Fran is to call Barb Pophol to bring dinnerware. We are encouraging people to bring reusable dinnerware. Frank will check on who will bring soft drinks. Fran is to bring a bocci set. People are to come at 6PM. Frank can come early if needed. Agenda of the meeting would be the nominations.

Cuyahoga River Tour on Sat., June 18
Ginny is set to host this. All who cannot come and signed up should let her know.

Nominations for officers
Larry provided an update via email. Carolyn is running and nominated to be on the board. We discussed other nominations. Frank will follow up with the nominees for the director opening for Kathy's position.

Speakers
Frank will look into a speaker about brownfields. Ginny has found many of the speakers for this year. We do not have a program chairperson for the coming year. Fran suggested we could take turns taking topics. We discussed alternating activities and presentations. Gasland is something we could continue to watch together. We discussed having no meeting on August if the brownfield presentation falls through. We discussed whether the Botanical Garden or area museums have a speaker's bureau?

Youth corps
Key Club at Mayfield High School works with Mr. Turk. They are looking for projects. Jeanette is to follow up with Mr. Turk to tell him that Fran and Larry will be in touch with him.

Listing of goals
Carolyn noted a list of goals that include survey of the watershed issues, youth corps, speaker's bureau, membership drive, rain gardens, and interest areas of members. Metroparks could share information from the meeting we attended. Meiring and Larry are addressing rain gardens.

May 2011 update

2011-05-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome
Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have any input for these updates.The image of coreopsis comes from ohioprarienurseries.com.

Our regular meetings normally start at 6:30PM the first Tuesday of every month at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle). We attended the Cleveland Metroparks- 2020 Emerald Necklace Centennial Plan presentation on Tuesday, May 3 at the North Chagrin Nature Center where the focus of the discussion was on the creek reservation.

FOEC participates in Green Dream
A thank you goes out to all who helped at the FOEC table and rain barrel exhibit at the Green Dream event in April at the Beachwood Community Center.

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

News to note
Please see Frank Skala for details on the following.

Tuesday, June 7 meeting covers the topic of gas well drilling and is to include us seeing portions of the film Gasland with a follow up discussion led by environmental attorney and FOEC member Ken Messinger-Rapport.
Tuesday, July 5 at 6PM is our FOEC picnic. Details to be announced shortly.
Wednesday, August 24 at 6PM is an outing with the Sierra Club.
Nominations for FOEC officers and board members are currently being accepted.
Stay tuned for details on FOEC Youth Corps activities.

Consider native flowers and plants
Now that is it May, April showers bring May flowers can come to mind.. Here are some natives to consider for flowers in our own landscapes, per Native Plants of Ohio.

* full sun - coreopsis, coneflower, aster
* full or partial sun - black-eyed susan
* shade or full/partial sun - wild columbine

Here are Ohio habitats and native choices for each habitat.
* prairies - coneflower, goldenrod
* forest - Chrismas fern, cinnamon ferm, lady fern, spicebush, wild ginger
* wetland - goldenrod, sensitive fern
* disturbed - black-eyed susan, coreopsis

Burning River Fest 2011
Lauren Boveington, Marketing Assistant, Great Lakes Brewing Company has brought this event to our attention. She states -

Every summer, people from all over the Great Lakes region raise a pint at the Burning River Fest to salute the “watershed moment” that raised a new level of eco-consciousness—the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River. With a projected attendance of 8,000, the 2011 event will feature live music, fresh food from local farms and eateries, educational environmental exhibits and a special appearance by Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale!

The Burning River Foundation, created by the founders of GLBC, is a non-profit organization whose purpose through grants, donations and community involvement is to provide extensive education and resources for preserving the following for the waterway:
· ecological conservation
· environmental protection
· scientific exploration
· historic preservation

This year, we are giving non-profits the opportunity to be involved and raise money for their organization. If Friends of Euclid Creek is willing to promote BRF on its website, e-mail lists and social media outlets, BRF will give you an online code to use for online ticket sales. For every ticket sold, BRF will give back $1 to the organization (Presale tickets are $8 and general admission after presale is $10).

For more information please contact -
Lauren Boveington
Marketing Assistant
Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216.771.4404
greatlakesbrewing.com

Burning River Fest 2011
Good Cheer. Good Cause. Good Beer.
July 23-24, 2011

Steering Committee meeting minutes

The FOEC Steering Committee met on May 18 at the South Euclid Library with Frank Skala calling the meeting to order around 7PM. In attendance were Frank, Carolyn, Steve, Fran Hogg, Ken, Larry, Ginny, Gary, Rick, and Jeanette. We discussed the following items.

Youth Corps
FOEC could work with Claire on increasing youth participation on projects. We could talk to science teachers and superintendents. Fran will go through the membership list to see who could have interest in supporting these projects. Frank will do a related email blast.

June Meeting
Ken will lead the discussion after a viewing of Gasland.

June 18 Outing
Ginny provided details on the Cuyahoga River event. She will follow up with an email.

Future Meetings
A member of the Department of Economic Development could speak at a future meeting about brownfields in the Euclid Creek watershed. We could discuss updates on Oakwood at a future meeting.

July Meeting
Summer picnic and potluck will be our July meeting. We agreed we liked the pizza at the last picnics.

Upcoming Voting
We discussed voting for officers and steering committee members at future meetings. Larry will follow up.

Computer and Insurance
Rick provided Ken with an invoice for the software upgrade. We agreed to donate the unused software package to the holiday meeting raffle. Jeanette updated on insurance with State Farm. Ken will get additional quotes.

Sierra Club
August 24 we are invited to join the Goodtime III cruise with the Sierra Club of NE Ohio.

Adopt-a-Beach
We are to work with Steve Love on these projects.

April 2011 update

2011-04-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome
If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. Most images in this update are from our photography contest. For more images, see http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

Save the first Tuesday of every month
Our regular 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. Thank you to Claire Posius for speaking at our April meeting and Ginny Aveni for being facilitator. For details on our May meeting, please contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Cleveland Metroparks- 2020 Emerald Necklace Centennial Plan

Tuesday, May 3, North Chagrin Nature Center, North Chagrin Reservation, Mayfield Village – 6:30pm-8:30pm
2020 Emerald Necklace Centennial Plan - 2nd Round of Public Meetings
Presentation and discussion to focus on Creek Reservation, North Chagrin & South Chagrin Reservations

Creek Dam Removal Celebration
Please join the Euclid Creek Watershed Program Project Partners as we celebrate the removal of the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam. The event will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation at the Upper Highland Reserved Picnic Area.

This public meeting and tour celebrates the removal of the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam, theculmination of six years of work. Several speakers will briefly discuss the fish passage and stream restoration project, followed by a short hike to the overlook of the former dam site.

Meet the project partners and funders pivotal in making this project happen and learn why a dam removal project is important to Euclid Creek. For more information, call or email Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator Claire Posius at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.

Highland Heights green task force
Contact Judy Dearden at hhgreentaskforce@yahoo.com or see http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/ for more information.

Oakwood Park update

For information about Oakwood Park, please see: http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodparkcanstillbeareality odparkcanstillbeareality

Green Dream is coming
April 15, 2011 1-7pm Beachwood Community Center 23235 Fairmount Blvd. Beachwood, Ohio google map

April 22 is Earth Day
April may be a good time to get your rain barrel out of storage or set one up for the first time.It could be a good time to apply the first treatment of lawn fertilizer.

Black-eyed susan is a good native choice for semi-shade
For sunny or partially sunny locations, these are naturally found in dry fields, roadsides, open woods, and waste places. They flower June to September (from Native Plants of Ohio).
Rain Barrel Workshop & Sale
Euclid Saturday, April 30 10:00am-11:30am
Historical Society Registration required by April 21st, 2011
Click here for flier
Contact Claire Posius to register and for details - 216-524-6580x16

Euclid Creek Invasive Plant Pull Event & FOEC Bioswale Service Day
Saturday, May 14 10:00am—noon Wildwood State Park , Cleveland Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive garlic mustard. Contact Claire Posius , cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org or 216-524-6580 x16 for more info. Join us at 9:00am in main parking lot by Marina to learn about the Bioswale and help with weeding and trash removal in the landscaped median.

Euclid Creek Stream Cleanup Event & FOEC Bioswale Service Day
Saturday, September 10 10:00am–noon Wildwood State Park , Cleveland Volunteers needed!! Contact Claire Posius, cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org or 216-524-6580 x16 for more info. Join us at 9:00am in main parking lot by Marina to learn about the Bioswale and help with weeding and trash removal in the landscaped median.

Recycling discussed at Highland Heights group meeting

http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/ gives more details about the meeting that included Jeff Riebe, a naturalist, who noted that recycling benefits include having a cleaner earth, conserving wildlife and natural resources, creating jobs, and reducing pollution.

He continued with a list from the National Parks Services that indicated the number of years it would take items to degrade. Some of the items he mentioned include:

plastic bag = 10-12 years to degrade

a foam cup = 50 years to degrade

disposable diapers = 10-20 years to degrade

fishing lines = 600 years to degrade

plastic bottles = 450 years to degrade

plastic from a 6-pack = 100 years to degrade

Dam Removal Celebration
The image comes for http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org. As explained at
http://http//www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/EC_EastBranchDamRemoval.htm - the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam is located in the Euclid Creek Watershed.
It is on the East Branch of Euclid Creek, a tributary to Lake Erie that is heavily urbanized and affected by urban runoff and habitat degradation.

The dam is located near the confluence of the East Branch and the Euclid Creek main stem in the Euclid Creek Metropark Reservation.

March 2011 update

2011-03-05T03:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome
If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at
jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.
Most images from this update are from our photo contest.

Save the first Tuesday of every month
Our regular meetings 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.

Thank you to Tom Evans of URS for speaking at our March meeting. The URS Cleveland Office, formerly Dalton, Dalton, Newport Inc., has been providing architectural and eco-engineering services to both public and private sector clients in and around the city of Cleveland and surrounding areas for over 50 years. Mr. Evans presented architectural information on the plans for the lower Euclid Creek (E 185th spillway to Lake Erie).

Highland Heights green task force
Please contact Judy Dearden at hhgreentaskforce@yahoo.com or see http://www.highlandhtsgreen.com/ for more information.

Oakwood Park update

For information about Oakwood Park, please see: http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodparkcanstillbeareality arkcanstillbeareality

Black-eyed susan is a good native choice for semi-shade
For sunny or partially sunny locations, these are naturally found in dry fields, roadsides, open woods, and waste places.

March, St. Patrick's Day, seeds, and gardens
Just a reminder that many gardener's start plants from seeds on or near St. Patrick's Day in March. Some garderners also apply the first treatment of lawn fertilizer around St . Patrick's Day.

Start a compost pile
The image comes from http://ourohio.org/ which states that ...leaves and yard trimmings and food waste make up 23 percent of the material Americans send to the landfill, which is a waste of landfill space and natural resources.

http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/pdf_cuyahogaswd/en-US/Brochures/backyard_composting.pdf

gives the following instructions for starting a compost pile.

1. Place 4” – 6” of base material such as chopped brush, twigs or wood chips on the ground. This will allow air circulation around base of pile. (Skip this step if using a compost mixing container).
2. Alternate 2”- 4” layer of green organic material containing nitrogen and 4”- 6” brown organic material containing carbon. Keep a ratio of 1-part green and 2-to-3- parts brown. Do not compact layers to allow for air circulation.
3. After each green and brown layer add 1” to 2” of an activator to introduce microorganisms into the pile. Activators such as manure, garden soil, bone meal or urea fertilizer will provide nitrogen to encourage the reproduction of microorganisms. A pile must have microorganisms to decompose the organic waste.
4. Water the pile, so it’s moist, but not wet.

Upcoming Events in Euclid Creek
Euclid Creek Public Involvement Committee Meeting
Friday, February 11 9:00am-10:30am Euclid Community Center

Cleveland Geological Society Lecture: The Euclid Creek Watershed: Its History, Future, Why It Matters, and Who's Doing What,
Speaker: Claire Posius
Wednesday, March 16 7:30pm Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Classroom A, C Floor

Rain Barrel Workshop—South Euclid
Tuesday, March 22 6:30pm-8:00pm South Euclid Community Center Registration required by March 14th, 2011 Click here for flier
Contact Claire Posius to register and for details - 216-524-6580x16

Euclid Creek East Branch Dam Removal Celebration
Thursday, April 21 5:00pm-7:00pm Euclid Creek Reservation - Upper Highland Picnic Area
Join us for a presentation and tour of the former dam site and to meet the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam project partners.
Contact Claire Posius for more details - 216-524-6580x16 Click here for flier

Rain Barrel Workshop & Sale— Euclid
Saturday, April 30 10:00am-11:30am Euclid Historical Society Registration required by April 21st, 2011 Click here for flier
Contact Claire Posius to register and for details - 216-524-6580x16

Euclid Creek Invasive Plant Pull Event & FOEC Bioswale Service Day
Saturday, May 14 10:00am—noon Wildwood State Park , Cleveland
Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive garlic mustard. Contact Claire Posius , cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org or 216-524-6580 x16 for more info. * Join us at 9:00am in main parking lot by Marina to learn about the Bioswale and help with weeding and trash removal in the landscaped median.

Euclid Creek Stream Cleanup Event & FOEC Bioswale Service Day
Saturday, September 10 10:00am–noon Wildwood State Park , Cleveland
Volunteers needed!! Contact Claire Posius , cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org or 216-524-6580 x16 for more info. * Join us at 9:00am in main parking lot by Marina to learn about the Bioswale and help with weeding and trash removal in the landscaped median.

Rain Garden Presentation to Lakeshore Garden Club
Monday, September 19 1:00pm–3:00pm Henn Mansion , Euclid

Compost Seminars and Bin Sales for Backyard Composting - Cuyahoga Solid Waste District
The Solid Waste District has partnered with city service departments and local organizations to educate and promote backyard composting. In an effort to provide Cuyahoga County residents with how-to-compost instructions and affordable compost bins, the Solid Waste District is proud to introduce the Compost Seminar & Compost Bin Sale program. If you've always wanted to start composting coffee grinds, banana peels and leaves, but just didn't know how, this is your chance!

After you attend a 60 minute seminar about backyard composting, you will have the opportunity to purchase a bin for your home.
Wishing Well Composter - $50.00 · Ultimate Dirt Machine Digester - $50.00 · Sure-Close Compost Pail - $5.00

2011 Upcoming Compost Seminars & Bin Sales:
Tuesday, March 15, River's Edge on Rocky River Drive , 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16, Orange Village , 7:30 p.mWednesday, March 30, Downtown Cleveland at the Galleria, 11:45-12:45 p.m.Thursday, March 31, North Royalton, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Bay Village , 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19, Parma , 7:00 p.m.Tuesday, April 20, Garfield Heights , 7:00 p.m.Saturday, May 21, Euclid , 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 24, South Euclid , 7:00 p.m.Thursday, June 1, Garfield Heights , 7:00 p.m.

Registration for each seminar is required [call (216) 443-3731 (216) 443-3731 or http://us.mc1803.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=krocco@cuyahogacounty.us] or for more details view: http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/Composting.aspx

March 2011 steering committee meeting minutes

2011-03-01T18:16:00.001-08:00

Ken, Barb Holtz, Rick, Gary, Fran, Lou, Brian, Kathy, Larry, and Jeanette attended on March 16 at the South Euclid library.

Larry called the meeting to order around 7PM.

Wild Plant identification for smart phones proposal
Brian Gilbert explained a possible plant id program for wild plant identification using a smart phone and noted his interest in a show of support. Four hundred plants are included. We discussed an endorsement. Gary will put together this letter. Schools at the junior high and high school level could be the audience for the application.

Membership letters
Fran noted that 122 membership letters were mailed. Printing cost $24, and stamps cost $70. Fran will email the file to Meiring to put on the website.

Bylaw on time limits
The final text was provided for the bylaw voted on unanimously at the last meeting.

Bylaw on who can sign checks
A draft for consideration was circulated by Ken. We discussed related auditing issues.

Euclid Creek pins
White background with a green heart and Friend and Euclid Creek is the design voted on at the last meeting. Claire asked for these as a token of appreciation for volunteers. 500 pins estimate is $300 or about 60 cents each. $425 for 1000 or about 39 cents each is another estimate. 500 should last a few years, and we agreed to this. We discussed a smaller pin and possible bumper sticker which Barb will look at.

Corporate rain garden
We discussed running a small ad. Our interest is in a business that will install this. Fran suggested a letter to the editor.

Feb. meeting survey results
Barb Holtz summarized the results. Combined sewer overflows and dumping appeared as top environmental pressures. No one knows where the watershed is and what is a watershed - these are top educational needs identified. City governments should have laws that allow for practices good for the watershed - this is another top goal identified. We discussed a tie in to our mission statement and goal. When will Claire reach 1000 rain barrels? A year of the rain barrel campaign was discussed.

Hydrofracking
Ken can get someone to talk about this if we give them a date. Kathy will look at the date.

Office 2010
We can get the software at a discount.

The image of the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit comes from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ which states the species has been spotted in every county in Ohio.

Euclid Creek Dam Removal Celebration
Euclid, OH – Please join the Euclid Creek Watershed Program Project Partners as we celebrate the removal of the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam. The event will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation at the Upper Highland Reserved Picnic Area.

This public meeting and tour celebrates the removal of the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam, the
culmination of six years of work. Several speakers will briefly discuss the fish passage and stream restoration project, followed by a short hike to the overlook of the former dam site. Meet the project partners and funders pivotal in making this project happen and learn why a dam removal project is important to Euclid Creek.

For more information, call or email Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator Claire Posius at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.

February 2011 update

2011-02-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the February update

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Most images in this update are from our photography contest.
For more images, see http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

Save the first Tuesday of every month
Our regular meetings start at 6:30 at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle). Meetings are free and open to the public.

Our February meeting included updates on watershed activities and featured a member participation review of county planning maps to identify properties in the Euclid Creek Watershed to pursue land conservation and help preserve, protect, and restore the Watershed.

Groups discussed the 3 sub-watersheds: East Branch, West Branch and Main Stem of Euclid Creek. Fran Mentch provided a quick update on the Oakwood golf course.

Oakwood Park can still be a reality
For important information about Oakwood Park, please see:

http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodparkcanstillbeareality
- and -
http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodsupporterspackedtheplacelastnightattheclevelandheightscitycouncilmeeting
Many citizens in Cleveland Heights are expressing support for the park with large attendance at a recent city council meeting. The South Euclid part of the property already sold to a developer. If zoning does not change, the developer cannot build a shopping center there. So South Euclid needs to express an interest in keeping this parkland.

FOEC Present and Past Presidents Speak at Highland Heights Meeting

Thank you to Frank Skala and Fran Hogg for speaking at a January, 2011 meeting of a Highland Heights gas well committee meeting. They spoke on behalf of and at the request of Claire Posius. Frank and Fran spoke about the impact of drilling in wetland areas and especially on the Euclid watershed. For an article about concern about the gas wells in the Highland Heights park see:

http://hillcrest.patch.com/articles/no-clear-decision-about-gas-wells-at-highland-heights-park

http://hillcrest.patch.com/articles/highland-heights-residents-concerned-about-gas-wells-at-park

Euclid Creek Watershed Planning Guide
For a copy of this report, see the link at http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/euclidcreek/
and note that the report includes many informative maps plus a vision for the watershed.

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission prepared the report, intending it be used as a decision-making tool for each community as they seek to be a competitive, attractive place to live work, and visit. The report was prepared in part under award from the US Department of Commerce through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Financial support for the report was also provided by The George Gund Foundation and The Cleveland Foundation via the Friends of Euclid Creek and Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners.

Highland Heights Green Task force update
FOEC member Judy Dearden is running meetings of the Highland Heights Green Task Force. Please contact Judy Dearden or Jeanette Evans for details. See http://highlandhtsgreen.com/ for more details.

Coreopsis is a good native choice for sunny locations

The image comes from ohioprarienurseries.com. According to Native Plants of Ohio coreopsis thrives in poor, sandy, or rocky soils. The flowers are good fresh cut for arrangements. Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and prevent unwanted seedlings.

Coreopsis can naturalize quickly, outgrow weeds, and help hold soil and provides good nectar plant for butterflies. Seeds are a good food source for songbirds in later summer. Flowers appear in May to July. Color is yellow.

The groundhog image comes from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/

Dusty Goldenrod Preserve extension proposed
See http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/11/conservation_group_proposes_ea.html
for the related article. Derek Schaffer, conservation project manager for the West Creek Conservation Committee, addressed Highland Heights council to explain the committee’s vision for 86 acres in Highland Heights. The non-profit organization is in the process of negotiating the purchase of 12-acres of undeveloped property off Bishop Road, north of Wilson Mills Road.

The property connects with two city-owned parcels that amount to a combined 37 acres. The northern portion of the possible reserve is what is known as the Dusty Goldenrod Preserve, 37 acres owned by the Mayfield City School District. West Creek will not seek to purchase the city property, but rather a conservation easement. That means the property would stay in its natural state in perpetuity. In exchange, Schaffer told council, the organization is willing to pay the city $300,000-$400,000.

“There are high-quality wetlands and streams on that property,” Schaffer said of the entire 86 acres. “We’re (West Creek) all about water quality, streams and wetlands and open space.” West Creek has undertaken similar conservation projects in Parma, Seven Hills, Independence and Brooklyn during its 13-year existence, Schaffer said. He said that more than 90 percent of the county’s wetlands have been wiped out and that there is a need to preserve what is left. The private property is owned by two families. It is now zoned for residential use. Would-be developers have gone before the city’s planning and zoning commission in an attempt to get clearance to build on the sites but have failed to get the necessary zoning variances necessary to build on or near the wetlands. Schaffer told council he would prefer to see all 37 of the city’s acres as a conservation easement. He said the large size of the total easement, all 86 acres within the Euclid Creek Watershed, is what would make the easement so special.

Feb. 16, 2011 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Larry called the meeting to order around 7:05 at the South Euclid Library. Gary, Lou, Carolyn, Rick, Steve Albro, and Jeanette attended.

March speaker
Tom Evans of URS is to be our March meeting speaker.

Membership letters
Fran Hogg is working on membership letters. Community outreach, Greenwood Farms and Lyndhurst Home Days displays, Euclid Beach display at Adopt A Beach, photo contest, bioswale clean-ups, community award, identified watershed and green space concerns - these are some of the activities of the year past to highlight. Corporate rain garden, more rain barrel workshops, potential concerns, support Oxbow Lacustrine project support, photo contest - these are some of our upcoming projects.

Photo contest trifolds
Jane cannot print the 2011 fliers for the photo contest. We agreed to let Larry print 200 copies of the trifold flier.

PO box
We agree to pay $44 for 12 months for our PO box.

February meeting with maps
Barb Holtz will prepare a synopsis. Reviewing the maps was very educational and participants gave good feedback.

Corporate sponsor for rain garden
Claire asked us for ideas. Meiring and Larry have taken on the job. We discussed making it a contest. Larry will ask Judy if she would contact Highland Heights companies who would be partners.

Events coming up
Greenwood Farm and Lyndhurst Home Days are two events coming up. Larry passed out a design for a possible display and will continue looking at this design and its cost.

Euclid Creek pins
Larry showed us a Euclid Creek pin as an example. Claire could use these at clean-up events as a token of appreciation. Slogans for pins are a possibility. Larry will follow up at next meeting for discussion.

General discussion
Larry asked Jeanette to look at Roberts Rules concerning an atmosphere of discussion at meetings and guidelines.

Computer issues
Rick is still trying to get a discount on the software upgrade. If by March 10 we do not receive a reply, we can get the upgrade without a discount. We discussed insurance for the computer and projector and letting groups such as the Highland Heights Task Force use the Friends of Euclid Creek computer for presentations.

Black-eyed susan is a good native choice for semi-shade
For sunny or partially sunny locations, these are naturally found in dry fields, roadsides, open woods, and waste places. They flower June to September (from Native Plants of Ohio).

January 2011 update

2011-01-19T18:53:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Welcome! Best wishes for the new 2011 year.

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at
jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. Photos are from our contest.

This issue covers:
* Meeting updates and more on our holiday party
* Oakwood Park can still be a reality
* East Bank dam update
* Highland Heights green task force

The images are from our photo contest.

More about our holiday party

Thank you to the Little Known String Duet with Donna Lader on guitar and Joe Abate on mandolin. We very much enjoyed your musical accompaniment to our holiday party.

Special thanks go to Larry McFadden for being our master of ceremonies, Barb Pophol for putting the party together, Mary K. Evans for the raffle and auction, Barb Holtz for bartending, and all others who contributed.

Oakwood Park can still be a reality

For important information about Oakwood Park, please see:
http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodparkcanstillbeareality

http://www.heightssno.org/announcements/oakwoodsupporterspackedtheplacelastnightattheclevelandheightscitycouncilmeeting

Cleveland Heights residents are supporting keeping Oakwood Park as many people attended a recent city council meeting to express support. The South Euclid part of the property already sold to a developer. If zoning does not change, the developer cannot build a shopping center there. South Euclid residents need to show their support. If people from other municipalities support the effort, it will help.

Save the first Tuesday of every month
Our regular meetings 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.

January 4 our meeting included a Watershed Planning Guide update from Claire Posius, Food Inc. film presentation, and an update from Fran Mench on the Oakwood golf course and Judy Dearden on the Highland Heights Green Task Force.

Our plan for the February meeting includes a review and update from Claire Posius and Ginny Aveni on subwatershed plans and greenprint for Euclid Creek and from Barb Holtz an update on land conservation.

For more images, please see:
http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

Highland Heights green task force forming
For more information about this new group, please contact Jeanette Evans or Judy Dearden.

FOEC member Judy Dearden is organizing the first meeting of the Highland Heights Green Task Force is scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7-9 PM at the Mayfield Library meeting room.

We will use this meeting to introduce ourselves and to go over our interests, the agenda for programs and projects, and discuss goals for the task force.

Please feel free to invite anyone you may know who expresses an interest.

More about Food, Inc.

The film looks at corporate food production in America. This includes agribusiness that produces unhealthy food in a way that is environmentally harmful and abusive to both animals and employees.

Part one looks at the industrial production of meat, calling it inhumane and environmentally unsustainable. Part two looks at grain and vegetable production that is environmentally unsustainable. Part three looks at laws of food companies that supply contaminated food that is cheap, use petroleum-based chemicals such a pesticides and fertilizers, and encourage unhealthy food consumption.

East Bank Dam update
Clair Posius tells us that the East Branch dam was officially removed on December 8, 2010, and Great Lake Construction is installing the boulder cobble run, gabion mattress, and cross vein structures (see the project website for more about these structures and their design intent). The plan includes installing the structures by the end of the year and completing restoration plantings in the spring.

Claire was interviewed by Michael Scott, environmental reporter for the Plain Dealer, as explained at:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/12/removal_of_small_dam_on_euclid.html.

Holiday party thank you and awards
This is a photo from last year's holiday party. Previous President Fran Hogg is in the center.

It was a wonderful end to a wonderful year. Thank you to Barb Pophal and all others who made the holiday party such a success. Congratulations to the winners of our awards.

19 January 2011 Steering Committee Meeting

2011-01-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

19 January 2011 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Frank Skala called the meeting to order at around 7:05PM at the South Euclid Library meeting room. In attendance were Ginny, Carolyn, Lou, Ken, Kathy, Fran, Frank, Larry, Steve, Gary, Rick, Jeanette.

General business

The Board of Directors approved a resolution, by unanimous consent, restating that the authorized signers for all banking accounts in the name of the Friends of Euclid Creek shall be the current President, Frank Skala, or the current Treasurer, Ken Messinger-Rapport, for the duration of their terms of office; and, that either officer may sign separately on behalf of the organization.

February meeting maps and discussion

Ginny led the discussion on the maps for the February meeting. West branch is Pepper Pike, Beachwood, S. Euclid, Lyndhurst. Main branch is Cleveland and Euclid. East branch is Willoughby Hills, Highland Heights, Mayfield Village, Richmond Heights. We discussed breaking up groups by branch.

Oakwood Club development

We looked at a possible FOEC position on the Oakwood Golf Club development plans.

Software upgrade for the computer

Rick noted options for the upgrade. We agreed we had the funds for an upgrade and authorized getting it.

Sierra Club support for the Sewer District

Gary discussed a statement of support for the recent Sewer District consent decree from the Sierra Club and whether FOEC wants to make a joint statement. We want to see the Sierra Club endorsement.

Oxbow Lacustrine project

The FOEC appointee will assist with the Lacustrine Refuge Project Advisory Committee. Ginny, Kathy, and Larry expressed interest.

CSWCD Rain Garden

A FOEC rain garden committee could work on this. Claire Posius requested FOEC involvement. We can ask at the next general meeting for volunteers.

Upcoming Programs

Ginny reviewed the list of programs for upcoming meetings. March will include Tom Evans (Lower Euclid Creek Plan). April's speaker is Kristy Meyer (Alliance for the Great Lake). May will be a tour of the Cuyahoga River (Thompson Township, Geauga County, to Munroe Falls, Akron). Frank suggested having Metroparks provide a presentation and having a speaker on brownfields in the Euclid Creek watershed. Mike Polensek could be a speaker.

ReLeaf Tree Program

Frank and Fran noted that FOEC had a letter of support.

FOEC Speakers Bureau

Larry led the discussion on the speakers bureau. We could practice with our steering committee first. Fran said she would not mind going out and noted that we have slides on watersheds in general. This could be another committee for discussion at the next general meeting. We need to look at existing presentations.

General discussion

Fran is to work on a letter for membership.

Larry wants us to think about festivals including Green Dream in April, Greenwood Farms, Lyndhurst Home Days. The rain barrel in Lyndhurst was a good idea last year.

December 2010 update

2010-12-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

This issue covers:
* Thanks for the wonderful holiday party
* See you in 2011

The images are from our photo contest.

Thank you for a wonderful holiday party
It was a wonderful end to a wonderful year. Thank you to Barb Pophal and all others who made the holiday party such a success.

Save the first Tuesday of January
Our regular meetings start at 6:30 at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle). Meetings are free and open to the public. The January 4 meeting is to cover:

* Watershed Planning Guide update from Claire Posius

* Food, Inc. film about health and water quality effects of industrial agriculture

* Oakwood golfcourse update by Fran Mench

The images are from our photo contest.

For more images, please see:
http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

This is a photo from last year's holiday party. Previous President Fran Hogg is in the center.

A link to an article about the Euclid Creek watershed conservation easement in Highland Heights and update on gas well drilling is at:
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/11/highland_heights_to_name_a_com.html

Highland Heights Green Task Force forming

For more information please contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net or FOEC member Judy Dearden.

Judy is organizing the first meeting of the Highland Heights Green Task Force scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7-9 PM at the Mayfield Library meeting room. We will use this meeting to introduce ourselves and to go over our interests, the agenda for programs and projects, and of course, discuss our goals for the task force.

Please feel free to invite anyone you may know who expresses an interest!

Thank you for your Chinese and silent auction prize donations

Thank you to Mary K. Evans for organizing the Chinese and silent auction prize donations.

Master List for FOEC Silent Auction 12-7-2010

Cleveland MetroPark Golf Foursome
o Description: Tee fees for four people
o Donor: Cleveland MetroParks
o Winner: Rich Hogg

Time for Breakfast
o Description: Presto Cool Touch Electric Griddle
o Donor: Barb Pophal
o Winner: Mary Martin

“An Elegant Holiday”
o Description: Waterford Holiday Heirloom Cypress Elegance Table Tree
o Donor: Georgine Welo, Mayor of South Euclid
o Winner: Mary K. Evans

“Enjoy the Garden”
o Description: One-Year Cleveland Botanical Garden Family Membership
o Donor: Cleveland Botanical Garden
o Winner: Ken Messinger-Rapport

“Play at Playhouse Square”
o Description: $50.00 Gift Card to Playhouse Square (good for 3 years)
o Donors: Gary and Theresa Bloom
o Winner: Mayor Georgine Welo

“Host a Roast”
o Description: Showtime Pro Rotisserie and BBQ
Includes:
BBQ Gloves
12 Elastic Chicken Ties
Vinyl Indoor/Outdoor Cover
Chicken and Turkey Instructions
Flavor Injector and Instructions
Round Rib Basket with 8 piece Hooks Set
o Donor: Lillian Houser
o Winner Mary Martin

“Detail Your Chariot”
o Description: Sherwin-Williams Racing Auto Detail Bag
Includes
Pro detailer with Interchangeable Brushes
Lighted Pen Pick-Up Tool
3M Performance Car Wax
Shop Towel Hand Wipes
Shop Towel Roll
NASCAR Safety Glasses
3M Detail Cloth
Red Diamond Abrasives Tee Shirt
Sherwin-Williams Sweatshirt
Sherwin-Williams Pullover Jacket
o Donor: Larry McFadden
o Winner: Larry McFadden

“Invite Your Feathered Friends to the Neighborhood”
o Description: Birdhouse from Backyard Nature Company
o Bought at: Backyard Nature Co at 830 SOM Center Rd, Mayfield , OH 44143 ...440/442-1267
o Donors: Ken and Barbara Messinger-Rapport
o Winner: Steve Albro

“Garden in Style”
• Description: Garden Kneeling Bench
• Donor: Virginia Aveni
• Winner: Paulette Peluso

Chinese Raffle Items

Four Cleveland MetroParks Zoo Passes
Donor: Cleveland MetroParks
Winner: Theresa Bloom

Silver Eagle (one ounce silver coin)
Donors: Rick and Jeanette Evans
Winner: Ron Peura
And
Muirfield Holiday Ornament Design China Plate
Donors: Rick and Jeanette Evans
Winner: Mary Martin

Bottle of Semisweet Grand River Rouge Chalet Debonné Wine and $25.00 Trader Joe’s gift certificate
Winner: Mayor Georgine Welo

Club Champ Golfer’s Putter Pool Game
Winner: Mary Martin

#1 Package: Free Wing Party for Six
Donor: Buffalo Wild Wings
5433 Mayfield Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44124-2933
440/ 605-9464
Obtained by: Stephen and Joan Albro
Winner: Mary Martin

#2 Package: Free Wing Party for Six
Donor: Buffalo Wild Wings
5433 Mayfield Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44124-2933
440/ 605-9464
Obtained by: Stephen and Joan Albro
Winner: Gary Bloom

Three large Poinsettia Plants
Donor: Fran Hogg
Note: Fran Hogg also donated smaller poinsettia plants for each table
Winners: Anna Julnes
Barb Pophal
Paulette Peluso

Wild Bird’s “Feed the Birds Basket” with Bag of bird seed, Peanut suet cakes, and Bird Song CDs
Donor: Wild Birds Unlimited
5736 Mayfield Rd
Lyndhurst, OH 44124-2918
440/ 449-3324
Obtained by: Steve and Joan Albro
Winner: Mayor Georgine Welo

Wild Bird’s Unlimited 20 pounds Deluxe Bird Seed, and 4 Suet Cakes
Donor: Carolyn Sugiuchi
Winner: Ron Peura

“Resurrection” Art Work
Donor: Georgine Welo, Mayor of South Euclid
Winner: Mary Martin

Bottle of Cabernet Wine
Donor: Frank Skala
Winner: Paulette Peluso

Congratulations to our award winners

Tom Jenkins Award:
Carolyn Sugiuchi
Continued service and commitment

Volunteer of the Year:
Meiring Borcherds
Website Management

Public Official:
Mike Polencek
Lower Watershed Support

Service Award:
Fran Hogg
Continuing Grant Work

Service Award:
Dave Roche
Community Watershed Support for Greenwood Farms

Service Award:
Jeanette Evans
Continuing Grant Work

Service Award:
Jane Goodman
Photo contest volunteer

Service Award:
Steven Love
Adopt a Beach

East Bank dam update
Clair Posius tells us that the East Branch dam was officially removed on December 8, and Great Lakes Construction is busy installing the boulder cobble run, gabion mattress, and cross vein structures (see the project website if you have any questions about these structures and their design intent). They plan to be done installing the structures by the end of the year and will complete the restoration plantings in the spring.

Claire was interviewed by the environmental reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the project as explained at:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/12/removal_of_small_dam_on_euclid.html

November 2010 update

2010-11-01T03:23:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the November update

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. This issue covers:

* Holiday party is coming
* Save the first Tuesday of each month
* Photo contest update

The leaf image and following images are from previous and current photo contests. Our latest photo contest deadline is October 5, 2011.

Save the first Tuesday of December for our holiday party

Save December 7 for our annual holiday party at the Mayfield Village Community Center.
A big thank you goes out to Barb Pophol for organizing the activities.
Please let Barb or Jeanette know if you can help with a dish and/or prize. Don't miss this wonderful event.

Meeting updates

Our November 2 meeting included a presentation from Diane Bickett, Director of Solid Waste District, talking about recycling.
Our regular meetings are normally the first Tuesday at 6:30 of each month at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle). Meetings are free and open to the public.

Our December meeting is the holiday party. Look forward to our 2011 schedule that includes the January meeting on the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The speaker is Kristy Meyer for Fresh Water Futures.

The image of the Christmas fern comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ which states that ferns have been part of Ohio landscapes for millions of years and are a welcome plant year-around.

Tips on using a living, rooted (potted or balled) tree

Here are some ideas from http://pickyourownchristmastree.org.

Keep the tree in a shaded area or a unheated garage until it is brought inside.

Keep the soil in the ball or pot moist until well after it is transplanted after Christmas. A frozen ball need not be watered if the crown is shaded and protected.

Lift and carry the tree by the ball or pot, not the top.

Keep the tree in the house no longer than about one week.

If possible, keep room that the tree is in cool (to help prevent it from starting to bud out).

Have the tree's planting hole dug before the soil freezes and keep the fill dirt thawed. The hole should be 4 times the size of the root ball. If the dirt was heavy clay or poor sand, be sure to improve it with amendments (manure, grass clippings, ground leaves, compost, etc.) Evergreens like an acid soil, so don't add lime.

Remove packing paper, sawdust and binding materials when planting the tree. Stake the tree for its first year, if possible.

The following are some entries from our current contest.

Here is the proposed 2010/2011 agenda for FOEC meetings.

Nov 2 - Diane Bickett, Director of Solid Waste District
Dec 7 - Holiday Party
Jan 4 - Alliance for the Great Lakes (Kristy Meyer for Fresh Water Futures)
Feb 1 - Food Inc. film
March 1 - Gas Well presentation
April 5 - Tom Meyer, URS, on Lower Euclid Creek plan
May 3 - Tour of Cuyahoga River (Thompson township to channel)

This is another entry from our current photo contest.

Nov. 17, 2010 -Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Steve Albro, Barb Holtz, Ken, Carolyn, Judy Dearden, Jeanette, Rick, Gary Bloom, Fran, Larry, Frank attended.

Highland Heights task force - Judy Dearden explained about the formation of a Highland Heights green task force. We discussed how FOEC can help.
SECLC tie in - Barb Holtz discussed planning to work a SECLC process into general FOEC meetings.
Upcoming meetings - We are to review in the near future the program schedule for the next 6 months.
2011 goals - We talked about goal setting for 2011 and reviewed the FOEC mission.
Teasurer issues - Ken provided a report and discussed filing of 990-N with IRS, bylaws, membership dues, and setting up an audit committee with Larry volunteering to work in this audit committee. Fiscal year is to begin July 1 and end on June 30.
Check signing - We discussed signing on the NEORSD grant of $35,000. FOEC received a check for $1300+ from Whole Foods. Ken is sending the check to South Euclid for rain gardens.
December steering committee meeting - We discussed having no steering committee meeting on December 15, so we plan our next steering committee meeting to be in January, 2011.
City Club meeting - We discussed the City Club meeting where Brian Zimmerman of Metroparks was the speaker. We plan to send Brian an invitation to our upcoming holiday party.
Sewer District rate update - Sewer District is tripling the sanitary sewer rate in the next 20 years. Press releases and letters to the editor from our organization were discussed. Ken volunteered to provide a draft. Barb suggested a letter writing meeting.
Holiday party - City officials are to get invitations. Same musicians are to come as last year. We discussed that FOEC could provide some of the dishes.
Archiving issues - We discussed items to archive.
Bishop Road/Highland Heights update - Ken updated on the Bishop Road property and recent Highland Heights council meeting.

For more photos from our contest, please see:
http://picasaweb.google.com/FriendsofEuclidCreek/2011PhotoContestEntries#

For an article about a Euclid watershed conservation easement in Highland Heights and update on gas well drilling, see:

http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/11/highland_heights_to_name_a_com.html

October 2010 update

2010-10-04T03:29:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the October update

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. This issue covers:

* Save the first Tuesday of each month
* In the Spotlight: Steve Albro
* Ohio Lake Erie Commission Award
* Photo Contest Deadline is Oct. 5, 2011

Thank you to Frank Skala for providing the picture from the recent Euclid Creek walk.

Save the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30

Our meetings are still at the South Euclid Community Center. They now start at 6:30. Save December 7 for our annual holiday party. A big thank you goes out to Barb Pophol for organizing this wonderful event. Details are coming. Please start thinking about what you can contribute for prizes.

Thank you to Claire Posius and Barb Holtz for speaking at our October meeting. Claire updated us on sewer district work. Barb updated us on issues in the South Euclid Land Conservation group.

Ohio Lake Erie Commission Award goes to FOEC

An Ohio Lake Erie Commission award for organization of the year was presented to FOEC on September 22 at the awards event at Shore Cultural Center. Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek (of Ward 11) nominated FOEC.

See the Lake Erie Commission award site for more details and the statement that the efforts of the Friends of Euclid Creek have led to:

"increased stakeholder involvement in the restoration and protection of the watershed, leading to tangible projects such as the Lower Euclid Creek Greenway project, East Branch dam removal project, rain garden implementation project and purchase of conservation easements for important riparian and wetland habitat."

This is a winner in an Ohio Lake Erie Commission photo contest.

Thank you to the Albros

Thank you to the Albros for setting up the walk along the creek as our September outing.

The September 18 walk covered the Liberty Run trail along Euclid Creek and refreshments with the Albros after the walk. The photo comes from the walk.

$1.3 million goes to Euclid Creek in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds

The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation district recently announced the award that funds the Lacustrine Refuge. The photo comes from the conservation district site.

Thank you to all who helped at Lyndhurst Home Days and Richmond Heights Fun Day

A special thank you goes to Larry McFadden for organizing the Lyndhurst Home Days event and especially to those who set up the new tent (much appreciated during the downpour Saturday night) for our display.

Thank you to all who participated at our table at Greenwood Farm on Sept. 25 for the Richmond Heights Fun Day. The photo comes from the Richmond Heights home page.

In the spotlight: Steve Albro

Steve Albro has been a member of FOEC since 2007 and on the FOEC board since 2009. Living in South Euclid, Steve is also a member of the GCRTA Citizens Advisory Board (1999-Present), GCRTA ADA Committee (1994-Present, Chair 1996-2010), Rail Users Network (2001-Present, Board 2003-Present), and South Euclid Shade Tree Commission 2006-2009.

Concerning his interest in the Euclid Creek, as Steve puts it, "I have lived in the Euclid Creek Watershed for 36 years, with the last 22 years the creek bordering my residence. Since childhood I have an interest in nature particularly birding, trees, and the watershed. My father-in law spent his career as a soil conservationist for the Department of Agriculture in Kansas. My daughter-in law, Kristen Albro, was the Sewer District Coordinator for Friends of Euclid Creek. I am recently retired and want to be involved in conservation projects with FOEC."

Congratulations to Steve on the Plain Dealer article about Steve's wonderful work at the Cleveland Sight Center (http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/steve%20albro/index.html).

Proposed 2011 FOEC meetings

Here is the proposed list of meetings for 2010/2011.

Nov. 2 - Diane Bickett, Director of Solid Waste District
Dec. 7 - Holiday/Christmas Party
Jan. 4 - Alliance for the Great Lakes (Kristy Meyer for Fresh Water Futures)
Feb. 1 - "Food Inc" film
March 1 - Gas Well presentation
April 5 - Tom Meyer, URS, on Lower Euclid Creek plan
May 3 - Tour of Cuyahoga River (Thompson township to channel)

This is an entry from our current photo contest

Plan landscapes around natives

It is always a good time to plan your landscaping around Ohio natives like butterfly weed and maidenhair fern.
Butterfly weed (image from http://plants.usda.gov) - an Ohio native - grows in dry fields and prefers sandy, gravel soils. Flowers attract butterflies. Caterpillars of monarch butterflies feed on the foliage. One of its commons names is Pleurisy Root which refers to its medicinal use for lung congestion (from Native Plants of Ohio).
Maidenhair fern (image from http://plants.usda.gov) - an Ohio native - prefers moist, rich, wel-drained woods. Hardy and easy to grow, it can form large colonies of a pleasant medium green (from Native Plants of Ohio).

20 October 2010 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Frank, Fran, Claire, Barb Holtz, Ginny, Rick, Jeanette, Gary, Kyle, Ken, Lou, Kathy, Carolyn attended.

Discussion with Manager of Watershed Programs - Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells opened the meeting by talking about watershed support grants. She is Manager of Watershed Programs, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NORSD). Frank thanked Claire for her help in applying for the grant. Kyle also updated us on the NORSD stormwater management program.
Coordinating with S.E. Land Conservation group - Frank talked about coordinating with the work of the South Euclid Citizens for Land Conservation. Barb reported on how she has been working on conservation easements with this group. Ken said our 5013C status could apply if we work together and Frank suggested a Greenspace Committee within FOEC with Barb the chairperson. We discussed a letter to the editor to raise awareness. Advocacy in each city would be the topic. We discussed devoting a FOEC meeting to this topic with maps. We could do this at most meetings, combined with a speaker, possibly once a quarter. Barb will ask her group to work with FOEC and head up a subcommittee.
Membership - Fran reported that Ken updated the membership list. We reviewed the copy she provided and discussed membership. She also talked about the 2010 membership letter and holiday party invitation. We discussed and authorized purchase of envelopes.
Computer - Rick updated us on how Microcenters and Microsoft are handling return of the Office upgrade. Frank noted we can store the computer at a member's home.

The following are some entries from our current photo contest.

September 2010 update

2010-09-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the September 2010 update

Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have anything to post. This update includes information about:

* Meetings start earlier at 6:30 at S. Euclid Community Center
* Save Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 for our October meeting
* Save Saturday, Sept. 18 at 10AM for a walk along the creek
* In the spotlight: Stephen Love
* Oct. 5 is the deadline for our photography contest

For additional fliers about our upcoming photo contest, please call Larry McFadden at at 216-531-7144.

Coreopsis (image from Ohio Prairie Nurseries) thrives in sunny locations even with poor, sandy, or rocky soils. It can naturalize quickly, outgrow weeds, and help hold soil (from Native Plants of Ohio).

Save the first Tuesday of each month 6:30-8:30 for our monthly meeting

We normally meet the first Tuesday of each month. The new earlier meeting hours are permanent. The location is still the same - the South Euclid Community Center. Thank you to Meiring Borcherds and all else who spoke at our September meeting. Remember to check out Meiring's updates to the FOEC web site and Facebook.

The image of the purple coneflower - a good native choice for Ohio landscapes - comes from The Wild Ones. Coneflowers attract butterflies. Birds eat the seeds.

Save Saturday, Sept. 18 for an outing along the creek

For details contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

We plan to meet on Whitehall in South Euclid at 10AM for an outing along Euclid Creek. Thank you to the Albros for organizing this walk. Please bring a dish and join the Albros for refreshments after the walk. It should take about 2 hours.

The photo comes from the area.

FOEC participates in local events

Lyndhurst Fun Days are September 10-12. Thank you to all who help support these events.

Be sure to check the Euclid Creek Watershed Program page for a detailed listing of local events of interest:
http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/EuclidCreekthehomepage.htm

Saturday, Sept. 25, 1 to 5 pm, stop by the Family Fun Fest at the Farm, Greenwood Farm, 264 Richmond Road. The picture comes from the http://www.richmondheightsohio.org site.

Ohio Lake Erie Commission Award Goes to FOEC

This is a winner in an Ohio Lake Erie Commission photo contest.

In the spotlight: Stephen Love
Stephen Love was recently nominated as student of the week by the Sun Messenger -
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/05/stephen_love_sun_messenger_stu.html

Love volunteered at the Cuyahoga Watershed Conservation District, Euclid Creek Watershed Division and worked as a volunteer water monitor and data tester for a specified location along Euclid Creek. “I believe that civic engagement and participation are essential to sustaining a better quality of life in any community,” he said.

Currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at Cleveland State University, Love hopes to pursue a law degree in addition to his MPA. He does additional work as a volunteer team leader for an Adopt-a-Beach team at Euclid Beach Park. Community members and college students go out once a month for beach cleanups at Euclid Beach Park.

As Steve puts it about some of the work he spoke about at a past FOEC meeting, "I am also trying to coordinate a fundraising project to get new trash and recycling bins installed at Euclid Beach Park. So far, we have raised or received in grant funding over half the installation cost but we still have about $1000.00 to raise."

This picture comes from the http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/vtour/
virtual watershed tours site.

What is a wildlife-friendly landscape?

It is composed of these items, as described at nwf.org and Native Plants of Ohio:

food sources such as native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
water sources such as a birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
cover or shelter, for example, thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
a place to raise young such as dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
sustainable gardening such as mulch, rain garden, compost, chemical-free fertilizer

Backyards can play an important role in wildlife conservation. You can help reduce the effects of habitat loss by landscaping with native Ohio plants and trying to turn your yard into a wildlife-friendly landscape.

Need help? Call 1-800-822-9919.

15 September Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Frank called the meeting to order at 7:00.
Lou, Frank, Kathy, Larry, Rick, Jeanette, Gary, Steve, and Barb Pophol attended the meeting at the South Euclid Public Library.
Photo contest
Larry suggested moving the deadline. With the last contest, we extended the deadline. Larry to look into the last rules for the non-electronic entries. We discussed who can provide photo software training.
Next meeting
Claire to speak on the grant request to the sewer district. Ginny to get another speaker. Programs committee consists of Kathy and Ginny. Fran wants to be on the speaker end.
Laptop and other equipment
We discussed where to store and how to handle virus protection. Ken has to buy the screen before Monday to use the funds from the first grant. Remaining funds to go to a rain garden.
Holiday party
Barb Pophol reserved the room. Larry has an invitation from last year. Barb to print and mail. Barb Holtz may have the mailing list. We discussed silent auction. Date is to be December 7.
Ohio Lake Erie Commission award
Mike Polensek nominated FOEC, and FOEC won the award. Frank plans to attend on Sept. 22 to receive the award at Shore Cultural Center.
Greenwood Farm
Sept. 25 we are to get a table at the Richmond Heights Fun Day with the hours of 1-5. We talked about the Greenwood Farm Restoration Committee.
Whole Foods donation for community garden
Donation to South Euclid. Ken to get in touch with them. Monticello and Belvoir is the location.
Richmond Heights School request
Discussed 501C(3) status per Dr. Kinney's request.
Barb Holtz joined the meeting via telephone.
We discussed S. Euclid Land Conservation issues and presenting at the October meeting. Barb to attend the creek walk at Albro house on Saturday, Sept. 18.
FOEC outing on Sept. 18
The Liberty Run trail along Euclid Creek is the location. We are to meet at Albro house. 4500 Whitehall is the location.
Membership list
Larry has the most recent list. It is up to date. Fran Hogg may have the electronic list.

Here is a reminder of our current officers. Congratulations again to Fran Hogg for completing a very successful year as President.

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

Steering committee
Steve Albro
Lou Drasler
Fran Hogg
Kathy Schaefer
Carolyn Sugliuchi
Rick Evans

The following are some entries from our current photo contest.

28 August 2010 update

2010-08-28T01:20:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the August 2010 update

Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have anything to post. This update includes information about:

* September meeting details
* FOEC participates in local community events
* In the spotlight: Stephen Love
* 11 August steering committee minutes

For additional fliers about our upcoming photo contest, please call Larry McFadden at 216-531-7144.

The image is a winner from one of our previous photo competitions.

Save Tuesday, Sept. 7 6:30-8:30 for our monthly meeting

We normally meet the first Tuesday of each month.

FOEC participates in local events

Lyndhurst Fun Days are September 10-12. Thank you to all who help support these events.

Be sure to check the Euclid Creek Watershed Program page for a detailed listing of local events of interest:
http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/EuclidCreekthehomepage.htm

In the spotlight: Stephen Love

Stephen Love was recently nominated as student of the week by the Sun Messenger -
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2010/05/stephen_love_sun_messenger_stu.html

Love volunteered at the Cuyahoga Watershed Conservation District, Euclid Creek Watershed Division and worked as a volunteer water monitor and data tester for a specified location along Euclid Creek. “I believe that civic engagement and participation are essential to sustaining a better quality of life in any community,” he said.

Currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at Cleveland State University, Love hopes to pursue a law degree in addition to his MPA. He does additional work as a volunteer team leader for an Adopt-a-Beach team at Euclid Beach Park. Community members and college students go out once a month for beach cleanups at Euclid Beach Park.

As Steve puts it about some of the work he spoke about at a past FOEC meeting, "I am also trying to coordinate a fundraising project to get new trash and recycling bins installed at Euclid Beach Park. So far, we have raised or received in grant funding over half the installation cost but we still have about $1000.00 to raise."

This picture comes from the http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/vtour/
virtual watershed tours site.

What is a wildlife-friendly landscape?

It is composed of these items, as described at nwf.org and Native Plants of Ohio:

food sources such as native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
water sources such as a birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
cover or shelter, for example, thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
a place to raise young such as dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
sustainable gardening such as mulch, rain garden, compost, chemical-free fertilizer

Need help? Call 1-800-822-9919 or email info@nwf.org
Backyards can play an important role in wildlife conservation. You can help reduce the effects of habitat loss by landscaping with native Ohio plants and trying to turn your yard into a wildlife-friendly landscape.

11 August 2010 Steering Committee Meeting

Kathy, Larry, Frank, Ken, Rick, Jeanette, Steve, and Gary attended. At 7:10 Frank called the meeting to order. The new term started for officers. Ken set up the meeting and coordinated with Claire.

Grant document review

We reviewed documents from Claire to get the $35,000 grant from the sewer district.
Budget items include awards for scholarships.
By-laws should show two vice-presidents. Ken to draft guidelines on scholarships. Larry to provide by-law information to Claire. United Church of Christ grant needs to be added.
We discussed changes about staffing on page 3 and 10 and the proposal of hiring an assistant for one year.
We agreed with the proposal for three rain gardens and corporate sponsors like Legacy Village, Philips Medical, Cleveland Clinic, Progressive.
Claire joined the meeting via telephone and discussed document changes including how to handle the assistant description. Someone at FOEC will make the submission working with Frank.

Other business

Last year Ginny and Fran were getting speakers.Programs Chairperson and Committee are needed for the coming year.Recycling is one idea for a meeting topic. Munson Township speaker and golf course could be a meeting topic. We could have a posting of ideas.
Membership, Programs, Scholarships, and Outings chairpersons are possible positions to involve more volunteers.
Sept. outing to be set up by Steve.
10-15 minutes to be provided at Sept. meeting by Meihring to show Web site.
6:30 to 8:30 is new time slot for meetings. Speaker should start at 7:00.
Frank to let Carolyn know of 6:30 start time.
Tent to be purchased by Larry.
We should buy a screen and a mouse.
Lyndhurst Fun Days the weekend of Sept. 11 needs more volunteers.

August 2010 update

2010-08-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the August 2010 update

Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have anything to post. This update includes information about:

September meeting details
FOEC participates in local community events
In the spotlight: Steve Albro
10 ways to help our creek now

For additional fliers about our upcoming photo contest, please call Larry McFadden at at 216-531-7144.

Save Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30-8:30

We plan no August meeting. Please check back for details of the September meeting. We normally meet the first Tuesday of each month.

For questions contact our new incoming president Frank Skala 440 473 3484 or skala@ameritech.net. Thank you to outgoing president Fran Hogg and outgoing officers and board for a wonderful term. Congratulations to the new officers and board.

The image of the purple coneflower - a good native choice for Ohio landscapes - comes from The Wild Ones.

Water quality monitoring sites

If you are interested in the important work of monitoring at one of these sites, please let Claire Posius or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net know. Please let Jeanette know if you would like to see the related video DVD on local water quality monitoring. The award-winning video was produced by Cuyahoga Community College.

Cleveland - Wildwood State Park

Euclid - Metroparks Highland Picnic Area

Lyndhurst - Schaefer Park

Richmond Heights - Chardon-Richmond Road

South Euclid - S. Euclid/Lyndhurst Library

Monitor water for potential problems, for further study, or for restoration efforts - to include waters that would otherwise go unmonitored. You will get training to use monitoring kits, sediment sticks, and meters to complete data sheets on water conditions.

Euclid Creek is experiencing stress from impacts imposed upon it over the past 100 years. These impacts include urban land development and modification of its streams and wetlands. Understanding more about the sources of these stresses - by analyzing the results of water quality monitoring - can better educate us in applying best practices on the ground to retain the watershed's ecosystem.
The image of the native Christmas fern comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ which states that ferns have been part of Ohio landscapes for millions of years and are a welcome plant year-around.

FOEC participates in local community events

One event where FOEC participated was when Arts Collinwood partnered with the Euclid Beach Adopt-A-Beach Team to bring a day of summer festivities and family fun at Euclid Beach on Saturday, July 17. Thank you to FOEC members who were at the FOEC booth. Participants for the event included:

Friends of Euclid Creek

Councilman Michael D. Polensek

Northeast Shores Development Corporation

Clevelanders In Motion - A program of the YMCA

Arts Collinwood

Euclid Beach Adopt-A-Beach team

In the spotlight: Steve Albro

Concerning his interest in Euclid Creek, as Steve puts it, "I have lived in the Euclid Creek Watershed for 36 years, with the last 22 years the creek bordering my residence. Since childhood I have an interest in nature particularly birding, trees, and the watershed. My father-in law spent his career as a soil conservationist for the Department of Agriculture in Kansas. My daughter-in law, Kristen Albro, was the Sewer District Coordinator for Friends of Euclid Creek. I am recently retired and want to be involved in conservation projects with FOEC."

Congratulations to Steve on the Plain Dealer article about Steve's wonderful work at the Cleveland Sight Center (http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/steve%20albro/index.html).

10 ways to Help our creek today (from CWSD materials):

Recycle used motor oil.

Check your vehicles regularly for leaks. Clean up spilled fluids with kitty litter or sand and dispose of properly.

Use pesticides & fertilizers sparingly. Use natural fertilizers such as compost for gardens.

Select native plants which generally require less water, fertilizer & pesticides.

Vegetate bare spots in your yard to prevent soil erosion.

Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on your lawn.

Dispose of pet waste (an unwanted source of bacteria and nutrients in our streams) by throwing in garbage or burying.

Drain your swimming pool only when a test kit does not detect chlorine levels, ideally in a sanitary sewer.

Maintain your septic system by having it inspected at least every 3 years and pumped as necessary.
Get involved by participating in stream cleanups and invasive plants pulls and join your local watershed group like Friends of Euclid Creek.

Photo contest winners

2010-07-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

Joe Ciccia
Category: Watershed Plants and Animals
Best of Show

Andy Daugherty
Category: Watershed Recreation and Family Activities
Autumn Hoops

July 2010 update

2010-07-10T03:53:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the July update

If you have any input for these updates, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. This issue covers:

* September meeting
* July picnic meeting recap and the upcoming slate of officers
* Congratulations to FOEC member Steve Albro on the article in The Plain Dealer
* More on the 2010 Photography Contest
* More on water quality monitoring in the Euclid Creek watershed

Thank you to all who distributed fliers about our photography contest.

Black-eyed susans are a good native choice for Ohio gardens.

September meeting

We plan no meeting for August. Please stay tuned for details about our September meeting. Have a nice summer!

July picnic meeting update

Our July picnic meeting included voting on our upcoming slate of officers. Please see below for details.

Congratulations to Steve Albro

Please see the article about FOEC member Steve Albro. The article about Steve's wonderful work at the Cleveland Sight Center is at http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/steve%20albro/index.html

More on the 2010 Photography Contest

Thank you to everyone who already picked up fliers to distribute.

Upcoming slate of officers and steering committee members

Our upcoming slate of officers includes the following. Congratulations to Fran Hogg for completing a very successful year as President.

Officers
President Frank Skala
1st VP Gary Bloom
2nd VP Larry McFadden
Secretary Jeanette Evans
Treasurer Ken Messenger-Rapport

Steering committee
Kathy Schafer
Carolyn Sugluchi
Rick Evans
Steve Albro
Fran Hogg

Water quality monitor volunteers needed

For more information about what is involved in water quality monitoring in Euclid Creek watershed locations, please contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. The program is a good way to learn more about watershed planning and contribute to the health of our environment. One of the monitoring locations is at the intersection of Richmond and White Roads.

Coreopsis is a good native choice for sunny locations. This image comes from ohioprarienurseries.com.

June 2010 update

2010-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the June Update

If you have anything to announce, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. The photo is from the Bioswale Cleanup at Wildwood Park and Marina held in May, 2010. Some items covered in this issue:
* July 6 picnic is coming up
* June 1 meeting recap
* June 4 Music of Nature and Nature of Music performance and lecture
* July 17 event at Euclid Beach

Congratulations to FOEC member Steve Albro about the Plain Dealer article about Steve's wonderful work at the Cleveland Sight Center (http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/steve%20albro/index.html).

Thank you to everyone who took fliers to distribute for the photography contest.

June 1 Meeting Recap

Our Tuesday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. included a a presentation by Derek Schafer. Mr. Schafer is with the West Creek Land Trust Initiative.

Mr. Schafer is also the Conservation Project Manager for The West Creek Preservation Committee (http://www.westcreek.org/wcpc.html).

Jason Husher talked about urban farming. He has obtained grant money and taken vacant residential property in Cleveland and made it into an urban farm. http://www.localfoodcleveland.org/ has some related information.

Stephen Love talked about an Adopt A Beach program and July 17 event at Euclid Beach.

Save July 6 for our FOEC Picnic

Please plan to attend the FOEC picnic this Tuesday July 6^th. Come as early as 5:30. There will be plenty of food and refreshments, and some games. It is a potluck gathering, so bring along a small something to share. From 6:00 to 7:00 we’ll eat and then at 7:00 we’ll have a short monthly meeting. One of our meeting items will be the election of new officers.

The picnic will be in Euclid Creek Park at the Rear Quarry Reserved Picnic Area and Shelter House. From the Euclid Creek parkway road (across from the Ranger office) turn east and proceed down the hill on the Rear Quarry access road. Follow it through the gate and to the end and the shelter house.

Functions:
Rear Quarry Reserved Picnic Area

Features:
Electricity
Swings
Water

Music of Nature and the Nature of Music

The Folk / Bluegrass band 'Timberwolves' with FOEC member Larry McFadden will be performing prior to the lecture The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music - http://www.cmnh.org/site/ClassesandPrograms/Lectures/ExplorerSeries.aspx - the Cleveland Museum of Natural History site gives more details -this Friday from 5:30 pm to 7:30pm - Fri, Jun 4, 2010, 7:30 pm Dr. Patricia Gray, Clinical Professor and Senior Research Scientist of BioMusic Part of the Explorer Series of Lectures

If we rely on artifacts alone, the evolutionary trail of music can take us back just 50,000 years. But there are other ways to study the roots of music-making and musical structures. By looking at other species and their abilities to perceive and manipulate patterns of sound and time, we may advance our understanding.

Dr. Patricia Gray of the Music Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro will discuss the deeper roots of human musicality. This program is in conjunction with the current exhibit Wild Music: The Sounds and Songs of Life. To purchase tickets for this lecture, please call (216) 231-4600, ext. 0, to speak with a Museum Operator. Or purchase your tickets at the front desk prior to the presentation.

July 17 Euclid Beach Event

July 17th the Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach team and Arts Collinwood are going to be having an all day event at Euclid Beach! (http://www.majesticmoinedmogul.com/adoptsignup/Form.php?id=52&visitdate=1) Please let jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net know if you can help at this event to represent FOEC.

Black-eyed susans are a great native and non-invasive choice.

May 26 2010 update

2010-05-08T09:39:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the May 26 Update

If you have anything to announce, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.
The photo is from the Bioswale Cleanup at Wildwood Park and Marina held in May, 2010.

Some items covered in this issue:
* June 1 meeting of FOEC
* June 4 Music of Nature and Nature of Music performance and lecture
* June 17 event at Euclid Beach

June 1 Meeting
Please plan on attending our monthly meeting Tuesday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the South Euclid Community Center. We will be treated to a presentation by Derek Schafer. Mr. Schafer is with the West Creek Land Trust Initiative. He will talk about this new organization's mission, but also specifically about how they can help us with preservation of wetlands in the Euclid Creek watershed, such as the Highland Hts property on Bishop Rd.

Mr. Schafer is also the Conservation Project Manager for The West Creek Preservation Committee (http://www.westcreek.org/wcpc.html).

The photo comes from http://www.westcreek.org/.

Jason Husher also plans to talk about urban farming. He has obtained grant money and taken vacant residential property in Cleveland and made it into an urban farm.
Stephen Love will talk about an Adopt A Beach program and July 17 event at Euclid Beach.

Music of Nature and the Nature of Music

The Folk / Bluegrass band 'Timberwolves' with FOEC member Larry McFadden will be performing prior to the lecture The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music this Friday from 5:30 pm to 7:30pm - Fri, Jun 4, 2010, 7:30 pm

Dr. Patricia Gray, Clinical Professor and Senior Research Scientist of BioMusic
Part of the Explorer Series of Lectures

If we rely on artifacts alone, the evolutionary trail of music can take us back just 50,000 years. But there are other ways to study the roots of music-making and musical structures. By looking at other species and their abilities to perceive and manipulate patterns of sound and time, we may advance our understanding.

Dr. Patricia Gray of the Music Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro will discuss the deeper roots of human musicality. This program is in conjunction with the current exhibit Wild Music: The Sounds and Songs of Life.

To purchase tickets for this lecture, please call (216) 231-4600, ext. 0, to speak with a Museum Operator. Or purchase your tickets at the front desk prior to the presentation.

From Stephen Love, To Friends of Euclid Creek

I just wanted to let you know that on July 17th the Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach team and Arts Collinwood are going to be having an all day event at Euclid Beach! (http://www.majesticmoinedmogul.com/adoptsignup/Form.php?id=52&visitdate=1) So far, our initial agenda looks something like this:

11am-3-4pm: The Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup will begin at 11am and the sand sculpture contest will begin at 12pm that day. There will hopefully be a number of organizations present with informational tables on the beach during both events. It is likely that the sand sculpture judging will begin around 230 pm or 3 pm that day. Adopt-a-Beach team members will also be conducting a beach and park assessment survey for beach goers and event attendees for part of the time.

3-4pm-6pm: Both events will be followed by a cookout up top either in the pavilion or surrounding picnic tables. We are hoping to use the cookout as one way to raise money for our trash/recycle bin project by charging nominal amounts for refreshments.
Following the cookout we will likely have some arts and crafts events, storytelling and musical entertainment possibly on a portable stage. It is likely that everything will wrap up around 6pm.

Photography Contest

Click Photography Contest Details or contact Larry McFadden at 531-7144 or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

This is a big, beautiful watershed from the headwater stream in your back yard to the Lake Erie shore. Help celebrate Euclid Creek by sharing your best shots of life in the watershed. The Friends of Euclid Creek invite you to share your vision of life around our watershed. We hope to:

highlight the beauty of the creek as it flows through the ten watershed communities
showcase the culture and historical sites of the watershed
encourage otehrs to enjoy this wonderful natural resource

More about The Wild Ones

Thank you to past FOEC president Barb Holtz for her May 2010 presentation on weed control.

In her presentation Barb mentioned The Wild Ones http://www.for-wild.org/ advocating for native plants in natural landscapes.

The image of the purple coneflower, a good native choice for Ohio landscapes, comes from The Wild Ones.

List of Current Officers

President - Fran Hogg
Vice-President - Frank Skala
Secretary - Larry McFadden
Treasurer - Ken Messenger-Rapport

Six Directors
Steve Albro
Gary Bloom
Mike Ceralo
Lou Drasler
Kathy Schafer
Carolyn Sugiuchi

Contest details

2010-05-05T13:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the update on the photography contest

Photos must be taken in the Euclid Creek Watershed
Entry deadline October 5th 2011
Award Reception November 2nd

2010 photo criteria for e-mail entry:
. Jpeg or .Jpg format
· No larger than 2mb
. Submitted to friendsofeuclidcreek@gmail.com

Finalist will be required to submit a high-resolution file.
· Minimum of 300 dpi @ 5” x 7”
· Original may be as large as 8” x 10” @ 300 dpi

Enter our 2010 FOEC photography contest. Deadline for submissions is October 5, 2010.

All photos submitted will become part of a permanent collection and will not be returned.
Photographers may be asked for permission to use their photos to promote the mission of FOEC.
Entries must be emailed. Mail entries not accepted.
Entries must be taken within the Euclid Creek watershed.
For more information call Larry McFadden at 531-7144 or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

This is a big, beautiful watershed from the headwater stream in your back yard to the Lake Erie shore. Help celebrate Euclid Creek by sharing your best shots of life in the watershed.

Categories - photos taken within the Euclid Creek watershed - color or black/white for each category - $100 grand prize

Plants and animals
Recreation
Cultural and historical sites
Age 17 and under any of the above subjects

The Friends of Euclid Creek invite you to share your vision of life around our watershed. We hope to:

highlight the beauty of the creek as it flows through the ten watershed communities
showcase the culture and historical sites of the watershed
encourage others to enjoy this wonderful natural resource

The image comes from the Wild Ones http://www.for-wild.org/ which is a group that encourages use of native plants and natural landscapes. Please contact Barb Holtz or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net for more details.

May 2010 update

2010-05-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the May 2010 update

If you have anything to add for this or a future update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. Some of the items covered in this update include:

* More about our meetings
* FOEC photography contest details

We are extending deepest sympathy to Fran Hogg whose mother recently passed away.

Thanks go to Susan Petrone and Miering Borcherds for their support of the FOEC web site.

Coreopsis is a good native choice for sunny locations. This image comes from ohioprarienurseries.com.

More about our meetings

Our May meeting featured presentations from FOEC members. Stay tuned for details about our upcoming meetings throughout the coming months.

*Ken Messenger-Rapport - getting grant for Bishop Road property, oil and gas drilling developments

*Lou Drasler - what's in the water

* Ron Peura - urban forestry

* Barb Holtz - weed laws

The image of the purple coneflower comes from the Wild Ones page at http://www.for-wild.org/download/graycone.jpg with the Wild Ones being a group that encourages us to select plants and seeds from local or regional sources.

Enter our 2010 FOEC photography contest

Deadline for submissions is October 5, 2010.

All photos submitted will become part of a permanent collection and will not be returned. Photographers may be asked for permission to use their photos to promote the mission of FOEC. Entries must be emailed. Entries must be taken within the Euclid Creek watershed. Mailed entries not accepted.

News of note

Saturday, May 8 10am to 4pm - Cleveland Div. of Water will mark National Drinking Water Week with an open house at two of its purification plants. Call 216-664-2444 ext. 5802 or visit http://www.clevelandwater.com/ to RSVP.

Save Wed. May 12 for the Rain Barrel Workshop at Greenwood Farms 6:30-8pm in Richmond Heights.

Contact Claire Posius for Euclid Creek watershed spring 2010 meetings that including rain barrel workshops. Contact Claire at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.

Please visit regularly Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation enewsletter at http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm Thank you Claire!

Black-eyed susans are a good native choice for natural landscapes.

April 2010 update

2010-04-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the April 2010 update

If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.Some of the items covered in this update include:

* More about our meetings
* FOEC photography contest details
* Ask a naturalist

Thanks go to Susan Petrone and Miering Borcherds for their support of the FOEC web site.

We are now on Facebook.

More about our April and May meetings

Our April meeting featured a viewing of Nicotine Bees. This documentary explains about the decline of bee populations. Between 2005 and 2006 bee colonies in dozens of countries declined sharply. Evidence shows that new seed chemical coatings are deadly to bees and responsible for the decline. The Sierra Club is urging the EPA to ban the use of these chemicals to allow for more study. Farmers used these nicotinyl insecticides (also called neonicotinoids) for years to stop insect infestation. Now agribusiness acquired patents to coat their seeds with these neonicotinoids, and “neonics” that enter the plant are present in pollen.

"Imagine a world without bees no stings, no pesky picnic invasions, no irritating buzzing around your summer sodas. And, of course, no apples, cherries, peaches, almonds, raspberries or maybe even hold on to your spoon Haagen-Dazs ice cream. We need bees, especially the honey bee, possibly for our very survival and we're losing them." Crain's.

Our May 7 meeting features presentations from FOEC members. The Community Room at South Euclid City Hall at 349 South Green Road is at the top of the stairs on the right. Entrance is through the back door (Police entrance). If anyone needs to use the elevator, ask for its use through the Police Department.

Ken Rapport-Messenger - getting grant for Bishop Road property, oil and gas drilling developments
Lou Drasler - what's in the water
Jane Goodman - connected watershed, areas of concern
Ron Peura - urban forestry
Barb Holtz - weed laws

Enter our 2010 FOEC photography contest

Stay tuned for additional details and contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net for more information. Here are the categories:

* Color - watershed plants and animals
* Color - watershed recreation and family activities
* Color - watershed cultural sites and historic buildings
* Black and white - any of the above subjects
* Seventeen and under - any of the categories above

$100 best of show cash prize
$25 best of categories prize
Entry limit is three photos per category.
Deadline for submissions is October 5, 2010.

All photos submitted will become part of a permanent collection and will not be returned. Photographers may be asked for permission to use their photos to promote the mission of FOEC.
Entries must be emailed.
Entries must be taken within the Euclid Creek watershed.
Mailed entries not accepted.

All emailed entires must include:
* category and title
* name and address of contestant (city, state, zip)
* day phone, evening phone
* where photo was taken
* when photo was taken

Ask a Naturalist

Thank you again to naturalist Barb Holtz for these answers.

Question: For a shade garden, what are your thoughts on using day lillies, hostas, and bleeding heart? What are your top 2-3 choices for growing in a well-drained area?

Answer: There are many wonderful native shade-loving plants. When it comes to lilies, I would discourage planting lily of the valley and day lilies. They can be invasive. Hostas are fine. I personally think the typical hosta is kind of boring. Bleeding heart is a beautiful plant. A cousin to bleeding heart that makes a great groundcover is squirrel corn.

My top three choices for shade would be columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), violets (many colors), and Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum). There are so many others but I pick these three for a variety on flower color and plant shape. Wild geranium is also a great choice.

The image of the native Christmas fern comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ which states that ferns have been part of Ohio landscapes for millions of years, predating both dinosaurs and flowering plants. The Christmas fern is found in nearly every Ohio county and is a welcome sign year round.

Celebrate Earth Day in April

More about wildlife in the watershed and Ohio

The red fox image comes from Ohio.gov. The red fox has been spotted at the Dike 14 Nature Preserve. The Nov. 22, 2009, issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained that mink appear at the Dike 14 location. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ provides the image.

It won't be long before we see scenes, such as a yellow butterfly attracted to dusty goldenrod.

March 2010 update

2010-03-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the March 2010 update

If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. Some of the items covered in this update include:

* More about our meetings
* 2010 FOEC photography contest announced
* Ask a naturalist - about ferns and ground covers
* More on Adopt-a-BeachTM

More about our March and other meetings
Our March meeting featured James Kastelic, former Deputy Director of Community Planning for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. He is now a planner for Cleveland Metroparks. His talk covered the Environmental Education Collaborative and plans for the opening of the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve at Dike 14.

The April meeting features the Nicotine Bees documentary from the Sierra Club and is to be at the South Euclid Community Room.

2010 FOEC photography contest features five categories
Please stay tuned for additional details and contact jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net for more information. Here are the categories:
* Color - watershed plants and animals
* Color - watershed recreation and family activities
* Color - watershed cultural sites and historic buildings
* Black and white - any of the above subjects
* Seventeen and under - any of the categories above

$100 best of show cash prize
$25 best of categories prize
Entry limit is three photos per category.
Deadline for submissions is October 5, 2010.
All photos submitted will become part of a permanent collection and will not be returned. Photographers may be asked for permission to use their photos to promote the mission of FOEC.
Entries must be emailed.
Entries must be taken within the Euclid Creek watershed.
Mailed entries not accepted.

All emailed entires must include:
* category and title
* name and address of contestant (city, state, zip)
* day phone, evening phone
* where photo was taken
* when photo was taken

Upcoming meetings and events
New England aster is a good choice for rain gardens in a sunny location. The image comes from http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/

Save Friday, April 16 for the Beachwood Green Dream Event with a Euclid Creek Watershed Program and FOEC booth - Beachwood Community Center from 1-7pm.

Save Wed. May 12 for the Rain Barrel Workshop at Greenwood Farms 6:30-8pm in Richmond Heights. Contact Claire Posius for Euclid Creek watershed winter/spring 2010 meetings that including rain barrel workshops. Contact Claire at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.

Use a rain barrel to recycle rain water for backyard or garden watering while saving energy by not running a spigot.

Please visit regularly Claire Posius' Soil and Water Conservation enewsletter at http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/enewsletter.htm

Thank you Claire! Please send comments and contibutions to Claire at
http://mrd.mail.yahoo.com/compose?To=cposius%40cuyahogaswcd.org

Adopt-a-BeachTM Update

Thank you to Mary K. Evans for providing this information.

Upcoming Ohio Alliance for the Great Lakes Happenings- Adopt-a-BeachTM

Adopt-A-Beach™ Training and Get Together!

Keeping our beaches clean and healthy takes caring people in our communities working together. To thank current adopters and to welcome new adopters, we invite you to attend our annual training. The training will include a review of the Adopt-a-Beach™ data collection forms and protocol, including a discussion of some recent changes. This is your opportunity to ensure that you are collecting data in a standardized method. Come to one of our training sessions listed and meet others that share your zeal for the Great Lakes.

New and returning Adopt-a-Beach™ teams can choose a training date that’s convenient for your schedule and location. Refreshments and a light snack will be served.

To R.S.V.P. contact April Mather at 216-630-8140, or amather@greatlakes.org.

Thursday March 18th from 6-8 pm, Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, 28728 Wolf Rd., Bay Village, OH 44140
Wednesday April 7th from 6-8 pm at the Arts Collinwood Community Center 15605 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110. Enter through the cafe and go to the back for the community center.
For those of you not located near a training site, on-line training materials are available at www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach

For a list of beach visits open to the public visit: http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=970

What is Adopt-a-BeachTM?

Adopt-a-Beach™ is the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ largest volunteer program and is present on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. More than 7,000 volunteers including schools, businesses, individuals and families participate in the program. Teams catalogue and remove litter, and also complete a beach health assessment form that includes science based observation of beach conditions and water testing. Information collected by teams is entered into our online database system and can be used for education about conditions at their beach, shared with local beach authorities, and used to identify areas where volunteers can make improvements of beach conditions. For more information, go to: www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach

Ask a naturalist - about ferns and ground covers

Here are some more answers from FOEC member Barb Holtz. Barb is manager/naturalist at Look About Lodge with Cleveland Metroparks where she began her interest in native plants in home landscapes. She is also the president and founder of Western Reserve Wild Ones, a chapter of the the national Wild Ones. Barb also does consulting from Ohio Prarie Nursery of Hiram, Ohio. Barb has a BA in biology and art from Wittenberg University and an MS in biology from UNC-Charlotte.

Question:
What is your opinion of using ferns in our home landscapes and which would you recommend?

Answer:
I LOVE using ferns in my home landscape. I think they are often overlooked as a possibility for a ground cover, foundation screen or graceful addition to other plantings. My favorite ferns include: wood ferns (Dryopteris); esp. marginal wood fern (semi-evergreen), Christmas fern (Polystichum; semi-evergreen), maidenhair fern (Adiantum; soft look, graceful appearance), ostrich fern (Matteuccia; big-makes a statement). If you have a wet area you'd like to fill, try sensitive fern (Onoclea).

Question:
As a groundcover, what is your opinion of using wild ginger?

Answer:
Wild ginger would makes a great groundcover but it is a spring wildflower. You cannot expect it to look wonderful over the course of an entire summer and into fall. There are many native plants to consider as ground covers but they are not vinca or English ivy. Vinca and ivy are tenacious, fast growing and evergreen. While this has made our "I want it now" form of landscaping easier, they are INVASIVE! For me, this trumps all of their other attributes. Don't plant them. What you plant in your yard does not stay in your yard. Instead, plant a variety of native groundcovers that will change with the seasons.

Possibilities include: violets, foamflower, ferns, wild ginger, wild geranium, bunchberry, Virginia bluebells, blue iris, Jacob's ladder, mayapple, native pachysandra/wild spurge, woodland sedge.

The image of the native Christmas fern comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us which states that ferns have been part of Ohio landscapes for millions of years, predating both dinosaurs and flowering plants. The Christmas fern is found in nearly every Ohio county and is a welcome sign year round.

More about wildlife in the watershed and Ohio
The red fox image comes from Ohio.gov. The red fox has been spotted at the Dike 14 Nature Preserve. The Nov. 22, 2009, issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained that mink appear at the Dike 14 location. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ provides the image.

The Jan. 7, 2010 issue of The Plain Dealer states that Northern cardinals brighten up the cold winter scene in Northeast Ohio and expanded their range northward over the past century. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ shows this image of the official bird of Ohio.

Spring Starts March 20
It won't be long before we see scenes, such as a yellow butterfly attracted to dusty goldenrod.

February 2010 update

2010-02-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the February 2010 update
If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Some of the items covered in this update include:
* More about our meetings
* Adopt-A-BeachTM update
* Columbine is more shade loving and a good choice for rain gardens - the image comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/

More about our February and March meetings
Thank you to all who made our February meeting happen. Our March meeting starts at 7pm at the South Euclid Community Center and features James Kastelic, former Deputy Director of Community Planning for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. He is now a planner for Cleveland Metroparks. His talk is about the Environmental Education Collaborative and plans for the opening of the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve at Dike 14.

Stay tuned for more details about our April and May meetings. The May meeting is to be at the Community Room at South Euclid City Hall . The room is at the top of the stairs on the right. Entrance is through the back door (Police entrance). If anyone needs to use the elevator, ask for its use through the Police Department.

Upcoming meetings and events
New England aster is a good choice for rain gardens and more sun loving. The image comes from http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/

Save Friday, April 16 for the Beachwood Green Dream Event with a Euclid Creek Watershed Program and FOEC booth - Beachwood Community Center from 1-7pm.

Save Wed. May 12 for the Rain Barrel Workshop at Greenwood Farms 6:30-8pm in Richmond Heights. Contact Claire Posius for Euclid Creek watershed winter/spring 2010 meetings that including rain barrel workshops. Contact Claire at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org. Use a rain barrel to recycle rain water for backyard or garden watering while saving energy by not running a spigot.

Adopt-A-BeachTM Update

Thank you to Mary K. Evans for providing this information.

Upcoming Ohio Alliance for the Great Lakes Happenings announces Adopt-A-Beach™ Training and Get Together

Keeping our beaches clean and healthy takes caring people in our communities working together. To thank current adopters and to welcome new adopters, we invite you to attend our annual training. The training will include a review of the Adopt-a-Beach™ data collection forms and protocol, including a discussion of some recent changes. This is your opportunity to ensure that you are collecting data in a standardized method. Come to one of our training sessions listed and meet others that share your zeal for the Great Lakes. New and returning Adopt-a-Beach™ teams can choose a training date that’s convenient for your schedule and location. Refreshments and a light snack will be served. To R.S.V.P. contact April Mather at 216-630-8140, or amather@greatlakes.org.

* Thursday March 18th from 6-8 pm, Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, 28728 Wolf Rd., Bay Village, OH 44140

* Wednesday April 7th from 6-8 pm at the Arts Collinwood Community Center 15605 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110. Enter through the cafe and go to the back for the community center.

For those of you not located near a training site, on-line training materials are available at www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach

For a list of beach visits open to the public visit: http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=970

Adopt-a-Beach™ is the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ largest volunteer program and is present on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. More than 7,000 volunteers including schools, businesses, individuals and families participate in the program. Teams catalogue and remove litter, and also complete a beach health assessment form that includes science based observation of beach conditions and water testing. Information collected by teams is entered into our online database system and can be used for education about conditions at their beach, shared with local beach authorities, and used to identify areas where volunteers can make improvements of beach conditions. For more information, go to: www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach

With it being February, look out for ground hogs (image from wikipedia).

Ask a naturalist - what rain garden plants do deer not like?
Thank you to naturalist Barb Holtz for answering our questions. Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have a question for Barb.

Question:
What rain garden plants do deer not like?

Answer:
I would answer this question the same way I answered the more general "what plants don't deer like" question. I think if deer are hungry enough they'll eat just about anything.

Question:
New England aster, columbine, and Ohio goldenrod appear in the rain garden brochure we got at the last FOEC meeting as native plants. What do you think of these three?

Answer:
They are beautiful plants. I have them all in my yard and all are left alone by the deer.

New England aster is purple and tall. Ohio goldenrod is yellow and a medium height. The aster and goldenrod are more sun loving.

Columbine is more of a shade plant. The native one is red with some yellow and is short.

January 2010 update

2010-01-05T18:49:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the January 2010 update
If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Some of the items covered in this update include:
* Meeting summary and upcoming winter/spring 2010 events
* Ask a naturalist - what plants do deer not like?
* Sun Messenger covers FOEC awards

Meeting summary
Our January meeting featured FOEC treasurer Ken Messinger-Rapport on the NEORSD sewer district proposed stormwater management program.

Ken addressed watershed management and how this connects with the NEORSD.

The image of Lake Erie as a watershed comes from http://neorsd.org/whatisawatershed.php

Upcoming Meetings
Plan on attending our monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 2 at the South Euclid Community Center at 7:00PM. The presentation is from Frank Greenland, Watershed Manager of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, NEORSD providing an overview of the Sewer District's Stormwater Management Plan.

Our March meeting features James Kastelic, former Deputy Director of Community Planning for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. He is now a planner for Cleveland Metroparks. His talk is about the Environmental Education Collaborative and plans for the opening of the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve at Dike 14. The Dike 14 winter image comes from http://www.dike14.org/images/DSCN0016-2005.gif

Other upcoming events
The http://www.marc.org site shows a typical upper drain installation for a rain barrel.
Please contact Claire Posius about rain barrel workshops. Reach her at 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org. Attend a rain barrel workshop in Highland Heights on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6:30-8pm. Another workshop is to be Wed., May 12, at Greenwood Farm, Richmond Hts., 6:30-8pm.

More on the holiday party
President Fran Hogg appears in the photo in the front center with some of the attendees.

Thank you to Frank Skala for the photo. Thank you also to all who helped make this fund raiser event happen.

Thank you to the following who provided donations: Fran Hogg, Ken Messinger-Rapport, Barb Pophal, Larry and Chris McFadden, Mary Connell, Heinen's, Connie Herron, Ginny Aveni, Botanical Gardens, Richard and Jeanette Evans, Mayor Geogine Welo, Mary Kay Evans, Wild Birds, CT Consultants, Abuelo's Flavor of Mexico, Kathy Schaefer.

Ask a naturalist - what plants do deer not like?
If you have a question for FOEC member and naturalist Barb Holtz, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net and we can include it in a future update. Barb is the manager/naturalist at Look About Lodge in Cleveland Metroparks. I asked her what native plants (good for watershed health) - that deer do not like - would be good choices for our landscapes.

Question:
What plants do deer not like?

Answer:
Barb answered: '"When it comes to deer, folks need to know that deer have defined territories. Just because we build houses or businesses in those territiories doesn't mean the deer are going to leave. When we rid an area of native flora/habitat (like meadows and forest) and replace it with bountiful landscaping, it's like giving deer a bowl of candy.

We have created through landscaping a wonderful feast or smorgasboard for deer. Hard to blame them for taking advantage of a "plate" so nicely laid out for them! Then we fertiIize to make our plants even more attractive and delectable. I don't believe there is any plant that is 100% deer proof. I think we just need to do the best we can and realize our yards are part of nature, not separate from it. "

http://www.ohioprairienursery.com/ shows this picture of coreopsis. Barb is working with the Native Plant Promotion Committee that is part of the Lake Erie Alleghany Partnership (LEAP) on a recommended native plant list for NE Ohio gardens. In that list the group plans to list plants liked by dear. Please stay tuned as Barb provides us with the final list.

Barb found a list from her files on what deer do not like in a local landscape that includes coreopsis, small white aster, blazing star, great blue lobelia, beebalm, beardtongue, columbine, mint, and false foxglove.

Plants at the top of the invasive plant list are garlic mustard, purple loosestrife, multifloral rose, buckthorn, phragmites, honeysuckle - amur, tartarian, morrow, autumn and Russian olive. Invasive plants widely sold at nurseries include: burning bush, Japanese barberry, tree of heaven, Norway maple, myrtle/vinca, porcelainberry, Japanese spiraea, crown-vetch, Asian bittersweet, European cranberry bush, privet, yellow flag iris, pachysandra (the non native ones), and English ivy.

More on rain gardens and plants to help maintain watershed health
The image of the native Christmas fern comes from http://www.dnr.state.oh.us which states that ferns have been part of Ohio landscapes for millions of years, predating both dinosaurs and flowering plants. The Christmas fern is found in nearly every Ohio county and is a welcome sign year round.

Rain gardens help maintain watershed heath, keep water clean, filter runoff, alleviate flooding problems, and provide habitat for wildlife.For an image of a sample rain garden with native Ohio plants comes see http://ohioprairienursery.com/.

More about wildlife in the watershed and Ohio
As explained at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us sea gulls appear along Lake Erie throughout winter and are some of Ohio’s most watchable wildlife. According to cleveland.com/neobirding "contrary to popular opinion, the birding opportunities actually improve in Northeast Ohio in winter."

You may have seen one of these - a blue jay - recently.

More reminders about watershed health

I'm still thinking about how at our November meeting, Claire Posius noted that some of her work deals with good practices in our landscapes.

1. Do not dump in storm drains.
2. Fertilize sparingly and caringly.
3. Properly dispose of household hazardous waste.
4. Clean up after your pet.
5. Practice good car care.
6. Landscape with native plants.
7. Conserve water.

Friends of Euclid Creek hand out awards for work on behalf of the waterway - Sun Messenger article of December 07, 2009 - By Jeff Piorkowski
From http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/

Fran Hogg, president of Friends of Euclid Creek, was on hand Monday at the Lyndhurst City Council meeting to present the city's service director, Rick Glady, with the organization's "Stewardship Award."

Hogg said Glady was honored for several reasons, including Lyndhurst's change to automated recycling, his efforts to revise the county's solid waste guidelines, the natural wildflower bed planted at Brainard Park, and his interest in the installation and maintenance of rain gardens.The Friends of the Euclid Creek's stated purpose is to promote the social welfare of the area by creek preservation, to educate people as to the creek's importance, and to bring together the cities that are stakeholders in the creek's welfare.

Glady was given his award at the council meeting, while other awards were dispersed at a Dec. 1 ceremony at the Mayfield Village Community Center.

Also the recipient of a Stewardship Award was Beachwood Mayor Merle Gordon.

The "Volunteer of the Year Award" went to Highland Heights resident Jeanette Evans.

The "Tom Jenkins Award," named for the organization's founder and awarded to the Friends' member whose actions are most emblematic of Jenkins, was Mary K. Evans, of South Euclid.

- Posting last updated Jan. 28, 2009 - please check back for the final draft and updates

December 2009 update

2009-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the December 2009 update
If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.

Some of the items covered in this update include:

* Thanks for the holiday party, fundraiser, and recognition
* Thanks for the VFW hike
* Ideas about trees at the holidays
* See you in 2010 - Happy New Year!

Thanks for the holiday party - and a great end to a great year

Our festive annual fundraiser and holiday party took place Tuesday, December 1. Thanks go to Frank Skala for the photo that shows President Fran Hogg (front, center) with some of the holiday party attendees.

Barb Pophal deserves special thanks for helping to organize this wonderful annual event. To all who contributed to the silent auction, raffles, and pot luck - a thank you also. A special heartfelt personal thanks comes for your recognition. Congratulations to Mary K. Evans, Mayor Merle Gordon of Beachwood, and Rick Gladys, service director for Lyndhurst, for their recognition.

Thank you to the Little Known String Duet with Donna Lader on guitar and Joe Abate on mandolin.

Happy New Year! See you in 2010

Plan to attend our meeting on Jan. 5, 2010 at the South Euclid Community Center.
The address is 1370 Victory Drive.

Thank you for the VFW Hike - 29512 White Road, Willoughby Hills

Special thanks go to all involved in the November VFW hike in this great location in the Euclid Creek watershed. Ron Puera, FOEC member and VFW Post Commander headed up the adventure with exploration of the creeks, beaver ponds, and woods in this large and unique tract of land.

The habitat of the American beaver (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org) includes ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams bordered by stands of small trees. January-February is their breeding period. Their adult weight is 30-70 pounds. They are master dam builders.

More thoughts on our November meeting

Our November meeting featured Claire Posius providing us with an update on Euclid Creek projects. Claire works as a watershed conservation planner at the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Here are some recommendations for helping with watershed health.

1. Do not dump in storm drains.
2. Fertilize sparingly and caringly.
3. Properly dispose of household hazardous waste.
4. Clean up after your pet.
5. Practice good car care.
6. Landscape with native plants.
7. Conserve water.

She reminded us that "it all drains to Lake Erie" and flushing old medicines can be dangerous. Antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs can appear in sewer lines and waterways.

Rain gardens help maintain watershed health
The image comes from
http://cuyahogaswcd.org/grantfunded-raingardens.htm which explains that rain gardens help maintain watershed heath, keep water clean by filtering runoff, alleviating flooding problems, and providing habitat for wildlife.

http://cuyahogaswcd.org/grantfunded-raingardens.htm

More on rain gardens and native plant use

The image of a sample rain garden with native Ohio plants comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com.

The image of a butterfly-hummingbird garden with native Ohio plants comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com.

The image of the dwarf goldenrod - another good choice - comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com.

Tips on using a living, rooted (potted or balled) tree

Here are some ideas from http://pickyourownchristmastree.org.

Keep the tree in a shaded area or a unheated garage until it is brought inside.

Keep the soil in the ball or pot moist until well after it is transplanted after Christmas. A frozen ball need not be watered if the crown is shaded and protected.

Lift and carry the tree by the ball or pot, not the top.

Keep the tree in the house no longer than about one week.

If possible, keep room that the tree is in cool (to help prevent it from starting to bud out)

Have the tree's planting hole dug before the soil freezes and keep the fill dirt thawed. The hole should be 4 times the size of the root ball. If the dirt was heavy clay or poor sand, be sure to improve it with amendments (manure, grass clippings, ground leaves, compost, etc.) Evergreens like an acid soil, so don't add lime.

Remove packing paper, sawdust and binding materials when planting the tree. Stake the tree for its first year, if possible.

More wildlife images from Ohio watershed areas (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/)