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.
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.
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.
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.
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). 
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 
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 
