March 2011 update

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/oakwoodparkcanstillbearealityarkcanstillbeareality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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


2. 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.
   


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


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


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


6. 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.
   


7. 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