Steering committee

We are accepting nominations through the end of April for openings on our steering committee. Please let Larry McFadden or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net know if you are interested.

Thank you to Meiring Borcherds for providing this photo of the current steering committee, taken at our 2011 holiday party.

Front L to R - Barb Holtz, Carolyn Suguichi, Fran Hogg

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

Back L to R - Frank Skala, Gary Bloom, Stephen Albro

President's message

Greetings Friends of Euclid Creek,

Let us rejoice that we are officially through winter. Here is what's happening . . .

The next FOEC meeting is Tuesday April 3, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Euclid Community Center . We have an exciting program featuring five of our own Friends of Euclid Creek members speaking on their special topics of interest!  We will be treated to the following presentations:

• Barb Holtz,
 No Child Left Inside

• Christi Carlson,
 The Brook that Has Entered First Grade

• Lou Drasler,
  Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO): Boon or Disaster? 

• Rick Evans,
 Energy Saving Lighting

• Connie Herron,
 Introduction to Fact Faith Communities (for frack awareness)

Claire Posius, CSWCD Watershed Manager, will update us on activities and upcoming events of the Soil & Water Conservation District.  

There are many upcoming events that you are invited to assist at, or simply attend:

Thur April 5, 5:30-7:30

MetroParks Public Open House, requesting input on future plans for Euclid Creek reservation.

Location: North Chagrin Nature Center

(Jim Bell personally invited all FOEC to attend and participate.)

 (if you can’t make this open house, there’s another on Thursday, May 24 from 5:30-7:30 at CanalWay – they will be focusing on Euclid Creek Reservation there as well – Claire will be attending this one/can’t make April 5 one)

            http://www.clemetparks.com/CentennialPlan/meetings.asp

Wed April 18, 11:00-1:30

Rockwell Automation Earth Day celebration

Location: Mayfield Heights Landerhaven Campus (~1,200 employees)

Claire and Rick

Thurs April 19, morning thru afternoon

Mayfield Village rain garden planting

Location: Wiley Park

Claire is directing this.

Thurs April 19, 11:00-1:00

Philips Healthcare Earth Day celebration

Location: Highland Rd. at Miner Rd. , Highland Heights

Mary K, Ken and Ginny are staffing this.

Fri April 20, event hours 1-7pm (networking with other vendors from noon-1; setup required by noon)

Green Dream Event (3,000 attendees and 100 vendors last year)

Location: Beachwood Community Center

Claire, Mary K and Ken are staffing this.

April 23, 24 or 25, 11:00-1:30

Rockwell Automation Earth Day celebration

Location: Mayfield Village Campus (~300 employees)

Rick assisting. Anyone else?

Fri April 27, early afternoon

Richmond Heights Arbor Day (tree planting & talk about benefits of trees)

Location: Richmond Heights Community Park

Claire coordinating on this with David Roche

Also as an FYI – for the Sat May 12 Invasive Plant Pull / FOEC Bioswale Maintenance Day at Wildwood State Park – Stephen Love is donating rain garden plants for us to plant in the bioswale – so we will definitely need a bunch of volunteers for that – please help spread the word!

 Update on ReLeaf project. Goal is to re-forest riparian areas of Euclid Creek. Jeanette and Frank met with Jane Goodman regarding Marcella and Lake Shore Blvd property.

Update on the nomination of slate of officers.  Please let Larry McFadden or Ginny Aveni know if you would like to be an officer or director, or would like to nominate someone. All positions except Treasurer are open.

Update on Highland Hts Park gas wells. Thanks Ken for preparing and presenting a scholarly package to HH Council on behalf of FOEC, advising and educating them of the risks to the watershed and environment.

Letter from Lita Laven, NEORSD

When Frank Greenland and I attended the last FOEC meeting, there were some inquiries regarding where to dispose of batteries. I contacted Bulldog Battery in Willoughby and he said they still accept alkaline batteries for $1 per pound.  Our thanks go to Lita.  

Follow-up on the Euclid Creek Chronicle newsletter

Thank you Barb and Fran! In addition to excellent articles, there is a reminder to send in (or pay to Ken) dues. There is also a membership form for members.'

Next Meeting

Our meeting next month (Tues., May 1, 6:30 p.m.) will be outdoors at the Highland Rd Picnic Area of Euclid Creek Reservation and will feature a Spring Wildflower Walk with guided narration by Barb Holtz.  

This picture of FOEC President Frank Skala is from the FOEC event held at Mayfair.

Upcoming meetings

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 3, for our members speaking to members meeting. This will be your chance to request a 3, 5, or 10 minute spot.  The topic can be broadly related to issues such as nature, water, environment, science, ecology, outdoor recreation, conservancy, the planet, or your backyard.  


Please let Frank Skala or jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net know if you wish to be added to our list of speakers for this fun-filled evening of lightning talks.

The April 3 meeting start at 6:30PM at:

• South Euclid Community Center
• 1370 Victory Drive (north off Mayfield, next to Giant Eagle) 

Meetings are free and open to the public. 

Please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.


Mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 1, for a Spring Wildflower Walk at the Highland Rd Picnic Area of Euclid Creek Reservation. Check back soon for details.

Meeting minutes

The March 21 meeting of the steering committee took place at the South Euclid Library and included Gary, Larry, Frank, Jeanette, Rick, Barb, Lou, and Ken. Larry called the meeting to order around 7PM.

Activities

We discussed volunteer efforts for events such as:

• Earth Day at Rockwell Automation - Rick will attend
• Earth Day at Philips - Mary Kay and Ken will attend
• Green Dream - Ken, Ginny, Mary Kay - Barb Holtz to make cards with questions about the watershed - with us giving out pins
• Bioswale maintenance - May 12 - Gary, Fran to attend

April meeting

We reviewed who will speak in the members to members meeting

Releaf

Concerning the Marcella property, Frank to note that Jane Goodman may need to contact Derek Schaefer

Slate of officers

We discussed possible nominations. Larry will follow up. 

Publisher

Barb provided the software to jeanette to keep with computer

Scholarship

jeanette to continue adding names to the list of schools.  


Euclid Creek Chronicle

We discussed the next issues in June. We need input by May 14. 

Barb to provide pdf to Mering and Jeanette to place on web site and blog.

Highland Heights Gas Wells

We discussed the letter Ken wrote and presented with Frank.

Euclid Creek Chronicles

If you did not receive a copy of the Euclid Creek Chronicles, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net if you would like one.

Thank you to Barb Holtz for providing the Euclid Creek Chronicles, an FOEC newsletter.

Contest entry

This is an entry from our recent photo contest.

Project priorities

Here is a list of projects we identified as priorities.

MAIN BRANCH (Euclid, Cleveland)
1.Spillway at Neff Rd.  

2. PJ playground

3. Bioswale near Dille Rd. 

4. Any green space connecting Euclid Creek Reservation to Wildwood Park


EAST BRANCH (Highland Hts., Richmond Hts., Mayfield, Willoughby Hills)

1. Vacant land on Bishop Road adjacent to Hawthorne Dr. and connecting with Highland Heights Community Park. –currently for sale, Howard Hannah  

2. Former Mayfair Country Club site, off of Highland Road

3. Highland Hts. Community Park/Dusty Goldenrod Meadow north of Hawthorne Dr.

4.  Richmond Rd. and White Rd. - Greenwood Farm and ravine corridor

5.  Vacant land between Belwood and Lander Rds. 

WEST BRANCH (South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Beachwood)
1. Land around S. Euclid Library, "mansion" on Dorsh Rd. and Palermo property connecting to Liberty trails corridor
2. Acacia Country Club
3. Open space around Notre Dame College
4. Around St. Margaret Mary and Quarry Park
5. Easement opportunities along Ammon and Parkside Rds.