February 2013 Friends of Blackwater

FOB Files Appeal #2 to Protect Ginny 2 New Website to Protect National Forests from Fracking 2 Non Profit Highlight: New Historic Thomas 3 Winter Film Festival 3 Leonard Harris Receives "Living the Dream" Award 3 FOB's Wonderful 2012 Donors 4-5 Allegheny Front Fall Migration 6 Spring Party in Canaan 6 Comments Needed for Whooping Cranes 6 Potomac Highlands Food & Farm Initiative 6 Petition 6 Snug & Smug with Solar Power 7 Goodbye to Ben 8 © akaflash.com, Ludovic Moore Join FOB on Park's Slopes 8 Working to protect West Virginia’s High Alleghenies, Blackwater River & Blackwater Canyon. 501 Elizabeth Street - Charleston, WV 25311 - phone: 304-345-3460 - fax: 304-345-3240 - www.saveblackwater.org - [email protected] February 2013 FOB FILES APPEAL #2 TO PROTECT GINNY ON MON NATIONAL FOREST UPPER GREENBRIER BATS THREATENED TOO!

On Jan 14, 2013, Friends of Blackwater and the Forest Service are required filed an administrative appeal of the United by law to protect these species in States Forest Service’s recent Decision crisis -- but nothing is being done Notice on the proposed Upper Greenbrier to respond to this plague except to North Timber Project. count the bodies!! The proposed project is located near the The Forest Service describes the towns of Durbin and Frank, the former home proposed project as “red spruce of the National Science Academy. This is an restoration.” Regrettably, this claim area with prime habitat for “Ginny,” the West is baloney -- an excuse for logging, Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel. This is under the cover of a popular idea. an area where there are major endangered The Upper Greenbrier North proposal bat cave systems. This is an area that lies does not include one cent for any between two National Natural Landmarks -- of the red spruce planting that Gaudineer Knob Scenic Area and Blister Friends of Blackwater has always Swamp. supported. Instead, “restoration” The streams in this region are famous for work would be logging, girdling and a stunning array of rare aquatic species, such otherwise eradicating hardwood pressures, the Forest Service has reduced as the newly discovered Greenbrier crayfish, trees often using poisonous sprays. These (for now) the acreage of timbering in West native brook trout populations, the candy are the very trees that endangered creatures Virginia Flying Squirrel habitat. darter, and the eastern hellbender. depend on for food and shelter. FOB may go to court, if our appeal can’t Our appeal asks the Service to protect all Some parts of the proposed Upper get some compromise on the Project. of Ginny’s habitat, and to protect threatened Greenbrier North Project are good -- such Please join us by signing our petition bats, who are being decimated by white-nose as stream restoration and closing roads that asking the Forest Service to do the right syndrome. The Fish and Wildlife Service cause erosion. Also, thanks to strong citizen thing. See page 6. NEW WEBSITE HELPS CITIZENS PROTECT EASTERN NATIONAL FORESTS FROM FRACKING in Oil and Gas Decisions Affecting Our The Center for Biological Diversity, and Public Lands” for our section on the law forest advocates from Arkansas. FOB and citizen actions. The National Resource coordinates bi-monthly conference calls. Defense Council created the maps used in Much of our collaboration and advocacy the Guide. We expect to finish the on-line work will be reflected in our on-line “A version of the Guide by the end February Guide to Stop Fracking from Damaging 2013. Go to the FOB website for a link at Our Eastern National Forests”. The Guide www.saveblackwater.org will be available in an on-line format. The The new website demonstrates the website explains to advocates what tools success of dedicated local groups they have when fracking comes to their challenging gas drilling projects. The See more damage from gas drilling at www.wvsoro.org forest. It highlights Case Studies from momentum created by Eastern National Friends of Blackwater formed the Eastern citizens working to protect national forests Forests Working Group has slowed down a Forests Gas Drilling Working Group (EFG) in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, rush to degrade our public lands with new a year and a half ago to push back against Virginia, Arkansas, and Alabama. These oil and gas wells. But there is much more fracking for gas on our public lands. We examples show a growing movement of work to be done and our successes and received major support from the Colcom citizen advocates dedicated to protecting determination need to be widely publicized. Foundation. Information and strategies the woods, watersheds and wildlife on our More advocates need to be recruited into are shared on how to block destructive gas public lands. the ENF working group network. We believe drilling on public lands in the east. National The site also has links to related websites, this project could easily be expanded to conservation groups and local forest reports and fact sheets with information cover all the impacted national forests in advocates participating are Friends of on endangered species, drinking water the east. Growing the movement will cause Blackwater, West Virginia Trout Unlimited, and maps showing National Forests state politicians and agency officials to take a Virginia Forest Watch, Allegheny Defense by state. We had help putting the Guide second look before permitting degradation Project, Southern Environmental Law together from Earthworks and the Land of our special places. Please let us know Center (SELC), Heartwood, the Buckeye and Water Fund of the Rockies who allowed what you would like added to this Fracking Forest Council, American Rivers (DC &PA), us to use excerpts from their booklet Website. Send suggestions to outreach@ the National Resources Defense Council “Preserving Our Public Lands, a Citizens saveblackwater.org (NRDC), Penn Futures, Wild Virginia, and Guide to Understanding and Participating Page 2 February 2013 NON-PROFIT HIGHLIGHT: NEW HISTORIC THOMAS

New Historic A fundraiser for Friends of Blackwater Thomas (“NHT”) was founded in 1996 with a focus on improving and preserving the history of Thomas. A Saturday group of new members have a February 16, 2013 list of ambitious new projects 6pm including, fixing at the up old buildings, working on the Veterans and Miners Memorial Park, planning a riverfront park, and beautifying Front Street. Recently the group was awarded a WV Brownfield Focus Plus Tip Top Cafe grant, to further develop a plan forthe Thomas Riverfront. This Thomas, WV grant will allow the group to start actual development. For •Skiing the Void more information on NHT please stop by one of the many great •Further businesses on Front Street for a brochure; Thomas postcards •Alaska Wilderness Classic and buttons are also available for a small donation. NHT meets •A Story of Trust the first Monday of every month at 6:30pm in the Conference •Denali Experiment Room on the second floor of the Thomas Education Center. suggested donation •Freedom Chair Newcomers always welcome. For more info you can visit their •Unicorn Sashimi website at newhistoricthomas.com. $!0.00 per person LEONARD HARRIS RECEIVES THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. “LIVING THE DREAM” AWARD! Leonard Harris is a Martinsburg Clifford obtained BLACK HISTORY MONTH – businessperson, community leader, and a landmark ruling FREE J.R. ClIFFORD MATERIALS: activist. In 2012, Leonard Harris and his from the West wife Helen graciously hosted and partnered Virginia Supreme The J.R. Clifford Project is celebrating with Friends of Blackwater’s “J.R. Clifford Court that February’s “Black History Month” by giving Project” -- in the Project’s educational work helped protect out free posters and coloring books on in the Eastern Panhandle. and promote the life and lessons of John Robert Clifford Leonard Harris was recently honored educational (1848-1933 -- a great West Virginia hero). by the WV Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday opportunity for For more information contact the J.R. Clifford Project of /Friends of Blackwater at 304-345- Commission with the Commission’s annual African American Leonard Harris “Living the Dream” Award. Harris’ award West Virginians. 7663 or send an e-mail to info@jrclifford. was announced at the Commission’s annual Leonard Harris and his wife Helen own the org. View all of our teaching tools at www. Banquet, held in Charleston, WV on January Harris Community Care home care business, jrclifford.org. 12, 2013. located in Martinsburg and Romney. The Harris is a founder and volunteer director Harrises were key players in helping the You can also of the Sumner-Ramer African American J.R. Clifford Project stop by and visit School Museum, located in Martinburg’s put on our “A New The J.R. Clifford historic Ramer Center, where Blackwater Home for Liberty” Project on Hero J.R. Clifford (1848-1933) was once a living history drama February 21, 2013 school principal. in in October 2012 at History Day at Clifford, like Harris, was also a Martinsburg in Shepherdstown. the West Virginia businessman. After working as a teacher and Helen’s beautiful State Capitol school principal, Clifford became a newspaper voice riveted the from 9am-2pm publisher and then West Virginia’s first audience! and get our FREE African American attorney. Clifford brought Congratulations materials there. a famous civil rights legal case in 1894 for an to Leonard and Helen African American Blackwater Canyon/Tucker on the occasion of County schoolteacher, Carrie Williams. Helen Harris this award! Page 3 February 2013

Porte Crayon Society Maureen Comiskey KristineFriends & Jerry Jordan ofDonald & LindaBlackwater's Wright Gerald Hankins Wonderful Donors for 2012 - Thank You! Donna & Carroll Cook Laura Goff Davis Kenneth Kaleida & Donna James Yenckel & Sandra Mike Harman & Barbara Luanne McGovern Francis Fruth Gunther Lafevre Frierson Amelia & Bob McPeak Ronald & Fran Fulton Steve & Christine Keating Bernard Zimmermann & Richard Harris & Karen Florence Millar Clint & Christina Hogbin Elliot & Nancy Kirschbaum Cheryl A. King Ford Rafe & Lenore Pomerance Phillip & Karin Nelson Linda & Michael Kolb Kathleen & Robert Hayes Tom & Judy Rodd Russ & Mary Rhoads Richard Latterell Family Mary Hayes Emily Schoenbaum Joe Rieffenberger John Leach Wendy Aaronson & William Cynthia Hintz Peter Shoenfield Robert & Lelia Russell Steve & Marjorie Lewellen Ridgely Christopher & Karissa Annette Tanner Marie & Rodney Sauter Richard Losh Roberta Allison Horowicz Greg & Maria Whiteaker Greg & Rita Schwer Betty Lutz Allen & Karin Altman Frank Innes Elizabeth Zimmermann Stephen Skinner & Jeffrey Robert & Mildred Lynn W & Doris Andrews James & Mary Ellen Ireland Gustafson Tony Milam Jillian Bar-av Doris Jarrell Crown Jewel Club Bill Weiss Mike Moore Joe Bashaw Roy Johnson Harvey & Naomi Cohen Thomas Williams Lee Paules Allen Belden Raymond & Janet Keith Cleo & Michael Gewirz Ann Payne Joe & Heather Biola Marie & John Kilcarr Jessie Harris Patron Jean Pozega Franklin & Jennifer Boteler Kristen Knowles & Shawn Ellen Leiby Duane & Marianne Martha Price Robert & Constance Cockrell Deborah McHenry & Elaine Alexander Michael & Carolyn Prudich Bouchard John Kosticky Moore Anne Barney & Stephen Ernie Reed Mary Boyd John Lacey & Carolyn Emma Shelton Vanorder Betty Rice Charles & Nancy Brabec Holcomb Larry & Becky Starcher Ann Barton- Brown G. Paul & Marjorie G. Barbara Bramble E. Schrae & Mary LaPlante Patricia & Garey Wilmsen Cornelia Belton Richter Susan Breiding Phyllis Law Pat Black Thorn Roberts Susan & Joseph Brookreson Betty Leavengood Sustaining Steward Ray Boggs Barry Row & Shelby Ruth Brooks Robert & Dee Leggett Julie Adams & Josh Barrett Martin Burke Osborne Theresa Buck Rod & Robin Lennon Michael & Betsy Breiding Joseph Carney Kristin Ruether Steve & Donna Bunting Felix & Elizabeth Lockman Sally Davidson Rives & Richard Carroll Nancy Ruhe Samuel Burchfield Virginia Luster Annie Dillard Baker Clay Keith Scholtz Joseph Bush Arthur & Iris Malcom Robert & Nancy Douglas Craig Close Joan & Michael Schroering Margaret Byer Stephen H. & Linda Richard Flinn Robert Cohen & Kathy Dan & Stacey Schwartz Garnet Byrne Martenson Dee Fulton & Neil Bucklew Abate Stanwyn & Elaine Shetler Bruce & Carol Carter Stephanie Mason Timothy Gardner Jane & Wils Cooley Margaret Smith Frances Cheever Mary Massey & Jack Millie & Alan Karlin Charles Di Salvo & Kathleen Sandra Staggers Ray & Mary Converse Meiners Marc Levine Kennedy William & Francoise Stauber David & Liz Courtney John Maxey & Theresa Chris Longe Karen Diercks Irving & Gail Stern April & Jeff Crowe Chiotos Suzanne & John Maben Melissa & Melanie Dragan Susan & Donley Studlar Robert & Janet Deal Elizabeth & Terry Donn Marshall Joseph Dumire Betty & Larry Thompson William Deskins McCloskey Donald McCloud Mary Clare & Jim Eros D. McCarty Thornton Michael Estock David & Marge McCutcheon James & Kathryn Morrow Arthur & Betty G Evans Bonnie Thurston Robyn Evans Marjorie McDiarmid Ron Pierce Tim & Amber Farmer Harriet Tucker Lawrence & Margaret Patrick McGivern Lori Plummer Charles Field Yoshine Uchimura Fanning Margaret McKelvey William & Fran Pope Barbara & Robert Foster Ron Ulle & Anne Smith Eve & Thomas Firor Thomas McPherson Wayne & Elizabeth Spiggle Peggy Frankenfield Annette & Frank van Hilst Russ & Sue Flowers Thomas & Constance Brian Thorniley Keith & Christine Garbutt Gregory Wagner Richard Ford Merriman Charlie & Sandy Walbridge Shirley & Cliff Gay Dawn Warfield & Michael Bill & Jean Golightly Josie Merritt Patricia Gussey Knight Donny Good Mary Alice & Gerry Milnes Blackwater Booster Clara & Robert Halfin Carolyn Whetstone Rod & Helen Graves Phyllis Mingo Roland & Barbara Bergman Hedda & Ray Haning Gail Wippelhauser & Robert Richard & Audrey Gray Glen & Anna Belle Mitchell Charles & Janice Black Henry Hoffstot McIntire Bea & Cliff Hackett Peter Moshein Jon Brooks Patricia Hopson Barbara Wolfert Tanya Hall George & Ginny Mozal Linda Butler John Huffman Sandra Woods Stephen & Brenda Hancheck Sarah & Herb Myers Page 4 February 2013

Duane Nichols & Carol Sue Maurice Barnett Paula Abelow Betty Gjesdal Eric & Shelley Nilson Friends of Blackwater's Wonderful Donors for 2012 - Thank You! Robert Paviour Miles Ken Bosworth & Mary Hofle Cynthia Adam & Scoot Hullet & Shirley Good Jeanne Odom Robert Coughlin Pahlow Elissa Gordon Jeff Payne Robin & John Overholt David & Trecla Deterich Martin Albert Benton Grimm Harry Peterson Catherine Pardee Diana Dove Charlotte Allison G & E Guidotti Perrie Lee Prouty Noel & Sarah Pavlovic Gianpiero & Teresa Forcina Terry Anderson Walter & Sharon Guinn Diane Quinlin-Scott Jerry Payne Steven Garske Raymond Arnold Nate Gwinn Elizabeth Read Amanda Pitzer Kevin Geiselman Paul Atkins Roianne & Thomas Hackett Janet & Bill Reger-Nash Michael Plante Kevin George Frances Bailes Mark & Sally Hall Rose Riter Karen & Frank Robbins Terry Gilbert Jo Ann Barlow Clifford & Eleanor Hamrick John & Betty Roberts Mary Robertson Louise Gillooly Frank & Deborah Basham Mary Hardman James & Roberta Roush Theodore & Nancy Samsell Nathan Givens Joel Beane John & Ann Hargrove Larry Rowe & Julia Beury Betty Schwimmer Janice Hall A. & Joan Belcher Leslie & Linda Hatfield Alan Rudley Ralph Scoville Barry & Sassi Harel Ralph Bell Jill Hayes Teri Ruppenthal Judy Seaman Nancy Harrison Charles & Margaret Biggs Diane Hert Fred & Elizabeth Sampson Richard Segars & Deborah Roger & Rose Hutzell Denise Birch Edward Higbee Elaine Sapp Darden Douglas & Linda Johnson Jeb Booth & Simon Collis Richard Hitchcock Ronald Schaefer Donald & Jeannine Seibert Charles & Adella Langham Dennis Boyles James & Patricia Howard Laura & Dave Schmidt William Senseney Stephen & Elizabeth Lawson Patricia & Matthew Burkett William & Mary James Roberta Schoen Thomas Shaffer Mark Leeson Robert Burkholder Douglas & Karen Jaslow Midge Schrader Darrell & Kathryn Shahin Lawrence & Stephanie John Cannon Greta & Steven Johnston Don Schwer Carol & Mike Shaw Lowden Frederick Carter Kenneth & Janice Becky Shaffer Gregory Shindledecker Lowell & Terri Markey Martha Chestem Kasserman Don & Martha Shearer Donna & Kenneth Showalter Kent Mason William Cloer Carole Keller Joan Sims Barbara & James Smith Thomas & Judith McHugh Noble & Margaret Conner Janice Kinsolving Carol Smith Paul Smith William & Denise McNeel Mary Corrin Christopher Kirkman Lawrence Smith James Speicher Woody Naas Suzanne Covello Elizabeth Koller Maria Stallo Patty & John Stealey Julia & Joseph Neenan James & Carmella Crawford Gail & Charles Kramer Aleen Starkweather Bruce & Maral Strathearn Lauren Pack Bill Csutoros Robert & Mary Lu Latane Judith Steel Charlotte Taylor Ann & John Palaitis George De Atley Patricia Lawson Maria Stegall Larry Thomas Rosalie Pitner Wallace & Kathleen Ross- Jennifer Lerczak Leon Stine Sue Thompson Paul & Marsha H Rexrode Dean Letty Limbach Mark Sturwold Linda Turner & Kristina Jean Rodman Edmund Domboski John & Jane Lindsay William Styer & Anna Gerig Coleman William Rogers Sharon Durr Alice Long Mary Sullivan Beverly Van Metre Catherine Samargo Barbara Earl Robert Lynch John Taylor Lynn Wagner Rebekah Sink Tom & Alice Eastman Ric MacDowell Darlene Thompson Tim Warner & Paula Hunt Bob Smythe Evelyn Ebbert Brian & Antionette Maggied Waino Tuominen Richard & Karen Watson John & Vicki Stansbury Richard & Janet Eber Robert & Joy Markley Irma Ullrich Diana Weatherby Leah Stern Sally Egan Donna Martin Jerry & Jean Wagener Jon & Donna Weems Judith & Robert Stitzel Gertrude Ehrlich David Maxwell Garry Walczewski James & Kristie Welch Sidney & Barbara Tedford Patty Ellerman Shirley Mayfield Robert Ward Carolyn Welcker Mike Turner Dianne English Christina McCutcheon John Warren Ronald Wilson Jim & Judy Van Gundy Karen Fedorov Jim McIntyre Michael Webb Melinda Wines Brent Warner Dorris Frissell Nathaniel Miller Stephen & Susie Wellons Toni & William Witzemann Buddy Watkins Ramsey Frist Paul Minton Robert Williams Ed Zahniser & Christine Alice White Jesse Gandee Dorothy Montgillion Kristina Windom Deuwel Ruth Wilkinson Sara Gann William Montgomery Robert & Autumn Wooling Wayne Wolfram Lydia Garvey William & Elinor Moore Jean Worthley Individual Cindy & David Yazvac Claire & Paul Gesalman Mary Morgan Barbara & Albert Yandek Charles Yoho Art Abrams Eric Gibson James Murray Felicia Adams Donors Lillian & Patrick Giese Thomas & Doris Myers We mourn the passing of Clarence & Shirley Aleshire Jago Mark Giese Marilyn Newlon-Cole Don Gasper & Bob Gates. Page 5

February 2013 UPDATES

ALLEGHENY FRONT MIGRATION, FALL 2012 YOU’RE INVITED! Allegheny Front Migration Observatory (AFMO) is located at Dolly Sods, Grant County, WV, 10 miles southeast of Davis, high on the top of the Allegheny Front. This was the 55th consecutive year of bird banding at AFMO. A total of 6,218 were banded this year. The 250,000th bird banded in the history of AFMO was banded on September 27, 2012. During the flyover count, Todd Schnopp, Jeff & Sheila Berry, Tom Fox, Elizabeth Ritter, Maggi Perl, LeJay Graffious, Bob Dean, Joan Pattison and other observers, counted birds on all but 6 days when the station was closed due to bad weather. Counts were conducted from August 10-October 5, 2012. Thanks AFMO volunteers!

ALERT: COMMENTS URGENTLY NEEDED TO PROTECT WHOOPING CRANES AND PIPING PLOVERS AT WIND PROJECT BY AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is considering issuing the first-ever Incidental Take Permit to a industrial wind project for endangered Whooping Cranes and threatened Piping Plovers. If FWS grants the permit, the Merricourt Wind Power Project in North Dakota would be protected from prosecution under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for killing Whooping Cranes and Piping Plovers. Comments are urgently needed for three reasons: 1) FWS has failed to give the public adequate notice on an important endangered species issue, 2) the agency is only preparing an Environmental Assessment for a precedent-setting take permit of significant environmental impact, and 3) there are fewer than 400 individual Whooping Cranes left in the wild. The Merricourt Wind Project proposes to build 100 turbines within a 22,400 acre project area and build 33 miles of access roads. FWS has advised the project developer that the wetland stopover habitat in the project area is critical to the survival and recovery of the Whooping Crane. If your group would like to sign on to the comment letter, please visit www. saveblackwater.org for more information. PETITION: POTOMAC HIGHLANDS FOOD & FARM INITIATIVE Tell the Monongahela NF to Tucker Community Foundation, in partnership Protect Ginny and our Bats with Tucker County Extension Services, Tucker We believe The Upper Greenbrier North Timber County Convention Visitors Bureau and the Tucker Project is bad for Ginny the flying squirrel and County Development Authority has hired Kimmy the fragile bat populations threatened with white- Clements of Davis as Project Coordinator for nose syndrome. This beautiful area between the Potomac Highlands Food and Farm Initiative Gaudineer Knob and Blister Swamp should remain (PHFFI), to promote the regional food and farm untouched. LEAVE IT ALONE!!! economy. Clements, has created gourmet meals at TipTop and White Grass Café from locally grown foods. Name The food and farm initiative developed through meetings with community developers, business owners, growers, farmers, and educators. Funding Address for the program includes in-kind support from program partners, funds from Tucker Community Kimmy Clements City, State, Zip Foundation, and a $75,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. The Office for PHFFI is in the “Run For It Headquarters” next to the Friends of Blackwater Office in Davis. Phone: 304-259-5388 or e-mail phffi@ Phone frontier.com.

E-mail Page 6 February 2013 UPDATES SNUG AND SMUG WITH SOLAR POWER: Keeping On The Sunny Side of the Storms by Chris Bolgiano for Bay Journal News Service

So hate me. All around me, millions of the past five years. What the industry calls Chris, people are losing electric power as trees and the “soft costs” of installing and connecting pictured other inappropriate objects crash down on photovoltaic panels has dropped roughly at right is powerlines. It doesn’t matter anymore what 30% since 1998, according to the Solar a nature storm it is. At least three recent storms of Energy Industries Association. A 30% writer who apocalyptic dimensions have slammed into federal tax credit applies until 2016, and lives in the east coast, and more record-breaking some states offer additional tax incentives. the GW National ferocity is being predicted. Traffic lights When Walmart goes solar, you know Forest in don’t work. Stores can’t process credit/ it’s cheap: the world’s biggest box store VA. She debit cards. Gas stations can’t pump gas. now boasts the country’s biggest business supports Roads are blocked and relief supplies can’t capacity at 65,000 kilowatts, with Costco our High get through. Favorite TV reality shows go second and Kohl’s Department Stores third. Allegheny unwatched as the real world intrudes. Maybe such stores can serve as emergency National But we don’t miss a show, the husband shelters in future storms, using solar Park and I, although in actual fact we usually electricity to provide drinking water, food and Initiative. watch old movies on DVDs as storms thump ways to cook it, sanitary disposal of wastes, outside. During the searing heat after last shelter against extremes of weather, and lots the usual 120 may draw more electricity than June’s notorious wind that caused power of toys to keep dangerous boredom at bay. is practical to supply. outages for weeks, we sat in the breeze They could provide a form of community But you can design a system that will run of our little fan. During the various winter security unique to our consumerist era. a household water pump, a gas or oil burning blizzards that loaded lines with snow and But I prefer a less centralized approach furnace, refrigerator, lights (preferably CFs ice, we sat in the warmth of our gas furnace. better suited to the American spirit of or LEDs), radio, computers, and TV. You And not even Superstorm Sandy turned off independence. Thousands of panels in can recharge cell phones and iPods. Not our TV. suburbs and exurbs, neighborhoods and necessarily all at once, but if you time your Instead, time after time, for a few hours communities, on urban condos and office activities in rhythm with the sun and allow to several days as the entire region was buildings, farms and businesses, schools the batteries to recharge, you can not only paralyzed, the husband and I simply went and hospitals, retirement homes, community survive but gloat over your foresight. about our business mostly – an important centers, gas stations and quick stops, would Batteries can also be recharged by a caveat -- as usual. Powered by seventeen make our communities resilient in the face gasoline generator if stormy weather persists grid-connected solar panels on the roof of disaster. or night drags on. This uses far less gasoline and eight sealed lead-acid batteries in the Producing your own power is true than if the generator ran the house directly. basement that instantaneously take over independence, but all power has its limits. The A gas-powered grill can cook emergency when the grid goes down, we watched news, limit of solar power lies in batteries, which are meals. A kerosene heater can keep you from listened to radio, took a quick shower and still expensive, large, and heavy. Designing freezing. Multiple backup systems spread read in bed, to the hum of the refrigerator/ a solar system to sustain your household out a safety net. freezer. when the grid goes down is a lesson in One lesson to be learned from our recent Solar panel costs have plunged by 80% in needs versus wants. These become clarified storms is that buildings should be built better when, for example, and in better places. Buildings of all kinds you are thirsty in a use nearly 70% of the electricity generated flood, or hungry with in this country. Solar panels now offer a a refrigerator full of practicable step toward more sustainable decaying food. communities with buildings that make, use, So, what do you and keep some of their own power on site. give up to have your Granted, we’re lucky that hurricanes and basic needs met at tornadoes haven’t ripped off our roof. That home for a reasonable could still happen, and would put us back to price during the the old stand-bys of bottled water, canned Duration? Running a sardines, and the kindness of strangers. In heat pump or central solidarity with those reduced to such a plight, air conditioning. we light a candle as we watch the ongoing Cooking on an electric coverage of the latest storm on TV. stove. Bubbling in a hot tub. Any ---Chris Bolgiano has written or edited six books, appliance requiring several of which have won literary prizes. Visit www. 240 volts rather than chrisbolgiano.com

Solar panels on Friends of Blackwater’s Davis Office.

Page 7 February 2013 Address Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORG U. S. POSTAGE P A I D PERMIT NO. 1409 www.saveblackwater.org CHAS WV 25301

501 Elizabeth Street - Charleston, WV 25311 Goodbye from Ben! Words rarely do an experience justice. When I first drove into Davis with my car full and no idea what I was driving into I hardly imagine the experience I would have throughout the year (I was more worried about finding a warm bed to sleep in on a snowy February night). These magic mountains have taught me many lessons over the past year but there are two that strike home the most; my little car has no business going off road and more importantly that people and not things are what make memories memorable. Though it is easy to think that what makes Tucker Country such a special place is the beautiful scenery, but spend even the slightest time sitting in Mountain State Brewery or out at White Grass and you will quickly find yourself mistaken. The work I’ve done at the North Fork Watershed Project would not nearly be as rewarding if not for the friends I have made along the way. I was immediately welcomed into this crazy area, not without a few tests to make sure I could cut it here, and quickly learned for the first time what a true community is!! THANKS EVERYONE!

Birds and Bats Threatened on the Mon! page 2, petition page 6 Join FOB on Park's Slopes! Canaan Valley’s brand new tubing center is now open. Visitors to Canaan Valley State Park will now be able to enjoy up to 12 lanes for tubing this winter. The new center opened on January 11th and is part of the Park's infrastructure investments, including the expansion of the lodge. Tubing is available in two hour sessions, seven days a weeks during the season; hours depend on the day so please check their website at www. canaanvalley.org. The new center is another great way to enjoy the High Alleghenies!

Let's Go

Ken Caplinger, Chief of WV's State Parks enjoys tubing at Canaan Tubing! Valley State Park's new tubing center.

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