Friends of Blackwater
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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.