Valley Green!

Celebrating 90 Years—Countless Friends PRESERVING THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND WILDNESS OF THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY FOR NINETY YEARS. FALL 2014 • VOLUME 23 • NUMBER 3

Meet You at Valley Green!

Coverage of our 90th Anniversary on pp. 4, 8, 10, 11. FROMthePRESIDENT

8708 Germantown Avenue The Friends of the Wissahickon is celebrating our 90th Philadelphia, PA 19118-2717 Anniversary this year, and while there is much to celebrate, Phone: (215) 247-0417 Tthis anniversary year also finds us commencing our second 90 E-mail: [email protected] years with a multi-pronged, five-year strategic plan for growth in our Website: www.fow.org reach, our visibility, and our stewardship in the Wissahickon Valley. The mission of the Friends of the Wissahickon While the early years of FOW saw much work done in preserving is to preserve the natural beauty and the park and the completion of projects like the restoration of Valley wildness of the Wissahickon Valley and Green Inn, current activities are on a much larger scale. The most stimulate public interest therein. visible of these is our Sustainable Trails Initiative, in which, through the combined efforts of our great staff, membership, funders, and Officers board members, we are already halfway through a five-year, $10 Will Whetzel, President million budget plan to restore and/or rebuild 50 miles of trails in the Liz Werthan, Vice President, Advocacy Heidi Grunwald, Vice President, Finance Wissahickon Valley. The exclamation point for our anniversary year Robert Harries, Vice President, Governance will be our Gala celebration event on October 25, which will showcase the restorations and Jeff Harbison, Treasurer improvements made to Valley Green Inn over the past year. (See page 4.) Liz Werthan, Secretary Looking forward, this newly formed strategic plan will help to align the mission of the Friends past PresidentS of the Wissahickon with the needs of the organization, the park, and its surrounding constituents Cindy Affleck Charles Dilks at a time when issues that were barely reviewed 90 years ago are now key environmental and Robert A. Lukens David Pope organizational issues necessary to the health and future prosperity of FOW and the park. John Rollins Edward C. Stainton Robert Vance

The exclamation point for our anniversary Board Members Christine Bamberger Courtney Kapp year will be our Gala celebration event on Melen Boothby John Kelly Richard P. Brown, Jr. Martha Kennedy October 25, which will showcase the Stephanie Craighead Richard Kremnick restorations and improvements made to Emily Daeschler Charles Lee, Jr. David Dannenberg Jerome Maddox Valley Green Inn over the past year. Sam Finney Chris McCausland Shirley Gracie John Meigs Heidi Grunwald David Pope Jeff Harbison Chris Rabb One such issue is water quality. According to the Philadelphia Water Department, the Robert Harries Jean Sachs Wissahickon watershed contributes to the drinking water for a third of Philadelphia’s citizens David Hilton Liz Werthan who are located in Center City and the northwest. FOW realizes how important it is to expand Bettina Hoerlin Patricia R. West our knowledge of and involvement in this area. Teaming with our upstream neighbors, the Louise Johnston Will Whetzel Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, is an example of expanding our scope and creating a partnership to focus on this area of great concern. A second issue is this very one of partnerships; STAFF joining forces with other similar-minded organizations can create results greater than any one Maura McCarthy, Executive Director organization might accomplish on its own. Ruffian Tittmann, Development Director Audrey Simpson, Business Manager A third strategic issue for the years ahead, and Denise Larrabee, Publications Editor equally as important as the other two, is how our Zane Magnuson, Development/Operations ninety-year-old organization can most effectively reach Coordinator out to all of our park users and stewards of the Valley, Sarah Marley, Outreach Manager and improve our involvement and interaction with them. Henry Stroud, Project Manager To this end, we have recently hired a marketing firm Erin Mooney, Publicist John Holback, Volunteer Coordinator which has given us a report full of helpful ideas and new guidance for our efforts. I sincerely hope that all of Newsletter you reading this newsletter will take stock of how you Denise Larrabee, Editor interact with, benefit from, and contribute to the mission Dena Sher, Associate Editor of FOW—and join your fellow FOW members in these Sarah West, Listings Editor exciting developments. Moon Design, Layout Published by Princeton Packet, Princeton, NJ Printed on recycled paper.

Will Whetzel, President United Way Donations We appreciate Valley The Friends of the Wissahickon can receive Green Bank reinvesting in membership/donations through the United Way. Cover photo credits: Allen Aisenstein, Chestnut Hill Historical Society, Our United Way number is 9882. If this is the most Steven Powell, Robert Shaw, and Eileen Tonkinson. our community and in the convenient way for you to give, please do so. Visit our Wissahickon Valley! website (www.fow.org) to learn about the benefits of membership in the Friends of the Wissahickon.

2 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 VALLEY TALKS NEWSBRIEFS 6 pm at Valley Green Inn FOW Sponsors Valley Talks are free and open to the public. Schuylkill Acts & Sponsored by Impacts FOW sponsored Tahmid Bhuiyan, a Junior at Science Leadership Academy, as a participant in the Schuylkill Acts and Impacts Expedition this summer. The expedition is a weeklong service-learning program with a team of ten high-school students from communities within the Schuylkill River September 16 Watershed. It included a journey (by boat Philadelphia’s Future: The and van) along the 120-mile Schuylkill FOW Celebrates Increasing Impact of Climate River, from its headwaters Seventh Change with Frank Niepold in Schuylkill Ice Cream Social Climate change is noticeable and is County to affecting Americans in a variety of ways. The its confluence with the Delaware River in Northwest neighbors gathered National Climate Assessment is the most Philadelphia. Team leaders from Outward on the lawn outside FOW’s office in comprehensive report to date. It presents Bound Philadelphia and the Schuylkill Chestnut Hill on August 20 to learn more extensive evidence and covers climate change Headwaters Association guided the students about the Wissahickon and enjoy free ice impacts on various regions and sectors, as downriver, illustrating an array of issues cream, environmental activities, and live steel drum well as adaptation and mitigation. Frank impacting water quality in the river through music, courtesy of musicians Kyle Dunleavy and Niepold will present an overview of the tours, programming, and applied service David Sherrick. This annual event also offers the assessment and its findings with a focus on work designed to highlight issues in the chance for the community to meet with FOW’s staff the Northeast. He is the Climate Education watershed and offer hands-on solutions to and volunteers. Pictured here are Sylvie and Noura Coordinator at the National Oceanic and these problems. Merryman-Lotze, Sam Keefe, and Sage Bellot. Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program Office, a co-chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Communications and Education Interagency Working Group, and FOW Member lead writer of “Education, Training, and Evening at the Outreach” in the U.S. Climate Action Report. Woodmere October 14 Join FOW and the Woodmere Art Museum for a tour of the Envisioning a New museum’s new exhibition featuring Fairmount Park with renowned landscape painter Walter Elmer Schofield (1866-1944) Harris M. Steinberg, FAIA on Wednesday, November 19, “The New Fairmount Park,” a recent from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Schofield: study by PennPraxis, aims to create a vision/ International Impressionist action plan for East and West Park so this is the most ambitious and watershed park, including the Wissahickon, comprehensive exhibition of the remains relevant in the 21st century without artist’s work, and the first major undermining the relationship between public critical reevaluation of his career. water and access to nature and their roles in It includes over 60 paintings and recasts Schofield as an international artist who combined the tenets supporting urban life. Harris M. Steinberg will and stylistic qualities of both realism and impressionism. Schofield’s large scenes of the Wissahickon, the present the results of this study. Steinberg is coasts of Cornwall, England, and other locales won numerous prestigious prizes and are in the collections the Founding Executive Director of PennPraxis, of major institutions across the U.S. This tour is free and open only to current FOW members, who will be the applied research arm of the School of allowed to visit other exhibits during this event. The tour will begin at 6 p.m., with refreshments served Design at the University of Pennsylvania, before and after. Visit www.fow.org for more information and to register. where he serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning. Civic visioning is a hallmark of his work at Support the Wayfinding and Signage Initiative PennPraxis and he lectures nationally and internationally on the role of civic engagement FOW is currently raising funds from individuals and private foundations to provide the balance in city planning. of matching funds needed for the Wayfinding and Signage Initiative. The project has an expected total budget of $500,000. A grant of $250,000 from the PA Department of Community and Economic Register by contacting Sarah Marley at Development has leveraged an additional $150,000 in private support, but FOW still needs $100,000 [email protected] or 215-247-0417 x109, or visit to complete the project. For more information on how you can support the Wayfinding and Signage www.fow.org. Spaces are limited. program, contact Development Director Ruffian Tittmann at 215-247-0417 x102 or [email protected].

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 3 V E R S A N I R Y Up at the Tree House . . . A N C H E T L E 0 B 9 R Fall Colors

W T

O I to Enjoy

F N

by Trish Fries,

Wissahickon Environmental Center

ummer is over, and with the long, cold winter n n Sapproaching it’s time ANNIVERSARY EVENTS to enjoy nature’s final burst of color seen in its autumn leaves. A highlight of autumn Cabinet of at the Tree House is the brilliant display of reds and Curiosities oranges of the Japanese maple understory. The Andorra Natural 90th Anniversary area, though not especially “natural,” is unique in many Celebration ways because of its history as the Andorra Nurseries. Gala Tucked among aging European beech trees, you can Saturday, October 25 • 6 pm still find the Japanese maple Valley Green Inn trees lined up in the rows of a nursery field. A look at the nursery catalog from 1940 shows four Japanese A rare evening in the Wissahickon species of Japanese maples, including red and thread-leaf varieties. maple Scott Romig Band • Menu by Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Table, Just outside The Cedars House Café is a spectacular speciman, no Garden, and Daily • Décor by terrain • Freshly restored doubt planted during the building’s life as the nursery headquarters. Valley Green Inn • Dinner & Dancing under the stars in a The reds, oranges, and pinks of the Japanese maples are made up clear tent • Wissahickon Cocktail attire of delicate leaves shaped like tiny, long-fingered hands. Many introduced plants have been imported and cultivated to Thanks to Our Sponsors appeal to our love of fall color. Japanese maples and burning bush are now found throughout the forest, reproducing by seed. The leaves and twigs are not preferred food by deer, so their numbers quickly multiply, competing for nutrients and sunlight with native plants. Those beautiful plants, are now considered invasive in our forest. While the Wissahickon Valley is filled with both native and introduced plants, the native plants have adapted to the climate and wildlife that uses them. Plants that provide quality food for migrating birds have brilliant fall colors that coincide with the Tickets migration, assuring that the plant is spotted, its fruit eaten, and the Attendance will be strictly limited to 300. To purchase seeds spread to other areas. tickets visit www.fow.org/news-events/90th-anniversary- Hidden along the Green Trail above Bell’s Mill Road is a special celebration. This is a rain or shine event; a severe weather remnant of the nursery that is noticable not because of its fall location has been secured. color, but becasue of its smell. Walk past the area of Katsura trees (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) in the fall and you may think you are Sponsorship Opportunities at a county fair–the smell of cotton candy is in the air. But no, the FOW’s 90th Anniversary Celebration events offer scent is coming from the yellow leaves of the Katsura tree. Children sponsors a wide array of benefits throughout 2014. Our have been known to rub the leaves on their arms to have their goal with corporate sponsorship is always a mutually- own cotton candy perfume! beneficial collaboration and we will work with you to Take a walk in the next few customize the most attractive sponsorship. Contact Ruffian weeks, or sit on the porch of The Trish Fries is an Environmental Education Tittmann at [email protected] or 215-247-0417 x102 to Cedars House, and take in one last Program Specialist at the Wissahickon learn more. burst of color before the grays and Environmental Center. For tips on gala attire and how you can help FOW refresh browns dominate the winter forest. the interior of Valley Green Inn, visit http://www.pinterest.com/ FOWissahickon/

4 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 KEEPING UP With the TRAIL AMBASSADORS

Meanderings in the Wissahickon Geology Hike with Sarah West TAs Making a TRAIL with Shelly Brick Saturday, October 18 | 3–4:45 pm Sunday, September 21 | 3 pm Meet at Valley Green Inn. Hike covers about Difference AMBASSADOR Meet at Chestnut Hill and Seminole Aves. 1.5 miles along a rough, steep trail on the Sunday, October 26 | 2 pm east side of the creek, upstream from Valley Meet at the Rex Ave. entrance to the park. Green. We will discuss the likely formation by Sarah Marley, Outreach Manager of Wissahickon rocks as the result of plate WALKS Sunday, November 23 | 2 pm tectonics and identify several different types. ew technology has enabled the Trail Meet at the Kitchen’s Lane entrance Children 10+ welcome with responsible adult. Registration is recommended for all hikes to the park. Ambassadors (TAs) to share their Kid Friendly Hike with (required if indicated) so that participants can Enjoy our park and “talk story,” a Hawaiian experiences in the park with the FOW tradition. Pace will be set by the group. Marv Schwartz N be informed of weather or other emergency staff faster than ever before. Through electronic Moth Night in Andorra Natural Area Saturday, November 1 | 1–3 pm field reports, they are able to share all the details cancellations. Unless otherwise specified, Trail Meet at Valley Green Inn. We will walk along Ambassador Walks may be on rocky, rugged with Kris Soffa Forbidden Drive and visit the Livezey Dam and of their park shifts as well as upload photos Tuesday, September 23 | 8–10 pm trails that may be wet and slippery. Wear sturdy Gorgas Creek cave, cross the Mt. Airy Bridge to their reports, which will often include GPS Meet at the Wissahickon Environmental and hike the hillside trail, then pass through coordinates of any park damage they see while shoes or boots with socks. Long pants are Center. Learn about moths and the moth Fingerspan Bridge. We’ll snack, then continue out on the trails. recommended for protection against occasional database registry. Discover how to best on to Devil’s Pool and Pee Wee Rock on our poison ivy and possible ticks. Bring water and observe moths in your garden, construct a return. Level: moderate on some rocky trails. In 2013, TAs recorded over 800 park user simple moth trap, and set up UV light lures. a snack if desired. Unless otherwise noted, interactions, more than 3,000 hours of outreach Bring flashlight & camera. Be prepared to walk Autumn Picnic with Bruce Wagner children over six are welcome if accompanied and assistance to park users, and over 50 reports quietly on the trails and woods in the dark. & Maureen Flanagan Children 10+ welcome with responsible adult. Saturday, November 8 | 11 am–1:30 pm of fallen trees, graffiti, trash dumping, and damaged by a responsible adult. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain Orange Trail Hike with Meet at Cedars House. We will hike along park infrastructure. Based on these reports, FOW has the Creek from Northwestern Ave. to the been able to schedule volunteer work days and staff or icy conditions. Merritt Rhoad Covered Bridge and return. Bring your own time in the park more effectively as well as share For more information or to register, contact Sunday, October 19 | 1–3:30 pm hearty picnic. Wear appropriate weather gear. Sunday, November 2 | 1–3:30 pm any important information with the Philadelphia Sarah Marley at [email protected]. Distance: 3.5 miles. Level: rocky trails, but Meet at Northwestern Ave. & Forbidden mostly flat. Parks & Recreation staff, leading to a safer, cleaner Visit www.fow.org for updates. Drive. We will walk along Forbidden Drive to Wissahickon Valley Park for everyone to enjoy. Bell’s Mill Rd. and then along the Orange and Lower Forbidden Drive with Welcome Fall by Exploring Woods White Trails to the Indian Statue with return Sarah West The TAs spend a great deal of their time in the and Meadows with Kimberly Quinn to Northwestern Ave. along Forbidden Drive. Saturday, November 15 | 3–4:45 pm Wissahickon educating park users about the rich Sunday, September 14 | 1–3 pm Learn more about Wissahickon history and Meet at the small parking lot where Forbidden history and ecology of the valley and providing a nature. Level: moderate difficulty. Distance: 4 Drive meets Lincoln Drive, a short distance Sunday, October 5 | 1–3 pm gentle reminder of the park rules to help ensure the miles. downstream from RittenhouseTown. See two Meet at Cedars House. Welcome fall safety of all who visit the park. On some of the more From the Back of a Horse with historical sites connected to the Revolutionary with a hike to the Andorra Natural Area War era and more. We will discuss the history quiet days in the Wissahickon, the TAs will share the behind Cedars House and the Wissahickon Cynthia Turecki & Camille Blanche of the Wissahickon Turnpike, Forbidden Drive, beauty of the park experience through their reports, Environmental Center. Visit the Fallen Sunday, October 5 | 11 am–1:30 pm and the Walnut Lane Bridge. Distance: 1 mile such as: blue jays mimicking hawks; barn swallows Magnolia, Great Beech, and more, returning Meet at Courtesy Stable. Experience the along lower Forbidden Drive on level ground to Cedars House along Forbidden Drive. Bring Wissahickon from the back of a horse. as far as Walnut Lane Bridge. zipping around the meadow gulping up the abundant binoculars, cameras, & water! Children 8+ Participants will take turns riding a horse for insects; tulip poplar flowers plopping down heavily welcome with responsible adult. Distance: 3 15 minutes, led under control of the instructor. onto the trail; or a thank you from a grateful park miles. Level: moderate. Ages 18 and under must be accompanied Find more information visitor. Stop and say hello to the TAs when you are in by an adult. A waiver must be signed. on TA Walks at Creepy Crawlies with Registration is required. Maximum number: 8 the park. You are guaranteed to get a pleasant reply Barbara Berman people. Maximum weight limit: 180 lbs. www.fow.org/calendar and learn something new about the Wissahickon! Sunday, September 21 | 3–4:30 pm Meet at the Wissahickon Environmental Center upper parking lot, accessed from TA Walks with Woodmere Fall Festival (open to the public) Northwestern Ave. off Ridge Pike. Do you love bugs or do Understanding the Art and History in the A Walk along the they gross you out? On this walk Wissahickon with Wissahickon with Wissahickon Creek you will catch bugs and learn Merritt Rhoad Diane Garvey and with Bruce Wagner interesting facts about them so Saturday, September 27 | May Dominic and Maureen Flanagan they won’t seem so “icky.” Bug 10 am-1 pm Sunday, October 12 | Sunday, October 19 | net suggested. Family event, but Meet at Northwestern Ave. & 10 am-1 pm 10 am-noon best for kids 4+. Level: moderate Forbidden Drive. We will hike Meet at Valley Green Inn. Meet at Cedars House. We terrain. Forbidden Drive, then upper Learn what art tells us about will walk from Cedars House trails to the Indian Statue, people, culture, and history to the Covered Bridge, with finishing at Northwestern in the Wissahickon from stops to examine various Ave. We will discuss geology, old photos and artwork. We locations for their artistic Trail Ambassador Marv Schwartz leading a geography, history, and water will hike along the Orange potential. We will look for the Family Friendly Hike in the Wissahickon. issues, and see waterfalls, Trail to Kitchen’s Lane, up sites of Walter Schofield’s garnets, and two popular to the Monastery Stable paintings using prints of subjects of paintings and and Mansion, and return his work and contemporary photography. Distance: 3 along the White Trail and photographs. Distance: 3.5 Trail Ambassadors 2013 - By the Numbers miles. Level: moderate. Forbidden Drive. Dogs on miles. Level: moderate with leash welcome. Distance: 4.5 some rocks. 50+ 800 3,000+ miles, over some steep and reports of fallen trees, park hours of rocky terrain. graffiti, trash dumping, user outreach and assistance and damaged park interactions to park users infrastructure Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 5 WATERSHEDWATCH KEEPING UP With FOW Project Update by Henry Stroud, Project Manager Partners in Water Quality: Orange Trail Restoration– WVWA Upstream Kitchen’s Lane to Mt. Airy Avenue Protection Efforts eginning in March, FOW began restoring the Orange Trail by Stephanie Figary, Bbetween Kitchen’s Lane and Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association Mt. Airy Avenue. One of my favorite sections of trail in the park, it is a watershed is an area of land that drains hiker-only segment that offers gorgeous surrounding streams and tributaries to a views of the creek, varied terrain, and Asingle larger body of water. The sixty-four- shade on hot days. Also a favorite of square-mile Wissahickon Valley Watershed, which fisherman and those looking for quiet originates at the Montgomery Mall parking lot, and solitude, it is one of the park’s drains into the Wissahickon Creek, which in turn hidden gems. supplies ten percent of Philadelphia’s drinking water as it flows into the Schuylkill River. So everything Overall, the trail segment was in that happens in this watershed has an impact on Before pretty good shape. It runs mostly along the water in the Schuylkill. the contour of the slope and the signs of erosion we see on steeper trails were Improving water quality of the Wissahickon mostly absent. Yet, many sections of Creek involves protecting the land in the watershed, the trail were becoming heavily braided particularly the land that borders the stream. The and some minor erosion was evident in Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA), areas where the trail had wandered off headquartered in Montgomery County, protects over its original course or downed trees had 1,200 acres of open space including land along the damaged the trail tread. Trail braiding Wissahickon Creek. This land, known as a “buffer occurs when trail conditions cause strip,” is a protective strip of vegetated land along the people to leave the original trail. Fallen creek. It is vital for improving water quality because trees or sections of trail that are muddy the plants in the buffer strip act as a filter and reduce or hold water are the usual culprits. the amount of undesirable nutrients and toxins Eventually, these new routes become entering the creek. established and the trail becomes a The WVWA also works to improve the water network of braids. If not taken care of, After quality and habitat of the Wissahickon Creek through braided trails typically continue to get a Stream Monitoring and Assessment Program (Stream wider and damage the surrounding habitat. MAP). The Stream MAP is a continuous monitoring Work mostly consisted of closing the braided sections and building stone walls program that was developed in 2004 for monitoring and steps at strategic locations. Due to large rock outcroppings that make moving the water quality, aquatic insect communities, and equipment to the trail difficult, we did all of the work by hand. Fortunately there was stream habitat in the Wissahickon Creek. In 2014 enough native rock around for us to use. The good thing about doing trail work in the WVWA expanded the Stream MAP by launching Pennsylvania is that rock is never in short supply. This fall we will be installing native the Creek Watch Program, a group of trained citizen plants along the trail and in the numerous braided sections that we closed. scientists that monitor an assigned section of the creek and report the findings to the WVWA. This combined monitoring effort allows the WVWA to Project at a glance: identify the areas that are in need of ecological restoration and to determine the changes in the creek Total # of Bee Stings over time. volunteers 3,569 The WVWA also works with the community to Feet of Trail promote activities that improve water quality, including 3 planting meadows, developing vegetated buffer strips, 93 Restored and hosting rain garden and rain barrel workshops. Volunteer All of these steps help us move closer to an improved Feet of Wissahickon Creek, Hours Trail Closed Fairmount Park, and Stephanie Figary is Water eventually Schuylkill Quality Project Manager River. at the Wissahickon Valley 391 425 Watershed Association

6 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 KEEPING UP With WATERSHEDWATCH Mosquitoes in the Wissahickon

by Dena Sher, Associate Editor

ummer in and around in both the larval and the Wissahickon means adult stages. Elimination Smosquitoes. But these of mosquitoes in the larval insects are more than just stage focuses on removing Insecticide annoying; they are potentially stagnant water, weeds, and Use in a health hazard, transmitting tall grass where mosquitoes Philadelphia the West Nile Virus (WNV) breed. Pesticides registered by According to Chris Palmer, which can cause mosquito the Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner for borne fevers in humans and Agency (EPA) for larval Operations at Philadelphia parasites responsible for heart mosquito control are applied Parks & Recreation (PPR), the How to reduce your worm in dogs and cats. to the sources. Pesticides Philadelphia Department of WNV is transmitted to registered by the EPA are Public Health (DPH) regularly exposure to WVN humans primarily through the also used for control of adult traps mosquitoes in City parks infected mosquitoes bites of infected mosquitoes, mosquitoes. They are applied from April through October • Avoid outdoor exposure at dawn and and less frequently through in a very small volume per acre and tests them for WNV. If any dusk from April to October. the transmission of infected by hand-held and truck-based mosquitoes test positive, an blood products or solid organ devices, or aircraft. Integrated Pest Management • Wear shoes, socks, long sleeves, and transplantation. Originally Properly applied, the program is initiated, and pants during dawn and dusk. discovered in Uganda in 1937, insecticides are unlikely to insecticides are distributed • Apply insect repellent to skin and it was not considered an contaminate groundwater, are by truck with foggers, which clothing. important health threat until it practically non-toxic to birds, disperse the insecticides in • Wash all treated clothing when was associated with epidemics and do not negatively affect fine aerosol droplets. Ultra returning home. of fever and encephalitis in the human health. Serious adverse low volumes of insecticides for adult mosquitoes with low The Center for Disease Control FOW makes every effort to monitor toxicity for humans and the recommends repellents with active environment are used. DPH municipal mosquito spraying activities in ingredients registered by the EPA for use does not use larvicides for on skin and clothing: eliminating mosquitoes in the Wissahickon Valley Park. • DEET (products containing 10% to 50% larval stage. are sufficient and can be reapplied) If Philadelphia DPH • Picardin (KBR 3025) Middle East in the 1950s. WNV effects are rare in humans. determines it needs to spray was first detected in continental Minor eye and skin irritation as insecticides, says Palmer, PPR • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (not tested by America in New York state in well as breathing problems or is responsible for notifying the EPA) or PMD 1999, appeared in Pennsylvania asthma events have rarely been public. Typically, PPR issues a in 2000, and is now found in reported with the spraying press release and distributes it Published data indicate that repellent all 48 contiguous states in the of the usual insecticides to organizations such as FOW, efficacy and duration of protection vary a U.S., where epidemics occurred which are organophosphates who work in the City’s parks. great deal among products and mosquito in 2003 and 2012. or pyrethoids. However, species. They are affected by ambient d-phenothrin, which has been FOW makes every effort to temperature, amount of perspiration, Most cases of WNV monitor municipal mosquito infections are without used in Philadelphia, is highly exposure to water, and other factors. toxic to honey bees, fish, and spraying activities in the Repellents are not recommended for use symptoms, but some persons Wissahickon, says Executive experience an acute febrile other aquatic animals, and is on children under two years old. harmful to humans if absorbed Director Maura McCarthy, and illness that resembles flu. Less Sources: through the skin. The signs and strongly encourages citizens than 1% of infections progress to control mosquitoes on “D-Phenothrin.” General Fact Sheet. National Pesticide to the more serious conditions symptoms of acute exposure Information Center. Web. 15 Aug. 2014. http://npic.orst.edu/ their property for the greatest factsheets/ dphengen.html#env. of meningitis, encephalitis, or in concentrated amounts efficacy. “FOW believes that Fradin, MS. Mosquitoes and Mosquito Repellents: A Clinician’s flaccid paralysis. include eye irritation, which clears within 48 hours, and public health needs outweigh Guide. Ann Int. Med. 1998. Control of Mosquitoes skin irritation with a burning environmental impacts. Peterson, Lyle R., Hughes, J.M. “West Nile Encephalitis.” N. Engl. J Med. Vol. 347, No. 16 2002:1225. by Public Health Agencies or pricking sensation. It is We continue to investigate Control of the WNV alternatives and encourage Peterson, Lyle R., Marfin, A. A. West Nile Virus: A Primer for the also harmful if swallowed or Clinician. Annals of Int. Med. Vol. 137 #3 2002:E-174-175. infected mosquito population people to control mosquito aspirated into the respiratory West Nile Virus in the U.S. Guidelines for Surveillance, requires regular monitoring and system where it may cause infestation on their own Prevention, and Control. Public Health Service Centers for elimination of mosquitoes mild to severe lung injury. property, which has a longer Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. lasting impact than controlled municipal spraying.”

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 7

7 Valley Green Inn Through the Years

s FOW prepares to celebrate its 90th Anniversary with the gala “Cabinet of Curiosities” at Valley Green Inn, there is little curiosity about how the Inn has survived and flourished for 162 years: AFOW has been the steward of Valley Green Inn since 1934. Under the auspices of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, the Friends are responsible for overseeing the physical condition of the Inn’s structure and its immediate surroundings.

1858 1890 1907

by Dena Sher, Associate Editor, and Denise Larrabee, Editor

It is fitting that FOW celebrate new tile floors in the back hallway FOW Development Director Ruffian A Short History its 90th Anniversary at the Inn–no bar; plaster repairs, painting, new Tittmann. “It will allow the Inn to Contrary to a popular myth, other spot in the Wissahickon is as chairs, and refinished wood floors continue to operate during extreme General George Washington never well known or loved as Valley Green. in the main dining rooms and weather events or if a tree comes slept at the Valley Green Inn, FOW will showcase improvements foyer; new lighting and light fixtures down on power lines.” but many other people did. In it has been making to the Inn throughout; and renovation of the Others are also contributing to the nineteenth century, the Inn, throughout the past year at the 90th bathrooms. Kelly and Paul, along the improvement of Valley Green now only a restaurant, was one Anniversary Celebration Gala on with FOW, are also leading the effort Inn. Restaurant Proprietor Jack Ott of a number of roadhouses in October 25. “This is a very exciting to catalogue the artwork in the Inn, has financed the repainting of the the Wissahickon accommodating time for FOW,” says Executive restore those works of art in need building’s exterior and masonry overnight guests. Director Maura McCarthy. “This will of attention, and add some new repairs to the porch steps. The The present building dates from be the second time FOW has made items to the decor. Fairmount Park Historic Trust is 1852. An earlier structure, destroyed improvements to the Inn to enhance These interior design restoring the windows in the dining by fire, was erected on the site by its historic ambiance and beauty, improvements are in addition to rooms, installing new shingles to Edward Rinker. Records reveal that but the one in which we have been major repairs and improvements the archway of the old rose garden in 1850, Rinker obtained a lease the most engaged.” recently made to help prevent formally on the left side of the Inn, from Thomas Livezey on three acres Under the supervision of local water damage such as occurred and repainting this small structure. upstream from Livezey Hall. He was designers Ann Kelly, Jane Good, and during previous storms. These Among the local talent donating given permission by Livezey to build Rebecca Paul, who have generously improvements include: a backflow their services to the project are John a small temperance hotel there and donated their skills to the project, preventer, sump pumps in the Duffy of Stable Tables and Amie offer boats for hire in the nearby the Inn will benefit from some key basement, and new generator. “The Cafiero of Cafiero Lighting Design. creek. new design elements, including: generator is very important,” says

8 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014

8 A toll road paralleling the restaurant. The sign hanging outside replaced, two new bathrooms were in the fall of 2010. While not part of creek, the Wissahickon Turnpike, the Inn today depicts ladies sipping added, and, opening to the patio, a the Inn itself, the Warming Shed is was under construction at the tea and dates from the period small, but elegant dining room with an integral part of the Valley Green time Valley Green Inn opened its of management by the women’s a beautiful oak bar was constructed. area. This marked the fourth time doors. Subscribed to mainly by mill committee, which actually continued All was accomplished by 2002 FOW has restored this structure. In owners, it did not go as far as the for many years. without altering the Inn’s historic 1999, the Friends rebuilt the shed Inn for several years. Meanwhile, facade or interior. after it collapsed. Several years later, patrons traveled to the Inn on FOW Stewardship FOW launched the Valley a fire burned two large holes in the Wise’s Mill Road, about a quarter of of the Inn Green Environmental Restoration shed, which FOW repaired. Soon a mile north. The Friends of the Wissahickon Program in 2003. Following a after, a large hemlock tree fell on In 1868, the Fairmount Park entered the scene in the 1930s design by Andropogon Associates the building, requiring more repair Commission of Philadelphia acquired when major repairs, including a of Philadelphia, the three-phase work. New and improved plans were the land that is now Wissahickon new roof, were again needed. They project resulted in a more attractive obtained in 2011 to ensure a better Valley Park. Alcohol use was not raised the funds and, in response, landscaped setting for the Inn constructed shed. permitted on city park land, a the City of Philadelphia handed over with improved public access to the In 2012, FOW concentrated regulation that drove most of the responsibility for the Inn to FOW area and an increased capacity to on making repairs following the Wissahickon inns out of business. by way of a sublease. The Friends, mitigate flooding. It included: an extensive damage to the Inn

1907 1940 1969 2014

Photos courtesy of Chestnut Hill Historical Society by Dena Sher, Associate Editor, and Denise Larrabee, Editor

Valley Green Inn survived because sharing the leasing responsibilities See the improvements to Valley Green it always had been a temperance of the Inn with the Fairmount in FOW’s Winter Newsletter! establishment. Its patrons ate the Park Historic Preservation Trust, popular dish at the time–catfish are responsible for overseeing and waffles–without the pleasure the physical condition of the of washing it down with a beer or Inn’s structure and its immediate expanded parking lot with new caused by Hurricane Irene and other spirit. surroundings. Currently, the guard rails and gates; a new set of Tropical Storm Lee in August 2011. By the late 1890s, the Inn restaurant at Valley Green Inn is bluestone steps leading down to the All major systems were affected, was badly in need of repairs. The operated independently by Bigway, water’s edge; a rain garden of native and floors, walls, and furnishings Fairmount Park Commission (now Inc., under the management of Jack plants; and additional native shrubs, were inundated with water. FOW Philadelphia Parks & Recreation) Ott. grasses, and trees planted around and Bigway, Inc., restored all was about to tear it down when More recent large-scale efforts the area. In 2007, the design was major systems, replaced floors and community leader Charles W. Henry to renovate and upgrade the Inn’s presented with the Stormwater Best furnishings, and repainted both formed a committee to raise funds; facilities have made the Inn more Management Practices Recognition dining rooms. In addition, FOW the grand sum of $1,221.59 saved sustainable in many ways. In the Program Award from the Department staff and volunteers extended the the Inn from destruction in 1901. 1990s, FOW raised over $600,000 of Environmental Protection and the berm behind the Inn to afford more City of Philadelphia. protection from stormwater run-off. The same year, a committee of for a new structure behind the women chaired by Lydia T. Morris Inn and the addition of a large In 2011, FOW’s Structures Crew, Some information for this article was taken from the writings of the late F. of Morris Arboretum fame received covered patio on the south side led by Buzz Wemple and Mike to accommodate parties of 100 or Souders (1943-2012), rebuilt the Markoe Rivinus (1915-2006), President of permission from the Commission to FOW from 1970 to 1991. manage Valley Green Inn solely as a more. The old, dirt-floor kitchen was Warming Shed, which burned down

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 9

9 9 Looking Back One Man’s Trash with Dena Sher by Bradley Maule Associate Editor and hile the summer went relatively easy on us in terms former FOW Board Member of humidity, those many nice days were sadly, and Wpredictably, more than conducive to the destruction that By Denise Larrabee, Editor inevitably falls onto—and into—Devil’s Pool. A number of people who’ve joined me on my trash hikes have ena Sher’s twenty-year relationship with commented specifically when near Devil’s Pool, “Why aren’t there FOW grew out of a love for the Wissahickon more trash cans?” For starters, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Dshe has nurtured since childhood, and the and FOW don’t have the resources to remove the bags regularly— love she found in the park 58 years ago. In 1956 she to do so would require daily maintenance in the summer. More and her husband, Sandy Sher (1927-2011), enjoyed their importantly, placing more trash cans only encourages further first date in the park with a hike along Forbidden Drive. They disposal of trash, when so many visitors to Devil’s Pool already did not become involved with FOW until 1993, after raising their three sons with don’t use the ones there, and everyone should be following “pack many hikes in the Wissahickon along the way. The Shers believed a survey conducted it in, pack it out” anyway. by FOW in 1992 was inadequate, so they offered to conduct a park user count and As frustrating and disheartening as it is to see so beautiful opinion survey for the Friends. a place frequently trashed, it has been fun and enlightening to “Sandy knew a statistician at Merck where he was employed,” says Sher. participate in FOW’s clean-ups at Devil’s Pool. Even though up to “The statistician designed the survey for us and we recruited our friends to act as a dozen people fill 25-30 bags with trash in one clean-up, care interviewers. There were a couple of people from FOW who participated, but we is taken to separate recyclables, accounting for roughly half of just did it as volunteers.” The most interesting findings: more park users came the mess removed. Likewise, at the end of One Man’s Trash—in from outside the City than from within it and visitors were more likely to walk their early 2015—I will recycle everything that can be recycled and dogs than bring their children. The survey was highly regarded, and both FOW and donate usable clothes and items such as footballs and frisbees Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (then Fairmount Park Commission) relied on the accumulated along the way. results from this survey until 2007, when FOW conducted a new survey. In terms of the project’s summer highlights, two things stand In 1994, Sher joined FOW’s Board of Directors and became Associate Editor of out: a toy soldier found on Memorial Day and a USA soccer ball the newsletter during David Pope’s tenure as president. “It was an entirely different found on the first day of the World Cup. Who knew that woodland organization at that time,” she says. “It had just started to vaguely resemble the sort litter could be so serendipitous? Otherwise, it was a pretty standard of organization that it is now.” FOW was a 90% volunteer organization, according to Sher, who served as Chair of the Membership Committee, working with other board members, such as Shirley Gracie, Bettina Hoerlin, and Louise Johnston. The committee staffed an outreach table in the park once a week during the summer, designed a membership brochure, and launched the Winter Lecture Series. Within two years, membership increased from 300 to over 1,000, she says. “The Chestnut Hill Community Association started to have festivals and FOW always had a booth. We sold t-shirts and hats and all these people who had been going to the Wissahickon for years and loving it suddenly had an opportunity to join or participate.” The Shers joined forces again in 1997 to organize a three-day symposium entitled The Charm and Challenge of the Wissahickon, held in cooperation with the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association and the Wissahickon Environmental Center. According to Sher, this was one of the first efforts by FOW to work in partnership with other local environmental organizations, something she thinks has been integral to FOW’s success. “The symposium lasted three days and centered on the ecology, A team of four FOW summer of trash: used diapers, beer bottles, history, water quality, and other issues in the park,” she says. “One of the most volunteers cleaned all wonderful things about the symposium was that people who came were so inspired blunt wrappers, Wawa bags, and water of Devil’s Pool, and a by it that they continued to do volunteer work for the park. That was one of the best bottles—so many disposable water bottles. group from Ambler outcomes.” I’m looking forward to a lighter load in YMCA’s summer the fall. camp, who was just Sher oversaw the development of FOW’s first professionally designed website Bradley Maule is the founder and passing through, in 2006, working with FOW’s first Editor/Publicist Barbara McCabe. She believes lent them a hand in editor of Philly Skyline and is a co-editor of FOW’s website played an important role in the growth of the organization. “It was carrying it out to the a big challenge and took a couple of months of really intense work, but we did it HiddenCityPhila.org. He lives in Mt. Airy and is road for removal. together.” She credits FOW’s history of meeting significant challenges at the time training to be an FOW Trail Ambassador. Visit when there was with only a small staff to the exceptional people on its board. “There phillyskyline.com/onemanstrash to follow him as has always been an element of pragmatism among board members,” she says. “The he collects litter in the Wissahickon throughout quality of the board is well above average. They analyze problems, engage in the 2014. You can view the miscellaneous items, necessary research, and solve them.” and follow the Wissahickon’s litter in numbers, as well as photos and maps from every corner of the park.

10 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014

10 E 90 Y ARS— ES CO AT U R N B T FOW Cuts the Cake at Family Picnic E L L E E S FOW hosted a Family Picnic on July 12 at Pachella Field to Celebrate our 90th Anniversary with neighbors and C S friends. A visit from the Philadelphia Phanatic and Engine 66 of the Philadelphia Fire Department got things rolling. F W R

O I

Children were entertained with crafts and old-fashioned picnic games. Beer from Stone Brewing Company was enjoyed E

N and music from the Bacchus Boys kept everyone’s spirits high. Picnic fare such as corn on the cob, potato salad, hot D

dogs, and chicken was served, as well as a 90th Anniversary cake donated by Bredenbeck’s Bakery in Chestnut Hill. S

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Philly Phantic takes a break from the fun with Lazlo Stehle- Smith on Engine 66 from the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Valley Green Bank celebrates the Friends oF the Wissahickon’s Shakia Davis-Jones was so fast, she went air-born during the potato-sack race! th

Bredenbecks came through with a anniversary gala spectacular Anniversary cake!

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 11

11 In Memory of Kevin Groves Thanks to Our OW was sad to learn he spent The people Outgoing Board of the death of one time as a he cultivated Fof our most beloved child growing still make Members former employees earlier this up in Springfield contributions for year–Kevin Groves, Volunteer Township. “I’m the good of the Coordinator from 2007 to 2012. working with people in Wissahickon and the Chris Bentley, a consultant in social people who use it. Those media applications, joined FOW’s Board During those five years, the community,” he once said people will cultivate others of Directors in 2007. He has served on Kevin grew FOW’s long- of his work with FOW, “and I’m who will cultivate others and numerous committees: Chestnut Hill established monthly volunteer spending time outdoors in a Historical Society/FOW Joint Easement; so his influence will be felt workday into the thriving, beautiful place doing work that Executive; Valley Green Inn Oversight; and in perpetuity. This is a good Development, which he chaired. “Chris has professional volunteer programs matters and makes a difference. and fitting legacy for a man been instrumental in the refurbishment of that the organization has today, You can actually see what is committed to ideals who left this Valley Green Inn through his work on FOW’s quadrupling the volunteer hours being done—how things are 90th Anniversary Gala and the Valley Green Oversight Committee,” world before his time.” and increasing the number of changing from the work we do. says FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy. “He’s been the critical link between those two groups.” Bentley will continue to volunteers five-fold. He was I’m in a position where I can Kevin is survived by his make a difference.” mother, FOW Trail Ambassador co-Chair the 90th Anniversary Gala which will be held at Valley responsible for the creation of Green Inn on October 25. the Trail Ambassador and Crew Not only did Kevin want Patricia McMenamin, father Leader programs, two amazingly to make a difference, but he Robert Groves, step-mother LaVonne France, sisters Moira A member of FOW’s Board since 2007, successful volunteer initiatives. was gifted at encouraging Daphne Fifield is an Environmental At the start of his tenure at others to do the same. He was (Ryan) Schwartz and Siobhan Consultant who has worked on the FOW, Kevin said, “I want to an extremely good listener. Groves, and nieces Sophia and planning committee for Whispers Along build a community and connect Outreach Manager Sarah Marley Julia. Contributions in Kevin’s the Wissahickon and other events, name may be made to Friends while assisting with membership and volunteers to each other so says, “He knew when to hold development issues. She was co-chair of they enjoy the work more and back and not interfere and listen of the Wissahickon. Visit www. the Conservation Committee (which she have a meaningful experience.” to volunteers. He was good fow.org to make a donation. will continue to do) and served on the Joint The programs and projects that about letting people voice their Water Resources Committee and the Development and Executive Committees. She has also been a member of the Working Groups began under his leadership grew opinions and concerns. “ for Redevelopment of the Wissahickon Valley Map and the FOW so rapidly, that by the time he The secret of Kevin’s Planting Day in Honor Website. Says McCarthy: “Daphne has helped to invigorate FOW’s left for a job in Ecuador in 2012, success as Volunteer of Kevin Groves multi-year planning for the future stewardship of the Valley, FOW had to distribute Kevin’s focusing on issues such as forestry and understory habitat.” Coordinator was that he Saturday, October 4 • 10 am responsibilities among three cared deeply about both the Join FOW as we honor Kevin Groves separate staff members. environmental mission of FOW Liz Pearson, who runs her own with a living memorial and volunteer recruiting business, joined FOW’s Board of Kevin was FOW’s first full- and about every single person planting day in the Andorra Natural Directors in 2009. From the start she was time, permanent Volunteer he encountered. “With his Area, where we will plant a grove heavily involved in the organizing of FOW’s Coordinator. He held a B.A. beard, mud- or dust-spattered of trees in his name. A reception outreach events and served as a Co-Chair in Anthropology from George work boots, friendly smile, will follow on the lawn behind the of Whispers Along the Wissahickon and as a member of the planning committee Washington University and and welcoming demeanor, Wissahickon Environmental Center. Register at [email protected]. Meet for the 85th Anniversary Gala. She was studied Spanish, in which he Kevin looked like the poster also a member of FOW’s Governance and was fluent, at the Instituto boy for environmental service at the Upper Parking Lot above the Development Committees. “Liz has been an Wissahickon Environmental Center off Superior de Español in Quito, work,” said FOW Executive invaluable Board member,” says McCarthy, “especially in our event of Northwestern Ave. (Roxborough side). Ecuador. Before joining FOW’s Director Maura McCarthy, “and planning. With Whispers, she helped us focus on making that event engaging for families. She also provided unique insight serving staff, Kevin worked for the he was the real deal. People on the Governance Committee. Her professional background and Cadmus Group, Inc., in Virginia, volunteered with FOW because Out of Darkness Walk acumen were greatly appreciated.” supporting two EPA programs: of Kevin.” Sunday, October 5 • 9 am Energy Star and Indoor Air According to FOW Board Support the American Foundation After joining FOW’s Board in 2005, for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) with a Quality Tools for Schools. At Member David Dannenberg, John Rollins, Executive Vice-President fundraising walk beginning in front the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, Kevin “had a special at Accolade, Inc., served on the Joint he served as a Wilderness of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Water Resources Committee, the Advocacy combination of enthusiasm, Registration opens at 7am. Team Committee’s Working Group for Safety, and and Conservation Associate. reserve, and action with a Special K has been formed in honor the Governance and Budget and Finance He was also a volunteer relaxed attitude that attracted of Kevin Groves. “Special K” was one Committees. He steered FOW through two for Big Brothers/Big Sisters so many people who, due to of Kevin’s nicknames in high school. strategic planning periods and chaired and Americorps VISTA. In those working groups. For the past three his direct influence, became To join, visit http://www.afsp.org/out- years he served as President during one Philadelphia, he worked for REI, stalwart supporters of the of-the-darkness-walks. Unable to join? of the most successful periods in FOW’s history. According to Inc., and the Schuylkill Center for organization and developed a Consider an online donation or mail a McCarthy, Rollins sharpened the focus of FOW and professionalized Environmental Education. deeper love and respect for the check (payable to AFSP) to: AFSP, 120 the Board’s operations, with term limits and the creation of a Board manual. “John was president when FOW needed to look forward,” Kevin was committed to his park. In this way he lives on in Wall Street, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10005. Write “Team Special K” in the says former president Cindy Affleck . “His business expertise and work in the Wissahickon, where the park as well as our hearts. memo line of all checks. talent for strategic thinking and organization was much needed.”

12 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 Annual Meeting Looks Back 90 Years

OW members did more than has rebuilt trails in Andorra, closed just review the past year at water-bearing and eroding trails and Ftheir Annual Meeting on June opened new sustainable trails near 3 at Valley Green Inn. This year Kitchen’s Lane, completed a park- being the 90th Anniversary of the wide wayfinding and signage plan, organization, President John Rollins and restored the tributary channel presented the many ways FOW and repaired the parking lot on is a different than it was 90, 19, Valley Green Road. Non-capital work and 9 years ago. He highlighted included developing online resources decades of challenges that and strategic watershed policy, included canopy loss, chestnut tree creating emergency access plans, blight, the mountain bike debate, generating a marketing plan for FOW, and developing the Sustainable advocating for park land protection Trails Initiative, while noting the and budget support for PPR, and growth of professionalism at FOW developing a habitat and forestry over the years. Rollins, who is management plan for the Valley. FOW members wait for the Former FOW President Cindy Affleck meeting to begin. with guest speaker Nathan Boon. stepping down from FOW’s Board Treasurer Jeff Harbison reported of Directors, also paid tribute to that program spending increased Board members Christopher Bentley, 56% from $703K to $1,094K, Daphne Lynch Fifield, and Liz after a backlog of projects in Pearson who are also retiring this 2012. Notwithstanding the 56% year. increase in project work, FOW’s Executive Director Maura supporting services decreased by McCarthy presented her report 3%. Total net assets was down to the membership, leading with slightly from $1,749K to $1,677K, an appreciation for FOW’s 800 or about 4%, indicating that FOW is volunteers and numerous partners, deploying assets toward its mission. including the Philadelphia Water Unrestricted net assets increased Department and Parks & Recreation during this time from $694K to FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy, Board Member Jeff Harbison talks $742K, a good indicator of the former Board Member Richard Berman, with FOW member Rick Collier (PPR). She noted that these and FOW member Mary Berman. relationships have allowed FOW to overall financial health of a nonprofit. bring its capital work in the park to Grants and contributions were up a new level. Over the last year, FOW about 21% in 2013, which included a $100K bequest late in the year. New FOW President Will Whetzel Guest Speaker: introduced three new members to Nathan Boon the Board of Directors, who were voted on by the membership: This year’s guest speaker, Chris Raab, an adjunct professor Nathan Boon, is a Program at Temple University’s Fox School Associate with the William Penn of Business and an affiliated Foundation. Nathan provided faculty member of the Innovation background on the Foundation and and Entrepreneurship Institute; Outgoing FOW President John its mission, and described in detail Jean Sachs, Chief Executive Officer Rollins speaks to the membership. the three funding priorities that of Living Beyond Breast Cancer; comprise its Watershed Protection and Patricia R. West, a Master of Program: watershed-wide research; Environmental Studies candidate Park Investment Employees Members policy and advocacy; targeted at the University of Pennsylvania. sub-watershed conservation Standing for re-election to the 90 Years Ago $6,000 volunteer-run 50 implementation; and constituency Board were Christine Bamberger, building around watershed protection. David Dannenberg, Christopher 19 Years Ago $80,000 2 part-time 300 He recently returned to his native McCausland, Jeff Harbison, Philadelphia following a consulting Stephanie Craighead, Louise 9 Years Ago $350,000 2 full-time 1,000 position with Booz Allen Hamilton Johnston, Courtney Kapp, and providing technology-related project Charles Lee. Today $1.3M 7 full-time/2 part-time 1,600 management and strategic planning services to the Federal government. *Dates and numbers are approximate.

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 13 VOLUNTEERHIGHLIGHTS by Eric Falk, Volunteer Coordinator Eroded section of White Trail closed This marks the third corporate workday that FOW has hosted for Philadelphia Insurance Companies. Twenty-six volunteers closed a severely eroded section of the White Trail that meets the Mt. Airy access road. They built seven large check dams into the steep trail, roughed up the remaining sections of trail to promote new plant growth, and re-naturalized the area with smaller logs and organic material. Special thanks to Theodora Valero of PIC for organizing the workday. Exchange student from Austria Five Interns worked over 400 hours for FOW led invasive remova A special thanks to five interns that have really stood out and done l a fantastic job this summer: Zeke Zeff from Barack Hebrew Academy, a Maria Weiss, an exchange student from Vienna, Austria, attending great worker with over 60 hours of volunteer work; Larry Wargo and Will Upper Dublin High School, mobilized her Environmental Science class of Elliot from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, who worked over 280 hours 30 fellow students to assist FOW with the removal of Devil’s walking stick and installed one great duck box; Max Weber of J.R. Masterman High around the perimeter of the meadow at Blue Bell Hill. The students cleared School, who donated 60 hours of refined work and literary conversation; about 1,200 square feet of the invasive. Maria hopes to inspire others to and Hejin Burris Lee, who is still with us. Give this man an hour-long do the same when she returns to Austria. task, and 20 minutes later he is asking what to do next. 25 bags of litter removed from Devil’s Pool I doubted we would have space for the 50 Penn Distributor volunteers who showed up on June 1 to clean up Devil’s Pool, much less the extra food they brought. But the group removed 17 bags of trash and eight bags of recycling from the immediate area and both trails in and out of Devil’s Pool. New Belgium Brewery was on hand to help with the clean-up, as this event commemorated their new relationship with Penn Distributors.

Front: FOW Volunteer Coordinator Eric Falk, SCA Crew Leader Cindy La Rue. Back: Kevin Tran, Cole Hinton, Liam O’Melvin, Shakeria Alice Johnson, Michael Harper, and Najae Stafford

SCA Crew kept Devil’s Pool clean and more Orange Trail greatly improved This summer, the Crew from the Student Conservation Association on National Trails Day undertook many different tasks in the park. As the five-week summer National Trails Day embodies so much of what FOW does and caretakers of Devil’s Pool, they effectively kept the debris at bay, underscores the passion we feel for our work. We have a solid group removing over 100 bags of recycling and trash. They also maintained of volunteers that regularly work with us, and they came out on June 7 almost three miles of overgrown trail, constructed several much-needed to work along the Orange Trail. We completed two rock retaining walls, rock features along a small section of trail, and even found time to lend closed some sections of braided trail, and finished the day talking and a hand to Courtesy Stable, the Philadelphia Water Department, and the laughing while we enjoyed tomato pies donated from T&F Farmers Pride. Lavender Trail System. Always a pleasure to work with them. (Learn about braided trails on p. 6.) Structures Crew worked over 200 hours in the park Special Crew Leaders learn about FOW’s Structures Crew accomplished a safety and history lot this summer. They installed a new railing Thanks to... Richard Berman Safety and Wissahickon Valley park history for the steps off Emlen Street leading to were the topics of the Crew Leader training the Cresheim Trail, built and installed bird, David Bower session on June 21, led by David Bower, duck, and bat boxes at various locations in John Cassidy Volunteer Coordinator from Philadelphia Parks the park, repaired benches along Forbidden & Recreation. Safety can never be addressed David Dannenberg Drive, built a new shed for PPR’s District 4 enough when working outdoors with tools in a headquarters, and replaced doors on the WPA Kevin Kramer large group. As a final treat, David Bower gave building at the Covered Bridge. They also Steve O’Kula his world-renowned lecture about the history of constructed a new menu sign for the Valley Wissahickon Valley Park. Green Inn, to be installed soon. More on that Merritt Rhoad Buzz Wemple works in the next issue! on WPA structure. Chuck Uniatowski Wendy Willard 14 Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 IN THE WISSAHICKON A Letter to the Wissahickon HIKES FOW bid farewell to our much-loved Volunteer Coordinator Eric Trail Ambassador Walks Registration is recommended for all hikes (required if indicated) so that participants can be informed of weather or other Falk in August, when he moved back to Colorado with his family to emergency cancellations. Unless otherwise specified, Trail Ambassador Walks may be on rocky, rugged trails that may be wet and pursue new challenges in conservation. Below is his farewell note slippery. Wear sturdy shoes or boots with socks. Long pants are recommended for protection against occasional poison ivy and possible ticks. Bring water and a snack if desired. Unless otherwise noted, children over six are welcome if accompanied by a to the park and us. responsible adult. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain or icy conditions. For more information or to register, contact Sarah Marley at [email protected]. Visit www.fow.org for updates. Welcome Fall by Exploring Woods and Meadows with Kimberly Quinn Sunday, September 14 | 1–3 pm Sunday, October 5 | 1–3 pm Dear Wissahickon, Meet at Cedars House. Welcome fall with a hike to the Andorra Natural Area behind Cedars House and the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Bring binoculars, cameras, & water! Children 8+ welcome with responsible adult. Distance: 3 miles. Level: moderate. I am writing to you regarding the impact that you have Creepy Crawlies with Barbara Berman Sunday, September 21 | 3–4:30 pm on the community that surrounds you, and the species Meet at the Wissahickon Environmental Center upper parking lot, reached from Northwestern Ave. off Ridge Pike. Do you love bugs or get that reside within it. We are a fickle group, soft of skin and grossed out by them? This is a family event, but best for kids 4+. Level: moderate terrain. Meanderings in the Wissahickon with Shelly Brick attracted to convenience, but that is neither here nor there; Sunday, September 21 | 3 pm Meet at Chestnut Hill and Seminole Aves. the big picture is that you have had a grand influence on Sunday, October 26 | 2 pm Meet at the Rex Ave. entrance to the park. Sunday, November 23 | 2 pm Meet at the Kitchen’s Lane entrance to the park how people interact in your vicinity. Enjoy our park and “talk story,” a Hawaiian tradition. Pace will be set by the group. Moth Night in Andorra Natural Area with Kris Soffa You have great trees, dense foliage, and a bevy of Tuesday, September 23 | 8–10 pm small animals, birds, and insects to provide a mystical Meet at the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Bring flashlight & camera. Be prepared to walk quietly on the trails and woods in the dark. Children 10+ welcome with responsible adult. sound track. You have trails and rocks, water that flows, Orange Trail Hike with Merritt Rhoad Sunday, October 19 | 1–3:30 pm and expansive meadows to get lost in. You provide Sunday, November 2 | 1–3:30 pm sanctuary inside a tenacious landscape, a pleasant escape Meet at Northwestern Ave. & Forbidden Drive. Level: moderate difficulty. Distance: 4 miles. Trail Ambassador Walks From the Back of a Horse with Cynthia Turecki & Camille Blanche from the noise and grit, a place where one may disappear Sunday, October 5 | 11 am–1:30 pm deep into the gorge created by the water and revel at the Meet at Courtesy Stable. Participants will take turns riding a horse for 15 minutes, led under control of the instructor, who will teach as you ride. Ages 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. A waiver must be signed. Registration is required. Maximum number: 8 mist while basking in the cool air. people. Maximum weight limit: 180 lbs. Geology Hike with Sarah West More importantly, you have a small army of support Saturday, October 18 | 3–4:45 pm Meet at Valley Green Inn. This hike covers about 1.5 miles along a rough, steep trail on the east side of the creek, upstream from Valley from the very same species that you impact in such a Green. Children 10+ welcome with responsible adult. profound way. All of your majesty seems to bring out the Kid Friendly Hike with Marv Schwartz Saturday, November 1 | 1–3 pm best in this abundant group. Take care of them, as they Meet at Valley Green Inn. Level: moderate on some rocky trails. will take care of you. Autumn Picnic with Bruce Wagner & Maureen Flanagan Saturday, November 8 | 11 am–1:30 pm Meet at Cedars House. Bring your own hearty picnic. Wear appropriate weather gear. Distance: 3.5 miles. Level: rocky trails, but mostly flat. From the one who will always walk among you, Lower Forbidden Drive with Sarah West Saturday, November 15 | 3–4:45 pm Meet at the small parking lot where Forbidden Drive meets Lincoln Drive, a short distance downstream from RittenhouseTown. Distance: 1 The Rogue Element mile along lower Forbidden Drive on level ground as far as Walnut Lane Bridge.

TA Walks with Woodmere Fall Festival (open to the public) Understanding the Wissahickon with Merritt Rhoad Saturday, September 27 | 10 am-1 pm Meet at Northwestern Ave. & Forbidden Drive. Distance: 3 miles. Level: moderate. Art and History in the Wissahickon with Diane Garvey and May Dominic Sunday, October 12 | 10 am-1 pm Meet at Valley Green Inn. Dogs on leash are welcome. Distance: 4.5 miles, over some steep and rocky terrain. A Walk along the Wissahickon Creek with Bruce Wagner and Maureen Flanagan Winter Sunday, October 19 | 10 am-noon Meet at Cedars House. Distance: 3.5 miles. Level: moderate with some ro M ore detAILS on page 5 and at www.fow.org in the Wissahickon Appalachian Mountain Club Delaware Valley Chapter www.amcdv.org Mondays — Wissahickon Gorge Wandering. Brisk-paced hike; distance is dependent on the conditions and speed of the December 6 group. Meet at 6:30pm by Valley Green Inn. Bring water and a flashlight. Bad weather cancels. If doubtful, please check the status of the hike before 5:30pm at www.amcdv.org/Calendar/ or contact the Leader. Leaders: Christina Lawless (215-530-3883 or tinalawless@ Choose either 10 am-12:30 pm or 1 pm-3:30 pm hotmail.com); Mike Lawless (215-836-2275); David Stein (215-508-5915 or [email protected]). Sept. 15–Oct. 27 Tuesdays — Tuesday Nights in the Wissahickon. Casual social hike through hills of Wissahickon Gorge. Bring water and Valley Green Inn a flashlight or headlamp. Always an option for dinner following the hike. Meet at Bruno’s, at the corner of Germantown and Northwestern Aves., at 6:30 pm. Nasty weather will cancel. Leaders: David Stein (215-499-9803 before 9 pm or [email protected]); Pat Naismith (610-639-3670 before 9 pm or [email protected]).Sept. 16–Oct. 28 Create your own wreath and enjoy roasted chestnuts, Wednesdays — Wissahickon Wednesdays. Casual social hike through hills of Wissahickon Gorge. Bring water and a hot apple cider, and a light lunch buffet at Valley Green flashlight or headlamp. Always an option for dinner following the hike. Meet at Bruno’s, at the corner of Germantown and Northwestern Inn. Tickets: $30 for adults, $10 for children. Family Aves., at 6:30 pm. Nasty weather will cancel. Leaders: David Stein (215-499-9803 before 9 pm or [email protected]); Pat Naismith (610-639-3670 before 9 pm or [email protected]).Sept. 16–Oct. 28 package (2 adults, 2 children, one wreath) for $75. Price includes one wreath per ticket and all food and Philaventures www.philaventures.org beverages. For more information, contact Sarah Marley Last Sunday of Month — Wissahickon Hike. An opportunity to walk at a moderate pace with a talkative group of LGBT folks at [email protected] or 215-247-0417 x109. who like fresh air and exercise! Some ups and downs and uneven paths are found along the way, so wear proper footwear and be ready to hike. This groups meets at 2pm at Cosimo’s Pizza, 8624 Germantown Ave. at Bethlehem Pike (the top of Chestnut Hill). RSVPs are required to the hike leader, Andy B. at [email protected].

Friends of the Wissahickon • Fall 2014 15 Calendar OF EVENTS IN THE WISSAHICKON

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 EVERY SATURDAY Friends of the Wissahickon. Erosion Control Workday. Meet at Valley Green Friends of the Wissahickon workdays in the park are held most Saturdays WISSAHICKON ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER parking lot on Forbidden Drive. 9am to 1pm. For more info. and to register, from 9am–1pm, unless it is a holiday or there is inclement weather. Projects The Tree House is Open the 2nd Saturday of Every Month, 10am to 4pm. contact Volunteer Coordinator John Holback at [email protected] or include trail maintenance, invasive weed removal, planting, and clean-ups. Visit Call 215-685-9285 or email [email protected] to register for events. Registration is required 215-247-0417 x107. www.fow.org/volunteering/upcoming-workdays for updates and info on future for all programs unless otherwise noted. projects. To register, contact Volunteer Coordinator John Holback at holback@ Full Moon Hike THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH fow.org or 215-247-0417 x107. Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) lead a service project from 10 Friday, September 19 7:30–9pm am–12 pm as part of their on-going reforestation activities. Project details and Highlights Hunt for animal signs, listen for nighttime sounds, and enjoy marshmallows around a directions to the worksite will be posted on the WRV website at least one week campfire. This hike is geared for families and is appropriate for children 8+ years old. FREE prior to the event: www.wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org. For info. and to September 27: Invasive Species Removal RSVP, contact WRV at 215-951- 0330, ext. 2101 or [email protected]. Meet at WEC upper parking lot, accessed from Northwestern Ave. For a listing of more events at WEC, visit http://www.fow.org/calendar. off Ridge Pike. EVERY TUESDAY Friends of the Wissahickon volunteers repair and build structures in October 11: Planting Day - Orange Trail Closure the Wissahickon from 9am to 1pm. For more info. and to register, contact Meet at the Blue Bell Hill Picnic Pavilion Volunteer Coordinator John Holback at [email protected] or October 18: Planting Day at Andorra Natural Area Wissahickon Valley 215-247-0417 x107. Meet at WEC upper parking lot, accessed from Northwestern Ave. W aTERSHED Association EVERY WEDNESDAY off Ridge Pike WVWA offers many public programs as part of its mission to protect the quality and beauty Wissahickon Service Projects (September through May) 1pm to 3pm. Join FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH of the Wissahickon Creek and to enhance life in the Wissahickon Watershed. Located at 12 Crefeld School, FOW, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Something new Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) lead a service project from 10 Morris Road in Ambler. More events and info. at www.wvwa.org. every week. Call David Bower at 215-685-0120 for info. am–12 pm as part of their on-going reforestation activities. Project details and Evans-Mumbower Mill Festival directions to the worksite will be posted on the WRV website at least one week Wissahickon Excursion to Pine Barrens prior to the event: www.wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org. For info. and to Sunday, September 21 RSVP, contact WRV at 215-951-0330, ext. 2101 or [email protected] . FRIENDS OF Walk on the Wild Side Third Saturday of every month Saturday, September 27 THE WISSAHICKON Friends of Cresheim Trail conducts ongoing workdays in order to enhance the evolving trailCelebrating system in the Cresheim 90 Years—CountlessCreek area. Meet at the entrance Friends at Green Ribbon Gala at Erdenheim Farm all events at Valley Green Inn Lincoln Drive and Allens Lane at 10 am. Participants should wear long pants, Sunday, October 5 90th Anniversary Celebration Gala (p. 4) long sleeves, sturdy shoes; poison ivy is present. All tools, including gloves, are provided. Coffee and snacks served. Contact: [email protected] or Nightime Walk at Willow Lake Farm Saturday, October 25 215-715-9159. Friday, October 10 Bird Seed Sale Valley Talks (p. 3) Tuesday, October 14 Sponsored by Valley Green Bank Wissahickon Excursion to Raymondskill Falls Tuesday, September 16 Saturday, October 18 Tuesday, October 14 Pumpkin Decorating Winter in the Wissahickon (p.15) HISTORIC RITTENHOUSETOWN Sunday, October 19 Saturday, December 6 Historic RittenhouseTown offers classes, workshops, and events for individuals and families to learn about the craft of hand papermaking and The Ghost of Henry Mumbower other aspects of Colonial life at the original Rittenhouse Family Homestead. Serve the Preserve Located on Lincoln Drive at Rittenhouse Street. Info. at 215-438-5711, Saturday, October 25 RUNNING CLUBS [email protected], or www.rittenhousetown.org Green Ribbon Trail Race EVERY THURSDAY RittenhouseTown Revel Saturday, November 1 Wissahickon Wanderers Trail Run. 3-5 miles. Starts 6:30pm Sunday, September 28 Evans-Mumbower Open House & Trail Walk sharp at Valley Green Inn. For updates and more info visit Sunday, November 9 www.wanderersrunningclub.org. EVERY SATURDAY Shawmont Running Club. Starts at Northwestern Ave. & Andorra Rd. (north end of Forbidden Drive). From 2nd Saturday in Future calendar listings for the newsletter may be placed by May thru 2nd Saturday in Oct. start at 7:30am. From 3rd Saturday For a listing of more events this fall, visit contacting the Friends of the Wissahickon at 215-247-0417 in Oct. thru 1st Saturday in May start at 8am. Distances are at the discretion of runners. All levels welcome. Emphasis is on fun! http://www.fow.org/calendar. or [email protected]. www.shawmontrunningclub.com. The Calendar of Events in the Wissahickon may also be viewed on FOW’s website www.fow.org, which contains updates on our events, Join us on facebook and twitter including cancellations. — Friends of the Wissahickon Membership Form —

  YES, I/We want to help preserve and protect the Wissahickon. Membership Level  $20 Limited Income/Students  $45 Basic  $75 Family All new members receive a map of the Wissahickon Valley. Limited  $100 Contributing*  $250 Sponsor*  $500 Patron* Income/Student members receive invitations to all events and our quarterly newsletter. Basic members receive invitations to all events; our  Society of Generous Friends*  $1000  $2500  $5000  $10,000 or above quarterly newsletter, and membership card with discounts for meals at Valley Green Inn (in the park) and FOW merchandise. Family members *Choice of: receive all benefits of Basic membership plus choice of two kids tees  Hat  T-Shirt (circle size) (S [6-8], M [10-12], L [14-16] ). Contributing members and above ($100 Children: S M L or more) receive all benefits of Basic membership plus choice of hat or T-shirt (M, L, XL).  Please keep the premium and Red Bird: Women S M • Adult L XL use the entire membership fee for the Park. Warbler & Map: Adult M L XL XXL Method of Payment Name______ Check Enclosed (payable to the Friends of the Wissahickon) Street______ Charge my City______State______Zip Code______ VISA  Mastercard  AmX  Discover

Phone (Home) ______(Work) ______E-mail______Card Number______I also want to help the Friends of the Wissahickon with: Expiration Date______ Membership  Community Outreach  Trail Repair  Clean-Up  Wildlife Signature______ Fundraising  Reforestation  Structures Repair  Education  Vine Removal Please return to: 8708 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 • tel 215-247-0417 • [email protected] • www.fow.org Contributions to the Friends are tax deductible as permitted by current laws. The official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll free, within Pennsylvania (800) 732-0999. C

Non-Profit Organization week.every info. 215-685-0120for Bowerat CallDavid Crefeld School, FOW, andPhiladelphiaParks&Recreation. Somethingnew 1pmto3pm. Projects(SeptemberthroughMay) Wissahickon Service Join EVERY WEDNESDAY 215-247-0417 x107. Volunteer [email protected] JohnHolbackat Coordinator or the Wissahickon from9amto1pm. Formoreinfo. andtoregister, contact Friends oftheWissahickonvolunteersrepairandbuildstructuresin EVERY TUESDAY RSVP, contact 215-951-0330,WRV at ext. [email protected]. prior totheevent: www.wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org. Forinfo. andto directions totheworksitewillbepostedon leastoneweek WRV websiteat activities.am–12 pmaspartoftheiron-goingreforestation Projectdetailsand Wissahickon RestorationVolunteers projectfrom10 (WRV)leadaservice THIRD SUNDAY OFEVERY MONTH 215-247-0417 x107. contact Volunteer [email protected] JohnHolbackat Coordinator or parking lotonForbiddenDrive. 9amto1pm. Formoreinfo. andtoregister, Friends oftheWissahickon.ErosionControl Workday. Meetat Valley Green WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER24 VOLUNTEEROPPORTUNITIES alendar www.shawmontrunningclub.com. discretion ofrunners. All levelswelcome. Emphasisisonfun! in Oct. 8am. startat inMay thru1stSaturday the Distancesareat inOct. thru2ndSaturday May 7:30am. startat From3rdSaturday Andorra Rd. (northendofForbiddenDrive). in From2ndSaturday Northwestern RunningClub.Startsat Shawmont Ave. & EVERY SATURDAY www.wanderersrunningclub.org. sharp at Valley GreenInn. visit andmoreinfo Forupdates Wissahickon Wanderers Trail Run.3-5miles. Starts6:30pm EVERY THURSDAY CLUBSRUNNING Celebrating 90 Years—Countless Friends U.S. Postage W V 90 a WISSAHICKONTHE OF FRIENDS

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