Linn Log newsletter of the Merrill W.W. Linn Land & WaterwaysWaterways Conservancy spring 2014 Board of Directors John Snook, President Deb Brubaker, Treasurer Owen Floody, Secretary Susan Warner-Mills, Vice-President Warren Abrahamson Marilyn Brill Donna & Dick Constant Diane Donato Judy Ellis Roy Fontaine Tom Gibson Wayne McDiffett Mission of the Linn Conservancy Sarajane Snyder To protect ecologically signifi cant sites in Union, upper John Tonzetich Northumberland and contiguous counties and to preserve their natural beauty and diversity for scientifi c, historic, educational, Allen Schweinsberg, Site/Stewardship Chair biological, recreational, agricultural, and scenic qualities through Geoff Goodenow, Coordinator cooperative agreements with landowners, and to educate the public on conservation issues critical to the health of our local Sarajane Snyder, Editor environment and our planet. Patricia Arduini, Webmaster for your calendar the short list of public events; details for many listed inside March 24: March 27 & April 7: Presentation at Union County Public Library, speaker from National Zoo March 27 & May 12: Bucknell Environmental Center visiting lectures April 3: local Sierra Club evening talks April 5: BCWA program Amphibians Demystifed, 7pm UC Gov. Center, N. 15th St, Lewisburg presented by Bucknell Biology professor Mizuki Takahashi April 19: Spring cleanup at D/E/W; 9 a.m.-noon April-May:Trout Unlimited hosts Penns Creek clean up at Union Co. Sportsman’s Club 9 a.m.-1p.m. Call Jim Hepner for details 570 286-7870 April 26: Caring for Communities, events throughout, full schedule inside April 27 & June 22: RB Winter annual clean up, 9:30 a.m.-noon; Open House from 1-3 p.m. May 7: Adopt-a-Highway cleanup along Penns Creek June 9-20: Annual Banquet; Shade Mtn Winery “We must conceive BCWA of class, stewardship ‘Our Thirsty Earth,’ not through simply BILL as one individual’s practice, buta rather as the mutual and intimate relationship extending across generations, a between a human community and its place on earth.” --John Elders from his essay ‘Inheriting Mount Tom’ events & activities local events of interest to our members BCWA Offers Summer Course Through BILL: “Our Thirsty Earth” In June the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance of the Linn Conservancy in partnership with the Bucknell Institute of Lifelong Learning (BILL) will offer a short course involving the stewardship of our streams. Board member David Pearson is developing the course along with several members of the BCWA. The subject will include summary presentations of the broad picture as well as practical �ield observations. Panel discussions by local professionals will allow informed discussions to take place. Join us as we look at the workings of our watershed, its pleasures and its problems. Some of the speci�ic topics include: • Living water & stream biodiversity, water quality testing • Agricultural runoff, riparian buffers, & stream bank stabilization • Urban runoff, storm water control, pervious surfaces, lawns, rain gardens • Wetlands and their importance to the environment, restoration and replacement • Dams, �ish barriers, eels and mussels, shad, the fabridam, legacy sediments • Save the Bay, the big picture The class will be held from 10 a.m. - noon on June 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20. Register for the course by contacting the BILL program of�ice: [email protected] JoinBILL Catalogues Us In Caring are available For in the Our public Adopt-a-Highway libraries and other locations. The Conservancy is responsible for a 2 mile stretch of state highway beginning at the north side of the Penns Creek bridge on Rte 104 south of Mif�linburg. We follow Penns Creek upstream (west) to the Limestone Township picnic pavilion (meeting place for the event) then turn north to where the road intersects with the White Springs Rd. Jo Reilly will continue as our coordinator for the event through 2014. Jo has recently partnered with the Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association in this cleanup effort. Members of that group remove debris along the creek bank and within the creek as we care for the parallel roadway. You’ll enjoyApril this 27, scenic June 22,location August along 24, Penns and October Creek. Look 19 for some wild�lowers and maybe spot a Bald Eagle, an osprey or blue heron hunting along the waterway. Jo has chosen the following dates (all Sundays) for the events: . If you would like to help, contact Jo for speci�ic time Springand other details.Cleanup She can at be D/E/W reached at 966-4272 Seven Mts. Audubon 2014 programs Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m. - noon 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. is the date of our Kelly Twp Bldg., Ziegler Rd., Lewisburg spring cleanup at the Dale/Engle/Walker property, 1471 Strawbridge Rd, Lewisburg. Please let us know if you can 3/19: Vernal Pools lend a hand for all or part of the morning by contacting Jeannette Lasansky: [email protected]. Bring gloves; 4/16: Photo Safari of Tanzania Librarylight refreshments Hosts will National be provided. Zoo Presentation 5/21: Australia Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. Audubon also hosts fi rst Saturday hikes departing 7:30 a.m. from CVS parking lot at at the Public Library for Union“From Rt. 15 & 192 in Lewisburg GiantCounty Pandas Drew Portocarrero, to Poison Dart an Frogsassistant.” director at the Smithsonian National Zoo will present a program titled He will discuss recent Û successes in over 25 nations to save both iconic and lesser www.sevenmountainsaudubon.org known species. Register by calling the library 570 523-1172. 2 Linn Log Spring 2014 RB Winter Park Spring Cleanup & Open House April 27, from 9 a.m.- noon On Saturday help get R. B. Winter State Park in good condition after the long winter. Volunteers are needed for raking leaves in the campground, litter and brush clean ups, trail maintenance, tidying the park’s butter�ly and wild�lower gardens and other projects. If you or your group would like a hands-on way to celebrate Earth or Arbor Day, please contact the park of�ice for details and let us know if you plan to attend. We will meet at the HalfwayOpen House Run Environmental 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 Learning p.m. Center at 9 a.m. Bring work gloves and stone or leaf rakes marked with your name if possible. On Saturday afternoon, the Halfway Run Environmental Learning Center will hold an Enjoy the center’s Bucknelllibrary, displays University and hands on activities.Environmental Center Brings Visiting Lecturers March 27, 7:30 p.m. “Plenitude: The New Economics of Sustainability.” in the Trout Auditorium: Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology at Boston College, will give thePlenitude: keynote The presentation New Economics during of Bucknell’s True Wealth second annual Sustainability Symposium. Dr. Schor’sThe Overworked research and American: teaching The focuses Unexpected on work, Decline consumption, of Leisure and sustainability. She is the author of several books, including , Aprilpublished 7, 7:30 in 2010, p.m. and the national best-seller,“The Limits of Environmental Governance.” . in the ELC Forum: Professor at the University of Michigan’s School of NaturalEnvironmentality: Resources and Technologies Environment, of Government Dr. Arun Agrawal’s and the Makingresearch of and Subjects teaching emphasize the politics of international development, institutional change, and environmental conservation. His best-known book is Sierra Club ,Sponsors published in 2005. Programs Two programs are on the schedule of the local Sierra Club chapter. Both will be held at the Public Library for UnionThursday, County inMarch the Community 27 room starting at 6:45. meet the PA chapter’s new director On , you will have an opportunity to to the Otzinachason Group, Joanne Kilgour. Joanne is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Law with a certi�icate in EnvironmentalMay 12 at 6:45 Law, pm Science and Policy. Refreshment will be provided. Wild Pennsylvania On , Richard Whiteford will make a presentation about climate change. Mr. Whiteford has written over 500 articles for various publicationsAn andInconvenient is the author Truth of the book . He was a presenter at the United Nations in 2009 at the International Conference on Health and the Environment about global warming and is a certi�ied presenter for . like-minded organizations updates from other groups working to protect land & waterways Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association The Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association has elected Robert Miller of Middleburg as President for 2014. Bob’s contact phone number is 570-837- 5118. We are planning talks and activities on pollinators, �ishing, and monarch butter�ly habitat (our rain gardens in New Berlin have them in various stages). If you have expertise or interest in these topics, give Bob a call. Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 7pm at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center, Richard Rd, Penns Creek. � www.linnconservancy.org 3 conservancy news & notes keeping current with the land & people of the Linn Conservancy Board Holds Planning Session In February, the Linn Conservancy’s board of directors along with representation from various committees gathered for a day-long planning session at the Union County Government Center. The program was conducted by Susan Warner-Mills as a follow up to our 2013 session facilitated by Jim and Susan Mathias. Attendees focused on designing a 10 year plan setting goals related to fund raising, membership, educational outreach, land protection and stewardship for each committee. This effort will continue as each committee de�ines Reportspeci�ic action of steps In-kind to promote Contributions and accomplish its torespective Linn andConservancy overarching goals. in 2013 Being a largely volunteer organization, the Linn Conservancy bene�its tremendously from the many hours, miles and other means by which folks make in-kind support of our mission.