Our New Website is up! 2015
HOT OFF … THE INTERNET? …!
by Jorie Latham
Take note, dear members! This year’s newsletter is going to live up to its name! Lots of NEWS!!!Following is a sampler of what you will find in more complete form in articles in this issue. So read on!!
First and most exciting for many of us (hope that includes you!) :
We’ve been promising a NEW! IMPROVED! website for, in fact, years….It is now a reality and I encourage you to drop everything (including this) and go online and have a look! It is full of great information, a useful archive, splendid photos and even our videos via YouTube! We are yearning to share it with you and hear what you think! There are, of course, a few bugs and wrinkles to be worked out, and they will be. In the meantime, we have connected with the 21st century at last!
MORE EXCITEMENT … TWO ADOPTIONS!
In October, we (and that means you) became the proud adoptive “parents” of the Barbara Barnes Hale Refuge through the Town’s Adopt-A- Preserve program. This makes
official what has been our defacto sense of responsibility for this former (and we hope, future) grassland, dating from well before it became a nature preserve. This should give us standing in meetings with other stakeholders (Town, County and DEC) as we try to move forward with our meadow restoration agenda.
We have also recently adopted Gerard Drive as part of the Town’s Adopt-A-Road program. This means we will be doing our best to keep the litter collected on Gerard as well as Louse Point and Landing Lane. While we have not scheduled any cleanups, we count on our members to do their part whenever and wherever you see litter… if there’s a little, pick it up —if there’s a lot, let us know!
MORE NEW! IMPROVED!
We mounted a brand new quiz game for the Fisherman’s Fair. Using the time-honored kid’s game “What’s wrong with this picture?” as a theme, we were able to address many of the issues we have been tackling over the years, from invasive plant species to the problems caused by escaped balloons. The colorful display attracted attention and started many discussions among players of all ages.
Continuing to build on our success in 2013, we produced a second Images of accabonac art show, this one in conjunction with the spectacular
“Heart of Springs” fundraiser. It was wildly successful and we are planning our third showing this coming October 31-November 1, so start snapping, painting or collaging, and keep checking the website for more information (I LOVE being able to say that!).
Nitrogen is no longer just a topic of conversation, there are actually things being done to diminish its negative impact on our waters! We invited Pio Lombardo to speak at our Annual Party in September on technologies available to reduce nitrate load. More recently, the County Health Department has initiated a pilot program installing advanced nitrogen reducing septic systems in 19 homes (none of them on the East End, however). There is also a plan afoot (and a grant in the works) to install such a system at Springs School to reduce nitrates flowing into Pussy’s Pond.
Although we continue to pursue the possibility of simpler, less expensive approaches, we have not had enough response to report so far. But stay tuned…!
