Fall is a Great Time to Landscape with Plants from Maryland Nurseries

Marylanders are reminded that fall is an outstanding time of the year to purchase and plant turf grasses, perennials, and both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.

“Maryland is fortunate to have some of the best producers of high-quality ornamental plants in the country,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Roger L. Richardson. “Fall is the best time to plant so that landscaping is established in the spring and will look its best. We encourage all Marylanders to look to their local nursery operations first when considering the purchase of plants.”

In the fall, the warm soil encourages roots to develop on newly planted ornamentals. Roots continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes. Then, in spring, roots begin new growth or continue to develop at a faster rate, and top growth begins. When summer finally arrives, the fall-planted plant is often better equipped to deal with heat and drought because its roots are better established.

Maryland has many local producers of ornamental plants. In fact, the nursery and greenhouse sector produces more than $560 million according to the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association and delivers more than $1 billion in economic impact from gross sales according to a 2003 study. To find local supply, visit http://www.marylandsbest.net, your resource for finding products from Maryland farms. Another good website is the University of Maryland, College of Agriculture’s Home and Garden Information Center: http://www.hgic.umd.edu. And to find a Certified Professional Horticulturist near you, visit http://www.cphquality.org.

For more information about Maryland’s Best, contact Kate Mason at (410) 841-5779 or masonkb@mda.state.md.us.

Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week October 12-18, 2008

Whether it’s taking a walk among the fall colors, spotting a rare bird species, or learning about the cultural resources that are part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation mission, National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-18, 2008, celebrates the diversity and resources of America’s 548 national wildlife refuges.  And it’s a great opportunity to find a family event in your community.

National wildlife refuges are dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats. They also offer a wide range of wildlife-dependent recreation–from hunting and fishing to wildlife observation, wildlife photography, nature interpretation and environmental education.  The Refuge System includes 2,500 miles of land and water trails, and there is at least one national wildlife refuge in every state and one within an hour’s drive of most major cities.

“America’s wildlife refuges offer great places to teach our children the importance of making a lifelong commitment to our nation?s natural resources,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall.  “Exploring the outdoors and learning how all living things are connected to one another is what National Wildlife Refuge Week is all about.”

This year, the annual Refuge Week celebration also highlights the 75th anniversary of the Federal Duck Stamp and the 50th anniversary of the Small Wetlands Program.  These two programs have helped the Refuge System expand to its current size of 97 million acres.

Ninety-eight cents of every dollar generated by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes toward the purchase or lease of wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.  To date, Duck Stamp sales have helped purchase or protect more than 5.2 million acres of wildlife habitat.  For more information about Duck Stamps, go to http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/.

The Small Wetlands Program was created in 1958 to allow proceeds from the sale of Duck Stamps to also be used to acquire waterfowl production areas (WPAs).  These WPAs provide habitat for migratory birds, protect native plants, help filter groundwater, control flooding and capture carbon from the atmosphere.   Close to one million acres of land acquired through the Small Wetlands Program is open to hunting, wildlife watching and photography and other outdoor recreation.

National Wildlife Refuge Week events:
Many special events are planned for National Wildlife Refuge Week. Here’s a sample:

The Big Sit!
Celebrate the birds on a national wildlife refuge on October 12 by participating in The Big Sit!  National wildlife refuges from Wheeler, Alabama, and Pelican Island, Florida, to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in Salem, Oregon, are hosting this annual international birding event.

Families and individuals find a great spot for bird watching and sit in a circle, counting all the bird species they see or hear. Not everyone needs to stay in the circle for the whole day.    Many people come and go, but only birds seen from the circle can be included in the Big Sit count. Bird Watcher’s Digest tallies the totals and identifies prize winners in several categories.

For a list of The Big Sit! sites, including many not on national wildlife refuges, go to: http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/results08/circles_registered.php.

October 3
Visitors to Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge (North Dakota) will be building bluebird nest boxes. http://www.fws.gov/lakeilo/

October 4
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Maryland) celebrates its 13th Refuge Open House with eagle prowls, live animal programs, a puppet show about invasive species and live animal exhibits. http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/

October 10
Patuxent Research Refuge (Maryland) joins with Smithsonian Resident Associates to offer a behind-the-scenes tour of captive breeding programs for whooping cranes and conservation-related research on kestrels and diving ducks. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/

October 11
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge (Wisconsin) is planning a 5K run/walk along its auto tour route. Three hiking trails are located here, along with a floating boardwalk and bicycling and hiking access to the Wild Goose State Trail. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/horicon/

October 11
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Georgia) celebrates the cultural resources of the National Wildlife Refuge System with an open house at the Chesser Island Homestead, where visitors can discover how people lived in Southeast Georgia at the time the refuge was established in 1933.  http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee

October 18
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (Illinois)
Located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, the refuge gives visitors a chance to see the huge concentrations of waterfowl that arrive each October.  The refuge’s riverbanks are also great places to see muskrat, beaver, turtles and frogs. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/tworivers/

October 21-22
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Florida) celebrates Ding Darling Days with free excursions to the protected Bunche Beach Preserve, a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail, which teems with shorebirds, wading birds, ospreys, bald eagles and other feathered friends. Join local bird experts for a tram excursion to this natural beach habitat at low tide.
http://www.dingdarlingdays.com/

Calendar of National Wildlife Refuge Week Events
For a more comprehensive list of National Wildlife Refuge Week events, go to http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm

To find a refuge in your community, go to http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/index.html.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov

ISLAND BAY DAY

This Saturday, October 4th Island Bay Day takes plac  the grounds of Hemingways at Lolas! It is a family fun event,and the proceeds will go to Chesapeake Cats and Dogs and ARF. Please join us for a great day on the bay !

COMMUNITY NEWS

After-school program offered

SALISBURY — Wesley Temple United Methodist Church in Salisbury has openings in its after-school program.

The program is open from 3-6 p.m. and offers homework assistance, art, field trips and other planned activities.

Call Myra Ringgold at 410-873-2422 or 410-749-4252.

Seniors needed for foster help

SALISBURY — Shore Up’s Foster Grandparents Program is recruiting low-income senior citizens to work with children and youth in Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester, Dorchester and Caroline counties.

Senior participants receive a tax-free stipend.

Call 410-749-1142, ext. 354.

Blackwater Refuge to host open house

CAMBRIDGE — Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge holds an open house Saturday, Oct. 4, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Activities include a bird walk at 8 a.m., children’s programs, live peregrine falcon program with falconer Andrew Bullen, live reptile and butterfly programs, Halloween animals and more.

In addition, there will be two eagle prowls, and three van tours of the refuge exploring areas not normally open to the public. There will be no advance registration. Tickets can be obtained only on the day of the event.

Call 410-228-2677 or visit http://www.fws.gov/ blackwater or http://www.friendsofblackwater.org.

End of Life planning is topic

SALISBURY — Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s 55+ membership program, Peninsula Partners, hosts its next “Living and Learning: An Educational Experience” on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 1-4 p.m.

The topic for this event is “End of Life Planning” and features “Wills and Estate Planning” presented by attorney David Vorhis; “Advance Directives” presented by Elnetha Martin, chaplain, Peninsula Regional Medical Center; and “FAQ’s: Body Donor Program” presented by Ronald S. Wade, director, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Anatomical Services Division.

The event takes in the Avery W. Hall Educational Center auditorium on the campus of Peninsula Regional. The program is free, but advance registration is required by Oct. 6. Call 410-543-7170.

Ward Museum hosts pig roast

SALISBURY — The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury hosts its annual benefit Eastern Shore Pig Roast from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, under the pondside pavilion. The pig roast is catered by Chef Stewart of Flannery’s.

This year the Ward Foundation commemorates its 40th anniversary with a toast to its past successes, good health and future endeavors. Each person attending the pig roast receives a commemorative wine glass for the toast. A drawing for a 50/50 raffle also is planned. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the museum’s gift shop.

Call 410-742-4988, ext. 120.

Library hosts free computer classes

SALISBURY — The Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library offers a series of free computer classes for people with various levels of experience on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Call 410-546-5397 or go to http://www.wicomico library.org.

Trip planned to Renaissance fest

SALISBURY — Salisbury University will host a bus trip to the Maryland Renaissance Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11.

The festival features re-created 16th century English Tudor village on 25 wooded acres, jousting, food crafts and entertainment on 10 stages.

Tickets are $25 for SU students, $45 for other community members. Tickets are available at the Guerrieri University Center Information Desk.

Busses leave at 7 a.m. from the Dogwood parking lot at SU, and will leave for the return trip at 7 p.m.

Call 410-219-2872 or visit http://www.salisbury.edu.

Make vegetarian versions of dishes

SALISBURY — Learn how to make quick and easy one-skillet vegetarian versions of classic dishes at the Pittsville Branch of the Wicomico Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. Space is limited.

Call 410-835-2353.

Cancer detection information offered

SALISBURY — In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sue Revelle, director of Women Supporting Women, will discuss early detection of breast cancer and how the organization can help cancer patients.

The program will be presented at the main branch of the Wicomico Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. in Room 4.

Visit http://www.wicomico library.org or call 410-749-3612.

UMES hosts dining event

PRINCESS ANNE — When the students and faculty of the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore don their chef’s hats to prepare for an evening of gourmet dining, it’s one hot ticket.

One hundred diners will be able to purchase a ticket for the department’s Princess Anne Seafood Extravaganza on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Richard Henson Center Ballroom.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased only in person at the Richard Henson Center, Room 2114, beginning Friday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Friday, until they are sold out. No tickets will be available at the door.

Call Angie Price at 410-651-6563.

Bus trip planned to New York City

SALISBURY — A bus trip is being planned to New York City on Saturday, Oct. 18. Participants can go shopping, see a Broadway show or visit historic landmarks. The cost is $55 and includes transportation on a luxury motor coach.

The bus will leave the Fruitland Wal-Mart at 6 a.m. and will drop off passengers at Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street.

Proceeds will benefit the Coastal Xtreme All Stars.

Call 410-219-9209 or visit http://www.league lineup.com/coastalxtremeallstars.

Tickets on sale for Star events

BERLIN — Las Vegas comedian Tony Pace will perform at the Ocean City Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Star Charities will assist by selling tickets. Any proceeds raised by Star Charities for selling the tickets will go to the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Fund.

Call Susan Curtis at 443-235-2654 or Ann Foultz at 410-641-7667.

In addition, on Saturday, Oct. 25, Star Charities hosts a card and games party to benefit the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Fund. The event will be held at the Ocean Pines Country Club from noon-4 p.m. Lunch is included and tickets are $25.

Call 410-208-6612 or 410-641-7667.

Chesapeakeman Ultra Triathlon This Sunday

This weekend is the Chesapeakeman Ultra Triathlon and Aqua Velo in Cambridge, Maryland, and EN has a few athletes competing as there ‘A’ race and a couple racing the Aqua Velo in prep for IM Florida.

This is the 5th run of the full distance triathlon by race director Rob Vigorito and the Columbia Triathlon Association,  who will have their hands full as a tropical storm pattern in the Atlantic heads toward to the coast. Gail force winds and coastal flooding is expected from Cape Hattteras, NC up through the New Jersey shore line Friday and Saturday.

Rob Vigorito is also the RD of another familiar triathlon in this area, The Eagleman 70.3, a Kona qualifier event in June. Typically the Chesapeakeman is a 2.4 mile point to point swim in the Choptank River finishing at Great Marsh Park (site of the Eagleman).

As of today the RD announced that they will change the swim to a 1.2 mile loop out of Great Marsh Park location. The bike leg is a two loop course for 112 miles through the flat and often windy Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The marathon is a three loop course also described as flat and fast. While this is not a WTC event, and there will be no live race day tracking,  we wish our athletes a safe and successful day.

Winterfest of Lights brightens holiday nights

Ocean City, Maryland celebrates the holiday season with Winterfest of Lights from November 20 through January 1. The fun starts at Northside Park, 127th St. and the bay, where you can take a ride on the Winterfest Express as it makes its way along a mile-long path filled with delightful illuminated displays. This year be sure to see the Wizard of Oz spectacular. Winterfest train rides are a deal at $4 for those 12 years of age and older, and with children 11 years and younger riding for free.

While at Northside Park visit the Winterfest Village for a cup of hot chocolate, browse the new Yukon Cornelius Gift Shop for that special gift and have your photo taken with Santa. The Winterfest Village is located inside a huge heated tent decorated for the holidays.

Next, head to the southern end of town and take a drive through the Tunnel of Lights at the Inlet Lot where you will find the beach filled with magical lights boasting a nautical theme. Be sure to see the beautiful horse and carriage display. Then drive along the Avenue of Trees on Baltimore Ave. from 15th to 32nd streets.

Ocean City’s Winterfest of Lights shines nightly Sunday through Thursday 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.  A special tree lighting ceremony will be held to kick off Winterfest on Thursday, November 20 at Northside Park.  For more information, call the Ocean City Special Events Office at 410-250-0125 or visit the Ocean City web site at http://www.ococean.com.

High Winds RESTRICT Camping Through Sat AM at Assateague Island State Park

Effective immediately due to high winds, the Maryland Park Service is restricting access to campgrounds for tenting and pop-up campers only at Assteague Island State Park in Worcester County, Md. To protect public safety, pending safer weather conditions no camping reservations will be available until at least the morning of Sat., Sept. 27.  Motor home and trailer campers may still utilize the park at this time.

Governor O’Malley Declares Sept. 22-26 as Homegrown School Lunch Week

Takoma Park Middle School students were joined by local, state, and federal officials and farmers on Sept. 23,  to launch Maryland’s first-ever Homegrown School Lunch Week with special educational activities and locally-grown fruits and vegetables for lunch. To draw attention to the connection between healthy food and the local farms that grow it, Governor Martin O’Malley officially designated September 22-26, 2008 as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week.

“Many students today do not know where their food comes from and many residents aren’t aware how important a part of Maryland’s environment, economy and quality of life that farms are,” said Governor O’Malley. “The Jane Lawton Farm to School program that we established this spring provides a unique and important opportunity to highlight the connections among farms, the nutritional benefits of fresh foods, and the food served in schools. Our goals are to see more local, fresh food in school lunches, to improve childhood health and the opportunity for them to learn as well as to strengthen our family farms.”

Today, students at the Silver Spring school enjoyed local vegetables on their pizza and in vegetable soup, a melon cup, cucumber and tomato salad, green beans and assorted fresh fruits from Maryland farms. Montgomery County’s own Lewis Orchard provided apples for each of over 800 students to take home, compliments of the county’s Agricultural Services Division. The cucumbers are from farms in Clinton and Severn and the green beans are from a farm in Chestertown.

Prior to lunch students from the Food and Consumer Services Program and the school orchestra who played during the kick-off event, explored educational exhibits including the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation’s Showcase vehicle showing the many ways agriculture affects our lives, the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s conservation pizza, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension nutrition and sanitation exhibits, and Montgomery County Agricultural Services Program farmland display.
“The interest this program has garnered in just a few short months is very exciting and promising for the future,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Hance. “It is a remarkably complicated endeavor that was started after crops were planted, school contracts were signed with distributors, and in many cases menus were set. Our goal was to get four counties involved this year and we are astounded that almost every county in Maryland is doing some activity at some level. Food for school lunches are coming from at least 30 different Maryland farms.”

“Teaching our children about the connection between farming and food today will ensure that tomorrow they make decisions that are the most beneficial for the farming community, our environment, the economy and the general health of all Marylanders,” said State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick. “It is great to see so many schools and school systems participating and hopefully local foods will become the norm in school lunches.”

“Maryland-grown school lunches are nutritious, delicious, environmentally superior, and good for our farmers. I can't even tell you how excited my kids are about this. I'm very proud that we're kicking this great program off in District 20, where people are wildly enthusiastic about it,” said Senator Jamie Raskin.

“The Farm to School program is the right thing to do for our students,” said Dr. Jerry Weast, Montomery County School Superintendent. “I congratulate our county food and nutrition services staff and school leadership, including Takoma Park Middle School Principal Renay C. Johnson who is hosting the kick off event, for their commitment to seeing the effort through and doing everything they can to see it grow in the future.”

So, how can you get children to eat more fruits and vegetables at school? Preliminary findings from a recent study by University of Maryland researchers show that kids will eat fruits and vegetables at school with a little help and that there are actually a number of ways to accomplish that.

The Homegrown School Lunch Week, an element of the Jane Lawton Farm to School Program, was created during the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly when SB 158 Farm-to-School Program - Activities and Promotional Events, sponsored by state Senator Jamie Raskin and state Delegate Sheila Hixson of Montgomery County, was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley in May.

More information about the Jane Lawton Farm to School program including educational materials, menus, places to find local products and much more for parents, teachers, and food service staff, is available at http://www.marylandfarmtoschool.org. For more information about the University of Maryland study, contact Dr. Bonnie Braun, 301-405-3581 or 301-335-4335; bbraun@umd.edu
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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES CITIZEN OYSTER-GROWING PROJECT; OYSTER PLANTING NEWS

Governor Martin O’Malley meets with Talbot County residents and elected officials, and representatives of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and Public Safety and Correctional Services on Wednesday, September 24 at 10 a.m. , at the home of Hope and Anthony Harrington, 7768 Ratcliff Manor Road in Easton. He will announce a new pilot project aimed at increasing citizen involvement and stewardship in oyster and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

The Marylanders Grow Oysters’ pilot project invites waterfront property owners along the Tred Avon River, a tributary of the Choptank River in Talbot County, to grow oysters on their pier using free cages and young oysters provided by the partnership.

GWAA @ KENT ISLAND FREE LIBRARY

The Global Warming Action Alliance meets  at the Kent Island Library (directly across from the Ram’s Head Shore House Tavern) Main Street, Stevensville on Wednesday, October 08, 2008.

Socializing from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, meeting starts at 7:00 PM.  The meeting is free and open to the public.

This will be a good-bye meeting for John and Margie who are moving to Indiana on October 31st.  No doubt most of the QAC government and conservative community groups will have a going away party on November 1st.

Materials of interest to the organization will be handed over to one of the duly elected officers.

Barb and Walt: if you don’t get your coffee urn, you’ll have to come to Indiana to get it.

Topics of discussion will include:

1. changing the day and time of meetings

2. who’s doing what

3. What next?