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

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.

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?

LOCAL FOODS PROGRAM EDUCATES SCHOOLS

Students in many Maryland counties will find fresh, local apples, watermelon, coleslaw and more offered in their school cafeterias as part of the new Homegrown School Lunch Week, Sept. 22-26.  The week-long awareness activities are a result of the Jane Lawton Farm to School Program.

“We are very excited by the increasing interest and activity this program is garnering in the local school systems and among farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson.  “The program is in its infancy this year and is gaining momentum. As it grows, the program has great potential to help sustain the health of our families and farm economies for years to come.”

The Homegrown School Lunch Week, an element of the Lawton 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 Senator Jamie Raskin and Del. Sheila Hixson of Montgomery County, was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley in May.

“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.”

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 three types of interventions involved teacher training with a tested curriculum and parent events, teacher’s use of the curriculum without events involving parents, and an Extension educator teaching in student classrooms. All three approaches produced similar results, which supported the researchers’ hypothesis. They found that repeated exposure – through taste testing – to fruits and vegetables matters, and that even moderate interventions, focused on repeated tasting, make a difference.

“Fruits and vegetables are a key contributor to children’s health,” says Dr. Bonnie Braun, associate professor in Department of Family Science at the university’s School of Public Health. “Unfortunately, national reports indicate that children’s consumption of these foods normally decreases from kindergarten to fifth grade. Students from low-income families are particularly at risk of inadequate intake. Our hypothesis was that school-based interventions, focused on increasing children’s preference for fruits and vegetables, would be associated with an increase in consumption both in school and at home”

The program will bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunches and  educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet. Educational materials, menus, places to find local products and much more for parents, teachers, and food service staff are available at http://www.marylandfarmtoschool.org.

The research is part of a series of studies under Project FRESH, a school-based nutrition education program designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption – especially of products grown by Maryland-producers – among elementary school children.The project is conducted by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Food Stamp Nutrition Education program, with MCE educators providing the curriculum and teacher education.

Funding is provided by AGNR, the Maryland Department of Human Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.In addition to the week’s events, teachers get given educational materials to help students make the connection between the food they eat and the agricultural process.

For more information about farm to school, please visit http://www.marylandfarmtoschool.org. For more information about the study, contact Dr. Bonnie Braun, 301-405-3581 or 301-335-4335; bbraun@umd.edu

MID-SHORE: Talbot girl is Miss Maryland Agriculture

Daily Times Staff Report

BALTIMORE — A Talbot County girl was picked Miss Maryland Agriculture Sunday at this year’s Maryland State Fair.

Eighteen-year-old Lisa Daffin of Queen Anne was an active member of 4-H for 10 years during which time she held the offices of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and represented Maryland at 4-H Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, a state fair news release said.

She graduated from Easton High School in 2007 and is currently majoring in agricultural education and extension with a minor in agriculture business at West Virginia University.

Daffin was awarded with scholarship and cash awards valued up to $13,000. As Miss Maryland Agriculture 2008, she will be present throughout the run of the Maryland State Fair to award prizes, and meet with fairgoers, dignitaries, and media representatives.

Elizabeth River Project Flotilla

The following message from VMRC should be of interest to anyone that is in favor of restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

We’re looking to form a flotilla one morning next month for an hour.

The Elizabeth River Project will hold a press conference on Sept. 15 to announce a new action plan on river clean up, aimed at removing the contaminated goo on the river bottom.

This will be on the waters edge in Portsmouth, from 10:30-11:30 on Sept. 15, at High Street Ferry Landing, located at the corner of High and Water Streets in Downtown Portsmouth.

Mayors and state officials from VMRC, the state Department of Health, Secretary of Natural Resources office, (possibly even the governor) will be there.

A number of recreational and commercial vessels, along with a few kayakers/canoers, will gather on the river at that location to show the support of those who stand to benefit directly from the clean up of the river. Fire boats from Chesapeake and Portsmouth will be there as well as two police boats from the Marine Resources Commission.

The plan is for the boats to blow their horns when a flag on shore is raised, thus showing their support for the project to the TV cameras.

Anglers should be very concerned about the health of the Elizabeth River. While progress has been made over the years, the river still is in deplorable condition. Shellfish harvesting has been banned for a decade and scientific evidence shows that 70 percent of mummichogs in some sections of the river have cancer.

Some of the contaminants are bioaccumulative, including heavy metals, mercury and PCBs, meaning this stuff moves up the food chain and concentrates in long-living predator fish such as striped bass. It is in every anglers best interest to have the river cleaned up.

This stage of the clean up plan is known as the ERP’s fishable, swimmable campaign.

Please spread the word via email, word of mouth, or message boards. The more people who show up in their boats for that hour and blow their horns at the designed time, the better.

Call me if you want to talk about this further, Thanks.

John M.R. Bull
Director of Public Relations
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
(757) 247-2269

American Legion Post 278 donates $10,000 to Chesapeake College Fitness Center Campaign

Tradition of charitable giving continues

Kent Island American Legion Post 278’s tradition of charitable giving to Chesapeake College recently gave a $10,000 donation to the Stuart M. Bounds Fitness Center Fundraising Campaign.

“We actually started our involvement with Chesapeake College about 1980, when we donated our first $10,000 to start the Wrightson Tolson Scholarship,” said Hugo Gemignani, chair of Post 278’s Charity Committee. “I think that fund now has two or three hundred thousand dollars in it. Chesapeake College is one of the primary recipients of our charitable donations.”

Dr. Barbara Viniar, Chesapeake College’s president, accepted Post 278’s check on behalf of the college.

“I appreciate this very generous contribution and Post 278’s long-term commitment to both the college and the community,” said Dr. Viniar. “This organization is an outstanding community partner.”

In addition to the Wrightson Tolson Scholarship – annually awarded to Chesapeake College students from Queen Anne’s County – Post 278 established the Robert E. McCauley Scholarship in 2003 to provide scholarships to Chesapeake College student athletes. The Legion has also financially supported other Athletic Department activities, including the baseball team’s trip to the 2005 NJCAA Division II World Series as the Northeast District champion.

Gemignani said the fitness center donation follows in that same pattern.

“This fitness center will be great,” said Gemignani, who noted the importance of its availability for students, faculty, and staff, along with community members who will be eligible to use the facilities when they are registered for a continuing education fitness course. “We’re hoping some of our servicemen and women coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan will make use of the new center.”

Chesapeake College Athletic Director Frank Szymanski said Post 278 “has been one of our most consistent and loyal financial supporters during my nine years at the college.”

“There are many athletic initiatives that would have been harder to undertake without Post 278’s backing,” said Szymanski, noting the Post’s donation to cover expenses associated with the 2005 World Series as one recent example.

The college has already raised over $50,000 in contributions toward the nearly $90,000 in equipment that has been ordered for the new center. The new center is part of a major renovation of the inner core of the Physical Education Building, which is over 30 years old.

The Julia T. Burleigh Philanthropic Fund donated $25,000 as the lead donor, giving the Fund naming rights for the Center. The Burleigh Fund, represented by Director Jim Barton, directed that the center be named for Dr. Stuart M. Bounds, who retired in June after 11 years as the college’s fourth president.

Individuals or organizations interested in contributing to the Chesapeake College Fitness Center Fundraising Campaign may contact Campaign Chair Rich Midcap (rmidcap@chesapeake.edu or 410-827-5858).