| Friends Rallies Community to Fight Biosolids Application in Shenandoah County |
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THANK
YOU to the more than 100 volunteers who made comments to the VA
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requesting a public hearing
regarding a permit that would allow the application of sewage sludge
(biosolids) to environmentally sensitive farmland in Shenandoah County.
Recyc Systems, Inc. of Fredericksburg, VA desires to haul sewage sludge
from sewage treatment plants in Virginia as well as Washington, D.C. and
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Shenandoah County for spreading on farmland
as free fertilizer.
There are multiple reasons to be
concerned about possible land application of sludge in the North Fork
watershed:
1. Surface water pollution - Much of the land to which the
biosolids would be applied is in extremely close proximity to, or in the
floodplain of the North Fork or its tributaries;
2. Karst geology
and ground water pollution - The majority of the application sites are
noted to be environmentally sensitive due to the presence of sink holes,
shallow soils on fractured or limestone bedrock and land with slopes of
greater than 15%;
3. Lack of Knowledge - Finally, the current state
of knowledge regarding the movement and effects of biosolids (including
the effects of combination of products including heavy metals like
arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and mercury as well as industrial and
household products like hormones and other drugs, personal care
products, PCBs and other organic chemicals that are not removed during
the se-wage treatment process) in the environment is insufficient to
ensure that DEQ can approve this permit and still meet its mandate to
protect and enhance the environment of VA and promote the health and
well-being of the citizens of the the Commonwealth.
Currently, the
permit application and the many permit comments submitted to DEQ are
under review. DEQ has yet to decide whether to hold a public hearing on
this permit application.
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| Jack Lorenz on the right with Margaret, their boys and grandson, Finn. |
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NORTH FORK NOTES by Leslie Mitchell-Watson, Exec.
Director
Friends
of the North Fork and the conservation community experienced a great
loss this past March. Jack Lorenz, long-time Friends’ Board Member and
former Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League of America, passed
away leaving his wife and Friends Board member Margaret, their two sons
and his beloved grandson Finn. Jack was a force for conservation and a
strong supporter of outdoor ethics with a highlight of his career being
the creation of IWLA’s outdoor ethics program that is based upon Jack’s
principle “We must leave our woods, waters and wildlife better than we
found them, and we must dedicate ourselves to inspiring others to do the
same.” Jack’s passion for fishing brought him to the Shenandoah Valley
but unfortunately Jack’s last years saw the Shenandoah River declared
one of the most endangered rivers in the nation and a 3 year run of
devastating fish kills. Yet, Jack remained an avid fisherman and always
hopeful that the North Fork will regain its historic status as a
quality habitat for smallmouth bass and for river related recreation.
Friends will miss Jack but will work to make his dream a reality.
Margaret
and Jack’s family have asked that donations in Jack’s honor be sent to
Friends
of the North Fork P O Box 746 Woodstock VA 22664.
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| Education Corner - Education Coordinator, Cindy Frenzel cindy.frenzel@fnfsr.org 540-459-8550 |
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Save Money
AND Save the River!
It
was a Saturday afternoon. The table was full of empty bottles and
jars, jugs of vinegar and olive oil, boxes of baking soda, borax and
washing soda and little bottles of tea tree oil (a natural disinfectant)
and good smelling stuff (essential oils). We (a group of Friends’
volunteers) were ready. And when we were done the office smelled
wonderful and we had 15 baskets full of home made green cleaning
products that were given away at the Annual Meeting. We were also
practicing for the fun and successful “Make and Take” Workshop held by
volunteer Susie Wilburn on May 2.
After making and using many of
the things we made, I am sold! I encourage you to try one of the
following recipes and research other ways you can change the way you
clean your house. Tea tree oil and essential oils can be purchased from
health food stores such as Kate’s Natural Foods in Harrisonburg. Borax
can be found at Walmart or grocery stores. Washing soda can be found at
Martin’s. THANKS to Kate’s Natural Foods and to WALMART for donations
for the make your own cleaning products workshop!
All-Purpose Cleaner
2
cups white distilled vinegar; 2 cups water; 20-30 or more drops of
essential oil (optional)
Suggested uses: hard surfaces like
countertops, kitchen floors, windows and mirrors. Tip: Warming in
microwave (only in a glass container) until barely hot will boost
cleaning power for tough jobs. Another idea: Fill a glass jar with
orange peels. Pour white vinegar over the peels - enough to cover them
completely. Shake the jar every day for 3-4 weeks. After three weeks,
the orange peels will have infused the vinegar, and the resulting
cleaning product will smell great and do a great job.
Disinfectant
All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix 3 drops of natural soap, 2 cups water, and
15 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oils.
Glass Cleaner
Mix
1/2 cup vinegar with one gallon water.
**REMEMBER** to test
these recipes
on a non-visible surface - FNFSR is
not responsible
for unexpected
results.
Water Protection and Conservation
Presentation: “The
North Fork: My River, My Community, My Choice”
Please contact Cindy
(cindy.frenzel@fnfsr.org or 459-8550) if your civic or church group,
4-H , Boy or Girl Scout group or Homeowner’s Association would like to
have Cindy speak to you about water issues in the North Fork area.
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WATER NEWS
Poisoned
Waters - this is the title of a recent Frontline/PBS documentary that
focuses on the plight of the Chesapeake Bay - our home watershed - and
also of Puget Sound in the state of Washington. This program is
available to watch on line or to download and provides thorough analysis
of the many challenges facing the declining health of the Chesapeake
Bay and its tributaries like the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.
The issues that Friends has been confronting are highlighted - trace
organic contamination, endocrine disruption, intersex fish, and
bacterial pollution among others. Click on the link at right to view
the video.
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| John Kreitzburg recieves Volunteer of the Year award. Congratulations John, and Thanks for all your work over the years. |
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Annual
Meeting Review
Thanks
to all who made our 21st Annual Meeting a great success and especially
thanks to our sponsors and volunteers! President Ron Falyar kicked off
the meeting with our Treasurer’s report and the introduction of our
newest board member, April Moore. April is back to the Valley and to
Friends after a few years in the desert southwest. She will be taking
on fundraising tasks and is truly excited to be back. April was
followed by Board Member John Holmes who reviewed Friends’ many 2008-09
accomplishments. A highlight of the evening was when Ron awarded John
Kreitzburg our Volunteer of the Year Award for his many years of
activity with Friends of the North Fork. John was completely surprised
by this well deserved award and was a most gracious winner. Kai Degner,
our keynote speaker and Mayor of Harrisonburg, applauded Friends’
accomplishments and offered his help in our endeavors. Board member
Mary Gessner presented Kai with a Helen Jean Smith print of the Seven
Bends Part I. And we even had a visit by Green Irene a.k.a. Susie
Wilburn, the Valley’s new Eco-Consultant.
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Rain
Barrel Workshops Return!!
Back by popular demand - Friends of the North Fork
is teaming up with Fort Valley Nursery in Woodstock, to bring you
another make your own rain barrel workshop. Our March rain barrel
workshop, held at the Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation gym in
Edinburg, was a stunning success. Power tools, caulking, fittings and
rear ends were on hand as more than 60 participants and Friends’
volunteers worked together to build their own rain barrels. We even
sold the 4 extra barrels that we had ordered for future events!
DETAILS:
Date:
July 15, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Fort Valley
Nursery in Woodstock
Cost: $45 for Friends’ members
$49
for non-members and you receive free 2009 membership
YOU MUST REGISTER in
order to attend this workshop! Please call 540-459-8550.
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Calendar of Events - 2009
May 21 - Friends Board Meeting
May
29-31 - River Rally in Baltimore
June 6 - Friends at Belle Grove
with Master Gardeners
June 13 - Friends at Antique Truck &
Tractor Show, Shenandoah Co. Fairgrounds
June 18 - Friends Board
Meeting
July 9 - Friends Board Meeting
July 15 - Rain
Barrel Workshop
Board Members and Staff
Board
Ron Falyar - President
April Moore - Secretary
Mary
Gessner
Gary Proctor - Treasurer
John Holmes
Kim
Uhl
Margaret Lorenz
Staff
Leslie Mitchell-Watson - Executive Director
Cindy Frenzel
- Education Coordinator
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