november 2003 friends of white clay creek state park newsletter

8/9/2019 November 2003 Friends of White Clay Creek State Park Newsletter

1/5

FWCCSP RECORDNewsletter of the Friends of White Clay Creek State Park

Friends of White Clay Creek State ParkP.O. Box 9734Newark, DE 19714-9734www.whiteclayfriends.org

Volume 6, No.3 November 2003

Expert to Discuss Local Dragonflies and Damselflies at Membership Meeting on Monday,November 24

Professor Hal White of the University of Delaware will present a fascinating program on"Dragonflies and Damselilies of the White Clay Valley" at our membership meeting on Mondayevening, November 24. The presentation includes beautiful slides of the different species. Comeand learn about these striking and beautiful insects that can be readily seen and appreciated in ournatural areas.

The meeting is free and open to the public (no reservations required) and will begin at7:00 pm in the public meeting room of the Newark Library, 750 Library Avenue, Newark. Comea few minutes early to see the newly renovated library or grab a bite to eat in the new snack bar.For further information about the meeting call 302-239-2471.

Note that the only entrance to library parking is now from Main Street. If you are comingfrom the north on Kirkwood Highway, do not take the Main Street cutoft'that goes byMcDonalds, or you will miss the entrance. Rather, continue to the intersection with Main Street,turn right (90 degrees) and then left into the library parking lot.Carpenter Area Planning Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, November 20

A public meeting to review changes planned for the Carpenter Recreation Area in theMaster Plan for White Clay Creek State Park will be held on November 20, 2003 from 6:00 p.m.until 9:00 p.rn. in the auditorium of the Bob Carpenter Center, 106 Bob Carpenter Center,University ofDelaware, Newark. For further information contact Mark Chura, (302) 739-3423,Division ofParks and Recreation, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware.Friends Lead Programs for the Park

This fall, the Friends have begun volunteering to lead programs as part of the park'sprogram series. Mike Ott has led two hikes, one to the Big Pond area, an infrequently visitedsection ofthe park, and one exploring some of the history associated with the area around the


2/5

David English trail. These hikes were very successful--a total of about 20 people participated andenjoyed seeing and learning more about our park.Mike has agreed to lead two more hikes in the spring, and we would like to expand thisproject to include other kinds of programs that would be of interest to park visitors. If you have

some topic or activity that you might like to share, contact Angel Rosauri at the nature center(302-368-6560).Trail Work Program Starts Work on New Trail

Work was recently begun to extend the Boundary Line Trail between Corner Ketch Roadand Thompson Station Road, by-passing the Cart Road Trail which has become badly eroded.This new, mile-long section of trail traverses attractive woodlands and fields and will be a valuableaddition to the park. During deer hunting we will be working one Sunday each month. Whenthere is no hunting, we plan to work Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, weatherpermitting, to expedite progress on the trail. Contact Wendel Cassel, 302-737-3319, i f you areinterested in helping out and are not already on his communication list.

During the summer and fall the Friends worked several days on the Preserve Loop Trail toimprove drainage and repair major damage that occurred during tropical storm Henri. This trailfollows the west side of the creek from the Nature Center to the Pennsylvania line and is one ofthe more heavily used trails in the Park.Friends Organization Donates Materials and Equipment to the Park

This summer, we decided to increase our support for the park by purchasing somecritically needed items that were not covered in existing budgets. Most of the funding is beingused to enhance educational programs at the nature center. For example, we agreed to fund thepurchase of nature program supplies (such as skulls, pelts, and natural resource slides) andtaxidermy expenses to prepare new animals for the displays.

We have also supported the purchase of additional china for the Judge Morris house tofacilitate programs there, as well as some minor equipment needs for the park office and themaintenance shop. In total, these commitments amount to approximately $2,500.00.What Else Have We Been Doing?

In addition to projects and activities mentioned in other articles, there has been a lot goingon since our last newsletter:

> We completed (for this year) our successful efforts on weekend nature center staffingand water ice sales at summer concerts.> We placed 6 new benches in the park and performed maintenance on all the others.> We revamped our Adopt-a-Trail program just in time to help deal with the aftermathof Hurricane Isabel.

2


3/5

/> We planned for next spring's reforestation planting along the creek.> We completed monitoring of the park's bluebird boxes and are preparing a report for anational data base.> We began a program of small construction projects to help with park maintenance.> We again volunteered to help with advocacy for the preservation of open spaces.> We completed a report on areas deserving special habitat protection.> We continued research leading toward a historical booklet for park visitors.> We promoted the park and our own organization at Newark Community Day.> We decided to apply for a new Adopt-a-Highway assignment because of safetyconcerns with Fox Den Road.> We are keeping our new website updated.We thank all our volunteers who make these efforts possible. Project leaders for these and

other activities are listed below. Please contact them for more information or to help out.Volunteer Opportunities

We need a few more volunteers to help with organizing our tree planting next spring. Wehave broken down the tasks so that time commitments should be pretty modest. Areas whereleaders/coordinators are needed are field layout and auguring; tree delivery and unloading; andapplication of fertilizer, trunk guards and deer repellent. Please contact project leader AI Zverinaat 302-239-6108 for more information or to volunteer to help with this important work.

There are also opportunities to assist with park programs as described below. For moreinformation about these activities contact Janice Garda ([email protected]) or AngelRosauri ([email protected]) at the Chambers House Nature Center, 302-368-6560.

Judge Morris Estate Holiday Party and House Tour - Get in the holiday mood at theJudge Morris Estate! Volunteers are needed during the tours to help serve refreshments, greetguests, and attend to fires. In addition to helping, you can become part of the fun 1940's tour,learn the history of the house, and listen to lovely guitar and harp music by Mark Feil. Tours takeplace on Saturdays and Sundays, December 13,14,20, & 21.

Judge Morris House Decora ting - We will be decorating the house as it may have beenduring the holiday seasons of the early 1940's using lots of fresh greenery. Assistance is needed inmaking wreaths, window boxes, and swags. No experience is necessary! Decorating will be doneon December 6, 7, 9, 10, & 11. (Fresh greenery is also needed i fyou have extra.)

Hawk Watch Team - Volunteers are needed to participate in spring and fall hawkmigration counts. Training will be provided. We will begin recruiting members for a Hawk Watchteam in late January.Wish List

We need a metal tool cabinet for storage of trail construction tools. To donate contactWendel Cassel (302-737-3319)

3


4/5

Calendar of Scheduled EventsDecember 8 Executive Committee MeetingDecember 14 Trail WorkJanuary 12,2004 Executive Committee and Advisory Board MeetingsJanuary 18 Trail WorkFebruary 9 Executive Committee MeetingFebruary 21 Trail WorkMarch 8 Executive Committee MeetingMarch Annual Membership Meeting (to be scheduled)March 20 Trail WorkMarch 25 Reforestation - Tree DeliveryMarch 27 Reforestation - Tree PlantingApril 12 Executive Committee MeetingApril 17 Trail Work - Christina River CleanupApri1lMay Migratory Bird Walk (to be scheduled)May 10 Executive Committee MeetingMay 15 Trail WorkJune 5 Trail Work - National Trails DayJune 14 Executive Committee and Advisory Board Meetings

Projects and Project LeadersAdopt-a-Higbway: Dee and Dick Benson, 410-398-4180Adopt-a-Trail: Mike Ott, 738-6652Advocacy: Andy Urquhart, 239-2471Birders Guide: Mark Keese, 369-9128, and Gene Hess, 738-4690Bluebird Boxes: Meta Little, 368-3472, and Marilyn Sweeney, 235-2548Kestrel Boxes: Andy Urquhart, 239-2471Historical Booklet: Debbie Keese, 369-9128Ligbt Construction: Chip Caverly, 292-0255Member-led Park Programs: Angel Rosauri. 658-6560Nature Center Staffing: Tom Hallenbeck, 610-274-1345Newark Community Day: Ken Daws, 737-8120Reforestation: AI Zverina, 239-5046, and Christa Stefanisko, 369-1933Trail Bencbes: Andy Urquhart, 239-2471Trail Improvement Work: Wendel Cassel, 737-3319Water Ice Sales: Tom Hallenbeck, 610-274-1345Wayside Historical Markers: Wendel CasselWebsite: Rick Hall, 831-1295Wildlife Habita t Protection: Andy Urquhart, 239-2471

4


5/5

/

Executive CommitteePresident: Andy Urquhart, 239-2471, [email protected]: Christa Stefanisko, 369-1933, [email protected] and Newsletter Editor: Dick Benson, 410-398-4180, [email protected]: Ken Daws, 737-8120, [email protected] Chair: Lisa Wool, 235-1873, [email protected] Committee Chair: Tom Hallenbeck, 610-274-1345, [email protected]

Membership ApplicationJoin us! Ifyou are not already a member and would like to join, please return this form with yourcheck made payable to Friends of White Clay Creek State Park.

Name(s)AddressPhone ( ~ - - - E-mail

Annual Memberships__$10.00 Individual Membership__$15.00 Family Membership__$ 5.00 Student Membership__$__Extra Contribution$ Total Enclosed

Friends of White Clay Creek State Park, Inc.P.o. Box 9734, Newark, DE 19714-9734

5

november 2003 friends of white clay creek state park newsletter

Documents