What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Annual RI Envirothon Competition ~ May 18, 2012

2012 Annual Rhode Island Envirothon Competition at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, RI; U.S. Senator Sheldon WhitehouseWill Present at Awards Ceremony

Rhode Island Envirothon, Inc. will hold its annual competition on Friday, May 18, 2012 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 1:30 p.m. at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick, RI. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will speak and present the awards at the awards ceremony.

The one-day event marks the culmination of a year of dedicated, hard work for high school students from around the State who will compete in teams of five to address environmental issues in four subject areas which include aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and soils and land use, plus one special environmental issue which changes annually.

For 2012, the environmental issue is the “Low impact development and non-point source pollution”. Schools participating in this year’s event include The Blackstone Academy, Coventry High School, The Greene School, Narragansett High School, Scituate High School, and The Wheeler School. The winning team has the opportunity to represent Rhode Island in the Canon North American Envirothon which will take place in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania July 22-27, 2012.

Envirothon is an environmental education program available to high school students where they take classes and participate in workshops on subjects including aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and soils and land use. The mission of RI Envirothon, Inc. is to cultivate a desire in students to learn more about our natural environment, develop a greater appreciation of our dependence on the environment, and promote a sense of personal stewardship of natural resources to enhance the quality of life for all in Rhode Island.

RI ENVIROTHON ANNUAL COMPETITION
Friday, May 18, 2012 8:30-1:00
Goddard Memorial State Park, Warwick, RI

Schedule of Events

8:30-8:45 Registration - Pavilion
8:45-9:00 Welcome/Orientation - Pavilion
9:00-9:25

• Written Test – Low Impact Development - Pavilion
• Judges Meeting - Carousel
• Advisor Workshop on Rangeland – Boat House

9:30 Advisor Share Out - Pavilion
9:30-9:55 1st Test Station
10:00-10:25 2nd Test Station
10:30-10:55 3rd Test Station
11:00-11:25 4th Test Station
11:30-11:55 5th Test Station
12:00-12:30 Lunch - Pavilion
12:30-1:00 Awards Ceremony – Pavilion, Presented by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

ROTATION: Soils → Aquatics → Wildlife → Forestry → Orals

15th Annual BUY NOTHING DAY WINTER COAT EXCHANGE ~ November 25, 2011

If you have a coat to give, please drop it off.
If you need a coat, please pick one up.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 10-2PM                                                          

• State House lawn (directly across from Providence Place mall)  (rain location  St Johns Cathedral   271 N Main St Providence)
• Pawtucket Visitors Center, 175 Main St. Pawtucket

On November 25th 2011 – the busiest day in the American retail calendar and the unofficial start of the international Christmas-shopping season – thousands of activists and concerned citizens in 65 countries will take a 24-hour consumer detox as part of the annual Buy Nothing Day, a global phenomenon that originated in Vancouver, Canada.

Some see it as an escape from the marketing mind games and the frantic consumer binge that has come to characterize the holiday season and our culture in general. Others use it to expose the environmental and ethical consequences of over-consumption.  In Providence as part of International Buy Nothing Day, we hold a winter coat exchange on the lawn of the State House directly across from Providence Place mall. In Pawtucket the transfer of coats takes place at the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center. Events are also held at 4 other locations in Rhode Island. There are many partners for this event: community organizations, places of worship, civic, and environmental groups. Volunteers are needed to help with this life-affirming event.

Contact information:  Providence

 

• Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; [email protected];
• Phil Edmonds: 461-3683; [email protected]

Pawtucket -  Arthur Pitt 396-1918; [email protected] 

Other participating locations     

• Newport – St Paul's Church 12 West Marlborough St. 10 AM to Noon Maggie Bulmer   846-0966
• Wakefield --St. Francis Church, 114 High Street, 10AM to noon Tom Abbott 364-0778
• Barrington  Bayside Family YMCA  70 West St   Connie Ganley [email protected]
• Warwick  Kent County YMCA  900 Centerville Rd  8218-0130

Fall Fishing Classes ~ September - October 2011

DEM'S AQUATIC RESOURCE EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERING SALTWATER AND FRESHWATER FLY-FISHING WORKSHOPS, A FLY-TYING PROGRAM, AND FLY-FISHING TRAIN SAFARI ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND THIS FALL

 
            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold several fishing programs this fall. Hosted by the Division's Aquatic Resource Education program, the fee-based programs include an introduction to saltwater and freshwater fly-fishing, a fly-fishing trip via train around Aquidneck Island, and fly-tying. Pre-registration is required for most programs.

            The introduction to saltwater fly-fishing program will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Kettle Pond Visitors Center in Charlestown.  Premier fly-fishing instructors will teach participants fly-tying, casting techniques, and knot-tying. All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch. The program is open to adults and children age 10 and older.
 
            The introductory workshop on freshwater fly-fishing will be held at Addieville East Game Farm in Mapleville on Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Whether you are a beginner or need a refresher course, this workshop will cover all the basics on freshwater fly- fishing. Top Rhode Island fly-fishing instructors will teach casting techniques, fly-tying, tackle needs, and knot-tying. Participants will also put their skills to work on the water.  The workshop is open to everyone 10 years of age and older.  All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch.

            A fly-fishing safari around Aquidneck Island on the Old Colony Train will be held on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The train will stop at several remote public access fishing areas around the island. Fly-fishing instructors will offer advice on the best flies and fly- fishing tactics. The program is designed for advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced fly- fishing anglers, and is perfect for those who have already participated in the Introduction to Saltwater Fly-Fishing workshop and would like to hone their fly-fishing skills while fishing.  Pack a lunch and your chest waders and join other anglers on this fishing adventure.  All other equipment, including flies, is provided with the $35 per-person registration fee.

            From October 27 to December 8, fly-tying classes will be held each Thursday (except November 24) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center. Professional fly-tyers will teach beginning and intermediate fly-tying techniques for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Cost of the program is $6 for each class or $30 for all six sessions. Pre-registration is recommended, although walk-ins are accepted.

            For additional information and for registration materials, contact Kimberly Sullivan in DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program at 539-7333 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Buy All You Can at the Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands before Irene Barrels In!

From Coastal Market Manager, Bevan Linsley (Casey Farm, Saunderstown)

As Irene blows up the coast your farmers are working frantically to harvest everything they can just in case she really does hit us hard.  If she does, the damage to crops here may be substantial and our guys are already pretty tired at this time of the year.  Now, at the height of the harvest season, they have to stop their usual work, store everything away, tie everything else down, make sure the animals are safe and then harvest, harvest, harvest just in case there is nothing left next week. And then what to do with all that fresh produce if we don't come to market?  This is where we understand what local and sustainable really means, for this is the time for us to come to the aid of our farmers and share the risks of the weather and the season with them.

So, what they need from us now is our support on Saturday morning at the market. Come early, come often and buy as much as you can possibly afford to cook, can, freeze and eat while you are stuck inside during the storm this weekend!  The forecast currently anticipates Irene arriving here later on Sunday, so we are likely looking at a stormy morning on Saturday with wind and maybe a little rain but the [SOUTH COUNTY] MARKET WILL BE HELD AS ALWAYS!

See What Grows On in Rhode Island Sales Subcalendar for an easy-to-see summary of times and locations of upcoming Farmers' Markets. Full details about what's for sale when and where, and who sells what in addition to lists of farm stands, are on the Farm Fresh RI website.

Barrington Conservation Workshop & Film Series

Presentations on Sustainable Turf Management; Natives, Invasives, Biodiversity; Gardening to Attract Birds; and Home Composting; plus the films King Corn, HOME, two in the National Geographic's Planet Earth Series, and two for kids and families ~ WALL-E and Microcosmos ~ will be held each week at the Barrington Library from June 29 through the end of August. The Barrington Conservation Commission, Barrington Land Conservation Trust, and the Barrington Public Library organized these events.

These events are also in What Grows On in Rhode Island. Find the films and presentations in keyword search: Barrington Conservation Series. The Calendar has lots to do ~ check it often!

Kudos to the Barrington Conservation Commission, Barrington Land Conservation Trust, and the Barrington Public Library for organizing these 7 p.m. events. Barrington is fortunate in having a particularly active municipal conservation commission, and the Providential Gardener hopes other conservation commissions will arrange similar series in the future for their communities. (You can go even if you don't live in Barrington, though!)

You can also download a pdf of the Summer Edutainment Series through this link: Download Summer Edutainment Series 2011

Audubon: RI's air quality will be threatened if this Bill passes ~ Hearing June 16, 2011

From the Audubon Society of Rhode Island:

House Bill No. 5315, sponsored by Rep. Brien, entitled, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ENERGY proposes to allow burning of garbage in Woonsocket. Air pollutants, including potential dioxins plus increased acid rain and fog accompany incineration. 
 
Burning garbage to generate energy is inefficient and unhealthy.
  
Air pollutants don't know town boundaries. This is not just a Woonsocket issue.

Current RI General Law says:  
 
R.I.G.L. §23-19-3 declares that the "ultimate solid waste management objective of the state is to maximize recycling and reuse of solid waste."  
 
R.I.G.L. §23-19-3(16) declares that it is a policy of the state that "incineration of solid waste is the most costly method of waste disposal with known and escalating costs that would place substantial and unreasonable burdens on both state and municipal budgets to the point of seriously jeopardizing the public's interest." (emphasis added).  
 
Air pollutants move.  
 
Your taxes or disposal fees are at risk.
  
Please call or email your State Representative to express your concerns. To find your state rep use the links in the right-hand column.
 
Use this sample letter/ talking points:  
 
Dear Rep. or Sen. _____________________:  
 
As your constituent, I am concerned about the H-5315, proposing a municipal waste incinerator for Woonsocket.  
 
Woonsocket claims it will help their finances, but I am concerned about my family's health.  
 
Incinerating municipal waste can create dioxins, increase the acidity of atmospheric moisture (rain & snow), and vaporize toxic elements in the trash.
 
I wonder whether there will be sufficient enforcement in DEM, given recent budget cuts, to protect air quality from this proposed facility. Air does not recognize town boundaries.  
 
We live in the "air shed" of a Woonsocket incinerator.  
 
I think about the transportation of toxic ash from this plant, potentially through our communities.   
 
Please oppose this legislation.    
 
Thank you, [your name]

---------

If you would like more information on this important issue or help in contacting your representative, please contact me directly.

Please share this information with friends and neighbors by using the "forward email" button below or spread the word on Facebook.
 
Sincerely,
Eugenia Marks
Senior Director of Policy
Audubon Society of Rhode Island

[email protected]

Contact your representative
 
Find the contact info. for your state representatives by clicking on the links below:
 
Your Representative

Your Senator
 
Just scroll down to "View general voter information", enter your address, and hit search. That's it! 
 
You can click on each official's name to get all their contact info and other details.
 
When you feel strongly about an issue, let them know-it really does make a difference.

-----

Ed. note: There is a hearing today on this bill in the House Committee on Municipal Government at the Rise of the House (after they meet in their session this afternoon), which will be somewhere around 4:30 or 5:00pm.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

---

 

NOTICE OF MEETING

 

DATE:    Thursday, June 16, 2011

TIME:    Rise of the House

PLACE:    House Lounge

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION


House Bill No. 5315
BY Brien
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ENERGY {LC258}
02/09/2011 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government
03/24/2011 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/24/2011 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/16/2011 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

Families in Nature Hike at Ninigret ~ June 11, 2011

We hope you can join us for this month's hike in the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge and Kettle Pond Visitor Center.

The hike is this Saturday at 9:45am. It is very easy for children and will be about 1 mile long.

Visit our website for more information or contact us if you have any questions. 

After Dinner Stroll

We are quickly approaching the summer solstice (June 21), which is the longest day of the year. Kids are having fun in sprinklers and pools, on bicycles and swingsets. Others are having trouble falling asleep with all the sunlight!

Take advantage of the long evenings by taking a family walk after dinner. It's a nice, quiet time to reflect on the day with your older kids, wear out the little legs a bit more, and enjoy the beginning of summer. Heck, we waited long enough to get here!

Read us on Kidoinfo!

Ready, Set, Hike!Wear layers to keep you cool and dry, and sturdy sneakers or hiking boots. Don't forget your sunscreen and bug-spray!

Bring water and snacks.

Click here for an extensive list of guidelines for hiking with kids. 

In the case of severe inclement weather, our hike may be cancelled. Check the website by 9am the day of the hike.

Copyright © 2011 RI Families in Nature, All rights reserved.

Added via email from RI Families in Nature eNewsletter.

DEM to Host 2nd Great Outdoors Pursuit Event Sunday, June 12, 2011

Via email

From: "Gail Mastrati"
Date: June 9, 2011 3:50:09 PM EDT
Subject: DEM to Host 2nd Great Outdoors Pursuit Event Sunday, June 12

News Advisory
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TTY/711 www.dem.ri.gov


Date: Sunday, June 12, 2011
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Haines Memorial State Park, East Providence, RI
Event: RI Great Outdoors Pursuit Event #2


RI Great Outdoors Pursuit to Hold Second Event Sunday at Haines Memorial State Park

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will hold its second event for the 2011 Great Outdoors Pursuit at Haines Memorial State Park on Sunday, June 12th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The event will have a host of activities geared towards children and their families to encourage outdoor play and more physical activity. Children will be able to touch and feel sea creatures captured in Narragansett Bay at the EPA's touch tank, create art using seaweed from Rhode Island beaches, climb a 35-foot rock wall, and bike, walk, or rollerblade on a picturesque stretch of the East Bay Bike Path! East Providence Cycle and REI will also provide free bike safety checks and tune-ups to registered participants. A full list of activities and schedule appears below.

The event is free and open to the general public but teams that register for the Rhode Island Great Outdoors Pursuit are eligible for raffles. Registration is free.

For more information, visit www.riparks.com , contact Terri Bisson at (401) 222-3434, or email [email protected].

Environmental Symposium for High School Students ~ May 18, 2011

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 ~ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
612 Academy Avenue, Providence, RI 02908

 

The Environmental Club of LaSalle Academy would like to cordially invite you and your students and/or colleagues to participate in a state wide student run environmental symposium. This two hour session will give students from environmental clubs and classes throughout the state a chance to come together and discuss issues and concerns they may have about RI and the environment. This will also be a time for students to present ideas and issues being discussed or worked on at their schools.

If you or someone you know would like to be a part of this event, please forward the following information to Jessica DiGiulio:

Name
School or Organization
Whether or not you or one of your students would be interested in presenting
Approximately how many guests will join you or your team at the event. 

For more information contact: 

Jessica DiGiulio, Biology and Environmental Science, [email protected]

RI DEM Free Fishing Days, May 7-8, 2011

DEM ANNOUNCES FREE FISHING DAYS MAY 7 AND 8

Anglers Will Have Opportunity to Catch a Golden Rainbow Trout at Little Round Top

and Big Round Top Ponds in Burrillville

 

            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 are free fishing days in Rhode Island. During those two days, all Rhode Islanders and visitors can fish in freshwaters without a fishing license or trout conservation stamp. The free fishing days provide local residents and visitors a special incentive to get outdoors and try something new while enjoying their natural surroundings.

            Anglers will have an opportunity to catch a prized Golden Rainbow trout on Saturday, May 7 during a fishing tournament sponsored by DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife at Little Round Top and Big Round Top Ponds in Burrillville.  This is the second year for this annual Hatchery-sponsored fishing event.  DEM’s hatchery staff will stock the Rhode Island hatchery-raised Golden Rainbow trout at these two fishing access areas for the event, and prizes will be awarded to the lucky anglers who catch a Golden Rainbow. There will also be loaner fishing rods and bait available for those who need them. DEM hatchery staff and volunteers from fishing clubs will be on hand to assist families during the fishing event.

            The Coventry and Lincoln libraries also have a fishing rod loan program, available through the CLAN network to people throughout the state with library cards. DEM's aquatic resource education program and the RI Saltwater Anglers Association sponsor the fishing rod loan program.

            The free fishing program was established nationally about 20 years ago as an opportunity to encourage people to experience new recreational opportunities outdoors, and therefore become more active stewards of the environment.

            All usual regulations on size and limits apply during the two free fishing days. Information about size and limits can be obtained at bait and tackle shops, or by calling DEM's Great Swamp Field Office at 789-0281. The regulations can also be found on DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov by clicking on “Fish and Wildlife” under “Offices and Divisions.”

            A list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can also be found on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on “Fish and Wildlife” under “Offices and Divisions,” and then choosing “Freshwater Fisheries.”