What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanup ~ September 17, 2011

Audubon Society of Rhode Island and local beach cleanup leaders are seeking volunteers for the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Interested participants should contact Audubon at 949-5454 or the local beach cleanup leader to sign up for the event.
 
Beach cleanups especially in need of help are:

• Aunt Carrie’s Beach, Narragansett: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Heather Biben at [email protected]
• Barrington Beach—West Side: 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Bill & Deb Dwyer at 245-2684 or [email protected].
• Warwick City Park: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. William Quirk at 952-8967 or [email protected]

Volunteer ~ Save the Bay Prepares for Irene ~ August 27, 2011

We Need Your Help Preparing for Hurricane Irene!

Volunteers are needed at our Exploration Center Aquarium at Easton's Beach in Newport on Saturday, August 27 from 10 am - 2 pm to help fill sandbags to be used to block off the center from any potential flooding. Anytime you can give to help fill sandbags between 10 am and 2 pm would be greatly appreciated. Come grubby, bring your work gloves, a shovel and a bottle of water and we'll provide the rest!

Parking will be free if you're volunteering, just notify the staff at the beach gate you're there to volunteer for Save The Bay. The Exploration Center is located on the main floor of the Rotunda at Easton's Beach. The address is 175 Memorial Blvd. in Newport.

If you're able to help us out, please let me know at [email protected] or call 401.272.3540 x 130.

*Note: if you happen to already have filled sandbags that you'd like to share, feel free to drop them off anytime this week!*

Time to Sign Up for International Coastal Cleanup ~ September 17, 2011

September 17, 2011  ~ 9 a.m.-­noon*

*Some cleanups occur on a different date or time; check the Rhode Island International Coastal Cleanups for details.

Each year, volunteers around the world show they care about their coasts by flocking to the beaches to clean up and document the trash they find. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is proud to coordinate cleanup efforts for the Ocean State. If you would like to volunteer, please contact one of the local cleanup leaders listed below. For general questions, contact July Lewis at 401-­949-­5454 x3044 or [email protected]. This is a rain-­or-­shine event, but may be postponed in the event of a severe storm.

Bring a pair of gloves and come prepared to make a difference!

Eco-Depot Collection in Smithfield ~ June 18, 2011

RIRRC offers free service for Rhode Islanders
 
JOHNSTON, R.I.  – On Saturday, June 18, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, together with the Town of Smithfield, will hold an Eco-Depot collection for household hazardous waste (HHW).  From 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Rhode Islanders can drop off their assorted poisons, propane gas tanks and mercury products at the Smithfield Department of Public Works at 3 Spragueville Road.

This program is a free service for Rhode Island residents, and appointments are required to reduce customer waiting times.

“We are excited to work closely with RIRRC at this event,” said Lori Gagnon, Recycling Coordinator for the Town of Smithfield.  “It’s a great opportunity for Smithfield residents to clean and clear out their hazardous waste and dispose of all their unwanted products conveniently and properly right here in the town.”

Eco-Depot is the popular household hazardous waste program run by RIRRC.  Nearly all households have some amount of HHW stored in sheds, garages, and basements.  Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.  Examples of common HHW include oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, pesticides, antifreeze, pool chemicals, turpentine, muriatic acid, propane gas tanks and fire extinguishers.  They are banned from landfill disposal because they can pollute the environment if discarded improperly.
For a complete list of eligible materials, go to www.rirrc.org.  To make an appointment, click on the Eco-Depot button at the bottom of the page or call 942-1430 x241.   Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.
 
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.

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Press Release

Contact: Sarah Kite, 401-942-1430 x112

Memorial Tree Planting ~ June 4, 2011

Honor our troops this year by planting trees with us at the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on June 4th.   

Attention Tree Stewards, Volunteers and Members of RITree,
 
The Rhode Island Tree Council is planting twenty tuliptrees, Liriodendron tulipifera at the RI Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
 
The 2 diameter inch saplings will be installed along a section of Main Street from the Memorial Chapel behind the Administration Building to the north entrance gate leading to Route 2.  Main Street is a long, circular road that connects the front to the back of the cemetery.
 
This planting is the first of many whose ultimate goal is to line the entire length of this major cemetery travel lane with tall, wide-spreading trees.  
 
We will not be able to plant these magnificent trees without your help.
 
Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact RITree by Wednesday, June 1st.  We will meet at the parking lot in front of the Administration Building on June 4th around 9:15 AM. The Main Street planting will start promptly at 9:30 AM. 

Memorial Tree Planting ~ June 4, 2011

Memorial Planting
Tree Stewards, Volunteers and Members of RITree,
 
The Rhode Island Tree Council is planting twenty tuliptrees, Liriodendron tulipifera at the RI Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
 
The 2 diameter inch saplings will be installed along a section of Main Street from the Memorial Chapel behind the Administration Building to the north entrance gate leading to Route 2.  Main Street is a long, circular road that connects the front to the back of the cemetery.
 
This planting is the first of many whose ultimate goal is to line the entire length of this major cemetery travel lane with tall, wide-spreading trees.  
 
We will not be able to plant these magnificent trees without your help.
 
Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact RITree by Wednesday, June 1st.  We will meet at the parking lot in front of the Administration Building on June 4th around 9:15 AM. The Main Street planting will start promptly at 9:30 AM. 

Woonsocket Eco-Depot ~ May 21, 2011

RESOURCE RECOVERY’S ECO-DEPOT TRAVELS TO WOONSOCKET FOR NORTHERN R.I. COLLECTION

May 21 Drop Off is Free For Rhode Islanders

 

JOHNSTON, R.I. – On Saturday, May 21, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will host a special collection for household hazardous waste  (HHW) in Woonsocket.  From 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. residents can bring their HHW to the Woonsocket Department of Public Works at 1117 River Street for safe disposal.

Eco-Depot is a free service of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation and available to Rhode Island residents.  To reduce time waiting in line, appointments are necessary.

Safely disposing HHW is important to protect R.I. waterways, soil and households from accidental contamination.  By using the Eco-Depot program, Rhode Islanders can also extend the life of the Central Landfill and reduce the toxicity of trash deposited there.

Any product that is flammable, combustible, explosive, toxic, corrosive, poisonous and hazardous to health qualifies as HHW.  Examples of the most common HHW are oil-based paint, fluorescent light bulbs, lawn chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, antifreeze, motor oil and used filters, driveway sealer, propane gas tanks and fire extinguishers.  Caution needs to be exercised when handling and disposing of these special wastes.

For a complete list of eligible Eco-Depot products, visit www.rirrc.org.  To book an appointment, click on the Eco-Depot button at the bottom of the page or call 942-1430 x241.   Follow on Twitter @RIRRC.
 
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.

Press Release. Contact: Sarah Kite, 401-942-1430 x112.

Scoop the Herring Rain or Shine ~ April 23, 2011

So what if it may rain, the fish don't care. They're on a mission and we need to help!
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Dam at Omega Pond 
Off of Rogers Williams Ave.
Look for the signs 
 
REGISTER HERE

Call Claudia for more information at 331-2298

Volunteer Goose Force Field Training ~ April 23, 2011

Press release from Eastern RI Conservation District:
 
Tiverton, RI – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the RI State Conservation Committee, RI Conservation Districts and the Town of Bristol, RI would like to announce the Kick Off of the Volunteer Goose Force with a Field Training for all people interested in learning and implementing the GeesePeace approved Canada Goose Egg Oiling method.

Resident Canada Geese populations can inflict significant damage in the form of water quality impairment, vegetation loss, and subsequent erosion. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, geese also produce heavy concentrations of fecal droppings which can lead to excess nutrient enrichment of ponds and lakes. The additional nutrients then lead to excessive plant growth such as algae and other nuisance plants. Rapid increases in algae can then limit the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water for other aquatic organisms. Excessive fecal droppings can also contribute to shellfishery and beach closings.  These large, dense geese populations also pose a risk to other species of birds through transmission of avian diseases.

To mitigate effects on water quality, NRCS and ERICD are offering a pilot conservation program to help manage resident Canada goose populations in Rhode Island towns in Newport and Bristol counties.

Volunteers will meet Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the VFW Hall Parking Lot Bristol, RI at 10AM for a Field Outing at Silver Creek, Mt. Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island in Bristol, RI. This will be a hands-on training on how to locate Resident Canada Goose nesting sites and perform egg oiling using the GeesePeace approved Canada Goose Egg Oiling method (approved by PETA and the Humane Society).

Future Field Outings will be held every Saturday until May 21, 2011. Other outing dates will be added as volunteer availability dictates. Outing locations will vary as we will be locating nests in different areas of Bristol and Newport counties over the next few weeks.

Please contact Jessica at (401) 816-5667 or email [email protected] to sign up to volunteer or to get more information on this important conservation project and how you, your community or your town can get involved. Also, keep informed of outing dates and locations by viewing the What Grows On in RI calendar at www.whatgrowsonri.com.

Goose Force Volunteers will meet Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the VFW Hall Parking Lot Bristol, RI at 10AM for a Field Outing at Silver Creek, Mt. Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island in Bristol, RI.
      
When:            Saturday, April 23, 2011
Meeting at:    VFW Hall parking lot - 850 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Travel to Silver Creek, Mt Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island
Time:              10 AM

Roger Williams Park Rose Garden Work Day ~ April 9, 2011

The roses are ready to be uncovered from their long winter naps. This Saturday, April 9th, the RIRS will gather around 9:30 a.m. at the garden (rain or shine) to open up the RWVRG for the season. The weather report is for partly sunny skies with highs in the low 50's. Perfect weather to open up the garden. Come out, and be with all of your friends from the RIRS and talk about your favorite flower. There is plenty to do to get the garden readied for the upcoming season. The more people we have helping out, the sooner it is done. Volunteers are needed for pruning, and cleaning, and raking, and fertilizing, and we have many new roses need to be planted. No experience needed! Just a love of roses, the RIRS, and the RWVRG.

See you all there!
Andy Vanable
Garden Chair
401-663-3777

P.S. This is a rain-or-shine event, but in the event of severe weather, contact me at 401-663-3777 for cancellation and postponement information.