Highland Conservancy

Huron Valley Earth Day

Earth day is celebrated every April, yet here in Highland Township and Milford, Michigan there was a very special afternoon of family fun!  On Sunday, April 22, 2012 the Huron Valley Green Team and Carls Family YMCA off Commerce Road in Milford hosted a free earth day event packed with activities for families, children and everyone who attended.  There was face painting, art activities, dancing, top notch musicians, free trees for all, the International Academy put on a "green" fashion show, and there were a wide variety of different booths with everything from how to control new invasive plants to the "insect man" with cocoons, caterpillars and walking sticks, to the hit for all the children - a chance to hold a beautiful (and gentle) corn snake.  This is an annual event put on by the Huron Valley Green team each year so if you missed the fun this year, I urge you to make sure you attend next year on earth day.

Highland's New Pathway Plan by Jennifer Frederick

Highland Townships Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan was initiated during the update of the Highland Township Recreation Plan in 2009, because Highland residents showed great interest in meeting the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians.  The Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Plan describes the future vision for sidewalks, paths, trails and bike lanes in Highland Township. Highland would like to connect users to natural, cultural and civic destinations and to provide healthy alternatives to driving.  The Plan will also be used as a tool to obtain funds to install the pathways.  The Pathway Plan was developed by a sidewalk committee and has been reviewed by the Planning Commission.  The Plan is now in front of the Board of Trustees for review and comments.  The Board is asking for public comments on the Plan. Once the comments and suggestions have been addressed, the Board will set the Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan for public hearing and final approval.

The Highland DDA is currently working on a Sidewalk Project in the Downtown Highland Station District check out the details at the DDA’s website at http://www.highlanddda.com/1/220/index.asp.  The project proposes sidewalks on both sides of Milford Road from M-59 south to Snooks Butcher's Shoppe/Colasanti's Produce and East Livingston Road from Milford Road to Eleanor Street.  The DDA is planning to start construction of the project in 2012. 

You may view the Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan on the Township website at www.highlandtwp.com or at the Highland Township Hall at 205 N. John Street.

If you have any questions or comments you can contact the Township Hall at 248-887-3791.

Stewardship in Action by Katheryn Krupa

A wonderful mix of families, adults, teens and children came out on Sunday, October 16th to plant trees along White Lake Road near Eagle Road in Highland as part of the Faith in Action initiative at Highland United Methodist Church.  Working with Jim Lloyd, President of the Highland Conservancy, Mary Lloyd of the Highland Beautification Committee, and many dedicated individuals from the church and community, we were able to plant white pine, red pine and other evergreen trees.  Several years ago the area had become degraded when a developer bulldozed the area, sold off all the top soil and left the land to be overgrown with invasive weeds such as spotted knapweed, which makes the ground toxic to native growth. 

Everyone pitched in digging holes, spreading organic mulch and planting trees to help in the effort to regenerate a healthy ecosystem in the area.  Several people wondered why someone would strip off all the top soil and then leave the land covered in stone and sand, unable to sustain plants and animals that formerly flourished there?  Good question!  [But that is a fight for another day].  Kid's Church teacher Mary Lloyd helped the children learn the importance of planting a variety of trees and how we need to be good stewards of our planet.  She showed them how to plant the trees and then we got to work.

Finally, we returned to re-mulch and spread woodchips around the evergreens that were planted several years ago in the same area.  The only down note was that of the 2,500 acorns that we planted in 2009, less then 5% managed to sprout and grow into young saplings.  (The biggest problem again has been the spotted knapweed that prevent the oaks from getting enough sunlight or nutrients to get a foothold.)  The best news was that this time around, we planted much larger trees that Jim Lloyd had carefully nurtured and raised in large pots, allowing them to grow into 2 to 3 foot trees.  Thanks to Jim and Mary for all their ongoing work mowing, weeding, watering and tending of the area.

A special thanks to all who turned out to make a difference!

LET THAT TURTLE GO by Katheryn Krupa

One of the most disturbing things I hear on a regular basis at my school goes something like this..."Guess what Mrs. Krupa?"  What?  "I found a turtle and my parents said I could keep it."  Oh really, so what are you feeding it?  "Oh, I don't know. I gave it some ants and bugs but it wouldn't eat them.  What do turtles eat?"  Honey, you really should let it go, it's a wild creature.  They don't do well in captivity.  A week later, So did you let that turtle go?  "No, I still have it.  I'm feeding it dead worms."  But is it eating them?  "No, but my Dad said I can keep it."  PLEASE let it go, it's fall and it needs to find a good place to go to sleep for the winter.  Another week later... So I hope the turtle is free now?  "Nope, it died (said very matter of factly).  It wouldn't eat."

This drives me crazy!  I talk to all my classes about the importance of leaving wildlife alone.  Turtles, snakes, frogs, walking sticks, a praying mantis...no matter what it is just let it go where you found it.  I know, I know, even I as a child had painted turtles we kept for a few days but my mother was smart enough to insist we let them go free.  The one pet she gave in on was a baby alligator I got to keep for a month but of course it refused to eat and died and I felt eternally guilty!  Wild animals just do not make good pets.  Period.

Worse yet to an animal lover like me is hearing about all the abandoned kittens mewing under houses or the dozens of cats roaming a neighborhood.  Get your animals neutered now!  Okay, I will keep working away bit by bit on my students at my school but I hope you will do your own part and teach your children to just let those critters go.  As for the cats?  Rescue them and take them to a shelter.  Now I'll get off my soapbox for today.

A TIME TO PLANT by Katheryn Krupa

 
Alas, after eight years of treating our three stately ash trees up north, I am sad to say I am losing the battle against emerald ash borer.  I had faithfully drenched each tree every spring with a product called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub that contains imidacloprid.  My neighbors' trees had all died but I was delighted mine were protected - until this year.  I noticed one of the ash trees showed significant die back and created a massive amount of seeds - exactly what happened to the other trees on our street before they died.  Nasty ash borer!  Alas, I could not afford the expensive injections suggested by my local tree company who charged over $700 to treat my trees previously.  Instead of these beautiful canopy trees, we are planting red and white pines.  As I drove home last weekend, I noticed the highway was lined with dead and dying trees.  These were not just ash trees but also included maple, pine and what appeared to be populars.  Our native trees are under attack because folks move firewood infested with insects like the emerald ash borer for which they have no defense.  (The newest invader is the Asian Longhorned beetle currently found in New York, Ohio and Massachusetts, and Chicago).  Our twin lakes in Iosco county were first hit when a thoughtless person ignored the DNR warnings and did just that and the ash borer quickly spread from yard to yard and into nearby forests. So as you go up north this fall, please do not bring firewood!

HIGHLAND HEY DAYS 5K RACE A SUCCESS

 
Over 50 runners turned out for the Highland Conservancy’s 5K Cross Country Race held during Highland Hey Days this year.  This race was sponsored by the Highland Conservancy and Highland Feed and featured a stunningly beautiful cross-country course.  Despite the rain, a variety of people and even dogs enjoyed a successful run as part of Highland’s weekend of festivities. Prizes awarded were $50 for first place, $25 for second and $10 for third. What a great way to challenge yourself, enjoy the beauty of Highland and get some great exercise too! If you weren’t able to make it, you can preregister for next year at www.highlandconservancy.org/pages/5k_registration/  or mark your calendar for next September, typically the second week into the month.  Stay tuned to our website for more details:  www.highlandconservancy.org  

Stalking Wild Asparagus by Katheryn Krupa

 

Just a few weeks ago in May, my sister and I were hiking with her flat coated retrievers through some rolling fields (dare I tell you where?) and low and behold we saw a stalk of wild asparagus!  Immediately the two of us fairly pounced on it.  I reached it first and snapping it off at the base I immediately ate it, yes, raw.  Delicious!  Eyes narrowed, the hunt was on!  It was like Christmas as we hiked along, scanning the ground as the dogs danced along beside us until our pockets were bulging with long, green shoots of asparagus.  In one field it almost seemed as if a fairy had planted them every few feet apart.  We also kept our eyes out for morels but despite all the rain we never saw even one, whereas in previous years, they were abundant.  Mentally, I mapped out the locations of our spring shoots, knowing they would be there faithfully next spring. 

One of my favorite books during my hippie years was Eulle Gibbons book Stalking the Wild Asparagus.  I'll never forget reading it, gathering wild ingredients and then boiling up some wild carrot soup (Queen Anne's lace) and getting so ill I was sick for days - but that didn't stop me!  Nowdays, I delight in watching Dual Survival on the Discovery Channel or Bear Grylls, a master at surviving in the wilderness and knowing exactly what to eat and not to eat in almost any environment.  However, even though I know my morel mushrooms, I still carefully double check my guidebook, knowing that even experts have been killed eating the deadly false morel.  So check out a good book on harvesting wild food and enjoy - carefully!

Huron Valley Earth Day by Katheryn Krupa

 

The Highland Conservancy sponsored a poster contest for elementary students in Huron Valley to promote Huron Valley's earth day festival coming up April 17, 2011 from noon-4 at Carls YMCA in Milford.  The theme of the contest was: Live Green:  Use Environmentally Friendly Practices for a healthier earth.  The first place winner was Kellie Hope of Oxbow Community School who won $50.  The second place winner was Gillian James of Country Oaks who won $25, and third place went to Ashley Welch of Oxbow who won $15.  This years events will be family centered with fun art activities, games, interesting booths, music and much more.  Visit the Huron Valley Green Team website for more information on earth day activities or to volunteer: http://www.greenteamofhuronvalley.com/

 
 

 

Frog and Toad Survey Jumps off in Highland by Katheryn Krupa

 

This spring, volunteers from the Highland Conservancy will again be conducting a frog and toad survey at different sites throughout Highland, including Highland Oaks. Michigan is home to several rare and endangered frogs and we will be listening carefully to see if we can locate some of these in our area. Amphibians such as frogs are indicator species.  That is, they can indicate the health or decline of our natural environment.  This survey is part of Michigan's annual frog and toad survey established in 1988 by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Thousands of volunteers will be crouching in mucky swamps and meandering through woodlands to identify calls from Michigan's 13 different native species of frogs and toads. 

Lori Sargent, the survey coordinator, reports that frogs and toads are ecologically important because they control insects and feed other wildlife. "And because amphibians are sensitive to environmental quality, they provide an early-warning system for declining ecosystem health", she said.

“They’re a first response to problems in the water,” Sargent said. “And this is a group of species that have been around since the dinosaurs. They’re pretty resilient, so if we’re seeing a decline now, it could be serious.”

Unfortunately, frogs are declining.  TV actor and spokesperson Jeff Corwin has reported on the mass decline of worldwide amphibian populations recently.  In tropical areas, frogs are being killed off by a fungus, with entire species being wiped out as this menace has relentlessly spread from pool to pool.  From the rocky streams of coastal Australia to the jungles of South America, and even to the American West, the world's frogs are vanishing at alarming rates. Frogs and their relatives have thrived on earth for more than 360 million years, but now they're under serious threat. Experts believe that as many as one-third to one-half of the planet's 6,000 amphibian species are in danger of disappearing — victims of one of the most significant mass extinctions since the dinosaurs.  

Here in Michigan, the DNR and local conservation groups are working hard to collect and analyze data to better understand and protect these animals locally.  To take part in Highland's frog and toad survey or for more info, call Ron at: 248-887-7125.  To find out more on the global work to protect these amphibians, visit:

http://www.amphibianark.org/

 

Freecycling by Katheryn Krupa

 
 

Last night as I visited my father at a nursing home over in Howell, I was again reminded of the importance of recycling.  This time I thought about TVs.  Every time I walk through those lonely, sterile halls I can't help but look at the seniors lying on narrow beds in their small, dimly lit rooms.  Usually, the only entertainment is a lone TV blaring away day and night as they lie confined to their beds either by depression or illness.  Sure there are activities like bingo, cards, or Wii bowling.  Yet I've noticed far too many residents laying in bed most of the day snoring away or staring at the blank walls.  I've discovered that not all homes offer free TV, particularly to Medicaid or low income patients.  So here is how you can help.  Have you recently upgraded to a new flat screen or ditigal tv?  Do you still have your old TV and wondered what to do with it?  Or for that matter, has your child outgrown their bike, toys, or Legos?  Or maybe you just watched a hoarding show (love them!) and have decided to declutter your own home.

I'm suggesting you go out of your way to get take that TV to a nearby nursing home (they desperately need small, cable ready TV's or flat screens) or simply post that useable item on the Freecycle Network - Highland's local site is:  http://groups.freecycle.org/HighlandTownship/posts/all

Don't just go the lazy route and put that old bike out a few days early for trash pickup hoping someone will grab it.  I suggest you drop it off at a thrift shop or list it for free on your local e-group.  Upgraded your computer lately?  Freedom Work Opportunities will take your old computer.  They will destroy your hard drive if you wish (the cost is $20) then recycle the unit.  For more info call 248-887-1597.

I'd also encourage you to visit and volunteer at a nearby nursing home, but that is another story...