Highland Conservancy

FROM FIELDS TO FOREST By Katheryn Krupa

Over 40 people showed up on Sunday, October 11th 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 the Highland Conservancy and other local groups, the church set out to "be the church" by planting trees, picking up trash from the Huron River and helping out throughout the community.  It was exciting to see little children work alongside moms and dads to regenerate a healthy ecosystem from land that had previously been destroyed by a developer.  The children learned the importance of planting a variety of pines, oaks and acorns and how we need to be good stewards of our planet.  Kid's church teacher Mary Lloyd taught them the names of the seedlings and acorns, then showed them how to plant and water the trees.  Over 2,000 acorns and over a hundred saplings were planted, mulched and watered.  Wow!  Thanks to all who turned out to make a difference.

Senior Citizen Complex again proposed for Highland by Katheryn Krupa

 

On September 17, this reporter was in attendance at the Planning Commission meeting when Cleve King returned requesting rezoning of his 120 acre property along with an additional 60 acres off  Susan Drive and Tipsico Lake Rd.  King stated he plans to provide a “continuum of care” in the complex not to exceed 225 units.  The current configuration he presented includes 76 condos, 180 apartments, 150 units in assisted living and 75 units in a nursing home.  Previously, the township did a micro-analysis of the area and recommended leaving the zoning unchanged for the area.  Now, King has done his homework changing his overall plan to include lower density, access in and out of the complex via a road through Susan Drive to Tipsico Lake Road, and additional planting of trees providing more buffer for adjacent properties including Dunham Lake Estates.  King is filing his request under a provision called “conditional zoning” which means the zoning is approved conditioned upon specific requirements for the development that are worked out and agreed to ahead of time.  Some possibilities include: requiring financial guarantees, stipulating specific areas as green space, or requiring phased development.  At the meeting, local residents voiced concerns about the impact the development would have on nearby low-lying homes already prone to flooding, the need to protect as much mature woodlands as possible, inclusion of quality open space not just wetlands, need for a provision to keep if from being sold and then turned into a trailer park or apartment complex, and units being placed too close to the lot lines of residents along Dunham Road. A sewer treatment plant is included in the plan which could have both a positive and negative impact on the area (it might encourage more development depending on its eventual size and capacity and what stipulations might end up being made).  King noted that there is the potential that nearby Dunham Lake residents couldhook into the sewer, depending, again, on how everything plays out. 

For a copy of the preliminary layout plan, click on this link: http://www.highlandtwp.com/uploaded_pics/pdf-20091008153542.pdf

There will be a public hearing on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.  In addition, concerned citizens are welcome to mail in their comments or concerns to the Planning Commission, or attend upcoming Planning Commission meetings.  For upcoming agendas (or minutes) of meetings, go to the township website at www.highlandtwp.com and click on Government, then click on Planning Commission, etc.

CLEAN ROADS by Katheryn Krupa

Last week was "adopt-a-road" clean-up throughout Oakland County.  Thanks to a strong turn-out of volunteers, several stretches of road in Highland are once again litter free.  The Highland Conservancy adopted Harvey Lake Road leading from M-59 to our new Highland Oaks Park.  It has been a busy summer keeping up with litter bugs but once again the road is clean.  Thanks to all who helped out this year!

5K Nature Run in Highland

The Highland Conservancy

5K Fun Run Nature Challenge!

When:                  Saturday, September 26, 8am
Starting point:    Highland Feed on Livingston Road EAST of Milford Road -- there is ample parking

Cost:                    $15 entry fee

 Highland Township has many natural areas, parks, and other beautiful natural features that make it a unique place to live.  The Highland Conservancy 5k Nature Challenge is designed to introduce Highland residents and visitors to some of the great aspects of Highland including the Highland Recreation area and the Dodge 10 Park.  The 5k will start near the railroad tracks by Highland Feed, continuing down Livingston road EAST (on dirt roads) to Pettibone Lake Road, through Dodge 10, looping back to the starting point.   For more information, contact Ron Flannery: Ron@RonFlannery.com, 248-887-7125, or the website below.

Part of Horsin' Around in Highland 2009

www.HighlandConservancy.Org

An Unusual Rescue of a Loon Chick by Katheryn Krupa

 

"Dennis, we can't just leave it to die!" I cried out to my neighbor.  As loon master for our lake up north, Dennis has asked me to kayak with him to check on an abandoned nest.  Just as we paddled up we heard a peeping and saw a baby loon cracking open its egg.  Oh oh.  The parents had left the nest a day earlier with the first chick that hatched, never to return (so we learned later).  "We have to do something!" I lamented.  Cradling the dark grey mottled egg in my hands, we watched as the baby loon kept pecking away.  Soon a wing emerged and eventually, a very wet, slimy chick was born with remnants of yolk still attached to what seemed like an umbilical cord.  Reluctantly, we left it in the nest and quickly paddled back so I could hop on the phone to a wildlife rehab person.  A hardworking, frazzled but kindly women named Ruth at The Ark in St. Helen, Michigan answered.  She was pretty hesitant but I insisted so she finally agreed I could bring it in.  Dennis and I rushed back to scoop up the now shivering loon chick and off I drove as quick as I could to The Ark with the baby loon chirping away constantly from under the warmth of my shirt.  Don't die, please don't die, I thought as I attempted to make what I hoped were loon like sounds to the peeping chick, driving down the back roads near West Branch.  I arrived in a swirl of dust just as Ruth pulled up with a bucket of minnows from a nearby bait shop.  We quickly fed the little loon and sure enough it swallowed down three tiny minnows and immediately seemed to perk up.  In short order I saw wild baby deer, flying baby squirrels, hawks and geese with broken wings, baby goslings and rabbits, and creatures in every nook and cranny of that amazing place.  A short call to the loon expert brought the tough news that I would have to hussle it back to the lake to try to reunite the chick with its parents...anything else just would not work!  So off I raced again, with my newborn charge, hoping to get it back before dark and the sun was setting fast!  I jumped back into the kayak but where were the loons?  The wind had picked up and here I was paddling, loon chirping away and I was frantic to get it back before nightfall.  Finally I heard the distant call of a loon and I paddled as hard as I could till I got pretty close to one of the loons with one chick nestled on its back.  I scooped up my little bundle of fluff and placed it on the paddle, extended it as close as I dared and, Plop, dropped it into the water and...hurrah, it floated!  I spun around to leave and the mother loon rushed over and scooped it up onto her back.  Success!  I got quite the noisy scolding as I paddled away.  Glancing back I was relieved to see the reunited loon family all swimming away.  That night the haunting call of the loons had a special meaning for me and I smiled contentedly as I watched the loons floating in the moon splashed waves.  [Update:  Alas, neither chick made it to the end of the week as the resident bald eagle I suspect snatched them both away.  Yet it was an amazing experience nonetheless!]

New program to help save Boy Scout and other wilderness camps by Kirt Manecke

Milford, Mich. –Across the nation, large wilderness camps that have nurtured interest in the outdoors for generations are being put up for sale. The troubling trend comes amid rising awareness that American children need far more time outdoors,and selling big camps—including some of our most famous Boy Scout camps—works directly against solving the problem that author Richard Louv called “nature deficit disorder.” In response, LandChoices <http://www.landchoices.org/>, a Michigan-based
non-profit of national scope, is launching a new program to help save the big camps that are so important to America’s outdoor heritage, our outdoor future and our children’s health. Called ,
“Big Camps<http://www.landchoices.org/bigcamps.htm>”,
the program offers camp directors and boards specific and useful how-to advice for saving wild lands. The LandChoices’ program provides two key solutions to prevent the sale of big camps.

1. The program provides state-of-the-art, easy-to-understand information about using land conservation easements <http://www.landchoices.org/preserveland.htm>to permanently preserve Big Camp lands, and thereby eliminate the temptation to sell the camp for development.

2. The program helps increase big camp operating revenues with targeted information for improving fund-raising effectiveness.

“The problem is that many non-profit boards are seeing declining revenues and are looking at selling big camps as a way to raise money to cover operating expenses,” says Kirt Manecke, Founder and President of LandChoices. “But selling land assets to cover operating expenses is unfortunately a short-sighted solution that diminishes our children’s access to nature and doesn’t really solve the core problem of too little cash flow. If these camps are sold, they will never be replaced because the cost of land today is simply too great.”

Manecke decided to launch “Big Camps” after reading the best selling book *Last Child in the Woods; Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. The book points to studies that show connecting children with nature leads to lower levels of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety and depression. The book also points out that nature is potent therapy for childhood obesity.

For more information about LandChoices’ “Big Camps” solutions, visit www.landchoice.org/bigcamps.htm or contact Kirt Manecke at info@landchoices.org.

Natural Features Ordinance for Highland

The Highland Township Planning Commission has been reviewing and revising the Natural Features Preservation regulations at recent meetings.  One of the things our Highland residents treasure most is the natural beauty of this area.  We are fortunate to have an abundance of high quality lakes, rivers and parkland.  In the future as developers come in to create new subdivions, it is important to protect the natural features of each site through our ordinances and site plan review regulations.  This creates a win/win situation.  New residents often prefer a site with natural features and mature trees to a site that has been clear cut, bulldozed, stripped of top soil and flattened into a wasteland.  Building sites with intact natural features are more desireable and the developer benefits as such sites command a higher price.  Such regulations do not impact individual landowners who still maintain their individual rights as protected under our current ordinances.       

Highland's Hometown Parade

 

Come join us SATURDAY, May 16 at 10:00 am for the Huron Valley Youth Athletic Association Parade (formerly Hi-White).  Set up a chair along Livingston Road west of Milford Road in downtown Highland and enjoy old cars, bands, floats, fire trucks, and horses (hopefully) at this annual hometown event!  Afterwards, grab a hot dog or sloppy joe at the Senior Center and browse around the Highland Beautification plant sale or look for a deal at the Huron Valley Council of the Art's rummage sale.  Be sure to stop by theHighland Conservancy booth where we will have various potted trees available - just next to the Senior Center.  Hope to see you there!

Earth Day Family Festival by Katheryn Krupa

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival
Carls Family YMCA, 300 Family Drive, Milford, MI
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Carls Family YMCA and the Huron Valley Green Team offer the Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival featuring environmental learning stations, nature adventures, unique and inspiring GREEN arts and activities for everyone! You are invited to create Drummunity with Lori Fithian, join creative Energy Dance facilitator Irena Nagler, or complete our community connection and celebration with a joyful Spiral Dance finale! The Highland Conservancy will have a booth with beautiful tame snakes for children to hold and enjoy.  We will have additional information available about the status of the nature park, upcoming conservancy activities and events.  For more information please call (248) 887-3611 or email jenlorakova@aol.com or bigskyfarm@gmail.com.  If it rains, the event will still be held indoors in the Y.

Highland's Community Garden by Katheryn Krupa

This year will be the second year for Highland's public community gardens.  It is open to any Highland resident or relative who wishes to plant a garden but might not have the space or sun.  Exciting news for this year is the donation of a huge truckload full of compost that has been offered to enrich the soil.  We already have a tractor to till it into the soil so now all we need is someone with a small dump truck or a way to move it to our garden - could that be you? Call Katheryn 248-887-4643 for more info. This garden is an outreach service that originally developed via the green team at Highland United Methodist Church.  Some of the food grown in the garden is donated to Community Share (over at Apollo) and other outreach programs.  Interest has grown as people realize this is a great way to stretch a tight budget, eat healthy and get the kids outside and more connected to the earth.  You are invited to come stake out your family's plot and help get the land ready for May planting.  Join us Saturday, April 18th, 9:00 am to help out. Just park in the church parking lot, 850 W. Livingston Road (next to Highland Elementary) and the garden is on the right, just past the parsonage as you turn into the church driveway.  Bring gloves, garden tools, and your children.  Mine helped move rocks last year (albiet as slowly as snails!)