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!

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/

 
 

 

Highland Conservancy 5K Nature Run

Please join us for the Highland Conservancy 5k Nature Challenge, on Saturday, September 25, 9am, starting at Highland Feed.

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 SOUTH, finally looping back to the starting point.   Donations are tax-deductible.

When:  Saturday, September 25, 2010, 9am
Starting point:  Highland Feed on 217 E. Livingston Road just EAST of Milford Road -- there is ample parking.
Donation (tax deductible):   $15 entry fee prior (register online at above website, HCinfo@HighlandConservancy.org or call Ron Flannery, 248-887-8470 x 40);  $20 day of (tax deductible).  Prizes: $50 first, $25 second, $10 third (may be done as gift certificates).  We'll also randomly be giving away tote bags and gifts from local businesses!

For more info go to:

http://www.highlandconservancy.org/pages/5k_nature_challenge/

http://www.highlandconservancy.org/_docs/5k_nature_challenge/5kflyer-20100925.pdf

EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS

 First place winner Shaina Parks accepting her award from Conservancy member Katheryn Krupa

The Highland Conservancy sponsored a poster contest for elementary students in Huron Valley to promote earth day and Highland’s Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival this Sunday noon-4 at Carls Y in Milford.  The theme of the contest was: Protecting Animals and their Habitat for a more diverse, ecologically healthy earth.  The first place winner was Shaina Parks of Kurtz Elementary who won $50.  The second place was Andrew Kovanda of Spring Mills and third place went to Alaina Maxwell of Kurtz.  Both won $25 each.  CONGRATULATIONS!

 

  Second Place winner Andrew Kovanda
 
 

 

Earth Day Family Festival by Katheryn Krupa

Sunday, April 25, 2010
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 like building race cars from recycled materials! You are invited to join in some FUN family activities and then maybe go for a bike ride along the new bike path leading from the YMCA to Kensington! The Highland Conservancy will have a booth with beautiful tame snakes (and hopefully turtles) for children to hold and enjoy.  We will have additional information about invasive plants, the frogs and toads of Michigan, and upcoming conservancy activities and events.  For more information please call the Y at 248-685-3020 or email bigskyfarm@gmail.com.  If it rains, the event will still be held indoors in the Y.  COME JOIN IN THE FUN!

HELP SAVE HIGHLAND by Linda Foran

 

What is the problem?

The King Rezoning Project is proposing a senior care housing development on the land bordering Hickory Ridge, Dunham Road and adjacent to Dunham Hills Subdivision. Access to this sprawling complex of senior housing will be made from either Hickory Ridge Road or Susan Drive. The housing project includes:

• 76 attached condos

• 180 senior apartments

• 150 assisted living units

• 244 single-family units

• 75 units in a nursing facility

• A sewer treatment plant

How can this happen?

Although his previous request was denied, Mr. King’s team of “community planning consultants” has now modified his original request by purchasing additional land and creating access using Susan Drive (more traffic on Tipsico). There is also a new tactic for zoning approval.

A request to the Highland Planning Commission for “conditional zoning” regarding the property in question has been made.  According to the Michigan Townships Association (MTA), a property owner seeking a rezoning of land may voluntarily propose conditions, in writing, regarding the use and/or development of land as part of the rezoning request.

Why should I care?

If the conditional rezoning is approved, the immediate impact will include;

• Loss of the rural atmosphere we sought when we moved to Highland.

• Loss of the natural open-spaced areas provided by the Master Land Use Plan.

• Increase in taxes to pay for the support necessary for this project.

• Staggering environmental impact including: the loss of woodlands, impact on our water table, noise and air pollutants, and the natural increase in vehicular traffic on our rural roads.

When can I speak out against the rezoning?

This should be a concern for all Highland residents. What can we do as a community?

1.   Take our voices to an open Planning Commission meeting (to address ideas for possible specific conditions) on Thursday, January 21 2009 at 7:30 at the Township Hall. 

2.   Write letters to members of the Township Planning Commission or the Board of Trustees expressing our concerns.

December and January are centered on activities with our families and it’s difficult to find the time to become involved in a community rezoning request. Make the time to use your voice to protect Highland. Remember, if this zoning change is made, our families will live with the consequences forever.