Annapolis Green Newsletter
           April 13, 2012                                                                                     Vol. 3 No. 14
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In This Issue
Check Out Our Email Sponsors!
Be a Founding 100 Member!
Petition to Save the Remaining Forests on Forest Drive
Earth Day Month Events
Mills' Community Rewards Program
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Support Annapolis Green: Be a Founding One Hundred Member!
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Over the past five years we've provided an on-line and in-person way t
o distribute local environmental information, make friends and alliances, and exchange views. Your support of our programs tells us that you believe we are providing a valuable service. Changing our status to non-profit allows us to take on projects funded by grants and tax-deductible donations. But in this "formative period," we need your financial support to get established.

  1. Charlie Birney
  2. infrared Tools Energy Services
  3. Gene Singleton & Maureen McEnerney
  4. Keith & Helen Drewett
  5. Doug Lashley / GreenVest
  6. Elvia Thompson
  7. Lynne & Mark Forsman
  8. Ralph Gleason
  9. Shelley & Eric Rubin
  10. Boatyard Bar & Grill
  11. John Nicklin   
Want to be one of the first to be a part of Annapolis Green? Then consider becoming one of our Founding One Hundred. This exclusive group is made up of the first 100 people to donate $1000 to Annapolis Green. These 100 individuals will be permanently listed on our website, letterhead and other materials. Want to join in and make your mark on sustainability in the Annapolis area? Just click on the Donate button above to learn more. The Annapolis Community Foundation is already acting as our fiscal sponsor so that we can accept tax-deductible donations even while our 501(c)(3) filing is underway.
 
Thank you!

Anne Arundel County Farmers' Markets are Open!

Click here for the full schedule 

Petition to Save the Remaining Forests on Forest Drive

There is a petition that is resonating with the environmental community in the Annapolis area. Sponsored by the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter -- Anne Arundel County Group, 
it calls on the Mayor and City Council to "Stop Annapolis from Trading Forest for Traffic." The issue is the proposed construction of two projects on Forest Drive, the Reserve at Quiet Waters and the Crystal Springs development. These would include 681 residences and 200,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on 140 acres. That's a lot of traffic and pressure on already overcrowded schools.
Fully 61 percent of the two surviving forests in the city would be bulldozed. At issue is this and whether the State's Forest Conservation Act is being violated.

If this is important to you,
click here to learn more and sign the petition. We have information about the Reserve at Quiet Waters project on our website too. Click here. 

The Board of Appeals hearing on the Reserve at Quiet Waters will be held Wednesday, April 18 at  City Hall, 7 p.m. If this is important to YOU, plan to attend.   
Be part of the Annapolis Green community -- get involved! Join in and leave comments on our Facebook page and follow our Tweets.
 
And ... we encourage you to become one of the Founding One Hundred, helping Annapolis Green to grow!
Top of the Line 

RECAP 
Cleaning Up Our Waterways:
Above, In and Under Water!
The Robot Cleans Up Ego Alley! 
 
annapolis green logo What did you think we'd find underwater, in Ego Alley? Well, the answer yesterday was a pair of pants (!), a cloth napkin, a glass cup, a bottle and a few other things -- only "findable" with the Rozalia Project's underwater robot.

Green Drinkers were treated to a presentation about the mounds of trash littering our oceans and waterways and astounding numbers about how long it takes each type of material to break down -- we're talking hundreds and thousands of years here. Read more on our website.

Rachel and Rebecca from the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean makes underwater trash collecting fun and hopeful. We thank them so much for the informative and entertaining demonstration and for SpinSheet, the National Sailing Center and Hall of Fame, and the Boat US Foundation for making the Trash Tour stop in Annapolis possible.

In case you missed the robot demo, here is the schedule for this weekend:

 

Today, Friday, April 13: During the day they will be running marine debris programs for area schools with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) off the docks at the National Sailing Hall of Fame. These are interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs with stops on the Pride of Baltimore II as well!   
Saturday April 14: Underwater marine debris hunting for the general public. Saturday they will be back at the NSHOF dock's with the ROV for anyone who wants to check it out from 12-2:30 p.m. They also have opportunities open for groups like Scouts, home schoolers, and more, in sessions between 10-11:30 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Please contact Laura Lutkefedder at SpinSheet Magazine if you have a group who would like to be included. 

And lets not forget the invaluable local information we had on display about keeping our local waterways clean, including supporting Clean Marinas, participating in shoreline cleanups, caring for your boat in an environmentally friendly way, and more from the Boat US Foundation. There is plenty of info on our website on these topics. Just click here.

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Thanks to Pussers and the Annapolis Marriott ... a return after several years! The staff did a wonderful job of keeping us happy with delicious appetizers and beverages. Pusser's management allowed us announce that the restaurant will begin commercial recycling next month! That is a great first step toward sustainability and we salute them for that. and invites us to have a look at their fixed-price entrees and stay for dinner. Read about the Marriott's sustainable practices on its Maryland Green Travel page.

Thank you to our greeters Karin Hannah and Leslie Trott and to our "Greeter in Training," Nick DiPasquale, who is the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program (under EPA), and a very good sport!

We were delighted to welcome Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen to Green Drinks and we hope he will make it a regular event on his calendar. 

  

This weekend and next there are SO many events going on all over the area that it makes your head spin! You have no excuse to stay home. We've highlighted a few below but have a look at our calendar and volunteer your time for the good of our environment... get outside and enjoy!   

 

Elvia & Lynne

 

Save the date for the next Green Drinks Annapolis:
Tuesday, May 15  5:30 - 7:30 p.m.,
Charles Carroll House of Annapolis celebrating
Preservation Month!
Earth Day Month Activities      

Because there are so many things going on to help the environment this month, Earth Day month... we're bringing a few to your attention -- but there are many more! Be sure to check out our full calendar.

Saturday, April 14 
There are many stream clean-ups planned in the next few weeks, many part of Project Clean Stream, on Saturday, April 14. Nearby sites include Annapolis Harbour Center, Blue Jay Branch at Muddy Creek Road, Chesapeake Children's Museum (where Elvia will be with the Spa Creek Conservancy), and the Woodhaven community in Davidsonville (where Lynne will be, having planned the event). For more info about where and when you can volunteer to do a little spring cleaning for our environment, click on the image or see our calendar. All of these events are great fun for kids too.

Chesapeake Ecology Center  
Garden Tour & Garden Care - Join volunteers, including Master Gardeners, for a tour of the Native Plant Demonstration Gardens then play in the dirt and work on Garden Care for two Rain Gardens and the Butterfly/Dragonfly Garden. Tools and snacks will be provided.

Earth Day at Quiet Waters 
Enjoy a day at the Park to celebrate Earth Day. Activities include arts and crafts for kids, music, nature walks, environmental vendors, bike sale by Revolution Kids and the opening of a new Reading and Butterfly Garden and Watershed Education Experience in conjunction with Garrett's Light. The day begins with the 18th Annual Sierra Club's Earth Day 5K race at 8:30 a.m.

Walk for the Woods 
Also on Saturday, April 14, is the Scenic Rivers Land Trust's Walk for the Woods. You can take one or more walks -- at various levels of intensity -- in the Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville. This is wild land that is permanently preserved in its natural state -- what a rare treat! See this special part of the South River Greenway at this family friendly, free event. Read more.

There are SO many more events -- just on the 14th -- including a canoe excursion at SERC, a vernal pool research day at Jug Bay, and a Green Expo in Bowie.  Get Outside!

 

 Don't Forget to Support Us Through

Mills Fine Wine & Spirits'

Community Rewards Program

Give us your Mills cash register receipts!

 

When you shop at Mills, at the foot of  Main Street in downtown Annapolis, save your cash register receipts and give them to us. Once a quarter we'll turn them in to receive a 5% rebate as a donation from Mills.  

 

This generous offer costs you nothing and helps us continue to spread the word about environmental issues in Annapolis. And, a few times a year Mills will provide unique wine, spirit and beer offers specifically created for as special promotions just for Green Drinkers! It's a Win-Win! Please shop at Mills and save your receipts for us.

sponsorsSupport our Email Sponsors

Green Pedals

 

Green Pedals specializes in sales and rentals of electric transportation including bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and conversion kits. They also offer repairs and often host special events. Location: 105 Annapolis Street, West Annapolis. Phone: 410 280-5005. And a word... electric bikes are not like mopeds -- you don't just sit. You pedal and get all the benefits of exercise, but with an electric assist only when you need it! Follow the Trans-America Electric Bike Tour!  

 

Kenergy Solar

 

At Kenergy Solar we believe that an educated customer is more likely to choose solar. We welcome the opportunity to help you find the answers to your questions about the environmental and financial benefits of solar energy for your home or business. Just give us a call at 410 533-4499 or email us at [email protected].  

 

Garden Girls Landscaping  

  

garden girlsGardens Girls Landscaping is a locally owed, full service company offering design, installation, and maintenance of your landscape with emphasis on Bay Friendly restoration. We've spent most of our lives on the magnificent Chesapeake Bay, and we care deeply about its health and future viability. With that in mind, from the very first day of business, we've tried to "go green" whenever possi ble, using sustainable landscaping practices, environmentally-sensitive design principles, and bay-friendly, organic products in our landscapes.  
Call today to learn how we can help you to garden using native plants, raingardens, passive irrigation, rainwater capture, and xeriscaping (planting with drought-tolerant plants,) all means to conserve precious water. Or schedule a consultation to design a lovely native planting that can replace the water-hungry lawn you've grown tired of mowing while providing habitat and food for birds and other wildlife. Call or email us to schedule a consultation Today: 410 263-1133. 

 

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