JULY/AUGUST 2014
Dear Friends:

 

Board members volunteer at Healthy Trails 5k
TTF Leadership News
With this year's adoption of a Strategic Plan, we made a commitment to restructure our Board to align more closely with our evolving organizational needs. We are moving from a Board largely composed of public and non-profit representatives to one whose members are mission driven and can provide the "treasures, talent, and time" that long-time Board member Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Executive Vice President defines as required Board member characteristics. We have established a Board of Advisors and will soon convene a Municipal Task Force composed of representatives of our member municipalities.
 
I want to personally thank those Board members who took the time at many meetings to consider and develop our new structure. I also want to thank our outgoing Board members, congratulate new Board President Susan Myerov, and welcome new member Carolyn Hirsh. We are still seeking Board participation! Read more about our new structure and members here
 
WREN Stars
TTF was front and center at the recent Making a Splash for Clean Water: Local Project Wrap Up Meeting/Project Orientation & Training 
Alex Cooper receives WREN project certificate
Meeting hosted by the Water Resources Education Network of the PA League of Women Voters at Dickinson College.

Alex Cooper, Community Watershed Specialist presented lessons learned through our Managing Rainfall: Stormwater Project Tours during the Speed Learning Sessions and introduced Backyards with Benefits, our newly funded program. Brynn Monaghan, our Communications Director and I described how TTF "gets the word out" at our "Streets to Tweets" session in partnership with Dr. Patti Laird, social media expert. We really enjoying talking about our outreach success, and have already been asked to share our presentation at some upcoming conferences!

 

Summer with TTF
Finally, I just wanted to extend a personal invitation to you to join us at one of our summer programs...or head out for a walk in our watershed on your own or with your friends and family. Be sure to send us a photo that we can post! Our watershed is beautiful, so get out in the next few months to listen to the creek and the birds!

 

Best, 

Julie
UPSTREAM UPDATES
BECOME A STREAMKEEPER!
 
We had a great turnout -- 40+ attendees -- at June's Become A Streamkeeper meeting with the Pennypack Ecological Restoration 
Trust (PERT) at the Abington Friends School! Read about it here
 
If you're interested in becoming a Streamkeeper but couldn't attend the meeting, please take a minute to fill out our Streamkeeper Interest Survey. Send your completed survey to Alex Cooper and he'll be in touch.
 
Stay tuned for information on the first Streamkeeper training in August!
CHELTENHAM TREASURE: CURTIS ARBORETUM UPDATE
 
Curtis Arboretum, one of Cheltenham Township's historic park treasures, is in the midst of a community-driven planning process, whose goal is to develop the arboretum into one a widely enjoyed public space, while restoring its landscaped grounds, Rock Creek riparian corridor, and woodlands.
 
Over the past year, a committee of community members has provided input to Nancy Minich of NAM Planning and Design LLC (leader of the Master Plan process). Read more here
WOOF! WOOF! JUNIATA DOGS NEED YOUR VOTES!

Let the games begin! Voting is now open to elect the Philadelphia Water Department's 2014 Spokesdogs!

VOTE HERE  
 
Judges will select the top dog based on friendly nature, best canine smile, charm, and natural spokesdog abilities. 
 
Mark your calendar for the Juniata Spokesdog award ceremony at the Juniata Action Fest!
DATE: Saturday, September 27 
TIME: 11-2 p.m. 
PLACE: Juniata Park Boys & Girls Club, 1001 E Cayuga St, Philadelphia 19124

 

Visit the Watersheds Blog for spokesdog news, updates and more information on how you can help keep Philadelphia's watersheds clean and healthy.

YOUR SUMMER GUIDE TO WATERSHED ACTIVITIES
**ALL EVENTS ARE FREE**

TTF is hosting a series of FREE, fun, low-key family fun block parties at each of the new Parks and Recreation gateways in Tacony Creek Park. There will lots of family fun, nature walks, live animals, information and resources, a food truck and water ice! Come on down and tell us what you'd like to see happening in your park! 

 

DATES: July 15-17 

TIME: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

PLACE: 
July 15: I St. and Ramona Ave., Philadelphia 19124
July 16: Whitaker Ave. and Loudon St., Philadelphia 19124
July 17: Rorer St. and Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia 19124
 
CONTACT: Dory�n De Angel at doryan@ttfwatershed.org/215.744.1853

Mussel surveying is just one way we can meet our 
goal to improve the health of our creek and its watershed. Working with the Mussel Surveying program of the Partnership of the Delaware Estuary (PDE), we train volunteers to look for freshwater mussels. Read more here


FAMILY FITNESS     

Join Hope Zone Community Center for a day of family fitness in Tacony Creek Park -- it's a great way to get in shape while having fun! Activities such as dumbbell exercises and push-ups tailored to your needs. Beginner and advanced levels available. 

DATE: Saturday, July 19 & Saturday, July 26

TIME: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

PLACE: Ferko Playground, 1101 E Cayuga St, Philadelphia 19124

CONTACT: Cheryl@thehopezone.com/267.318.4648    

YOGA 
Join the BuildaBridge Artologists and Instructor, Mimi Scalia, for Yoga in the Park. Mimi has over 20 years of experience instructing yoga in various forms (e.g. laughing yoga).
DATE: Thursday, July 31
TIME: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
LOCATION: TBD 
CONTACT: Dory�n De Angel
215.744.1853
ART INSTALLATION & DRUM CIRCLE FINALE
See the construction and unveiling of a month long art project with BuildaBridge. The event will finish with a ceremonial drum circle! 
DATE: Thursday, August 7
TIME: TBD
PLACE: I St. & Ramona Ave, 19124
CONTACT: Dory�n De Angel
215.744.1853


Water Blues, Green Solutions is an interactive documentary film designed to promote awareness of the role that green infrastructure can play in creating a sustainable water future.

Water Blues Green Solutions tells stories from across the country of communities -- including Philadelphia -- that are adopting new ways of thinking about how to protect, restore, and preserve our rivers and sources of drinking water.

Produced by Penn State Public Media

DATE: Wednesday, August 6
TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
PLACE: Juniata Golf Club, 1391 E Cayuga St., Philadelphia 19124
CONTACT: Julie Slavet julie@ttfwatershed.org/215.744.1853

DATE: Thursday, August 7
TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
PLACE: The Towers at Wyncote Clubhouse, 8440 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote 19095
CONTACT: Julie Slavet 


VERNON PARK RAIN GARDEN TOUR & OLDIES IN THE PARK
Join TTF and the Friends of Vernon Park for a rain garden tour! Learn about rain garden benefits, components, and maintenance. After you've toured the rain garden, stay for the outdoor concert series "Oldies in the Park"! FREE event with a food vendor. Bring your lawn chair!  
DATE: Wednesday, July 30
TIME: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
PLACE: Vernon Park, Germantown Ave. & E. Price St., Philadelphia 19144
CONTACT: Dory�n De Angel at doryan@ttfwatershed.org/215.744.1853

JENKINTOWN OUTDOOR CONCERT WITH TTF!
The sound of music will be wafting through the trees of Jenkintown's beautiful Town Square! Come out to listen to the sounds of Underwater Country Club and stop by our table to say hi and get your FREE watershed materials and updates! 
DATE: Tuesday, August 5
TIME: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
PLACE: Town Square, Greenwood Avenue and Leedom St., Jenkintown 19046

FRIENDS OF HIGH SCHOOL (FOHSP) PARK WORK DAYS 

Join FOHSP at the shed by the meadow to get your tools. Wear work clothes: long pants, long sleeves, sturdy shoes,and bring garden gloves if you have them. The park is one block from the train station, and parking is available in the Harrison Street Commuter Lot. RSVPs appreciated, and walk-ins & all ages welcome!

DATES: Saturdays and Sundays: June 28 & 29, July 12 & 13, July 26 & 27, August 9 & 10, August 23 & 24, September 6 & 7, September 20 & 21, October 4 & 5, October 18 & 19, November 1 & 2 

TIME: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PLACE: 7910 Montgomery Ave, Elkins Park, 19027
CONTACT: For questions, to RSVP or to arrange a group, contact Kevin at 215.782.8082/emailvolunteer@fhsp.org 

 


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4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125 � 215.744.1853