Northumberland
is going to grow. Let’s help it grow
with order and beauty.
Fall 2002 Volume 11, Issue 3
2002 Fall Social
By Sloan Kane
You
and your friends are invited to join the Board of Directors of Northumberland
Association for Progressive Stewardship (NAPS) at the 2002 Fall Social to
celebrate the 13th anniversary of the organization. The social is a way of saying ‘Thank You’ to
all members of the community who have supported the projects of the
organization.
The
Social is chaired again this year by Mary Lou Butler and will be held at the
home of Steve and Martha Tallent on Saturday, September 21, 2002 from 4:00 to
7:00 PM. This will be an opportunity to
meet other NAPS members and to welcome new members in a relaxed setting. Dress is casual.
A
highlight of the Social will be the presentation of the Northumberland
Distinguished Citizen Award for 2002,which will be presented to Rice’s
Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern Foundation, and includes the Tavern Rangers and the
Tavern Quilt Guild.
For
questions about the event, please phone Mary Lou Butler at 453-7628, Sylvia
Ball at 453-6381, or Barbara Witt at 453-9250.
Tickets are $12.50 per person. Deadline
for reservations is September 13, 2002. Directions to the Tallent home will be mailed with tickets. Extra funds raised help finance NAPS
sponsored community projects such as environmental education efforts in the
schools and the general public, marsh grass planting to stem eroding
shorelines, Adopt-a-Highway, scholarships for Northumberland High School
Seniors, and continuing citizen oversight of environmental concerns.
The NAPS Social is meant to be
just that. Some members are providing
food. There will be punch and wine
available. The idea is to come, join in
the fun and and have a good time. Just remember
the deadline of September 13 to order tickets.
Grass
Planting
By Lee Allain
On Thursday, the 20th of June,
NAPS received word from the FishAmerica Foundation that its "grant request
for the NAPS Spring Marshgrass Planting is approved for funding." The cover letter was attached to a check for
$2,250.00 as part of FishAmerica's shared support for the event. Tom Marshall,
Managing Director of FishAmerica, said "We are impressed with the
Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship's dedication to restore
eroding shoreline in the Potomac River watershed." FishAmerica's funding source for this award
is The NOAA Restoration Center.
Lee Allain, NAPS Project Leader,
expressed his pleasure with the award by saying "FishAmerica's award
validates the direction that NAPS is going!”
This award funds most of the costs of material for the planting. Volunteers also contributed their time and
donations toward a total project contribution of nearly $6,000.00.
The Marshgrass Planting, in case
you missed it, was held on May 18 – a rainy and blustery day. Over 40 hardy souls turned out, first to
hear Karen Duhring, Marine Scientist at VIMS.
Karen opened the program at Heathsville Episcopal Church by talking
about shoreline restoration. She taught us what grasses to plant and how to
plant them.
Then we all trouped to the
planting site, an eroded bank area near Olverson's Marina. First the ground was scribed with a special
rake. Then came the actual
planting. Coconut logs had been laid in
part of the area ahead of time. The
final two logs were laid so people could see how it was done. We completed the planting during a mid-day
low tide; one cannot count on precisely what the level of wind tide will be at
some future date so the water level was higher than anticipated. Freddie Olverson capped the day with hotdogs
and hamburgers on the grill. Not only
did we have a great day, but the grass has taken root and is starting to grow
rapidly. It appears that the coconut
logs were of less value than anticipated.
Many thanks to all of you who
participated! You are the ones who
make this sort of event possible and project our community dedication to
organizations like FishAmerica. For
pictures of the planting and more information go to our web site at: www.geocities.com/northumberlandnaps
NAPS
Scholarships
The Education Committee (Don
Pumroy and Susan Stubbs) interviewed the applicants for the scholarships. The awards were presented at the Senior
Chapel in May. They have all received
their $500.00 checks. The chosen
scholarship recipients are Pamela Ann Davis, Monai Rachelle Jones, Anna Jeanne-Marie
Magerko and Dinishia Toulson.
It is a pleasure to congratulate
the winners and to wish them all the best in their college endeavors.
NAPS Receives Award
By Donald Pumroy
On 7/27//02 Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship (NAPS) received an award from the Friends of the Potomac. The ceremony took place at the Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland.
Friends
of the Potomac is an organization that has brought together many groups up and
down the river that are interested and involved in protecting the environment
of the Potomac River. This is the organization
that promoted and helped in getting the Potomac River designated as a Heritage
River. NAPS, primarily through the
effort of Mike Harwood, has been involved with the Friends of the Potomac since
its inception. To date they have
accomplished much.
The
award reads “Friends of the Potomac proudly presents the 2002 Friends of the
Potomac Local Recognition Award to the Northumberland Association for
Progressive Stewardship for outstanding community leadership and for
participative cooperative and selfless support from members and the community
to the Friends of the Potomac’s Leadership Potomac program”.
Don
Pumroy, past acting president of NAPS attended the meeting and accepted the
award for NAPS. In his brief acceptance
speech he thanked the Friends of the Potomac and mentioned the two current
projects of NAPS: the sludge issue and the planting of marsh grass to reduce
erosion on the rivers. He also
mentioned the contributions that Mike Harwood has made, both to NAPS and to
Friends of the Potomac.
Lynn Brownley, Chairman, made a speech about the history and accomplishments of the Friends of the Potomac. Representative Steny Hoyer, Maryland, was in attendance and made an eloquent presentation about the importance of protecting the Potomac River environment and the great contribution made by the organizations represented by the Friends of the Potomac. A good friend of NAPS and the environment, Tayloe Murphy, also received an award from the group.
Important: Blue crab bill
Below
is an email received by the Board of Directors. It is an example of what could be sent to all members with email
addresses if we had them!
From: "Carl Failmezger" savebluecrabs@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002
Dear
Save the Blue Crab Foundation Members,
I
have worked hard for several years, and the bill to ban the harvest of sponge
crabs (which I wrote) is in Sen. Chichester's Agriculture, Conservation, and
Natural Resources Committee. He
sponsored it and wants to pass it, but is getting a lot of heat from commercial
watermen and VMRC to withdraw the bill.
In
my most recent communication from him, he is undecided and will make his
decision in the near future, based upon the comments which he receives from the
public ( particularly his constituents, but also other Virginia residents), so
it is now up to YOU.
I
ask that you contact Sen John Chichester at P.O. Box 904, Fredericksburg,
Virginia 22404-0904 (540) 373-5600.
His email address is Vasenate28@aol.com
Organize
other people to also call him. I
estimate that over 500 watermen, friends and family have asked him to withdraw
the bill. We have almost 500 members
now, please make the effort now. Non
members can also help.
Membership
remains free and open to any Virginia Voters who agree to support a ban on the
harvest of sponge crabs. So please
forward our email address to interested parties: savebluecrabs@hotmail.com
Freeland
Mason (our vice-chairman) and I attended the Blue Crab Advisory Committee. Dr. Rom Lipcius (VIMS scientist) repeatedly
explained that the blue crab fishery remained on the verge of total collapse
and could not withstand another ecological problem (like 1991) unless the crab
population was increased by a minimum 200%.
The commercial watermen made it perfectly clear that they were concerned
with maximum profits and that they feared a return to the high 1980's crab
populations because abundance reduces their price and profit. They strive to keep population down.
They
do not know me personally, but referred to me as a "Yahoo" and were
very critical of our efforts. They also
stated their intention to pressure Sen. Chichester and other legislators to
block our bill.
Contact Legislators!
Carl E. Failmezger
Chairman
Editors note:
If
you read the popular scientific journal, the Richmond T-D, on Monday, August
12, you may have noticed the article entitled ‘Coastal marshes in
trouble?’. This describes the work of
Brian Silliman who has found a relationship between abundance of blue crabs and
marsh grass. The less the number of
blue crabs, the less the extent of marsh grass. The blue crabs actually control the periwinkle, a small snail,
that feeds on marsh grass.
Other
experts say it is an important finding but must be proved on a larger scale. You can add your ideas to this
controversy.
Given
a free hand waterman might follow a path that would destroy their own source of
blue crabs by inadvertently destroying marsh grass. Marsh grass provides a good source of food for young blue crabs.
Water Festival September 27, 2002
Ever
wanted to work with local students?
This is your opportunity! On
Friday September 27 all the sixth graders from Northumberland Middle School
will be bussed to privately owned property to participate in activities related
to Ground Water: Its formation, preservation and protection. Many of you have already volunteered but
more are needed. There are all types of
jobs to be done: food, signs, escorting children, helping teachers. This is a project of NN Audubon, Chesapeake
Bay Garden Club and NAPS.
Please
consider volunteering: call Audrey Brainard 580 5519 or email to brainard@rivnet.net
WHAT NAPS MEANS TO ME
Mary Lou Butler organized a gathering at
her house and then dinner at Rice’s Tavern/Hughlett’s Hotel. While still seated at tables in a private
room in the restaurant she asked some people seated at the various tables to
tell “What NAPS Means to Me”. These
statements follow (to some approximation).
By Shirley Smith
Mary Lou Butler and I are the only two founders
of NAPS still living in the county.
Three of our founders are deceased and one is living in Annapolis. At the time of NAPS founding the Chesapeake
Bay Act was about to be passed.
Therefore, everybody who could was trying to develop their land before
the new law became effective. There
were some terrible developments proposed.
For example, the owner of Hughlett Point (currently one of our four land
preserves) was approached by a developer who wanted to build a 500-seat
restaurant, a 25-room motel, and 35 houses on that little piece of land. There was such a hue and cry from the people
that this project was never submitted to the Board of Supervisors. However, others that were just as bad were
brought to the Board. They would listen
patiently while a roomful of people opposed the project and then approve it
anyway. This was the environment in
which NAPS was born. We felt a large
group of people would be more effective than individual voices. Ralph Rose suggested our motto,
“Northumberlandis growing -- help it grow with order and beauty.” I am happy to say we have
helped the county grow with order and
beauty through our river cleanups, adopt a highway program, and most recently
our marsh grass planting. NAPS has
definitely been a positive influence in the county and I am proud to be a
founder.
By Lee Allain
Northumberland County is a
"jewel" worthy of stewardship.
Where else can you find the quality of life we enjoy here, in an
environment where we still don't have a stoplight? Great fishing, great gardening, great people -- what more do we
need? For me NAPS is an opportunity to
contribute my share toward the maintenance and enhancement of this wonderful
environment.
By Ralph Brainard
Shortly after joining NAPS I helped on
Mike Harwood’s first River Cleanup, the lower Great Wicomico River. This was such a hands-on and appropriate
function that when I was asked to be a member of the Board of Directors I did
not hesitate to respond that I would with pleasure.
By Porter Kier
What has impressed me most about NAPS is the hard, steady, consistently thoughtful work done by members such as Dick Steelman, Lee Allain, Mary Kier and many others who have devoted so much of their time to making the Northern Neck a better place for all of us to live.
Editorial
The Fall Social is a great time to bring potential new members. They will have an enjoyable time and get to meet other member and friends of NAPS. It is planned to have Board of Director members circulating to meet potential new members as well as old members with questions about what NAPS is doing. You can also personally congratulate the people of Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern that are present.
Remember the date of September 13, the deadline for reservations.
NAPS Board of Directors agreed on NAPS involvement in the Water Festival for sixth graders. Some NAPS people are already involved starting with Lynton Land. Others with an interest in educating children are requested to also become a part of this group. Since Audrey initiated this operation, you can guess I am a part of it. Join us! It could be fun.
What NAPS means to me! Mary Lou selected four people to speak to this idea. It is interesting to me how four people without planning can make such different statements.
The grass planting went very well in spite of the weather. It was cold and windy and still people turned out to plant grass. Three women from Westmoreland County came to help us, really to get information to take back with them. I am pleased that they turned out to help on such a day. If you think the grass planting was a good idea, (even if you could not take part in the planting in May) tell Lee Allain so and encourage him to repeat it next Spring.
NAPS 2002 Calendar
The NAPS board meets at the Northern Neck State Bank
in Burgess at 9:00 A.M. each month on the Wednesdays immediately preceding
Northumberland Board of Supervisors meetings (second Thursday). NAPS members and prospective members are
always welcome.
September
11 NAPS Board Meeting
22 NAPS Annual Social
October
9 NAPS Board Meeting
November
13 NAPS Board Meeting
December
11 NAPS Board Meeting
Northumberland
Association
for Progressive Stewardship
PO Box 567, Heathsville, VA
22473
President.......Cary
Caton ......580-2922
cary@rivnet.net
V President...Lynton
Land......453-6605
jandl@rivnet.net
sss@rivnet.net
Treasurer.....Bob
Holley..........580 4090
reholley@rivnet.net
Cas
Olverson........................529-5555
realestate@port-starboard.com
Joel
Stubbs...........................580-4110
stubbs@crosslink.net
Ralph
Brainard...................580-5519
rbrainard@rivnet.net
Lynton
Land...,...453-6605, jandl@rivnet.net
Lee
Allain.,.529-5491, lrallain@crosslink.net
Robert
Holley.....................580-4090
reholley@rivnet.net
Cary
Caton............580 5922, cary@rivnet.net
Mary
Kier..............529-6071
marykier@crosslink.net
Susan
Lindsey...580 4137, sakwhl@rivnet.net
NAPS News Editor
Ralph
Brainard.....................580-5519
NAPS Web Site
www.geocities.com/northumberlandnaps
Web
Master
Rita
Johnson.........................580-3052
pjrj@crosslink.net