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| This week in conservation August 13 - 19, 2007 |
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| Calendar | ||||||||
| Polly Hill Arboretum offers guided tours daily | ||||||||
 Mon, Aug 13, 2007 Daily at 2 p.m. Suggested donation of $5 at 809 State Road in West Tisbury. |
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| Garden Tour | ||||||||
| Tues, Aug 14, 2007 10-11 am, Polly Hill Arboretum, State Rd., West Tisbury. "Treasures of the Play Pen," precious plants with Suzy Zell and Nancy Weaver. $5, free for members. 508-693-9426. |
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| Bird Walk with Susan B. Whiting | ||||||||
 Tues, Aug 14, 2007Meets at 8 a.m. at Chilmark Community Center to carpool. Bring binoculars, insect repellent and sun block, and wear a hat, clothing, and footwear appropriate for field birding. |
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| Mytoi Volunteer Day | ||||||||
 Wed, Aug 15, 2007The Trustees of Reservations, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. A great way to spend the morning! Volunteers needed to prune, weed, and help maintain Chappaquiddick’s Japanese-style garden. Join us at Mytoi on Chappaquiddick anytime throughout the morning. Every extra set of hands is greatly appreciated. Please let us know if you plan to attend; call (508) 627-3599. |
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| Garden Lecture | ||||||||
| Wed, Aug, 15, 2007 7:30 pm, Polly Hill Arboretum, State Rd., West Tisbury. Rock gardening with Tom Clark. $8; $5 for members. 508-693-9426. |
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| Herbal Salve Making Workshop | ||||||||
| Thurs, Aug 16, 2007 Polly Hill Arboretum, 1pm – 3pm Holly Bellebuono of Vineyard Herbs returns to PHA for a salve making workshop. This fun hands-on workshop starts with a walk to identify and collect medicinal weeds and herbs on Arboretum grounds. Then Holly will lead the group in making oil infusions and beeswax based ointments. Learn practical knowledge on when and how to use herbal salves and take home your useful creation. Supplies included. $40/$35 for PHA members. To register call 508-693-9426. |
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| Annual Agricultural Fair | ||||||||
 Thurs, Aug 16, 200710 am-11 pm, Agricultural Hall, Panhandle Rd., West Tisbury. Four-day fair includes judged exhibits of food, crafts, art, and animals; oyster shucking and fiddle contests; skillet throw; fiber-arts tent; draft horse pull; woodsmen's competition; and rides, games, and food. See official guide to the Ag Fair. $8 adults, $5 seniors and children 5-12. Through Aug. 19 (Aug. 19,10 am-7 pm). |
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| Arboretum Tour | ||||||||
| Thurs, Aug 16, 2007 10-11 am, Polly Hill Arboretum, State Rd., West Tisbury. Introductory tour with Tom Clark. $5; free for members. 508-693-9426. |
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| Alpaca Farm Days | ||||||||
 Fri, Aug 17, 200711 am-5 pm, Island Alpaca Company, 1 Head of the Pond Rd., Oak Bluffs. Visit and learn about alpaca. Also Sat.-Sun. 508-693-5554. |
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| Bird Walk with Robert Culbert | ||||||||
 Sat, Aug 18, 2007Every Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. meets at the high school parking lot. Cost is $25 per person to enjoy bird identification, ecology and behavior. For details, call 508-693-4908. |
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| Chappaquiddick Nature Tour | ||||||||
| Sat, Aug 18, 2007 10 am-12 noon, Chappy Community Center, Chappaquiddick Rd. Sponsored by the Polly Hill Arboretum and Chappaquiddick Island Assoc. $24; $20 for PHA and CIA members. 508-693-9426. |
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| Winged Works workshop/demonstration | ||||||||
 Sat, Aug 18, 2007(How to make fans and hair pieces from whole wings) with Cera Garvin from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Aquinnah Cultural Center (Vanderhoop Homestead) at the cliffs. All ages, $10 crafting fee, includes house tour. |
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| Guided Tours of Polly Hill Arboretum | ||||||||
| Sat, Aug 18, 2007 State Road in West Tisbury are free at 2 p.m. daily. For details, call 508-693-9426. |
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| Explore the Shore family nature program | ||||||||
| Sat, Aug 18, 2007 2 p.m. is free with admission to Long Point Wildlife Refuge. For details, call 508-693-7662. |
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| Marine Discovery Snorkel | ||||||||
| Sat, Aug 18, 2007 For kids aged four to eight with a guardian to explore Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge on Chappaquiddick with nets, masks and snorkels, on a first-come, first served basis between 2 and 3:30 p.m. Cost is $7 or $5 for Trustees members. For details, call 508-693-7662. |
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| Gardening Class | ||||||||
 Sun, Aug 19, 20071-3 pm, Agricultural Hall, Panhandle Rd., West Tisbury. Rebecca Gilbert discusses produce varieties at the fair. $15 per class. 508-645-3304. |
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| Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary events for the week | ||||||||
Mon, Aug 13, Guided Kayak Tour,10:00 am – 12:00 pm Mon Aug, 13, Down by the Shore, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Tues, Aug 14, Creature Feature: Quahogs and Clams, 10:00 am - 11:00 am Tues, Aug 14, Kayak Quest, Between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm schedule your 2.5 hr Kayak Quest. Enjoy Sengekontacket at your own pace on this self-guided tour. Tues, Aug 14, Marine Discovery Tour, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Wed, Aug 15, Wild Wednesday – Frogs and Toads, 10:00 am – 11:00 am Wed, Aug 15, Guided Kayak Tour, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Wed Aug 15, Stargazing, 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Want to know more about the night sky? Join us while we explore the night sky and learn basic astronomy. Thurs, Aug 16, Down by the Shore, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Thurs Aug 16, Kayak Quest, Between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm schedule your 2.5 hr Kayak Quest. Enjoy Sengekontacket at your own pace on this self-guided tour. Thurs, Aug 16, Marine Discovery Tour, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Fri Aug 17, Family Canoe Trip, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Fri Aug 17, Kayak Quest, Between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm schedule your 2.5 hr Kayak Quest |
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| Announcements | ||||||||
The Marine and Paleobiological Research Institute in Vineyard Haven, is seeking an adult volunteer to help with everything from record keeping to writing to research. Two or three mornings/afternoons a week would be great. Organizational and grant writing/researching skills a plus. The mission of MPRI is education, research and public participation in marine and paleobiological sciences; also working to preserve our world fossil heritage. Our website is www.MPRInstitute.org. Please contact Fred Hotchkiss, director, email Hotchkiss@MPRInstitute.org or 5008-693-3122 |
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| Island Plan Update | ||||||||
| Island Plan Forums | ||||||||
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| Climate Change Update | ||||||||
| Scientists Describe Changes Wrought by Global Warming |
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Having lived in the Midwest for a few years, Woods Hole Research Center scientist Dr. Michael T. Coe knows that global warming sounds good to some ears - it implies shorter winters and higher temperatures. |
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| The Changing Shape of the Island |
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 Erosion on the South Shore is evident in this 2005 photo showing the 1897 coastline in orange, 1955 in blue, 1994 in green. (Photo by Martha’s Vineyard Commission)http://www.mvmagazine.com/ 2007/august/shape.php |
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| Water Update | ||||||||
| Vineyard Haven Harbor contamination update |
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| Recycling Update | ||||||||
| Giving Bottles a Second Life |
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| Scientists issue warning on chemical |
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| Bisphenol A, a compound found in plastics, may be causing reproductive disorders, the statement says. In an unusual effort targeting a single chemical, several dozen scientists on Thursday issued a strongly worded consensus statement warning that an estrogen-like compound in plastic is likely causing an array of serious reproductive disorders in people. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/ asection/la-na-plastic3aug03,1,5957258.story? ctrack=1&cset=true |
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| Wind Update | ||||||||
| Nantucket Sound is a national treasure |
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| Biodiesel Update | ||||||||
| Cooking Up More Uses for the Leftovers of Biofuel Production |
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 Email Subscription InformationThe Almanac is provided as a public service by the Vineyard Conservation Society with the intent of providing quick and easy access to the Island's government process and environmental community. You are recieving this free email service because you have subscribed to the Vineyard Conservation Almanac. More information about island conservation issues, meetings and events can be viewed at http://almanac.vcsmv.org. If you do not wish to continue receiving these emails please click here to unsubscribe. Thank you for subscribing to the Almanac! |
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The alien, invasive colonial tunicate, Didemnum contributes a strong and aggravating presence in Lagoon Pond, causing fouling problems on nearly any surface available, including shellfish in the pond. Sparked by the dramatic ecological changes Didemnum is currently causing on George’s Bank, Elaine Hoagland and Mary Carman asked us at the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group to be part of a pilot project involving Didemnum and the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. We have set up a unique experiment at our shellfish nursery on Chappaquiddick, to observe the effects of Didemnum on the settlement of bay scallop larvae. Scallop larvae were introduced to 20 sieves, half with prepared pieces of Didemnum and a control substance, and the other half with simply the control substance. The larvae were introduced during the late veliger stage of development, when they have grown a shell that is not completely developed, yet are still capable of both swimming and crawling. We will be observing the behavior of the young scallops in relation to the tunicate, and determining whether there is a significant difference between the number of scallop larvae settled on the tunicate verses the control substance. This could have larger implications of the possible affects Didemnum will have in the near future on shellfish larvae settlement in the wild, and will likely lead to more study of the invasive tunicate.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 — The House passed a wide-ranging energy bill on Saturday that will require most utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power. President Bush has vowed to veto the bill because it does nothing to encourage increased domestic production of oil and gas.
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM
CEA, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, has submitted an IRA report on behalf of the owners of the Xtramart gas station on Beach Road. in Vineyard Haven. The owner of the station is the Drake Petroleum Company. This report, also referred to as an “Immediate Response Action” report, is required due to the historical releases of petroleum contaminants which have occurred at the gas station site and represents a continuing assessment of both the description of the plume of contamination and the various contaminants that have been identified. A unique purpose served by this particular report is an analysis of other sources of contamination and an identification of other potentially responsible parties. It also presents a better depiction of plume concentrations and contaminant constituents.
Not long ago, we argued in this space that because America has some of the best tap water available, it is time to start thinking twice about drinking commercially bottled water. One big reason is that a lot of petroleum is required to manufacture and transport the plastic bottles, thus adding to global warming and other environmental problems. Of course, in certain circumstances bottled water is necessary. It is essential during emergencies — think Katrina — and it is certainly a better alternative when the only other drinks come loaded with calories.
Cape Wind advocates like to caricature their opponents as a few select landowners who care only about preserving the views of Nantucket Sound. It's a clever and convenient argument, and it's dead wrong. But I have to hand it to them. By focusing on a few seaside landowners, Cape Wind developers have managed to distract the public from the real issues raised by their proposal: Do the public waters belong to all the people, or can they be seized and exploited by private companies for financial gain? 
The baking tins and muffin cups lining the countertops in a corner of Ronald Holser’s cluttered laboratory were filled with curious substances resembling angel food cakes and loaves of bread. But Mr. Holser did not advise eating them. The concoctions were prototypes for biodegradable weed barriers and sticky films intended to hold grass seeds on the ground long enough to germinate.