OLD FASHIONED LABOR DAY PICNIC

CITIZENS FOR SMART GROWTH

Hi Everybody, The Citizens for Smart Growth continues to await the decision as to whether the Maryland supreme court will accept our case...as we continue the fight against the 4,300 unit development called Terrapin Run to be located on Historic Scenic 40, with the waste treatment plant next to the wildlife management area, and Green Ridge State Park. Meanwhile we are planning our next gathering and hope you will come to our Labor Day Picnic. Use the attachment if you want to share this opportunity to gather your own family, friends, or group to invite them to a day full of hay rides for everyone, silent auction in the loft, 50-50 raffle, all the food you can eat, lemonade, root beer, and bring along your own family favoirte to share!

Photographic Field Trip Advance Notice

Dolly Sod Wilderness Canaan Valley Black Water Falls

Lead by Photographer, Penny Knobel-Besa

September Friday 28th, 29th & 30th

Arrive Friday evening for 8 p.m. Wine & Cheese gathering at Canaan Valley
Saturday dawn photo shoot at Dolly Sod Wilderness
Bird Photography Close Up Opportunity
Afternoon Bog and Nature Walks
Sunset Photo Shoot
Sunday morning Black Water Falls

Package for Prior Students & Photographers For Advance Registration
Full payment due by August 1th – Register early

1 bed room private in a 4 bedroom cabin - $275 for week-end one person

Garrett May Count 2007

The Garrett County May count had a phenomenal 150 species. Participants were: Jamie Alvarez, Natalie Atherton, Ron Boyer, Vicki Carlson, Jo Cox, Randy Crabtree, Tina Crabtree, Connie Crowe, Kevin Dodge, Benjamin Duff, Curtis Duff, Daisy Duff, Isaiah Duff, Levi Duff, Maria Duff, Courtney Englar, Polly English-Ramsay, Charlotte Folk, Andrew Frazee, Barbara Gaffney, George Gaffney, Nellie Henken, Donald Hoecker, Frances Hoecker, Harold Hoecker, Sheila Hughes, Glen Johnston, Alan Klotz, Jessica Klotz, Kyle Klotz, Jim Lawrence, Louise Lawrence, Bob Lewis, Marge Lewis, Carol McDaniel, Joe McDaniel, Liz McDowell, Peggy Nixon, Jeff Opel, Bill Pope, Fran Pope, Jeff Reitz, Janet Shields, Connie Skipper, David Walbeck, Barbara Yoder, Gary Yoder, and Samuel Yoder.

for Allegany County

The May count was a great success. Eight observers managed to find 3111 Individuals of 120 species. We had 2 species that were new for the count. A Bonaparte's Gull found by Mark Eanes at the Cumberland Terminus and Pectoral Sandpipers seen at North Branch by J.B. Churchill (thats me).

Participants were:
Penny Knoebel-Besa
J.B. Churchill
Ray Kiddy
Roy Brown
John (Bill) Norris

The Maryland Ornithological Society Conference is being held in Salisbury Maryland this July 27 - 29, 2007. Here is a flyer The rooms are less expensive this year than they sometimes are being at the dorms at Salisbury State University. I know its a little bit far away for most of use Western Marylanders but I know a few folks are planning to go !

I've noticed that this recent sightings section isn't very recent. I discovered a Tree Sparrow at the feeders today 3/7/07. I saw one a few weeks ago here too. They seem to show up in ones and twos when the snow gets bad. Now if I could just keep the Starlings out of the suet cakes. Lots of Juncos in the yard and some were singing today. I haven't seen any Fox Sparrows yet but I think its about time for them to start moving through.

IMPORTANT ALERT:
HB 1072 AND SB 566 WOULD EXPEDITE WIND PROJECTS WITHOUT PUBLIC REVIEW

HB 1072 and SB 566 are really bad bills that exempt wind generating stations (read 450 foot turbines) from the obligation of obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). What that means is that all an applicant for a wind project has to do is request a construction permit from the Public Service Commission that doesn't require any public review or notification of the public or adjacent land owners whose property values will plummet. Nor would there be any environmental review of such impacts as those upon wildlife, endangered species, or forest fragmentation. The bills look innocent enough. It is just a matter of adding some new language to the existing Public Utility Companies Article in the Annotated Code of Maryland and the wheels are greased for the wind industry.

I received 8 votes on the issue of whether or not to pay speakers for their travel to our meetings.
Here are the results:

Issue #1.
Most of us agree that we should reimburse speakers for coming from far away places to speak for our club. We should have guidelines in place for what is appropriate re-imbursement. Note that speakers always have the option to refuse any payment. Please select one of the choices below.

0 votes - Speakers get payed nothing for speaking for our club
5 votes - Speakers coming from 100 or more miles away should be reimbursed $50.00 for travel costs.

The Picnic was enjoyable. Though not very well attended, those of us who braved the threatening weather had good food and fun. The weather DID hold off while we picnicked (sp ?) outside. I received some votes on the issues that I mentioned in the newsletter. I'll tally those up and post some results.

The May Count was held May 13th, 2006. We had 120 or 121 species depending on whether you count the Brewster's hybrid as a species (perhaps not) and 3378 individual birds. We had 7 parties in the field and 8 individuals. We had 55 total man hours in the field. Heres the list.