Currently viewing the tag: "Green Team"

On-Going Wildflower Project

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Christine Maccabee

Everyone loves flowers, and who doesn’t love seeing young children having fun with milkweed fluff (shown right)? Fun was mixed with work in February, when members of the Green Team and their children spread wildflower seeds in the wild area along Woodside Drive. Last year, many beautiful flowers bloomed there during the spring, summer, and even into the fall. The tallest flowers were already there naturally, and those along with our seeding project  provided not only beauty for people, but essential nectar and pollen for pollinators and seeds for birds. There are even cattails in the ditch!

This year, the project is continuing. A mixture of twenty other wild native seeds had been previously mixed with fine play sand for better distribution over a large area. This mixture was put in multiple buckets and then distributed by adults and children over areas not seeded last year. It was a cold February day, but everyone had the right attitude, and the distribution went smoothly. Once that work was finished, Cindy Poole led the children in the fun of letting milkweed seeds and fluff fly!

Participants that day were Amie and Charlie McDaniels, Marilyn Worsham, Nova and Ily Rothrock, Cindy Poole, and Christine Maccabee.

The Green Team also has a Community Garden with plots for anyone interested in growing their own vegetables. Get in touch with Jhumerick@thurmontstaff.com.

On The Wild Side

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Christine Schoene Maccabee
Wildflowers Along the Railraod Track

Anyone who has driven or walked or jogged or biked along Woodside Drive in Thurmont this spring will have noticed the colorful flowers along the railroad track. Many of these flowers are various poppies, mallows, and cornflowers from a mix of flower seeds spread over a few areas prepared in early spring. Miraculously, many of these seeds sprouted and grew in spite of a very dry period, with no one watering them.

Much to the relief of most neighbors on Woodside Drive, a deal was made with the Midland Railroad company not to spray herbicides along the tracks in that area. One fellow said he would rather see green and growing things than dead and dying things, not to mention the toxic smell that wafted over to his property. This project has been just one of the many things the Green Team of Thurmont has been doing for about one year now. You may have already read about these efforts to create a more sustainable, green community. The Green Team is flourishing and, of course, always welcomes new enthusiasts. This wildflower project is just one of many great projects, such as energy saving in homes and businesses, encouraging citizens to shop locally, watershed stewardship, the farmers market, community vegetable gardens, and so on.

Much like any creative project, this garden along the railroad tracks is just getting started, and it will take a few years to rid it of invasives and “unwanteds,” as I call them. However, as the ladies helping to implement this vision know, there are already many important wildflowers growing there that came directly from the soil, no seeding or planting necessary. Some of these flowers are late bloomers, such as the wild asters and evening primroses, so keep your eyes peeled for a late summer show.

Right now, the Queen Ann’s Lace are showing off with all their summer splendor, even as the spring poppies are fading away. Those lovely poppies will return next spring, however, with even more numbers, as thousands of seeds from their seed capsules will drop and fly wherever the wind may blow. That is the beauty of a wild area: It eventually will self-sow.

We have plans this autumn to prepare other areas for sowing of wild native plant seeds, such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, lupines, and many more. We will also do some live plantings. Until then, through this summer heat, you may see a couple of us at a time, sweating as we are “working on the railroad,” cutting back lambs quarters, thistle, and wild lettuce before they go to seed. We are projecting that this project, though on-going for years, will be greatly enhanced within about three years. Of course, we welcome any other hardy volunteers to help, so please call or write us (see contact information at the end of this article).

Now, I know that not all people like such a wild display. However, I also know for a fact that the members of the wild community love and need it. If one stands long enough to observe, one will see bees, maybe butterflies, and the birds, which are eating both seeds and bugs. These insects and birds will travel to front and backyard gardens to delight the owners; therein is the secret to creating a natural community of which humans can be an important member.

The more habitat for wild plants and wildlife, the better, as far as most experts are concerned. Air quality improves, streams are cleaner and cooler for aquatic life, bees have more nectar and pollen for survival—and for us to put honey on our toast—and our children will learn more about the importance of connecting with the natural world and how humans can be such an important part of this amazing wild world, if only to protect and enhance it.

If you wish to join with us in the Green Team, please contact us at thurmontgreenteam@gmail.com. You can also write Jim Humerick at the town office at JHumerick@thurmontstaff.com, or you can write me at songbirdschant@gmail.com.

COLUMN---wild-flowers
Christine and Cindy Poole at the railroad tracks for the wildflower project, just one of the many wonderful projects the Green Team has in the works.

Green Team in Thurmont

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The Green Team in Thurmont is working together to make our town a Sustainable Community. Please join them and learn of the many great projects they have planned for the new year.

To learn more, email Thurmontgreenteam@gmail.com or Christine at songbirdschant@gmail.com., or you can call 301-271-2307.

Town Hall Reports

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by James Rada, Jr.

Emmitsburg

April 2015

Town Employees Will Soon See Bigger Paychecks

The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners approved a fifteen percent salary adjustment to employee salaries during their March 16 meeting. The increase will come in stages, with the first increase being five percent. The town had contracted with a human resources consultant to see if employee salaries were in line with employees of towns of similar size. The initial recommendation was for a twenty-five percent increase, which Emmitsburg could not afford. The vote to approve the increase was 3-2, with commissioners Glenn Blanchard, Joe Ritz, and Tim O’Donnell voting for the motion.

Emmitsburg Gets a Clean Audit

The Town of Emmitsburg received an unmodified opinion for their annual audit, which means that the Frederick accounting firm, Draper and McGinley, found no financial record-keeping mistakes that needed to be addressed. Michele Mills, with Draper and McGinley, reported the highlights of the audit to the commissioners during the April 6 meeting. The town’s fund balance continues to grow, which indicates that the town is spending less than it takes in. Copies of the audit report are available at the town office for residents who wish to review the details.

New Wastewater Treatment Plant Nearing Completion

Emmitsburg’s new wastewater treatment plant on Creamery Road should be online by the end of May, according to Mike Schultz, senior manager with RK&K.

Vigilant Hose Company and Emmitsburg Ambulance Could Merge

Vigilant Hose Company President Tim Clarke spoke before the Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners and told them that although it is a “contentious issue,” the possibility of a merger between the fire and ambulance company is a definite possibility.

When the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company was placed on suspension due to problems with response times for calls, career staff was brought in to be on hand to answer calls. However, the career staff was eventually moved to Vigilant Hose Company because of an “uncomfortable work environment” at the ambulance company, according to Clarke.

The move turned out to be successful. “We’ve become a stronger company as a result,” Clarke said.

Now with the suspension lifted, the career staff will be removed. Clarke worries that the problems with the ambulance company could return.

“The problem is that no one is being held accountable for their actions,” Clarke said.

The solution may be for the two companies to merge.

For more information about the Town of Emmitsburg, log onto www.emmitsburgmd.gov or call 301-600-6300.

Thurmont

April 2015

Thurmont Considers Adding Ornamental Planters

The Thurmont Board of Commissioners is considering adding ornamental planters on the sidewalks of downtown Thurmont after Maryland State Highways have finished their sidewalk repairs. Some of the trees and ornamental plantings downtown have already been removed because of this process and Mayor John Kinnaird suggested adding planters to replace the lost greenery.

“Downtown is sort of a tree desert right now,” he said during the March 17 meeting.

The suggestion was to purchase 24-inch wide planters made from recycled material or vinyl. Annuals would be planted in them and the nearby businesses would be asked to keep them watered. During the winter, the planters would be removed so as not to interfere with any clearing of snow in the winter.

Sign Up for Emergency Notification

If you would like to receive emergency notifications regarding Thurmont, you can sign up at www.frederickmd.gov/ALERT to receive notices about weather emergencies, power outages, fire/rescue emergencies, and others. If you need help signing up, contact Jim Humerick at 301-271-7313 x204.

Art, Wine, and Cupcake Walk

Friday, May 8th, Main Street will be hosting an Art, Wine, & Cupcake Walk. We have several artists, wineries, and cupcake makers! Entertainment will be provided by Paul Zelenka and Mary Guiles in Mechanicstown Park. Local artists will be displaying their work. Gourmet cupcake samples and wine tasting will also be available.

Thurmont Wants to Become Sustainable

The Town of Thurmont is going to pursue becoming a Sustainable Maryland Certified Community and is seeking volunteers to serve on its “Green Team.” The team will guide the town through the process of documenting its steps in the state certification process. For more information, contact Jim Humerick at 301-271-7313, x204.

Town Begins Looks at Budget Numbers

Although a budget hasn’t been presented yet, the Thurmont Board of Commissioners got a look at some of the potential revenue numbers.

Each year, the state provides a constant yield rate to the town. This is the tax rate that is needed in order for the town to receive the same property tax revenues for this year’s budget as it did last year. That rate is 30.2 cents per $100 of assessed property value. This is down slightly from last year, which means that Thurmont’s property tax assessments have risen.

The town will also be receiving $58,534 in Highway User revenue. This is also up slightly over last year’s amount of $57,624. A one-time grant has also been set aside for Highway User revenues. Thurmont’s portion of this grant should be $157,900.

Highway User revenue must be spent on road projects.

View the Town of Thurmont’s website at www.thurmont.com or call the town office at 301-271-7313 for more information.