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Letter from RiverLink
Executive Director Karen Cragnolin
Dear River Lovers,
Fall is in the air. I can feel it getting just a little cooler and less humid each day. Have you noticed that already the days are getting shorter? Well, we still have plenty of great things going on outside to help you enjoy and become more involved with water issues and the river. We have a full plate of activities and choices. There are loads of choices from learning some low tech home owner tricks to capturing runoff in your yard to. Celebrating world rivers day with a community pot luck, float trip, and drawing event on September 26. Read on for all the information about how you can join the fun.
Please help us welcome our two new AmeriCorps members, Joyell and Laura. When you read their bios you will be as impressed as we are that they will be with us for the next 11 months working side by side with all of us to make the river better for the whole watershed Its full stream ahead.
See you on the river!
Karen
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Join us -- and the world -- for a day of celebrating moving water
RiverLink is having a picnic by - and a float on - the French Broad River to mark World Rivers Day, September 26. The public is invited to take a canoe trip on the French Broad, enjoy a potluck luncheon and participate in the Neighborhood Big Draw. The celebration starts at 10:30 a.m. at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza, 119 Riverside Drive, just across from the Cotton Mill Studios. Revelers are encouraged to drop off a covered dish, lawn chairs, a picnic blanket and perhaps a bottle of celebratory bubbly at the Sculpture Plaza starting at 10:30. At 11:00, the Asheville Outdoor Center will shuttle partygoers upstream to the AOC, where for a $10 donation ($5 goes to RiverLink), they'll canoe downstream to the Plaza. At 1:00, lunch begins while RiverLink Executive Director Karen Cragnolin gives a short speech on the River District and its history.  Everyone is invited to take part in RiverLink's "Neighborhood Big Draw, The River: This Is Where I Live!" and draw a river or local Asheville scene. RiverLink will provide supplies for The Neighborhood Big Draw, a national non-profit annual event designed to promote drawing and build community, aimed at getting everyone drawing. World Rivers Day is a worldwide celebration of waterways observed the last Sunday of September. Established in 2005, it highlights the value of rivers and increases public awareness while encouraging river stewardship. This is the timeline for the event on Sunday, Sept. 26: · 10:30 a.m. -- People from all across WNC arrive at the Sculpture & Performance Plaza with a covered dish of some sort, shuttles take participants to the Asheville Outdoor Center on Amboy Road. · 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. Float from AOC to Jean Webb Park, take short hike to the Plaza. · 1:00 -- RiverLink Executive Director Karen Cragnolin gives an informal talk on local architecture and history while families, friends and neighbors eat and make drawings of River District houses, shops, landmark buildings, RiverLink Parks, and other river scenes illustrating how you are a Voice of the River! · 3:00 Drawings are submitted, organized and exhibited · 3:30 Non-competitive awards decided and awarded For more information contact Dave Russell of RiverLink at 252-8474, ext. 11. On the Web:
//www.drawingamerica.org///commons.bcit.ca/worldriversday/ |
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RiverLink welcomes some new faces
RiverLink is please to welcome two new Americorps members. Joyell Smith and Laura Barry will be with us for the next 11 months, serving as education coordinator and assistant volunteer outreach coordinator, respectively.
 Joyell loves to inspire students to think about the various ways living and non-living things are connected in our environment. Her favorite thing is to get kids outside. Joyell grew up in Indiana and has degrees in Geology and Philosophy from Hanover College. She has a passion for international travel and exploration of developing countries, including some expeditions funded and focused on river research and biodiversity. In Joyell's free time she enjoys cooking, hiking with her dog, and reading the science section of the New York Times. Her aspiration for this year includes continuing to develop the education curriculum, become more active in stream restoration and spread awareness throughout Western North Carolina about the importance of a clean French Broad River. She can be reached at 252-8474, ext. 18.  Laura Barry hails from the great state of Ohio. She graduated in 2009 with a BFA in studio art from Miami University, concentrations in painting and ceramics. After 22 years in Ohio, Laura moved to Brevard, North Carolina this past summer to work as an environmental educator in the Pisgah National Forest. Within the first month, she fell in love with the mountains and decided she had to make Western North Carolina her home. Laura is thrilled to join the RiverLink team as the Assistant Volunteer Coordinator and work with the many talented RiverLink volunteers. She can be reached at 252-8474, ext. 17. |
RiverFest 2010 was a roaring success!
Saturday, Aug. 14 was a good day for River lovers in Asheville. RiverFest 2010: Save the French Broad offered a full day of rafting, face-painting, disc golf, cornhole, dancing, hula-hooping, dining, and more.  Attendance was about 800
The floating pizza raft from Marco's won the raft race
| people, and the day went off without incident -- no one was arrested or even stung by a bee. The music was superb, as were the performances by the Baraka Mundi Bellydancers, Asheville Aerial Arts, Asheville Dance Revolution, and the Fines Creek Flatfooters. We had about 43 entries in the Anything that Floats Raft Race (it's more like a parade than a race) -- almost twice as many watercraft as last year.
Gravity-defying Asheville Aerial Arts is always a hit at local festivals
 | We've said it before and we'll say it again -- we could not have done it with the volunteers who came out to help. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We promise not to start with the e-mails and phone calls again until June 2011. To see more pics from RiverFest, visit www.riverlink.org, click on the media tab, then on "photos." |
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Volunteer opportunity: Free training offered as part of Linking Waters project
The Linking Waters project involves installing a series of best management practices at the home of Michelle Smith at 124 Choctaw Street in the Chicken Hill area. The goals of Linking Waters are:
- To demonstrate safe, effective, easily accessible methods and materials that a large portion of a community can use to increase the amount of water stored in the soil.
- Measure the water-related parameters like reduction in storm-water run off and contaminating sediment, the increase in ground water infiltration and the cost savings to residents.
- Demonstrate the potential for creating green jobs and building community connections by restoring health to an urban stream watershed.
- In addition, we hope to attract at least 10 more residences in the neighborhood water-shed to participate in Phase 2 of the project and to attract interest from a broad base of local, county and state stakeholders to participate in planning and implementing Phases 2 and 3.
Our hope for the Linking Waters project is that the solutions we demonstrate and learn from will be adopted in other neighborhoods in Asheville and throughout the U.S. We believe real solutions for urban jobs, environment and food are possible at the local neighborhood level. As a matter of fact, we strongly suspect that real solutions will be impossible otherwise.
There is no charge for this training. Please bring your lunch, some gloves and any tools you may have that are good for digging and raking. We'll have some tools as well.
Linking Waters training schedule:
Friday, September 10
9:00am - 11:30 Classroom training at RiverLink office
12:00 - 2:00 On-site training at 124 Choctaw Street
Sunday, September 12
1:00pm - 3:30 Classroom training at RiverLink office
4:00 - 6:00 On-site training at 124 Choctaw Street.
Saturday, September 25
9:00 am - 1:00pm - on-site training.
Hope to see you there! Call Nancy at 252-8474, ext. 14 or email nancy@riverlink.org for more information.
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Press Release: EPA to Consider the CTS Site for Proposal to Superfund's National Priorities List
ATLANTA - On Sept. 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is moving forward with the process to propose the CTS of Asheville, Inc./Mills Gap Road Groundwater Contamination site to the National Priorities List (NPL) list of hazardous waste sites. This decision is based on a series of groundwater studies conducted over the past three years. A formal decision to propose the site may be made as early as March 2011, the date when a number of other sites across the nation are expected to be proposed to the NPL as part of the federal rulemaking process. Consideration to propose the site to the NPL does not guarantee that the site will be proposed, or, that the site will be listed on the final NPL. A community meeting will soon be announced to discuss the NPL listing process.
EPA continues to conduct private well monitoring within a 1-mile radius of the CTS site. The results for the June 2010 sampling event show that there were no new trichloroethene (TCE) detections in private wells. Results are being mailed out to local residents this week. The next sampling event is scheduled for the week of September 20, 2010. A website for the CTS site is expected to be launched by September 30, 2010. Site-related documents will be posted to the website.
The CTS site is interrelated with the Mills Gap Road Groundwater Contamination site (Mills Gap site). The sites are located in south Asheville, near the Skyland Community. Operations occurred at the CTS site from the early 1950's until 1986. CTS Corporation manufactured electronic components at the facility from 1959 to 1985. The chemical compound TCE was used by CTS to clean and/or degrease metal objects prior to electroplating. In 1987, the original 57-acre property was sold to Mills Gap Road Associates (MGRA) who developed a residential neighborhood on approximately 48 acres, leaving a fenced 9-acre site where the manufacturing had occurred.
Contact: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
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Buying Green
The following Sustainability Update was in the City of Asheville's August newsletter.
As you walk the aisles of grocery stores and your
What are green or sustainable products? A true green product has minimal environmental impact throughout its life cycle
· Life cycle means the start and end of the product; design, manufacturing, packaging, transportation to store, use by consumer and disposal
· Sustainable products contain recycled parts and energy efficient components and have minimal packaging that often can be recycled
· Manufacturing uses natural and/or renewable resources with no toxic chemicals used in production
· Once the consumer is finished using the product, the product can be recycled, reused or disassembled into parts that can be reused
How to Be Smart when Buying Green
· Confirm that the product is certifiably green; not green washed by looking for 3rd party verification logos on the product
· 3rd Party verification is where an outside organization tests the products to ensure it is sustainable
· 3rd party verification organizations include Green Seal, Eco Logo and Energy Star. Green Seal and Eco Logo focus on consumer products including office and cleaning products and Energy Star specializes in electronic products.
How does 3rd Party Verification work?
· 3rd party verification organizations will receive an application to certify a product
· Organizations will review the product including product performance, materials, packaging information, labels and how it is marketed
· Certifier conducts an on-site audit of the company to analyze the manufacturing process
· Product is certified if it passes all the review stages
· 3rd party certifiers will continue to monitor the product and its manufacturer to ensure compliance and track product changes
Other Green Tips for Purchasing Green:
· Look for the following words in product descriptions and confirm by looking for 3rd Party Certification Logo:
* Post Consumer Recycled Content/Recycled/Recycled Material
* Remanufactured
* Energy-efficient i.e. CFL light bulbs
* Refillable i.e. pens & pencils
* Biodegradable / Compostable i.e. plates & utensils
* Purchase products in bulk i.e. 3 ink cartridges/1 box versus 1 cartridge/box = save packaging
* Buy refillable pens and pencils = less waste
Resources:
· Green Seal - Consumer Products //www.greenseal.org/
· Eco Logo - Consumer Products //www.ecologo.org/ one-stop-shopping stores, you may see bright green labels saying organic or eco-friendly. While some of these products may truly be sustainable, some may be green-washed. Green-washing, as defined by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc., is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. To avoid the green-washing trap, below are some tips when purchasing sustainable products.
· EPEAT - Electronic Products //www.epeat.net/
· EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Products & Services
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Upcoming Events
West Asheville Garden Stroll Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m. -- 4 p.m.
Meet at the West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Rd. RiverLink's Malvern Hills project will be on the stroll with a little volunteer work thrown in. Call the library at 250-4750.
JBL Memorial 5K
Sunday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.
at the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex in Azalea Park.
The third annual JBL Memorial 5K will start The race, in memory of an Asheville High School soccer player, John Lewis, who was killed in a car accident in 1998, is also a benefit for the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association. Register online at www.setupevents.com through tonight or visit www.jblmemorial5k.org.
For more information, contact Susan at sdorsett4@gmail.com.
Bus TourThurs., Sept 16, noon -- 2 p.m.
Call Dave at 252-8474, ext. 11 to reserve your seat.
World Rivers Day/Big Draw
Sunday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m. -- ???
Toast, draw, float, picnic and draw on and beside the mighty FBR
Big Sweep
Saturday, Oct. 2
9 a.m. -- 1 p.m.
Call Dave at 252-8474, ext. 11 for more information |
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Do you know your WNC flora and fauna?
Share your knowledge of WNC's rich biodiversity with others by volunteering to lead nature walks along the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay. Contact Dave Russell at 252-8574, ext. 11 for more information.
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Oct. 12 -- a chance to meet the candidates
Join us and the League of Women Voters for an informational candidate forum followed by a meet-n-greet at the Reuter Center on the UNCA Campus, Tuesday, October 12, from 6:30 -- 9:30 p.m. RiverLink is a co-sponsor of this non-partisan event. Candidates for N.C. House districts 114, 115 and 116 will be there, as well as U.S. House 11, NC Senate 48 and 49, District Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk of Superior Court, Superior Court Judge & District Court Judge-28
Call 686-8281 or e-mail Sandra Abromitis at abromitis@msn.com for more information.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Our volunteer spotlight this month shines on two volunteers who really stepped up when we needed them -- Joe Clarke and Annemarie Russell.
Annemarie Russell
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Joe Clarke
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Both had volunteered to work a shift at RiverFest, but when our shuttle buses and drivers didn't show up, they took the steering wheel in hand and took on the stressful task of negotiating that tangled traffic -- for more than 6 hours. Joe and Anne each drove our rented 15-passenger vans in and out of French Broad River Park and up and down the Amboy Road gauntlet, transporting
festival-goers from the park to their cars and back again countless times.
Thanks to both of you, and we'll see you on the River! |
Day of Caring was a success again this yearSpecial thanks to Suntrust and Insurance Services of Asheville for coming out on the United Way's Day of Caring. We worked over at the RiverLink Sculpture & Performance Plaza, weeding and trimming and picking up trash and a host of other tasks. The group of about 20 people worked hard and a good time was had by all. Thanks to all and we hope to see you next year. |
Sign our petition for an I-26 bridge as awesome as Asheville
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Ocean Trivia
Where is the largest landfill in the world? Why, it's right smack dab in the middle of the ocean. Lovingly nicknamed "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch", the collection of trash is
estimated to be the size of Texas.
The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest part of the earth's oceans. It is located nearly 7 miles below the surface. To fully comprehend this, imagine we were to shave Mount Everest off the surface of earth and drop it into the Mariana Trench. The mountain would completely disappear from view and have over a mile of water covering it's tallest peak. Only 2 people have ever been to the Challenger Deep (the deepest part of the Mariana Trench), which nearly 400 people have traveled to space.
The blue whale is the largest animal to ever inhabit earth (even larger than the greatest dinosaurs). Although nearly hunted to extinction, as of 2002 there were reported to be between 5,000 and 12,000 blue whales in the world's oceans. This impressive animal has a heart as large as a small car.
Be careful where you park your car. More oil reaches the oceans each year as a result of leaking automobiles and other non-point sources than was spilled in Prince William Sound by the Exxon Valdez.
The Atlantic Ocean, the second largest ocean in the world, gets it's name from greek mythology, meaning Sea of Atlas. Atlas is often depicted kneeling on one knee while supporting an enormous round globe on his back and shoulders.
The Indian Ocean is so warm that it keeps the production of phytoplankton low, except along the northern fringe and in a few scattered spots elsewhere; ; life in the ocean is thus limited | |
Everyone is invited to take part in RiverLink's "Neighborhood Big Draw, The River: This Is Where I Live!" and draw a river or local Asheville scene. RiverLink will provide supplies for The Neighborhood Big Draw, a national non-profit annual event designed to promote drawing and build community, aimed at getting everyone drawing. 
Joyell loves to inspire students to think about the various ways living and non-living things are connected in our environment. Her favorite thing is to get kids outside. 
Laura Barry hails from the great state of Ohio. She graduated in 2009 with a BFA in studio art from Miami University, concentrations in painting and ceramics. After 22 years in Ohio, Laura moved to Brevard, North Carolina this past summer to work as an environmental educator in the Pisgah National Forest. Within the first month, she fell in love with the mountains and decided she had to make Western North Carolina her home. 
