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19th Annual
VCS EARTH DAY BEACH CLEAN-UP
THIS SATURDAY (APRIL 16)
Quote of the Week
“There should be limits to what we can build on smaller properties -
it's essential that the scale of our buildings fits our environment.
Oversized houses seem to be complicated to regulate appropriately, but
that's no reason not to try."
- John Abrams, co-founder and president, South Mountain Company
SAVE THE DATE
Pollution Solution:
Safeguarding our Waterways
May 4, 7pm Vineyard Haven Library
A Program presented by
Tisbury Waterways Inc.
CSA sign up!
GET FRESH this summer!
Don't forget to sign up for your Whipoorwill Farm CSA share HERE
Conservation Calendar
SHOWING TONIGHT!
Every Fish in the Sea:
Major Findings of the First Census of Marine Life
Dr. Jesse Ausubel
Vineyard Haven Public Library
7:00 PM.
This will be a great learning experience for older children!
Involving more than 500 expeditions during 2000-2010, the international
research program Census of Marine Life created the first integrated view
of the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life ranging
from microbes to whales in all ocean realms. The Census showed that life
in Planet Ocean is richer, more connected, and more altered by human
activities than previously imagined. Ausubel will highlight findings of
the program, including newly discovered species and some of those whose
abundance is plummeting. Click HERE for more information on the Census.
MV Native Bee Study
Saturday April 16, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Wakeman Center off Lambert’s Cove Road
Come hear about the digger bee Anthophora walshii, a species found on
Martha’s Vineyard that hasn't been seen in the northeast for several
decades! See article at right.
In Season Recipe
Asparagus Frittata
Ingredients
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2 teaspoons olive oil
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1 small onion, thinly sliced
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1 pound asparagus, tough ends snapped off, spears cut diagonally into 1inch lengths
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4 large eggs, lightly beaten
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1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
1 Heat olive oil into a 10-inch oven-proof frying pan over medium high
heat. Add onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions
are softened, about 3 minutes. Add asparagus, reduce heat to medium-low,
and cook, covered, until the asparagus are barely tender, 6 to 8
minutes. Pour in eggs and cook until almost set, but still runny on top,
about 2 minutes. While cooking, pre-heat oven broiler.
2 Sprinkle cheese over eggs and put in oven to broil until cheese is
melted and browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven with oven
mitts and slide frittata onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges.
Serves 4.
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April 11, 2011
Local News
BIG HOUSES -
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Last week, VCS testified at the MV Commission’s hearing on whether to
review proposals for very large house as Developments of Regional Impact
(DRI).
We presented our view that, when big houses have big impacts, the MVC
should have the option of reviewing them. Our concern is cumulative
impact: left unchecked, our communal definition of “Vineyard character”
will change for the worse if new development can’t abide by some simple
guidelines including low impact on habitat, neighborhood, water quality,
energy use, and views from public roads and water bodies.
The Martha's Vineyard Commission will be taking this issue under
consideration and would like to know whether or not you think they
should adopt a policy to review large houses.
Click HERE to email your comments.
Click HERE to read what others are saying.
Where does the big house issue intersect with our concern about
environmental impacts caused by armoring our coastline? When
extraordinary resources are invested in very large houses along our
shore, there’s an incentive to go to extraordinary lengths to protect
the investment. Building defenses is the natural response.
REVISITING REVETMENTS
A revetment armors a bluff on the Edgartown Harbor
We’ve received tremendous feedback about our recent issue (click HERE) on ecologically sustainable alternatives to armoring our coastline with stone and steel revetments, also called “hardscapes”.
A great bulletin on the topic is now available from Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension by clicking HERE. Hard copies are available from Jeff Brodeur @ jbrodeur@whoi.edu
Shoreline armoring was also the subject of a “State of the Science”
workshop sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). For a case
study on the southern shoreline of Massachusetts, click HERE
STORM-SMART COASTS
Many tons of sand were imported to help combat coastal erosion on the Oak Bluffs coastline.
Oak Bluffs is one of the first communities in the state to participate
in a program to give towns the tools they need to address the challenges
of erosion, coastal storms, and sea level rise. Learn more about the
pilot projects HERE
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY THIS SATURDAY AT THE VCS EARTH DAY BEACH CLEAN-UP
Damp but enthusiastic team at Fuller Street Beach
Last year despite the chilly wet weather, more than 230 volunteers
turned out to help clean more than 22 beaches! Together, we removed more
than 25 truck loads of trash and plastics from the Vineyard's beaches.
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Most unusual finds: lawn mower, microwave
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Most common find: plastic
Help us double our success this year!
THE POLLINATOR CRISIS
Native honey bee feasts
Photo by Kristen Fauteux, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation
More than 400 native bee species occur in New England (of 4,000
nationwide). It is estimated that as many as 200 species of native bees
may occur on Martha's Vineyard alone. Until now however, no formal
inventory has been undertaken. On Saturday, TTOR is sponsoring a talk on
by Dr. Paul Goldstein, presenting the first year's results of an effort
to document the Island's native pollinators. The talk will kick off the
2011 pollinator inventory and volunteer effort (see Calendar listing).
"The pollinator crisis," refers to the growing concern among ecologists
and agriculturalists over the health and future of pollinators
continent-wide. Native pollinators, including bees, birds, butterflies,
moths, bats, flies, and beetles, are vital to the sustainability of
natural and managed ecosystems as well as to food production. As some of
our most diverse and important pollinators, native bees may be
threatened, in some cases to the point of disappearing from the region.
Scientists and industry experts are increasing their focus on
understanding threats to native pollinator species, which in many cases
may be more efficient and specialized pollinators than honey bees.
Other News
Using food as fuel? At what cost?
Cassava is the new crop of choice to burn for fuel but at what cost?
Many populations depend on it for food, and using cassava as fuel makes
it more expensive than what people can afford. Click HERE for more
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