June Picnic and Tour – Huntsville Botanical Gardens

For the June meeting, we will meet at 6:00pm, June 21 at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens for a brown bag picnic followed by a guided tour of the gardens at 6:30. The tour will last approximately an hour to an hour and a half. The cost for admission to the gardens will be $5.00 for Sierra Club members, $7.50 for non-members.

Please RSVP by Sunday, June 17 by contacting Liz Poleretzky at 256-461-5819 or hiker@knology.net. Having a head count in advance will help us in securing a picnic spot and give our guide an idea of the group size.

Our July meeting will be a picnic and hike on the 19th at Monte Sano State Park and our August meeting will be a pool party/picnic on the 16th at the Monte Sano pool. Please note that our summer meetings will be on the third Thursday of the month, not Wednesday.

We are looking for alternatives to meeting in the Huntsville Public Library auditorium, such as in a restaurant with a meeting room, so if you have any ideas or know of a place for the club to meet in the fall, please bring it up at the next meeting.

- The Editor

 

RECYCLING MAKE SENSE

This Sierra Club member recently took a tour of the Huntsville Madison County Recycling Plant. It was an eye opener to see how this operation is really working in the Huntsville area. The tour was sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Center at UAH and Mike Swistek, the Allied Waste Recycling Coordinator, gave a wonderful tour. Mike really is a good proponent of recycling and works hard to prove it.

The local recycling facility is located just south of the Airport Road – Memorial Parkway intersection off Triana Blvd. and is rated as one of the best in the country. The people who work there really believe in doing a good job recycling. We must remember that landfills are becoming full and more expensive to use, and while the local garbage incinerator does scrub its exhaust gases, the best solution is to consume less and recycle as much as we can. Recycled materials are used to make other containers and fibers for products like home insulation and many other products that can be re-used.

You may find out more about recycling by going to: http://www.swdahsv.org/recycling.html .

 

Non-curbside Recycling

You may recycle glass food and beverage bottles and cardboard by taking them to Allied Waste's Recyclery at 1004 A Cleaner Way, Huntsville (located behind the Animal Control Building on Triana Blvd.). Specially marked dumpsters are provided with access available 24 hours a day.

For more information, call 256-830-2467.

- Dave Kostowny

In the next column is a short summary of some of the things that are recyclable, what is not and how to handle the different materials. If you don’t already, it would be a good idea to post this list on your refrigerator or other spot where you can reference it if you have any questions.

 

Product	Yes It's recyclable	No Not recyclable
Newspapers	All newsprint and inserts PLEASE: Secure papers in your bin. Bag on rainy days.	Junk Mail, Brown Paper Bags, Cereal Boxes, Cardboard
Magazines	Magazines printed on slick, glossy paper. PLEASE remove paper or plastic wrappers.	Anything printed on newsprint or other dull paper, such as: Comic Books, Mail, Flyers, Loose Paper, Paperback Books
Cans	Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, EMPTY Aerosol Cans. PLEASE remove and discard lids.	Cans that contained Poison, Paint or Auto Products, Scrap Metal, Aluminum Foil, Disposable Pie Plates
Plastic	Narrow neck bottles with a #1 or #2 on the bottom such as: Milk Jugs Soft Drink, Shampoo, Detergent Rinse and remove lids and pumps.	Motor Oil or Poison Containers, Plastic Wrap, Plastic Bags, Wide mouth plastic containers such as Yogurt and Margarine Tubs.
Batteries	Household dry cell batteries used in: Cameras, Watches, Toys Flashlights, Smoke Detectors, Electronic Equipment Put used batteries in clear plastic bags beside your bin.	Lead acid batteries used in: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, Lawnmowers These batteries are accepted at the Handle With Care Collection Center on the first Saturday of each month.
Used Motor Oil	Used Engine Oil Put used oil in a CLEAN, CLEAR, PLASTIC container such as a milk jug and fasten the lid securely. Put container NEXT to your bin.	Antifreeze, Transmission Fluid, Brake Fluid, Motor oil that has been mixed with other things     Glass (see above)

 

2007 ExCom Members

Chair Liz Poleretzky 461-5819

Vice-Chair and Treasurer Sam Denham 539-1033

Conservation chair Doug Horacek 772-6788

Fund Raising Helga Sowa 534-5656

Membership Dave Kostowny 325-2296

Newsletter Jack Drost 880-2644

Outings Lee Hollingsworth 461-3060

And Tom Burley 883-4267

Publicity Sandy Kiplinger 498-1023

Programs Judy Burley 883-4267

Secretary Linda Griffin

Tuesday Hikes Nancy Dudney 882-9408

Web Page Steven Baty 489-0990

 

June Picnic and Tour of Huntsville Botanical Garden

 

Hike Ratings

General Note: Saturday outings may take all day and last into early evening.

Easy-Less than 5 miles, no serious elevation changes, no trail obstacles.

Moderate-5 to 10 miles, some elevation changes or rough trail (rock hopping), or trail obstacles such as creek crossings.

Strenuous- Over 10 miles, substantial elevation change (1000 ft or more), trail may be rocky, obstructed or nonexistent.

Exploratory- event the leader has not experienced before, may fit any class.

 

Thurs-Sun, June 14-17- Max Patch to Hot Springs Backpack. Strenuous. 20-mile self-sufficient backpack with significant elevation changes over two days. Depart Thursday 9:30am, arrive in Hot Springs 3:00pm and take a shuttle to Max Patch. Camp Saturday night at the Hot Springs Campground on the French Broad River with a one-hour soak in the mineral hot springs. Cost approximately

$25 per person. For information contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@knology.net

Saturday, June 16. Equal Opportunity for the Father's Day hike. Moderate. An approximately 9-mile loop from Monte Sano to the Land Trust and back. Meet at the Hiker's Parking lot (Monte Sano Blvd, near turn off for Burritt Museum) at 8:00am. Bring plenty of water, snacks, lunch, bug spray and good hiking shoes. Sandy Kiplinger, sandykip@juno.com

Tuesday, June 19, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819.

Saturday, June 23 - Shiloh Battleground Bike Ride. Easy. Selmer, Tn. Easy pleasant bike ride mostly on pavement, but some dirt, so off-road bike recommended. Will tour battleground, stopping at monuments. We will start at the north end visitor center, work our way to the south end where souvenirs and ice cream are sold, lunch along the way, and return. Meet 7:45am at Madison Cracker Barrel parking lot. Bring bike, helmet, lunch and water. Few dollars park fee. Prearrange your transportation to site. Lee Hollingsworth, 461-3060 day/ 520-6659 cell.

Tuesday, June 26, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.

Excom Meeting Thursday, June 28, 5:30. Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819.

Saturday, June 30 – Monte Sano hike. Moderate. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker's parking lot at 10:00am. This will be a 3/4 day moderate hike to the Sinks, Stone Cuts, Logans Point, Super Cuts then to the Keith Trail. Bring water, a snack, sturdy hiking gear and bug spray. Call Doug Horacek 772-6788 for more information.

Sunday, July 1 -Summer Glade wildflowers hike. Easy. Wade Mountain Meet at Spragins Hollow Road trail head at 2:00pm. Bring water, bug spray and sturdy hiking boots. Call Doug Horacek for more information at 772-6788. Tuesday, July 3, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.

Saturday, July 7 – Sewanee Day hike. Moderate. 8.5 mile hike of the northwest section of the 20 mile Perimeter Trail around the Sewanee Domain. The perimeter trail features beautiful overlooks and interesting geological formations. This section features Rutledge, Cherry, and Dotson points plus the forestry cabin. This is one of a series of hikes to complete the entire perimeter trail. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet at the Publix on Winchester Road at 8:00am. Contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@knology.net

Tuesday, July 10, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819.

Newsletter Labeling Wednesday, July 11, 5:30pm. Down South Condominiums clubhouse. South Mem Parkway. Entrance on right between Big Ten Tires and Schlotzsky’s. Judy Burley, 883-4267.

Saturday, July 14 - Sewanee Day hike. Moderate. This 8 to 9 mile hike is the southwest section of the 20 mile Perimeter Trail around the Sewanee Domain. This section features Elliot, Otey, Polk, and Armfield Bluff. This is one of a series of hikes to complete the entire perimeter trail. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet at the Publix on Winchester Road at 8:00 am. Contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@knology.net

Tuesday, July 17, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Bruce Martin, 256-725-2168.

Saturday, July 21 - Greeter Gulf Creekwalk and Swim. Strenuous. Walk through Tennessee's Garden of Eden. Rated strenuous because of slick rocks and walking through water up to waist deep. Must wear boots or shoes in the water for ankle support---river sandals are NOT okay. Bring water and lunch, hat, sunscreen, and dry clothes for return trip. Meet 8:30am at Garden Cove, Pratt Ave/Meridian St. For more information, Sam Denham 539-1033(h). Tuesday, July 24, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Judy Burley, 883-4267.

Tuesday, July 31, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking lot. Leader: Helga Sowa, 534-5656.

Fri-Sun, August 17 - 19 Big Hill Pond Car Camp. More info to follow. Liz Poleretzky. hiker@knology.net

 

Other Outings / Events

The following activities are not sponsored or administered by the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has no information about the planning of these activities and makes no representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision or management of such activities. They are published only as a reader service because they might be of interest to the readers of our newsletter.

Flint River Conservation Assoc.

Purple Loosetrife Project. Volunteers last year managed to control a hearty portion of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in the Gurley area, north of Little Cove Road. FRCA needs volunteers for 1.5 hours after work to spray the loosestrife in June and July. If you would like to volunteer, and get paid $10 for your gas, please call Soos Weber at 427-5116. More about purple loosestrife: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/loosstrf/index.htm