Sierra North Alabama Group  November 2007 

Tour of Huntsville’s Recycling Facility Thursday, November 15

 

Tuesday Night Downtown Hikes

 Meet at 6:00pm at the Land Trust Parking lot.

 

How Does Recycling Work in Huntsville?

We often have questions about recycling in our area. Why are certain items recycled and others not? Why is something picked up one time and not the next time? The people who run the recycling program for Huntsville, Allied Waste Industries (was BFI), would like to answer those questions and more for us. The November meeting of the North Alabama Sierra Club will be at the Allied Waste facility in south Huntsville and will consist of a tour of the facility and an explanation of Huntsville’s recycling program.

Please note that the meeting at the Allied Waste facility will be on Thursday night this month, not Wednesday.

The facility is located at 1004 A Cleaner Way, SW. Take Triana Blvd. south past Johnson Road. You will pass a gate to Redstone Arsenal and some apartments. Turn left onto A Cleaner Way, just before the Huntsville Animal Services facility (the city pound). You will go around a curve and Allied Waste will be on your right.

Please come to this important tour. Huntsville residents do not participate well in the recycling program and before we can work to change that we need to understand how the local recycling effort works and why so we can help convince others that recycling is important and relatively easy.

Everyone is invited to attend this month’s special meeting on Thursday, November 15 at the Allied Waste facility.

If you have any questions about the tour of the facility, directions to the facility, or wish to carpool, please feel free to call one of the Excom members whose numbers are on the Outings page.

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Sierra Joins CASA for TEMP$ Day

The North Alabama Sierra Club has donated 130 Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs to CASA to be installed during the recent winterization day called TEMP$. CASA is a local non-profit that provides volunteers and services to aid the aging, homebound, and low income residents of Madison County. The CFL bulbs, which are 75% more energy efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, were distributed as part of CASA's annual TEMP$ winterization day, November 3, on which volunteers travel to area homes to make winterization and other improvements. The bulb distribution has many benefits to these homeowners. Since they are low-income residents, the bulbs reduce the electric bills. Since the bulbs typically last 5 to 10 times longer, replacement by the homeowners, who often have difficulty replacing bulbs in hard to reach fixtures, is more infrequent. Furthermore, included with the bulbs was an information sheet educating the homeowner of the benefits of these energy-efficient bulbs. For further information, check out the following sites:

http://www.casamadisoncty.org/temp.htm http://alabama.sierraclub.org/northalabama/casatemps.pdf

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Alabama Water Agenda Needs Your Support

The Alabama Rivers Alliance is spearheading an effort to influence a change in state water policies that will better protect Alabama’s rivers and waterways from the effects of development, industrial dumping and non-sustainable use. A number of groups in Alabama combined efforts to produce the Alabama Water Agenda, a proactive, citizen-driven campaign for improving water policy in Alabama. The Agenda targets the biggest threats to our waters by ensuring lasting protections through improved state policy.

The Agenda has been presented to the Alabama Water Resources Commission and there is now a campaign to get citizens to voice their support for the agenda. This campaign targets not only environmentalists, but farmers and ranchers, sportsmen, recreational users and others who appreciate and benefit from Alabama’s waterways. In order for the Water Commission to take the Alabama Water Agenda seriously, they need to hear from many Alabama citizens that they believe our waterways are under threat and that current policies need to change.

You can help by sending the Water Commission a later stating your support for the Agenda. The Alabama Rivers Alliance has a form you can fill out online or print and mail. http://www.alabamawateragenda.com/Take%20Action.asp

There is also an example of a letter at http://www.alabamawateragenda.com/InstreamFlowActionAlert.html If you do send a letter, please take a few minutes to personalize it a bit as this will carry more weight with the Commission.

There is a brochure available online and by mail that highlights the numerous values of our waterways, the major threats to our waters, and the steps we can take to ensure healthy waters for generations to come. To view this brochure online, go to http://www.alabamawateragenda.com/index.html for more information, you can contact the Alabama Rivers Alliance,

2027 Second Avenue North, Suite A Birmingham, Alabama 35203 205-322-6395 ahall@alabamarivers.org or www.alabamarivers.org

Please take a few moments to look at the Agenda and sign the form or send a letter to show your support. Sitting by and doing nothing is not much better than actively helping to despoil Alabama’s waterways.

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Note of Appreciation for the Hikes

I am writing to give words of praise and commendation to the North Alabama Sierra Club. I want to particularly commend Tom and Judy Burley for their many contributions to the Club. I participated in the March 10, 2007, Backpack Class and March 24-25 graduation backpack. Tom was the primary leader for the class and backpack but Liz and Judy certainly added a lot of expertise and support at both these events. It is no exaggeration to say that these events have been life changing for me.

I have been on several backpacks and one day hikes with Tom and Judy. Day hikes are harder for me to manage due to my home being in northwest Alabama. The events in which I have participated have been extremely well organized, have provided wonderful hiking spots with great vistas and have been great fun. It has been a joy for me to have an opportunity to participate in these events. What a great pleasure to have Tom Burley so competently plan and lead the hikes and all I have to do is show up!!

I realize that it takes a lot of time to manage all the details involved with trip planning. Tom and Judy are always so professional in dealing with the hikes. They are both so welcoming of both new and old friends and make everyone feel welcome and included. They are really special people to devote so much time and personal resources to the events and outings and to the people who participate.

Sincerely, Dorothy Craven

Alabama Water Watch Workshop

The next workshop for citizen water monitors will be on Friday, November 30, and Saturday Dec. 1. The workshop will cover chemical analysis on Friday and analysis for macro invertebrates and E. Coli on Saturday.

Call Soos for more info and to register at 427-5116.

 

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 772-8653

Tuesday Hikes Nancy Dudney 882-9408

Web Page Steven Baty 489-0990

 

North Alabama Sierra Club - Outings and Events Calendar

November – December 2007

Tour Huntsville’s Recycling Facility November 15th, 6:30

 

Hike Ratings

General Note: Saturday outings may take all day and last into early evening. The Sierra Club encourages carpooling to save fuel, but you should be prepared to drive your own car on club outings.

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.

 

Saturday, November 10 - Alabama Heritage Wild & Rural Art Show. We will caravan to the Blackwood gallery in Springville (near Birmingham) for this Alabama Sierra Club sponsored art show. We will stop for lunch along the way. Please contact Liz Poleretzky, hiker@knology.net or 461-5819 for meeting location and time.

Saturday, November 10 - Pinnacle Point hike. Strenuous. Hike is short, but strenuous. Bring lunch, water, binoculars, and your camera to capture one of the most spectacular views in Alabama overlooking the Tennessee River (700 ft. up). Meet at the Hampton Cove Publix at 9:00am and return mid-afternoon. John Allen 539-5287 (h)

Sunday, November 11 – Honeysuckle Elimination. Meet at 1:00pm at trail across from Fagan Spring Apartments. Bring tools and gloves. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788 for information.

Tuesday, November 13, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819.

Friday, November 16 – Galaxy of Lights Walk. Easy. No cars are allowed this night. The Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens was named a Southeast Tourism Top 20 event for 2007. New displays cover almost a mile and a half. The Galaxy of Lights is a holiday light extravaganza featuring larger-than-life animated light displays. Entertainment, crafts, refreshments and Santa. Adults $6, children over 2, $3. Rain date, Sunday, November 18. Meet at 6:00pm in the Marriot Space Center parking lot. Lee Hollingsworth 461-3060

Saturday, November 17 – Wade Mountain Evening hike. Moderate. Meet at the Olive Garden at 4:00pm or at Wade Mountain at the Spragins Hollow trailhead at 6:00pm for quarter moon outing. Cancelled if overcast or rain. Bring flashlight, warm clothes and sturdy hiking boots. Call Doug Horacek for more information at 772-6788.

Saturday, November 17 - Mt. Cheaha Fall Color hike. Moderate. We will hike the Pinhoti Trail, 8 miles total, from the Cheaha trailhead (parking lot) along the ridgeline to Caney Head. Beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and valleys in their autumn splendor. Then descend on the Chinnabee trail to the Turnipseed campsite to pick up shuttle vehicle. Bring water, lunch, sturdy boots. Optional dinner afterwards at the state park restaurant and watch the sunset. Meet 7:00am at Hampton Cove Publix parking lot at McDonalds or 9:30 at Oxford Shoneys.

Lee Hollingsworth, 461-3060.

Tuesday, November 20, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Judy Burley, 883-4207.

Saturday, November 24 – Monte Sano hike. Moderate. Long hike around Monte Sano without reaching the summit. Meet at the Land Trust Parking Lot on Bankhead Parkway at 7:45am.

Bring lunch and water; the hike will last all day. For more information, call Charlie Cohen 837-3622 (hm), 961-7901 (wk), or charlie.cohen@nasa.gov

Tuesday, November 27, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Bruce Martin, 256-725-2168.

Excom Meeting

Thursday, November 29, 5:30. Liz, 461-5819.

Saturday, December 1 - Flat Rock hike. Moderate. Meet at Monte Sano Hikers parking lot at 8:00am. We will hike about 8.4 miles. Bring lunch, water and sturdy hiking boots. This will be an all-day hike. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788 for more information.

Sunday, December 2 - Honeysuckle elimination. Meet at 1:00pm at trail across from Fagan Spring Apartments. Bring tools and gloves. Call Doug Horacek for information at 772-6788.

Tuesday, December 4, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Virgil DeStefano, 539-0348.

Thursday, December 6 – Providence Greenway walk. Easy. Meet at 6:00 pm in the Village of Providence parking lot for an easy hour long walk on their Greenway. Optional dinner afterwards. Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819 or hiker@knology.net

Sunday, December 9 – Monte Sano hike. Moderate. Meet at 1:00pm at the Trough Springs Trail head, off Monte Sano Blvd, 0.1 mile north of Burritt Museum driveway. We will hike 5-6 miles, some cross country. Sam Denham 539-1033(h) 961-0436(w) .

Tuesday, December 11, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.

Newsletter Labeling

Wednesday, December 12, 5:30pm. Stanlieo’s Sub Villa, corner of Monroe St. and Governor’s Dr. Liz, 461-5819.

Friday, December 14 - Walking Tour of Old Decatur Christmas Lights. Easy. Meet at 5:00pm at Captain D's in Madison on Hwy 20, or 5:30pm at the Decatur Public Library. Dinner at trendy Decatur restaurant afterwards. Please call so I can make reservations at the restaurant. Sam Denham 539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).

Saturday, December 15 - Guntersville State Park hike. Moderate. This will be a spirited 9 mile hike. Learn about one of the area's earlier enterprises. Meet at Super Wal-Mart gas station lot, (South Parkway, Hsv) at 8:00am. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. For more info, Sandy Kiplinger at sandykip@juno.com .

Tuesday, December 18, 6:00pm – Annual Tour of Downtown Christmas Light. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Bruce Martin, 256-725-2168.

Saturday, December 22 - Big Cove Greenway walk. Easy. We will walk a couple of hours on this greenway. Meet at the Hays Nature Preserve Parking Lot at 2:00pm. Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819 or hiker@knology.net