State of the Magothy Presentation

It's that time of year when each of the river organizations is releasing its State of the River report. The Magothy is no exception. The announcement is below:

2008 State of the Magothy River Meeting

Do you, family, or friends enjoy spending time on the Magothy River? Would you like to find out how you can help to protect and restore this precious resource? Would you like to hear about all of the great things happening on your river?

The Magothy River Association will hold its sixth annual “State of the Magothy River” presentation on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, starting at 7:00 PM. The meeting will feature the annual Magothy River Index (with a new format this year) and a Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail overview.

Scheduled speakers:
1) 2007 Magothy River Index. Prepared by Dr. Peter Bergstrom, NOAA and MRA. (Produced each year since 2003)
2) Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail overview - Sarah Bransom, National Park Service
3) MRA Creek Watchers – Carl Treff, MRA Volunteer Coordinator
4) Update on the Magothy River Oyster Plan – Dick Carey, MRA Dive Coordinator/Dive Safety Officer

DISPLAYS:
1. Friends of Dobbins Island
2. Bayland Consultants, Mill & Dividing Creek Study
3. Severna Park Watershed Action Group display on North Cypress Branch
4. Department of Natural Resources-Natural Resources Police – Vessel Management Plan & Boating Safety
5. National Aquarium in Baltimore
6. Magothy River Land Trust – Conservation Easements in the Magothy Watershed
7. MRA Team Diver Poster: “Scientific Divers of the Magothy River for Boating and Diver Safety."
8. MRA – Oyster Reefs in the Magothy River
9. Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Doors and displays open at 6:30. Program to start at 7:00. Following the presentations, there will be refreshments and time to visit the displays and chat with watershed residents and the experts. Are you interested in clean water, healthy fish, living oyster reefs and limiting suburban effects on the Magothy? Come and see how you can help!

Date: Wednesday February 20, 2008
Place: Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, West Campus
Cade (Fine Arts) 219 (use Parking Lot F, closest to Ritchie)
directions at: http://www.aacc.cc.md.us/locationsandmaps/maps.cfm
Doors open 6:30 P.M., program 7:00-9:00 PM
Refreshments will be served
For Information call: Paul Spadaro, President of Magothy River Association, 410-647-8772, email: spadaro@cablespeed.com, or visit our web page: www.magothyriver.org
In case of inclement weather, if the college is closed, the program is postponed. College closings are announced on WNAV radio (1430 AM) and on the college web site, http://www.aacc.edu

Annapolis Film Festival

This weekend marks the third annual Annapolis Film Festival. The festival features the work of local filmmakers, showcases our magnificent capital city, and partners with community institutions like Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. The founders of the festival hope to turn Annapolis into a destination for independent film-screenings. Sounds like a pretty good time. The festival begins tonight at 7:30pm at Maryland Hall.

In keeping with yesterday's agricultural theme, here's an event that looks interesting and informative for the kids. Cow facts: Kinder Farm Park will present a "Crazy for Cows Series: Jersey Cow Wow" at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 22 at the Comfort Station of the park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road in Millersville. Learn about the cattle breeds found at the park. Advance registration is required. 410-222- 6115.

This event should be worth catching:

Tuesday 1/18/05 - Talk on the environment: Jim Martin, president of the Annapolis Spa Creek Conservancy, will speak about the future health of Spa Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Crab Shack, the Chesapeake Bay program's meeting facility on Severn Avenue in Eastport. Open to the public. 410-267-6661; Jim Martin: 410-269-1484; Mel Wilkins, projects coordinator: 410-721-5546 or 410-721-7991.

Looking for ways to get involved in local community service over the holidays? The Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County has a Holiday Volunteer Guide on their website listing volunteer opportunities available throughout the month of December.

More Jug Bay. This Saturday, December 13, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary will be hosting a sunset hike from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1361 Wrighton Road in Lothian. Bring a flashlight for the last leg of the hike, and be sure to bundle up.

Concerned about the fact that Anne Arundel County has some of the worst air quality in the nation? Attend the Clean Energy Town Hall Meeting at the Anne Arundel Community College, Florestano Building, Room 101 on December 10, from 7:00-8:30pm. Check out Chesapeake Climate Action Network for more details.

Not concerned? You should be.

Maryland ranks 5th in the nation for poor air quality. Over 96% of Maryland’s electricity comes from dirty, dangerous, non-renewable energy sources and over 70% of that energy comes from coal, oil, and gas. As a result, emissions from those sources send 3,900 Maryland area residents to the emergency room every summer; contribute 37 million tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and deposit several tons of toxic mercury and nitrogen into the Chesapeake Bay.

Tomorrow, December 6, there will be a great opportunity to get out and see some of the South County wilderness. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary will hold a bird walk for beginners from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 1361 Wrighton Road in Lothian. Participants will learn how to identify birds by sight and sound. Binoculars and field guides will be available to borrow. The event is not appropriate for children under 12. For more information, call 410-741-9330 or visit www.jugbay.org. The sanctuary is a real local treasure.