Long Lake March Before and After

Before planting in 2010 and after planting in 2011.

Blue Flag Iris

Help Plant Wildflowers, Grasses and Sedges Around Long Lake

Learn about flowers, sedges and grasses with strange names like Monkeyflower, Prairie Dropseed, Foxglove Beardtongue, Steeplebush and Hoary Puccoon at a planting event at Long Lake Marsh Saturday, June 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Participants of all ages will have an opportunity to:
• Help improve biodiversity, ecosystem functions and water quality of the marsh.
• Help serve their community.
• Help beautify the area.

Bring a trowel and gloves; and wear sunscreen and bug spray — and stay as long as you can. Meet where Diana Rd. intersects with Diana Ct. Organizers of the event include Susan MiHalo from the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board and Gerry Lehmann from the Beautification Committee.

An RSVP would be appreciated, but is not required. Contact Susan MiHalo at 763-4871 or via e-mail at smihal763@verizon.net.

Following is a list of some of the plants that will be planted as small plugs ordered through JF New, Spence Restoration Nursery and the greenhouse of Save the Dunes. Different species have been selected that are adaptable to wet, moist as well as dry conditions.

• Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei):
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/blueflag.htm
• Bluejoint Grass (Calamagrostis canadensis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CACA4
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOCA2
• False Aster (Boltonia asteroides recognita): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/false_aster.htm
• Field Oval Sedge (Carex molesta):
http://eol.org/pages/1123889
• Foxglove Beard Tongue (Penstemon digitalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEDI
• Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYER
• Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/hry_puccoonx.htm
• Marsh Blazingstar (Liatris spicata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LISP
• Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/monkeyflower.htm
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeh): http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYNO2
• Prairie Alum Root (Heuchera richardsonii):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HERI
• Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPHE
• Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ERSP
• Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatoriadelphus maculates): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sp_joepye.htm
• Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa rosea):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPTO2
• Stiff Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/stf_goldenrodx.htm
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_milkweed.htm
• Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_rsmallow.htm
• Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/tl_coreopsisx.htm
• Wild Bergomot (Monarda fistulosa): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wld_bergamotx.htm
• Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RAPI

Native seeds were planted around the marsh on Wednesday, May 26. Included in the mix was a cover crop of Annual Rye that will sprout first. The full benefit of the seeding and planting will not be realized until Summer 2011; however some species should bloom this year. The native plants will not only beautify the area, they will also help filter stormwater run-off before it enters the marsh, improving ecosystem functions and biodiversity.

The long roots of some of the plants are also much more effective at holding soil in place, and the plants are more resistent to climate change than traditional grasses and plants. Finally, the height of some of the plantings will help discourage geese from populating the area.

This project is being undertaken with a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Additional funding has been provided by the Ogden Dunes Community Fund and the Indiana American Water Co. Save the Dunes and the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department are also partners in this project.

ODEAB Sets 2010 Goals

Continuing its mission to advance the health and quality of life of residents through improved water, land and air quality, the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board (ODEAB) established goals for 2010 at its February 9 meeting.

Assessment of the environmental impacts of the Burns Waterway Small Boat Harbor dredging project will be undertaken at the April 6 meeting. Board members plan to meet at a particular location and walk the beach to see if there is any residual garbage or other impacts from the dredging project. Any residual impacts will be documented for future reference. The company contracted by the Army Corp of Engineers to conduct the dredging project is also required to survey the beach for any residual impacts.

Recognizing that residents and visitors also contribute to litter problems on the beach, the ODEAB also plans to undertake a litter education initiative before the beach season begins. ODEAB member John Morris, who retired several years ago from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has offered to look for stock materials at EPA that could be adapted to our needs. Special emphasis will be placed on reminding beach-goers to clean up after July 4.

Expanding recycling opportunities for residents, the ODEAB is now offering cell phone recycling at the mailboxes west of the Town Hall, and plans to coordinate e.waste (electronic waste like TV's, computer monitors, etc.) recycling at the town clean up day scheduled next fall.

ODEAB members also plan to continue responding to citizen complaints about pollution, including coordinating issues with area industries and tracking down pollution sources.

Series of Meetings on Environmental Issues Hosted by OD Church

The public is invited to a series of meetings hosted by the Ogden Dunes Community Church on stewarding planet earth. The “Community Leadership Dialogue Series: Creation Care and Climate Stewardship, Doing Your Part” is being organized by Allison Hannon, daughter of long-time residents Laura and John Hannon, who is Midwest Regional Manager of The Climate Group. The series of meetings will all be held at Ogden Dunes Community Church from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Allison will speak at the first series get-together on Wednesday, October 28. The subject will be understanding climate change and environmental stewardship, and ways you can make a difference.

Ogden Dunes resident and State Senator Karen Tallian, as well as John Hannon, P.E., will be the featured speakers at the second meeting on Wednesday, November 4. They will provide a briefing on local, state and federal environmental policies with a special focus on water issues.

The final workshop, to be held Wednesday, November 18, will focus on ways you can reduce waste through recycling and composting at your home and/or office. The featured speaker will be Deanne Greenwood, Education Coordinator, Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County.

If you are interested in attending, please send an email to hannon.allison@gmail.com or by calling 762-6067. The series is free of charge.

The goal of the non-profit Climate Group, based in the United Kingdom, is to help government and business set the world economy on the path to a low-carbon, prosperous future. To reach that goal, they have created a coalition of governments and the world’s most influential businesses – all committed to tackling climate change. Through this coalition, they are helping to set the targets, create the policies, build the confidence, and generate the political willpower needed to make the changes the world requires by 2050.

Attend a Dune Acres Presentation on Ground Water and Ecology

The Dunes Acres Environmental Committee and the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board invite you to a presentation to be held Sunday, November 1 on ground water, ecology, Lake Michigan levels, and other events that can impact the flora of the Indiana Dunes. The meeting is being held at the Dune Acres Club House at 2:00 p.m. and is free. Refreshments will be served.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Noel B. Pavlovic, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, stationed at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station in Porter, IN. He received his PhD in biological sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MSc. in ecology from the University of Tennessee, a Graduate Diploma in Science-Botany from the Australian National University, and B.Sc. from Earlham College. He has worked in the Indiana Dunes for 26 years and resides with his family on a 14,000 year old Glenwood Dune adjacent to the national park.

Dune Acres has shared some of the same challenges as Ogden Dunes with respect to high ground water and invasive species issues.

The Dune Acres Clubhouse is an interesting landmark to visit. Located on Clubhouse Dr. on one of the highest points in Town, it was built of logs and originally opened in 1926. To get there, enter Dune Acres and continue up the main road. Clubhouse Dr. is the second street on the right.

Air and Odor Issues Discussed at ODEAB Monthly Meeting

Particpants at the October 13 ODEAB meeting learned about how the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) inspects and monitors Precoat Metals for its air and water emissions.

Attending from IDEM were Ramesh Tejuja, IDEM inspector; and Michael Aylesworth, Director of the IDEM Northern Regional Office. Also in attendance was the recently hired Environmental Specialist for the National Park Service, Charles Morris.

IDEM, of course, has to work within the parameters of Precoat’s Title V air permit. Precoat's current air permit does not expire until 2011. A draft permit would probably be released for public comment some time in 2010.

Ramesh answered questions about the Precoat Facility and basically reiterated that if any malfunctions occur in the production line and incinerator, the line will automatically shut down. However, attendees expressed concern that some mechanisms of failure could still be overlooked.

Also discussed were the electrical burning smell residents are occasionally noticing this past few months, as well as concerns that not much can be done if an industry is operating within the means of their IDEM-approved permit.

While permits can help prevent emissions, poorly written permits, or permits that overlook failures or other emission sources, can cause problems as well. Everyone agreed that permits need to be reviewed when they are up for renewal, even if outside assistance needs to be obtained. It was also emphasized that air pollution is not just an Ogden Dunes issue, and therefore outreach needs to be done to get other communities and groups involved.

Solvents in paint coatings can have a detectable odor at a very low part per million. Unfortunately, odors are not regulated in the state of Indiana, but they can be an indicator that something else is happening.

The ODEAB also learned from IDEM that residents from Ogden Dunes are the ones who most frequently call in complaints about nearby industry, indicating that the ODEAB has done a good job in promoting the pollution prevention hotline. Again, it was emphasized that more than Ogden Dunes residents need to contact IDEM if anything is ever to be done about the issues. (http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm)

It was also suggested that residents complain to the National Park Dispatch office at 395-1772 if they are on National Park property, i.e., the Portage Lakefront Riverwalk, and feel that their ability to enjoy the park is being compromised. It was emphasized to only call dispatch during hours when the park is open during the day, not at night when the park is closed.

If you contact IDEM and know an inspector is coming to our area, it might also be helpful to contact the Town Hall at 762-4125 so that the Town Marshall and or officers can be notified. That way if an inspector comes across an officer the officer can be clued in to assist them or direct them to the area being impacted.

Action items that came out of the meeting included:

• Getting ODEAB members trained on the IDEM-provided grab canisters.
• Learning more about nuisance laws.
• Determining if other facilities, like AMROX and/or Beta Steel are in compliance.
• Inviting Precoat representatives to the November 10 ODEAB meeting at 8:30 a.m.
  

Residents Plagued with Bad Air Lately

Numerous complaints are being logged by O.D. residents this past few days about the bad air that is invading from industries east of Town. In particular, some residents have experienced a severe burning electrical smell that was so bad it woke at least one resident up at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9.

In response, several members of the ODEAB are taking some steps to identify and try to alleviate the problem. A call was made September 9 to Hala Kuss, director of the Northwest Indiana Office of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to complain about the situation. Fortunately, because several residents were already diligently making contact with IDEM about the problem, she was already aware of the problem and is sending her inspectors out to find out which industry is causing the electrical burning smell and whether or not any of them have changed their processes recently.

Calls have also been made to U.S. Steel Midwest to see if they can help identify the problem; and to Precoat Metals to let them know about the issue.

Lodging complaints with IDEM is imperative in these situations. This may be accomplished either on-line by visiting http://www.in.gov/idem/5275.htm or by calling the Complaint Coordinator at (800) 451-6027 ext.24464. Spills and environmental emergencies should be immediately reported to IDEM at (888) 233-7745.

When filing a complaint, please provide as much detail as possible about the location of the complaint, when the activity occurred, and what happened. Wind direction information is also helpful to IDEM. The information submitted may be considered public record and subject to disclosure by IDEM. It may also be submitted anonymously.
For more information on the IDEM Complaints Clearinghouse Program, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/5274.htm.

Let us know below in the Comment area what you have been experiencing...

Volunteer for September 19 Beach Clean Up

Take part in a worldwide shoreline clean-up on September 19 as part of the ODEAB’s ongoing efforts to keep our beach “barefoot friendly.” Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. where Diana Rd. runs into Shore Dr. The event will run until 11:30 a.m.

During the clean-up, participants will be divided into teams along the beach, and will tally the types of garbage collected. All supplies will be provided. The tallies are then logged into the Alliance for the Great Lake's on-line database, which provides valuable information on where garbage might be coming from; and how we can educate people not to litter the beach and/or Lake Michigan and its tributaries.

The ODEAB has been participating in the International Coastal Clean-up Day, organized by the Ocean Conservancy, for approximately six years. Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois efforts are coordinated for the Conservancy by the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes.

During the annual event in 2008, thousands of pounds of trash were cleared by more than 500 volunteers in Indiana (note: 125 of these volunteers came from Ogden Dunes alone!).

According to the Alliance, the top three items removed in 2008 included cigarette filters (175,259; food wrappers and containers (45,225); and finally, caps and lids (44,269). In addition to litter pick-up and monitoring, Adopt-a-Beach™ teams and volunteers collect valuable data on our beaches through water quality testing and science-based beach observations. This information is used on a site-by-site basis to improve beach conditions.

To entice families to participate, the ODEAB will hold a drawing for five free registrations for Family Night on the Beach to be held that same night – valued at more than $12 each.

This effort builds on the beach clean-up held on August 22nd that attracted 50 volunteers who picked up more than 130 lbs. of waste from the beach (see next article). The data will provide metrics and information to be used for a pollution prevention program the ODEAB would like to roll out next summer.

Show your love for the beach and Lake Michigan – and make a difference by volunteering the morning on September 19. If you know now that you plan to be there, please send an email to Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net.

Plastic and Styrofoam Trash Grow Exponentially on the Beach

The table in the picture (click on it) shows the types and amounts of trash collected in 2007 and at the August 22nd, 2009 beach clean up. While there are many factors that can impact beach conditions, it’s still interesting to note some of the increases we have witnessed with respect to glass containers, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, cigarettes, Styrofoam and pieces of plastic.

Think about that the next time you go to the beach with these kinds of items and remember: “Most polymers like plastic and Styrofoam just break down into smaller pieces – they never really leave the environment.” They are also bad for pets and birds that try to eat them; and they are manufactured with petroleum.

Special Beach Clean up and After Party at Blue Water on August 22nd

Help keep the O.D. Beach "Barefoot Friendly" at a special Beach Clean Up on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Meet at Accessway #14 to clean the entire length Ogden Dunes Beach. Then, celebrate our efforts from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at a special gathering at Blue Water, 5987 Dune Harbor Drive, Portage, compliments of the Barefoot Wine Co. Please email Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net if you plan to participate and how many will be in your group so that enough supplies are available.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board is dedicated to keeping our beach beautiful by participating in the Alliance for the Great Lake’s “Adopt-a-Beach” program for the past six years. During the clean-up, participants will be divided into teams along the beach, and will tally the type of garbage collected. All supplies will be provided.

The tallies are then logged into the Alliance’s on-line database, which provides valuable information on where garbage might be coming from; and how we can educate people not to litter the beach and/or Lake Michigan and its tributaries.

Barefoot Wine, a maker of fun, flavorful and affordable wine and bubbly, is dedicated to helping keep beaches “barefoot friendly.” They’ve done this by partnering over the last 20 years with the Surfrider Foundation to do beach cleanups and restorations around the country.

The special gathering at Blue Water will feature Appetizers and Barefoot wines. Because alcohol will be served, this event is only for people 21 years of age and older. Instead, we encourage families to participate in the International Coastal Clean-up Day at 9:30 a.m. on September 19. Families who participate on September 19 will have their name entered into a drawing for five free reservations for the Family Fun Night and Campout also to be held on the beach on September 19.

Can we count on you to show how much you love our beach and Lake Michigan? Please let Susan MiHalo know if you will be there, and invite your friends too.

The ODEAB is looking forward to meeting you at Accessway #14 on both dates at 9:30 a.m!

ODEAB Meeting to Focus on Beach Garbage

The July 14 meeting of the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board will primarily focus on the status of the beach this summer -- more specifically beach trash. The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Hall.

A number of residents are noticing more and more trash on the beach, which is either originating on the beach or washing up from Lake Michigan. The Street Department has worked on cleaning the beach several times this summer, only to have more trash appear soon after.

There has been some speculation that perhaps the increased trash is simply more aftermath from the September 2008 storm that washed marinas, boats and trash down the 331-square-mile watershed that feeds into the waterway.

The agenda will feature not only how the town can track garbage using the Alliance for the Great Lake's "Adopt-a-Beach" program (http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=525), but also other ways town residents can advocate for a cleaner Lake Michigan and cleaner waterways, i.e., by participating in watershed planning and implementation efforts in the area. Methods for keeping the beach clean and educating residents about cleaning up after themselves will also be discussed.

All residents are invited to attend.

New Video Helps Explain Beach Water Quality Monitoring

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board, with the assistance of Best Light Productions and a small grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, recently produced a short video that helps educate residents about how water quality at the beach is monitored. The video premiered at the monthly Town Council meeting on July 6.

To view the approximately 13-minute video, click on the link on http://www.ogdendunes.net/ that says "How do we know if it's safe to swim?" or visit http://www.bestlightproductions.com/od_environ_video.htm.

A number of Ogden Dunes residents were involved in the production of the video, including Susan MiHalo, Dan Manas, Joyce Webber, John Muller, Karen Berrier, Polly Costanza, Cheryl and Ken Engel, and Nick Kniola. Former resident Meredith Nevers (Nancy and Tom Becker's daughter), who works for the US Geological Survey as an Aquatic Ecologist; and Bob Theodorou, who is the Lab Manager for United Water Co. and runs the E. coli tests, also appear in the video.

The video is designed to take viewers step-by-step through the monitoring process so that residents can be assured that their health is being protected from pathogens that can cause waterborne illnesses. The Ogden Dunes beach can sometimes be adversely affected by Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO's) that travel down the approximately 331-square miles of watershed that feed into the Burns Waterway.

Bioblitz Starts Today!

Year-long plans for a Bioblitz at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNL) will be executed today -- rain or shine!

Sponsored by National Geographic, BioBlitz is a free, 24-hour event in which teams of worldwide and world-reknowned scientists, volunteers and community members join forces to find, identify, and learn about as many local plant and animal species as possible. These teams will start carefully combing through the IDNL at noon today to begin their count, including wetland and terrestial plants, birds, amphibians, insects and fish found in Long Lake and Lake Michigan. While pre-registration closed for working with a scientist a week ago, it's possible that openings may still be available on site. To see a list of slots available, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Field/PDF/bioblitz-general/team-status.pdf.

Even if you are not interested in participating in the species count, consider visiting West Beach anyways, which is considered the Base Camp for the event. Throughout the event there will be talks and live animal demonstrations, exhibitor booths and nature hikes. One highly recommended demonstation is the Bird of Prey live demonstration to be held Saturday at 10:00 a.m. To see a complete schedule for the Bioblitz visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Field/PDF/bioblitz-general/schedule.pdf.

The event will wrap up with a Biodiversity Festival from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday. Scientists will be bringing their findings back to West Beach, a stage will feature musicians and other presentations, such as Professor Oops, a fun presentation
showing the many invisible connections that make up life on our planet.

You may also notice a lot of activity at the South Shore parking lot and at Marina Shores. Thousands of schoolchildren are coming by train from Chicago to the Ogden Dunes station to participate in the event, and Marina Shores is being used as overflow parking for West Beach with free shuttles running to and from the park.

National Geographic conducting a BioBlitz in a different park each year throughout the decade leading up to the U.S. National Park Service Centennial in 2016. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was selected because it is an urban park and is the 5th most biodiverse national park property in the entire nation.

Beach Testing Season Starts May 18

Residents will now be able to learn whether or not it's safe to swim on Saturdays when the 2009 Beach Water Quality Program starts on May 18.

Made possible with an annual grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), water samples will be drawn every Monday through Friday -- except Tuesdays -- through September 12, 2009. Results from those samples will be posted Tuesdays through Saturdays, except Wednesdays. Monies from the grant are used to hire a Grant Administrator, a Sampling Technician, and to contract with a laboratory for testing.

For the third year in a row, Polly Costanza has been hired as our official Sampling Technician. You may see her bravely wading into the lake at 7:00 a.m. to grab water samples at three locations along the beach. She then transports the samples to a pre-arranged location in Marquette Park in Gary.

From there our contracted Laboratory, United Water, picks up the samples for analysis. United Water then cultures the samples for 24 hours for E. coli bacteria. Results from the cultured samples are then e-mailed to Karen Berrier, Grant Administrator, who is responsible for determining if a beach is open for swimming, if an advisory should be posted, or if a closure is necessary.

Based on the results and the latest beach conditions (i.e., if there was a heavy rainfall in the past 24-78 hours), Karen then indicates on http:://www.ogdendunes.net/beachconditions.html whether or not the beach is open or if an Advisory or Closure are necessary.

Karen is also responsible for posting the appropriate signage along the accessways and near the Town Hall. IDEM is providing new signage soon that the Town tested for the State of Indiana last summer.

Yellow signs will indicate that an Advisory is posted. In this case, an increased risk of illness may be present based on recent monitoring for E. coli bacteria.

For your safety during an Advisory:

• Swim at your own risk.

• Do not ingest lake water.

• Shower after swimming.

• Wash hands before eating.

• Do not swim if you are ill.

Red Signs will tell the public that the beach is closed to swimming, and that a serious risk of illness may be present.

The ODEAB and Karen Berrier will also be working this summer with resident Dan Manas to finalize and release a video explaining why beach water quality needs to be monitored and how it is accomplished.

Register to Participate in a Bioblitz - Fun for Everyone!

Want to have fun, do good, and be part of something BIG? Public registration is now open for the 2009 Indiana Dunes BioBlitz, sponsored by National Geographic and taking place at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore May 15-16! Base Camp for the event will be at West Beach, and there are lots of opportunities to get involved and have fun.

Enroll yourself and up to five companions to join scientists on species inventory teams in the park. They're fielding teams at a number of locations. (See the map.) It’s fun for the whole family, and it’s free, so don’t miss your chance—sign up now!

Volunteers are also needed to help with BioBlitz logistics at Base Camp and other Indiana Dunes locations. If you can lend a hand for several hours or throughout the event, volunteer today!

BioBlitz is a 24-hour event in which teams of scientists, volunteers and community members join forces to find, identify, and learn about as many local plant and animal species as possible. National Geographic is helping conduct a BioBlitz in a different park each year throughout the decade leading up to the U.S. National Park Service Centennial in 2016. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was selected because it is the 5th most biodiverse national park property in the entire nation. Lucky for us!

Hope to see many of you out there!

Recycling Rate Increases to 33 Percent!

Just a reminder on this Earth Day to reference the Guide to Recycling in Ogden Dunes when you have questions about what and what cannot be recycled. Ever since the Guide was published late last year, the Town's diversion rate has risen from 25 percent to 33 percent at the end of March!

A .pdf of the document may be found on the town website at http://www.ogdendunes.net/images/Guide_to_Recyling_in_Ogden_Dunes.pdf. A special feature is hypertext linking that allows you to jump to the question you want answered.

Would You like to Adopt our Beach?

The ODEAB is looking for a group of residents who would like to participate in the Alliance for the Great Lake’s "Adopt-a-Beach" Program three times per year. This is a great opportunity for friends and families to do something to help the beach, while learning about our most precious resource – Lake Michigan.

All around the Great Lakes, schools, families and community groups have adopted beaches. These groups periodically gather to remove litter, monitor beach health and conduct an at-home water quality test. They then work with the Alliance to log the information onto a website database, which the Alliance uses for pollution prevention advocacy and education.

Some of you may be familiar with this process. For the past several years, Ogden Dunes has been participating in the Annual International Coastal Clean up Day held each September. This program expands that effort in Ogden Dunes to two more times per year, taking place in early and mid-summer, then again in September.

Participants would need to dedicate approximately two hours each visit and would work in pairs to collect and tally litter; and fill out a Routine Visit Report that asks questions about conditions that day such as air temperature, wind direction, time of last rainfall, and other pertinent information.

If you are interesting in joining with this effort, please contact Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net or any of the ODEAB members. Once we have a group of dedicated volunteers, we can arrange a training event.

Note: this would not be an effort to clean the entire beach and would not replace overall clean up efforts. It's more of an effort to monitor the state of our beach and track it's condition over time.


For more information on the Alliance for the Great Lakes “Adopt-a-Beach” program, visit http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=525.

Partcipate in a Garlic Mustard Pull on April 26!

During the town's Clean Up Weekend, April 25-26, join the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board in a "Garlic Mustard Pull" along the Sand Tracks. Meet at the Tennis Courts on Diana Rd. at 4:00 p.m.

We'll show you how to spot and pull first-year sprouts of this alien biennial invader that crowds out native species and harms the soil. We'll also show you how to properly dispose of it (rather than just throwing on the ground, which really does not help!). The event will officially end at 5:30 p.m. -- that is unless you wish to keep at it!

As you can see from the photos above, first-year and second-year Garlic Mustard looks remarkably different. If you can manage to get most of the first-year sprouts out of the ground, the invasion won't be as bad the next year.

So wear some old clothes and come join us! Gloves and paper bags will be provided.

Ideas for Celebrating Earth Hour

On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm, tens of millions of people around the world will turn out their lights for one hour — Earth Hour — to demonstrate concern for our living planet and send a loud message to our leaders that they support action on climate change.

Several Ogden Dunes residents have asked for suggestions for things they can specifically do that night. Here are a few ideas for things to do in the dark…by yourself or with others:
1. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner with someone special using organic or sustainably grown food items.
2. Invite friends and family over for a "lights-out" party and serve green-themed snacks and drinks—green tea or apple martinis anyone?
3. Turn off the lights and power down the computer and cell phone. Use the quiet time to take a break from a "plugged-in" world by meditating or resting.
4. Take a bubble bath by candlelight.
5. Use the hour for practical tasks that you never seem to have time for. Test essential items in your emergency preparedness kit like flashlights, radios, and cell phones. Change out all your light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Think about how you would evacuate your house in an emergency in the dark.
6. Read a book set in an era without electricity. Marvel that the Romans conquered much of the world without a single cell phone and that Shakespeare wrote masterpieces without a laptop or the Internet.
7. Turn off the computer and write a letter by candlelight the old-fashioned way using pen and paper.
8. Invite friends over to play charades or Scrabble by candlelight.
9. View the night sky via telescope--the reduced "light pollution" may make some stars more visible.
10. Take photos of how you spent Earth Hour and upload them to the Earth Hour pages on Facebook, Myspace and YouTube. Keep it clean please!

Earth Hour is not about how much electricity we can save in one hour. The idea behind Earth Hour is that by working together, each one of us can make a difference on the issue of climate change. By doing something as simple as turning off the lights, we send a visual symbol to the world’s leaders that we are counting on them to work together to find solutions to climate change.

Participate in Earth Hour 2009 on March 28!

The ODEAB announced at the March Town Council meeting that it is officially supporting Earth Hour 2009, a global climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). More than 240 cities around the world have already committed to go dark for one hour on March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., as tens of millions of people from all corners of the world unite in a call for global action on climate change.

From Amman to Warsaw, city and town skylines will go dark for one hour as individuals, businesses, government buildings, schools and major landmarks turn off non-essential lighting in what will be the largest climate event in history. (Don’t worry: the streetlights will remain on!)

“World Wildlife Fund is pleased that Ogden Dunes is taking part in Earth Hour 2009. As lights go out in cities around the U.S. and the world on March 28th, Earth Hour will provide world leaders with an unmistakable mandate to take action,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “The climate crisis threatens the ability of our planet to support its inhabitants. We want the world to know that Americans care about saving the planet and stand united in seeking to find solutions to climate change.”

During Earth Hour 2008, more than 50 million people in 400 cities on all seven continents turned off their lights as major icons also went dark, including the Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum in Rome, Stockholm’s Royal Castle, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Google turned its homepage black for an entire day in tribute.

We look forward to your participation. Please comment below if you plan to participate, and visit http://www.earthhourus.org/ for more information. Don’t forget to urge your friends and family to participate through email and on Facebook too!