Archive for April, 2010
SAVE THE FROGS DAY EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN 20 COUNTRIES TODAY
April 30th 2010Amphibians are rapidly disappearing around the planet, and a worldwide effort is underway today to save them. The 2nd Annual Save The Frogs Day, taking place today, is the largest day of amphibian education and conservation action in the planet’s history. Over 80 Save The Frogs Day events are being held in 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, Madagascar, India, South Africa, and Australia. The events are being coordinated by SAVE THE FROGS!, America’s first and only public charity dedicated to amphibian conservation.
Amphibian populations worldwide have been declining at unprecedented rates, and nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Up to 200 species have already completely disappeared in recent years. “Habitat destruction and an infectious disease called chytridiomycosis are decimating frog populations worldwide” says Dr. Kerry Kriger, Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS. To make matters worse, pollution and pesticides are weakening frogs’ immune defenses and in some cases even turning male frogs into females. There are 18,000 registered pesticides in the United States.
Dr. Kriger hopes that Save The Frogs Day will dramatically increase frog awareness on a global scale. “This is one of the most significant environmental issues of the 21st century. Save The Frogs Day is all about people stepping up, getting involved, and taking action in their own community, and that’s exactly what is happening”, says Dr. Kriger.
Save The Frogs Day events include presentations by scientists worldwide; a moonlit frog walk in Seattle’s Discovery Park; a Frog Leap-a-Thon in Toronto, and a frog art contest in Brazil. The Miss Earth South Africa ladies will join in the action by teaching children in the villages about frogs. The first protests in defense of frog populations in the planet’s history will take place at restaurants in VA, MD and TX. The restaurant chain refuses to remove the frog legs from their menus. Over 100 million frogs are taken out of the wild for food each year. SAVE THE FROGS recently succeeded in getting San Francisco’s Restaurant Gary Danko to remove wild-caught Pig Frogs from their menu.
Save The Frogs Day has been legally recognized by Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia; Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, British Columbia; and Mayor Mike Rotkin of Santa Cruz, California. Mayor Rotkin will join Dr. Kriger for his morning talk on frogs at an elementary school. Afterwards, Dr. Kriger will give an interview on Martha Stewart Radio and then he will present a free online webinar on amphibian conservation. In the evening he will give a lecture on The Wild World of Frogs and lead a frog walk through the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve.
What’s next? Dr. Kriger says SAVE THE FROGS will be organizing an International Day of Pesticide Action, planned for October 24th. “We aim to get Atrazine federally banned by the 3rd Annual Save The Frogs Day”. Atrazine is one of the most commonly detected pesticides in American groundwater, tapwater and rainfall, and there is abundant scientific evidence documenting its negative impacts on an array of wildlife. Eighty million pounds of Atrazine are used in America each year.
You can learn more about Save The Frogs Day at www.savethefrogs.com/day
TWO Pairs of FREE Tickets to Martyn Joseph Concert in Acton & Orangeville
April 29th 2010Escarpment Views is pleased to offer two pairs of free tickets to the Joseph-Henderson concert, one pair for their Acton appearance, and one pair for their Orangeville performance! Information about the performers is below.
To enter our draw for these free tickets, email us with either “I want to see them in Acton” or “I want to see them in Orangeville” in the Subject line. Please give your full Canada Post mailing address in your email message. Enter the draw by May 6 for the Acton show, and May 11 for the Orangeville show. We’ll inform the winner by email and send you the tickets.
Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph will start his “Because We Can” tour with long-time songwriting partner Stewart Henderson. This will be the first time they’ve both toured together in Canada. The 11-city Canadian tour begins on May 6 in Cobourg and will offer a variety of poetry and music.
Martyn Joseph is a performer like no other. Shades of Springsteen, Knopfler and Dave Matthews there may be, but he stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives.
Stewart Henderson is a poet, songwriter and broadcaster. For the past 20 years he has enjoyed a fruitful songwriting partnership with Martyn Joseph contributing lyrics to some of Martyn’s standards. Stewart has also fulfilled poetic commissions for various relief agencies, travelling to the Philippines and Thailand to write about the plight of children in servitude.
In addition to the concert, Joseph will show his support for World Vision Canada’s work in Democratic Republic of Congo by encouraging his fans to sponsor a child there. Concert goers will not only enjoy a night of great music, they’ll have the unique opportunity to hear how they can make a difference in the life of a child who is living in poverty.
Here’s information about attending the concerts.
Winner of Free Tickets to Hamilton Philharmonic
April 24th 2010Judy Snyder of Burlington is the winner of the draw for two free tickets to “The Brilliant North,” a concert by the Hamilton Philharmonic. We thank the HPO for providing these tickets.
Check back here soon for another free tickets giveaway, coming soon!
Help Plant Trees at Mountsberg on May 8
April 23rd 2010Conservation Halton invites you to join a team of between 300 and 400 volunteers to help plant 3,000 trees on Sat. May 8. The planting will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Mountsberg Conservation Area as part of the Trees for Watershed Health Program.
The event is open to individuals, families or groups who pre-register. It is free of charge and includes a complimentary barbecue. Spaces tend to fill up early so register your group or family now .
In addition to the tree planting, volunteers can enjoy a day full of activities. Take a wagon ride, check out a birds of prey show, play in the Play Barn and visit the farm animals at the Cameron barnyard. The Mountsberg Raptor Centre staff is also making plans to introduce their newest addition to the community at the Trees for Watershed Health barbeque.
“The Trees for Watershed Health planting is a highlight of our spring calendar every year, and it’s wonderful to see the community participation,” said Hassaan Basit, Conservation Halton’s director of communications services. “This year, we are pleased to be celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity and planting trees is a great way for all of us to help promote biodiversity in the watershed.”
Volunteers are reminded to dress according to the weather, wear waterproof boots and bring a shovel. The event will happen rain or shine. Registration for the event is required by Friday, April 30, and space is limited.
Launched in 2006, Trees for Watershed Health is a Conservation Halton community outreach program designed to engage watershed residents and community groups in tree planting. The program was started to bring communities and nature together to help increase forest cover in the Halton watershed.
Draw for Dinner for 12 at Terra Cotta Inn!
April 21st 2010Terra Cotta Community Centre is continuing to raise funds for the restoration of its historic hall. Executive Chef Roberto of The Terra Cotta Inn has made it possible by offering a unique evening of enjoyment, dinner for 12 in a private dining room at the renowned Terra Cotta Inn! He will prepare the dinner. This is the second time the draw has taken place and last year’s winners were thrilled with the experience.
Tickets are $50, and only 200 tickets are available. The draw will be held April 30. Proceeds support Terra Cotta Community Hall Restoration.
Don’t miss this opportunity to treat a group of your family and friends to a memorable experience! Purchase your tickets today from Yvonne Sanchez, 905-702-0480 or by email.
Funding for Rural Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Projects
April 20th 2010We just received this information and learned there is no deadline to apply for funding!
Landowners in Hamilton and Halton Conservation Authorities’ watersheds are eligible to receive grants toward the cost of eligible and approved water quality and habitat improvement projects that reflect beneficial management practices.
Funds are being delivered through the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program, assisting and encouraging landowners to protect and enhance the natural features on their property.
Healthy watersheds support healthy families and communities. Good water quality and healthy natural areas help us all. The benefits of improved water quality and habitat include a safe secure water supply, healthy stream systems, increased recreational opportunities, sustainable agricultural operations and a vibrant economy.
You can call the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program at 905-336-1158, extension 263 or 905-525-2181, extension 181 for a free on-site consultation to discuss your project and determine if it could be eligible for funding.
Late note: When I originally posted this I forgot that not all of Halton Region is covered by Conservation Halton. The northeast part of Halton Hills is actually in the Credit Valley watershed, so it’s under the authority of Credit Valley Conservation. I don’t have any word yet about stewardship funding from them.
Appearance on Behind The Story
April 17th 2010If you’re looking for something to watch on TV Sunday night, you might want to go to CTSTV (channel 36 for some people) at 7 pm for Behind The Story. I (Gloria Hildebrandt) am a guest on the show. Hosted by Richard Landau, the program has journalists and commentators discussing the media’s treatment of various issues in the news.
This week the topics are the pharmacies’ threatened service cuts, the Helena Guergis affair, the Roman Catholic Church’s statement about paedophilia and more.
And I get to share some news about the Niagara Escarpment in the U.S.
Tickets Giveaway to Hamilton Philharmonic!
April 13th 2010Escarpment Views has two tickets to give away for FREE to “The Brilliant North,” the final concert of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s (HPO) season. This concert is at 7:30 pm on Sat. May 1 at Hamilton Place.
“The Brilliant North” features some of the most famous works by composers from northern countries. The program includes Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, and the Canadian premiere of Montreal-born composer Samy Moussa’s Étude No. 1 for Orchestra. Here’s more information.
There will also be a pre-concert chat, hosted by Christian Teeuwsen, associate professor of music at Redeemer University College, beginning at 6:30 pm.
The HPO was founded in 1949 with roots going back to 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society, and it grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Today the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community. The combined musical talents of its artists continue to enrich the community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
If you would like to win this FREE PAIR OF TICKETS, email us with “I want to win!” in the Subject Line. We will hold a draw for the winner on Sat. April 24 and let you know by email.
Georgetown Bach Chorale Performs Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & Lesser-Known Works
April 12th 2010Georgetown Bach Chorale (GBC) had a packed house at Georgetown’s Knox Presbyterian Church on Saturday night for their concert of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and choral works. All the pews were tightly filled, more chairs had to be brought in and there was the real possibility that people without tickets would be turned away.
The program was a great mix of instrumental and choral performances of Vivaldi’s little-known works and his hugely popular Four Seasons. GBC is clever in performing challenging baroque pieces but framing them to be accessible to an audience of mixed musical knowledge. There was something for everyone in this program, works that many had never heard before, as well as those that had people nodding their heads in pleased recognition. You don’t have to have an education in music to enjoy their concerts.
GBC’s director Ron Greidanus is also good at turning what could be a stuffy, intimidating evening into a treat that everyone can enjoy. His introductions to each piece give some background and context while encouraging the audience to relax and listen for key elements. This lightly educational approach bridges the gap for people with little musical knowledge.
The concert began with The Kingsway Strings, a group of child violinists, performing from Vivaldi’s “Don Quixote” for strings. This group is part of The Kingsway Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Wonderful but unfamiliar sacred choral pieces were sung by the choir, and are lovely enough to deserve to become better known. The already small chorale was divided into two choirs for the antiphonal pieces, a demanding challenge for a small amateur choir. The result is highly exposed voices that need to be confident and knowledgeable of their parts. This choir was, and produced fine echo effects with both sides of equal strength. There were pieces with solos for women featuring long baroque rills that are by no means easy, but were beautifully handled.
The Four Seasons were performed by the small orchestra of period instruments, with a different violinist leading each concerto. This was an interesting demonstration of the uniqueness of each lead’s style. The most popular lead violinist was Edwin Huizinga, whose large frame and long reddish hair helped convey the drama of Summer. He played with great contrast between the slow, quiet parts and the fast, loud parts, making for an exciting performance.
Through all the pieces was the beautiful uniqe sound of the harpsichord played by Greidanus. It is such a distinctive sound that immediately conveys the time of high courts and long dresses.
The one negative of the night was the frequent and extensive tuning. This caused grumblings in the audience until it was explained that period stringed instruments are delicate and quickly go out of tune. With the enormous amount and variety of bowing needed for Vivaldi’s works, it is understandable that strings will stretch. Audiences in the baroque period (1600-1750) had more patience or fewer distractions than we do today, who can demand instant entertainment at the touch of a button. By the end, annoyance was forgotten as the audience leaped to its feet for a long standing ovation. Familiar music or not, they liked what they heard.
GBC’s next concert is a “Concerto Auction” on May 8 in Georgetown.
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Help Friends of the Eramosa Karst By Subscribing to Escarpment Views
April 08th 2010We’re pleased to have an partnership with another organization that’s doing great work for the Niagara Escarpment. Friends of the Eramosa Karst (FOTEK) worked hard to protect karst landscape in Stoney Creek, which has become Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. FOTEK is now trying to keep the karst’s vital “feeder lands” from housing development. Hamilton Conservation Authority supports this effort (see our blog post of March 30, 2010) along with many individuals.
Escarpment Views is happy to support FOTEK’s efforts by donating $5 of every new or renewing subscription to them. All you have to do is note FOTEK when you send your payment. For more details about this offer, see Subscribe on our site.
For information about karst in general and the Eramosa Karst in particular, see FOTEK’s site.
