Shredability: 20 Uses of Shredded Paper

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Spring cleaning can mean for lots of paper shredding.  And the shredding, coinciding with the Earth Day/Arbor Day time of year, can lead to thoughts of reusing, repurposing, recycling, and reclaiming.  Enjoy these ideas for the by-products of your office shredfest:


#1 Fertilizer:  thin layers of paper can help act as fertilizer as they decompose or to protect seeds from hungry birds.  Just be sure not to shred coated (glossy) papers or those envelopes with cellophane windows.  Those aren't biodegradable.

#2 Pet Bed:  Sew up an old t-shirt, fill it with shredding, and make a comfy doggie bed.

#3 Packing Material:  use as padding as opposed to styrofoam peanuts and the like.

http://www.greenhandsusa.com/tips/page:10289

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/shredded-paper-mulch-zmaz10aszraw.aspx

#4 Mulch:  use to provide weed control and to keep plants moist.  Lay down the shredded paper as you would any mulching material on the soil in garden beds.  Use a hose to wet it down and prevent flyaway. Mixing shredded paper with grass seeds also helps keep the seeds damp to create faster germination when reseeding bare spots.  Soil microorganisms will "eat" the paper the same way they would in a compost heap.

#5 Worm Bin:  some green gardeners have a worm bin in addition to a compost bin in their backyards. Worms produce a lot of nitrogen, which can cause a strong odor. Adding shredded paper, which is high in carbon, will neutralize the odor.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/156892/shredded-paper-for-bedding

#6 Animal Bedding:  use in the bottom of cages and pens; the occupants will use it for nesting material, and the paper will help absorb animal waste for easier cage cleaning.

#7 Fire Fuel:  use with kindling to start a fire in a wood-burning stove or outdoor fire pit.  Some people like to wet the paper and then make molds of "bricks" or "pucks" that can be used more easily once dried.

#8 Potting soil:  mix paper into potting soil to help the soil retain moisture. As the paper breaks down, it serves as a nutrition source for the plant.

http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-Home-and-Garden-i-2013-05-03-186377.114137-Creative-And-Practical-Uses-For-Shredded-Recycled-Paper.html#axzz2zRkcFgMZ

#9 Sachet Filler: scent it with essential oil.

#10 Kitty Litter Extender:  pad the litter box with shredded paper before putting the crystals on top.  The crystals still do their work, but you need fewer of them.

#11 Handmade Paper Starter:  buy a simple paper-making kit; the results are often beautiful - homemade sheets of paper great for correspondence, scrapbooks, gift tags, etc.  

#12 Papier Mache Starter:  add flour and water (equal parts) and you’ve got papier mache for art projects.

#13 Scarecrow/Costume-stuffing:  instead of straw.

http://www.dailypea.com/tag/homemade-paper-easter-grass

#14 Easter Basket Grass and Other Decor:  if some shredded paper winds up on the lawn, no problem.

http://snappyliving.com/things-to-do-with-shredded-paper/

#15 Newly Sown Seed Protection:  cover newbies with a small amount to keep birds at bay.

#16 Storage:  apples, potatoes, onions, and other crops.

#17 Insulation:  once treated, use between shed walls.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Green_Living/Reusing/Uses-for-Shredded-Paper.html

#18 Absorb Moisture & Prevent Leaking:  throw a little shredded paper in the bottom of a new trash bag.

#19 Help Drainage and Reduce Potting Soil Required:  use in the bottom of potted plants.

#20 Create Seed Starters:

Step 1

source: 365daysofdiy.blogspot.com

Step 2

http://blog.officezilla.com/upcycle-then-recycle-shredded-paper/

Earth and Arbor 2014

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22; events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.  It was first celebrated in 1970 and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day‎
2. Learn more about the history of Earth Day here:  http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/history-of-earth-day/
3. 
   

http://www.earthday.org/

Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees.  Although usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate and suitable planting season.  In Virginia, Arbor Day coincides with National Arbor Day, which is the last Friday in April.  This year, Arbor Day is Friday, April 25, 2014.

http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/history-of-earth-day/

http://www.arborday.org/states/state.cfm?state=VA

Learn more about the history of Arbor Day:  http://www.arborday.org/arborday/history.cfm

Follow the link to find Earth and Arbor Day celebrations in Virginia, courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.

PLAY BALL

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

USA Softball Comes to Lynchburg and Loudoun

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LYNCHBURG

USA Women's National Softball Exhibition Games

Friday, June 13^th at 7pm (Gates open at 5pm)         
City Stadium
$25 reserved, $15 general admission
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

The United States Women's National Softball is coming to City Stadium in Lynchburg on the first stop on their 2014 Exhibition Tour. The National team will play a doubleheader exhibition against a team of local players, led by two-time Olympic gold-medalist, Coach Dot Richardson. Watch the Press Conference Announcement.

This fantastic family event will include an opening ceremony at 6:35pm, and a post-game autograph session.

Tickets to the exhibition double-header are now available, and can be purchased at the Lynchburg City Stadium from 9am - 5pm (except during regular season games) or online at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com. Reserved seats are $25, general admission tickets are $15.  Tickets will be sold at the door if available. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Ticket questions? Contact the Hillcats staff at (434) 528-1144. General questions? Call the Parks and Recreation admin office at (434) 455-5858 or email parksinfo@lynchburgva.gov.

*NO REFUNDS. NO RAIN DATE. 

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USA Softball Clinic 

Saturday, June 14th
9:00am – 12:00pm (Check-in begins at 8:00am)
Peaks View Park
Ages 6-18
$75.00 per player

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from TEAM USA! The USA Softball Women’s National Team will be holding a softball clinic in Lynchburg the day after their exhibition game. The clinic will be conducted by Ken Erickson, the head coach of Team USA and the University of South Florida. His coaching staff which will include some of the top collegiate coaches in the country as well as Team USA players. Participants will be divided into small groups by age, ability and will receive both group and one on one instruction. Cost includes a Team USA T-shirt.

Registration is now open. Register online today (links below) or stop by to register at the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices or the Athletics Offices at Kemper Street.  NO DAY-OF REGISTRATIONS!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE

Participant Info
Participants need to bring their own bat, glove and water bottle. Additional water will be available at the park. Parking is very limited so we encourage participants to carpool. Please park at the Ardmore & Tenbury entrances.

Questions? Call Kaleb VanDePerre at (434) 847-1751. 

*NO REFUNDS. IN THE EVENT OF RAIN, THE CLINIC WILL BE MOVED TO E.C. GLASS HIGH SCHOOL*

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LOUDOUN

Click HERE for tickets.

Revisiting the CAMs

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

In early December, 2013, the VRPS blogpost (Smile for the CAM) spotlighted the top (subjective) 5 webcams in Virginia.  Today's post is worth a revisit:

#5 Wunderground Weather Webcams - all over Virginia

Weather Underground is a commercial weather service that provides real-time weather information via the Internet.

"View weather around the globe, as it happens."

#4 Shenandoah National Park Webcam

You can get real-time views of several areas in Shenandoah National Park from web cameras!

Our Air Quality webcam is a view from the Pinnacles area (near mile 36.7) into the valley to the northwest. This link takes you to an NPS air quality site that has live air quality data from Shenandoah, as well as links to webcams and data from other national parks.

The Mountain View webcam is also a view from the Pinnacles area into the valley toward the town of Luray. Use this to check the weather in the park or to track the fall color!

Big Meadows webcam looks south from Byrd Visitor Center at milepost 51. It's a great way to check the weather on the mountain, which can be very different from lower elevations. You can also monitor the changes in the meadow after the annual spring burn, or watch the wildlife that frequents Big Meadows!

There's also a Traffic Cam at Rockfish Gap at the southern end of Skyline Drive where it connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway near Route 64. This camera is operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation. This area on Afton Mountain can be treacherous when it's foggy, so use this camera to check weather and traffic.

#3 Eagle CAM

"Eagleholic" is a private website dedicated to tracking eagle watch events all over the country.  From this site is a reference to the RF EagleCam.

Livestream Cam Link: http://new.livestream.com/rfeaglecam/events/2525155
You Tube Cam Link: www.RFEaglecam.net
Link to the RF nest FB group -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416807728576715/

The R F bald eagle nest is located North of Leesburg, along the Potomac River,in Northern Virginia on a large horse breeding and training farm.

A Little History

This is our ninth year watching this pair. Typically, they have had two eaglets survive each year. One year, only one survived. As this is only the second year with the camera, we have no idea how many eggs in prior years they have had. Last year, there were two eggs and both eaglets successfully left the nest. In 2011, however, three eaglets survived, and after leaving the nest, spent a few weeks together before moving on!

This is a nice very clear cam with an overhead view and zooming capability.

#2 Shad CAM

The shad are running, and the CAM is up!  Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hosts this cam late March through early June:

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/shadcam/

Over the past 35 years, populations of American shad, hickory shad, alewife, blueback herring, striped bass, and other anadromous fish species have steadily declined in Virginia. VDGIF, in collaboration with a number of other partners, has been working to bring back these fish, mostly by restoring access to historic spawning areas throughout coastal Virginia. In the James River, these species were known to spawn as far upstream as Eagle Rock until two sets of dams, in Lynchburg and Richmond, cut off over 400 miles of the river and tributaries. In 1999, a fishway was constructed at Bosher's Dam, providing fish with access to 137 miles of the James River and 168 miles of its tributaries for the first time in nearly 200 years. A camera at the fishway provides visitors a peek into this incredible journey as the fish return to spawn in the spring.

Keep an eye out for…

American Shad (Alosa sapidissima)

Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis)

The majority of fish species will ascend the fishway during the day while catfish species and sea lamprey will primarily move upstream at night. Spawning runs of anadromous fish in Virginia generally occur between March and early June.

#1 Falcon CAM

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/richmond-s-rare-falcons-trying-again-to-raise-family/article_b748dbb4-bc5a-11e3-8f0e-001a4bcf6878.html

Downtown Richmond's rare -- and often dramatic -- falcons are off on another nesting adventure.

The peregrine falcons known as Ozzie and Harriet are tending three eggs on a 21st-story walkway at Riverfront Plaza by the James River.

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Richmond's falcons over the years

The falcons often produce healthy chicks. But sometimes they produce eggs that don't hatch, and sometimes their youngsters fly into buildings and die.

“They have been dramatic,” said Barbara Slatcher, a Hanover County falcon aficionado who follows the birds on the Richmond Falcon Cam. “They have not been easy to watch sometimes.”

The Falcon Cam, run by the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, has been upgraded. It offers crisp, quickly updated images at falconcam.tumblr.com.

Harriet laid the eggs in late March. If all goes well, they should hatch in late April or early May.

Devastated by pesticides after World War II, peregrines are so rare that scientists are trying to help them come back. The crow-sized predators tend only about two-dozen nests in Virginia. By comparison, there are hundreds of eagle nests.

Richmond's falcons have nested downtown since 2003. Last year, they tried a new spot -- a 22nd-story nest on Dominion Virginia Power's building at Seventh and East Cary streets -- but their five eggs didn’t hatch.

The birds moved back to their longtime Riverfront Plaza nest at 901 E. Byrd St., where they produced four more eggs. Two chicks hatched but didn't survive. It was late June by then, and mid-90s heat may have been a factor.

Some falcons are better providers and protectors than others, and Ozzie and Harriet are among the best, Slatcher said.

“They are great parents...but for whatever reason, in some years the clutch fails.”

Week's Top Five: Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

Do you scratch your head each season in an effort to devise clever and captivating programming ideas to engage your communities?  If you've advertised your event on social media, or if I happened upon it in my research, you were a candidate in the selection of this week's "Top Five:  Great Programming and Event Ideas to Steal for the week of March 31".

NUMBER FIVE
Kings Dominion:  Online Photo Mosaic

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, Kings Dominion is encouraging the public to tag and upload personal photos to a #KD40 mosaic.  The photos can be searched by name, email, or keyword:

http://www.kingsdominionmemories.com/

NUMBER FOUR
Shenandoah Parks and Recreation:  Womanless Beauty Pageant

Men in womens' clothing is always a good bet.  Throw in a steak dinner at the Moose Lodge and confirmed contestants from Parks and Rec, Fire and Rescue, and the landfill, and the odds improve even more:

http://shenandoahcountyva.us/parks/events/2014-miss-seven-bends-womanless-beauty-pageant/

NUMBER THREE
Danville Parks and Recreation:  Wine and Design

Danville Parks and Recreation is teaming up with a commercial enterprise to offer an adult art program that encourages participants to bring their favorite wine, drinks, and light snacks.  As they sample their wares, they are offered instruction in creating a 16X20 masterpiece.  How grown-up is that?

https://apm.activecommunities.com/playdanvilleva/Activity_Search/wine-design/8205

NUMBER TWO
Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks:  Teen Easter Egg Night Hunt

Devising a programming event to engage teens is hard; it might be said that they are (a) a more difficult demographic to satisfy, and (b) a group that most certainly needs safe, engaging, monitored, socialized programming.  Colonial Heights has managed to come up with an event that is bound to please everyone:

• Teens in the dark ...
• with flashlights ...
• who don't need to register until the DAY OF the event ...
• and are safely contained in a stadium ...
• while HUNTING and COMPETING for Easter eggs and REALLY GOOD PRIZES like theme park tickets and gift cards.
• CHEATERS ARE DISQUALIFIED (must be said ...).

http://www.colonialheightsva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2274

NUMBER ONE
Senior Center:  Lifelong Learning Programs

The sheer number of ongoing, engaging programs that Senior Center offers is beyond impressive.  There is absolutely something for everyone, and each is designed to work the noggin':

Weekly:

• Apple/Mac Users Group
• Current Affairs
• Exploring Science
• Mah Jongg Lessons
• Writing for Health and Growth
• Writing for Pleasure

Twice Monthly:

• Investment Vision Group
• Investors' Forum
• Le Cercle Francais (for those with a penchant for French)
• Socrates Cafe (philosophical idea discussion)

Monthly

• All Things Digital
• Attorney Talk
• Book Group
• Chasing Life (staying healthy and engaged)
• Comparative Religions
• Poetry Group
• Merrill Lynch Financial Series
• Senior Statesmen of Virginia

http://seniorcenterinc.org/programs/detail/category/lifelong-learning