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Protecting Native Ecosystems by Combating Invasive Species
Our watershed is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. A few native wildflowers and trees you may be familiar with are the New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), American Columbine (Aguilegia canadensis), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), White Pine (Pinus Strobus), and Red Maple (Acer rubrum). Landscaping with native species has many benefits including the fact that native species are hardy and attractive to wildlife.
Non-indigenous, or non-native, species are those that evolved elsewhere and have been purposely or accidentally relocated by humans or environmental alterations, i.e. climate change. According to the Ecological Society of America, approximately 50,000 non-indigenous species have been introduced into the United States. Not all introduced species become invasive. Some appear to be relatively benign, but others are strong competitors or voracious predators with devastating effects. The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group defines "invasive" as "non-native species that have, or are likely to, spread into native or minimally-managed plant systems and cause economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and becoming dominant or disruptive to those systems."1 Invasives crowd out native species, alter natural food webs, and destroy wildlife habitat.
Although much focus is on invasive plants, our region is also dealing with invasive animals, such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle. The Asian Longhorned Beetle, native to Asia, is a destructive pest of hardwood trees, including maple, horse chestnut, birch, poplar, willow, and elm. These beetles were first discovered in Massachusetts in 2008. Since then, the city of Worcester has had to remove some 29,000 infested trees. Areas that are currently being regulated to prevent the spread of the beetles include Worcester, West Boylston, and Boylston, as well as portions of Holden, Shrewsbury, and Auburn. The public is encouraged to report sightings of the beetle or any signs of infestation. More on Asian Longhorned Beetles.
NRWA has taken action to address invasives in our watershed by:
- Identifying and controlling infestations of Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in nine communities in our wetlands using biocontrol. About NRWA's Purple loosestrife control project.
- Removing over 2,700 tons of Water chestnut (Trapa natans) from the Pepperell Pond impoundment of the Nashua River in Groton/Pepperell area. About NRWA's water chestnut control project.
- Removing Japanese knotweed on the banks of the North Nashua River (Polygonum cuspidatum) in Fitchburg working with a neighborhood youth group.
- Providing free presentations on topics such as landscaping with native species, identifying and preventing the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle, and how boaters can prevent accidental transport of invasives from one waterway to another.
As the climate continues to change, non-native plants especially invasive ones could become even more widespread and destructive, according to a new Harvard study. The researchers found that some invasive plants have begun to flower earlier in the year as average annual temperatures have gone up. Early growth appears to give them a chance to dominate an area and destroy surrounding wildlife habitat, as well as cause other environmental problem. Invasives will continue to be a focus of NRWA efforts to protect our native ecosystems.
1Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group. (2005). The Evaluation of Non-Native Plant Species for Invasiveness in Massachusetts. Page 5.
Invasive Plant Species Resources
Ecological Society of America
Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group
Invasive Plants of the United States: Identification, Biology and Control
Invasive Plant Index of New England
A Guide to Invasive Plants in Massachusetts by MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
USDA National Invasive Species Information Center- MA
USDA National Invasive Species Information Center- NH
Field Guide to Common Aquatic and Riparian Plants of NH
Landscaping with Native Species
How to Prevent Spread of Aquatic Invasive by Boats
MA DCR Boatramp Monitoring Program
NH Guide on Transport of Exotic Species on Boats
Asian Longhorned Beetle Resources


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NEWS (3/6/08): In 2010 we will be freezing our online only prices at 2009 levels. In addition to this, if you switch from print & online to online only format, you can make a 10% saving on your subscriptions. This offer is available across all our packages, so do consider the switch to online only.
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Nokia isn't just about mobile phones today at Mobile World Congress. The company is also showing off a new wireless charger for vehicles. Should you use your Lumia 920 (or other Windows Phone) in the car for navigation, etc. you may well be interested in a wireless charging unit that will provide juice to your device without cables.
Much like the Nokia wireless chargers we've come to own and love, the car charger works just as one would expect. Note that this charger is for the dashboard, not the windscreen, and comes with a plate that will help secure the product in place. Of course, the device supports the Qi standard of wireless charging.
Nokia were kind enough to walk us through some features of the charger:
It's quite neat and easy to adjust to accomodate different sized hardware. The charger also features NFC. Simply tap the charger unit and bam, Nokia Drive could then open up and the journey may begin. It's almost like dark magic. But how much will the charger set consumers back? We're told the RRP will be 69 euro and to expect availability this coming May.


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Teens cook for homeless
STAMFORD -- Twenty teens from Westhill and Stamford high schools showed off their culinary chops Saturday during a "Top Chef" style cook-off competition in the South End where they used donated food to prepare breakfast and lunch for dozens of homeless men and women.
The students, who volunteer for the community service organizer buildOn, a non-profit that runs programs at each of the high schools and others in Norwalk and Bridgeport, served 30 to 40 residents at Inspirica's South End campus at 8 Woodland Place.
The event was part of buildOn's "Top Chef Cooking Competition," which also brought high school students from Norwalk and Bridgeport to other homeless shelters and community centers in their cities.
Ten girls from Westhill High School got an 8 a.m. start at Inspirica where they set about preparing a breakfast of bacon, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, eggs and parfaits for about 30 men and women. The men and women, who are not ordinarily served breakfast or lunch at the campus, then graded the girls on how they liked the meal.
Later this week buildOn program coordinator Rohanna Wagener will tally those responses with the ones from the boys' lunch of chicken, cornbread and spinach and find out which meal the residents liked more.
The Westhill and Stamford high students collected the food used at Saturday's breakfast and lunch during a food drive at A&P on High Ridge Road on Friday.
Even though she is only 15, Kelly Finn, who was cooking rashers of bacon for the breakfast, said she came out to give back to the community.
"I feel my community has provided me so much over the past couple of year, the least I could do is give back," said Finn, who with about 15 other students is scheduled go to Nicaragua this summer with buildOn to build houses for the less fortunate.
Finn, who has been involved with the buildOn group at Westhill for the past two years said, "It's funny. I have always been involved in volunteer work. I'm just taking it a step further."
While she was putting cinnamon buns on a buttered pan in the Inspirica kitchen, Nancy Juarez, 15, said her 20-year-old sister Shelby encouraged her to get involved with a group and "put herself out there."
"By me coming here, I gain experience. I get drive. They give me so much more than what I can give to them," Juarez said.
Jamila Marrero, 15, who was layering yoghurt, granola and fruit in clear plastic cups while making the breakfast parfaits said, "I love it. I'm having a lot of fun cooking. It feels so good to help somebody."
With the smell of bacon and pancakes wafting into the Inspirica auditorium, Robin L. Moore, 59, said she was very appreciative of the efforts the kids were putting into her breakfast.
"I think it is very, very nice and I am thankful of them to take the time and come. I appreciate it more than anything in the world," said Moore, who has been an Inspirica resident for three years.
Another resident Brenda Wright, 55, said, "I think it is good that young kids want to do this more than to see their friends or go to the mall. It is great they want to do this."
Rohanna Wagener, who finds volunteer activities at Westhill and Stamford high schools for buildOn said, "My students love coming to Inspirica, they really do. When we ask students, across the board what is there favorite project, they will say food pantry or cooking at the shelter. I think it is because it gives them a chance to meet the people and work with a group they wouldn't ordinarily interact with. They just really enjoy that direct connection with their community members."
Inspirica's spokesperson Kelly Leather said she and the residents really enjoy having the buildOn kids at the campus.
"They bring energy in with them. They always provide a bright experience for our residents. I will always get a call after buildOn has been here on the weekend from someone asking, `can we have that group back?'" Leather said. "The kids aren't standing behind a brick wall dishing out soup from a ladle. That is commonly the thought when people think soup kitchen. We encourage our volunteers to sit at the tables and enjoy the meals they have cooked with our clients and it provides that interaction. I think for the kids it give them an opportunity to break that stereotype they may have in their minds of who might be homeless."


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Group Skeeve
I posted this article yesterday, late in the day, about Emma Watson, with a note on Harvey Weinstein at the end, asking whether or not I was alone in thinking it was gross that he went with her and some other young girls to a nightclub in his Rolls Royce. I've since heard from many of you – sounds like we are collectively skeeved? Here, let's look at the photos again, for those of you who didn't see.
What's new here is that I also expressed delight at Emma not wishing to grow out her hair for a while. Well, that was wrong. Thanks to Melody for sending the link. Emma told ELLE last night at the Style Awards that she's trying to get it to bob length. Because this pixie might limit her ability to land roles. Errrmmm…is that what he told her?
Photos from Splashnewsonline.com


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125 members44 Comments 6 Likes
three of us are playing in Maryville nowadays. Usuall around 930 or 10 during the week.
Hi Stacy, I live in Maryville close to Pellisippi Pkwy, and close to Seymour. Easy distance to west knox and south knox. Im looking for someone to play tennis with. Mornings would be nice since its so hot - Im playing semi regular now ,when these potatohead friends of mine can muster the will to get up.
Hi, I'm Mark, the founder of Tennisopolis, the world's largest and most active tennis network. Please share Tennisopolis with your friends by supporting our Facebook page. Click here for a Guide to Meet Tennis Partners.
Have a look at our introduction page which will help you navigate the massive network which now has over 39,300 members and 600 local tennis groups.
Friend me,
Mark, The Mayor of Tennisopolis
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Stove Bright heat proof paint.
Fireplace accessories: Heat proof paint by Stove Bright is available in these colours and more. Ask us.
Fireplace accessories: Heat proof paint by Stove Bright is available in these colours and more. Ask us.
Fire fenders were originally used as a barrier to logs rolling out of the fireplace if they fell from the fire grate as well as providing a decorative dress solution for the front of the fireplace. These days fire fenders are used more for decoration even with inbuilt gas fireplaces as they finish the 'look' of a nice fireplace.
These are the only fire grates we have at this time however we will be providing a greater selection of fire grates in the future. The Castworks heavy-duty cast iron fire grates (GR 1) are more expensive than the others but will last a lot longer.
Wood carriers or wood holders are essential fireplace accessories and we have even more in store. Our last years stock of wood carriers still has a few models left that are not listed here so wander in if you're local and ask for our best price.
Fireplace accessories: Stove Bright heat proof paint is the same paint the heater manufacturers use on wood and gas heaters and is recognised as the best available. Stove Bright heat proof paint is easy to use, fast drying with excellent coverage and makes small repairs like scratches easy to fix or if you are tired of the colour of your existing heater, why not respray it for a refreshing new look.
Abbey Fireplaces can supply ceramic rope door seals, ceramic glass tape, heat proof sealant and firebricks to suit all the heaters on these pages - all you need to re-furbish a tired older wood heater. We can also supply any available spare parts for any of the heaters (gas or wood) listed on this site.
The versatile Masport electric powered LOG SPLITTERS will make cutting up your firewood a breeze. The latest model now has a huge hydraulic ram force of 7 ton of power to cut a huge range of log sizes. Ideal for all fire wood cutting jobs around the home or lifestyle block.
This universal hot water jacket will fit almost any slow combustion wood heater and will provide hot water for an open pressure gravity fed system. They don't come with any specifications except those listed here as there are too many variables in effect ie. firebox size, type of wood being burned etc.
They fit into the heater spiggot and become the first flue, the rest of the flue system fluing off them.
They are made of heavy duty stainless steel (double layer) with a small gap that accommodates and heats the water.
A new protection against a volitile gas that is used in many homes, boats, campervans and industries.
These gas alarms have been designed to provide a safer environment where LPG or Natural gas is used. Leaking gas can become a silent killer and if undiscovered can render people unconscious. These alarms will give you a warning that gas is present before you light a flame or accidentally create a spark.
With the potential to save lives and prevent damage, they are an essential safety appliance for all users of LPG or Natural gas.
The moisture meter is specially designed for measuring the moisture content of firewood. The instrument is easy to use and has a user friendly design. Simply follow the instructions and your meter will give you many years of enjoyable use.
Wood used for burning in stoves and slow combustion wood heaters must have the right moisture content to ensure environmentally friendly and economical combustion.
Now you can tell if your firewood supplier is doing the right thing. It pays to keep them honest as it's not only your money but your neighbours that will thank you.
Fireproof gloves are very handy for picking up firewood, arranging logs in the fire or handeling anything that is very hot. Safe and durable.
28A Roger Street, Brookvale, NSW 2100
Ph (02) 9939 9848
136 Industrial Road, Oak Flats, NSW 2529
Ph (02) 4256 5555