The  Poquessing Pathfinder Online
The Friends of Poquessing Watershed Inc. of Philadelphia and Bucks County
Dedicated to the Conservation and Beautification of the Poquessing Creek and Its Environs

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT
  COULD LESS BE MORE?

 As most of you know, our former editor has chosen to resign. Also, you may remember that at the
beginning of 1996, we decided to eliminate winter and summer copies of the Pathfinder. Now, given the
current circumstances, the Board has opted to publish the FOPW Pathfinder more or less quarterly - with
timely editions, if necessary. We’re going to do our part to save some more trees and help eliminate all the
mail each of us can never seem to get read. Then too, maybe you’ll miss hearing from FOPW and more of
you will come to the general membership meetings to see what we’re up to!
 We’ve noted that many groups who have important things to say publish only quarterly. Delaware
River Greenway News, Bucks County Heritage Conservancy, Delaware Riverkeeper, Friends of the
Wissahickon, Friends of Tacony Creek Park, and Delaware Estuary News all seem to do okay with only
four issues a year.
 So talk to you in the winter issue,  but hope to see you at the meetings.

* * *

 I would like to share these remarks from my President’s Report at the General Membership
Meeting May 2, 1996.
 “Before we begin with the regular business of this meeting, I have an announcement to make. It is
with sadness that I report to you that Henry Gabriel has resigned from the Board of the Friends of
Poquessing Watershed. Through Henry’s untiring efforts, the FOPW has: Reinstated the movement to Save
Benjamin Rush State Park, formed a Town Watch, and spearheaded the origination of the Charles T.
Bejuki Memorial Scholarship Fund. We have great respect for Henry’s accomplishments and wish him
well.

 To that end, I would like to introduce a resolution.... RESOLVED that the Board of Directors and
General Membership of the Friends of Poquessing Watershed express their gratitude and appreciation to
Henry Gabriel for his dedication, vision, and untiring effort on behalf of the Poquessing Watershed. We all
are richer for your service.”

The resolution was carried by acclamation.
 

   Dianne Welsh-Retzback
 
 
 

 PROFOUND WITTICISMS FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT

· Our watershed is about 21 square miles. Seven miles long and 1½ miles wide on both sides. Our aim is
to have it “shed” only water. And the cleaner the better!

· The FOPW has an office in the Philadelphia. Community College at Townsend and McNulty Roads. It
is given to us gratis by the College. They live up to their middle name.

· The name Byberry derived from a section of England called Bibury. Crazy how names change.

· Bloody Run, a brook that empties into the Poquessing at Somerton, got its name from the wounded
soldiers whose blood ran into it during the Revolutionary War. Today’s violence might renew its
origins.

· A red fox in a field near Mechanicsville and an eel in the stream near old Byberry Hospital were
recently spotted. So, dirt-bikers are not the only “wild life” in our park.

· Overheard on a park clean-up when a severely injured garter snake was found among the debris—
”Looks like he’s on his last leg!”

· A young woman associated with Philadelphia Cares came all the way from Bryn Mawr to help with
our clean-up in Mechanicsville. Gives a new impression of the Main Liners.

· Brake shoes no longer contain asbestos. Guess we’ll have to get a new excuse for not washing the car.

· There’s no accounting for how our Treasurer Carl keeps the books so well. Maybe you can say he’s the
“cat’s meow!”

· England has their Princess Di and we have our President Di. And for sure they both know— “It ain’t
always easy!”

· Just for the record— Chuck our Secretary is usually a man of few words. But how come, he wants to
know, that the “minutes” of a meeting can take hours and hours to prepare?

· Good luck to Donna our new Town Watch coordinator. How can you keep her down on the farm after
she’s seen Philly?

· Executive Vice-President Tony feels that he’s doing a good job. He executes a vice every once in a
while.

· The Quakers at the meetinghouse where we hold our meetings are curious about all these newly
formed “Friends” groups springing up all over. They’ve been called “Friends” for three hundred years
or  more.

· Anybody remember Gentle Ben (Cohen)? A founder of our group. Just would like to know. Just
curious. B-cause, B-cause, B-cause!

· There’s no stopping the Stoppers (Pat & Fred). What great books about the Northeast. Get the picture!

· Member Ed Walton traces his family back to the 1600s when the Poquessing Watershed was first
settled. His wife Bea, however, points out that Ed was not around then.

· The hole in the ozone layer is starting to close. It is not likely though to drastically effect the sale of
sunscreen lotion in Antarctica. In the future no more POQUES-SING it out!

· Our town watch is really effective. They help to lower both the crime rate and elephant infestation.
Both are down!

· Cries and sobs to Trail Boss Mike on the loss of his faithful old pick-up truck. Just when it was getting
“broken-in”.

· Speaking of “broken-in”, the latest is airbag thefts from autos. Not to be confused with “wind-bags”
which are not quite the same thing. But perhaps a reason to join Town Watch.

· Our water-testing team welcomes new testers Debby and Ken. There’s no truth that you have to be
“dippy” to join.

· Our Ways and Means lady, Josephine, always appears so pleasant. Guess working with plants and
flowers (Creek Edge Nursery) has its rewards.

· I agree with Joe P— his wife Marie prepares the best snacks for our meetings. Especially the home-
made cakes!
 

 Tony Eisele, Executive Vice President
 

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
 TIPS FROM CREEK EDGE NURSERY

 Every summer the big questions is “How often should I water my garden??”.
 A quick rule-of -thumb is a good soaking, to the root system only, once a week. If you would like
to be more precise, dig a hole 2” deep next to the plant; if the soil is barely moist, the plant needs water.
 A good way to conserve water and save money on your water bill  is to keep your garden well-
cultivated. After a heavy rain, loosen the soil around plants with a hand-held cultivator. The soil you
breakup into small particles will act as an insulation and prevent the moisture underneath from wicking out
and evaporating in the air. If you are not convinced this works, try the sugar cube test. Put a cube of sugar
on a saucer; next put some granulated sugar on top of the cube, and add a little colored water to the saucer.
The colored water will quickly rise to the top of the cube, but cannot get through the granulated sugar. The
same thing happens in the garden.
 Cultivation also helps control weeds without the use of herbicides. The roots of small weeds are
disturbed, the cultivated soil dries out, and the weeds cannot get the water they need. Any new weeds that
sprout cannot find the moisture they need in the cultivated soil, so die before their roots get long enough to
reach the moist soil underneath.

Save water! It is a precious resource!

   Jo Edwards
 

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE?!! AND WE TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT

The last few months have brought new life to our resolute water-monitors who have “hung in there” twice
a month for over six years. The “faithful five” (Donna, Ray, Tony, Dianne, and Al) are now the “steadfast
seven” because of Ken Cox of Crestmont Farms and Debbie Scott of Feasterville. Welcome aboard!
 ***
In April, for Earth Day, our team helped make history. For the first time in the same area, government,
citizens and water utilities simultaneously monitored and assessed the water to create a WATER
SNAPSHOT of the Delaware River Basin.
***
On May 14, the U.S. EPA in the person of Pete Weber came to our monitoring site for a teaching-learning
session with five of our team members. The EPA has pledged more active participation on our activities.
***
May 28 was a water “photo-shoot”. Dianne is on the Philadelphia Water Department Citizens Advisory
Council (as is Tony Eisele). PWD asked for her photo and comments for their Annual Report. So she got
together a group of aspiring water monitors (children of our water testers) and they did their “Hollywood
stuff”. We’re all anxious to see what develops!
***
Saturday on the Schuylkill was the June 14 happening as the PWD Stormwater Pollution Education Project
was kicked off at the Schuylkill River Festival on the Walnut Street Bridge. FOPW (Tony Eisele, Dianne
and Carl Retzback) joined over thirty other environmental groups in spreading the gospel of clean water.
***
On July 27 Al Decker and Dianne Retzback went to a quality control session at the Riverkeeper’s in
Lambertville. The sessions always are good learning experiences. Volunteer monitors from many
watersheds come together to test a common sample from the Delaware. We can check that our techniques
and chemicals are copacetic. We also get a chance to interact with other people who love and care for their
watersheds. The sessions always seem to give us a boost!
 
 

 SAILING, SAILING OVER THE DELAWARE

The last week of June found members of the FOPW Water Quality & Education teams “seasick with
delight” on a schooner sailing the Delaware. The A.J. Meerwald is a former oyster dredge donated to the
Delaware Bay Schooner Project. The ship has been restored as a traditional tall ship native to the Delaware
Estuary and is being used as an educational tool. At five different learning stations onboard the ship people
can learn how to preserve and protect the River.
As sailors you must crew on the Meerwald raising sails, testing water, casting and trolling nets, and
examining and identifying what you catch. It’s an exciting experience.
We are pleased to tell you that FOPW is copartnering a PURP grant with such groups as the Delaware
Riverkeeper, The Phila. Water Department, The School District of Phila., Sierra Club, Phila. Secondary
Science Teachers Association, and the PA Environmental Council. The grant proposes that we work with
high schools in a program to educate the students to understand and address non-point source water
pollution which will include classroom instruction, field trips to the Water Department facilities, and a sail
aboard the A.J. Meerwald. The students will also be required to perform community service work to map
and stencil stormwater inlets. Also summer internships will be available aboard the schooner.
Needless to say, approval of the grant will really be a major help in advancing the mission for which the
FOPW was founded - protection of the watershed.

FLEAS ARE FOR SALE AGAIN!

Saturday September 21 from 9A.M. to ? the 8th Police District Advisory Council is having its second
annual flea market. Spaces are $10. Call Joe Neville 972-5231 or Kathy Mulray 972-6250.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET, TO SEE AN ART SHOW

Okay, so the market is Franklin Mills and it’s not Cezanne but the Fairmount Park Art and Essay Contest.
But, to many of us, it’s as important as Cezanne. The Contest is being exhibited in the Grand Court of
Franklin Mills from August 1 through Labor Day. The entries are from 6th, 7th and 8th grade Philadelphia
school children. Check out our FOPW Friends Choice award for Benjamin Rush School.

THANKS - DANKE - GRAZIE - MERCI

· Al and Eleanor Hoffman who are Lifetime members but who generously sent additional donations to
our various funds.
· Somerton Lions for their $100 gift.
· Jo and Bob Edwards for their Lifetime membership.
 

NEW FACES - NEW DIRECTIONS

Sam Curry has been assigned as Fairmount Park District 5 Manager. We really are extremely happy to be
working with him. (However we must have done something right because they didn’t take Charlie Patton
away!)

Hello and good luck to the new PA Game Warden Ron Lapinsky.

It was a great meeting in July with new graduates of  the Police Academy; Erin Ryan (who was one of our
favorite Fairmount Park Rangers) and Scott Reichart who is now with the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.

We have a new Vice-President of Town Watch, Donna Smith-Remick. Donna is a FOPW Charter Member
and, as such, has worn many hats. We thank her and welcome her assistance. She, however, can use your
assistance. FOPW Town Watch can benefit from some new members. CAN YOU GIVE 4 HOURS OR SO A
MONTH? Think about it and give Donna a call at 972-6275.
 

AND THE WINNER IS...

 Melissa Reich of George Washington High School was the first recipient of the Charles T. Bejuki
Memorial Scholarship. Mrs. Maryanne Bejuki presented the award to Melissa at an awards ceremony June
19 at the school. Charles’ son, Jonathan, and President Dianne Retzback also participated.
 Melissa is going to pursue Computer Science at the University of Delaware; and, as if to prove to
us her community involvement, managed to get her photo in the Philadelphia Inquirer in August as part of
an article about volunteering at summer computer camps for children. She is a charming, warm person. We
wish her all the best! She promises to stay in touch.

SUMMER CAMP REVISITED

Tuesday August 27 was a day a group of happy women got a chance to be kids again at Creek-Edge
Nursery. Jo Edwards, Ways and Means VP, had a fund raiser for FOPW. The “day campers” arrived at
10am, had a snack, then had craft class (we made flower decorated wooden boxes). Then we had a
delicious lunch and “playtime”  (we all sat around and chatted and laughed). Then we had “exercise time”
by swimming in the Edwards’ lovely pool. All this and we made some $$ for our organization too! Bob
Edwards said he thought the men should have a similar day. The guys we polled so far think it’s a great
idea. Watch for further info!