FOW Projects

 

 

The Friends of Wertheim have accomplished several goals and projects since we became incorporated in 1998.  See FOW accomplishments.

We also have several exciting projects in the works - but we can only complete them with your help. The projects call for a wide variety of skills and talents, so please pick a project from the list below and contact the person indicated to join the team!

• September Sale - The Friends plan to raise some needed funds by having a table at the annual yard sale at the Old Southaven Church in Brookhaven Hamlet.  Please start setting aside "almost new" items to donate to this sale. 

September Yard Sale

• Smith Road Litter Clean-Up Every Month - Come join us the first Saturday of each month to help keep the area clean. We meet at the refuge parking lot at 10:00 a.m. and work for about an hour each month.  Bring your own work gloves, if you wish. Bags are provided. (Rain date is Sunday.)   

Note:  We are looking for a volunteer to chair this committee - it entails calling people who volunteered to clean Smith Road to remind them of the day and time.  See the Volunteers Wanted page.

 

Friends of Wertheim Accomplishments

• Refuge Centennial Celebration - May 18 - 19, 2002.
  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) was officially created on March 14, 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt and the true Centennial year will be 2003. The USFWS has been using the two years preceding the main event to spread the word about the National Wildlife Refuge system by holding a series of celebrations at selected "focus" refuges throughout the nation.  
   
  Wertheim and the Long Island NWR Complex was chosen to host one of these events and it was held May 18-19, 2002. The Friends of Wertheim assisted the Refuge staff in this event by handling the Partner Appreciation Reception and hosting a Nature Sale at the Friends of Wertheim table.  
   
• Protection of Carmans River - The Friends of Wertheim spent much of our first year (1999) coordinating a major effort to protect 19 acres of environmentally sensitive land from commercial development by Home Depot. Fortunately, the massive ground swell of public opposition to the project, coupled with the efforts of the Environmental Defense Fund, led to our first legal victory.
   

• Indian Landing Improvements - The Friends of Wertheim members cleared a rest area by the Carmans River canoe landing, put up new fencing, installed a new "Welcome" sign and removed two old, worn signs.

• Eastern Box Turtle Survey - Friends of Wertheim volunteers assisted the Refuge Biologist in monitoring these turtles to learn more about their habits and movements through the refuge. Turtle survey results.

• New Land for Wertheim - The Friends of Wertheim assisted in the acquisition of additional land for Wertheim Refuge, which includes the Southaven Property (128 acres), the Elias property, and 4 acres of inholdings.

• Seed Collection - In the fall of 2001, several Friends of Wertheim volunteers collected seeds from native Indian grass on Wertheim refuge. These seeds are eaten by many birds and small mammals. The FOW team filled two-and-a-half 5-gallon buckets with seed. Some of the seed was planted elsewhere on the refuge to offer the benefits of this native grass to more refuge inhabitants.

• Newsletter - The Friends of Wertheim publishes a newsletter of our projects, accomplishments, and other items of interest. If you would like to become a member of the Friends and receive this newsletter, please subscribe.  One-year membership is only $10 and $15 for a family.  Please provide your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.  Please provide information on each person.  Send check, payable to Friends of Wertheim NWR, PO Box 376, Brookhaven, NY  11719.