Green Saves Green Member Meeting Minutes

Monday, September 8, 2025

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library

Present:  Martha Ann, Sally Baugham, Karl Brandspigel, Sharon Burtner, Nita Coleman, Phil Donahue, Jane Elfring, Julie Foster, Annette Garthwaite, Woody Garthwaite, Donna Gilbrand, Laura Granado, Marlene Greer, Rafeal Griffin Sr., Rafeal Griffin, Jr., Bobbi Hunsberger, Kurt Hunsberger, George Jackson, Rodney Johnson, Linda Jones, MaryAnn Jordan, Bill Kruse, Sue Kruse, Sue Miller, Anne Radke, Misti Rewis, Angela Sutton, Jared Tardiff, Jeanie Tardiff, Tim Tolson, Steve Van Giesen, Gail Ward, Adam White, Gavin White, Terry 

Guest speaker: Jon Hawley, E.C. Grants Administrator

GSG Intern

Rapheal Griffin, Jr., NEAAAT, 11th grade, was introduced as GSG’s intern for the fall semester. He will be working with Rodney on water quality sampling and with Marlene on several GSG projects. The internship requires 80 hours of work.

Recap of GSG’s Summer Events and Activities 

  • Litter cleanup: Knobb’s Creek Recreation Center summer camp students. Approximately 45 kids participated.

  • Catch of the Day Challenge:  We challenged the community to remove 100 pounds of trash and debris from our local waterways.  There have been 5 reported river sweeps and 30 pounds of litter collected. Anyone can participate.  Email a photo of your cleanup and the estimated weight of the trash picked up to Marlene or GSG.

  • Watershed Watch:  Our teams of Watershed Watchers have been out collecting samples and recording data for the NC Dept. of Agriculture water quality monitoring program. 

  • Bird Habitat and How Litter Harms Wildlife Presentation:  Annette talked to approximately 30 kids and their parents for the Pasquotank Library’s Color Our World program.  The kids then painted and decorated birdhouses using natural materials.

  • College of the Albemarle National TRACK Trails Day Celebration:  GSG set up a booth with hands-on water quality testing, plus tanks with plants and macroinvertebrates showing the biodiversity at the Fenwick-Hallowell Wetlands Trail.

  • ECPPS Convocation:   Marlene, Misti and Nita attended the event and shared information on our environmental education programs and student environmental action opportunities.  Marlene and Misti will return to ECCPS in October for a teacher workday event. 


Do Not Litter Poster Contest

Volunteers held 12 poster drawing/painting events June through August with more than 200 participants.  We’ve received more than 150 entries so far. The posters are on exhibit at the Arts of the Albemarle. Teachers at two ECPPS schools and at Albemarle School have indicated they plan to have their students participate. The contest runs until Sep. 25.

We were advised by county and city officials to complete an application for a Tourism Development Authority grant to cover the $4,800 cost of turning the winning posters into metal street signs to be placed throughout Elizabeth City. Additionally, we were advised to focus the application on the beautification and art aspects of the project. Marlene shared two questions on the application with the group and asked for input. A member suggested including how the anti-litter campaign benefits major events like Bassmasters Elite and the Coast Guard Marathon. 

Pasquotank Blueways & Causeway Park, College Park

Jon Hawley updated the group on the status of the Pasquotank Blueways Feasibility Study and much-needed improvements to College Park and Causeway Park. Last year, the city/county applied for a $125,000 NC Great Trails Grant for a Pasquotank paddle trail feasibility study. The grant was approved on July 7 with some environmental review conditions. The review should be complete in October. The next steps will be to hire a consultant to do the study and set up a steering committee. The study will identify up to 12 launch sites with 4 priority sites fully designed. The plan is to begin the build process downtown or at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center and grow from there.  

The city has received $478,000 in grant funding to renovate Causeway Park. The renovation will include a kayak launch and ADA accessibility. The project is currently in the design phase. The city received a $300,000 grant to renovate College Park under the Coastal Resiliency Plan. A low-impact and living  shoreline restoration is part of the plan for the park. The funding will cover design and engineering plans.

Regional Paddle Trail Development

NC State Parks is facilitating the formation of the Northeast Regional Trail Organization. The goal is to build a connected network of trails for residents and visitors to explore and enjoy, and to boost economic development and tourism in northeastern NC. The first meeting of potential partners in the organization will take place in October. Rodney, Nita, and Misti will be there to represent Green Saves Green.

Rodney provided a look back at the paddle trail development done by the Albemarle Resource Conservation & Development Council beginning in the 1990s. The northeastern region used to have 29 paddle trails in 10 counties. That was 200 miles of paddle trails with mile markers,  multiple access points, and double and triple camping platforms. Many of those access points and mile markers are now gone and some of the platforms have been destroyed. Responsibility for ongoing maintenance was an issue.

We were invited to tour the Roanoke River State Trail to see how the Roanoke River Partners, a local nonprofit, manages and keeps up the trail and its network of camping platforms.  This is the only designated State Trail in northeastern NC.

Upcoming Events 

  • Sep. 13:  E.C. Historic Neighborhood Association Litter Cleanup – 9-10am Saturday. Meet at 313 W. Main Street. 

  • Sep. 14:  Albemarle Kayaking Paddle – 9am Sunday, Little River.  Meet at the County Line Boat Ramp, 500 Old Hwy 17, Elizabeth City.

  • Sep. 20:  Camden Heritage Festival – 10am-3pm Saturday. GSG Booth. Volunteers: Marlene, Terry, Christian, Rapheal, and Norma

  • Sep. 22:  Litter poster making at Brookdale Senior Center, 401 Hastings Lane, Elizabeth City, 1:30-2:30pm Monday. Volunteers: Marlene and Julie

  • Oct. 4:  GSG Fall Litter Sweep – 9-10:30am Saturday. Meet at Pasquotank Library.  Clean up downtown.

Next meeting will be Monday, Oct. 13, 5:30 p.m. at the Pasquotank County Library