Green Saves Green Meeting Minutes

Monday, January 9, 2023

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library

Present: Karl Brandspigel, Sharon Burtner, Tammy Campbell, Nita Coleman, Phil Donahue, Jane Elfring, Marlene Greer, Rodney Johnson, Charles Jordan, Conrad Mollenkopf, Bobby and Jane Plough, Rob Powell, Anne Radke, Julie Robinson, Ray Scaffa, Jane Snyder, John Stolarczyk, Michelle Tangredi, Jared Tardiff, Tim Tolson, Steve VanGiesen, Gavin White, Sheila Wrenn

Guests: Maria Sutton, Tucker Brown, Ivey Brown, Karen Montero, Anna Montero, Yaffa Howell, Elizabeth Mitchell, Adam White, Lillian Drahos, Tiffany Elmore


Chair Report

The terms of five board members were complete as of Dec. 3l, 2022. They will be stepping down. Charles Jordan has agreed to become a member of the board. We are looking for more nominees. Students are encouraged. Unless other candidates are proposed, Nita, Marlene, and Sheila have agreed to continue to serve as chair, secretary, and treasurer.

Roots & Shoots Award Presentation

Green Saves Green awarded a $250 grant to Northside Elementary teacher Tammy Campbell for her kindergarten class. The students plan to pick up litter and build bat and birdhouses. A second $250 grant was awarded to ECSU students for a tree planting and to purchase reusable bags and bottles to give away to students. A $200 grant Julie Robinson secured from Roots & Shoots was awarded to the Northeast Academy for Aerospace & Advanced Technologies for a middle school litter removal project.

We currently have three Roots & Shoots projects going and want to expand to four. We are considering holding a seminar for educators on the environmental education and leadership program.

Treasurer’s Report

We are working hard to ensure we spend money on what our mission is. In 2022, we had almost as much funds coming in as we did going out. We have a Dec. 31 year-end balance of $35,681, of which $10,000 is in a CD.

Fenwick-Hollowell Trail

Six months ago, the College of the Albemarle formed a steering committee to determine how best to develop the 3-acre tract in front of one of the trail’s entrances. GSG members Nita, Phil, Jane Snyder (also representing the YMCA), and Curtis Wrenn are on the committee. After the initial meeting last July, the committee has been on pause while plans for the new nursing building were sorted out. Jeff Carter has recently been appointed by Dr. Bagwell to chair the FH Trail Steering Committee, and a meeting will be scheduled in February.

The committee is also looking at future plans for the old president’s house and canal boardwalk and dock. We’d like to see a public canoe/kayak launch there and maybe a connector trail to the Fenwick-Hollowell Trail.


Goat Island Platform Restoration Project

Gavin White advised the group he received approval from his Scout troop and from the city for the renovation of the Goat Island camping platform. He is doing this as his Eagle Scout project. He believes he will get funding from the city/county Parks and Recreation Department or through fundraising. Estimated cost $600. He expects to have it done in 2-3 months.


Knobbs Creek Nature Trail

The NC legislature and governor have declared 2023 the Year of the Trail. Some of our members scouted the former nature trail at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center to determine the feasibility of restoring it. We found nine bridges, all in need of extensive work, some good high ground, and lots of underbrush that would need to be cleared. Phil has spoken to city officials, and they are interested in getting the trail restored. He is checking into funding sources. Rodney will get the same company that completed the Fenwick-Hollowell renovation to give us a rough cost estimate. Elizabeth Mitchell, director of the EC Boys & Girls Club, advised the group of the benefits restoring the trail would have on the 160 students the club services.

Upcoming Events

  1. Plant A Valentine Workshop & Giveaway, Saturday Feb. 18, Museum of the Albemarle. Volunteers are Nita, Jared, and Adam White. Jane and Bobby Plough will give a presentation on trees and wildlife. This year we’re giving away live oaks, willow oaks, and red maple seedlings. We are looking for schools, organizations, nonprofits, and other places that have space and want big trees. 

  2. Pre-Marathon Downtown Cleanup, Saturday, Feb. 25, Waterfront Park. Volunteers are Marlene, Michelle, Sharon, and Tim. We’re following last year’s blueprint, which was very successful. We are asking people to show up and we will provide supplies and assign them a cleanup location.

  3. Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. We’re still looking for ideas on what to do to celebrate Earth Day.

  4. Year of the Trail Celebration, First Weekend in June, Visit EC and EC Downtown Inc. They are looking for us to help them develop a program. A paddle event was suggested but it cannot be sponsored by GSG due to liability and insurance issues. Must be city-county sponsored. Jared, Anne, and Jane volunteered to be part of this group.

Next GSG meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, February 6 at the Pasquotank County Library.