Rain Barrel

The next rain-barrel workshop at Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.   The workshop provides individuals and families an opportunity to complete the simple assembly of a rain barrel, and learn about water conservation and water recycling. The workshop will be held at the bus pavilion. Admission is free; the cost of each rain-barrel kit is $30. Materials must be paid for with cash. Registration is required to ensure materials are available for everyone.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Area residents interested in conserving water and reducing stormwater runoff at their homes are invited to take part in a workshop to make their own rain barrel, a West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection official announced recently. The workshop will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Sept. 27 at the B&O Roundhouse complex in Martinsburg, according to Alana Hartman. Workshop participants must preregister by Sept. 15 and may do so contacting Hartman at 304-822-7266 or e-mail: ahartman@wvdep.

The third annual rain barrel workshop will be Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview. More than 100 families have participated in past workshops. The workshop provides individuals and families an opportunity to complete the simple assembly of a rain barrel kit and learn more about conservation and water recycling. Admission is free; the cost of each rain barrel kit is $40. Registration is requested so sufficient materials will be available for everyone wanting to assemble a rain barrel.

CLEAR SPRING - The Fairview Outdoor Education Center, nestled along the slopes of the mountain that bears its name, is opening its gates to the public Saturday, April 24, for a celebration marking 25 years of bringing together youngsters and nature. An open house will be held at the 100-acre site at 12808 Draper Road beginning at 9 a.m. The intent is to introduce the school to newcomers and to reacquaint former students with the facility. Activities begin at noon with bird hikes, nature hikes, geology hikes, reptile displays, a rain barrel workshop and singing by Todd Vogtman.

Friday, Oct. 24 Halloween craft SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. -- Children ages 3 to 5 make various crafts while socializing. 10 to 11 a.m. Jefferson County Community Center activity room, Sam Michaels Park. $5. Saturday, Oct. 25 Saturday PE SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. -- Jefferson County Parks and Recreation offers Saturday PE. The physical education class is for ages 6 to 9. 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Jefferson County Community Center, Sam Michaels Park at the ball fields.

SMITHSBURG - Keeping cool during the recent heat wave was a must. And keeping warm during brutally cold months also is a necessity. Local residents who haven't already thought of ways to reduce their electrical usage might want to make their homes more energy-efficient sooner rather than later. Electric, water and sewer rates are expected to increase in the area and in some cases already have. For instance, Hagers-town residents will see an average 42 percent increase in their September electric bill, and water and sewer rates are going up 3.5 percent in late summer and early fall, city officials say. Allegheny Energy customers in Washington County will see the utility's rate caps come off in January 2009, a move that might send them into sticker shock.

BERKELEY SPRINGS. W.Va. -- The Warm Springs Watershed Association believes that protecting Warm Springs Run is important to Morgan County in many ways. Association president Kate Lehman said the Run not only should be kept beautiful and clean for future generations, but it must be protected against flooding. The Run is more than 11 miles long from U.S. 522 south at Shirley Drive and runs north to the Potomac River. It's not just inside Berkeley Springs State Park, Lehman said.

Q: I collect water from my roof in a rain barrel. Is it OK to use this water to top off my 450-gallon small pond? A: There are only a few things I would question. Water temperature is important to cold-blooded animals, so if there is a large difference in water temperature and a large amount of water used, it could be a shock, but as long as it is small amounts of water to top off the pond, I don't see a problem there. If the barrel has any leaves or debris settled into it, bacteria could consume all the oxygen in the water in the barrel.

"When I was growing up in South Hagerstown, every household had a rain barrel. I think everybody should have a rain barrel. Perhaps the county can pass them out, just like they do the recyclable bins. " "I'm calling to let people know in the area that there's someone calling the elderly, claiming they're Social Security or Medicare, trying to get their bank numbers. It's fraud, and the area needs to be aware that this is going on. " - Hagerstown "I think the Hagerstown Suns deserve a new stadium.

The third annual rain barrel workshop will be Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview. More than 100 families have participated in past workshops. The workshop provides individuals and families an opportunity to complete the simple assembly of a rain barrel kit and learn more about conservation and water recycling. Admission is free; the cost of each rain barrel kit is $40. Registration is requested so sufficient materials will be available for everyone wanting to assemble a rain barrel.

The next rain-barrel workshop at Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.   The workshop provides individuals and families an opportunity to complete the simple assembly of a rain barrel, and learn about water conservation and water recycling. The workshop will be held at the bus pavilion. Admission is free; the cost of each rain-barrel kit is $30. Materials must be paid for with cash. Registration is required to ensure materials are available for everyone.

Tuesday, July 20 Museum Arts Academy Museum Arts Academy for ages 9 to 13 will offer crazy colorful clay bugs with Amy Sellers, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, through Friday, July 23; art adventures on the high seas for ages 6 to 8 with Elizabeth Wishard, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, through Friday, July 23; and Japanese drawing, cartoon and anime art for ages 9 to 15 with Melissa Gibson, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 20,...

BERKELEY SPRINGS. W.Va. -- The Warm Springs Watershed Association believes that protecting Warm Springs Run is important to Morgan County in many ways. Association president Kate Lehman said the Run not only should be kept beautiful and clean for future generations, but it must be protected against flooding. The Run is more than 11 miles long from U.S. 522 south at Shirley Drive and runs north to the Potomac River. It's not just inside Berkeley Springs State Park, Lehman said.

By connecting one or more rain barrels to a downspout on your house, you can lower your water costs and help local streams and the Chesapeake Bay at the same time. A rain barrel collects water from your roof and stores it. Rainwater provides a supply of soft water containing no chlorine, lime, calcium or other dissolved salts. It's great for watering garden plants, washing your car, topping off the swimming pool, or watering that tree you planted earlier this spring. Also, using a rain barrel diverts water from storm drains, decreasing the impact of flooding and erosion.

Q: I collect water from my roof in a rain barrel. Is it OK to use this water to top off my 450-gallon small pond? A: There are only a few things I would question. Water temperature is important to cold-blooded animals, so if there is a large difference in water temperature and a large amount of water used, it could be a shock, but as long as it is small amounts of water to top off the pond, I don't see a problem there. If the barrel has any leaves or debris settled into it, bacteria could consume all the oxygen in the water in the barrel.

"If the caller really knew their stuff, they would know that neither the president, Congress or the House of Reps works 24/7, 300-plus days a year. They all take month-long or longer vacations while this country is severely hurting for more reasons than I can go into here. Where was Bush during Katrina, or the aftermath? Bush sure uses his 'executive powers' to halt any progress in Iraq, but he can't step in when it's something here in the U.S. And also, what about a Congress who is in power less than six months and they go on vacation and vote themselves raises?"

Museum art classes: For adults and teens Landscapes in watercolor, summer workshop - 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 11, through Thursday, June 14. Instructor is Kent Roberts. For children Introduction to watercolor for kids for ages 10 to 13 - 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, through Friday, June 15. Instructor is Kent Roberts. Classes will be held at Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. For information or to register, call 301-739-5727 or go to www.wcmfa.