In This Issue...

The Hemlock

"Over Development" by
Ryan DiGuiseppe

Volume 2, Issue 8 (May 2009)

"Arbor Day at
LHUP"

"A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King."
--Emily Dickinson

"Springtime – It's
finally here!" by Bill
Have a Great Summer!
Shetler (LHUP
This is our last issue of the year, and as was the case last May, it is primarily
English Major)
"Reduce, Reuse, and
Recycle: The Three
R’s to making a
Greener Planet" by
Danielle Tolton
"Summer Outdoor
Events from Rock
River & Trail"
"You Have Eaten
The Embers" by J.
Michael Rinard
"How Homeowners
Can Save
Hemlocks" by Dr.
Barrie E. Overton
"Hike of the Month:
Little Pine State
Park's Lake Shore
Trail" by Bob Myers
Past Issues

devoted to student writing on the environment, outdoor recreation, and the
culture of Pennsylvania. Thanks to all of our contributors this year. If you'd
like to write something for The Hemlock in the future, please contact Bob
Myers. Have a great summer--I encourage you to visit at least three of
Pennsylvania's great state parks. My personal favorites are Little Pine (see
below), Ricketts Glen, and World's End. As the DCNR has put it so
eloquently, "Welcome to Pennsylvania. Now Get Out."
Over -Development
--Ryan DiGuiseppe (LHUP
Exploratory Studies Major)
I live in an area that most people
would consider “the country.” I live
about fifty minutes outside
Philadelphia, and I used to be
surrounded by woods and
farmland. There wasn’t much
around. There were no outlet malls,
no Wawas, and no cookie-cutter
housing developments. These days,
I am not so sure that anyone would
refer to my hometown as “the
country.” Within the last ten years,
my area has undergone great
expansion. You can almost count
the cornfields on one hand, and
everywhere you look, you see new
projects under construction. Some

may view this development as a good thing, as a sign of growth and success in
the area, but I believe all the construction is causing more harm than good.
The development has caused many problems that wouldn’t have existed
without all the new building. Runoff issues are most commonly associated
with over-development. When shopping centers go up, it requires a
tremendous amount of blacktop to provide parking. With the combination of
all the rooftops and pavement covering the ground, the water has nowhere to
soak in. It runs across the pavement, picking up oil and other toxins leaked
from vehicles, and continues on into streams and rivers. This can severely
damage ecosystems and potentially harm our drinking water. Along with
rivers and streams being affected, people who never had worries of flood
problems are now seeing water in their basements. Before the pavement was
there, the water easily soaked into the ground.
Housing developments are also a big cause of runoff. Along with the
pavement put down for the roads and sidewalks, the ground gets packed
down very hard before the lot is built on it. A 1000- acre housing development
is a lot of land to be tamped down. Even though there is still grass, the ground
is packed down so hard from the bulldozers that water can’t go underground.
Contractors try to make up for this by creating drains and unattractive runoff
reservoirs for the water to escape. The problem is that they are putting these
developments up so fast that they don’t properly plan how to solve this
problem. It is not uncommon for the reservoirs to overflow, and the people
who live behind them often get flooded out.
As these developments appear, the woods and cornfields that used to
surround me disappear. It is almost impossible to find an area where there are
no houses around. There is so much land being used up that it seems there is
no open land left. It is hard to go hiking out in the wild because there is a good
chance I could wind up in someone’s backyard. Those who have faced the
worst of the effects of this growth are the animals. As all the land disappears,
animals’ habitats disappear with it. I see more deer today than I have ever seen
in past years. This is not because deer are reproducing at a higher rate than
ever before; it is because they are being run out of their homes and forced to
come closer and closer to people. In areas where there are bears and other
dangerous animals, this problem becomes even more significant.
Environmental effects are only one of the problems caused by these massive
developments. Most of the neighborhoods contain at least 300 to 500 houses in
them, and with that comes the issue of over-population. Every year, the
number of people in my high school increased. With at least fifty more people
coming in each year, the school became very crowded. Hallways were almost
impenetrable, and the classrooms and cafeteria became packed to the limit.

Fighting my way through a wave of people trying to get to class became very
stressful. What was the solution? The district had to buy more land and build
another high school. A Christmas tree farm that was around for my whole life
was purchased by the school, and construction started a month later.
As all the new developments are built, shopping and entertainment centers are
built along with them to attract all the new residents. There are now three
grocery stores within a five mile radius. Ten years ago, there was only one
Superfresh that everyone in the district seemed to go to. These days, one can
choose from Giant, Acme, Weis, or Wegmans. Restaurants are also rapidly
appearing. When I was younger, Pizza Hut and Lonestar were our only two
choices if we didn’t feel like driving a half hour. It now seems we have almost
every chain restaurant imaginable.
Along with restaurants and shopping centers, gas stations are also being built
in large numbers. There is a Wawa almost every mile on the two-lane highway
that runs through my town. Not to be outdone by Wawa, a Sunoco will be
right across the street. Gas stations have far worse effects than restaurants and
shopping centers. Along with the problem of runoff occurring above ground,
they have leaks in fuel tanks underground. These leaks can pollute the soil,
contaminate our drinking water, and even cause massive explosions. It should
make people think twice before voting to pass a construction permit to build
yet another Wawa.
If you have ever been to a big gas station comparable to a Wawa or Sheetz, you
know what a hectic experience it is getting in and out of one. Typically, a new
traffic light must be built to control all of the cars. This slows everybody down,
and if you have to make the dreaded left hand turn when you’re staring at a
line of cars, you know you’re in for a long wait. The amount of traffic
congestion due to these places is immense, but it doesn’t stop them from being
built.
I cannot overlook the advantages that come along with increasing expansion. I
can enjoy living in a beautiful, peaceful area that I cannot find in big cities.
However, when I need to there, I am a quick fifty minutes drive away. I do
enjoy the convenience of having a Wawa just around the corner. All the new
homes and businesses open up great opportunities for people who are house
or job hunting. Unfortunately, my county is consuming many acres each year
because of expansion. When I was home over Spring Break, I drove past an old
farm that hasn’t changed in my entire lifetime. I was upset, but not surprised
to see piles of dug up dirt surrounded by bulldozers and orange fences.
So now, when someone asks me what it is like where I come from, I have to
think twice. My times of living in “the country” are gone, even though I have

lived in the same place my whole life. I tell these people how things used to be,
and then I tell them how they are now. They leave the conversation wondering
how far they have to go to see “the country”. Right now, the answer is drive
three hours to the Pennsylvania Wilds, but as time moves on and the
expansion continues, you will have to go even further.
Arbor Day at LHUP
On Friday, April 24th, the
Environmental Focus Group helped
LHUP celebrate Arbor Day by
planting ten hemlock trees in front of
Russell Hall. The tree planting was
prompted by a suggestion by
Professor Tom Farley, and made
possible by Dave Proctor and the
Physical Plant (special thanks to
Colleen Meyer, John Packer, and
Paula Moore for their
help). Professor Lenny Long supervised the event for the EFG, and the Phi
Sigma Pi honors fraternity helped with the digging. We hope to make this an
annual event.
Springtime – It's finally here!
--Bill Shetler (LHUP English Major)
As the temperature starts to
become more
accommodating, many of us
find ourselves drawn outside
to the warming sunshine and
soft breezes of the day. Like
a butterfly we are throwing
off the cocoon of winter,
reaching to explore the
newness of life and growth
that springtime blesses us
with.
But many of us don’t maintain an active lifestyle throughout the winter
months. As we transition from this state of inactivity, it’s quite common that
in our first outdoor adventure, we over reach our stamina and abilities and
end up paying with extremely sore muscles, pounding headaches, or a trip to
the E.R. When the sun is shining and I don’t have any obligations, I head out
and find a trail faster than a group of Boy Scouts running from a

bear! Unfortunately I have been too overzealous in the past and yup, you
guessed it, spent a few weeks recovering from a strained muscle or such, ever
moping on a bright sunny day for the trails that I could have been exploring.
This year, take stock of your level of physical ability and ease yourself into the
desire of your outdoor heart. Be honest with yourself and recognize any
limitations. Start off a little slow and keep a measured eye on how you feel.
Before you know it, you’ll be more fit and far better off than if you had
overdone it early on.
On a final note, many of us build up stresses from work, school, and other
responsibilities. Springtime offers us a time of refreshment and renewal to let
go as much as possible of all of these anxieties and worries. Springtime allows
us to finally get outside and recharge ourselves. This is backed up by various
research studies that show how nature has a restorative capability to reduce
mental fatigue that is caused by excessive directed attention (deep focus on
work, school, etc…).
The semester is ending and I can honestly say that I’m ready for that natural
refreshment. My mind is ready to slow down and sing with the subtle breeze
of the warming days of spring.

"Spring Pollination" was taken by Nathan Fought (LHUP Art Major) in the
City of Lock Haven on April 27th, 2009. Be sure to check out the exhibit of
Nathan's photography at the Thomas T. Tabler Museum, Lycoming County
Historical Society, Williamsport, PA. You'll recognize some of these
photographs from previous issues of The Hemlock. Nathan would like to say
thank you to all who has supported his art work, along with The Hemlock for
publishing his photographs.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: The Three R’s to making a Greener Planet
--Danielle Tolton (LHUP
In reinforcing the “Go Green” movement
throughout America, recycling has taken a
whole new meaning to energy conservation.
Recycling saves energy and reduces the strain
on our demand for raw and natural resources
and reduces landfill waste. However, it is
important to remember that recycling still uses
up energy. From the time you toss a recyclable
in a recycling bin, it gets collected, transported,
sorted, cleaned, and then reprocessed into
another product, all together using up moderate
amounts of energy. Also, a lot of recycling becomes contaminated if only one
person throws a non-recyclable into a receptacle. As a result, it just becomes
more waste in a landfill
Instead, the idea of reuse first should be implemented nation-wide. Estimates
show that reusing saves up to 97% of energy consumed than recycling that
same product. Furthermore, reuse diminishes waste quantities. Although
reusing many products is not always a possibility, it can be used and
implemented in daily life. Below are some tips to help reduce your energy
usage from waste:
1. Reuse – Grab a reusable plastic bottle, such as a Nalgene®, to refill
throughout the day instead of packaged spring bottled water. This will
eliminate waste and recycling quantities, but save you money in the
process!! If tap water is out of the question, pick up a Brita® or other
water filtering system.
2. Recycle if reuse is not an option – Although reuse is the ultimate energy
conservation technique, recycling products can definitely reduce landfill
waste and uses less energy than making new products from raw
materials. Also, many apartment complexes and recycling companies
have small or no fees for recycling bins so it is easy to get started.
3. If you are going to recycle, be sure to quickly but efficiently rinse out
the product and sort your own recycling if possible. – Try not to put any
non-recyclables in a receptacle and check to be sure you are recycling
products that your local collection company actually can recycle.
4. Check up on your collection company – Since not much tax money is
spent on recycling, many collection companies find it more costeffective to not recycle at all, even if they promote their recycling
options. Call your company representative to be sure you are recycling
right.

5. Reduce – reducing the number of wasted or recycled products is the
easiest and cheapest way to minimize waste production. Try as much as
possible to buy products in bulk with as less packaging as possible.
Avoid buying individually packaged products, such as small chip bags,
which just generate more waste.
By making small and efficient changes in daily life, we can all help to reduce
waste and minimize energy use in terms or recycling and waste production.
Check out some online websites for more information on how you can go even
greener: earth911.com and Consumer Report's "Greener Choices" are good
places to start.
Summer Outdoor Events from Rock River & Trail
Saturday, May 2 –
Our first kayak
outing…a trip
down Pine
Creek! Join Rock
River & Trail
Outfitters for a
fun day on the
water – our first
outing of the
season. We’ll be
running Pine Creek, water levels permitting, between Blackwell and Slate Run
(about a 10-mile trip). Kayak rentals are available, or bring your own. We’ll
shuttle the group up and back. The cost is only $15 per person (rentals are
extra) and reservations are required, so call the store today at 748-1818 to get
on board!

Sunday, May 10 – A Mother’s Day bicycle ride along the Pine Creek Rails-toTrails! Get mom outdoors and out of the kitchen for the day. Join us for a
leisurely ride along the beautiful Rails-to-Trails. We expect to ride about 20
miles…all easy miles, with a stop near the end at the Venture Inn for a late
lunch (the cost of lunch is on your own). Only $10 per person. We’ll shuttle
you and your bicycle up and back (bike rentals are also available at an extra
cost). Come on out for a fun day! Reservations can be made by calling the
store at 748-1818.
Saturday, May 16 – Free kayaking demonstration, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the City
Beach in Lock Haven. This is a great opportunity to check out kayaking, or to
check out the types of kayaks we sell. You’ll get to spend time in a kayak,
getting a feel for the boat and learning basic kayaking maneuvers – a great

lesson for beginners. No reservations required – just come over and
enjoy. Wear shoes you won’t mind getting wet!
Sunday, May 17 – Kayaking down Pine Creek! Another day on the water –
we’re getting out while the water levels (hopefully) are still up. Come join us
for a great day. The trip includes a shuttle of you and your gear up and
back. Only $15 per person, and reservations are required. Kayak rentals will
be available or you can bring your own. Contact the store at 748-1818.
Sunday, May 24 – Our first Women-on-the-Water (WOW) kayak outing of the
season! This is a women-only trip that’s always a great time. We’ll be
kayaking down Pine Creek from Blackwell to Slate Run, ending with a late
lunch at the Hotel Manor. Bald Eagle Creek will be our back-up if water levels
on Pine Creek aren’t high enough. Kayak rentals are available at an extra
charge, or you can bring your own. The cost of the trip is only $15 per person
and includes transportation for you and your gear. Grab a friend and come
with us, but make your reservation soon (748-1818) because the WOW’s
always fill up fast!
Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 – Our annual “Bike & Boat” weekend! Join
us for two great days (and a night) in the outdoors! Saturday, spend the day
bicycling along the Pine Creek Rails-to-Trails (there is a lunch stop and
probably an ice cream stop)! We’ll camp overnight at Black Walnut Bottom
camping area, enjoying dinner and great conversation around the
campfire. The next morning, we’ll set out to kayak down Pine Creek for the
day. Kayak and bicycle rentals are available, or bring your own. You will
need camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.). A great outing – the perfect way
to get away from it all! The $50 cost per person includes full transportation,
dinner Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning. Call the store at 7481818 to make your reservations today!
Sunday, June 14 – WOW! Calling women only for a Women-on-the-Water
(WOW) kayak outing! We’ll paddle Pine Creek or Bald Eagle Creek,
depending on water levels. Always a fun day, the cost of the trip is only $15
per person. Reservations are required. Kayak rentals are available or bring
your own. Contact the store at 748-1818.
Saturday, June 20 – Kayak demo from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Little Pine State
Park. Come check out the boats Rock River & Trail has to offer, and get a free
lesson in kayaking! Little Pine State Park is the perfect place to give kayaking
a try. There’s no cost and no reservations are required….just wear shoes you
won’t mind getting wet. At 6:00 p.m., there will be an evening paddle around
the lake (boats will be available at no charge on a first come, first served

basis). Park environmentalist John Kaercher will lead the group, talking about
the park and the various wildlife that make their home there. A perfect way to
end the day!
Sunday, June 21 – A Father’s Day bicycle ride along the Pine Creek Rails-toTrails! Get dad out of the house for a fun day in the outdoors. The scenic
Rails-to-Trails is an easy ride the whole family can enjoy. The cost is only $10
per person and includes transportation of you and your gear. We’ll ride about
20 miles, stopping near the end for a late lunch at the Venture Inn. The perfect
way to spend the day! Reservations required…call 748-1818. Bicycle rentals
available.
Saturday, June 27 – Great Island Adventure Triathlon. Want a Fun
Challenge? The Great Island Adventure Triathlon is held at the Woodward
Boat Launch, just across the river from Lock Haven. The Triathlon consists of
a 3.5 mile flat water kayak/canoe course on the scenic West Branch of the
Susquehanna River; a 15.5 mile road bike course through the central PA
countryside, and a 4-mile run along Lock Haven’s picturesque
Riverwalk. Individuals and teams are welcome. Pre-registrations are
requested. Entry fee includes a t-shirt and an awards luncheon. For more
information and to register, visit our web site at: www.rockriverandtrail.com.
You Have Eaten The Embers
--J. Michael Rinard (LHUP English Major)
What have you hidden beneath the tracks?
Where the trains used to run in their iron-legs, spitting steam from their long
metallic noses, rushing ahead like spat-lies, stories you can’t catch after you tell
them, stories you wouldn’t want to catch, burning in your wet cupped-palms.
What is hidden beneath the tracks?
Where the brakemen stamped the blue-earth, blowing breaths of cold air into
frozen palms into Pennsylvania-railroad air, stamping the icy-earth. They
kicked their iron-legs, swung their heads into the sky and whistled blasts of
steam from smoke-stack lips.
What is hidden..?
The icy-earth and railroad ties, and the iron tracks cover the earth like
bleached-sheets across the surface of a pond you used to swim naked in as a
child. Your body breaking against the water-surface, breaking into the air you
rose from the pond, the icy-earth, the iron tracks, with streams running from
your gurgled-lips, dripping from your clanking-hair, stomping the frozen
ground-

And what is hidden beneath, in the stomach of the icy-earth, in your rumbling
iron-belly? They buried your hand when you caught them, the burning spatlies, the bodies breaking into the air,
your whistling iron-lips choking on bones?
you have eaten the embers?
you have eaten...?
you have...
you...
...?

How Homeowners Can Save Hemlocks
--Dr. Barrie E. Overton (LHUP Biology Professor)
I fell in love with Pennsylvania’s Hemlock
forests while attending graduate school at
the Pennsylvania State University, when
I'd go hiking to relieve stress. But the
hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) are in decline
throughout Pennsylvania because of an
invasive pest called the Hemlock Woolly
Adelgid (Adeleges tsugae Annand). The
Woolly Adelgid is a very small insect that
feeds by inserting a long stylet through
the base of needles used for sucking
nutrients from the plant cells. The Woolly
Adelgid is native to Asia; it was introduced into North America in the 1920’s to
the Pacific Northwest, and in the early 1950’s in Virginia. It lacks natural

enemies and is spreading rapidly throughout our region. The presence of the
eggs sacs is the most visible sign of an infestation (see the picture to the right,
courtesy of the DCNR's Wooly Adelgid site). In this article, I want to share
with you some strategies for preserving Hemlocks in your backyard.
One thing you can do it to limit your use of bird feeders. Many new
infestations are located near bird feeders and bird baths. Woolly Adelgids are
most likely to hitch-hike on birds between March and July, especially when
nymphs emerge from eggs. Removing bird feeders and bird baths during this
time period will have a minimal impact on birds as spring food sources are
becoming available, but it is an effective means of slowing the movement of
Woolly Adelgid in urban/suburban areas. You should also remove them in
October, when the second generation of nymphs become active, and put them
back up mid-November.
There are many commercially available sprays, such as insecticidal soaps and
malathion, that can provide some degree of control, especially on smaller
trees. Both of these pesticides kill by direct application to the insect. Several
soil drench pesticides are commercially available, which are systemic, meaning
they are taken up by the roots and translocated to all parts of the tree. These
chemicals are trademarked under the name, Merit, Malice, Zenith, or Safari
and are available in solid or liquid form. Careful attention must be paid to the
label instructions when applying soil drenches. The liquid version of these
products provides the best coverage as it can be easily measured and mixed
with water in a bucket, then applied around the tree. In the first year treating
an infestation, the best time to apply the soil drench is April to June when
nymphs are emerging and feeding, then again in August to September before
the second generation of nymphs become active. This will assure you do not
miss any of the nymphs. Soil drenches are good for 1-2 years, with a single
Spring application that would be necessary in successive years to maintain
control of newly colonizing Woolly Adelgids.
Using the soil drench pesticides I mentioned above and by bringing your bird
feeders/baths in and out during Woolly Adelgid hatches, you could
significantly reduce infestations of Hemlocks in your yards and
neighborhoods. But there still remains the tragic loss of hemlocks in our
forests, and the aesthetic and economic devastation that will result. When the
hemlocks are gone, so is the shade, and the temperature of the streams will
rise, and trout and other cold loving stream species will decline. Loss of
hemlocks near the streams will cause erosion, streams will become cloudy, and
topsoil will wash into other streams, choking out natural populations of fish
and other animal life. In addition to the loss of tourism revenue, there have
been several recent scientific studies showing that hemlock decline causes
shifts in forest carbon cycling that can significantly reduce overall forest health

causing revenue loss to forestry based industries. Scientists are in agreement
that loss of Hemlocks in our region will cause changes in the environment
worse than what happened after the American Chestnut
disappeared. Pennsylvania is too large to treat all of its forests with pesticides,
but there are other solutions to protecting trout streams such as planting white
pine, spruce, and other coniferous trees in forests dominated by Hemlock, to
maintain a coniferous over-story, which will maintain shade, and stop the
erosion that will occur when the Hemlocks are gone. I encourage you to
demand that your politicians protect Pennsylvania streams by aggressively
planting spruce and white pine.
Hike of the Month: Little Pine State Park's Lake Shore Trail
One of the best-kept secrets
of the Pennsylvania State
Park system is Little Pine
State Park, which is about
50 minutes from Lock
Haven University. It's a
first-rate park that features
opportunities for kayaking,
swimming, hiking,
camping, and fishing, but it
never seems to be crowded,
even on holiday
weekends. The park has
many hiking trails, including the ubiquitous Mid-State Trail, but one of our
favorites is the 5-mile long Lake Shore Trail. The hike takes about two hours,
and parts of the trail can be muddy so you might want to wear hiking boots.
To get to the trailhead, take Water Street to Route 220 North. Go 9 miles to the
PA-44 exit, and then follow PA 44 north for 10.8 miles to Waterville. After you
cross the bridge over Little Pine Creek, turn right onto SR4001/Little Pine
Creek Road (there is a sign for Little Pine State Park). After about 4 miles, you
will pass the lower picnic area and then the camping area; continue until you
get to a pull-off on the right that overlooks the dam. Park your car and follow
the walkway across the dam, where you will see the first sign for the redblazed Lake Shore Trail. There are usually maps at the parking area--if not, the
park office (1/2 mile further on SR4001)always has them.

The first mile of the trail
follows the woods on the
east side of Little Pine
Lake. There are a few
gentle hills that take you
past some beautiful rock
formations before you turn
left at Naval Run and
descend to the northern
end of the lake. The trail
continues north through
an eagle nesting area (one
of the highlights of Little
Pine SP is the chance to see eagles). After about a half mile, you will reach a
fork. The path to the left (down the hill) is how you'll be returning--instead, go
right, up a fairly steep (but short) hill into the woods. The next mile skirts the
edge of the mountain on the right and a large meadow to the left. Eventually,
you'll see a double red blaze--turn left towards the stream (and the shooting
range). The path follows the stream through the meadow for a mile, before
reconnecting with the fork. Notice the stands of sycamore trees along the
stream (easy to recognize by their mottled, "camouflage" bark). When you
return to the fork, turn right and follow the trail back to the parking area.
Environmental Focus Group
Bob Myers (chair), Md. Khalequzzaman, Lenny Long, Jeff Walsh, Danielle
Tolton, John Crossen, Sandra Barney, David White, Tom Ormond, and Ralph
Harnishfeger. The committee is charged with promoting and supporting
activities, experiences, and structures that encourage students, faculty, and
staff to develop a stronger sense of place for Lock Haven University and
central Pennsylvania. Such a sense of place involves a stewardship of natural
resources (environmentalism), meaningful outdoor experiences, and
appreciation for the heritage of the region.