The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Festival’s a real hoot
Inaugural event on Riverfront proves to be a success
NORRISTOWN » A girl named Oscar?
The tiny but full-grown Eastern Screech owl that drew crowds to the John James Audubon Center (JJAC) booth at Riverfront Park’s Riverfront Festival on Saturday had been named as a baby before her gender had been determined, explained JJAC volunteer Karen Hayman.
“When we found out she was a female we decided not to change her name at that point,” Hayman said. “We think she’s about five years old. She was hit by a car and lost her eye, which is why she can’t be released. We take in only non-releasable birds that can’t be released into the wild … all rescue animals. If somebody has an owl available and we have the space, we’ll take it.”
Oscar is one of several trained owls in the Society’s educational rotation, Hayman noted.
“We also have a hawk now that isn’t trained yet, and a blue jay.”
The Riverfront Festival was offered to residents as Norristown’s answer to the Alliance for Watershed Education’s River Days, of which the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is a
“We are involved with Norristown because one of the centers in the Alliance is John James Audubon Society at Mill Grove, which does a lot of work with the communities and schools in Norristown.”
_Alliance’s Mica Denise McCullough
primary participant, noted the Alliance’s Mica Denise McCullough.
“The Alliance for Watershed Education is a collaborative effort of 23 environmental education centers throughout the watershed, which includes, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, trying to basically leverage their efforts and work together toward a goal of improving access to the water,” said McCullough,
“We are involved with Norristown because one of the centers in the Alliance is John James Audubon Society at Mill Grove, which does a lot of work with the communities and schools in Norristown. The Alliance’s big crowning event every year is the River Days,” McCullough added, “where each of those 23 centers either hosts their own event or collaborates with other centers to host an event. They’re usually free and open to people of all ages, and revolve around water or trails in some way. Sept 15 is our kick-off day for River Days, which lasts through Oct. 15. We’re really excited to have a number of events happening on that day, and the Riverfront Festival is one of them.”
The Norristown Chamber of Commerce had partnered with the Municipality of Norristown, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Alliance Watershed Education, Keep Norristown Beautiful, Norristown Recreation, Elmwood Park Zoo and Conshohocken Brewery for the festival.
Many river enthusiasts had kicked off the day that morning with a kayaking adventure at Lock 60 in Phoenixville, winding down at 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park.
But whether you paddled the Schuylkill River or just took in the natural beauty of the Riverfront Park area by enjoying the festivities, it gave everyone a chance to appreciate the treasure available in their own backyard, noted Kym Ramsey, president of the Norristown Chamber of Commerce, a co-sponsor of the event.
“The kayaking experience is for everyone, even people that may have never kayaked before or been on the river before, to let them know the treasures they have right in their own backyard. It gives them the opportunity to experience the river,” Ramsey added.
JJAC volunteer Tricia Anderson’s demonstration for the crowd involved testing river water against bottled water for nitrates.
“When you have too much nitrates in the water that’s when you get the algae blooms, and when the sun can’t get through the algae stuff starts dying and then the bacteria that feeds on the dead stuff starts using up oxygen …and you end up with an oxygen depleted river,” Anderson explained.
As it turned out, the Schuylkill River earned an “A plus” on the test.
“It turns out it’s looking good; there are not a lot of nitrates in the river at all, which is good,” Anderson said.
Oscar made a second appearance later on at a mini press conference, alongside JJAC spokesperson Carrie Barron, who thanked Norristown Council for its help in organizing the event.
“I’d also like to thank the Alliance for Watershed Education,” Barron said. “Their whole job is to make sure our rivers and streams are clean. And it starts with us.”
Noting that Saturday was also National Cleanup Day and that (Sunday) marked Mexican Independence Day, Norristown council president Sonya Sanders encouraged the crowd to embrace a difference culture
“Mingle with anyone you don’t know and try to learn a new culture today,” she said.