Thom McCain writes:

Hey Music Lovers — Happy End of Summer!

We have a big treat for all of us. The Ladies of Longford — live in concert — Saturday August 29th, 8:00, $15.00 (students $5.00). Proceeds benefit the Adena Brook Community and the Clintonville Community Fund’s small grant program.

They’re back!!! The super talented and fun Ladies of Longford feature high energy and a beautiful sound -– great voices, fabulous playing. Your toes won’t stop tapping.

Their repertoire of traditional and contemporary Irish music with a twist of folk and bluegrass, will set your heart a reeling. When these five women take the stage the energy is something everyone notices. Ladies of Longford rock the central Ohio Celtic music scene and beyond to rave reviews. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this concert. Do your friends and family a favor and bring them along. Do the Adena Brook Community and the Clintonville Community Fund’s small grant program a favor and support our community efforts to improve our urban environment.

Go ahead, visit the Ladies of Longford website (http://www.hildadoyle.com/LOL.htm) to sample their music and see them in action.

Jan and Thom McCain welcome you to our house concerts in Clintonville. We’ll be outside in the garden, under the setting sun, twinkling stars on the edge of the Overbrook Ravine (and Adena Brook). You can expect a gathering of good people and spectacular music. Grounds open 7ish. Bring a snack to share and a drink of your choice. Park on the street.

Please respond to this email and send checks to Thom McCain for $15.00 in advance to guarantee your spot, we have plenty of seating. House Concerts @ Glenbrook, 146 Glenmont Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43214. 614-268-6189; thom@mccainlimited.com; www.mccainlimited.com/glenbrook

What do the fox eat in the winter? Should we leave food for the fox?

Lisa Fosco responds:

It is not recommended to feed foxes during a normal winter.  This species is active year round and should have no problem hunting and foraging on their own.  They are so well adapted for winter that they are one of the few Ohio species that have their babies when temperatures are still low (in Canada their whelping dens are commonly iced in).

Another reason that food supplementation is not in their best interest is that they tend to be opportunists.  If they are able to rely on a food source, they will adjust their natural feeding habits and will end up eating an unnatural (and therefore less healthy) diet.  They also commonly develop a habit of approaching people and tend to spend more time in yards and residential areas, which usually leads to trouble.

So, if the foxes looks healthy, PLEASE LEAVE THEM ALONE, and admire them from a distance.  As far as I have seen personally, we have several very healthy families in the ravine.

The exception would be if a fox shows any evidence of fur loss (they are prone to mange) or if they appear ‘slow’ or at all unhealthy.

Hope this helps!
Lisa

Director of Animal Rehabilitation

Ohio Wildlife Center

The Ohio Wildlife Center depends on donations to do their wonderful work. Send your tax deductible donations of any amount to: OWC, 6131 Cook Road, Powell, OH 43065.

Many thanks to recent Adena Brook Community donors:

John Kennedy, Ingham

John Russell, Ingham

All donations cover expenses to conserve the woodland in Overbrook Ravine Park and Adena Brook. Here is a little information to let you know what your donation supports: approximately 1,300 neighbor volunteers have worked about 3,000 hours in the last six years. We’ve planted about 2,000 native trees, installed and maintain 62 wildlife nesting boxes, and installed the first city/community rain garden in Clintonville to improve water quality and beautify the landscape. We’ve worked monthly from February through November to pick up over 2000 bags of trash and remove plants invasive to the Adena Brook habitat. To date, we’ve removed approximately 380 tons of invasive plants such as bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard. Removal of invasive plants from the woodland and our yards assures return of the historic seed bank in the woodland. Perhaps you’ve already noticed a recent flourish of spring and fall wildflowers. Professional mentors guide our work. Learn more by clicking the “ABOUT US” tab at the top of this page.

Adena Brook is recognized as a 2002 Friend of FLOW, paid tribute by the Ohio House of Representatives and the Clintonville Area Commission in 2005, listed as a leader in the Keep Columbus Beautiful Adopt-an-Area program since 2002, honored by Clintonville Chamber of Commerce in 2007 as the Booster Volunteers of the Year, and recipient of a prestigious 2008 SWACO Emerald Award for our litter removal efforts and the first collaboratively installed city and community rain garden at High and Overbrook.

These gifts are so much more than donations. They are gifts of environmental care and preservation for us and future generations.

Come enjoy great music and neighborhood community!

Thom and Jan McCain will host their annual fund raiser concert with Hilda and the Ladies of Longford. “Jan and I would like the proceeds to support two of our favorite Neighborhood causes — The Graham School’s new rain garden on Indianola and the Adena Brook Community.” Over 100 neighbors attended last year. This concert is such a fun and entertaining event, plus it supports our neighborhood.

DATE: Saturday, September 6th.

TIME & PLACE: 8:00 PM, McCain Residence, 146 Glenmont Avenue

Arrive anytime after 7PM. Concert begins at 8PM. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage. Park on Glenmont Avenue and walk back–The McCain residence is nestled back in the woods .

COST: $20 per person (free admission for students). Make your check payable to Thom McCain and mail it to him at 146 Glenmont Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214. OR PURCHASE A TICKET SATURDAY ON THE GROUNDS.

Some people who have lived here for decades declare the 2008 spring wildflower show the most spectacular ever. Removal of invasive plants that out-compete native plants is a big part of the reason the park is looking so beautiful. Our mentors visit and say they are awed by our conservation efforts. Elayna Grody often says, “the native plants and wildlife thank you.”

In April and May we removed more than 10,000 pounds of invasive garlic mustard and honeysuckle from the Adena Brook woodland. And we just kicked off the work season! We planted native trees and shrubs along Overbook near the rain garden and Greg Cunningham installed 2 new wood duck boxes. There’s so much more that Adena Brook Community neighbors do to better the neighborhood. To name a few: Have you noticed how well the Cooke Road/Indianola corner is maintained? Thank Adena Brook neighbors Mark and Carina Carter. The Robinsons and Platts pick up litter between clean ups. Judy Robinson inspires others to adopt streets for litter maintenance, and she also initiated invasive removal by Clintonville Woman’s Club members. Ann Almoney and Dominic Julian photograph wildlife so you see first hand the wonder of wildlife in our backyards. Greg Schneider continues to guide our efforts to maintain and add new plants to the rain garden. An education sign will be installed at the Adena Brook Rain Garden site.

It’s time to invite you to support our work. Any donation amount is appreciated. As many of you know, we do not charge dues or offer memberships to belong to Adena Brook Community. Instead we ask for donations from those willing and able to support the specific projects and tasks we decide to do each year. Make your check payable to “Adena Brook Community” and mail it to PO Box 14055, Columbus, OH 43214. Thank you!

All elements combined for a great concert Friday night. About 100 people turned out to support Adena Brook and enjoy great weather and great music from the Ladies of Longford. They were preceeded by opening act “The Alter Boys.” Attendees could also enjoy seeing Monarch butterflies flitting overhead in the opening to the McCain’s spacious backyard and concert venue. Thanks to Tom and Jan for opening up their home, to the musicians for sharing their talents, and to all who attended.

Thom McCain writes: Come listen to The Ladies of Longford — Friday evening August 31st, 7:30 PM. Free-will offering is ($15.00) to guarantee your seat (kids free) – we have plenty of chairs, so bring friends and neighbors. Bring a drink and snack to share if you’re able. For those who haven’t been to a house concert before, they are a ton of fun. We gather with friends to hear live music in the comfort and intimacy of our living room or backyard at 146 Glenmont Avenue. We start early (7:30) and end early (10:00). Park on the street and walk back the gravel lane that is our driveway and let the fun begin. Make checks payable to “House Concerts @ Glenbrook.” Place of concert is 146 Glenmont Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214.

Our Rain Garden Team consists of Maureen Lorenz (Columbus Rec and Parks), Vinnie Tremante (Williams Creek Consulting), Tom Russell (Columbus DOSD), and Terry Dull (Columbus DOT). They continue to meet to work out the rain garden design and implementation plan. The garden will be on High St., north of Overbrook.

Cash and In-kind donations and pledges have come from:
Donors and Support to Date (not prioritized)

ComFest: $1425
Columbus Recreation and Parks: $1000 in plants
Greg Schneider: $50
FLOW: $100 and volunteers to help plant
CURB recycling: $200
Columbus Monthly: summer article on Rain Gardens will feature Vinnie Tremante and information about Adena Brook rain garden
FOR Ravinia: spring/summer issue features Vinnie Tremante article on Rain Gardens
McCain Fundraiser: August concert (more details later)