McClintock, Alcaldesa, Gutierrez

The VCHT hosted an environmental fair at the Trust’s Malecon location on April 15^th, jointly sponsored by the Vieques Sustainability Task Force (VSTF) headed by Judith Enck, Regional Administrator of the EPA Region 2, and the Municipality of Vieques. Many federal and Puerto Rico agencies participated in the day.

Lirio Márquez, Executive Director of VCHT, who is a member of the VSTF and Mark Martin Bras, Director of Community Relations, welcomed members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from Region 2,  including Claudia Gutierrez, Senior Advisor on Caribbean Issues to the Regional Administrator EPA Region 2, Also attending were Secretary of State for Puerto Rico, Kenneth McClintock, Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (DNER), Daniel Kercadó Gálan and Vieques Mayor, Evelyn Delerme Camacho. María Teresa Carro from the Resident Commissioner’s office was also in attendance.

Recycling Truck in Vieques

The Puerto Rico Solid Waste Management Authority (ADS) showed off the new recycling truck that soon will be at work on our local streets. This marks the beginning of a new curbside recycling initiative in Vieques.The recycling project was launched by the EPA in conjunction with ADS and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB) last year and it is now being expanded to include Vieques.

Blue Bins

VCHT is managing an important project, working with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, EQB and USGS and other agencies to protect in Puerto Mosquito (Bioluminescent Bay). Part of the project includes relocating the current access road to limit sedimentation entering the Bay. VCHT staff was responsible for developing and delivering an in-depth course on Puerto Mosquito management and safely issues that is a requirement for licensed tour operators who work in the Bay.

Lirio, Gilda with dignitaries at Escuela Barbosa

The Trust invited the participants to visit the Escuela Barbosa site where she discussed possible plans for a demonstration organic garden.

Visitors to the Fair also met with officials who are responsible for the clean up of the former Navy site on the east side of Vieques and with US Fish and Wildlife personnel who manage the Vieques Wildlife Refuge. Visitors could find out more about a composting project in Vieques’ schools.

Lirio Marquez and Mark Martin will both be attending the upcoming meeting of the White House Task Force on Puerto Rico in Washington in early May.

Peggy Puffer guiding birders

Long time Vieques winter residents and birding enthusiasts Richard and Peggy Puffer live in La Llave where the birding is excellent For the past several years, they have graciously volunteered to lead monthly bird walks for the Trust.  Intrepid birders, Richard and Peggy have birded around the world, particularly in Central and South America and are very knowledgeable about the birds in Puerto Rico. They know when and where to find migratory and year-round birds on Vieques and can identify most birds by their call. On the walks for the Trust, they have lead birders from the dry scrub in La Llave to the lagoons near Sun Bay. Equipped with binoculars and spotting scope, they make sure that everyone clearly sees the birds, and they offer helpful hints to novices. Their walks have been rewarding for everyone.

Richard and Peggy’s friends, Dale and Priscilla Doucette, have attended many of the bird walks and will be leading the tours next year.  Many thanks to Richard and Peggy for the volunteer work they have done for the Trust.

Richard and the spotting scope

On the VCHT Bird walk on February, 24, 2012 led by Rich  and Peggy Puffer  the following species were seen in the following locations.

Malecon

1.   Royal Tern

2.   House sparrow

3.   Brown Pelican

Dry Scrub La Llave

1.  Nutmeg Mannikins (flocks on fence coming up the hill)

2.   Banana quit (heard)

3.   Black- faced Grass quit

4.   Zenaida Dove

5.   Smooth billed Anis

6.   Greater Antillean Grackle

7.    Pearly-eyed Thrasher

8.   Several Antillean-crested hummingbird (male and      female)

9.   Caribbean Elaenia (heard)

10.  Northern Mockingbird

11.  White winged dove

12.  Kestrels (a pair perched for hunting on the tree crags.)

13.  Mangrove Cuckoo (seen by some of the drivers)

14.  Scaly napped pigeon

15.  Gray kingbird

16.  Common Ground Doves

Lagoon at Playa Grande

Playa Grande

1.  Greater Yellow Legs

2.  Great Blue Heron

3.  Little Blue Heron

4.  Black necked Stilts

5.  Tri-colored Heron

6.  Yellow Warbler

7.  Black bellied Sandpipers Winter Plumage

(after consultation with texts after calling them Snipes at the site)

8.  Great Egret

9.  Spotted Plover (in winter plumage, seen at bridge)

Salt- Water Flats at end of Sun Bay

1.  Great Egret

2.  Frigate bird

3.  Flocks of Wilson’s Plovers flying

Total of 31 different species observed or heard:

________________________________________________________

Other Species observed in the week of the bird walk, but not on that day included:

1.   Puerto Rico Flycatcher

2.   Belted Kingfisher

3.   Prairie warbler

4.  Adalaids Warbler

5.   Loggerhead Kingbird

6.   Green throated Carib hummingbird

Escuela Barbosa Sign

The Municipality of Vieques has signed a usufruct agreement with the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust transferring the use of the abandoned school ‘Escuela Barbosa’ to the Trust.  The site will house an electronic library, and will provide informal training for children and adults. It will also be used as a scientific research station — the first in Vieques.

The VCHT held the first activity at the site, with former teachers, directors and the Mayor in attendance, as well as a group of excited children.  The Municipal Band provided musical entertainment before the more formal presentation given by Executive Director, Lirio Márquez D’Acunti and Mark Martin Bras, Director of Community Relations. They described the project as the “rebirth” of Escuela Barbosa as a community resource. They plan to raise funds to provide an electronic library that will allow Viequenses not only to do research but also to take university and other courses given over the internet. The plans call for a scientific research station that would bring scientists to Vieques to study important current problems such as the effects of global warming on corals or possibly to investigate thebioluminescence in PUerto Mosquito. Part of the plan is to provide new employment for Vieques residents at the site and to help train youth to assist in scientific research.

The VCHT also plans to have a garden at the site where members of the community can brush up their organic gardening skills.

The Mayor of Vieques, Evelyn Delerme Camacho commented that this was an opportunity for Viequenses to work together for a better future for the children of the island

The Trust plans to have activities not only for children but also for adults.

Mucha Anticipación

Audience listening to the presentation

To see Executive Director, Lirio’s Marquez D’Acunti’s presentation of the project, go to the following link:

Presentación_Escuela Barbosa v3

Dale Doucette

Dale Doucette is a life-long resident of Maine and began coming to Vieques in 1999, with his wife, Priscilla Bennett Doucette. They bought a house here in 2005. Dale has a B.A. Degree from the University of Maine, a Masters Degree from the University of Southern Maine, and did advanced work at Boston University. After serving three years in the U.S. Army, he began a 41-year teaching career teaching English. He was Coordinator of the English, Foreign Languages, and English as a Second Language Departments at Portland High School. He was active in local and state teacher organizations. Also, he participated in many school improvement efforts, and high school renovation projects. He particularly enjoyed working with immigrant students from around the world, and continues to work each year assessing their progress for the Portland School Department.

In Maine, Dale and Priscilla are involved in conservation and environmental efforts. A member and supporter of the Trust for many years, Dale has worked on the Grant Committee researching funding possibilities. He also assists with the Trust’s Bird Walks. He looks forward to helping with the development of the Escuela Barbosa Project.

Gladys Alemán

Gladys is a graduate of Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus, with a degree in Biology and holds a Masters in Clinical Microbiology from Emory University.  Shortly after graduating from college, she entered the US Army and was attached to Ft McPhereson while attending Emory University.  While pursuing a masters, she worked at the Center for Disease Control -  Parasitology branch.

Her 22 year military career was spent in Germany, Kenya, South East Asia (mostly Thailand), Japan and finally a year in Cuba. Her duties were to establish and perform Quality Assurance and Quality Control for clinical trials in the fields of malaria, dengue fever, diarrheal disease and Hepatitis E.  Once out of field-work, she wrote articles on developing trends in science and technology, information in support of research, development and acquisition programs for the Army. She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After retiring from the service, Gladys says, “I came to Vieques, as I had done in my youth, to enjoy lovely beaches and enjoy a few days under the sun.  Little did I know that, I would never leave.  That was six years ago.”

Now, Gladys is co-owner of BlackBeard Sports, the local outdoor adventure store and spend most of her free time heavily engaged in youth programs and activities.

Ed Mullen

Ed Mullen

Originally from North Dakota, Ed Mullen, together with his partner Jerry Hanley, have been part-time residents of Vieques for over ten years and, previously of St. Thomas, USVI. When not at their home in Vieques Ed and Jerry are at their home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Both Ed and Jerry have been active with the Trust for several years, most recently as benefactors of the Vieques POPS.

Ed is the Willma & Albert Musher Professor Emeritus, Columbia University in the City of New York where he was Associate Dean (1987-1992) and Acting Dean (1991). He has been a Professor at the University of Chicago (1976-1987); Fordham University (1967-1976); and a Visiting Professor, Case Western Reserve University (1975-76). He has directed major research programs including Community Service Society of New York’s Institute of Welfare Research (1969-1973), Center for the Study of Social Work Practice at Columbia University (1992-2002); and Columbia University’s Musher Program (1995-2011). He was Principal Investigator for U. S. National Institute of Mental Health funded National Research Service Award doctoral training programs in mental health services research at Columbia University (1989-2007) and University of Chicago (doctoral and postdoctoral, 1984-1989). He is a founder of the International Network of Social Work Research Centers; Editor-in-Chief of Oxford University Press’ Oxford Bibliographies Online: Social Work; chair of New York Academy of Medicine’s Evidence Database in Aging Care; member of Northwestern University’s National Institute of Health funded interdisciplinary Council for Training in Evidence-based Practice; and, until recently, a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health, Expert Panel, Teen Pregnancy Prevention initiative, with RTI International. For over 50 years his research and publications have examined mental health, outcomes measurement, effectiveness research, translational and implementation research, research synthesis, and evidence-based policy and practice. Evaluation of Social Intervention (1972) and Outcomes Measurement in Human Services (1997) are among his most influential publications. Dr. Mullen received a BA in Philosophy (with honors, 1960) and an MSW (1962) from Catholic University, and a PhD degree from Columbia University (1968). Faculty web profile: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ssw/faculty/profiles/mullen.html

Brendymar  Enid Cruz Torres

Brendymar is a 23-year old Vieques native. In 2006 she graduated from High School with a 4.00 GPA. The same year, she was awarded the VCHT CDC Scholarship for future scientists. She was part of the first group of MANTA students.  This upcoming June 2012, she will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus. During her college career she participated in research related to the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans, in the campus air conditioning ducts.

Brendymar says,”Since that summer in 2006, my passion for science and education is devoted to the organization and proper functioning of the MANTA educational programs. Each summer I am part of a team that is making an effort to outdo ourselves each year.”

She is currently working as a High School Physics teacher in the main island. Her next goal is to enroll in law school and combine her scientific knowledge with legal studies. “This new ambition has been triggered by the outstanding and constant work of the VCHT for the conservation of Vieques environmental and historical treasures”, she commented.

• Escuela Barbosa will make it possible to expand the number of participants in the Trust’s award winning MANTA programs that are now constrained by lack of space.
• It has space for a much-needed electronic library open to everyone in the community and for new training opportunities for the benefit of Viequense children, youth and adults.
• It has space for a research station that will attract researchers and students from Puerto Rico, other islands, and other countries and will promote science education, which will in turn  lead to jobs for Viequenses.
• It can be a demonstration of a “green building” that recycles waste water and alternative energy sources.
• It has space for demonstrations of sustainable agriculture.

The Trust will be holding meetings during the next few months to gather input from the community for future uses of the property.

A joint VCHT and Muncipality event  is  scheduled for  April 17th at 3 pm at  Escuela Barbosa.  Please join us for a tour.

To see Executive Director, Lirio’s Marquez D’Acunti’s presentation of the project, go to the following links

Presentación_Escuela Barbosa v4

This link will be live until April 28, 2012.

Funds for renovations of Escuela Barbosa will be separate from the Trust’s regular budget

The Executive Director, Lirio Marquez and President, Barbara Hyland are ex officio members of all committees.