This morning the San Francisco Estuary Partnership will present the award to Amy Gallaher Hall for her remarkable chalk art at the beaver festival. Since she can’t be there her father will accept it in her stead. Amy has done dynamic beaver murals at our festival every year without charge since 2017.
It just seems a little unfair to read about this big launch and see the attending “artwork”..
“Kit the Keystone” teaches children about the importance of conservation
HAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — An Ohio author hopes to inspire the next generation of naturalists through a heartwarming story about a little beaver who goes on a big adventure.
“Kit the Keystone” tells the story of Kit, a young beaver living in Stillwater Pond. However, Kit’s life is upended after their friend, Benny the green tree frog, discovers their home is being overtaken by purple loosestrife.
The plant, which is classified as a noxious weed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), was once grown for ornamental and medicinal purposes by settlers throughout Ohio and other states.
Because purple loosestrife is native to Eurasia and has no natural predators in North America, it displaces the native plants wetland animals rely on for food and shelter, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
As a result of this sudden invasion, Kit and Benny choose to brave the unknown and go on an adventure to find a new wetland habitat for their friends and family, encountering other animals along the way.
Kit’s adventure mirrors the life of the book’s author, Jess Leibson. In addition to being an author, Leibson owns an art studio and is a fellow with the Economic Recovery Corps, through which she works for the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA).
As a child, Leibson had an incredible passion for reading and writing. Leibson later put her talents to work as a journalist, before becoming a copywriter and copy editor for Fortune 500 companies.
Okay Kit. Let’s see what you got. Martinez has a keystone story too. Except for here the noxious weed was a developer and the cure was moving the people to a new understanding.
