Tag Archives: Gretchen Quarterman

Video: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest on Steve Nichols Radio 2020-06-23

On the Steve Nichols radio show we talked about how song submissions are open until July 8, 2020, for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. We also talked about fishing, bacterial contamination and mercury in the rivers, coal plants, solar power, and upcoming WWALS outings on Banks Lake and the Suwannee River.

[Flyer]
Flyer

Tickets to listen to the finalists play 7-9PM Saturday, August, 22, 2020, at the Turner Center Art Park in Valdosta, GA, are $10 online (children under 12 free) or $12 at the door. For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

The Steve Nichols show was the first to reveal the judges are selected. Continue reading →

Watching over the Waters: WWALS paddles, songwriting contest –VDT 2020-06-27

Amanda M. Usher, Valdosta Daily Times, 27 June 2020, Watching over the Waters: WWALS sponsors paddles, songwriting contest,

[Paddle Georgia from Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River]
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, Paddle Georgia from Spook Bridge, between Quitman and Valdosta, GA, Withlacoochee River, June 15, 2019.

VALDOSTA — John Quarterman has been around the Suwannee River Basin since his childhood.

Living on land his [grand-]father purchased near rivers and swamps in 1921, he has always felt attracted to rivers and works to keep them clean.

Quarterman is the Suwannee [R]iverkeeper with WWALS Watershed Coalition. WWALS is an acronym for Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little[, Santa Fe,] and Suwannee.

The coalition was established in June 2012 to eliminate issues with rivers and creeks such as sewage spills, he said. Quarterman became the Suwannee [R]iverkeeper in 201[6].

WWALS Watershed Coalition serves a significant purpose of water quality testing, he said. The City of Valdosta tests waters three times a week from U.S. 41 North to the southern state line, he said.

Through the years, the group has hosted cleanups at the Troupville boat ramp and holds two or three paddles monthly.

[Lakeland cleanup, Alapaha River]
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, Rivers Alive Cleanup, Pafford’s Landing near Lakeland, GA, Alapaha River, October 12, 2019.

“We’re not just a paddling organization,” Quarterman said. “… We do paddles, but we’re also an advocacy organization. We want to do conservation of stewardship.”

Quarterman is about awareness. He strives to bring attention to the rivers’ existence and informing people they can make use of the recreational rivers by boating or fishing.

“Getting people out there on the rivers to see what it is they are trying to conserve and protect is really important because until you see it for yourself, you’re not really appreciating the beauty of these rivers,” he said.

The rest of the article is about the upcoming paddle outings at Banks Lake at 7:30 PM Sunday, July 5, and at Dowling Park River Camp; for that one please be at Dowling Park Boat Ramp a 11:30 AM, Saturday, July 18, with camping gear.

The article concludes with the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 7-9 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2020, at Turner Center Art Park, 605 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA.

Come on down!

Thanks Amanda M. Usher, for Continue reading →

Judges selected, so send in your song: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Hahira, GA, June 23, 2020 — From Nashville, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia, the WWALS Songwriting Contest Committee has selected judges for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

“We have two returning judges and a judge from a younger generation,” said Contest Committee Chair Tom H. Johnson, Jr. “Submissions are due by July 8. We’d like songs from every age group and every genre.”
https://forms.gle/Ztxm8xmwwoAjPLj86

[Judges and banner]
Judges and banner

The new judge this year is Emmy Law, who made a name for herself in Atlanta, and has moved on up to Nashville, Tennessee. She has several songs published.

In his third year as judge, J. J. Rolle plays around Valdosta, Georgia, and has forged as far afield as some years in Ireland. He has a background in musical theater as well as his career as a solo musician.

Back from the first year, Cindy Bear is well known as a solo act around Jacksonville, Florida, and also as half of Bear and Robert (pronounced “Row-bear”), a Blues, Folk and Americana duo with her husband, Franc Robert.

This is the Third Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, this year at 7-9 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2020, in the Turner Center Art Park, 605 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601. That’s across from the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA, with plenty of room for physical distance.

Submissions can be songs about any river, stream, spring, sink, swamp, lake, or pond in the Suwannee River Basin or Estuary (except not the Santa Fe Basin; that has its own contest). Judging of finalists will take into account integrity and value of the waters, historical value, originality of lyrics and music and musical consistency between them, performance, and clarity of message. Extra credit for naming the most rivers (springs, etc.). Even listing them counts; tying them together in a way that shows their value is better.

After songwriters send in songs, the Contest Committee selects seven finalists.

Meanwhile, tickets are available, $10 online (children under 12 free), or $12 at the door. For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

“The Master of Ceremonies will be Continue reading →

Steve Nichols Radio: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020-06-23

Update 2020-06-30: Stills, writeup, and links to the facebook live video.

Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM, I’ll be on the radio with Steve Nichols, talking about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest: songs, judges, food, drink, prizes, and advocacy.

Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA

Song submissions are open until midnight July 8, 2020.

Tickets are available, $10 online (children under 12 free), or $12 at the door. For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

WVGA FM says:

The top rated morning talk show in south Georgia, Steve Nichols offers both sides of every story from Berrien County to the Beltway, and everywhere in between.

You can listen at 105.9 FM, on the WVGA Live apps, through ValdostaToday.com (link on front page), on Alexa devices, or you can stream in-studio video at the official Morning Drive Facebook page.

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA, Stills

When: 8:30 AM, Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Where: 105.9 FM WVGA (see above for how to listen)

Event: facebook

Much more here, about the Third Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, at 7-9 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2020, Turner Center Art Park, 605 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.
https://wwals.net/pictures/2020-08-22–songwriting/ Continue reading →

Video: Bring me home: two weeks to 2020 deadline, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Last year, Scott Perkins came down from Atlanta to sing “Waters of the Suwannee bring me home.”

Scott Perkins, Waters of the Suwannee bring me home, 2019 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Only two more weeks to bring your song home by Wednesday, July 8, 2020, to the 2020 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and evening of outdoor musical fun, with prizes.

Please use this entry form.

Music lovers, tickets are on sale now for the Contest Finals on Saturday, August 22, 2020, 7-9 PM, at the Art Park in Valdosta, Georgia: $10 per person (children under 12 free), or $12 at the door. For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

All about Songwriting 2020 here, including contest Rules:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2020-08-22–songwriting/

Here’s Scott Perkins singing “Waters of the Suwannee bring me home”: Continue reading →

Outside in the Art Park, Scott James as M.C.: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Hahira, GA, June 16, 2020 — The new Turner Center Art Park, across from the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA, has plenty of room for physical distance while listening to the finalists play in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 7-9 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 605 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia, 31601. (See also PDF.)

Scott James, Talk 92.1 FM

“I’m honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for this celebration of our rivers, creeks, swamps, and springs,” said radio personality Scott James, of Talk 92.1, WDDQ, out of Valdosta, GA.

“Songwriters, don’t forget to send in your song by Wednesday, July 8, 2020!” said Laura D’Alisera, our 2018 overall winner and 2019 headliner, and now two years on the organizing committee.

[Third Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest]
Third Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Submissions can be songs about any river, stream, spring, sink, swamp, lake, or pond in the Suwannee River Basin or Estuary (except not the Santa Fe Basin; that has its own contest). Judging of finalists will take into account integrity and value of the waters, historical value, originality of lyrics and music and musical consistency between them, performance, and clarity of message. Extra credit for naming the most rivers (springs, etc.). Even listing them counts; tying them together in a way that shows their value is better.

“Tickets are on sale now, Continue reading →

New WWALS water quality tester Renee Kirkland 2020-06-05

Renee Kirkland has a water quality testing kit, thanks to donations to the water quality testing program.

[Trainer, kit, and tester]
Trainer, kit, and tester

Renee already passed the most recent water quality testing training. Trainer Gretchen Quarterman got Renee to review with her new kit. Renee is already on the WWALS Testing Committee, and now she’s ready to test.

She’s going to start on the Alapaha River, with Mayday Landing and Statenville Boat Ramp.

If you want to become a WWALS water quality tester, please Continue reading →

Better Saturday at Knights Ferry, Nankin, Withlacoochee River, but rain 2020-04-18

Update 2020-04-24: OK quality mid-week, but much rain yesterday, Withlacoochee River 2020-04-22.

WWALS Testing Committee Chair Suzy Hall got 300 cfu/100 mL E. coli at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp Saturday, and 333 at Nankin Boat Ramp, both on the Withlacoochee River. That’s similar to Thursday at Knights Ferry, and better at Nankin; both not good, but not terrible. See also What do these numbers mean?

But watch out: it rained a quarter inch in Brooks County, Georgia, Sunday. WWALS continues testing and correlating results from various sources with rainfall.

You can help by donating for water quality collection supplies. Even those metal yellow Caution signs cost money. See below for those signs going up during the livestreamed virtual Earth Day cleanup at Knights Ferry Boat Ramp.

[Boaters, Suzy, signs, trash, Bobby]
Boaters, Suzy, signs, trash, Bobby

There were a bunch of boaters, all keeping their distance. They were already aware of the contamination, but did not plan to get in the river water.

Apparently most of the previous contamination had washed down the river, but how far? Continue reading →

WWALS online store: cards, hats, stickers, raffle, membership

Update 2022-08-09: Plus Suwannee Riverkeeper Suwannee Bass t-shirts, with WWALS logo on the back!

Can’t get your WWALS stickers, hats, or cards at a festival booth? No problem! WWALS has a new online store where you can get all sorts of things that look good and support our stewardship and advocacy: https://wwalswatershed.square.site/

[Storefront]
Storefront

Click on the green “Shop now” button to see the items.

Click on any item to order. Then use the cart to review, and pay like in most online stores. We will ship your order to you.

For example, the WWALS notecards are perfect for sending paper messages to all those friends and relatives you can’t visit right now. Each package of note cards has eight beautiful note cards, on high quality paper, each with an envelope.

Note Cards: Swamps and Springs
Note Cards: Swamps and Springs

In addition to the Swamps and Springs shown above, there are packages with themes of Withlacoochee and Little Rivers, Alapaha River, and Suwannee River.

[Note Cards]
Note Cards

Explaining the note cards, here is WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman at the virtual WWALS booth in the woods: Continue reading →

Cleaner downstream with no rain 2020-03-24

Update 2020-03-26: Hamilton, Madison Counties Health Lift Advisory for the Withlacoochee River 2020-03-26.

Suzy Hall’s Sunday testing at State Line Boat Ramp started the good news this week.

So WWALS can continue testing, WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman just bought another case of Petrifilm, to the tune of $753.25. That’s a big buy for a tiny nonprofit such as WWALS. You can help.

[Suzy Hall retrieving test bucket at State Line Ramp 2020-03-22]
Suzy Hall retrieving test bucket at State Line Ramp 2020-03-22

The Withlacoochee River is clean this week, and even Okapilco Creek is cleaner than it sometimes is.

[Clean Sunday through Tuesday]
Clean Sunday through Tuesday
For context and the entire WWALS composite spreadsheet of Georgia and Florida data, see wwals.net/issues/testing/.

At State Line Boat Ramp, Suzy Hall for WWALS, the City of Valdosta, and Madison Health all got Continue reading →