Time flies — Each year volunteers search the Rouge River watershed looking for stoneflies — sensitive creatures that serve as a kind of barometer to water quality. If the aqua’s clean, lots of the little buggers will be found. The annual winter search takes place this year on Jan. 21. So why is Proactive mentioning it now? Because to participate you need to sign up by Jan. 12, and we know how hectic things can be once the holidays hit. So don’t dally. Call Friends of the Rouge’s Public Involvement Department at 313-792-9621 or e-mail picoordinator@therouge.org to register for the event.

Stuff stuff — ’Tis the season to think of others, so why not help out the Triangle Foundation? The gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual advocacy group needs help stuffing envelopes. If you’re interested in helping out, call 313-537-3323. Triangle offices are on Seven Mile Road east of Evergreen Road in Detroit.

Hurricane pain — Earlier this month, the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) sent a delegation to the Katrina survivors-supporters conference in Jackson, Miss., and the Human Rights Day demonstration in New Orleans. The group will meet tonight, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., to hear the Detroit delegation’s firsthand account of the conditions on the Gulf Coast post-Katrina. The meeting will be held at committee’s offices, located in Detroit at 5922 Second Ave. near Antoinette. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, call 313-680-5508, e-mail voiceofmecawi@comcast.net or visit mecawi.org.

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