FERRISBURGH — Lewis Creek Association held a successful screening of the documentary film “Toxic Puzzle” in January 2019.  Members of the association are now inviting the public to join them for a screening of and discussion on the locally produced documentary “Lake Effect” on Oct. 17 at the Ferrisburgh Community Center.
“Lake Effect” explores research from Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Dr. Elijah Stommel into a possible connection between blue-green algae blooms that are fed by excess phosphorus in lakes, and the neurodegenerative disease ALS.  The documentary team of Jim and Jackie Heltz (father and daughter) has a direct connection with ALS, having had three family members die from the disease, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Heltzes will be present at the Ferrisburgh screening.
Hear Stommel speak about current research into the possible connection between cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Stommel, who has earned MD and Ph.D. degrees and is a professor of Neurology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, is actively researching risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His research is looking at gene and environmental interactions. 
In addition to the filmmakers, other presenters after the screening will include University of Vermont professors Jason Stockwell and Rachelle Gould, and UVM Ph.D. student Natalie Flores.
Stockwell is a Professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at UVM. He is director of UVM’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Gould is an assistant professor at Rubenstein, where her studies focus on environmental learning and the nonmaterial values associated with people-ecosystem relationships. Flores is studying the impacts of cyanobacteria blooms on the environment with a focus on understanding patterns of cyanotoxins in water, fish and air, and the potential effects of blooms on food webs. 
Refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to all, and will be held at the Ferrisburgh Town Offices & Community Center, 3279 Route 7, Ferrisburgh on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Editor’s note: This story was provided by Glynda McKinnon and Kate Kelly of Lewis Creek Association.