Cabin fever is the plague of the New England winter. People are cooped up inside, even on sunny days, and indoor hobbies are getting stale. Try a new outlook for the new year by getting outdoors with a new hobby. Try bird-watching! Beginning Saturday January 21, Earthplace is offering Birding 101, a really fun course for anyone interested in enhancing the outdoor experience.

Jim Hunter, the Earthplace naturalist teaching the course, has been bird watching since he was a little kid, and he’s kept that wide-eyed sense of wonder. Jim’s informative, patient, funny and a good teacher. He teaches biology at Wilton High School, as well as many of the children’s programs at Earthplace. Jim also has a spooky talent for finding birds, what the birding community calls “mojo”, that inexplicable gift of being in the right place at the right time. He finds things, and he knows what he’s looking at!

Winter birding is a great preparation for the big event that comes along in the Spring with all the returning summer birds. A walk along the beach or woodland trail or even driving on the Merritt Parkway become much more interesting if you are alert to the life around you. Watching wildlife can be more than recognizing a blue jay from a bluebird. Learning about wild neighbors offers a window into a world both very similar to our own and very different.

Classes will be held Saturday mornings from 10 to 11AM at Earthplace. The series will culminate with a three hour field trip to a local birding hot spot on Saturday, February 18th from 10AM to 1PM. Earthplace will supply loaner binoculars. The Earthplace gift store is offering a free Identiflyer, a handheld bird call identifier, to each participant. Refreshments will be served at each class. The cost of the course is $80 for Earthplace members and $90 for non-members. 16 years old and above.

Jim Hunter (at telescope) birding with a group of Earthplace Junior Staffers.

Two Bald Eagles Now Reside at Earthplace

Bald eagles, our nation’s symbol, can be seen on display at Earthplace in Westport. On Saturday January 28, Earthplace will host a special program about eagles that will include eagle activities and exhibits, bird talks at the eagle enclosure, a guided nature walk and crafts for children. The event runs from 1 to 3 PM. Admission is $4 per member, $6 per non-member.

Visitors have the rare opportunity to compare both mature and immature eagle feather color patterns. Chatty, the newest arrival from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, is a female adult bald eagle. She enjoys conversing with visitors. Chatty underwent a partial amputation of her left wing due to a severe wing injury. Because she entered into wildlife rehabilitation sporting her adult plumage (white head and tail feathers), it is only known that she is at least five years of age.

Chatty joins Cerena, the three-year old bald eagle already in residence at Earthplace. Cerena displays the plumage of a young bald eagle, with brown head and tail feathers. As Cerena approaches four to five years of age she will gradually acquire the white head, white tail feathers and yellow beak that adult bald eagles, like Chatty display. Female eagles are typically larger than the males and northern birds are larger than their southern counterparts. As a northern female, Chatty tops the scales at 13 2/3 lbs, and she consumes close to a pound of food each day. These birds have been known to live 40 years in captivity.

The two bald eagles are housed together as part of the growing Connecticut Birds of Prey outdoor exhibit at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center. Other raptors include several kinds of owls, hawks and vultures. The Animal Hall at Earthplace also houses snakes, various seed-eating birds and some small mammals, including an opossum. Earthplace is located at 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, CT, and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 1 to 4 PM.  The nature trails, including the wheelchair-accessible Wheels in the Woods 4 trail, are open from dawn to dusk.

The mission of Earthplace is to educate the community about ways of taking action to preserve, protect and enjoy nature and the environment. Founded in 1958 and accredited by The American Association of Museums, Earthplace maintains a 62 acre wildlife sanctuary with trails, houses live wildlife for public viewing, and hosts many public nature programs and events. Other activities include a state-licensed preschool and summer camp, a wildlife rehabilitation program, and the Harbor Watch/River Watch water quality testing program.

"Keys for the Cause" at Tiffany & Co.

More than 120 supporters of Earthplace had the opportunity to win some fantastic Tiffany & Co. gifts during a benefit titled “Keys for a Cause” held on December 7 and sponsored by Tiffany & Co.’s Westport store.  Proceeds from the event benefit Earthplace and its reinvention of its 3,200 square foot exhibit hall. When completed, the hall will be an exciting, living, breathing and constantly changing interactive nature experience. The space will serve as a focal point for everyone seeking to enhance their understanding of nature and our environment.

“We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Earthplace since we opened this store over a year ago,” said Tiffany store director Bill McGuinness. “Since then we’ve come to appreciate what Earthplace does to safeguard the environment and protect wildlife, while at the same time providing many programs and events that give us all wonderful experiences in the great outdoors. The ultimate purpose is to see the work of Earthplace grow and prosper and we at Tiffany are more than happy to lend our support.”

Where are the turkeys?  Joe DeBone, the local turkey expert and retired Norwalk firefighter is leading a walk on the Earthplace trails in search of the “ones who got away”, our ubiquitous wild turkeys.

Mr. DeBone is an excellent naturalist and tracker. He sharpens his nature-watching skills right here in Westport and Norwalk. By exploring the open spaces in his neighborhood, walking through the woods in the early morning, Mr. DeBone sees wild animals that stay hidden to most of us. He knows all the deer on the Earthplace property, the buck with the interesting antlers, the doe with three fawns. A walk in the woods with him is fun! Great stories and good looks at animals. He can even “talk turkey.” With the help of small wooden instruments, callers, Mr. DeBone replicates the wide range of sounds a turkey can make.

He can help you perfect your turkey calls while walking off that Thanksgiving dinner on Earthplace’s nature trails. Find out more about that big bird that graces your table and walks through the backyard. Bring family and friends to enjoy this popular program. Who knows, you may meet the friendly young wild turkey who hangs with the Earthplace animals. At Earthplace – The Nature Discovery Center on November 26, 2:30PM. $3/mbr, $5/non-mbr. Rain or shine.  All ages. Handicapped accessible.

Live Owls, Magic and Bugs at Earthplace for Yuck Day

Discover great things about gross stuff at Earthplace during the annual Yuck Day family event on October 29, 11AM-4PM. Find out about birds that fly in the dark of night from Wind Over Wings and their live owls. Visitors of all ages will marvel at the Halloween magic performed by The Magic Genie at 1:00 & 1:45. Meet live tarantulas, bugs, slugs, worms and other crawling critters in interactive exhibits. Plenty of icky investigations, crafts, food, trail walks & Halloween cheer await you. Don’t miss the yuckiest family event in town! $6 per member, $8 per non-member. Rain or shine. All Ages. Sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League.

To celebrate the beginning of autumn, Earthplace is hosting two fun family activities this weekend. The first event is the Friday Evening Family Campfire on September 23 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Come gather around the campfire to eat s’mores and listen to stories about the stars. On Saturday September 24, Earthplace is hosting a Scarecrow Making Party. Stop by between 1:00 and 3:00 PM to make your own scarecrow and enjoy some good old-fashioned autumn fun. Bring some old clothes, an empty plastic milk jug and an old hat. Everything else needed for decorating and stuffing will be provided, including recycled materials, fabrics and markers to decorate your scarecrow’s head. The Earthplace staff and our teen volunteers will help you put together a festive friend for your front stoop. Cider and festive snacks will be served. The cost for each event is $8 per member child, $10 per non-member child. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Family Campout at Earthplace

Celebrate the end of the summer season at the Campout for the Critters on Saturday, September 17 at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center in Westport.  Families can pitch their tent in the meadow, enjoy a barbecue supper, meet live animals, and delight in the enchanting shadow puppetry of Nappy’s Puppets. The evening will end with s'mores by the campfire, and guests will wake to a Continental breakfast in the morning. The cost is only $140 for a family of 4, and $40 for each additional person. Reservations are required. Proceeds support the Animal Care program at Earthplace. 

A young, female bald eagle named Cerena has a new residence at Earthplace.

Originally from Michigan, Cerena suffered a permanent disability as a young bird which necessitated a partial amputation of her left wing and rendered her non-releasable. She is approximately two years old and currently has a brown head and tail. As she approaches four to five years of age, she will gradually acquire the white head, white tail feathers and yellow beak that are characteristic of adult bald eagles.

With a wingspan of six to eight feet, eagles can weigh as much as 14 lbs. The female of the species is larger than the male, and birds from northern climes are generally larger than southern birds. These birds have been known to live over 40 years in captivity.

Bald eagles feed primarily on fish, but are opportunistic and will take small mammals, waterfowl and carrion whenever available. Bald eagles live near rivers and large lakes. In Connecticut, bald eagles winter near hydro-electric plants, where they can find easy prey during the winter months. These carnivores are known for their keen eyesight and incredibly strong talons (up to 2,000 psi).

Bald eagles mate for life and build enormous twig nests high in the trees. The nest measures up to eight feet across and can weigh 2,000 lbs! As many as three eggs will be laid and the chick, or chicks, will hatch in early April. The young will fledge after 9 or 10 weeks.

Abundant in the U.S. in the 1700’s, bald eagle populations declined to the brink of extinction during the 1950’s & 60’s due to hunting, habitat loss and the wide-spread use of the pesticide, DDT. The bald eagle is presently protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Lacey Act. With protection, bald eagle populations have increased and their status is now classified as “threatened”.

In order to be transported to Earthplace, Cerena had to fly in a specially modified, airline-approved dog kennel. Her flight originated in Petosky, Michigan, connected in Detroit and ultimately arrived at Newark (as cargo) on Northwest Airlines.  After an adjustment period, Cerena is now on view in a large outdoor enclosure, and joins the growing Connecticut Birds of Prey collection at Earthplace.

Earthplace thanks Northeast Utilities for underwriting the transportation costs to enable Cerena to come to Earthplace.

View photos of Cerena's journey to Earthplace

Students from St. Elizabeth Seton Church (Ridgefield, CT) at Wooster School in Danbury collected recyclable printer cartridges as a community service project. Four students, Grace Hamilton, Jillian Bosshardt, Jack Mische and Nick Mische, along with their teacher, Shenah Mische, recently donated their cartridges to the recycling program at Earthplace in Westport. The funds raised from the Cash for Critters program go directly to support the care of the many resident animals at Earthplace. Old cell phones and used printer cartridges continue to be collected for recycling at Earthplace.

Linda Roberts, Director of Animal Care at Earthplace, accepts the donation of recyclable printer cartridges from Jillian Bosshardt, Grace Hamilton, Nick Mische, Jack Mische and their teacher Shenah Mische from St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield, which meets at Wooster School in Danbury

Several hundred visitors came to the annual Earth Day Festival at Earthplace in Westport, on Saturday, April 30th. Everyone was impressed by the size and majesty of Atka, an artic wolf presented by The Wolf Conservation Center, and learned about wolf misconceptions and conservation issues. The event also featured master falconer Lorrie Westman who thrilled the audience with raptor flight demonstrations. Hushed “oohs” and “aahs” were heard throughout the grand tent as an African augur buzzard flew over head.

Giant puppets from the Waking Dream Performance Company danced with visitors in parades that included a 10-person Earth Worm created by children in the Earthplace April Recess Workshops. Children enjoyed listening to the Hall Family sing songs about the Earth, and danced to the lively beat of the JamxBand Steel Drummers.  Zu Zazz String Orkestra entertained everyone with piano, slide guitar, mandolin, washtub, kazoo and vocal music from the 20's, 30's and 40's. Westport artist Jerry Kuyper exhibited artworks created from trash and items found along the road. He also created impromptu art from bottle lids brought in by Festival visitors.

There were many opportunities for having fun while learning about the environment. Microscopes gave a close-up view of creatures that can reside in compost. Kids made drums, shakers and other musical instruments from recycled materials, as well as small puppets. There was even a water table with crabs, a sea star and a lobster to examine.

Earthplace thanks Toyota of Stamford, Devine Brothers and Braun Tent for generously sponsoring this event. In addition, Earthplace thanks Dattco for inaugurating their new "green diesel" buses to provide shuttle service. Earthplace also appreciates the support of Blue Buffalo Company.

Earthplace thanks the following environmental exhibitors for participating in this event: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, CT Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound, CT Agricultural Experiment Station, CT Masters of Wildlife Conservation, Friends of Sherwood Island, Connecticut Sierra Club, Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Master Gardeners, Westport Weston Health District and Peoples’ Action for Clean Energy.  Additional exhibitors included Segway of Westbrook, CT Conservation Fund administered by CL&P, LEVCO, Kidsevents.com, Wild Oats and Runabout Cycles.

Visitors got a close view of Atka, an artic wolf

Earthplace will celebrate Trail Day on Wednesday, June 1st at 2:30 pm.  Visitors are invited to meet at the new Tall Pines Shelter to pick up a trail map, enjoy some light refreshments and journey along a trail at Earthplace.

Wheels in the Woods 4, the newest trail at Earthplace, is a Universal Design Nature Trail that addresses the needs of many individuals.  The trail is wheelchair-accessible, and has special curbing and Braille rails that serve as guides for those who are sight impaired.  The trail has two loops.  The first loop is called the Discover Trail, which is fully accessible and is the easier of the two loops. The Discover Trail is mostly in dappled shade, and there are benches along the way at strategic spots on which to sit, pause and take in the view. The second loop, called the Meadow Grass Trail, winds around a beautiful, sunny meadow. It is slightly more challenging, but it is wheelchair accessible, and has curbing and benches.

Earthplace has other enjoyable trails on its 62 acres.  The most popular trail is called the Swamp Loop Trail, which is best for viewing spring and summer wildflowers.  The trail winds past a swamp, a freshwater stream, a pond and deciduous woodlands. The Newman-Woodward Trail travels through an oak and beech forest with a high leafy canopy and silvery trunks. Stone walls and cedar stumps dot the forest, remnants of the days when this was a farm field. Wild animals are often visible along the trails at Earthplace, including white-tailed deer and wild turkeys.

Westport artist and designer, Jerry Kuyper, will exhibit his artwork created with found objects at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center from Wednesday, April 20 through Saturday, April 30.  The pieces are designed to help the viewer see everyday objects in a new way. "Some found objects are so complete and perfect I can’t imagine changing them in any way, while other objects become more engaging when they are altered or combined."

On Wednesday, April 20th from 10 am to noon, Jerry will discuss his work with Earthplace visitors and children attending the April Recess Workshop.

At the Earth Day Festival, on Saturday, April 30, Jerry invites attendees to bring three unusual, discarded, manmade objects to be displayed and discussed. These objects can be found anywhere – at the beach, along a trail or even on Main Street. Collect your pieces in your neighborhood or parks as part of a family clean-up to honor Earth Day and the environment. Jerry observed “I’m fascinated by objects whose original purpose is not easily recognized by the stories of these objects”.

He also invites Festival participants to collect and bring clean, used container lids from their home. They can be large or small, from bottles or jars and made of metal or plastic. The more, the better. At the Earth Day Festival, visitors may contribute their lids to help produce a large work of art or incorporate them into a piece of their own design.

The Earth Day Festival runs from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturday April 30 at Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport. Admission is $7 per person. Bring in an old cell phone or printer cartridge and receive $1 off your admission. One discount per person.

Every day is Earth Day during the April Vacation Workshops at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center in Westport. Kids ages preschool through 6th grade will be having fun with recycling experiments, puppet making, live animal programs, art projects and more from Tuesday April 19 through Friday April 22.

The Earthplace Animal Ambassadors will be featured in programs about the endangered animals of Connecticut on Tuesday, and children will learn how to help save a species.

On Wednesday, the children will be joined by guest educators from the American Plastics Council and the National Plastics Center Plastivan.  Each participant will engage in hands-on experiments to discover how plastics are made, used and recycled. Also, Westport artist and designer Jerry Kuyper will help kids create art from found objects, unusual discarded man-made things with hidden beauty and quirks.

On Thursday April 21 and Friday April 22, Waking Dream Performance Company puppeteers Lauren Beth Stein and Steve Richardson will be at Earthplace for two days of puppet-making. The children will assist in the creation of a giant puppet for the Earthplace Earth Day Festival to be held on Saturday, April 30.

Celebrate nature at the 4th annual Earth Day Festival on Saturday April 30 from 11AM-4PM at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center in Westport, CT. This year’s fun family event features Atka, an arctic wolf from The Wolf Conservation Center and free flying falcons, hawks and owls presented by TALONS! A Bird of Prey Experience.  Music concerts will be performed by Zu Zazz String Orkestra, the Hall Family Singers and JamxBand Steel Drummers.  Children of all ages can create puppets and recycled instruments and take part in magical parades with giant animals, flowers and mystical beasts led by the puppeteers of Waking Dream Performance Company.  There will be eco-friendly vehicles and displays, recycling activities and crafts, community group exhibitors, food & lots more!  Admission is $7 per person. Bring an old cell phone or printer cartridge for recycling and receive $1 off admission. One discount per person. Rain or shine.

 
Atka, an artic wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, will honor environmental preservationist and business leader Stewart Greenfield with the Earthplace Environmental Advocate Award at its 21st annual dinner auction in May. A founder of Oak Investment Partners in Westport and Alternative Investment Group in Southport, Greenfield has been actively involved in environmental causes since 1984, working both locally and internationally on forest preservation and clean air and water issues.

A trustee emeritus of The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, Greenfield has served on the boards of Devil’s Den, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, and Earthplace, and has participated in preservation projects with Audubon and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Passionate about the preservation of nature since childhood, Greenfield first became involved in environmental activities with the preservation of Ayer’s Gap, a strikingly beautiful ravine in Eastern Connecticut. He later championed successful efforts to acquire and preserve natural areas, including Trout Brook Valley, the Kelda land, the Lachat addition to Devil’s Den and other areas.

Greenfield’s numerous efforts to protect endangered forests have extended internationally to rain forest preservation projects in Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, Panama, Columbia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and Ecuador. He currently manages the Greenfield Environmental Protection Venture Fund, which provides seed capital for exploring new forest preservation projects through The Nature Conservancy. In addition to spearheading extensive environmental initiatives, Greenfield is also currently Vice-Chairman of the Board of St. John’s College and director of the Opera Orchestra.

“We are thrilled to honor Mr. Greenfield’s continued commitment to both local and global preservation,” says John Horkel, Earthplace Executive Director. “Over more than twenty years, he has demonstrated and supported the Earthplace mission of education and preservation of nature initiatives both at home and throughout the world, and we're delighted to be giving him our highest award this year at a very special event, “Dancin’ in the Woods.” The event, a fun outdoor evening, will take place Saturday, May 7th, and will include a silent and live auction conducted by George McNeely of Christie’s, an elegant dinner by Outdoor Cookers, and dancing in a tent under the pines of Earthplace to the sounds of E.T.A. Music. Last year “Dancin’ in the Woods” entertained more than 330 people, raising nearly $150,000. This year the event promises to be the best of relaxed sophistication in support of a great cause.

Earthplace seeks to inspire people of all ages to care for the environment and to understand their vital connection to the natural world. Earthplace encourages this by offering pre-school through adult nature-based educational programs, preserving and protecting a 62-acre sanctuary in the midst of a rapidly expanding urban area, working with volunteers to protect the region’s critical watersheds through the Harbor Watch/River Watch program and helping people manage human/wildlife conflicts through the Mary Eason Swett Wildlife Rehabilitation Program. Offering something for all ages, Earthplace relies on grants, individual donations and its annual dinner auction to continue its programs.

Harbor Watch/River Watch, a water quality testing program operated by Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center in Westport, CT, was recognized as one of the Conservation Partners of the Year by the Southwest Conservation District on Monday, October 25. This county agency focuses on the conservation, preservation and protection of natural resources in Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

Dick Harris, Director of Harbor Watch/River Watch, was recognized as a Southwest Conservation District "Conservation Partner of the Year", and was one of seven people to be recognized at the District's 58th Annual Meeting. Other honoraries were: Patricia Sesto, Director of Environmental Affairs (Wilton), Diana Ross (Branford's Environmental Planner), Rebecca Ellwood (USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service), Terry Jones (Jones Family Farms, Town of Shelton), William Hindinger (Hindinger Farm-Town of Hamden) and Ann Berman (Mayor's Environmental Concerns--Town of Milford). The Earthplace Harbor Watch/River Watch Program was recognized for being the platform for environmental stewardship by adults and teenage students.

Joseph DeRisi, Environmental Analyst for the Southwest Conservation District, Dick Harris, Director of Harbor Watch/River Watch and Roman Mrozinski, Executive Director of the Southwest Conservation District.

All creatures yucky and wonderful will be explored as Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center in Westport, hosts its annual Yuck Day on Saturday, October 23. Examine live bats and learn about their importance from the “Bat Lady”, Geraldine Griswold. Teenage arachnid collector Georgio Tsangaris will bring his live collection of tarantulas, scorpions and creepy insects. Explore gross exhibits to find out what is great about owl pellets, skeletons, snakes, cockroaches and even parasites! Have fun concocting slime, creating an insect mask and making your own spooky spider. This one day event runs from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Seats are limited for the live bat programs. Admission is $6 per person member, $8 per person non-member and includes entry into the annual Earthplace Art Show & Sale. This event is sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League.

Art for Earthplace

Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center in Westport CT, will hold its annual benefit art show to run daily October 16-24^th. The goal of Earthplace is to include educating the community about the world around us and determining methods of preservation of our natural resources. Beyond their educational programs and through them, Earthplace has been able to reconnect the urban population with the natural world upon which we ultimately depend. These goals  are achieved by preserving our rapidly dwindling open space by maintaining a 62 acre wildlife sanctuary; monitoring the region’s watersheds and Long Island Sound through Harbor/River Watch; operating a state licensed nursery school; maintaining a Wildlife Rehabilitation Animal Care program which takes in over 700 injured, abandoned and orphaned animals annually; and running a natural history museum. All of these efforts find support through this fundraiser.

For the third year, Malcolm Mokotoff, with the support of a group of very enthusiastic volunteers, will curate and direct the hanging of the show with the same good taste and great eye that has made this highly successful event such a perfect venue for the work of artists in and around our community. 

The show will include an eclectic blend of paintings and photography in a wide variety of styles and subject matter. Knowledgeable volunteers will be available to assist you in finding just the right piece, many priced under $1000. Each entry is framed and ready to hang on your wall.

Participating artists include Al Raymond and Mary Ann Neilson, Westport; Laura Wilk, Weston; Robert Conrad Ledoux and Carol Cole, Fairfield; Greg Giordano, Ridgefield; Alexis Seabrook, Bridgeport; Nicole Kohut-Lynch, Seymour; Vera Rahn, New Canaan; Vilma Parenteau, Enfield; Joseph Low, Oley, PA; Joan Steinmeyer, Westfield, MA along with many others.

In the past celebrities such as Bette Davis, Sandy Dennis and June Havoc have supported this fundraiser. Some of the famous artists who have hung their work in the show have included illustrator Steve Dohanos and Chip Chadbourn of the  Famous Artists Schools here in Westport.

The 37^th Annual Art Show and Sale will take place October 16-24, daily from 11-4 at Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, CT. The Gala opening and cocktail party is scheduled for October 15^th 7-10pm. Tickets for the opening will be $20 in advance or $23 at the door and will include admission throughout the show. Daily tickets for October 16-24 will be $3.

With an opportunity to see an upscale exhibition in a gallery setting, what better way to find affordable art without having to leave this area?

Painting by Laura Wilk, one of over 90 artists exhibited at the show.

At the annual meeting of the Earthplace Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held recently, Westport resident Mark Fishman was named as the “Jackie Hamilton Trustee of the Year”.  This award was presented to him for his contribution as a Trustee, in part and including, the Universal Trail project, a one-quarter mile path designed to accommodate any type of disability including access by wheelchair and stroller.

Also honored for their outstanding leadership to the Board were former President, Diane Mangano-Cohen, and former Chairman of the Board, Tom Pajolek.  In his presentation to these out-going leaders, Earthplace Executive Director John Horkel read a citation of appreciation for their work for the state environment signed by Gov. John Rowland and Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell.  Each honoree was presented with a gift by Angela Hinchcliff, the newly elected Earthplace President, and new Earthplace Chairman Rob Chasin. 

Also elected to the Earthplace Board of Trustees for a three-year term ending in 2007 were new Trustees Tony Eason,  Marvin Gelman, Todd Robison, Norma Waski, Tiffany DeMartin, Mark Bates, Robyn Levy-Weisz and Richard Shelton.

Four Trustees were commended as Consulting Trustees: Dale Colson, Bob Fox, Randy Glendinning and Joan Irvine.  Diane Mangano-Cohen became an Honorary Trustee and will begin chairing the Exhibition Hall Committee, working to redesign the current building into a dynamic educational facility for all ages.

In closing the 46th annual meeting of Earthplace, formerly known as the Nature Center for Environmental Activities, Director John Horkel thanked the over 200 volunteers and Trustees who give time to support the many nature programs at Earthplace, especially the Preschool and Summer Camp programs, Harbor Watch/River Watch, the Junior Naturalists, Junior Staff, Community Out-reach and Garden Club programs and the Trustees’ Committees.  He expressed appreciation also to the dedicated and professional Earthplace Staff who work long hours to keep the institution running smoothly.