2011 Green Homes & Building Series
Solar Hot Water Systems and Rebates
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
6:00 – 8:30 pm
at Audubon Greenwich
613 Riversville Road
Greenwich, Connecticut

1.5 Hours, 1.5 AIA Learning Units (HSW/SD)

Solar water heating is highly cost efficient, helping home and business owners to quickly lower heating bills. Learn about the different solar hot water equipment options from experts and get updated on the new tax and other fiscal incentives available for solar hot water installations.  Speakers for the evening are Everett Barber, an expert with over 35 years of design, installation and maintenance experience with solar thermal projects, and Bob Wall from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. An organic wine & cheese reception will start at 6:00 pm and the lecture will begin at 7:00 pm.

Everett Barber lectures and consults on commercial solar thermal and solar electric systems and has co-authored a consumer’s guide on residential solar applications, Covert Your Home To Solar Energy.  He was an Associate Prof. Adjunct of Building Environmental Technologies at the Yale School of Architecture (1972-1998) and is the former President (1975-2007) of Sunsearch, Inc. – a solar thermal/solar electric firm, which designed and installed over 1000 solar thermal and solar electric systems, and serviced over 10,000 solar thermal and solar electric systems. His book will be available at the event for purchase and signing.

Bob Wall is the Director for Energy Market Initiatives at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Bob manages community and education programs including the award-winning Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program. Building upon two decades as an attorney who specialized in environmental and public health issues and a grass-roots organizer/marketing campaign director for renewable energy, he seeks to increase the voluntary demand for clean energy by creating model, sustainable communities. Bob serves on a number of boards and committees, including the Connecticut Climate Change Coordinating Committee, Connecticut Green Building Council, Connecticut Wind Working Group, Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force, Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises Inc. and Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University. He is also active with many state and local organizations dedicated to sustainable energy, transportation and food choices. Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law.

Space is limited and RSVPs are requested. $10 Suggested Donation. 6:00 pm: Reception/ 7:00 pm: Presentation. To sign up, email Jeff Cordulack at jcordulack@audubon.org or call 203-869-5272 x239.

Official Event Sponsor: Coastal Point Construction, LLC

Event Co-Sponsors:

• Connecticut Clean Energy Fund:  www.ctcleanenergy.com
• Connecticut Green Building Council (CTGBC):   www.ctgbc.org
• Southwestern CT Green Building Council (SCTGBC):   www.sctgbc.org
• Sustainable Stamford:  www.sustainablestamford.org

An ‘Audubon At Home’ series presented by: Audubon Connecticut & East Coast Home + Design Magazine

Audubon Greenwich Thanks Its “Green Homes & Building Committee” Members:

• Gail Ascher: Ascher & Associates, Inc. (www.ascherandassociates.com)
  • Kristine D’Elisa & Rich Granoff: Granoff Architects, P.C. (www.granoffarchitects.com)
  • Seth Ginsberg:  Apis Energy Group (Great Barrington, MA)
  • Scott Hobbs:  Hobbs, Inc. (http://hobbsinc.com)
  • Laura Kaehler: Laura Kaehler Architects, L.L.C. (http://kaehlerarchitects.com)
  • Matt Kolk: East Coast Home + Design Magazine (http://echomeanddesign.com)
  • Foster Lyons: Coastal Point Construction, L.L.C. (www.coastalpt.com)

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

John James Audubon’s “Birds of America” – Understanding the History and Value of Audubon’s Art

12:00-2:00pm

John James Audubon is widely considered one of the greatest naturalists and artists of all time.  Since 1823, when Robert Havell created the first copies of John James Audubon’s watercolor images of the Birds of America, people have marveled at their beauty and spent millions to own them.  Audubon’s original watercolors are now a priceless part of America’s cultural heritage, kept under the strictest of curatorial conditions at the New-York Historical Society.  However, over the past 190 years, various reproductions of the Havell series have been created.  Each version has served a specific purpose for bird lovers and art lovers alike, as well as for the art market. While in 1850 a collector could buy the complete Havell portfolio for about $1,000, in December 2010 a bound edition sold at auction for approximately $10 million!

In 2010, renowned naturalist art expert and dealer, Joel Oppenheimer, obtained exclusive rights from the New-York Historical Society to reproduce an historic issue of the complete watercolor works of John James Audubon’s Birds of America.  This first edition marks a unique opportunity for collectors to own actual-size fine art prints of Audubon’s original watercolors. By mutual agreement between the New-York Historical Society and Oppenheimer Editions, this exclusive printing will not be duplicated for a minimum of seventy-five years. Utilizing the most advanced imaging technology available, the prints are made with archival pigments on acid-free imported watercolor paper. As a result, the images are virtual recreations of the originals in the Historical Society’s famous Audubon collection.

The high resolution scans created for these editions will be the first to be included in a new digital archive of Audubon’s watercolors, “a resource for both conservators and art historians,” notes Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the New-York Historical Society. “This edition will also allow more of Audubon’s audience to witness these great images in person.”

To learn more about John James Audubon, his ornithology, and his art, join us at the opening of the Audubon At Home Art Lecture and Lunch Series.  Joel Oppenheimer will present an insightful lecture on Audubon’s finest pieces, guide you through the various editions that have been created, highlighting their significance and value, and discuss the watercolors themselves and his process that has made them available to collectors on a very limited edition.  Examples of the Oppenheimer Audubon watercolors collection will be on display and available for purchase before and after the lecture and lunch.

There is no charge for this event. Lunch will be served and RSVPs are required. For more information or to register, please contact Jeff Cordulack at jcordulack@audubon.org or 203-869-5272 x239. http://greenwich.audubon.org

Audubon would like to thank “The Coughlin Group” for graciously underwriting the Audubon at Home Art Lecture and Lunch Series

About the Joel Oppenheimer Natural History Art Galleries

Our fine art galleries in Chicago and Charleston offer a stunning array of natural history art from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, as well as fine art framing, and complete conservation and restoration services. As a natural history art gallery, we are passionate about our work, offering collectors rare works by John James Audubon, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Dr. Robert Thornton, John Gould, Basilius Besler, and many others.   We are also distinguished as fine art publishers through our publishing arm, Oppenheimer Editions. By partnering with museums worldwide we offer modern limited editions of many of the great natural history works within these otherwise unobtainable collections. Most of the images on this website are also available as Oppenheimer Editions prints for surprisingly reasonable prices. The museums benefit through royalties from these collectible editions. We strive to provide collectors with an unsurpassed selection of the finest examples of prints and paintings from the golden age of natural history art. To see the many avian works available from the Oppenheimer collection, visit: http://www.audubonart.com/ornithology.asp

*****      Friday, February 25 FILM: ‘InGREEDients’ – a movie about the many products added to foods 6:00-9:00 pm The documentary film inGREEDients took the independent film festival circuit by storm, winning several awards and was accepted at top international festivals. The film connects diet and health; teaches how to read a food label; and uncovers some scary truths about our food supply. Ride along on this culinary roller coaster as David sets the table with a cornucopia of leading researchers and the most respected scientists and healthcare professionals in the world. What you will discover is an alarming connection between what you put in your mouth and some of the most disgusting, unpalatable and life-threatening ailments known today! Plus, Dr. Madhu Mathur, Director of the KIDS’ FANS Wellness Program; Medical Director of the Medical Home Initiative Southest CT; and the Chair of the Obesity Task Force; for Stamford Hospital, will be the special guest speaker and take questions from the audience after the film.   Space is limited & RSVPs required. $15 for adults. Under 21 years old: $5. Includes a wine & cheese reception from 6-7 pm. RSVP to Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239 or email. This film is not suitable for younger children but is suitable for older children and teens. For more information about the film and the event, visit: http://greenwich.audubon.org/Programs_SpecialEvents_InGREEDients.html *****

Sunday, Feb 27

Connecticut Young Birders Club

9:00 am-12:00 pm

The next meeting for the Connecticut Young Birders Club will take place at Audubon Greenwich and help decide the calendar of events for the rest of the year, appoint the roles of volunteer president and online coordinator, and deal with any other business the members wish to look at.
The meeting will include a short trip to check out a couple of the local birding sites. Meet at in Audubon Greenwich’s Kimberlin Nature Education Center. Contact Brian O’Toole to RSVP for event at 203-869-5272 x228 or email: botoole@audubon.org. Directions: http://greenwich.audubon.org/AboutUs_Directions.html

About the Connecticut Young Birders Club: The Connecticut Young Birders Club provides young birders from across the state the opportunity to get together on a regular basis and participate in an exciting array of events and activities. The clubs organizes monthly field trips to sites throughout Connecticut and in neighboring states and host a few meetings a year for trip planning and club management. The club is open to birders under 19 years of age who live in Connecticut and nearby states and caters to young birders of all levels of skill, experience and interest. The members of the Young Birders Club are very involved in running the club, make decisions regarding activities and trips, communication, membership, and finances.

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Monday, March 28

Africa’s Painted Dogs – Conserving African wild dogs in Zimbabwe:

A lecture by Dr Gregory Rasmussen, Director and Founder of the Painted Dog Conservation project.

Reception: 6:00–7:30 pm

Lecture: 7:30– 8:30 pm

African Wild Dogs, also known as Painted Dogs, are one of Africa’s rarest and most social carnivores. In the last century their numbers have declined 99% and there are now only 3000 – 5500 individuals remaining. They face persecution from many quarters, often being caught in snares, run over, shot or poisoned. Despite the difficulties studying this highly nomadic species, Dr Rasmussen spent years researching them in Zimbabwe, home of one of the last viable populations. In 1989, realizing that research alone would not save the dogs, he set up the Painted Dog Conservation project (PDC) near Hwange National Park. Dr Rasmussen will speak about his life with this intriguing species, their chances for survival and how PDC plays a vital role in the local community through conservation, education and employment opportunities.

Dr Gregory Rasmussen grew up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and obtained his doctorate at Oxford University in England. He is a member of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (also at Oxford University), and is supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network, based in San Francisco. He was featured in the TV series “I Shouldn’t Be Alive” when his light aircraft crashed in Hwange National Park and he spent a day and a half alone in the bush with both legs and pelvis broken before he was found. After numerous surgeries he is once again able to spend time in the bush working to conserve Africa’s Painted Dogs.

RSVPs are appreciated. $10 per adult. Children are welcome free of charge. Contact: Jeff Cordulack at Audubon Greenwich on 203-869-5272 x239

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NATURE PROGRAM FEES, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED: Members: Adults $3.00/Children and seniors: $1.50 Non-members: Adults $5.00/Children and seniors $3.00 (Program fees include admission to the Center and Grounds):   For updated information about special events, newsletters, and a printer-friendly calendar of events, visit us on-line at: http://greenwich.audubon.org

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AUDUBON GREENWICH NATURE STORE Visit Audubon Greenwich’s Nature Store For Great Gifts  For Yourself Or Someone Special. Audubon members enjoy 10% off (except seed and optics).   Hot sellers in the store!!! “Sibley – Guide To Trees” for $39.95, member discount – $35.95 “Central Park In The Dark” by Marie Winn – $25.00, member discount – $22.50 “For The Birds – A Month By Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard” – $19.95, member discount – $17.95 A Broad Selection of Binoculars and Scopes (…get them will they last) New Stainless Steel Water Bottles (…with the Audubon Greenwich logo) Wheelhouse Designs Novelty Socks with nature graphics (…perfect for anyone on your list) “Squirrel Buster” Bird Feeders, Poles, and Guards Unique Bird and Critter Ornaments (…to spruce up that tree)   Birds & Beans Coffee: Help songbirds by drinking bird-friendly coffee!!! The Nature Store is proud to sell organic Birds & Beans Coffee available in a light, medium and dark roast. Every year many birds we know and love that spend summers in New England fly all the way to Latin America only to find winter habitats destroyed by sun-grown coffee farming. This is devastating to their ecosystem and threatens their very survival. By drinking Birds & Beans Coffee you are supporting farm families who grow their coffee organically under rustic shade canopy, ensuring that the birds of the northeast don’t disappear. * 12 oz. Ground – $12.50, with member discount – $11.25 * 12 oz. Whole Bean – $12.00, with member discount – $10.80 * NEW – Decaf Coffee from Birds & Beans is now available! Also, you can enjoy your Birds And Beans Coffee in an amazing color-changing Wonder Mugs. These mugs are heat sensitive, and change colors to create dramatic effects. Add your favorite hot drink and watch the show. Choose from a variety of mug graphics including hummingbirds, song birds and butterflies.   REMEMBER: Shopping at the Audubon Greenwich Nature Store supports the Center and our Mission.   For more information on store products or place a special order, call Brian O’Toole at 203-869-5272 x221. Store Hours: Open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm / Open on Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm / Store closed on Monday. To visit our Nature Store website, click here: http://greenwich.audubon.org/AboutUs_AudubonCenter_Kimberlin_NatureStore.html *****    

KIERNAN HALL NATURE ARTS GALLERY The Kiernan Hall Nature Arts Gallery is located inside the Kimberlin Nature Education Center. Stop in anytime from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Saturday and from 12:00 to 5:00 pm on Sundays. To visit during other hours, please call the Center Director for an appointment.  For more information about current and past exhibits, visit the Audubon Greenwich Nature Art Gallery website: http://greenwich.audubon.org/AboutUs_AudubonCenter_Kimberlin_NatureArtsGallery.html Plus … A unique gift for someone special… Audubon Greenwich is pleased to announce a special offer to benefit the art lover and conservationist alike. Through your purchase of The New-York Historical Society Edition of Audubon’s Watercolors you can also support Audubon Greenwich. Published by Oppenheimer Editions, this museum authorized printing from the New-York Historical Society collection is unprecedented. For more about this wonderful collection of artwork, visit the Audubon website:  http://greenwich.audubon.org/HolidayOffer.html and follow the links to the Oppenheimer website to see the prices for each piece.
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IN-FLIGHT NEWSLETTER: View the new Winter 2010-2011 newsletter from Audubon (includes a printable Winter Program Calendar): http://greenwich.audubon.org/PDFs/2011WinterNewsletter.pdf
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AUDUBON GREENWICH SANCTUARIES ~Audubon Greenwich & The Kimberlin Nature Education Center (613 Riversville Road, Greenwich) ~Fairchild Wildflower Garden (North Porchuck Road, Greenwich) ~Gimbel Sanctuary (Sherwood Avenue, Greenwich) ~Oneida Drive Sanctuary (Oneida Dr. & Indian Harbor Drive, Greenwich) ~Mildred Caldwell Sanctuary of Walden Woods (Bible Street, Cos Cob) ~Wood Duck Swamp (Carissa Lane, Greenwich) For locations and trail maps, see “Walking Trails in Greenwich and Surrounding Areas” available in the Audubon Nature Store. Also, see the maps located in the Kimberlin Audubon Center lobby. View the list of Audubon Greenwich Sanctuaries online.

NATURE SANCTUARY ADMISSION Members: No charge Nonmembers: Adults $3.00/Students & Seniors $1.50 (Please pay in the store)   OTHER “AUDUBON CONNECTICUT” CENTERS & SANCTUARIES For a list of all Audubon Connecticut centers and sanctuaries, click here <http://audubonct.org/Centers_Sanctuaries.html
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Audubon Greenwich
613 Riversville Road Greenwich, CT 06831
203-869-5272 http://greenwich.audubon.org
DIRECTIONS: http://greenwich.audubon.org/AboutUs_AudubonCenter_Kimberlin_Directions.html

Hoda Kotb, Today Show co-host, NBC Dateline correspondent, and breast cancer survivor

WHAT:  Fifteenth anniversary Benefit Luncheon and Fashion Show, “Strength Through Support”

WHEN:  Thursday, October 28 – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, seating begins at noon

GUEST SPEAKER:   Hoda Kotb, Today Show co-host, NBC Dateline correspondent, and breast cancer survivor

WHERE:  Hyatt Regency Greenwich, 1800 East Putnam Avenue

WHY:  Join the Breast Cancer Alliance and sponsors Greenwich Hospital and Mitchells/Richards for our 15th annual Benefit Luncheon and Fashion Show.  This year’s event will feature presentation of the Mary Waterman award, the innovative Paddle Raise fundraiser, a stunning video, a silent auction and the annual raffle. Proceeds from the event support Breast Cancer Alliance grants and programs.

Benefit co-chairs Jill Ciporin, Julia Dunn and Paige Montinaro have been working since the first of the year to make this year’s event successful and special.  “Women diagnosed with breast cancer need each other,” they stressed.  “They need support from all the people in their lives.  Help can be medical, emotional, logistical, but most of all it should be thoughtful.  Through the support of individuals and organizations, women can make it through a tough experience and emerge stronger, ready to live their lives with a new energy and appreciation.”

Founded in Greenwich in 1996, the Breast Cancer Alliance is the fourth largest private non-corporate organization providing funds for breast cancer research in the United States.  The Alliance awarded over $1.4 million in 2010 for research, education and outreach programs.  Over 800 guests attended the 2009 Benefit to raise funds for breast cancer research, education and outreach.

Benefit Luncheon tickets (prices start at $300 per ticket) are still available and Raffle tickets are available at $20 each prior to and on the day of the Benefit Luncheon.  Please call the Breast Cancer Alliance at 203-861-0014 for more information.

September is Preparedness Month – Prepare by Enrolling!

Despite the fact that preparedness saves lives, polls indicate that only 25 to 30 percent of Americans have taken concrete steps to prepare for potential emergencies.  During September, National Preparedness Month, the Red Cross hopes to increase public awareness and knowledge about the importance of preparing for disasters and other emergencies.

Although the idea of preparing for an emergency may seem daunting, taking a few simple precautions now will save you time during a disaster, when every second counts. 1) Get or build a disaster kit, 2) Make a family disaster plan and 3) Stay informed.

To learn more, register now a free 60-minute presentation to help you learn how to prepare for a disaster.  Learn how to develop an emergency plan, shelter in place, build a disaster kit, and handle medication and vital equipment.  All participants will receive a starter disaster kit with basic supplies including toiletry items, a first aid kit, a “File of Life” to record emergency information, an emergency space blanket and brochures preparedness information.

Community Disaster Education:
• Saturday, September 11, 2010, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Greenwich Chapter, 99 Indian Field Road, Senior Community Disaster Education: Geared specifically to the needs of seniors!
• Thursday, September 9, 2010, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Greenwich Chapter, 99 Indian Field Road,
• Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Greenwich Chapter, 99 Indian Field Road,

A free lunch will be served.  Disaster Education Classes are offered for free but registration in advance is required.  To register, call the Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross at 203-869-8444, extension 104.  For further information about the programs and services offered by the Greenwich Chapter, please visit their website at www.greenwichredcross.org.

Whether affected by winter storms, power outages or hurricanes, knowing what to do in an emergency is your best protection.

The Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of emergencies and disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.  For further information about the programs and services offered by the Greenwich Chapter, please visit their website at www.greenwichredcross.org.

2009 Annual Benefit Luncheon – Thursday, October 22

The Breast Cancer Alliance will be back at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich for their annual celebration of making progress against breast cancer. Benefit co-chairs Mary Helen Holzschuh, Dee Mayberry and Lisa Skinner have long been looking forward to this event. They acknowledged, “To successfully pull off an event of this scale takes many dedicated committee members attending to dozens of details. This same effort goes into fighting breast cancer – coordination among doctors, researchers, patients, families, clinics and hospitals – and it is precisely this that has inspired us to do the best job we can to make this Benefit a success.”

This year’s guest speaker made headlines with the publication of her book and television movie, “Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy.” Author Geralyn Lucas, diagnosed at the young age of 27, will talk about her own experience facing and recovering from breast cancer.

Chinese New Year Festival
The Chinese Language School of Connecticut
7th Annual Chinese New Year Festival
Celebrating the Year of the Ox
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Hyatt Regency Greenwich
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Event includes a full lunch and features traditional entertainment, authors, artisans, children’s crafts, Asian market, book fair and much more. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.