Audubon Greenwich to host renowned raptor scientists for conference

On International Migratory Bird Day Weekend
Friday, May 7 – Saturday, May 8, 2010

At Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich CT, 06831

Monitoring and Managing Raptor Populations:
Forging a Collaboration of Professional & Volunteer Conservationists

People from across the hemisphere will join Audubon in Greenwich for a collaborative conference to discuss raptor management priorities and identify opportunities to engage volunteer Citizen Scientists in conservation. The scientific conference is open to the public and begins at 6:00 pm on Friday night with a reception and an opening presentation by Dr. Chris Farmer, Senior Research Biologist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and the Acopian Center for Conservation in Orwigsburg, PA. His talk will focus on the status of the American Kestrel and highlight the struggles of this iconic species.

Saturday will begin with Audubon’s traditional International Migratory Bird Day events, including an early morning bird walk at 6:30 am, followed by the Annual Birders Breakfast at 8:00 am in the Ketay-Asnes Barn at Audubon Greenwich. Advance registration is recommended for the breakfast event whereas it can easily sell out. Registration for the main conference will begin at 9:00 am in the Kiernan Nature Art Gallery at Audubon Greenwich, with a full day of presentations, lectures, and workshops at 9:30 am.

The conference’s Keynote Speaker Laurie J. Goodrich, Senior Monitoring Biologist at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Her presentation,” From Counts to Conservation: Geography and Conservation of Migratory Raptors in the Americas,” will focus primarily on how two forest hawk species- Broad-winged Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk- highlight trends in eastern raptors, their conservation challenges, and the actions needed to protect them. In addition, Mark LaBarr, Conservation Program Manager, Audubon Vermont, will discuss “Habitat Management is for the Birds: Assisting Private Landowners in Bird-focused Land Management.” He will describe how effective land and habitat management is critical to protecting breeding and migratory habitat for birds,

Featured is a presentation by Elisa Peresbarbosa Rojas & Eduardo Martinez, two scientists from the highly regarded conservation organization in Mexico, ProNatura Veracruz. They will discuss “The Veracruz River of Raptors Project: threats, opportunities, and long-term conservation strategies.”

After a brief lunch, the conference will continue in the afternoon with three panel discussions highlighting ‘Hawk Watch Practices & Protocols,’ ‘Opportunities for Cross Border Collaborations,’ and ‘Putting Science To Work: Projects That Need You. These important topics for conservation initiatives and are sure to yield interesting results.

Throughout the weekend, conference participants will have a unique opportunity to gain better insight into the conservation challenges facing raptor populations  and to develop the collaborative strategies needed to maintain stable populations. Audubon looks forward to welcoming all those concerned about raptors to “Monitoring and Managing Raptor Populations,” and working together to create new conservation solutions.

This conference is open to all members of the public and registration can be completed online (http://greenwich.audubon.org) or by phone. Please contact Audubon’s Events and Communications Manager, Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239 to sign up.

BIOGRAPHIES

Chris Farmer: Dr. Farmer is the Senior Research Biologist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania.  He coordinates the Sanctuary’s long-term research program on the breeding biology of the American Kestrel.  He is also the statistical analyst for the Raptor Population Index, a collaborative program of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, The Hawk Migration Association of North America, HawkWatch International, and Bird Studies Canada to use migration counts as a means to monitor North American Populations of Raptors.  He is primarily a population ecologist, and performed his doctoral research on the population responses of Sitka Black-tailed deer to habitat alteration and predation pressure.  Dr. Farmer is a member of the Ecological Society of America, The Society for Conservation Biology, the Raptor Research Foundation, and the American Ornithologists’ Union, which he represents on the board of directors of the Ornithological Council.

Laurie J. Goodrich, Senior Monitoring Biologist, has worked at Hawk Mountain since 1984. Her work includes supervising Hawk Mountain’s raptor migration counts and database management, acting as liaison with North American raptor migration sites, and the Veracruz (Mexico) River of Raptors program, research on raptor migration behavior and ecology, and research on the effects of forest fragmentation on nesting birds.  She also assists on data management for Raptor Population Index initiative and is involved with on-going sanctuary monitoring and land conservation efforts. Laurie received her M.S. in Ecology from Rutgers University, NJ, in 1982 studying the impacts of disturbance on nesting Least Terns, a state-endangered species.  Her B.S. (1977) in Biology is from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY.  She is currently enrolled at Pennsylvania State University pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology with research on habitat use by migrating raptors.  Prior to Hawk Mountain, Laurie worked with the NJ Department of Fish, Game and Wildlife conducting piping plover and least tern surveys, and research on raptor migrant behavior in Cape May.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Raptor Research Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Ornithological Technical Committee, and the Berks Conservancy natural resource committee.  She is working with Audubon Pennsylvania on the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Planning initiative, and publishes regularly in both scientific and popular venues.

Mark LaBarr, Conservation Program Manager for Audubon Vermont. He oversees the Champlain Valley Bird Initiative which, along with Audubon Vermont’s Forest Bird Initiative, works directly with private landowners for avian habitat conservation. Mark chairs the Vermont Endangered Species Committee’s Scientific Advisory Group on Birds as well as the Vermont Grassland Bird Working Group. His other work includes the Vermont Common Tern Recovery Project and running the Green Mountain Audubon Center’s bird-banding station.

Eduardo Martinez Leyva is the Bird Projects Coordinator for ProNatura Veracruz. He has a Degree in Biology from the University of Veracruz and from 1998 to 2005, he has coordinated many different projects including the use of landscape for birds in fragmented rainforest in south Veracruz, bird breeding and survivorship studies in cloud forest, similar studies in coffee plantations in central Veracruz for the Institute of Ecology of Xalapa and in pine-oak forest in southwest Arizona for the University of Arizona. He has also coordinated raptor migration counts and banding stations in central Veracruz through the years and in 2006, he joined ProNatura Veracruz to manage the Veracruz River of Raptors Project, the passerine banding program, and all other bird monitoring projects for ProNatura Veracruz.

Elisa Peresbarbosa Rojas, the Conservation Sub-Director for ProNatura Veracruz, has a Biologist Degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and has an Masters Degree in Marine Ecology from the Ensenada Center of Scientific Research and Education, where she studied breeding colonies of marine birds in the High Gulf of California. She worked in the National Secretariat for the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries from 1997 to 2001 and has worked in Cooperative Programs with the USA and Canada for the conservation of migratory birds. She helped develop the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and updated the management plan for North American Water birds. She has worked for ProNatura Veracruz for the past six years, coordinating and supervising conservation projects in the coastal area of Veracruz. One of her current priorities is to promote international alliances and collaboration in an effort to more effectively achieve the conservation of migratory birds in North America.

Greenwich Historical Society
Vanderbilt Education Center
39 Strickland Road
Cos Cob
March 27, 2010
9:00am-4:00pm

QUILT SYMPOSIUM

The Greenwich Historical Society will host a daylong historic quilt symposium on March 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Held in conjunction with the Historical Society’s recently opened exhibition “A Stitch in Time: Quilts from the Collection,” the symposium will feature leading experts in textile documentation and will focus on new research and discoveries in American and Connecticut quilt history. The symposium is structured so that attendees will participate in each of three sessions and will conclude with a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibition hosted by guest curator Sue Reich and local historian Davidde Strackbein.

Alden O’Brien, Curator of Textiles for the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, Washington, DC, will speak on “Quilts and Quilting in the Connecticut Diary of Sylvia Lewis.” Lewis’ diary, kept from 1801 to 1821, provides a window on the domestic and social life of a Federal-era woman, with needlework as the leitmotif. Follow Lewis (and her quilt) as they travel from Connecticut to the Western Reserve and back again.

Stephanie Hatch and Pam Weeks, independent quilt historians, will conduct a hands-on exploration of the writing implements and methods used to sign quilts, with a focus on how signature quilts serve as historical “documents.” The session will explain how to organize, undertake and analyze a research project based on a single quilt. Learn how much fascinating historical information can be gleaned from such a supposedly humble object.

Susan P. Schoelwer, former Director of Museum Collections at the Connecticut Historical Society, will deliver the keynote lecture, Hidden Ties: Family History and Connecticut Needlework. Using Hartford’s Patten family who operated a long-lived female academy renowned for its needlework as a case study, Dr. Schoelwer will trace the stylistic ties that run throughout their work to illustrate how Connecticut’s early quilters drew upon and passed along a rich heritage of needlework traditions.

Quilters and history buffs alike will enjoy seeing these beautiful and useful objects with new eyes and learn to appreciate their historical significance in the context of a time when the daily activities and accomplishments of women were rarely formally noted.

Fee including box lunch: $45 for members and $60 for nonmembers

For more information or to reserve, go to www.hstg.org or call 203.869.6899, Ext. 32

LANDMARK COLLEGE,
GREENWICH EDUCATION AND PREP,
AND THE WHITBY SCHOOL

March 11-12, 2010
8:30am-4:00pm

at The Whitby School
969 Lake Avenue

Arming Students for Success – Evidence Based Practice and Transitioning to the Next Step
For K-12 Parents and Educators
http://www.landmark.edu/greenwich/index.cfm

This information packed two day conference will be led by Educational Specialists at Landmark College’s Institute for Research and Training.  Attendees will have a choice of full day seminars on two of the following topics:

• Universal Design for Learning
• ADHD / Executive Functions Skills
• Language Based Learning Disabilities

Established in 2001, the foundation for the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training is founded on more than two decades of educational experience serving students with learning disabilities and AD/HD at the post-secondary level. This experience combines with Landmark College’s nationally recognized professional development programs for educators and its unique research capabilities to create the Institute.

The Institute researches and develops best practices for the education of struggling students, particularly individuals with learning disabilities and AD/HD.  They disseminate their work to educators and other professionals through services such as workshops, regional institutes, institutional needs assessments, and consultations.

http://www.landmark.edu/greenwich/index.cfm

For more information, please contact:
Peter Newman
Director, Greenwich Education and Prep, LLC
203 661 1609

Family Valentine Workshop
Saturday, February 6, 2010
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cos Cob Library
Community Room
5 Sinawoy Road
Cos Cob

The Friends of the Cos Cob Library will be offering a fun opportunity to make Valentines for your special loved ones. They will provide the materials for making beautiful, one-of-a-kind cards to give away. There will be a collection box for cards for Greenwich senior citizens as well. Seating is limited so please reserve your spot at 622-6883.

Sam Bridge
437 North Street
Oct. 3rd, 10th, 12th, 17th or 24th
10am – 2pm
Fee: $30.00

Scarecrow Building Workshop

Create your own scarecrow.  Have your photo taken with your masterpiece.
Judging takes place at 3:00pm on day of workshop.
Winners will be notified after each workshop to receive a fall planter.
The Grand Prize will be awarded on October 31st.

Reservations are necessary -  Supplies are limited

For reservations, call 203.869.3418

Bush-Holley House
39 Strickland Road
Cos Cob
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
12noon-4pm
“If These Walls Could Talk”
An Introduction to Bush-Holley House and Historic Site

Kathleen Motes Bennewitz with Marybeth Nisco, Anne Young and Karen Frederick

Visit the Museum Gallery and learn how the Cos Cob Harbor and Landing and Bush-Holley House have changed over the last 200 years. This interactive family-oriented exhibit provides a preview to the Bush-Holley House through seldom seen artifacts, photographs, maps, letters and portraits from the collection of The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich. The back stories of the old house and the people who lived there for five generations are revealed through engaging exhibits. Call 203.869.6899, or visit http://www.bushholley.org/.

Located on the historic Cos Cob Harbor, home of Connecticut’s first art colony, the Historical Society is a privately funded non-profit organization that includes the National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House (circa 1730); museum gallery, housed in a former village post office (circa 1805); Education Center, set in a mid-19th century barn and artists’ studio; and Library and Archives, which houses print; audio and videotape pertaining to Greenwich history and the Cos Cob art colony. The grounds and gardens have been restored to their appearance during the Cos Cob Impressionist art colony that thrived between 1890 and 1920.

Just Words
at Just Books
28 Arcadia Road
Old Greenwich
203.637.0707
June 8, 2009 7:00 PM
Price: $45.00 per person
This is the last session before summer hiatus. If you are interested in meeting some of their members and observing the group in progress before they break for summer, the fee is $45 for the two hour session.  To receive updates about future events, please send your email address to Leslie at cherrimae@optonline.net.
Have a great summer. Read. Write. Repeat.
Cheers!
Leslie Gueguen, Founder of Just Words 203.461.9932

Just Words
Greenwich Arts Council
299 Greenwich Ave
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Susan Breen,
Commanding Point of View
Breen brings perspective to the strength and limitations of various points of view and will sign copies of her novel, The Fiction Class. The winner of the Washinton Irving Book Award teaches at The Gotham Writers’ Workshop; her stories appear in American Literary Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Chattahoochee Review and Kansas Quarterly/Arkansas Review.

Call Leslie Gueguen (203) 461-9932 to RSVP please, book count and seating depends on your reply.

Greenwich Arts Council
& Just Words present

Master Classes in the Writing Craft
Admission $45 per event Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
(GAC members receive 10% discount)
Contact: Leslie Gueguen (203) 461-9932 cherrimae@optonline.net

Classes held at the Greenwich Arts Council’s meeting room
299 Greenwich Avenue – Second Floor

Don’t miss these remaining author appearances:
April 30: Carolyn Wilsey, Mastering the Short Form

Managing editor of popular literary magazine Anderbo.com will discuss what makes a story publishable, including dynamic sentence structure, openings and endings. An important discussion for anyone interested in literary magazine submission and the short form!

May 7: Arthur Phillips, Illuminating the Mysteries of Structure

Award winning novelist Arthur Phillips’ new novel, The Song Is You has already achieved independent bookstore bestseller status! Phillips will discuss the process of creating story structure, answer questions and sign his work. His first three novels, Prague, The Egyptologist and Angelica are also all bestsellers.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and garner advice
from this extraordinary master craftsman.
“ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS IN AMERICA” -WASHINGTON POST

May 21: Susan Breen, Commanding Point of View
Breen will bring perspective to the strength and limitations of various points of view before signing her novel, The Fiction Class. She teaches at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop; stories appear in American Literary Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Chattahoochee Review and Kansas Quarterly/Arkansas Review.

May 28: Martha Frankel, Revelation: How Much, When & Where
The author of “Hats and Eyeglasses: A Memoir” convinced celebrities Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Robert DeNiro and Angelina Jolie to spill their secrets before revealing her own. She’ll address how much to reveal in non-fiction story-telling – and when – before signing her memoir.

June 4: Mitali Perkins & Rachel Vail, Reaching Young Readers
Award winning children’s book authors Perkins and Vail have written well loved books for young audiences of every age. They’ll discuss the art of reaching young readers, answer questions and sign copies of their latest releases, “Secret Keeper” & “Gorgeous” (second YA novel in the Avery Sisters trilogy).
Books for this series are available at Just Books and on site day of event

TO REGISTER:
Please R.S.V.P. Leslie Gueguen cherrimae@optonline.net
Schedule posted on www.greenwicharts.org
Also join Just Words @ Just Books Mondays @ 7 p.m. now – June 8
www.justbooks.org (Writer’s Workshop for work in progress)

Register by mail: Leslie Gueguen 146 Mill Road, Stamford, CT 06903

Thank you for your support. Write soon!

Greenwich Arts Council & Just Words
presents
Master Classes in the Writing Craft

Admission $45 per event
Thursdays, April 16 – June 4
10 a.m. – 12 noon

(GAC members receive 10% discount)
Please call Leslie Gueguen (203) 461-9932 to register
cherrimae@optonline.net

All Classes will be held at the Greenwich Arts Council’s meeting room
299 Greenwich Avenue – Second Floor

April 16: Leslie Gueguen,
Expert Advice on Writing

April 23: Julie Klam,
Memoir: Balancing Life’s Ups and Downs

April 30: Carolyn Wilsey,
Mastering the Short Form

May 7: Arthur Phillips,
Illuminating the Mysteries of Structure

May 21: Susan Breen,
Commanding Point of View

May 28: Martha Frankel,
Revelation: How Much, When & Where

June 4: Mitali Perkins and Rachel Vail,
Resonating with Young Readers

April 16: Leslie Gueguen, Expert Advice on Writing
A past participant of writing programs at The Provincetown Fine Arts Center, The Writer’s Voice, SUNY Purchase, Manhattanville College and The Hudson Valley Writer’s Center, Just Words founder will review best practices in the writing craft, including attributed advice, recommended reading and resources. She’s published over a hundred non-fiction articles, press releases and brochures; her short fiction appears in Whatever Literary Journal and on Pindeldyboz.com.

April 23: Julie Klam, Memoir: Balancing Life’s Ups and Downs
Please Excuse My Daughter author Julie Klam
grew up in nearby Bedford, NY. She’s written for Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, O, The Oprah Magazine and Glamour. She’ll talk to us about using emotion and humor to engage readers, control tension and establish pace before signing her memoir.

April 30: Carolyn Wilsey, Mastering the Short Form
Managing editor of popular online literary magazine Anderbo.com will discuss what makes a story publishable, including dynamic sentence structure, openings and endings.

May 7: Arthur Phillips, Illuminating
the Mysteries of Structure

Award winning novelist Arthur Phillips will illuminate the process of creating story structure, answer questions and sign his newly released novel, “The Song is You.” His first three literary novels, Prague, The Egyptologist and Angelica each became bestsellers. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and garner advice from this extraordinary master craftsman.

“ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS IN AMERICA” -WASHINGTON POST

May 21: Susan Breen, Commanding Point of View
Breen will bring perspective to the strength and limitations of various points of view before signing her novel, The Fiction Class. She teaches at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop; her stories appear in American Literary Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Chattahoochee Review and Kansas Quarterly/Arkansas Review.

May 28: Martha Frankel, Revelation Rules: How Much, When & Where
A writer for Details, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post and The New Yorker, the author of “Hats and Eyeglasses: A Memoir” convinced celebrities Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Robert DeNiro and Angelina Jolie to spill their secrets before revealing her own. The NYFFA creative nonfiction award winner, 2003 Artist-in-Residence at SUNY Ulster, and MacDowell Colony Philip Morris Fellow will address how much to reveal in non-fiction story-telling – and when – before signing her memoir.

June 4: Mitali Perkins and Rachel Vail, Resonating with Young Readers
Award winning children’s book authors Mitali Perkins and Rachel Vail have written well loved books for young audiences of various ages. They’ll discuss the art of reaching young readers, answer questions and sign copies of their latest releases, “Secret Keeper” and “Gorgeous” (second YA novel in the Avery Sisters trilogy).