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   A Million Solar Roofs! April 8, 7:30 pm Spring is upon us! The beautiful rays of the sun now shine longer than the shadowy dark of night! The sun is the powerhouse that wakes plants from their winter dormancy. Leaves pop from buds, grow, and then capture this radiant energy and convert it into sugar. Every food that you eat can be traced back to these green leaves and ultimately the sun. The sun not only is our ultimate source of food, but it has the potential to be an unlimited source of energy. Solar technology has come a long way since the seventies. New systems are becoming more efficient at catching sunlight and converting it into electricity or heat. The price for many of these systems is dropping, but is still too expensive for most homeowners and businesses. There is a solution to this problem. In 1997, President Clinton announced the "Million Solar Roofs Initiative," a national goal to install one million solar energy systems on buildings throughout the U.S. by 2010. The US Department of Energy is forming partnerships across the country to eliminate the market barriers to solar energy use and reach the goal of a million solar roofs. Peace Valley Nature Center is pleased to host Bob Magyar from AstroPower, headquartered in Newark Delaware. AstroPower is a solar cell and module manufacturer, and they are a million solar roofs partner with the US Department of Energy. Bob will present an informative program that will answer many of the questions you may have about solar energy for home or business purposes, especially financial concerns. Samples of solar materials will be on display and handouts will be available. Mark your calendar for this exciting program! It will take place on Tuesday, April 8th , at 7:30 pm in our meeting room. It will shed some light on what is best for your situation and what steps to take! Dear Visionaries: A new year is upon us; defined by religious events, solar shadows and the hint of a bud. I pondered why you give your time and money to be a member of the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center. I believe one of the core reasons is your desire to see our natural world flourish into the future. Peace Valley Nature Center offers you locally, one of the most direct methods to preserve and enhance our natural environment. You can visit the nature center to be immersed in its beauty and renew your spirit. You can also strengthen your soul by giving your time and money to the Nature Center to improve our natural world. As spring begins to bloom and you visit Peace Valley Nature Center, feel comforted knowing that your involvement with the Friends is creating a sustainable island that will remain into the future. This island is a place for migrating birds and people to refresh their spirits as they travel through our disrupted world. We all benefit knowing that the greatest power of this island is its education center. The island will continually be sending out seeds of knowledge via its students. These seeds of respect and commitment to protecting nature, will settle on other points of light on the planet. Our dream is to see these seeds sprout into other realms of promise that will move towards creating a world in balance with itself; both spiritually and environmentally. Thank you for giving of yourself. We hope that your gift of being a giving member will strengthen your spirit and that of the earth in the new year. Phil Getty is the President of the Friends of PVNC. Chuck Talley from the Valley The weather this fall turned cold and rainy, as opposed to the hot, dry summer. The birds still migrated through PVNC though, and some impressive ones at that. On Saturday, 11-16, a Purple Sandpiper was found on the shore of Lake Galena. This became the first documented record of this species at Peace Valley, as well as in Eastern Pa. Many birders arrived to view this sandpiper, as rare a find as it was. Another first for Peace Valley was found at the same time in the same area, a Lapland Longspur. On November 27th, an American Avocet was found swimming and flying around the lake. Another first! Among the more uncommon species seen once or twice here during this fall included Ross's Goose, Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, Iceland Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, American Pipit, Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, Greater White-fronted Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Snow Bunting, and Long-tailed Duck. All 3 Scoters (Black, Surf and White-winged) were also seen. Regular visitors throughout the fall were Tree Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Horned Grebe and the usual several thousand Canada Geese. Most of these birds migrate south for the winter, some stay. A Lincoln Sparrow was spotted in mid-January. Soon spring will arrive, and those who went south will again pass through the park on their way north to their breeding grounds. And the chance will be there to see them all over again. That is part of the allure and fun of birding. Chuck Crunkleton shares the bird walk duties at PVNC with August Mirabella. VOLUNTEER FEATURE DOT...TO...DOT If you have been to our Sunflower Shop in the fall, you may have been lucky enough to purchase one of Dorothy "Dot" Scheingold's dried flower creations (made with flowers which she grows and dries). Over the years she has donated hundreds of these beautiful arrangements for us to sell! In winter, she makes graceful miniature Christmas trees. All of these items sell like hotcakes! When winter is upon us and the holidays are in full swing, people with a knack for making crafts look forward to one of the nature center's most popular activities, Dot's natural ornaments class. With a multitude of natural material which she has collected, she shares her artistic talent, displaying clever sample ornaments and teaching others how to make them. Dot also donates pressed flower cards and bookmarks for resale in our store. She has taught pressed flower workshops (providing the pressed flowers), donated a hand designed hooked rug, made a natural dye display, and helped with newsletter mailings. Thank you very much Dot! We appreciate your years of faithful service! For almost twenty years the Sunflower Shop has been brightened by the presence of an enthusiastic store keeper, Dorothy "Dot" Kathrins! The staff look forward to her upbeat manner, hearing about her triplet granddaughters sporting events and details of her travels. She is famous for her "3 o'clock treats" which give the staff a burst of energy on a busy day. Dot greets our visitors warmly and has them smiling when they leave the store. Many of our visitors become new members after Dot extols the virtues of the nature center to them! Dot brings the enthusiasm she shows in the store to our newsletter mailings. You can hear her happy voice cutting through the clatter of stapling and shuffling papers. The other newsletter volunteers always enjoy her stories! The nature center would like to thank Dot for her years of help. We appreciate it and look forward to seeing you in 2003! Thank You Volunteers for... Augie Mirabella - Refitting large birdfeeders Carl Wagner - Installing indoor spotting scope Dot Scheingold - Teaching Natural Ornaments Workshop Groveland Elementary 6th graders - Chipping trails Eagle Scout Projects Himal Patel - Observation Platform at Persimmon Pond Anthony Barrilli - Observation Platform at Polly Pond Alex Wieland - Restoring Marshland Trail 2002 VOLUNTEERS The following people have unselfishly given their time to help Peace Valley Nature Center in all its endeavors. They aided in teaching, tended the store, worked in the library, served on the PVNC executive board, cleared trails, performed typing tasks, etc., etc. We would not have been able to carry on without them. Our sincerest thanks to all!
+Volunteers recognized at our Annual Meeting who have been with us for over five years or have performed extraordinary volunteer service. *Volunteers previously honored. VOLUNTEER NEWS Volunteer Day - Wednesday, March 19, 11:30 am - 3 pm Its time again for our special day for volunteers! We hope to see all of you so we can thank you for making the nature center the great community facility it is. We would not be able to operate without you! Bring a dish to share. After lunch we will have a special program on bats presented by the Pennsylvania Raptor and Wildlife Association. They will also bring a menagerie of animals. Please let us know if you will join us. Preserve Our Preserve! Director Carolyn Corey Jarin needs help with preserving our preserve! Peace Valley Nature Center has been invaded by too many exotic species such as Multiflora Rose and Japanese Honeysuckle. These and other invasive species are crowding out our native plants faster than we can control them. Corey needs volunteers to clip, dig or hack them back from the trails and planted trees! Please call her at 215-345-7860. Singers Wanted The nature center is building a list of qualified volunteers whom we may call if an American Sign Language signer is requested for one of our programs. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please call the nature center at 215-345-7860 and ask for Carolyn Jarin or Craig Olsen. Storekeepers Needed If you would like to volunteer at our front desk as receptionist and storekeeper, please call the nature center at 215-345-7860 and ask for Joan Wonsidler. You Can Help! You can help the Friends of PVNC every time you grocery shop! Genuardi will donate up to 3% of your purchases automatically. Simply register your Genuardi's Club Card, then each time you shop using your registered Genuardi's Club Card the Friends of PVNC will receive a cash donation. To register as a supporter simply do one of the following: Log on to www.escrip.com and go to "sign up." Follow instructions to designate Friends of PVNC using Group ID # below. Call (215 345-7860), or write us at 170 Chapman Rd., Doylestown, PA 18901. Give us your name, address, phone number and Genuardi's Club Card number and we will register online for you. Register in person at a Genuardi's store. Designate the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center - Group ID #150301483 Any questions? Call Louise at Peace Valley Nature Center. That's it! Just shop and you'll contribute automatically! We're still collecting Acme register tapes. Thanks to those who shopped Acme and saved their register tapes for us, and the "added" assistance of our volunteer Mariana Hoffman we collected $ 613 in 2002 ! Please continue to bring in your Acme tapes, you'll find a bluebird box in our lobby where you can leave them. Wish List The nature center is looking for the following items: - Binoculars in excellent condition - a new LCD Projector - a Bobcat tractor Potential donors please call us at 215-345-7860. Thank You! American Liberty Elms Please don't forget our ongoing project to have disease resistant elms placed in public facilities throughout Bucks County. Schools, churches, town streets and community parks all qualify as locations. If the donor wishes, they can be planted in memory of someone. These trees are not only symbolic of American liberty, but their sale allows us to buy more young trees to put in our nursery. Each 6 ft. tree costs $150 plus a $10 planting kit and must have someone responsible to take care of it for the first year. Please call Carolyn Corey Jarin at 215-345-7860 for more details. PVNC Director Receives Two Awards Peace Valley Nature Center's founder, Carolyn Corey Jarin will be receiving a Temple University Alumni Association "Certificate of Honor" award at their Founder's Dinner to be held April 5, 2003. This recognition is presented to an alumni who "has distinguished herself in her particular field so as to bring honor to the school or college and the University." Corey has always given credit to her horticultural, landscaping and botanical education at Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women ('44 -'46), as enabling her to start Peace Valley Nature Center where she continues serving as Director/Naturalist. On Nov. 21, 2002, The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club recognized Carolyn Corey Jarin "for her efforts in founding, organizing and directing Peace Valley Nature Center" and honoring her "work advancing the welfare of the birding community." Congratulations Corey! As a member of The Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center you can honor Corey by donating to Peace Valley Nature Center's Founder's Endowment Fund. Corey established this fund for the purpose of assuring our continued excellence in EE programming into the future. The interest earned from this fund will help to cover the cost of Environmental Education staffing. Teacher Naturalist Training Do you...Love being outdoors? Enjoy being with children? Like to have fun? Have 9 afternoons? Join us in our teacher naturalist training. These sessions will present the programs & techniques we employ when teaching pre-school, elementary and secondary school children. April 1; 2; 3 April 8; 9; 10 April 15; 16; 17 Call for registration and additional information (no fee). Gift Certificates Available If you have a friend or family member whom you have a hard time finding the right gift for special occasions and holidays, then come visit "The Sunflower Shop" inside our building and ask the store receptionist about our gift certificates! They are the perfect solution to your problem. Certificates can be made out to any amount you would like. The recipient will have a wonderful selection of items to choose from like books, jewelry, posters, toys and much more! The Sunflower Shop is open from 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, and is closed Monday. Career Academy Peace Valley Nature Center in partnership with Central Bucks School District provides a "Career Academy: Focus on Environmental Science. "Since 1997, selected high school students from Central Bucks East and West, have participated in this nine-week .5 credit education program. Biology teachers Ken Moyer (East) and Ann Marie Holowathy (West) were instrumental in the conception and implementation of this unique opportunity. During the spring semester a variety of field trips and guest lectures are scheduled to accompany and enhance the "outdoor classroom" field studies and final project. Guest lecturers have included Ron Johnson of Delaware Valley College to talk about acid rain, and Jeff Marshal of the Heritage Conservancy to discuss land planning and preservation. Class trips, especially to the North Penn/ North Wales Forest Park water treatment facility, have been the most memorable among students. The field studies included wetlands, soil, eco-systems, and biodiversity, to name a few. Final projects, often results of further research inspired by a field study, ranged anywhere from focuses in herpetology to water quality studies. In the past, the posters of the final project presentations have been displayed in the lobby of the nature center. I took the class back in 2001 as a senior in high school, and I remember the challenging adjustment to the new teaching style, which required a more active and analytical approach than a regular classroom experience. Particularly struck by the phenomenon of ecological succession--the series of changes that generate a full-fledged plant and animal community, like from bare rock to forest--I turned my research into the final project which included an outdoor lecture using various sights in Peace Valley as visuals. The class left me with much to ponder, a reawakened sensitivity to the sounds and behavior of birds, and in attempting to key out plants, a respect for taxonomy, a terribly challenging and thankless job. Gail Hill, director of education, says she looks forward to this class every year. She cherishes the moments of discovery she witnesses in all the students. Hill says, "There's an awareness that wasn't there before...It's truly a reward." Winter intern Megan Schubert attends Bennington College in Vermont where she is majoring in Environmental Science and Studio Art. She participated in the Career Academy in the spring of 2001. 2002 Treasurers Report
*Donor restricted for staffing **Board restricted for staffing Minute Taker Needed The Personnel Committee is looking for a Minute Taker for board meetings. The board meets the second Thursday of each month. If interested call the nature center at 215-345-7860 and ask for Louise. 2003 Board The following people will serve as the Friends of PVNC Board of Directors for 2003: Diane Crooke, David Drake, Ron French, Phil Getty, Floyd Glenn, Ray Hendrick, Russ Johnson, Don McClintock, Mary Ellen Noonan, Molly Walter, and Pat Witek. Their time and effort is greatly appreciated. Board Business 24th Annual Meeting Review The 24th annual member's meeting was held at the nature center on Saturday, February 1, at 1 pm. Friends of PVNC Board President Phil Getty called the meeting to order and introduced the board members and presented the Treasurer's report. The following slate of directors was presented to the membership at large by Don McClintock: Diane Crooke, David Drake, Ron French, Russ Johnson, and Mary Ellen Noonan. They were approved by a majority vote. The membership approved a by laws change to drop the development and educational support committees and incorporate them into new committees. Mr. Getty related some of the board's goals including reconstruction of the solar building, funding a new pavilion and developing a new annual fundraising event. Craig Olsen presented the highlights of 2002 including teaching 13,000 school children; the growth of the "Johnny Elmseed" nursery; the retirement of Ron French from his bird walk duties and Bob Nuse from his trail work; the success of Friends and Family Fun Day and the Friends of the Dove 10K Run. Ray Hendrick reported on the bluebird box program. There were 22 successful fledglings in 2002. Director/naturalist Carolyn Corey Jarin gave her annual report on the "State of the Forest." Our educational forest is in excellent shape. Praise was given to her staff for their hard work. She stated that no further help has been promised by the county to provide a land manager or a groundskeeper for the immediate future. It was noted that the board is consulting with architects to draw up plans to replace the present greenhouse area with updated solar technology. The Friends will look for grant monies or corporate donations to fund the construction. During her report Carolyn passed around a sketch of "Bob's Bench," which will be placed on Mini Loop where Bob Nuse spent many hours stoning and fixing it. Director of Environmental Education Gail Hill recognized the following volunteers for five years service: Rob Betts, Tim Betts, J. Harold Betts, Gale Blum, Carol Connard, Sean Greene, Mariana Hoffman, Al List, and Bruce Sandstrom. The women received a hand-made silver dove pin and the men received a Mercer tile. Mr. Hendrick presented the Fred Mears Birders Recognition Award for 2003 to Ken Kitson. Ken, a former President of the Friends of PVNC, was recognized for his meticulous record keeping of bird statistics at Peace Valley and updating the checklist. Following the meeting, Mr. Getty introduced Dr. David Drake, Extension Wildlife Specialist from Rutgers University and Friends of PVNC board member. David presented "Wildlife Management, Changes Over Time." The program focused on how wildlife management has changed, especially over the last 100 years. From the late 1800's through the early 1900's, Americans moved from the country to the city. At this time wildlife was seen as something to consume. In the 1930's, conservation ethics brought an increase in wildlife diversity and habitat recovery. By the time we approached the millennium, people were moving from the city to the suburbs and back to rural areas, resulting in highly fragmented land use. Each of these population movements precipitated a shift in the way we viewed wildlife and how it was managed. It was a very enlightening and informative program. "We are presently disconnected from the natural world." Click [HERE] to view back issues of our newsletter. |
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Design & Maintenance by Russ Risko | © 2002-2007 Peace Valley Nature Center |
Oak Leaves Provide Perfect Chemical Balance For Future Growth