WELLSPRING NEWS
October 2006 Published by the Friends of Agua Caliente, Inc. Tucson, Arizona
From the President: Gaslight Theatre Christmas Show
2006 has generated Indian Tribes (Hohokam) Join us for some Christmas Tickets are limited. some interesting develop- from 300 BC living in the fun at the Gaslight Theatre Prices are: Adults— ments at Agua Caliente area. Additionally, the performance of “Christmas $24.50; Seniors/Military— Park. The bridge to the hostile actions of the in the Big Apple” on $22.50; and Children— island at pond one, which Apache tribe during the December 14, 2006 at 8:30 $11.00. A portion of each is currently unusable, will 1800’s will be discussed. PM. ticket is tax deductible. be replaced in 2008. This We will also be putting It’s Christmas time in See the FOAC website for should please, and be wel- on our third annual Pan- New York City, but no one additional details and res- come news based on the cake Breakfast in April seems to be in the Holiday ervation form: inquiries by Ranch House 2007. We would love to mood. The only hope left to www.geocities.com/ visitors during the year. have volunteer help with bring back the Christmas fo_agua_caliente. Send The educational our activities and love to Cheer is a young orphan an email to Jim Knoll at events offered by the Park have you as members of girl and her belief in a [email protected] or call under the direction of FOAC. We look forward magical Santa Claus suit. 520-760-7609 to ensure Wendy Burroughs will to continued support by With the help of her “Secret seating is still available. increase during 2007. visitors and volunteers to Santa”, she brings the holi- It should be a really great They will also offer infor- help achieve our goals. day spirit back to the Big show!! mation about the early Dick Watts Apple.
Membership Meeting planned for January 22nd, 2007
What a great opportunity to There are many exciting opportuni- Agua Caliente Park become involved in supporting ties from assisting the staff with this wonderful oasis in our own school groups to volunteering as Do-
backyard called Agua Caliente cents. Photo by SusanKnoll
Park. Join us for our annual FOAC is also a non-profit 501(c)3 membership meeting on organization and any contributions January 22, 2007 at 7 PM in are tax deductible. Why not put the Bunkhouse at Agua Cali- your hard-earned dollars to work ente Park. Help chart the fu- supporting a worthwhile project in ture of the Park while supporting your own neighborhood and receive current activities. FOAC is in- a tax break at the same time. Cash volved in all aspects of the Park donations can be mailed to: FOAC, and works along side Pima PO Box 32005, Tucson AZ 85751- View ofRanch Island House in Pond 1 County Natural Resources Parks 2005 or visit the FOAC website for and Recreations personnel. more details. From the Bunkhouse: Living on a Working Ranch
Living on a working ranch, there what needed to be done the next day frame and then pull the car out of was much to do every day. Of and what was going on with every- the wash. Most people were very course, I loved it because I was liv- one. It was very relaxing. grateful. Once we pulled out a man ing the life of a cowboy. There were We always looked forward to the who had a brand new Jeep Pickup horses and cattle to feed, stalls to summer monsoon. It would usually with 4-wheel drive. We went back to be cleaned, and cows to be herded. rain in late afternoon and by early the house. The next morning all you It was a great life. I enjoyed going evening the skies would clear up and could see was the roof of his pickup. out at night, walking down to one of the humidity would drop, making it I guess he thought since he had a 4- the lower lakes and just sitting on very pleasant to sit outside. Of wheel drive, he could get across that the bank and listening to all the course, we did not have a TV yet so wash. Of course, the fact that he had sounds of nature. We had abun- we just enjoyed talking or reading. been drinking was probably a factor. dant wildlife of all types that came If we had heavy rains, we could hear He had to get a county road grater to to drink out of the lakes. There was the Agua Caliente Creek rumbling pull his truck out. I’m sure it cost really no danger, but I did carry a up in Agua Caliente Canyon an hour him a pretty penny to fix his truck. rifle in case I came across a rattle or so before we saw any water in the The Tanque Verde area was small snake….which did happen from creek. We would drive down to the and friendly. I still have a few time to time. As we were far from road to see the water come gushing friends that I grew up with that still Tucson at the time, the skies were across it. After a rain, when the live in the area. dark and you could see a sky full of Agua Caliente was still running, we I really enjoyed my years there stars without any interference from would often hear a knock on our and was very sad when my parents the city lights. door. It would be someone who tried sold the Ranch. They were not in The family would often sit to cross the wash and got stuck. We good health and since all the kids around the swimming pool with the would get our tractor and drive moved away, the Ranch was just too lights off, search for different star down to the wash. If they were not much work for them. constellations, and watch for shoot- to far in and the water not too deep, Pete Filiatrault ing stars. We would talk about we would hook the chain to the The Ghost of Agua Caliente FOAC Website Upcoming Events at Agua The FOAC website is a great source of Wellspring News, the FOAC Bylaws Caliente Park current information. The address is: (including standing committees) and http://www.geocities.com/ Goals, and procedures to make a dona- Check the FOAC web site for up-to- fo_agua_caliente/ tion, join FOAC, send comments. date events at the Park: The site is kept updated with current Please bookmark the site and visit it www.geocities.com/fo_agua_caliente Park activities, photos of the Park, and often…...and tell your friends about it. other interesting information/links. The Let us know if you have suggestions for Wake Up with The Birds site also includes archived copies of the improvement. Every Tuesday. Check website for Jim Knoll current times. Friends of Agua Caliente, Inc. Board of Directors Nature Walks every Satur- Standing Committee Chairpersons annotated in ( ) below the name day Normally 10 am & 1 pm. Richard Watts, President 529-4637 (Park Liaison, Pancakes in the Park) Wildlife at the Park Sally Danielson, Vice President 749-2184 [email protected] Watching wildlife through the spot- (Volunteer, Nominating) Mike Deal, Secretary 749-1984 [email protected] ting scope usually once/month. (Membership) Francie Hilkemeyer, Treasurer 247-9776 [email protected] Ranch House Gallery: Chuck Ford 748-7612 [email protected] Sept 27-Nov 14: Southwestern Jim Knoll 760-7609 [email protected] (Newsletter, Website) League of Fine Arts Exhibit Sandy Sarah 885-7466 [email protected] Nov 15-Jan 3: Kathleen Lewis— Bud Seaman 299-3175 [email protected] ”Abstract Nature Unbound”. Peter Filiatrault 577-8202 [email protected] To volunteer at Agua Caliente Park with Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation, call 877-6112.
FOAC Website: http://www.geocities.com/fo_agua_caliente/ Page 2 Nominating Committee
We wish to thank the members of tures of at least 5 percent of the Historian: Paula Stoner this year’s Nominating Committee, qualified members of the Friends of Membership/Volunteer: Mike Chuck Ford, along with Judy Gray, Agua Caliente, Inc. Such petition Deal Paula Stoner, and Sally Danielson, shall be filed with the Nominating Newsletter/Website: Jim Knoll Chairman, for their time and effort Committee within ten (10) days Nominating: Sandy Sarah in interviewing members to provide after this notice has been given of In other related business, recom- nominees for the Board of Directors the names nominated. If no peti- mended by the Nominating Commit- and working to provide a slate of tion is filed within the designated tee, the Board voted to expand its officers and committee chairs for period, the nominations shall be membership to thirteen (13) Board 2007. Annually this is a very time closed and the nominated slate of Members starting in 2008. consuming enterprise in an effort to candidates shall be declared elected Thank you to all who have find the best qualified among us to by the Board of Directors at the agreed to serve in 2007 and here’s to serve in very special ways. regular November Board Meeting. another active and productive year At the September 22 Board of The Board also voted to accept for the Friends of Agua Caliente. Directors meeting, the Board rati- the committee’s recommendations Sally Danielson fied the nominations of Peter “Pete” for the 2007 Officers and Commit- Filiatrault, Sandy Sarah, and tee Chairs. They are as follows: Forrest “Bud” Seaman who are re- Officers newing their Board commitments Electronic Newsletter and for another three-year term ending President: Dick Watts Current Events Vice-President: Chuck Ford in 2010 and voted to nominate Mary In an effort to reduce our mailing Secretary: Francie Hilkemeyer Jane Dyson for a three-year term cost, we’d like to email the newsletter Treasurer: Pete Filiatrault ending in 2010 and Judy Gray for (in color) to those members with an an unexpired two-year term ending Committee Chairs email account. We will only use mem- in 2009. With these nominees, the County Liaison: Chuck Ford & ber email addresses for the newsletter Board will be at its full eleven mem- Dick Watts or FOAC announcements. If you ber complement. Donors Wall/Walk: Bud Seaman would like to be included on email, Additional names of candidates Fundraising: Sally Danielson please send your email address to for Directors can be nominated by “Pancakes in the Park” Jim Knoll at petition bearing the genuine signa- Subcommittee: Jim Hilkemeyer [email protected]. The Wellspring News is also available on the website. Membership in the Friends of Agua Caliente
Join Friends of Agua Caliente ganization and the Park. If you can’t Chairman, at 749-1984 for more in- We are looking for “A few good spare the time to volunteer, how about formation. men and women” who want to help at least joining FOAC to help us pro- Over two-thirds of the 2005 mem- maintain Agua Caliente Park as a tect what we all treasure so dearly? bership responded to appeals during very special place. As birders, or Friends of Agua Caliente, Inc. is a the 2006 Membership drive. Nine- those who like to picnic, or stroll 501 (c) (3) Corporation, therefore all teen new memberships (family and the grounds, you know the signifi- donations are tax-deductible. Dues individual) were received. This cance of this “Oasis in the Desert.” are based on the following schedule: amounts to an increase of five voting Join us and volunteer to plant Student $10 members compared to one year ago. flowers, act as Docents, sponsor Individual $15 The 2007 Membership Drive will events, raise funds, clean build- Family $25 begin in November. ings, weed and trim, and generally Organization $50 Family Memberships: 35 have a great time with fellow park Please send Name, Address, and Individual Memberships: 8 lovers. Your time, talents, and do- Phone Number along with Check to: Total Memberships: 43 nations will be the contributions Friends of Agua Caliente, Inc., PO that make the difference at this Box 32005, Tucson, AZ 85751-2005 or Voting Members: 78 historic time in the life of our or- contact Mike Deal, Membership Welcome new members. Mike Deal
FOAC Website: http://www.geocities.com/fo_agua_caliente/ Page 3 Nonprofit Organization US POSTAGE FOAC PAID Friends of Agua Caliente, Inc. Tucson, AZ P.O. Box 32005 Permit No 370 Tucson, AZ 85751-2005
Mailing Label
ran Desert, its birds, mammals, the little Tucson Audubon at Agua Caliente Park crawly critters and the swimming beings. We put emphasis on finding exciting mate- changing colors of the Catalina Moun- rial for parents and children and stocking I’m Becky, the new Tucson Audu- tains in the background with the blue of engaging gifts that will be fun and educa- bon Society’s Shop manager at Agua the foreground pond. I know that the tional as well. Caliente Park. I’ve had the good blue heron is out there somewhere stalk- Tuesday morning bird walks continue fortune to meet some of you ing an unsuspecting fish and the pere- to be lively affairs and we always have one “Friends” of ACP in the few months grine falcon is probably sitting on a high or two new folks come to share the enthu- since I’ve taken over the reigns of limb having breakfast in the serene siasm and expertise of the more experi- the shop from Vivian Mackinnon. Bosque behind the Rose cottage. What a enced birders. The relationship between Prior to coming to Tucson, I lived gift to work here, and though we the Pima County Parks and Recreation and worked nearly 20 years in “birders” can get a bit flighty about our staff and Tucson Audubon Society is a Mulegé, Baja California Sur as a kayak favorite avocations, a place like Agua healthy one and we will be working to- guide, camp site owner, and manager of a Caliente Park gives me a better under- gether to expand programs and support one natural history book store, so my experi- standing of the relationship between all another to make all our visitors time here ences in the Sonora Desert make me a we see in one of the most diverse habitat an enriching one. Stop in and say hi! good fit for my work and I am really 100 acres can host. Are you curious thrilled to be here. about all this? As members of FOAC, Becky Aparicio When I drive into the park, I am al- you definitely are, as well as very proac- Manager Tucson Audubon Nature Shop ways astonished by my immediate need to tive about your responsibility to attend to Agua Caliente Park turn the radio off, roll down the windows, your “back yard”. The Tucson Audubon slow down to a snails pace and gaze out at Nature Shop is here to serve you and the Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and the incredible view of green grass, water community with great reference material Saturday. 9:30 am—3:30 pm rushes and palm trees, mesquites, and the to quench your curiosity about the Sono-