January/February 2015
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Penn Dixie Chronicle A newsletter of the Penn Dixie Paleontological Outdoor Education Center Hamburg Natural History Society Founded to Protect and Promote Education January/February 2015 about our Natural Resources Volume 23, No.1 JANUARY PROGRAMS Cassini’s Tour of Saturn, Dawn’s Approach to Ceres, and New Horizon’s Long Trek to Pluto Penn Dixie welcomes Dr. Kevin Williams to speak on “Cassini’s Tour of Saturn, Dawn’s Approach to Ceres, and New Horizon’s Long Trek to Pluto” on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office at 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219. Since arriving at Saturn in 2004, the Cassini spacecraft has returned a wealth of information about the planet, its rings, and its moons. By orbiting Saturn for over a decade now, Cassini has provided images and other data that allow us to un- derstand the Saturnian system as never before, and many of the images are not only scientifically interesting but beautiful as well. As Cassini’s mission continues, the Dawn spacecraft nears Ceres, going into orbit in April, and the New Horizons spacecraft approaches Pluto for its closest approach in July. This presentation will cover some of the results and expecta- tions from these three amazing missions. Dr. Williams is an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at SUNY Buffalo State where his teaching focuses on gen- eral geology and surface processes on Earth and other planets. His research involves projects on Mars geologic mapping and using ground-penetrating radar to study the shallow subsurface on Earth. Williams is also the director of the Whit- worth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State, which will re-open as a new, state-of-the-art facility in several years. Kevin Williams’ presentation is open to the public and no pre-registrations are required. Children, adults, scouts students, families, home schools, and groups are welcome. $5 person, Penn Dixie members are free. Call (716) 627-4560 for information and directions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The second of three cross-country skiing, snowshoe- CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, ing and/or nature walks will be held on Saturday, January 17th beginning at 10 AM at SNOWSHOEING, OR A the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Edu- ca- NATURE WALK AT THE tion Center in Hamburg, NY. PENN DIXIE SITE ON The last of the three cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and/or nature walks will be held on Saturday, February JANUARY 17th & 7th, beginning at 10 AM. Participants must bring their own skiis and snowshoes to tour the trails and vast open FEBRUARY 7th areas of the 54-acre site. If there is insufficient snow for skiing or snowshoeing, or a nature walk will be conducted and possibly even some fossil collecting. Participants must pre-register by calling (716) 627-4560. Penn Dixie members are free, non- members $4/person. Bring your camera to photograph the wildlife, the wetlands, and winter scenes at Penn Dixie. Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 10% contribution of sales if less than $600. 15% contribution of sales if $600 or more. An additional $3 will be contributed for every future pampered chef Show booking from the fundraiser. For more information Call: 716-627-5460 At the end of the fundraiser, one item will be raffled off. Item to be raffled off will be determined based upon total sales. $1,000-microwave egg cooker $2,000-flexible cutting mats $3,000-simple slicer $4,000-food chopper $5,000-trifle bowl $6,000-round covered baker $7,000-manual food processor set $8,000-salad and berry spinner $9,000-deep covered baker $10,000-rock crock casserole Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 FEBRUARY PROGRAMS GARDEN EXPO FEBRUARY 19-22 Erie Promotions will be promoting the Penn Dixie Site at their WNY Home and Garden Expo, February 19-22, 2015. The Penn Dixie fossil dig for kids, children’s activities, fossils, a telescope to view some heavenly bodies, and membership and program information will be available. This is an opportunity to introduce families to the Penn Dixie Site and the many programs available. Volunteers will be needed to help staff this exhibit. Free admission passes will be available at the Expo for those volunteering. Please call 627-4560 if you can volunteer a few hours. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ METEORITES: WHAT ARE THEY? WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Penn Dixie welcomes Scott McKenzie to speak on “Meteorites: What are they? Where do they Come From?” on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office at 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219. Meteorites have been found in the Western New York area and more are on the ground awaiting discovery. This talk will show you real meteorites to prepare you to recognize meteorites on the ground. The talk will be illustrated and presented for people of all ages. If you have any rocks which you may think are a meteorite, bring them to the presentation for Scott to identify. Scott McKenzie, from Mercyhurst University, is an Assistant Professor in the Geology Department, Paleontology Director, and with the Mercyhurst University Archaeological Institute. Peekskill meteorite He has been finding and collecting meteorites for 43 years and presenting talks on them for the NASA Explorer School i n Texas and for groups in 4 states. McKenzie has visited meteor and comet craters all over North America and will give information about suspected craters in our area! Free examination and testing of suspected meteorites will be offered after the talk. Mr. Mckenzie’s illustrated presentation is open to the public and no pre-registrations are required. Children, adults, scouts students, families, home schools, and groups are welcome. $5 person, Penn Dixie members are free. Call (716) 627-4560 for information and direc- tions. Peeksill meteorite and damage to the car from the impact. Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 5th ANNUAL PENN DIXIE ‘THINK YA KNOW’ GAME SHOW FUND RAISING EVENT ON FEBRUARY 28 Got cabin fever? Need a fun-filled evening out? Want to win a one-night get-away? The 5th Annual “Penn Dixie ‘Think Ya Know’ Game Show Fund Raising Event”, will be held at the Oakwood Manor, VFW Post1419, Lake View Road, Hamburg, NY, on Saturday, Feb- ruary 28, 2015 from 7-10 PM, doors open at 6 PM. “The Quiz Master” Dennis George will conduct table trivia and a special trivia with individual winner prizes -: Including: -Two - One Night Get-Aways, room, dinner and breakfast packages -A flat screen TV -Enter to win hockey tickets the to the March 26 Sabres vs. Devils. (2 pairs) -Enter to play to win one of four BIG PRIZES ($5 additional per person) Also: -theme auction baskets -50/50 split raffle There will be pizza, pop, snacks, and door prizes included with the admission. There will also be a cash bar, and a fun-filled evening will be held supporting the programs, events, and operations of the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg. Bring your family, friends, colleagues and guests for a fun-filled evening. Pre-sale tickets-$25 each and $30 at the door. Pre-sale tickets and information may be obtained by calling (716) 627-4560. PENN DIXIE FALL HOURS Penn Dixie may be open in November on Saturdays 9 AM-5 PM and Sundays 10AM- 5PM depending on the weather at the site. If snow is not covering the site and non-subzero temperatures are forecast, Penn Dixie will most likely be open for fossil collecting. Call the Penn Dixie number at 627-4560 and the message will indicate whether the site will be open on the weekend. The message will be changed every week. Visits may be scheduled for individuals, families, birth- day parties, schools, scouts, or groups at other times by calling (716) 627-4560 Members should bring their membership card with them during all visits, especially outside of the public hours. Please call with any questions or for information. Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Calendar of Events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ complete calendar available on the website www.penndixie.org JANUARY March 14, 2015 9 AM-2 PM, Penn Dixie presentations at 10th Anniversary of Tech Savvy girls STEM Program January 7, 2015 – 9-11 AM, Penn Dixie presentations at Sweet Home Middle School STEM program. March 18, 2015 – 7 PM, “Four Worlds, One Country: A Look into the Diverse Treasures of Ecuador,” by January 17, 2015 – 10 AM, Cross Country skiing, Abby LaPlaca, University of Buffalo, an illustrated pre- snowshoeing, and/or nature walk at Penn Dixie. sentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Of- Public Welcome. Pre-registration required. $4/person, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ fice 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Penn Dixie members FREE. Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required. January 28, 2015 – 7 PM, “Cassini’s Tour of Saturn, March 21-22, 2015 – Penn Dixie exhibit at Buffalo Dawn’s Approach to Ceres, and New Horizon’s Long Geological Society Show in the Grange and Market Trek to Pluto,” by Kevin Williams, Associate Professor Buildings at the Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg New at Buffalo State College, an illustrated presentation in the York. auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Dixie members March 27, 2015 – 6-8 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Union FREE.