Mission Trails Regional Park News the Horned Lizard
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Mission Trails Regional Park News Volume 22, Number 3 --A Publication of the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation-- Summer 2011 The Horned Lizard other doing what ensures the continu- only when they move that they are best ation of the species. A short discussion sighted. One time I missed stepping by George Varga, Trail Guide about horny toads followed and the on one by inches as I was heading up idea for this article was born. Kwaay Paay. On the North Rim of At an event in the Visitor Yes, there are horny toads in the Grand Canyon I have seen them Center a Trail Guide, Audrey Baker, the park and I have seen them. Most with greater frequency than at Mission asked me if I had ever seen a horny often I have encountered them on pa- Trails. toad in Mission Trails Regional Park. trols along the Rim Trail, the Kwaay Horny toads are not toads at The question may have been prompt- Paay Peak Trail and a few times along all but in fact are lizards in the fam- ed by the fact that I was wearing a pin trails in the Grasslands. The problem ily Phrynosomatidae. They belong to the depicting two horny toads (actually in sighting them is that horny toads genus Phrynosoma. The name is derived lizards and not toads) on top of each are extremely well camouflaged. It is Lizard, continued on p. 6 Horned Lizard by Nancy Varga, Trail Guide San Diego Magazine an- nounced that our Cowles Mountain Mission Trails Trail was voted the best hiking trail in Regional Park Foundation San Diego County in their first “Best of Family Fun” awards. Board of Directors The splendor of the park Joseph C. Morse never ceases to amaze me and I have President the pleasure of showing it off. One Nancy Acevedo way is with my “adopted” picnic table Vice President out the back door of the Visitor Cen- Dorothy Leonard Secretary Treasurer ter. It provides a 280 degree vista of Patrick Abbott, Ph.D Mission Trails. When anyone calls and Sue Braun says “let’s go to lunch,” I always tell Michael Brunker them to bring their salad or sandwich. Gene Hatton Gary Krueger, O.D. It is a great place for a lunch meeting; Neil Mohr no noisy restaurant, the serenity of J. Carlton Morse II, CFP Mission Trails, and the person(s) who Betty Ogilvie joined me for lunch can’t believe there William L. Sperling, M.D. is a place like this so close. Donald E. Steele Diane Strum A Message From In the past several months Connie Wood Executive Director we have had very successful evening events encompassing the Visitor Cen- Staff Jay Wilson ter and the terrace. The biggest event was attended by nearly 350 people and Jay Wilson was a joint fund-raising effort for three Executive Director Roland Roberge Mission Trails is ever chang- nonprofit organizations: East County Administrative Assistant ing: whether it is the current restora- Magazine, Chefs de Cuisine, and the Patty O’Reilly tion of the Cowles Mountain Trail, MTRP Foundation. It was a great Gift Shop Manager our monthly concerts, the rotating art location for an event. Whether you exhibitions in the Visitor Center Gal- want a unique location for a day-time Advisors business retreat for up to 65 people, or lery, or a hike on any of our 42 miles Hon. Jim Ellis of trails, the park has something to you need an evening venue for up to California State Senator, retired offer you every day. 350 people for a fundraiser or corpo- Hon. Barry Jantz In June we initiated our first rate event, we can accommodate you. Council Member, City of La Mesa, retired We want you to LIKE our Hon. Lucy Killea digital research through the efforts of President and CEO MTRP Foundation board member page on facebook! Post our wall with International Community Foundation, retired Michael Brunker. Using Zoomerang. your personal stories and pictures, a California State Senator, retired com he sent a single question “How fun way for everyone to see and hear Hon. Jim Madaffer likely are you to recommend Mission about your amazing times at the park. Council Member, City of San Diego, Please check our web page mtrp.org. retired Trails to a colleague or friends?” to the Hon. Judy McCarty nearly 2,500 friends on our e-mail list. Council Member, City of San Diego, We received an incredible 500 respons- Upcoming Free Concerts retired es (20%). On a scale of 1-10, 85% of Hon. Dick Murphy Sunday, August 21 the responders gave us a 9 or 10. Ten Mayor, City of San Diego, retired Amy Kanner - Celtic harp music. Superior Court Judge, retired percent gave us an 8, and 5% gave us Michael R. Pent a 5,6 or 7. The major theme of the Sunday, September 18 Past Chair Mission Trails Citizens’ responses is summed up with this one, Paul Seaforth & Mo’Sax Quartet. Advisory Committee “Mission Trails is a beautiful, wild Past President Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation park in an urban setting that’s easy to Sunday, October 16 Hon. Larry Stirling access, is well maintained, but feels like Silverwoods returns to our stage. Superior Court Judge, retired wilderness. It feels like you’re getting to California State Senator, retired the middle of nowhere, and it’s in your Concerts begin at 3:00 pm and are followed by a public reception in own backyard.” the Visitor Center Gallery. Find us on Facebook 42 A Highly Successful Best of Show 19th Annual Photography Contest The winners of the 19th an- nual Amateur Photography Contest were announced at a reception held on Sunday, May 22nd in the Visitor and Interpretive Center. This year there were a record number 231 beautiful entries from 82 talented photogra- phers. The Leonard Butterman Best of Show award was presented by Arnie Freidman in memory of Leon- ard Butterman, an avid amateur pho- tographer for seven decades. Best of Show was awarded to Verland Nolta for “Old Mission Dam Moon Light.” The public was invited to vote for the Peoples Choice which was awarded to Janice Wright for “New Years Day Evening” taken at the Visitor and Verland Nolta - Old Mission Dam Moon Light Interpretive Center. Thank you to all of the par- The photography contest, recep- Other winners include - ticipants and congratulations to the tion and awards ceremony are Black and White: winners. Thank you to our Photog- an annual event sponsored by William Fossett, 1st place; Gary Lange, raphy Contest Committee members: Mission Trails Regional Park 2nd place; Nicholas Gavin, 3rd place; Betty Ogilvie, chair; Don Steele, Con- Foundation in cooperation with William Fossett, Honorable Mention. nie Wood and Roland Roberge. the City of San Diego Park & Youth Division: Recreation Department David Satoda, 1st place; David Satoda, 2nd Place; Riley Anderson, 3rd place; People’s Choice Katharina Hass, Honorable Mention. Color – People, Flora & Fauna: Cheryl Old, 1st place; Verland Nolta, 2nd Place; Bill Howell, 3rd place; Bill Casper, Honorable Mention. Color – Scenic Views: Jean Eichenlaub, 1st place; Richard Guarascio, 2nd place; Edeltraud Hayhurst, 3rd place; Verland Nolta, Honorable Mention. People’s Choice Winner Janice Wright Janice Wright - New Years Day Evening 4 First Place - Black & White Children’s Nature Adventures! September through June, Linda Hawley’s “Nature Adventures!” delights children of all ages with the animated enthusiasm she brings to her entertaining two hour programs at MTRP’s Visitor Center. Factual information is introduced about San Diego’s wild animals each month, us- ing songs, puppets, real pelts, replicat- ed skulls, scats, tracks and taxidermy specimens. The lesson is followed by an easy trail walk and a return to the classroom, where children make a re- lated, take-home craft. Lessons about the Kumeyaay people and the flora of MTRP are included. Participants William Fossett - Rocky Peak attend only one morning per month, and children must be accompanied by The Not So Lost Art of could possibly have anything to do an adult. Adults always attend FREE! with ethics. Well, first, the flint knap- With advance registration and pre- Flint Knapping ping technique, materials used, and payment for all 10 classes the cost is by Tom Hale, Trail Guide the final product are so very similar to $7 per class per child, ages 3 and up; what would have been used in the past, for pre-payment of 3-9 classes, the As a volunteer Trail Guide at Archaeologists are not able to tell the cost is $8 per child. The cost for 1 or Mission Trails Regional Park, I believe difference between an arrow point you 2 classes or on the day of the class (if made last week and an actual artifact. that in addition to giving tours of the space is available) is $10 per child per Some less reputable people have sold hiking trails, we should also celebrate class. Check out Children’s Classes on and pass on the heritage passed down their reproductions as actual artifacts. our website for additional information to us from the Kumeyaay, who were Secondly, the process of flint knapping living here well before the Missionar- produces chips and fragments of the and registration forms. If you have any ies “discovered” San Diego. So, when waste material which ends up in a pile questions, please email Ms. Hawley I received an e-mail flier about a flint at your feet, exactly like the waste piles directly at: [email protected], or you knapping course with Dr. Timothy found at archaeological digs where may call her at 619-582-6261.