Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 In This Issue Director’s Perspective ................2 Volunteer Corner .....................4 Membership/Memorials/ Donors/Grants/Bequests ..........5 Naturalist’s Corner 2009 Snake Calendars ..............6 New amphibian exhibit features six species of live frogs. Fabulous frogs make good Tanglewood Educator Ian McLaughlin leads a Riverwalk subjects for new exhibit session with Center Street Elementary 4th grade students. hanks to a grant from the Community Riverwalk 2008-2009 reaches Foundation, Tanglewood has added a new exhibit featuring amazing amphibians. The almost 300 students Texhibit includes hands-on activities such as puzzles, anglewood has begun yet another year of Please check out rubber stamps and crayon rubbings as well as six Riverwalk. This fall we meet with over 240 species of live frogs. Three of our frogs are native; the our Wish List at fourth graders from Center Street Elementary, American bullfrog, green frog and common toad. The THendy Elementary and Gardner Road Elementary tanglewoodnaturecenter.com other three are more exotic; the African clawed frog, schools at the Chemung River by Pirozzolo Park, Australian White’s tree frog and Madagascan Tomato and with 20 children from Chemung Elementary at frogs. Wyncoop Creek for their Fall River encounter. We will Tomato frogs are endangered in the native habitat. then see the children again the following week for a Unfortunately, they are not alone. According to classroom visit. statistics provided by Amphibian Ark, up to 50% Riverwalk is a great opportunity for local students Get Out… of amphibian to get an appreciation for the river, and water in species could general. We investigate how water flows on Earth go extinct in (the Water Cycle), water pollution, plant and animal Get Fresh! our lifetime. adaptations for living in/near water, why plants and Amphibian animals (including humans) need fresh water, and we Ark is leading a also touch on invasive species. The Mission of Tanglewood campaign which Thanks to the Arnot Art Museum for their Nature Center & Museum designates 2008 continuing support and execution of this great To lead and support education and as “The Year educational opportunity for area fourth grade students. preservation efforts in our region Tomato Frog of the Frog.” —Elaine Spacher to achieve a heightened awareness, Zoos, aquariums Executive Director understanding and caring for our and botanical gardens throughout the world are natural environment. participating in activities aimed at increasing awareness of the plight of amphibians. For more information visit www.amphibianark.org and visit Tanglewood. —Val Heywood Curator Nature Center Don’t get left out! Send your e-mail address to [email protected] & Museum the PACE of nature to receive advance notice of our events and programs by e-mail. Executive Director’s Perspective Tanglewood’s “Campaign for the Future:” What does it mean? Nature Center s of January 2009, I will have been at but we always have an operating deficit — a & Museum Tanglewood for six years. In some ways deficit that seems to get bridged each year with the PACE of nature it is hard to believe that six years have luck and generosity. Apassed since I started here, but in other ways, But like any responsible organization, 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS it seems longer because so much has happened we can’t keep functioning on a wing and a Merrill Lynn, President and changed. prayer from year to year. We need to build an Vice President Jim Emmick, When I began working here in 2003, we Endowment fund to finally secure our place Matthew Savery, Treasurer had one part-time and five full-time employees. in the future of this area. Economic times are Beverly Morrell, Secretary The building wasn’t open yet and the stress of scary right now and asking for money to help Dr. Donald Brooks having just relocated and in a way, “starting secure our future is absolutely essential, yet Eric Daniels over” was apparent. Since the staff was almost admittedly frightening. But we didn’t get where Mark Herrick all new, we were somewhat fuzzy on the vision we are today by being scared — we got here by Linda Hillman for Tanglewood’s future. Through various staff working hard and believing that what we are Jonathan Hodge changes and growing pains during the first doing is very important, and that Tanglewood is Janet McLaughlin three years of my tenure at Tanglewood, we an integral part of our community. So we move Dr. Charles Mitchell have settled into our current staff: three full- forward with our momentum despite our fears. Bill Morse We are launching a “Campaign for the Linda Roessler We are holding the Campaign because we all Future” on October 8 with the help of some Polly Smith-Blackwell believe that Tanglewood is necessary. Our region community leaders that believe in Tanglewood. Robert Thorborg without Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum Tom Hesselson will be our spokesman and local Dr. Raymond Thweatt would be less — less nature to learn about and leaders will be here physically and/or via good words. Our Board will be supporting the effort Richard Wardell enjoy; less of a quality place to live and raise by going out into the community and soliciting • children. funds for our Endowment. Our staff will be STAFF here daily teaching children, holding fundraisers Elaine Farwell, Executive Director time people and three part-time people. Board and special events and representing ourselves Cathy Morroni, Office Manager meetings are much more productive and the positively to the public as we always have. Valerie Heywood, Curator staff works very well together for our common We are holding the Campaign because we Emily Hofelich, Volunteer Coordinator/Educator goal — our mission. all believe that Tanglewood is necessary. Our Ian McLaughlin, Naturalist So, it sounds like everything is great. And it region without Tanglewood Nature Center & Rich Gridley, Buildings & Grounds is. We have gone from teaching just over 5,000 Museum would be less — less nature to learn • people in 2005 to just over 15,000 in 2008 — about and enjoy; less of a quality place to live Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum that’s a three-fold increase in just three years. and raise children. I also believe there would 443 Coleman Avenue We have momentum and are becoming be a little less hope for the future of our world. Elmira, NY 14904 known in the community for our environmental So, I ask that you join us in our quest to keep 607-732-6060 education efforts and our beautiful facility and Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum around www.tanglewoodnaturecenter.com trails. But none of this comes free. We have to for a long time to come so we never have to E-mail: [email protected] pay the good staff to keep them here and we imagine what life would be like without it. have to keep the building and grounds in good —Elaine Farwell shape. We have managed to do this for 35 years, Executive Director Wish List DVD player for exhibit hall videos Office paper (white and colored) Dry or canned dog food Pet carrier (small) Dog treats Art supplies (glue sticks, construction paper, paint, etc.) Sardines for possums Bird Seed (Please, only black oil, large bags cost $20) Fruit and Veggies for Animals Frozen Mice and Rats (http://www.Rodentpro.com) Crickets and mealworms from Petco Gift Cards from: Petco, Sam’s Club, Lowes “PACER” Free carpet shampooing for Auditorium Nature themed kids’ games and puzzles Promoting the Pace of Nature Picnic Tables (2) Preservation • Awareness Used 4 x 4 pick up with snow plow Caring • Education Small air compressor 2 • Tanglewood Talk Gathering of rattlesnake lovers sheds light on depth of support for the species recently had the unique opportunity of spending a weekend with a group of “snake people” in the Adirondack mountains — from herpetologists, biologists and a world-renown toxicologist, to a land Iowner whose property harbors a snake den and an author who wrote his first book about bounty snake hunters — all of whom share an intense passion for research, protection and preservation of the timber rattlesnake. What impressed me the most about this group was the depth of their dedication and commitment to the work they do for the sake of the species. One biologist has been researching the timber rattlesnake for more than 30 years and has just discovered a 35-year old snake — the oldest timber rattlesnake on record living in the wild. Over three days we hunted snakes in the rain, climbing wet, steep boulders to find them burrowed in crevices. We saw demonstrations on Tanglewood’s Nuthatch Gift Shop offers a wide array of nature related gift items and how the herpetologists mark their snakes in the field for their research has recently started carrying hand crafted items from local artists. data. We saw presentations in which court judges ruled in favor of snakes Looking for a unique gift for the holidays? over gas drillers. We also saw cases of habitats being destroyed for the Visit the Tanglewood Nuthatch Gift Shop development of wind farms. We talked endlessly about our experiences in the field, with a few stories about close encounters. Any bite incidences anglewood’s Nuthatch Gift Shop features nature related hand crafted were always due to human negligence. Titems made by local artisans. Some of the unique gifts include: Due to the inclement weather, we didn’t see as many snakes as we had • Carved walking sticks hoped, but we did see snakes every day. And with every one we saw, the • Hand-made baskets excitement was as if it was the first snake we had ever seen. • Earrings, bracelets, and home made flower pins It never ceases to amaze me what effect the timber rattlesnake has on • Painted tiles people who understand and appreciate them.