Putnam Highlands Audubon Society
PO Box 292
Cold Spring, NY
10516-0292Marty McGuire Audubon Scholarship
*** Programs Calendar ***
The Blue-winged Warbler was incorporated in the PHAS logo because this pretty bird is common in Putnam County while being uncommon in much of its North American range.
Letter from the PHAS President
Dear PHAS Members and Friends,
In difficult economic times, places that provide inexpensive or free recreational opportunities are viewed as invaluable community resources. When times are tough, we tend to stay close to home. Those places we flock to when we can’t afford a family vacation to the Grand Canyon were there all along though. But, what if they weren’t? Now is the time to make it known how valuable we think our parks, nature centers and cultural resources are. There is no denying that New York State is facing serious budgetary woes. Lawmakers are looking to save where they can and spend less. Unfortunately, the burden falls on state agencies that must deal with budgetary cutbacks. This reality has hit home recently as the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) have announced their intended and potential money saving actions. In March, the DEC said they are planning to close the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in southwestern Dutchess County. Although the trail system and the community gardens would remain open, according to the DEC, there would be no maintenance, and education programming there would end as of May 31. This, of course, was quite a shock to those of us who know how important Stony Kill is to the surrounding commu- nities. The Stony Kill Foundation and number of local and state politicians have been working hard to persuade the DEC to rethink this action.
Also in March, State Parks proposed a number of park closures and service re- ductions state-wide. Locally, the Taconic Outdoor Education Center has been slated to have interpretive programming reduced and Fahnestock State Park along with Wonder Lake State Park could be closed. These cuts and reductions are proposals, but they could become reality. Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson High- lands State Parks <www.fofhh.org> have joined with other State Parks’ friends groups in an effort to find $11 million that could stave off these closures across the state.What can you do? You can write and/or call your state representative(s). That is usually impactful; however, our state representatives don’t want to see the parks and environmental centers in their districts closed. At this point, the best way to show your support for Stony Kill, TOEC, and Fahnestock State Park is to visit there. Take your friends and family for a picnic or hike. Better yet, you should make every effort to attend one of the public programs being offered at Stony Kill and the Taconic Outdoor Education Center.
I hope you will show your support for our local parks and nature centers in the coming months, just as I hope you will take advantage of the field trips and pro- grams PHAS is offering. Remember, it’s all free and close to home. If you have comments or concerns about PHAS, or if you have ideas for field trips or pro- grams, please send me an e-mail, write a letter, call, or visit me at Constitution Marsh.
The very best,
Rich Anderson, PO Box 174, Cold Spring, NY 10516; (845) 265-2601 <randerson@audubon.org>
PHAS Programs
PHAS has resolved to provide a more regular schedule of programs, including bird walks, educational programs, field trips, and guest lectures. These programs are intended to appeal to a wide range of interests and ability levels. A monthly event that we hope will interest birders of all ability levels and those interested in the greater conservation mission of Audubon is a monthly walk at Constitution Marsh Audubon Sanctuary in Garrison.
Click here for a schedule of upcoming bird walks and other programs in the area.
To receive the newsletter electronically, please send your e-mail address to <newsletter@putnamhighlandsaudubon.org>; put “PHAS Newsletter” in the subject line and your name in the body of the message. We will take care of the rest. Your e-dress will be kept in the same strict confidence as your postal address. However, you also will benefit from occasional updates or reminders on PHAS programs or events of interest. Our e-contact with you should not be burdensome.
If you do not have access to a computer, please write to Newsletter, PHAS, PO Box 292, Cold Spring, NY 10516, to arrange for special continued postal delivery of your newsletter.
We know there will be kinks and hurdles in the transition from postal to electronic delivery, so please bear with our effort to be fully electronic by December 2010. Those who sign up now might receive the newsletter by both methods for an issue or two.
With your critical cooperation, our newsletter can succeed in GOING GREEN.
The existing Cedar Ridge Trail (part of the NYNJ Trail Conference system) is now extended through PHAS' Watergrass Sanctuary. Come explore our beautiful Sanctuary -- the trail head is north of the Sanctuary sign on Route 9.
View Watergrass Sanctuary on a larger map
Ed Chasins
Gone and Well Remembered
Board members were delighted to learn at the March meeting that PHAS had received a check for $1,000—delighted until we learned that it was a bequest from the estate of Ed Chasins, who died in early December of 2009.
Ed and his widow Sue were dedicated members of the Chapter, and it seems thoroughly like them to have planned such a generous and thoughtful gift. Our most sincere condolences to Sue and all other family members.
Below are thoughtful comments from some of his contemporaries within PHAS.
From Ralph Odell: I really don’t know a lot to say about Ed—I was still in Bedford and Ann was on the PHAS board—I’m not surprised he left some money to PHAS, as he was always supportive, was a board member, and president. In the early, days he and Sue were very active and creative, which was integral to build- ing the chapter. They organized and led field trips and put together wine and cheese receptions for members to meet & greet the teams at the end of the old 24 hour Birdathon.
From Henry Turner: He was President of PHAS from 1984-88, and I was President from 1988-92. I agree with Ralph’s comments. I remember an owling trip he led near the Manitou rail tracks, and a week-end bird trip he organized and led to the Delaware shore. I liked him a lot.
From Elmer Spraque: I am not surprised by Ed Chasins’s bequest to PHAS. He was president of PHAS when Gretchen and I joined in 1988, I think it was. I believe PHAS meant a lot to him, because it gave him something to do in retirement. He was very good at meetings, meeting and greeting everybody and being especially diligent at drawing new people into the circle. And he was president when PHAS acquired Reese and Watergrass. Indeed, I believe he was instrumental in their acquisition, and he was active in managing and patrolling Reese. Saw to the erection of the admit-only-pedestrians barrier at the highway end of Reese’s Chasins Corridor, for example. He was, I think, the most affable man I’ve ever met, a good hike leader, meeting presider, and behind -the-scenes organizer.
From Nancy Osborn: No wonder I didn’t hear from Ed and Sue Chasins at Christmas as usual! How grand that he left some money to the Chapter (I still think of the PHAS as that [the Chapter] as it started out!). Ed and Sue Chasins were pillars of strength as PHAS was getting started. They were also great friends of many and helped to introduce love of birds in many families. When they left Garrison they moved nearer to Philadelphia, to Foulkeways, a beautiful retirement place. They had both gone to Swarthmore near Philadelphia, which might have been why they liked that area. I used to visit them quite often there. And in Florida where they usually went for a couple of months in the winter, usually to the Ft Myers area where we went to many of the famous birding places... I’m afraid none of this is of general interest. Thanks for send me all the print outs [Ralph, Henry.....]. Ralph really said what I could say.
PHAS is most grateful for his generous remembrance and his many services to the chapter.
His widow, Sue Chasins, can be written to at 1215 Foulkeways, Gwynedd, PA 19436.
Stairway to Heaven
© Dan North
“We are none of us good enough for the sweet earth we have, and yet we dream of heaven.”
—Edward AbbeyLast night’s thunderstorm has left an early morning mist across the highlands. I wander through the oaks and mountain laurel, passing through slanting columns of light from the rising sun. Some look solid enough to climb onto and shinny up to their source. Our language is rich in images inspired by this illusion. Just in the realm of song, think of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”, Glenn Miller’s “Stairway to the Stars”, and George Gershwin’s “Stairway to Paradise”. At this end of the stairway, a bright diagonal ray illuminates a white cloud of laurel blossoms on the path ahead. These June marvels, now at their apex, dot the highlands in huge virginal patches. Heavy after last night’s storm, the flowers droop and glisten with a fresh purity. Violent rain and hail have knocked some blossoms to the ground, where, crumpled amongst the leaf litter, they resemble dropped popcorn on a movie theater floor. But most of the blossoms remain on the tall shrubs, as dense and beckoning as the Milky Way. I examine a large one at eye level. It’s an inch across with a yellow-tipped female pistil stalk waving high above a ring of 10 arched brown pollen-tipped male stamens. A perfect ring of tiny purple dots circles the base of the stamens at the white blossom’s bottom. Stepping back, the effect of millions of these lovely flowers is like a field of June snowdrifts. For a moment, I wonder whether our songs directing us up the sunny staircase have it wrong. Instead of gazing skyward, we can find the stuff of dreams right here on Mother Earth.
Thanks to all who supported this major PHAS fundraising effort.
PHAS Chapter Officers:
President: Rich Anderson
Vice President: Connie Mayer-Bakall
Treasurer: Peter Charbonneau
Secretary: Karen RinerBoard of Directors
Audubon Membership:
To join the National Audubon Society and Putnam Highlands Audubon (Chapter R-25) call Audubon Customer Service at 1-800-274-4201 and get the advantaged rate of $21/yr for up to 3 years and pay by credit card! It’s important that you specify that you wish to join Chapter R-25.
To renew your membership call Audubon Customer Service at 1-800-274-4201 and renew by credit card at $21/yr for up to 3 years. The usual renewal rate is $35/yr.
Newsletter Only Option: If you prefer not to join as a member, you can still receive the Chapter’s newsletter to thank you for your fully tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more, which should be mailed to PHAS, PO Box 292, Cold Spring, NY 10516
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